The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 42, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 November 1982 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., November 3,1982

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Editorials p r . • ■■ The USA . . . be thankful you live here This is The United States of America ... be thankful you live here! , , t . Tears filled our eyes last Thursday as the big 747 touched down at Chicago’s International Airport with the Stars and Stripes flying high beside the runway. We had had a wonderful trip overseas but our experiences and return to the United States gave us a new appreciation of this country and the way we live. During the past 12 days we had been at airports in Holland, Greece, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey. In the latter three countries security was high and guards were everywhere with machine guns in hand, looking as if they were ready to fire at a second’s notice. Because of the situation in the Middle East we must admit we were a little apprehensive about making the trip. We would be spending six of our 12 days in Israel. What would we find? Was it safe? We saw no signs of war or unrest, only friendly people and friendly soldiers with guns, not pointed but slung over their backs. Our guide told us that all young men and women must enter the army when they reach the age of 18. Each is issued a gun and a “Bible” which must always be carried with them. Crossing the desert into Egypt, however, we found the situation entirely different and while we would someday like to return to < Israel *we have no desire to return to Egypt. Soldiers are everywhere in Egypt. They seem almost paranoid about security. Our bus was chased by a group of men in uniform and eventually boarded by one who sat in the front seat with machine gun in hand as we entered the area of the Suez Canal. We were only told he was there for security. We wondered who’s! Our uneasiness continued as we reached our hotel. Across the street an army base. Pointed at the entrance of our hotel, another machine gun. An armed guard at the gate. We realize they were probably for our protection as much as anything but this did not help our uneasy feeling. We had not felt this way since 10 years ago when separated from the rest of our party in Mexico by a band of Mexican soldiers who were standing at attention and not about to let us pass through their ranks to join the rest of the group. This editor, for one. felt relieved when our plane finally lifted off from the Cairo airport two days later and we were on our way to the USA via Istanbul and Amsterdam. Tuesday when we cast our ballot we realized how precious our freedoms are . . . little things now mean a lot. And, this Thanksgiving as we give thanks there will be a special prayer for the United States America . . . may she always remain free and 1 may we always be able to go to bed at night without soldiers outside our door. I thank God I am an American! — Jeri Seely, Editor The Mail-Journal Will Rogers Those who remember him and who enjoyed his humor, books and reporting look back on Will Rogers as the kind of folksy humorist this country needs more of. Rogers was bom November 4.1879. Oklahoma in 1947 made his birthday a legal holiday and he is remembered affectionately in all parts of the country. He died in an airplane crash with Wiley Post at Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1935. How the country could use his hbmespun style of humor on television today! To the student At this time of year, when students have begun the 1982-83 school year, a word to them is in order. If this editorial is read by only one. we think it is worth writing it. The students of our high schools and colleges live in an era which will severely challenge their intelligence as they attempt to express ideals in actual life. They are confronted today with perhaps the greatest menace ever to confront our country. They may have to solve problems far more complex than any which have so far faced this young Republic. Enlightened young men andwomen must have a purpose in mind and heart. Therefore, every student should give some of his time to seriously thinking about the plan of our universe, the values of life which seem to be universal and eternal What others say — Insensitivity: the rule! Insensitivity seems to be the rule rather than the exception when it comes to the new breed of roving TV reporters. The wondrous new technology which allows instantaneous transmission of picture and sound from the scene of the action is, for the most part, a boon to our newshungry society. When it imbues the actual practitioners, the reporters on the streets, with the feeling that absolutely no question is beyond the boundaries of good taste, then we would be far better off without them. Two recent examples provide insight into this problem. Following his triumph over Ivan Lendl in the men’s singles finals of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Jimmy Connors was “interviewed" on the spot by CBS reporter John Tesh. Perhaps trying to liven up what is usually an anti-climatic if not outright boring practice, Mr. Tesh attempted to goad Mr. Connors into making a statement about his reputed “feud” with and disdain for the defeated Afr. Lendl (standing but a few feet away). The mike was not only carrying this exchange to the TV audience across the country, but was live to the audience in the stands. They booed Mr. Tesh’s questions and cheered Mr. Connors’ evasive answers. Both clearly deserved their respective treatment. The other example is much more disturbing. After the confusion concerning the death and injury toll in the recent air crash in Spain, the survivors were disembarking in New York in a highly emotional scene at Kennedy Airport. Some families had no idea their loved ones were safe until they actually saw them walking down the corridor into their waiting arms. Intruding into these tearful reunions came the local TV newspeople, armed with bright lights, nosy cameras and an unbelievably haughty attitude. One such reporter (again, an employee of WCBS-TV) persisted in asking the same questions (“Was it bad?" “How bad was it?") over and over, of a man whose head was bandaged, had been burned in the crash, and was just trying to leave the area. The reporter didn’t quit until the man broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. The public’s “right to know" surely needn’t be extended to this degree. If TV reporters do not begin to show some sensitivity to the victims of a tragedy, then perhaps they ought not to be allowed access to these people at all. - SUBURBAN NEWS, WESTFIELD, N.J.

