The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 26, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 July 1982 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., July 14,1982

4

Editorials

They made it! Congratulations are in order for all who helped the Lakeland Daycare Center meet their goal to raise $37,500 by July 1. The goal has been met, in fact, with cash on hand, pledges and gifts in kind, the grand total is $47,193.28. . The $37,500 figure will be matched by the Kosciusko County United Way. ' Construction on the new daycare center should begin in the near future with the excess monies collected going towards furniture, ground work and playground equipment. The center, housed in the Calvary United Methodist Church, was forced to make a move of some kind after word was received from the state licensing office that the state fire marshal had ruled it did not meet codes — the center used upstairs rooms and the state fire codes stipulate it should be on a ground floor — and the license would not be renewed effective July 1 of this year. It’s great to see the community working together to support a project such as this! Failure to yield It has been brought to our attention that several drivers in the Lakeland area are failing to yield the right away to vehicles with red, green and blue lights, often causing dangerous situations and slowing these vehicles considerably. Police cars, fire trucks and ambulances have red lights, volunteer firemen use blue lights on their vehicles and emergency medical technicians use green lights on their vehicles. # Volunteer firemen and EMTs are only to use their lights when enroute to a fire or an emergency. When these lights are on the law says they are to be given the right of way. All too often this is not being done, delaying their arrival at the scene of a fire, an accident or another emergency. State police officers note that all drivers, including those with vehicles with red, blue or green lights, must obey traffic signals but those with flashing red, blue or green lights are to be given the right of way by other vehicles. In other words, if you are driving and a vehicle with a red, green or blue light comes up behind you pull over and let it pass — it will only take an extra minute or two and someday the house or life you save may be yours or a loved ones! The cradle One of life’s mysteries is the disappearance of the cradle. In the old days every mother had a cradle. One could rock the cradle with a foot while sewing, knitting or reading. . , r A ... Or one could keep a cradle rocking with an occasional push of the foot while moving about. In the old days every American mother thought a cradle necessary when a baby was born. Yet today, in most sections of the country, one can’t buy a cradle. Many young mothers don’t know what it’s like to rock a baby in a cradle. Caring for baby has become more difficult as a result — not to mention that baby misses his free rides. , What caused the disappearance of the practical, worksaving cradle? No one seems to know. Enterprising husbands with a bent for carpentry or a workshop can make them. Oldtimers say hickory rockers were best — they aren’t supposed to creep when the cradle is rocked. Oak, ash or other woods (poplar or buckeye) can be used for the cradle itself. I. . . lOA 0 Th* linden, in the fervors of July, J Uiy , f Z OaC Hums with a louder concert. Bryant. July ushers in the second half of the calendar year. still the first month of the fiscal year for many. July is named for Julius Caesar, a change from its former name of Quintilis, changed on the order of Mark Antony, being the month in which Caesar was bom. . 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 in the U.S. Navy, David G. Farragut, was bom on July 5,1801. The Republican Party was founded July 6, 1854, at Jackson, Michigan. A 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 led ah amphibious invasion of Sicily. July, the first full month of summer, is the month of vacations, holidays, swimming, boating and outdoor pleasures — and too many highway deaths.

What others say — / Postal report There is some good advice for the Postal Service in a report by an independent study group and some evidence that the group shares the Postal Service’s faulty perception of its role. The nine-month, $500,000 study by the National Academy of Public Administration was commissioned by the Postal Service to evaluate the agency’s performance in the first decade since the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. The report found that the reorganization averted a possible serious breakdown in the delivery of the nation’s mail. “The Postal Service is doing a good job handling torrents of mail,” the group reported. “But both the quality of the service and especially the public perception of it can and should be improved. ” Although the group found that the Postal Service has worked to reduce costs and increase productivity “at some sacrifice in employee courtesy and customer service,” it also recommended closing more small post offices around the nation, establishing a nine-digit ZIP code and giving more thought to reducing delivery schedules. The trouble with the Postal Service has been its inclination to look at itself as just another business, rather than a vital service on which the businesses and individuals in this country depend. Despite its acceptance of this viewpoint, the group said the Postal Service should improve window services, maintain self-service equipment and make a serious effort to deal complaints. The Postal Service was urged to overhaul mail rate-making procedures, to use new technology to move the mail swiftly and cheaply and to work on its public image. We hope that the Postal Service will heed the criticism in the report and not focus solely on what the agency’s chiefs wanted to hear. — SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

