The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 31 March 1982 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOT 1 • NAL — Wed.. March 31.1»K2

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Editorials

Have you voted? Have you voted for Milford 1982 “Citizen of the Year?’* If not do so today — the deadline is Friday. April 2. The 12th annual Milford “Citizen of the Year" will be named at the annual Milford Area Development Council banquet set for Saturday. April 17. in the Apostolic Christian Church's Fellowship Hall Congratulations Plymouth If we failed to recognize the state basketball championship of the Plymouth Pilgrims we would be in error Plymouth is the first team from the Northern Lakes Conference to ever • bring home the state championship and the first team to have played on the Waw asee gym floor the year they won the state title. Everyone in the Lakeland community is proud of Coach Jack Edison and his Plymouth team and of Trester Award winner Phil Wendel and join in extending well deserved praise to the Pilgrims.

What others say — . City's officials and citizens accepted flood'p challenge You there, with the pump. And you. pulling those sandbags out of the mud. And you, helping your neighbors carry their furniture outside to dry. Stop for a moment. and take a bow. You’ve done it. Fort Wayne. You’ve made it through the worst flood in the city's history. And you did it with style — even courage — as the eyes of the nation were upon you. Floods do not discriminate, they disrupt lives without regard to age. race or economic status. But when the people of Fort Wayne joined together to fight back, such distinctions were also forgotten. Children and high-schoolers were trusted with very adult responsibilities as they worked to shore up the Pemberton dikes and other w eak spots in the city’s defenses. Adults who wouldn’t think of working overtime without extra pay were working all night to help hold back the water White-collar workers who seldom lift anything heavier than a paperweight in the course of their regular duties hefted 40-pound sandbags until their backs were like ironing-boards. The citv’s leaders did exactly what they had to do if this city was to meet the challenge — they led. Mayor Win Moses Jr was the perfect combination of serious purpose and cautious optimism. When things looked dangerous — as they did for residents of the Lakeside area when the Pemberton barricades began to weaken — the mayor laid it on the line. He spoke frankly, precisely, but not hysterically When interviewed by the national media. Moses seemed to personify the city 's grace under pressure. As the fioodw aters began to recede this weekend, Moses took the Grinch-like responsibility of telling evacuees they shouldn't rush to get back into their homes It was probably the last thing those who had been homeless for a week had wanted to hear, but Moses calmly outlined the dangers that could await them on their return, such as electrical damage, structural weaknesses — even collapsing neighborhood streets. The week surely did wonders for Moses political standing, but the mayor probably didn’t win any votes with his insistence on caution at the end of the ordeal. He may, however, have saved someone from injury or death. There were, of course, other city officials whose work was essential. City Transportation Director Carl O'Neal, who directed the flood-fighting operations, was in a class by himself If we ever have to have another flood, let’s hope O’Neal is around to battle it. Now there is the long task of cleaning up, of taking stock, of rebuilding homes and businesses Much of this will be neither easy nor pleasant. But it will all get done We’ve seen last week that this city has the will to do just about anvthing - FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Let's hear it for IHSAA's one class tournament Ah, basketball March in Indiana. The Indiana state boys’ basketball tournament. Hoosier Hysteria. . A time of hope for all Os ecstacy for many for winning a sectional. Os despair for a select few for losing in the Final Four. Everybody in the same boat. Big schools, little schools, middle-sized schools — all in one big tournament. A blind draw for opponents Win and go on Lose and go home So simple Three hundred and ninety five teams in the beginning. One champion in the end Not champion of Class A or Class AAA. Champion of Indiana, period. Some think it’s too simple, that there should be more than one tournament for schools of varying size. At least two classes, maybe three. Maybe a playoff between champions to determine a champion of champions. Everybody else does it, why not Indiana? Only Indiana, Kentucky and Delaware still cling to the one tournament principle, proponents of class basketball are quick to point out. Opponents of classes for Hoosier basketball usually answer this question with another question: How many other states make enough out of their state boys’ basketball tournament to subsidize 17 state tournaments (many of which won’t meet expenses), operate the most efficient state high school athletic association in the nation, and turn back the bigger part of a million dollars to the compering schools? That one has a simple answer; None. The Indiana High School Athletic Assoc. (IHSAA) contends that the concept of one basketball tournament for all schools has been good to Indiana, and the IHSAA has no desire to alter the format. So also believes a majority of the people who head the schools whose membership makes up the IHSAA. While athletic programs get bigger and more expensive, the athletic dollar gets scarcer and scarcer. Most everybody is a bit leery of tampering with success. The check from the sectional now is a big one and it comes every year. It might not be nearly so big under a class tournament set-up which would greatly increase distances for teams to travel to the tournaments, and greatly increase inconvenience for the fans. It has always been the smaller schools which have shot down class basketball in Indiana. Most of the really little ones have been devoured by consolidation. The dividing line now between big and little is an enrollment of 700 The state champions always comes out of the big half. Only Milan in 1954 has been able to crack the monopoly since 1915. It seems that the smaller schools — or many of them — feel they can get more satisfaction from beating a big school and winning a sectional than from being the small school champion. Like Corvdon did in taking the Floyd Central Sectional. It would have been nice just to win the sectional even if someone else had beaten Floyd Central, but it is so much more satisfying to do it yourself, like the Panthers did. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it erases the pain of many failures. The IHSAA has had a committee working for a couple of years on sectional realignments across the state. We hope that the general idea is for more sixteam sectionalsand fewer fours and eights. But there will still be only one state tournament. — THE CORYDON DEMOCRAT