f i i I America — A great iI \ > place to live. Programs sponsored by Extension Office

The public is invited to participate in the upcoming programs sponsored by the County Extension Office Two programs will be offered on Thursday. Nov. 4. At 9.30 am., in the Commissioner’s Room, third floor of the court house, “Feeling Good About Yourself" will be presented by Laura Meers. PhD. director of consultation and education services at the Bowen Center. If a friend or family member is experiencing low self-esteem that is associated with today’s economics, how to help people feel better about themselves without letting problems get in their way will be discussed At 1 p m., in the basement meeting room of the Justice Building. “Housing and Home Furnishings for Energy Efficiency" will be presented by Cathy Burkett, extension' home economist from Starke County. Miss Burkett will share information on how to select fur nishings with energy savings in mind. On November 9. at 9:30 a m in the basement meeting room of

Unsung heroes — 9Br -4 TONY ZIMMERMAN . Tony Zimmerman doing something he needed to do

For Milford's Tony Zimmerman. becoming a member of the Milford Volunteer Fire Department was something he felt he just needed to do. “They needed the help." said Zimmerman, and because of that need be is now a three-year veteran with the department. A plant food manager at the Milford Farm Bureau Co-op for eight years, Zimmerman and his wife Ruth have two boys, Mark and Jeff. He enjoys helping out with the fire department because “they work good together.” One of the biggest asset in Zimmerman’s mind is that no one on the department has one particular job. Just like where he works, “everyone does whatever he comes up to first. 0 Zimmerman can be found in a truck or driving a truck, depending again on the need at that time. His greatest concern about safety is when he has to go into a burning house. It's always a touchy time, not knowing if he will find somebody in the house trapped. The recent tragedy at Plymouth “makes me cautious,"

the Justice Building. "Stretching the Food Dollar" will be presented The program offers ways to reduce food costs and still get the best buy. “Microwave Holiday Fantasies" will be presented November 16 in the basement meeting room of the Justice Building. Two sessions will be offered, from 10 a m. until 12 noon and from 7 until 9p.m. The program will illustrate how to use microwave ovens to make holiday candy and treats. There is a slight charge and preregistration for this class only is requested. For more information, contact the County’ Extension Office. Courthouse. 100 West Center Street. Warsaw. Newspaper data Newspaper carriers 18 years of age and under comprise almost 90 per cent of the total carrier force in the United States. Source: “Facts About Newspapers ’82,” American Newspaper Publishers Association.

when it comes to speeding around to the scene of a tire. Zimmerman isn't one for breaking records for getting to the scene. He figures “you got to get the equipment there in good shape before you can do any good.” His biggest fear is to someone over reacting to a siren, and possibly pulling out in front of the truck.

THEMAIL-JOURNAL (U S P S 325«40) Published by The Mail Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse. Indiana sasaz Second class postage paid at tOJ E. Mam Street. Syracuse. Indiana sasaz and at additional entry offices Subscription: SI 3 per year in Kosciusko County. SIS outside county POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail Journal. P.O Box IM. Mrttord, Indiana «*S42.

