The Mail-Journal, Volume 18, Number 47, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 December 1981 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL— Wed., December 9.1981

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Editorials

A Christmas fund-raisers We hesitated on writing this editorial for fear of leaving someone out but decided it was important enough to be worth the risk. Many organizations hold Christmas fund-raisers at this time of the year with the profits going toward worthwhile causes. The Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club held its annual Christmas Bell Walk over the past week end. A number of churches, elute and organizations have held bazaars to add to their coffers. The Milford Lions Club is selling coloring books. The Syracuse Primary Mothers' Club is holding a morning with Santa for the younger generation and the schools are presenting special concerts for the enjoyment of the community at this holiday season. We feel these Christmas projects are worth supporting and urge area residents to do so. This idea could save a life I The North Webster Emergency Medical Serv ices has come up with an idea that just may help save the lives of persons in Tippecanoe Tow nship. The EMS is attempting to assemble a card file of each person within the township This file will be especially helpful for those persons with special medical problems. The EMS has a leaflet in community stores to explain the procedure and urges all who have not already done so to pick one up or contact the North Webster EMS-fire department dispatcher and give him or her your medical problems, doctor s name and complete directions to the home. Ail persons, even those with no specific medical problems, should call and give this information to the EMS so they will have directions to all homes and be able to give better serv ice in the event of an emergency. Christmas ahead Christmas is onlv 15 davs away. This year it falls on Friday and those lucky enough to have Christmas Eve as a holiday will enjoy an especially nice week end . . 4 . As for shopping — and all of us have some to do — it is easier done now than later. , , Adults should remember Christmas is a golden time for children — as far as the mystic wonder and the magic of the day is concerned. It’s also a time to help the communitv s less fortunate. Too many Americans — especially housewives — are so worn to a frazzle when Christmas finally arrives, it becomes an ordeal. In this situation, we are missing the real spirit, opportunity and fun of the year’s major holiday. Living fast Perhaps the least praiseworthy part of the American way of life is the conclusion of psychiatrists, doctors and health experts in all fields. The fast pace of living in the United States is our most serious problem. In the U.S., heart attacks, nervous breakdowns and all sorts of nervous disorders are on the increase. The experts say the reason for this trend is the terrific pace of life we set. The tension of modern living is brought about by pressure, the necessity to produce and keep up. A slower pace will add years to your life and increase the years in which you earn money. Moreover, you’ll probably find that by relaxing and learning to live all over again, you’ll become better equipped for whatever you’re doing. Now all we have to do is figure out how to slow down! Eight per cent A recent study indicated only eight per cent of the American public reads books. Other studies, while showing varying degrees, alk «?.ree that a minority of Americans read books. * The discouraging realization in digesting this statistic is that most of the books read, by those who read, are escapist fiction. Nothing essentially wrong except that when taking this into account one realizes how dismally low is the percentage of Americans who read non-fiction books. Television is. of course, the sweet, easy sugar of entertainment these days. No effort is required to watch the tube; but not much can be learned from watching commercial TV either. Teachers, editors and church leaders must encourage more Americans to read good books. Therein lies the only source of a thorough, complete knowledge of a subject. Knowledge, wisdom and learning are still the building blocks of a successful life. The easiest way to finish a hard job is to get to work. After a start is made, the finish is near at hand. What others say — Generosity gone beserk The United States did not get around to providing pensions to its former presidents until 1958. But costs since that modest beginning have increased so much as to suggest that advantage is being taken of taxpayer generosity. In its first full year, the presidential pension act of August 25, 1958, cost the nation less than $200,000. It provided $25,000 a year for ex-presidents, up to $50,000 a year for office space, and SIO,OOO annually for widows of former presidents. Harry S. Truman and Herbert Hoover were the nation’s two living former executives at that time. This year it will cost sll million in federal funds to support the country’s three living presidents — Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, and Jimmy Carter — according to figures compiled by U.S. News & World Report. Taxpayers will shell out an additional $12.5 million to run seven libraries stuffed with presidential papers and memorabilia. That doesn’t even include Nixon’s papers and other records, held in the National Archives, or Carter’s for which a library is just being planned. The money for the ex-presidents goes for anything from office staff and bodyguards to medical care and household expenses. We think the whole thing has gotten badly out of hand and should be scaled back to more reasonable proportions. Sen. Lawson Chiles, D-Fla., has prepared legislation to set limits on support services for former chief executives without cutting back their basic pensions, which now amount to $89,630 each per year. Chiles’ bill still would provide generous benefits. But it represents a start toward dealing with a spending spiralthat needs to be slowed down. There is no reason for the country to treat its former presidents presumptuously. But at a time when programs for the poor and the unemployed are being reduced it is difficult to view sll million for three former chief executives as anything but excessive. — THE PLAIN DEALER (CLEVELAND)

,r * il-. Only 15 shopping days left until Christmas. Shop in area stores and visit area bazaars and money making projects for the best buys this year! Voice of the people A column on the opinions of the people of the. Lakeland area QUESTION: "What kind of effect will the economy have on your Christmas celebrations this year?"

