The Mail-Journal, Volume 18, Number 25, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 July 1981 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed.. July 8.1981

4

Editorials

Thanks for fireworks — Thanks go to the persons responsible for the fireworks held in the area on Friday and Saturday nights. They were fantastic! A large crowd was on hand each night to celebrate the 2Osth birthday of this great nation in what has become the traditional way— with fireworks . . making those who watched remember that in the rocket’s red glare the flag is still there... and it will remain as long as we care enough to protect it. Fireworks are beautiful but they are dangerous if you don’t know how to handle them properly. That is why there are laws in this state restricting their use. And, that is why we are thankful that organizations like the Cromwell Fire Department and John Kroh and Tom Prickett working on the committee for the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce take the time to insure the fact that fireworks are held each year in celebration of this nation’s birthday. The Players In the baseball strike, the issue was whether Major League baseball clubs were to get something substantial in return if one of their stars refused the contract offered, played out his option, and signed with another club. That was the only issue. Players’ rights in general and their many special privileges and good pension and retirement were not affected; only the clubs purchasing free agents were affected — they would have to give up a player who could be as far down on the priority list as number 16 — that would protect the first team and the first seven pitchers of any club. True, this arrangement might slightly slow the enthusiasm of some clubs to buy superstars, but it wouldn’t likely slow it much.. And it would allow the poorer clubs not to be drained of all their best players simply because they could not match salaries with the rich clubs in the lucrative market. In short, it would help maintain balance in the leagues. \ That was the issue. The players have won so manynew rights and money disputes in recent years they now feel they can achieve anything, as a union. They need, very badly, to be reminded that if it were not for the fans and the clubs, most would be working at very ordinary jobs. They are paid better than athletes in any other pro sport, and have more privileges. In short, they have become too cocky, and too demanding. Some are absolutely childish — and often these twenty-plus-year-olds are making two and three hundred thousand dollars, for nine months' play. They need very badly to be brought down to earth — and the owners should let them strike all season, and part of the next, if necessary, to return the traditional hustle and competition and proper attitude to the game. Without that admirable attitude, the game is sure to decline in support Fans will eventually tire prima donnas, in whatever facet of life they perform. July, 1981 , The linden, in the fervors of July. Hums with a louder concert 1 Bryant. ' July ushers in the second half of the calendar year. It’s the first month of the fiscal year and has more than ordinary importance in the business world. 4 July is named for Julius Caesar, a change from its former name of Quintilis, changed on the order of Mark Antony, and was the month in which Caesar was born. For Americans. July is an especially historic month. Our independence is celebrated on the Fourth, of course, and the Battle of Gettysburg was fought during the first three days of July in 1863. Three of our presidents were bom in July: John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and Gerald Ford. The first admiral of the U.S. Navy, David G. Farragut, bom on July 5, 1801. The Republican Party was founded July 6, 1854. at Jackson, Michigan. One largely forgotten, though relatively recent day, is July 10. On that day in 1943 the Allies invaded Europe for the first time in World War 11. General Dwight Eisenhower oversaw an amphibious invasion of Sicily. July, the first month of summer, is the month of vacations, holidays, swimming, boating and outdoor pleasures — and too many highway accidents. The strength of the nation is no greater than the strength of families within it. Humor is a rare gift. If you can laugh at the world and at yourself you are luckv. f . I’ . Stop worrying about what your neighbor does and you might be able to take Better care of yourself.

