The Mail-Journal, Volume 18, Number 17, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 May 1981 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., May 13,1981

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Editorials Graduation, 1981 Our congratulations go to the 222 Wawasee High School seniors who are eligible to participate in commencement exercises on Sunday. This is the time of year when graduation oratory fills the air on both high school and college campuses across the nation. Never in recent years has the importance of what is being said to students been greater than it is today when so many youngsters see the nation trying to change direction. Admittedly, the graduate of 1981 enters a society far from perfect. The graduate need not agree with the customs, laws or traditions of his country. But most of them, and most graduates of all years, must agree with the principle that change is made through orderly means, if our society is to survive as a democratic one. The highly critical 1981 graduate will gradually adjust his philosophy as he learns to appreciate the wonderful advantages of being an American, and of living in Anierica. We urge the 222 WHS graduates to remember their class motto, “The past is my heritage, the present is my responsibility, the future is my challenge." Remember to look at the big picture — the future. Don’t risk it all on so little a thing as fun now. Keep your eyeon the future. It’s where you will spend the rest of your life. Gas . . . New Hope? In a recent article in Washington Monthly, Gregg Easterbrook offers hope that U.S. natural gas reserves might be far greater than anyone imagined a year or two ago 1 , Easterbrook believes enough natural gas,lies between 15,000 and 30.000 feet below the earth s surface to supply all U.S. power needs for twenty-five years or longer He says for years the experts assumed natural gas deposits, like oil. were not locat€*d below about 10.000 feet. That theory was based on the belief that decomposing plants and animals had produced the gas Now. the author says, it's thought that primitive atmosphere produced gas. That would explain deposits much deeper beneath the earth s surface So misled were the experts, the Carter Administration rejected deep-well drilling analyses which indicated a certain 25 year energy supply for the nation and perhaps a much longer one — in the form of deep deposits of natural gas In the same vein. Congress two years ago ordered most industries to stop using natural gas by the year 1990 ts Easterbrook s conclusions prove correct, thejiation may be able to’ utilize deep deposits of natural gas to relieve today's energy crunch ( And helping spur new finds of natural gas is the governmentdecision to allow higher gas prices Some believe that as a result of higher prices and , knowledge that a massive increase is available, natural gas in the U.S. will begin to be plentiful in 1985. The family Senator Jeremiah Denton (R-Ala), recently expressed concern over heavy peer pressure on young people today to live for pleasure, selfishly, and to indulge in drugs. , J .' , He feels that unless traditional family life, and the family as the best way of life, is stressed more, the nation’s future is in serious danger. He explains it nicely by saying that the so-called new morality is nothing new, but very old. And the new morality, according to Denton, has often been tried throughout history, always with tragic results. Self-discipline, faith in the family unit and the institution of marriage and children, is the traditional Christian w ay of life. It ‘ built this nation. Discarded, it could be the beginning of the end for the U.S. as a great economic, military and moral force in the world. TV and homos NBC says it’s going ahead, despite objections, with a new series, this fall, with a homosexual as the leading character. . Since the entertainment industry is notorious for the number of homos m the business, few in the racket probably find the NBC course shocking. But millions of American parents do —for any network series will influence the young, the feeble-minded and the impressionable. And by making perversion of this sort seem normal, or acceptable, the network will be. in effect, brainwashing the gullible into acceptance. . One hopes saner heads will prevail, or that the public will respond massively in anger and resentment and show NBC where its financial interests really are. That’s what influences the networks, in the final analysis.

What others say — Littering Can Be Costly Would you believe the State Highway Commission spent $827,000 during fiscal year 1980 picking up litter, and that just $6,000 less is budgeted for the same project this year 0 It’s amazing and certainly disappointing to realize that $o much money is spent for such a project. State Highway Commission Chairman Donald C. Pratt says his department has had to cut back on personnel because of a lower budget, but there is still the same amount of work to do. All of us should help eliminate some of the work by not depositing litter along our state, county or city streets or highways. The cooperation of each of us does make a difference in keeping the right of way along our roads looking good. Pratt praises the help given the state commission this year by the 400 Lions Clubs in Indiana. Many club members donated a day of time to help with the pickup chore, a project which they have done annually since 1979. But obviously the state needs more help, or it wouldn’t be spending more than SBOO,OOO on the project. Most Lions clubs in the area participated in the event and representatives of the Goshen subdistrict of the Indiana Highway Department hauled away seven truck loads of trash picked up in Elkhart and Noble counties. p Hoosier drivers can do most to solve the problem, simply by not littering. If the litter isn’t tossed out of cars and trucks, it doesn't need to be picked up. As the accompanying drawing shows, there is a SIOO fine for throwing trash on the highway, but it isn’t strictly enforced. And it’s difficult for our policemen to nab violators. People don’t throw out cans, bottles and trash when a policeman is looking. So why do they do it when the policeman isn’t around? The summer vacation season is approaching and more and more people will be traveling to vacation spots right here in Indiana. The high cost of gasoline seems to have made some Indiana beauty spots even more attractive. Naturally the state highway department isn’t alone in its concern about littering. It is a problem right here in Goshen and certainly along our county roads. People who see someone dumping trash along a road or highway should jot down the license number of the car and report it to authorities. There's really no excuse for littering but law officers need some volunteer help. Don’t litter. Encourage other people to use trash containers too. And if you see someone using a roadside for a dump, report the incident to the police .. . with a license number. Keeping our communities, and roadsides, clean is everyone’s business. The state is spending a lot of money every year to clean up our messes. — THE GOSHEN NEWS

