The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 47, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 December 1982 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., December 8,1982

4

Editorials

What if. • • ? The citizens of the Lakeland community — especially Milford — should seriously consider what would happen if all of the emergency medical technicians, who are volunteering their time to serve their communities, were to resign. What would people do if they had an accident? What if a child were hit by a car? What if a loved one fell on the ice or in the home? What if someone fell out of a boat into one of the many lakes and was seriously injured? “ What if you or someone in your family suddenly became ill What if there were no EMTs? What if they should say to themselves, “No one else cares, so why should we?” What if they quit? ' ’ r Don’t say it won’t happen. It could very well happen m any ot the three Lakeland communities. Overworked people become tired and something has to be given up. Milford is at the point where volunteers are few and hours are long. Help is needed. Milford, unlike Syracuse and North Webster, is a total volunteer organization with the EMTs receiving no compensation for the runs they make. Maybe it’s time for the town board and the township trustee and his advisory board to look into giving EMTs some compensation. We realize this can t be done overnight but it might help to enlarge the number of volunteers — after all, firemen receive some compensation each year why not EMTs? Let it be known, the members of the current EMS staff are not asking for compensation. What they are asking for is help — volunteers to assist so they don’t have to work such long shifts. The more volunteers, the shorter the shift each has to work. The Goshen Hospital is offering EMT classes beginning in February, past requests have brought few results. It is hoped Milford will have several in this class. . As noted in this newspaper last week, if help is not received the Milford EMS will not be able to provide 24 hours of service much longer. Without this service, where will Milford be? Now is the time to think... what i£ Now is also the time to act ... a meeting is being held in the community building on Milford’s Main Street tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 9) at 7 p.m. An EMT instructor will be there to show slides and answer questions. Give it some serious thought and don’t say, “Let Sam do it!” Sam might be saying, “Let George do it!" and soon no one will be doing it and Milford will be without EMS service. The entire community is invited to the meeting on Thursday, even those who know they won’t become an EMT for one reason or another. We realize that the meeting Thursday is on a bad day — it’s slatecj to begin the same time as the Milford Elementary School s Christmas program but interested persons can contact the Milford EMS or leave word at Walters Drug Store or Evans Family Store that they want to help but can t attend the meeting. And, anyone who doesn't know if he or she really wants to be an EMT or nqt can ride with an EMS crew’ to see what it s all about. What if...? The little folks count, too It’s no news that The Mail-Journal has continuously encouraged both young and old to participate in community affairs. And as such, we feel at times that we’ve had very little success in this regard, unless, of course, there is a burning local issue involved. The young folks hold the most local issues are “for I the older people to decide,' ’ or that they are just to busy with their studies and associating with their young B Bi friends to get involved. Or that “they won't listen.” Whatever the reason we've been less than successful in getting young folks involved. And’ so our readers can understand why we were excited to receive a letter from Julie Fulp last week. Julie is 10 years old and a fifth grader in the Milford Elementary School, the daughter of Paul and Diane Fulp, residents of West Catherine Street in Milford. The _ Fulps came to Milford several years ago when Paul * ' became pastor of the Milford United Methodist Church. Jl LIE Fl LP Julie's letter concerned the disposition of the blocksquare where the junior high school is situated. (Note: The school building and gym are now being razed.) Julie writes, “I think that the space where the old junior high is should be turned into a town park after it is cleared. If kids couldn’t cross the highway and couldn't play on the school playground then maybe they could play in the park. Then all the kids could have fun and choose which one to play on. ” Julie definitely represents a point of view, and it should be considered seriously by the Lakeland School Board when it decides to dispose of that valuable tract of land. We continue to encourage young folks to take an interest in local issues, and our Letters to the Editor column is always open to air their view fully. Pearl Harbor Forty-one years ago December 7 — a Sunday — the radio broke the news that the United States Navy base at Pearl Harbor, and air fields in the vicinity, had been bombed by Japanese aircraft. Though President Roosevelt knew such an attack was possible, military commanders there had been only vaguely warned. Though an enlisted man on radar watch picked up the incoming raid, and though an intelligence colonel in Washington had concluded the attack was imminent and was struggling with superiors to warn Pearl, the attack was highly successful and a surprise. The battleship fleet was wrecked. Thousands were killed. Many aircrafts were destroyed. But, by good luck, the few US aircraft carriers in the Pacific were not in the harbor that morning. As it turned out. the carriers were the most vital ships in the resulting war, and they turned the tide in June of 1942, at Midway, six months later. In this 1941-45 war, the US was attacked; either the nation fought or surrendered. (Hitler declared war on America four days after the Japanese attack.) Few Americans proposed surrender, thus the nation was united. In that sense alone, it was a good time to be an American — if one survived the war. The nation was behind its fighting men, the overwhelming majority of citizens sought to do their part. And unity achieved miracles. In three and a half years the effort of unified Americans produced the world’s mightiest military force. The lesson is obvious — unified, the nation can overcome practically any obstacle or problem. We can remember this profitably today — 41 years after Pearl Harbor.