RICK PETERSON Milford (factory worker) A i m definately going to have to spend less stay home and watch football games ” DALE KIRKDOFKER Milford "None."

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JILL STOVER Nappanee (playhouse owner)

"It’s going to have a big effect Where I would use to buy several gifts for my children 1 will buy one gift or several smaller gifts ’' JOYCE PETERSEN Syracuse "None what so ever I have no family. I have very few people to get gifts for. it won’t affect it in any w ay.”

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JIM HARTMAN Milford (nurse's aid)

"As far as the economy goes, it was pretty bad for me for a while, but now I’ve got a job and things are k>ok ; ng up " CONNIE SMITH Milford (shop owner) "I suppose we’ll have % to watch a little closer, but well still celebrate "

Court news

.MARRIAGE LICENSES The following couples have filed for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jean Messmore Fordvce- Barnett Henry L. Fordyce. 36. Key Largo. Fla., and Cheryl D Barnett. 30, r 2 Milford Staneburner-Hummei Donald G. Stoneburner. 24. r 1 Leesburg and Lori K. Hummel. 20. r 1 Leesburg circuit court The following claim has been filed in Kosciusko County Circuit Court. Richard Sand, judge: Complaint Indiana Division of Labor vs Joe Hamsher, dba H & H Machine Company. PO Box 327 Milford. Plaintiff seeks a judgment of S4O. Serving our country MICHAEL HARLEY Pfc. Michael W. Harley, son of Donald W. Harley, r 4 Syracuse, has completed a wheeled-vehicle mechanic course at the US. Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, S.C.

RICH TIMMONS Syracuse (flower shop manager)

"It’s going to have a big effect that’s for sure. I won't be spending as much money . ” CATHY DICKINSON Milford (homemaker) "I don’t really know spending less 1 imagine 1 didn't send cards this year and I normally do .”

FLOYD ALVARE Milford (worker at Smokercraft)

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"We will be spending less and do more shopping around ” ROBERT DICKINSON Milford t enipoy ee of Kraft Foods of Kendallville "I expect the holidays to be the same, more or less, prices go up, but people expect that It’s one time of the year no one cares about prices." DOUG MOREHARD Syracuse (engineer) "It probably won’t change at all, but we haven't celebrated with a lot of money for a long time." »

COUNTY COURT The following people have had fines assessed and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge Speeding — Rick L Richcreek. 16, Leesburg. S4O. Marvin Miller. 32. Milford. S3O. Rebecca Ball, 21. Milford. SSO; Kenneth Williamson. 26. North Webster, SSO; Howard J. Brown, 74. North Webster, SSO; Larry’ Tampleton. 23, Leesburg. S4O Fake or fk-titiotts registration — Robert Waikei. 22. Leesburg, SSO Failure to respond — Michael Coon, 16, Leesburg, dismissed

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U S P S 125 WO) PvWtsbod by Th* Moil Journal ivory W«dw«s4oy and ontored at Second Closs manor at ft* Post OHicr at Syrocoso. Indiana OSSO? Second cta»s postage paid at t«J E. Maui Stroot. Syracuse Indiana 4$M7 and at additional entry otticos. Subscription: all por yoar in Kosciusko County; sl4 outsido county. POSTMASTERS: Sind clung* of add nss forms to Tho Mail Journal. P O Baa in*. MiHord. Indiana «Ml.

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

WE RE ASKING for it on this one and we know it. But we couldn’t let it pass without comment. We refer to the page 1 article concerning the effect of the public school driver training program on the highway accident rate. More than anything else, a story in The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, citing a report of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that claimed the driver training program increases rather than reduces accidents among teen-agers, gave us cause for concern. Driver training, like the schools themselves, and like students driving to school when the public-funded school buses pass their homes, has become something of a “sacred cow." a sacrosanct area that we shouldn't question, much less try to eliminate. We thought the idea deserves inspection, and so we went to WHS assistant administrator George Gilbert for some answers. We were somewhat surprised to learn the driver training program in the Lakeland School Corporation has been reduced — from eight instructors last year (most of whom are high on the salary scale > to one this year, a relatively new teacher (who is low on the salary scale) We appUud these economies. Mr. Gilbert himself praises the driver training program and wants it continued in much the new. revised form. In this article, and in the front page article on the Tampa story and in a local sidebar story, we raise the question of how driver training should be handled, if indeed we need the program at all. This w riter learned to drive a Model T Ford in an open pasture field, and youngsters growing up on farms are learning to drive their dad’s tractors in fields before they are allowed to take them on the highways These days are probably gone forever: no one is debating that. But in these days of economies in education, and in light of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report, we feel at least the driver training program is a fertile field for public discussion —o — PETE (CHO-CHO) Savage is back from his brief sojourn to Australia, arriving home Saturday. Nov. 28. Interesting thing, Pete claims it took him an hour and twenty-five minutes to fly from Sydney, Australia, to Los Angeles, reason being that he crossed the International Date Line and lost a day. He had good things to say about Australia and ail the opportunity it offers to a young, ambitious person. C. D and Grace Lawson plan to leave sometime before the end of the year for McAllister. Texas, where C. D. will open a tire retail outlet with a friend McAllister is Grace's home town, a city of some 70.000. located about six miles from the Mexican line. C. D. operated the Lakeland Standard Service Station and Grace operated the Wawasee Laundromat next door that recently burned. More recently C. D. has been driving a truck cross country, but has plans of making Texas his permanent home. At the present time C. D. is marking time by working as stock man and carryout “engineer'' at Augsburger's Super-Valu DR. MAX A. Laudeman. son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Laudeman. North Shore Drive, has been selected to be an exchange professor at Ball State University. Muncie. for the week Dec. 7 to 11. Laudeman is currently teaching his seventh year at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. in the accounting department. He will be teaching in Ball State's new College of Business building. He formerly taught at Ball State for two years before earning his doctor's degree. Mrs. Laudeman and son. Brian, will be visiting friends in Muncie during this time. The Bob Laudemans are spending the winter at their Avon Park, Fla., home. A GROUP of cititens. interested in the welfare of the south end of Lake Wawasee. are talking of forming some sort of close-knit group to ©Her some input as to the future of the old fish hatchery site, now being beautified for some sort of picnic area and small boat dock. Dick Waterson. for one. has expressed such an interest, and hopes to involve others in that area. It came to light when James M. Ridenour of West Lafayette, commissioner and director of the