What others say — Inflation the winner It’s strange but true: over the past 15 years, even though official rates of taxation went down, actual tax rates went up. Here is how it happened. A great/many citizens, hard pressed by inflation, started urging cuts in federal income tax rates back in the early sixties. As prices started going up, their wages and salaries went up, which pushed them into higher tax brackets. As a result, their after-tax income often was less than before they got their raises. Congress responded to their pleas for relief with cuts in federal income tax rates in 1964 and 1965. The reduced rates during those two years averaged about 25 percent. For example, in 1964, the top-bracket rate, for those with the highest incomes, was trimmed from a huge 91 per cent to 77 per cent. Uncle Sam, instead of taking away nine out of every ten dollars of a top earner’s income, was willing to accept a little less than eight. On the other hand, the bottom-bracket rate was cut from 20 per cent to 16 per cent. In the case of a person in modest circumstances. Uncle Sam, who had been taking two dollars out of every ten earned, was willing to settle for $1.60. In 1965, the top rate was trimmed again — from 77 per cent to 70 per cent. And the bottom rate was cut from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. Then in 1979, for most taxpayers, there was in effect still another rate cut. Personal exemptions were increased from $750 Jo SI,OOO, and various tax brackets were widened, which meant that many people were not pushed into the higher brackets they would have been otherwise. At first glance, ail the “tex cutting’’ looks as if it should have brought a great big smile to the average taxpayer’s face, and left a bigger bulge in his wallet. But the fact is, cuts in the tax rate have not been big enough to keep up with inflation. On the average, taxpayers in 1964 paid our just over 12 per cent of their earnings in federal texes. Now it’s almost 18 per cent. Here’s the explanation. Over the past 15 years, wages and salaries have gone up about as fast as the consumer price index. For example, a typical family in 1964 had an income of $8,132 and it’s grown today to $18,815 — just about enough to match inflation. But because that family is in a higher tax bracket than it was in 1964, and pays more for Social Security, its purchasing power is now actually $1,056 less — in terms of the dollar 's 1979 value. What’s the answer? The best answer, of course, is to significantly curb federal spending, and thus stop inflation. But short of that, economists are urging a reduction in federal tax rates each year — to offset inflation’s erosion of the average family’s purchasing power. — THE LAGRANGE STANDARD.. ■*

■r-J® *'*•* * JRBflr Area residents celebrated the nation s 205th birthday with fireworks.

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

QUESTION: "What do you think of the baseball strike?"

;.■??_ DAVE ■* 1 TROUP A Milford “It’s a good deal. I’m tired of watching baseball. I think the players are right.’’ IVIN ▼ \ AVERY Milford t aflL.' (machinist* xWL “I think it’s foolish. They knew what they were getting into when they signed their contracts.” 0 HENRY YODER Goshen “I think it’s kind rA simple, they’re making more money now than they should. They make more money than any one else and it's just a sport. ” PHIL GINGERICH Milford “It’s ridiculous It’s supposed to be a sport, they’re making too much money as it is. I think they should get baseball back into the proper perspective.”

Court news

COUNTYCOURT The following residents of Kosciusko County have had fines assessed and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge : ° Violations Speeding — Sharon Rager. 31, Leesburg. $42; Roger Layne. 33. Leesburg, $42; George Custer. 18, Milford, $37; Ellis Shepherd, 20. Syracuse, $42; Vincent Williams, 20; Syracuse, $47, Mark A. Taylor, 19. North Webster. $42; Jeffrey Abrams, 31, Syracuse. $47; Mark A. Lantz. 20, North Webster, $37; Robert Friddle, 28. North Webster. $37 Towing skier withail observer — Dan Morris, 17, Syracuse. $35 Disregarding stop sign — Debbie Barton, 18, Syracuse. $37 Unsafe start — Samuel Coqui Hard, 19, Syracuse, $37; Kevin Stahly. 19. Syracuse, $37 Expired boat registration — Robert Yoder, 18. Syracuse, $35 Operating while intoxicated — Larry Shock, X, Milford, $250 plus driver s license restricted one year The following couples have filed for dissolutions of their marriages in Kosciusko County Circuit and Superior Courts: Teghtmeyer — Debra L. Teghtmeyer vs Larry E. Teghtmeyer, P.O. Box 458 Syracuse. The couple was married July 30, 1980 and was separated May 14,1981. Plaintiff seeks a dissolution, maintenance while action is pending, a temporary restraining order, an equitable division of the property, costs and attorney’s Znmbran — Hallie Zumbrun vs Michael G. Zumbrun, Syracuse. The couple was married September 15, 1979 and was separated April 10,1981. Plaintiff seeks a dissolution, an equitable division of the property and restoration of her former name, Killie White.

| W* W ja.net J Mfc ■ RICHARDSN # fl Milford (secretary i “It doesn't make any ifference to me. I’m not a baseall fan.” 808 KINNEY Peru (Pharmacist in Syracuse) “At this particular timej’m not concerned about it. I’m ot a baseball fan and it just isn'that important to me. It’s gettin me upset about the wages, it’s aittle bit outrageous. ” FRED M ARQUIS North Webster (retired railroad engineer > “I don’t think much of it. think they are foolish. They aeady are getting more money than anybody in the country ateady. why strike for more.” ROBERT GRAFF. JR. Syracuse (Press operator > “I think with the wags they are getting they should b more lenient on their contract They should be willing to comensate more on the free agents.”