1111 W "w' Ifi&Jaß' " "’il BPS Kill \ ijgS ms •" 1 ’ It's time to vote for Milford's 1982 "Citizen of the Year. '' The 1981 'Citizen, '' Elmer Hartter is shown here with his wife, Flossie.

Court news

The following area residents of Kosciusko'County have had fines assessed and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court. Jim Jarrette. judge

Failure lo yield right-of-way — Charles Stuckman. 18. Syracuse. SSO

Unsung heroes —

fi! StPiP IRpr ’HQEkIY J# jf. - I :r -s f

Howard Birkel active fireman, Syracuse's 2nd assistant chief

Howard Birkel is presently Second .Assistant Chief on the Syracuse Fire Department He has been with the department for about four years Also a member of the Syracuse Emergency Medical Service, he says he is active on both organizations because he likes it and it is exciting Coming to Syracuse in 1973. Howard is employed at Sea Nymph in Syracuse, is married and has two children. Shawn, 12, and Chris Anderson, nine Birkel said he tried to get on the fire department when he first came to Syracuse, but at that time a member had to be 21. He waited until he was 21. then ed up at a meeting and there was an opening for a trainee Present age rules have changed He voted in as a trainee and about a year later joined the EMS as well As second assistant, it is Howard's duties to spot the trucks at a fire so they can get the hose off and hook up to the tanker if the fire is out in the township He is in charge of the trucks at a fire and after the fire he is in charge of putting all the equipment* back or seeing that it gets put back Other duties include checking the Scott air tanks and filling out the fire reports to submit to the state fire marshal Howard says he enjoys working on the department and agrees that it does take up a lot of time In some ways, he comments being an officer is enjoyable, but he also liked working at the end of the hose fighting fires too. When asked about being a fireman or an EMS person from a financial aspect. Howard said that he believes no one is on the department for the money. But

Disregarding stop sign — Dean C Coffin. 62. North Webster. SSO No valid operator’s license — Thomas Gerstner. 44. Syracuse, SSO Speeding — Sherri A. Elder. 23. Syracuse. SSO; Richard B Staley . 36. Syracuse. SSO Rick Bowling. 22. North Webster, $65

HOWARD BIRKEL

said he would recommend it to anyone because it is good experience He also commented that anyone interested should put their application in to the fire department and the EMS because they always need more people Another duty of the second assistant is to take over if the fire chief and first assistant are out of town One of the worst experiences Howard said he has ever had is a fire about a year ago on the other side of the lake w here the person died in the fire Kathy. Howard's wife, is also a member of the Syracuse EMS. therefore, it involves much of the family 's time As well as being a member of the EMS and fire department. Howard coaches the fire department’s youth league team He has been coaching the team for four years. THE MAII-JOUMUI (USPS nsMO) PvUnM by Th* Mail Journal every , Wednesday and entered at Second Clast matter at Me Pest OMice at Syracuse Indiana *eSS7 Second class postage pari at tU E. Mam Street Syracuse Indiana «4S*7 and at addthanal entry aMtces Subscription SIZ par year in Kosciusko County Sit outside county POSTMASTERS; Send change a* address lorms to The Mad Journal, P.O to x IN. Mil Herd. Indiana MS42