(Ise I KV. What if... no one was here to operate the ambulance? A time for decision It’s now time to lay the controversy to rest. For some time now, the Syracuse community has been discussing the ramifications of building a new Syracuse Town Hall. The opposition, although small in actual numbers, has been vociferous in its opposition. Currently, a petition is being circulated urging the board to halt the present project and go after a $300,000 ceiling on any municipal government center the board decides to build. Os course, this petition has no real bearing on the issue and it’s unlikely the town fathers will change their plans because of it. The Syracuse Town Board would love to build a town hall for a $300,000 price tag. But chances are it won't, not for $300,000. It’s going to take more than that to build a government center of the quality the town deserves. In order for the fastest growing community in Kosciusko County to improve, projects must be underway to insure to others that Syracuse is a vibrant, active and professional community. It takes a lot to live up to the high reputation of a community along the shores of Lake Wawasee. A new town hall would be a step forward for more effective community government. It would be a sign to all who drive by that there is a committment to excellence. No one knows what this committment is going to cost. And no one will until contract bids are accepted.. Right there is the snag. If the town fathers believe in this project, they have an interesting way of expressing it. Town board president Car! Myrick disputes the $600,000 budget figure the opposition has pinned on this project. He believes the town hall can be built for less, at about $500,000. But the record shows the board voted to approve a $650,000 budget for the architect, Wayne Schmidt Associates, to work with. Why budget for $650,000 and now petition for something less? Another uncomfortable thought is the unprofessional atmosphere town board members have allowed at recent public meetings. At the latest “special” meeting, the board allowed discussion to get out of hand. The architect was defending decisions he had no part in making and to make matters worse, the board re-hashed items decided months earlier. Public meetings can be directed better than that. Discussion can be controlled, with designated periods of public participation and closed trustee discussion with tli? architect Instead, the meeting was ended abruptly with no decision made. Not even a decision to make another decision was disclosed. If the board wants to take this bold, progressive step, it had better get its act together. And the opposition, whatever interest it has in this issue, should forget about the Huntington Building, the old Post Office, the Wyant and all of the other out-dated buildings in Syracuse. Syracuse deserves better and the opposition should wait until bids are accepted. Once the actual figures are known, then, and only then, can effective public discussion begin. Considering options

By EDWARD THORLVND Some had sought to persuade President Reagan to take away the big political weapon Democrats are using against Republicans before the next elections — the issue of high unemployment The president was asked to tax unemployment benefits, using the tax money for the creation of jobs However the president rejected the proposal and there is no chance such a tax will be proposed tteagan is also considering several other options about which you before you read this The likable feature of the tax and unemployment benefits, aides thought, was that it meant those receiving these handouts were also helping others who were out of work and that the lower amount of free money would add to the incentive of those receiving it to try harder to find work Meanwhile the hope in the Reagan Administration concerning the new proposed five cents raise in tax on gasoline — four cents for automobile drivers and another one cent from trucks and tires — is that new jobs will be created at little cost The price of gasoline has been going down for six weeks and some think it will continue to go down in the weeks ahead. If that's true the new four-cent hike on gasoline at the pump might be partially offset by lower per gallon costs of a penny or more.

And. of course, rising employment will speed economic recovery, and increase treasury income But the gasoline tax won’t put more than several hundred thousand people to work, while about 11.000.000 are now unemployed So other approaches are being studied What Reagan wants to do is show he is moving on the issue, to prevent Democrats next year and the next to claim he has done little about unemployment BOOKED AT JAIL Mary ann Henninger. 30. r 1 Cromwell, was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail on two counts of check deception, each a class A misdemeanor