B mm mo pi K mifuntHMunr > 9 kmkhb Kg Sign tells the story. Court news

COUNTY COURT , Violations The following violations have had fines assessed and paid in 'lndiana Trooper' actual magazine The Indiana State Police Post in Bremen has announced the actual existence of the “Indiana Trooper,” a magazine soliciting money for advertisements via phone calls. Several Syracuse business people were concerned about phone calls received soliciting funds for the Indiana State Police Alliance. The State Police post in Bremen does have a list of members in this organization. Anyone questioning Xhe validity mshould attain the caller’s the Bremen post.

if Air jfrjl Kathi Birkel enjoys EMS

Syracuse resident Kathi Birkel. the last remaining woman member from the original Syracuse EMS squad, continues to enjoy her work after over five years of community service. Mrs. Birkel said she decided to become an Emergency Medical Technician after witnessing a serious accident near her home in Syracuse. At first, her friends doubted if she had what it took to become an emergency worker. “I finally convinced myself I could doit,” she said. Mrs. Birkel said she went to EMT school in Warsaw in training for her position, and takes 20 hours of classroom work each year to remain informed on the latest emergency medical procedures. She said EMS workers are re-certified for administering CPR each year. Currently the crew leader for EMS Crew Three in Syracuse. Mrs. Birkel said she was on call from S a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and “whenever I’m available. ” Mrs. Birkel said she was inspired by the enthusiasm of he* fellow EMS workers. “There were some problems with accepting women EMT’s in other communities, but the Syracuse fellows were very receptive,” she said. It can often be helpful to have a women emergency worker available in situations involving small children and older people, she said. “It can be very rewarding, but there are times you have to swallow hard and keep on trying,

Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge: Speeding — Rickie L. Stookey, 33, Leesburg, SSO; Patricia A. Prothe, 50, Leesburg, $65; David P. Thompson, 32, Syracuse, S4O; Jeffrey A. Atwood, 16, North Webster, S4O; Cynthia E. Mohler, 27, Syracuse, $65; Timothy T. Crum, 18, Syracuse, S4O; Letitia J. Dain, 38, Syracuse, SSO; John F. Call, 45, Syracuse, $45 Fishing without license — Gloria A. Maple, 37, Syracuse, S4O SPOKE TO MEN’S GROUP Arch Baumgartner, publisher of The Mail Journal, spoke to a men’s breakfast at the Calvary United Methodist Church at Syracuse Sunday morning, showing color slides of China, the Philippine Islands and Japan, taken during a trip he and Mrs. • Baumgartner took with members of the National Newspaper Association in the Fall of 1979.

if not for yourself, then for the others around you,” Mrs. Birkel said. She cited an incident involving the death of an infant as the most difficult situation she has had to deal with. One emergency Mrs. Birkel has yet to come in contact with is the birth of a baby, something she is cautiously looking forward to. A native of North Judson, Mrs. Birkel has lived in the Syracuse area since 1970. Her husband, Howard, serves as the Syracuse Fire Department’s second assistant chief, and is also a member of her EMS squad. She has two sons. Sean. 13. and Christopher, nine. She is em- , ployed as a part-time bookkeeper at Auer’s Automotive, Syracuse.

THE MAILJOUtHAL (U.S P S. 325 *4O) — PuUte-Md ky The «Wk*MnwMtory WadMi and enter**! m Second Class matter at tee (test OHke at sWdc«M. tediana 44M7. Second class postage paid at l«3 E. M*hi inawn* Subscription: *ll per year io Kosciusko County; SIS outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms te The Mail-Journal P.O. Bos IM. MMord. Indiana MS42