WHS commencement 3p.m. Sunday, Moy 17 Congratulations seniors

Voice of the people A column on the opinions of the people of the Lakeland area ...

QUESTION: “Do you feel your high school education qualifies you for today's world?"

KELLY ERLYWINE Syracuse (WHS senior)

"It’s taught me alot and made me grow up alot and prepared me for college ’’ LARRY HUNTER North Webster (senior) “Vocationally, yes. There are some unnecessary things, but there are important things if you want to improve yourself .”

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KIM - MCDONALD Syracuse (WHS senior)

“It’s done everything I think it should It’s prepared me for the future and college Most of the teachers here are excellent.” BRIAN WALLS North Webster (sophomore) "Yes. because it’s helping me know what I need to know for college *’

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RICH CUZICK Svraoise WHS junior I

“Yea, I’m learning. In some ways I’m prepared for the future.” DAVID COY North Webster < senior > “Yes. I feel established to go out and conquer the world. I feel I can go to college with confidence

SCOTT JOHNSON Syracuse (sophomore)

“Yes if you take the right ones, you’re out of luck if you can’t take them.”

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DANAE BERKEYPILE Mflford (sophomore)

“I’d say yes if you take the right subjects. ”

/SB

JAY ’ GLON Syracuse (WHS sophomore)

“Yeah, you’ll always use everything you learn in there." BRADJACKSON Syracuse (senior) “Yes. mostly because of business courses. For me that prepares me for what I want to do.”

KENT LISOR Syracuse (sophomore)

“Not really. It doesn't have all the advance courses. Somethings it does, somethings it doesn’t

TINA BURKETT North Webster (junior)

“Well I tell you. I think it could get into more depth It doesn’t prepare you for the work world. They give you English and history which doesn’t deal with work, like typing and things like that which prepares you for jobs. They need more classes for the business world where you would have a chance to choose careers in like being a business man. secretary and things like that.” MITCH WAGONER North Webster (junior) “No, because I probably haven’t got as much out of it as I

could " DARLENE SHEPARD North Webster (sophomore)

“No, I don’t think so. You need to further your education, go to college or vocational school. They’re not offering enough. They could offer a lot more like in the nursing fields. ”

TNI MAIL-JOURNAL (US PS J2SM»I Published by Th* Mail Journal every WiOnrsdsr and entered a* Second Class manor at Hie Post Office at Syracuse. Indians *4547 Second class postage paid at ’B3 E. Main Street. Syracuse. Indiana UM? and at additional entry offices Subscription: <ll per year inKosciusko County; <l4 outside county. POSTMASTERS. Sand change of address forms to Th* Mail Journal. P.O. Bos IM. MsMord. Indues 44542

taiziN AROUND

BgL.. ■■■ ■ 17'.i SO MUCH WATER OVER THE DAM

IF YOU’RE living on one of the lakes you’ll know what high water is. “We’re experiencing a real crisis,’’ said one lake resident. The reason: unusually heavy rains. According to Connie (Sudlow) Heckman, who with her husband Dave are owners of Sudlow’s Pier, Shop, there has been a foot of rain since the last of March when the ice went off the lake. “At that time.** Connie said, “The lake was quite low, perhaps as much as six inches below normal.** But since that time continuing rainfall has boosted the water level to its present state — some six inches above the level prescribed by the State Department of Natural Resources. Mrs. Heckman said on Sunday alone there was over two inches of rainfall, and this has caused further rise in the water level on , Lake Wawasee. As a result, torrents of water are cascading over the dam on South Huntington Street in Syracuse. Mrs. Heckman said one of the dam’s gates is open. < “But the water continues to come over the dam.** Connie pointed to excessive fallen trees and other debris in Turkey Creek west of Syracuse. w which has caused the water movement to slow down. She pointed to Tippecanoe Lake as being in worse condition than Lake Wawasee. She could point to no instances on either lake where water is into homes, but said yards are flooded ind some piers are under water. STATE BANK of Syracuse board chairman Bill Cable was nominated for the office of District 654 Governor of Rotary International at a district conference held Friday and Saturday at the Marriott Motel in Fort Wayne. He will be officially elected to the post at the International convention at Sao Paulo. Brazil. South America in June 1961. He will not be able to attend that convention. His term as District Governor will officially begin July 1.1962 and last for one year. Cable has always been serviceminded and has been president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club (1976) and is currently secretary-treasurer He reports the district has 55 clubs with some 3.500 members. H. WAYNE and Alice Brockett are back in their Enchanted Hills home following two months in Venice. Florida. Wayne, a retired city mail carrier in Fort Wayne, grew a handsome beard during his Florida stay, and turned up looking very much like Jack Perkins, the NBC newscaster , AND SPEAKING OF newscasters. Tonya Swihart, who works in Thornburg Drugs’ office, has been told she looks like Jane Paulev. co-host on the morning TODAY show. FOR THE second consecutive year the Commodore Company, headquartered in Syracuse, has made the list of 100 fastestgrowing companies in the United States, according to INC Magazine, published monthly at Boulder, Colo., and devoted to the “big business of small companies.” Commodore is the company The Mail Journal featured in a Page 1 photo last week when it kicked off its Total Company Involvement program. Ray J. Gans b the firm’s dynamic