Griffith — David J. Gtffith vs Barbara A. Griffith. 67 L Shore Drive, Syracuse The cxple was married February 5. 965 and was separated June 2. 1981. Plaintiff seeks a dbsolution. disposition of issues of dstody of the couple’s minor chit and an equitable division of the property \ The following claunstave been filed in Kosciusko Couty Circuit Court. Richard Sand, jdge: Damages David M. Payne vs Owen Cobbum. Water Wrld and Cobbum Industries SR 13 Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks a judgment plus punitiu damages of SI,OOO and costs The following copies have applied for marriagdicenses in the office of KosciAo County Clerk Jean Messmor: Weller-Tucer Mark A. Weller, 2. r 1 Silver Lake and Laura A. Dcker, 21, r 1 box 13 Milford Amsden-Catrino James D AmsderSO. P.O. Box 504 Milford and Florence K. Catarino, 25. P.O. BK 504 Milford THt MAILJIURNAL (USPS PuM.stMtf by Th* M»< tvtry W*4n*Mto» »Ml Second CtoM matter et me Post O*ce at Syracvie. Indhßfl* 4*547 Saceml class pasta* *a* •» >« E Mata Street Syracut Indiana MS*? and at addittanal entr aWtces Sabacriptian: par yaar ia Kaseiaofca Caanty ,oa*s»dece«Htty. POSTMASTERS; eto change of add ress farms te The Wa.lJwmal, P.O. Bax IM. MHtord.

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

THIS YEAR’S Flotilla committee is basking in the soft, warm limelight of success following its most successful Fourth of July Flotilla Week End. The week end was climaxed Sunday afternoon with a two hour and forty-five minute Flotilla parade along the 27 miles of Lake Wawasee shoreline, in which there were a total of 52 individual crafts afloat. The entire shoreline was packed with viewers, in individual boats followed the parade around the lake. The predicted rainfall failed to materialize, thankfully, and while there was some sun. it all made for a comfortable afternoon. 4 (Note: Complete results of Flotilla winners appear on page 1 while a page of pictures appears on page 15.) Each year the Flotilla Week End seems to become bigger, with more activities crammed into the agenda of events. Essentially, this year’s new activities center around Lakeside Park. To begin with, a much-heralded, yet little publicized bicycle race got off to a good start at 6 p.m. Friday night. • The race attracted 46 entries and drew a good crowd of viewers. John Kroh showed up on a tandem with son Tim pumping his life away on the rear seat. As the only entry in a tandem class. John claimed first place prize. Then there were the other new activities at the park, most of them Saturday and Sunday, featuring music by several bands, concessions, things like that. Picnickers and bathers filled the park to capacity both days. All this made the new park board feel good for they had gone to considerable pains to prepare the park for visitors and for the host of activities. The park never looked better.

The Saturday morning Road Race got off to a good start and drew 222 runners in the 3.3 and 8 mile races under humid skies As if running the eight-mile race on Saturday were not enough, a group of veteran gunners turned up at Lakeside Park early Sunday morning to run the big course again. They were Tony Clouse. Jim Mills. Ralph Bushong, Jim Garner. Betty Hite. Ron Baumgartner. Richard Rhodes and Homer Miller. A welcome addition to the race was the appearance of Dave Blackwell’s jazz band, made up of Wawasee High School musicians. It got the race off to a patriotic start and provided excellent background music while those working the race awaited the appearance of the first runners across the finish line. (Note: Here again photos of the race and of the several groups of winners appear on page 8. > The Saturday night fireworks, sponsored by Syracuse area merchants, also drew a good crowd, many of them viewing the fireworks from boats from both Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee. The Flotilla committee chose chairman Jerry Johnson's successor very wisely when it chose Jon Sroufe. Jon and his wife. Win. reside at 78 Pawnee Road, just off Ogden Island. Lake Wawasee. and have become very active in local affairs since moving into the community. Jon has had considerable experience working with the Mermaid Festival over the years, and now operates an orthopedic manufacturing firm at Ligonier. He has a real interest in the Flotilla. Summertime residents seem to have responded to the agenda of activities, for merchants— claim excellent sales records beginning as early as Thursday p.m. and lasting throughout Sunday. Our comments here are to in no way overlook the fireworks and other activities at the south end of Lake Wawasee. near the old fish hatchery, and sponsored by the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Department. These activities always draw a bumper crowd of viewers the night before the fireworks at Lakeside Park. PONY EXPRESS was faster than the current postal system, if Harold Cole’s letter is correct. Cole received a letter recently from the Syracuse Elementary School with a B stamp, mailed to his 525 South Main St.. Syracuse, mailing address with the postal dateline of June 3. p.m.. 1861 Cole enjoys reading about the pony express and laughed. "The pony express was faster. They averaged 175 miles per day and this was a local letter.” '♦ The dateline was upside-down. It should have read 1981, instead of 1861. HOW COULD we? We felt like asking ourselves. In our news item last week concerning Jay Peffley ’s being named a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow, our writer inadvertently referred to Mrs. Harry Nicolai as Maxine when it is well known her name is Mildred. We offer our apologies and hasten to correct the error. Mildred is a lifelong resident of the community and was honored on behalf of her late husband. Harry, who was also a Rotary Club Paul Harris. CHUCK AND DEBBY Baldwin recently wrote another fine letter to their family and friends in Syracuse from Neuchatel or “New Castle”, Switzerland. The couple is studying French in Switzerland to prepare them for their missionary study in Africa later on this year. Their French classes are international with others training from such countries as Nigeria, Argentina, Columbia. Sweden and Germanspeaking Switzerland. Chuck presented a three-minute talk on May 10, all in French before a church congregation. He found it a challenge.