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

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THE SYRACUSE-Wawasee Rotary Club is to be congratulated on undertaking a project that is long overdue, and should be the object of considerable favorable concern to anyone with a pride in his community. Cnderway at the present time is an upgrading of the uptown parking lot. located just across Main Street from the Syracuse Public Library. The Rotary Club has shown concern for such a civic project for some time, and was given a nudge in this direction some time ago when the SvracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce, through its child, the Syracuse-Wawasee Development Company, was deep into a self-improvement project know n as “Project Pride.” and was urging iocal organizations to consider what they could do to improve the appearance of the overall community. Actihg expediciouslv. Rotarians voted to spend $5,000 on the uptown project, and appointed the following committee to go to work on some sort * of plan: John Call, chairman. Bill Cable. Ken Harkless. Dan VanLue and Steve Arnold. Call, an architect, outlined feasible plans and came up with drawings and Arnold carried the ball. A $2,975 contract was let to Roach Brothers Construction, a local firm, to undertake the project and their workmen are now on the job at the lot. Rotarian Ken Harkless. a local artist of considerable note, is painting a picture of the old Syracuse High School building, later used as an elementary school, which graced this site: His . work will be cast in bronze, according to John Call, and memorialized in a suitable setting, along with the old school’s headstone, a limestone piece which was recently retrieved from its relegation by some thoughtful Rotarians The Rotary Club committee has asked the active Syracuse Garden Club to get into the act by planting shrubbery and small trees that fit into the plan as outlined by architect Call. The Garden Club has agreed and is certain to provide many hours of work making the parking area a site of which the entire community can be proud. “If one considers the voluntary time going into the project, it could easily run as much as $7,500.” according to Steve Arnold. Watch the parking area improve. It’s almost certain to be a major uptown improvement that will spark pride in the hearts of townspeople. And it could set an example for other civic-minded groups to consider like projects for their organization's consideration. -O—BASKETBALL WAS in the air last week, what with the neighboring Plymouth Pilgrims winning the state tourney at Indianapolis Saturday night in a double overtime, something not witnessed since 1913! And this made us all proud of Plymouth, the more so when one of its members, 6'l” Phil Wendel. won the coveted Trester Award A Lakeland family that has its own reason to be proud of a state basketball victory is the Hiram Ferverda family of North Webster. Mrs. Ferv erda. the former Irene Shock of this community, told this column about the Cliff (New Mexico* Cowboys win over Floyd (New Mexico) High School <62-54 > in recent class A state finals held in the University Arena at Albuquerque. Her interest; Her nephew, Pete Shock, coaches the Cowboys. The F erverdas spent six weeks in New Mexico attending the Cowboys* victorious sectional and regional tournaments, then came home in time to see the Wawasee Warriors win their sectional at Triton. But more, coach Pete Shock’s dad is Dale Shock, who coached at Cliff High School for 40 years and saw his teams to many, many victories Dale will be remembered by old-timers in the Syracuse community as having been a star on the 1926 Yellow Jackets team, the only Syracuse team to go to the “Sweet Sixteen.” Shock plaved on that winning team alongside the following: Leon Connolly, captain, and Everett Crow. Wavne Hoekher. Junior Bachman. Earl Auer. Don Riddle and Alden Snavely. The late Court Slabaugh was their coach. A Mail-Journal record shows four of the starting five players went to Indianapolis with the flu. Playing against Bedford, they led 15-2 at halftime, but lost in the final half game. No wonder Irene and Hiram Ferverda are proud of coach Dale Shock and his winning son. coach Pete! —o— THE MID-WEST Advertising Co . headed up by one Ed Jobe, which sold the much talked-about coupon books in this area, is doing it in Columbia City, it was learned here last week. Phyllis Louden, president of the SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce, has apprised Rkhard Haworth, executive secretary of the Columbia City Chamber, about the bod community relations the coupon promotion engendered in the lakes area.