The Mail-Journal Employee Connie Stiffler Connie Stiffler works in the proofreading and ad make up departments of The Papers Incorporated's Milford plant. Connie resides in Syracuse. She was born in Goshen and lived in Goshen for five years. Before joining the staff of The Papers Incorporated, she was a secretary at Chore-Time Equipment Co., in Milford. Connie was employed in the proofreading department for five years, from January of 1972 until December of 1976 and returned to the staff on October 28, i 960. Swimming, bike riding, crafts and singing in the church choir are her hobbies.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, visited the site on Wednesday, Nov. 11. and had some thoughts on the future of that site, as duly reported in this column. Commissioner Ridenour commented that the commission would not let the site become an eyesore, and hoped to enlist the assistance of some local group, and he mentioned, almost parenthetically, that it might be the Syracuse Park Board. This caused the hackles of several residents of that area to rise, and now they’re talking of forming their own “park board” or some similar organiiation. We ll just have to wait and see, and report on it if and when such an organization is formed. f THE AMBITIOUS Wawasee Kiwanis are promoting their 1981 Needy Family Project again this year, to “bring real joy to a child or family in the community who are in real need." The service club is asking anyone so inclined to give food or toys or clothing to the following collection points: State Bank of Syracuse (main uptown bank lobby and both branches) and the Three Flags Drive-In. A NEW business in uptown Syracuse anticipating a flurry of Christmas business is The Outdoorsman, located in the building formerly occupied by the Palace of Sweets. Robert H. Henschen of Fort Wayne is owner of the building, and his son, Kent, also of Fort Wayne, is operating the new enterprise, featuring fishing and archery equipment, muzzle loading equipment, camping equipment and related clothing. Kent, a handsome young man. is an expert archer and is able and willing to give helpful hints to novices of the art. Q—DON DALTON, of the South Shore Condominiums and owner of The Dalton Gang, a weed control and highway spray service, underwent surgery Friday morning at St Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, and is reported to b£ recovering splendidly. —o— THERE'S BEEN something of a local crackdown on speeders with one officer in particular bringing in his quota and more of arrests. Feeling the sting of the officer’s enthusiasm have been such people as "Pete" Heckaman, Nappanee businessman-contractor, and Dftnny Sharp and Becky Doll, both Milford businesspeople. In several instances where arrests have been made the officer was traveling in the opposite direction of the speeding vehicle, but has determined the speed of the offender by some sort of new electronic monitoring equipment. THE FUTURE use of the South Huntington Street site that formerly housed the Wawasee Laundromat is in question, according to Tom McClain, developer-investor and owner of the site McClain has been talking off and on with fast food chains about locating on one of his several properties in the area, but so far nothing has jelled. Indications are that he'll tear the building down and rebuild on the site for a future tenant. Bob and Sandy McNary owned the Wawasee Laundromat which burned on Tuesday evening. Nov. 17. but don’t plan to re open that business Burned were 35 washers and 11 dryers. The McNary’s also own the Lakeland Laundromat, located in the Village, with its nine dryers and 19 washers This location has enjoyed a land office business since the November fire AFTER-GAME revelry for two Elkhart girls almost ended in disaster, according to our anonymous informant. The girls apparently attended the WawaseeConcord basketball game here, then, somehow, drove over Milford-way en route home They were about a mile south of Milford on Old State Road 15 when they turned into a road leading to a residential section around the west side of W aubee y Lake They apparently mistook the railroad track for another road and turned onto the track. Their lights shone brilliantly down the track. .And soooo. you guessed it. along comes a southbound train. It all turned out well, just the same. The train stopped and kind trainmen helped thO girls extricate their car and they went on their way to Elkhart, none the less for wear Time: sa.m. Saturday.

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