h FLOTILLA CHAIRMAN JERRY JOHNSON. RIGHT. CONGRATULATES INCOMING CHAIRMAN JON SROVFE

A WIERD UNIDENTIFIED FLOTILLA NOVELTY GROUP

They wrote. "We’ve learned some interesting facts about our surroundings here. The country of Switzerland is only one-fifth the size of the state of Kansas, and has a population of six million, equal to the city of Chicago. No wonder people think a three-hour drive is a very major trip; they’d be traveling from the east border to the west border of their country ’’ They continued. “Switzerland is so very pretty this time of the year. During the past two months we’ve watched many things bloom . . jonquils, dandelions, apple blossoms, forsynthia bushes, tulips and now daisies are out. It rains each week and we are now in shirt-sleeve weather.” THE WORD is that WHS athletic director Carl Meditch is flirting with giving up his career with academia for a job in the business world He has been working at the Commodore Corp, during the summer months and likes his work. This column has learned that he has not entirely made up his mind on the change, however. The attraction is there, to be sure, but so is the lure to continue his work with young athletes. If our readers want to see Carl stay with the school system, a word of encouragement could turn the trick. (Note: Since the above was written it was announced by superintendent Don Arnold that Mr. Meditch has definitely decided to resign from his post at Wawasee High School and work on a permanent basis with the , Commodore Corporation. See full story on page I.) HAVE YOU noticed the yard sales that are springing up in the community? On Friday and Saturday, for instance, there were four yard sales between the uptown stop light and the railroad tracks. BILLIE GANZ is pushing $lO tickets ($5 single) for the Enchanted Hills Playhouse Theater Guild Summer Benefit, to be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. July 19. at the playhouse. It’s billed as a wine tasting party and should attract a croWd. we’re informed. The play. "The Fantasticks”. will follow the party at 8:30 p.m. at the Playhouse. PAUL SCHMUCKER was recently honored by The Paul Revere Insurance Co. of Worcester, Mass., for his record of sales and service to policyholders as being among the best in the company’s entire sales organization covering the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. As a result, he has qualified for membership in the select Leaders’ Round Table — an honorary organization of the company’s leading sales and service representatives. In addition. Schmucker qualified for his year’s national sales leaders conference. ARTHUR AND Orpha F. VanAnda. residents of the Eli Lilly Addition, Lake Wawasee. will observe their 55th wedding anniversary on September 3. and count themselves among the oldest residents of Lake Wawasee. They are now in their 43d summer at the lake. He related that his father bought the first lot (Lot No. 1) that Eli Lilly sold, in 1910. The “Skip”' Kappas family of Indianapolis now reside there, on Warner Road. Arthur was on the road for 41 years with Schlatter Hardware of Fort Wayne, calling on lumber yards and hardwares, and when calling in this area “fell in love’’ with Lake Wawasee. He bought his home, a three-bedroom home with a 50-foot lake front, for $5,000 in 1939. then rebuilt it in 1955. Happy Wedding Anniversary, lest we forget come September 3. NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE did a cover story in last week’s issue that should be of interest to anyone living in a small community, or to anyone having an interest in promoting community life. (Continued on page 5)