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

JERRY AND Alice Herbison, of 706 Front Street, are about to leave for Florida where they will spend the winter months in their condo at Largo, near Clearwater. Jerry is quick to remind us that he was not a member of the famous (or is it infamous?) “Large Eight." Remember that group of eight men who found their sport in wiling away their spare time playing poker for penny ante stakes? Os course, they were arrested, paid a minor fine, and were the subjects of wide national publicity, eventually receiving a free trip to an Atlantic City casino? Herbison assures us he was not one of the eight — “but 1 could have been," he adds. THE WORKMEN on the Chessie System railroad crossing job, now in progress, were wondering if their diligence on the job would possibly rate having their names in The MailJournal. “Sure,” why not, we replied, inasmuch as their efforts will be appreciated by the entire community. Carl Gorsuch of Kimmell is the tine foreman, but working out of Syracuse. Others are Dave Swonger and Jim Whittaker from Garrett, and Blas Marques is from Walkerton. Gorsuch says a crew of eight is responsible for the tracks from Garrett to Walkerton, whereas some years ago a similar crew was on hand to keep each six-mile stretch of track under repair. “And that's part of the problems,” Gorsuch states. MERL AND Maggie Smith (Smith-Walbridge Band Camp) are home from a two-week stay with their son Greg at Alice, Texas, where Greg is a junior high and high school band director. Funny thing. Merl came to town on his moped, wearing an outsized, colorful Texas hat with a matching jacket bearing Wawasee High School colors. Merl appears to have an affinity for big hats, for he’s the fellow who wears the huge sombrero at the Lions Club’s chili cook-off each year. DID YOU ever hear of Spook Insurance? Well, we never did either until last week four comely lassies came knocking at our front door with such an insurance offer. For a $2 premium the girls would offer to clean up our yard, trees and all. of anything done during Halloween. It’s a new way to raise money, for sure, money they hope to use to finance a band trip to Virginia for two days in May. The drive is school-approved. A NUMBER of area stores who stock up on candy for the Halloween week end find themselves

- c JM /I j TIPPY VOTE — Voter turnout was very high at the precinct 2 polling spot in the North Webster fire station. Mae Dudkinskey receives her ballot from election board clerk Phyllis Mullett (Photo by Gary Lewis) I K*Sw * 1 MILFORD VOTING — Ita Geyer hands over her ballot to Maryann Dowty, election inspector, at the Van Buren township polling spot in the Masonic Lodge at Milford. (Photo by Gary Lewis)

with a lot of it left — more than usual, in fact. One merchant commented. “We’ve got tons of it left.” All this sounds like there will be a bunch of candy sales once Halloween is behind us. The several incidents widely reported in the press and op television that candy had been "tampered with,” similar to the Tylenol and Excedrin incidents, have caused many to shy from buying candy to hand out to masked youngsters. A number of reports even urge children not to accept candy or apples as they make their masked rounds. This has raised literal hob with the candy market. One merchant took exception to Trick or Treat night being held in Syracuse on Friday night. “Halloween is on Sunday,’* he commented, “knocking us out of candy sales on Saturday and Sunday.” He added that the candy market was down the drain as it is, without jumping the date by two days. C’est I’Vive. OUR OP-ED page this week carries a Letter to the Editor from Rita Harris of North Webster, but one comment in it continues to disturb us. The letter refers to the 10 seniors who were reprimanded for misconduct during their Washington. D.C.. trip. She writes, in part: "I think that the 10 seniors learned a very important lesson on this trip — that when involved in a school function never tell the truth when you can lie and get out of the consequences.” We don’t feel Mrs. Harris really means this, for, if she does, it is the worst kind of lesson to pass on to her son who was one of those being reprimanded. « Those involved have served the time of their expulsion and are back in class. Other than our obligation to print Mrs. Harris’s letter, we plan to bring the curtain down on this matter. We feel the students involved would want that, as would the parents and school administration. LOCAL CHILI enthusiasts, spurred by the Lions Club’s Chili Cook-off. will be interested in knowing some 10,080 spectators attended the 16th annual World Championship Chili Cook-off Sunday at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, as 66 cooks (13 women and 53 men) watched their chili cook and bubble. X A total of s3ogooo in prize money went to winners: $25,000 place winner, $5,000 shared by runners-up. Now get this: Judges included veteran chili chefs Robert Mitchum, his son Jim, Ernest Borgnine, William Conrad and Joanne Dru. A founder of the International Chili Society, . which co-sponsors the championship with Budweiser, said, “Watching people cook chili is about as exciting as watching an ant crawl up a wall.