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

suf stmna REV. DAVID HYNDMAN. CAROL HURD, CARL MEDITCH. ARCH BAUMGARTNER

A TQTAL of 274 runners who took part in the two races, held in the Syracuse community on Saturday morning, July 3, can take considerable pride in knowing that their participation is making a significant contribution to the new Lakeland Daycare Center. Gross receipts gained through entry fees amounted to $1,262.00, and half of this amount has been contributed to the Daycare Center building fund by the sponsoring Mail-Journal. 1 On Friday a check for $631.00 was presented to Rev. David Hyndman, chairman of the Daycare Center fund drive, by Carl Meditch, who served as general chairman for this year’s races. In the above photo are Rev. Hyndman; Carol Hurd, Daycare Center director; Mr. Meditch; and Arch Baumgartner, publisher of The MailJournal. The initial drive for voluntary contributions for the new Daycare Center sought $37,500, to be used as matching funds for a grant in like amount from the Kosciusko County United Way, for a grand total of $75,000, an estimated" cost of the center. Rev. Hyndman said Friday afternoon that $47,193.28 has already been collected, as follows: ft’ Cash - $21,643.28; pledged cash - $19,035.00; gifts in kind — $6,515.00. (Note: See story on page 1, this issue.) “THAT WEEK end was quite a bash at that,” was a succinct remark heard about the area’s Flotilla Fourth of July week end. And it was, too. According to those in charge of the various events, it was by far the best attended and most well staged week end. To be sure, the weatherman cooperated, with the brief exception of rain during the road race. But the runners on the whole appeared to welcome the refreshing, soft warm rain. A few things went without their full measure of publicity, including the volleyball competition in the Lakeside Park, the sailboat races by members of the Yacht Club on Sunday and Monday, and the Cromwell Fire Departmentsponsored fire works at the fish hatchery site on Saturday night, as examples. Any slight was unintentional, at least from this journal’s point of view; we did have reporters running in all directions, and yet we failed to touch some bases. Sorry about that. But we’ll have to agree — “it was quite a bash at that!” And it was appropriately climaxed with the firing of the “Big Boomer,” the firecracker extraordinaire. SOME PARENTS we know were surprised to ' learn how much their children have learned about the world we live in. It came to light, clearly, last week when there was all the publicity about the moon going into eclipse for nearly two hours early Tuesday morning. Children seem to have greater opportunities to learn today, with the proliferation of various general news and science publications, and with the advantage television affords. One family we know has a nine-year-old grandson who has been reading a book entitled “Our Universe, ” and has been doing a pretty good job absorbing it. When grandpa has to take Us / lessons about the world we live in from his grandsou. there can’t be too much wrong with our educational system. SEVERAL UPTOWN merchants are sorely distressed that the flowers in the containers put up some time ago by the uptown merchants have disappeared. . Jeannie Gardner, the bank’s receptionist who spearheaded the project, said all the Weaping Cherry trees planted in the containers have died. “They made It through the winter,’’ she said, “even budded out to the Spring, then all of them went dead.’’ She allows it might have been for lack of water that they died. • She said the first six cost S3O each, and the second six cost SBO each, adding that to replace them now would easily cost SSO to S6O each. “But we’re not giving up,” she added, stating we could expect “some more action” in this regard. . ,

* 1 I !\\V X > ! A,: « k \\ ■ /1 II TWuH PWfT raw ; : \ THE BIG thing in Hoosier sports will take place, starting Friday, Jqly 23, at Indianapolis, and billed as an eight-day gala sports celebration. It’s name: National Sports Festival. It’s to be big enough to attract such luminaries as Bob Hope and sportscaster Chris Schenkel, who will serve as master of ceremonies. Central to it all will be the dedication of a huge 27-foot, six and one-half ton torch. It has a 7’x9’ base, made from 32 pieces of %” thick Cor-ten steel, plus an interior support skeleton. It took four months from design to completion, and was the brainchild of artist Don Robertson of Indianapolis. Top athletes of America are expected to converge on Indianapolis for this eight-day spectacular sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Committee. (Note: See complete article on page 13, this issue.) COMMENTS CONCERNING the proposed cost ($650,090) of the new dty building, to be located at 500 South Huntington Street, Syracuse, persist, and many think this cost, at some SBO per square foot, is exhorbitant. One wag concluded his tongue-in-cheek concern with this, “Was that a load of Italian marble I saw go through town?” ♦ WHEN THE old bromide was coined, that corn should be knee high by the Fourth of July, it .jnust have been way before the days of sophisticated farm fertilizers. For this year area farmers are headed for a bumper corn crop, and on the Fourth of July corn stalks were eight feet high in places. We’ve had “just the right amount of rainfall and hot nights,” according to one grower, z to give us this bumper crop. A The state of lowa has often boasted about its toll corn, but we’re willing to put Hoosier corn right up there alongside lowa’s corn. Most local people think of Kosciusko County and its abundance of lakes, and that’s all right. But they • should be reminded that Kosciusko County ranks among the highest in Indiana in agricultural income, with corn and soybeans providing much of this income. LAKE WAWASEE has been getting a lot of publicity and for a good many years. As Indiana’s largest natural, fresh water lake, and known variously as the “Big Lake” and the “Nine Mile Lake,” among other names, it has been the mecca for fun-lovers and sun-worshippers for a longer time than most contemporaries can remember. Proof of this* is a six-page rotogravure supplement that appeared in The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel on September 7, 1929, shown to this column by Judy Campbell, a resident of Lake Wawasee and Fort Wayne. The front cover of this supplement has eight pictures taken on Lake Wawasee, and at that time (1929) should have been a tremendous boost for the lake. In 1929 there was no television, very little radio, and the print media ruled the communications roost. In this light, such a spread must have been fabulous. HENRY WHELAN, new Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club president, has as one of his goals this year the spending of all project funds in the (Continued on page 5)