According to the INC Magazine. Commodore was Ninnber 30 in 1960 and 57 in 1961, with 896 per cent increase in growth from 1976 to 1980 for a compound annua! rate of 78 per cent. Its 1976 sales volume was $18,066,000 and in 1980 its sales were $179,954,000. The company had 400 employees in 1976 and in 1960 had 2.400 employres. Commodore was incorporated in 1952 and is a leader in the manufacture of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. ANOTHER AUTO bumper sticker reads, “I FIGHT POVERTY —I WORK.” 8 ONE WAG watching Lawrence Thwaits man a jack-hammer to uproot the “island" at his son’s new chiropractic office on South Huntington Street, said. “If Thwaits doesn't take it easy, he’ll be Jim’s first customer. ’ BETTY BRAMMER is at her r 1 (Lake Wawasee) home following a winter at her Nakomas. Fla., retreat. Betty tells her friends she taught a class in arts and crafts during the winter and got in her share of bridge. JIM HOWARD is back to work at his law office on a part time basis, and had to miss a rock climb he had scheduled at Yosemite National Park in California. He was in a serious head-on two-car accident at 6 p.m. a week ago Thursday on SR 13 in the Village, sustaining a serious right knee injury, facial and body injuries and lacerations. He was slated to leave at 3 p.m. Saturday for California to pursue one of his hobbies — rock climbing —for about 10 days Needless to say. this was out. And < so is his daily work-out at the big gym at the high school IT WAS shades of King Kong Tuesday when a large, blackhaired. somewhat awsorne ape, appeared on top of the Syracuse Dairy Queen, teeth flashing in the morning sunlight. But, wait, it was only DQ owner Harry Koontz dressed up in the stuffy, hot ape uniform, doing his own promoting. Harry was handing out bananas wrapped in a coupon, advertising his special banana split sale Thursday and Friday. See photo below.

y~\ v Y \ ' 1 •HAIRY’ PROMOTES HIS OWN PRODUCT

BROOKS AND Sunny Kirchoff, r 4 Syracuse, plan to move from the area in about two months, to take up residence in Laurel. Miss., a town of about 30.000 some 60 miles north of Gulfport. Sunny js a Laurel native, and the move will take her closer to her aged mother. Her late brother, Paul Craven, was Laurel Chief of Police, who » passed away early last year. Brooks is a Huntington native, and is well known as an area contractor. He was in a serious auto accident several months ago. a factor that will hurry up his full retirement later this year. YOU SAY you like chili? If that’s what you want, there will be plenty of opportunity to get your fill during Sidewalk Sale Days, Saturday, Aug. 15, when the Syracuse-Wawasee Lions will sponsor a Chili Cook-Off in conjunction with the National Kidney Foundation. Lions are working with the Retail Division of the Syracuse-Wawasee * Chamber of Commerce to expand its Sidewalk Sale Days. Lions Merl Smith and Jack Matney, co-chairmen of the unusual local event, state it will be held “somewhere in the Village,” and anyone can participate in it. The winner will compete in a state contest, and that winner will go to the national chili cookoff in California. If you’re interested, it’ll cost $35 to enter, and all work must be done on the ground. _ Jim Tranter is current Lions president, but Jack Matney will takeover July 1. TOM RIGSBEE told us. “I had to get an appointment book after you wrote that article about me.” Power of the Press. Tom.' * ONE CAN never tell about Jerry Herbison. Now he’s into designer jeans, although he calls them “my work clothes.” He even has the word "GREASE” emblazoned in red across the back of his jacket. Jack Stoelting looks upon this with a certain air of askance, wondering if Jerry has gone the way of today’s swinging youth. Who knows? CHUCK AND Debby Baldwin, the Syracuse couple studying French in Switzerland for their (Continued on page 5)