A GOLDEN opportunity is being provided to some 30 members of the Wawasee High School Varsity Singers, a choir under Steve Bailey, to combine a singing experience with a trip to and around New York city. They plan to leave Wednesday. May 5. and return on Sunday. May 9. traveling on a cushy motor coach. A $290 fee includes two nights in a hotel, meals and coach fees. The occasion: To sing in what is known as the Big Apple Music Festival in New Jersey, just across from Manhattan. .Included will be a New York city tour, visit to the Statue of Liberty, the United Nations, Lincoln Center, and a visit to the Radio City Music Hall or a play. Traveling with the group will be instructor Bailey, principal Hull and their wives. —O—OUR STORY on the Milford Christian School did not include fees, and Evelyn Cramar was quick to notice this. But now we can tell her the fees are SBSO for a 10-month year, payable monthly, classes K-4. Pre-K classes are cheaper. Are gist rati on fee of $25. plus $55 for books and supplies will be charged, and here pre-K classes are cheaper, too A certified teacher will be employed and hours will be same as those in public schools. -0THE ENCHANTED Hills Playhouse Guild is going about raising funds for an air-conditioning system, plus other improvements, for the local theater, this column learned late last week A cover letter went out to Guild members to provide favorite recipes for a recipe book as a sort of fund-raiser. According to Penny Heckaman, who is spearheading the recipe beok. the Guild hopes to print at least 1.999 books to be sold for a nominal price. Penny’s ambition is to have it filled with "recipes of local and state dignitaries as well as from guild members ” Working with Penny on the project will be Jeanne Gardiner and Libby Edwards. More on this as plans unfold. Officers of the Enchanted Hills Playhouse Guild include: Jeanne Gardiner, president; Arlene Berkey, vice president; Penny Heckaman. secretary; and Shelley Moore, treasurer —oTHINGS MUST be happening at Anna Marie Island, on the north tip of Longboat Key. across the big bridge from Bradenton. Fla., what with a host of area people congregating there to help close out the winter’s vacation season. Bill end Barbara Beemer and Ev and Billy Cans have condos close by one another and guests with them and at nearby condos include Ted and Marge Rogers, Bob and Sandy McNary. Gene and Barb Kay. Jon and Win Sroufe, John and Gail Kroh and Rex and Helen Hagen. —o— > BILL XANDERS and Jimmy Butt will be glad to learn Buzz Keck’s charges on car rentals is sl3 per day. no mileage charge. —oHERE’S A new service, if we ever heard of one: Classes on how to be a good, effective babysitter. And it’s directed at boys and girls. 11 years of age and up The “dos” and "don’ts” are outlined by competent teachers in classes at the Syracuse Church of God on April 5. 12, 19 and 29. at 7 pm., and sponsored and taught by members of the Kappa Omkron Chapter of the Beta Sgma Phi Sorority. -o— OLD BASKETBALL coaches never die; in fact, they don’t even fade away! This would appear to be the case with 88-year-old Cal E. Beck, a resident of Bonar Lake. Cal watched the state basketball finals Saturday afternoon and night with consummate interest. He took part in Leßoy Lam bright ’s “The Fans Pick ’Em” Benchwarmer contest in the Goshen News and won, with his guess that 143 points would be sewed in the championship game. Actually 149 points were scored in Plymouth’s dramatic 75-74 double overtime victory. Lambright’s article stated Beck coached at Syracuse in 1921 and 1929. “That’s not right.” Beck quickly telephoned this column, asking us to retract Leßoy’s article. We told him we don’t normally retract other people’s mistakes; we have enough problems with our own. He informed us, however, that he did coach the Syracuse Yellow Jackets from 1914-20, and from 1928-35. and a third hitch during the war years of 1944-48. The Becks were a basketball family with three sons who excelled in the game: Charles, class of 1933: Richard, class of 1938; and Wendell, class of 1912. (Note: See item above concerning the 1926 Syracuse “Sweet Sixteen” basketball team. >