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"GRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

fIF r w /. ET< '4 A LOT of personal ingenuity is normally exercised this time of year when it comes to holiday decorations. Take a look at the unusual Christmas tree in the display window at OOPS, a factory outlet located at 102 West Main Street in Syracuse. It’s made up of plastic coat hangers. OOPS owner Jim Stillson said he reached into a box of coat hangers at his Nappanee store, and when he pulled one out a whole bunch came out together “My. that would make a nice Christmas tree.” he said. And so it did Jim. his w ife Jean and daughter Jill (Mishler) opened OOPS in mid-July and have<been doing a brisk business at their Syracuse location. What s more, they have another unusual Christmas tree at their Nappanee store at 110 South Main Street. They cut a Christmas tree in half, putting half of it inside against the display window, matching it with the other half on the outside He said he had one phone call that his Christmas tree had fallen over and crashed through the w indow. Such are the fortunes of an enterprising business man who seeks unusual ways of calling public attention to his business. THE PVBLIC debate on the proposed new Syracuse Town Hall begs to continue. The so-called opposition forces, whose numbers are few but ferocious, have now come around to the point where they are not against a new town hall, but are concerned that the cost of the structure will be excessive. A figure of got on the record early on. but no one knows for sure if this is a valid figure. Indeed, no one will know until bids are taken and opened. A figure of SBO per square foot got bandied about, and no one really knows how this figure was arrived at. And if they know, they aren’t telling. Town Board President Carl Myrick stated publicly at a recent town board meeting that a building could be built for $59 per square foot, based on costs of the new Liberty Coach Co. office building on South Huntington Street and on the new junior high school at Milford. Myrick thinks, further, that a more reasonable figure for a new Syracuse Town Hall would be $485,000. with a total projected figure of about $580,000 This is a figure the town of Syracuse should be able to live with. And if this figure seems excessive, one need only be ( reminded that building costs are high, even in spite of the recession in the building trades. Town attorney Robert E. Reed has calculated that, based on a $600,000 town hall and the town’s 1981 assessed valuation of some sl7 million. 35 cents per SIOO of taxable valuation will be added to each taxpayer's tax duplicate per year until the building is paid off. Attorney Reed made this statement at a public town board meeting The Syracuse tax rate for 1981. for taxes payable in 1982. was $3.53. according to the Turkey Creek Township Assessor's office. And so this simplifies matters for any town taxpayer concerned about what a new town hall will do to his tax bill. All one has to do is contact the township assessor s office to determine what the assessed valuation of his town property Is and calculate his total tax bill, or what increase in his taxes the new building will cause. For example, if one has a taxable assessment

: : ■■■■ ■ ' v 4* • < • * TEMPERATURE IN THE MS— It cenM be • feed many years before we see temperatures la early December in the 60s. Last week it was exceptionally warm, as indicated in this photo taken at Papakeechie Lake test Tharsday afteraoea of yoaagsters playiag bail in shirt sleeves.

on his property of SIO,OOO, his tax load will increase just $35 as a result of the new town hall. The office of Assessor Charlene Knispel will be very helpful in this matter. In fact, one can call her office (phone: 457-3224) for this information. It’s all a matter of public record. IT’S BEEN suggested to Alan C. Zerkel, an instructor in the language arts department at Wawasee High School who specializes working with a speech team, that he have his students debate the issue of a new town hall for the town of Syracuse. Not a bad idea, and the team could ply their trade before local service clubs. It might shed more heat than light, but could be a learning experience for many, those for and those against. IF WE don't miss our guess, you can expect less smoking on the job by employees of Augsburger's Super Valu stores at Syracuse and North Webster. Reason: The store management is offering a $5 per week bonus to employees who sign contracts that they will not smoke for a year. Wow. that’s a $260 bonus! But store manager Forrest Cole suggests they'll earn more than that. He says most all smokers smoke a carton a week, and at $8 per carton, the nonsmoker who signs on will save another $416 —for a total of $676 per year! Not bad. t The store has about 60 employees, 13 of whom smoke. Two smokers signed on immediately, and others are expected to when they see the bonanza they will reap. . _ • Mr. C'ole says for those employees who smoke production is down, absenteeism is up, and they smell of smoke and tend to offend some customers. /■ - We applaud the company on such a forwardlooking step BIG THINGS are happening at the South Shore Country Club. The old pro shop is being enlarged with a 20x20 addition on the west to make room for a gift shop, to be operated by Marilyn Moore. And the pro shop is being moved to the building to the north which housed the Club's repair shop, and at the same time an addition has been made to this building, both on the north and south, giving it vcnsiderably enlarged facilities. Contractor Ray Buhrt and his workmen are doing the remodeling. The gift shop is in no small part the brainchild of Jane (Mrs. Tom) Tuttle, who will work in consort with Mrs. Moore as buyers for the shop. Looks like a good idea whose time has come. THE LARGEST crowd ever, over 35® in all. attended the Christmas Bell Walk, sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club, on Sunday. The garden club has T sponsored the event for over 10 years. The group first viewed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hart, known as the former Thornburg home, at 218 East Main Street. At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wysong at 73 North Shore Drive, a 12-foot Christmas tree was the featured attraction. The. Syracuse-Wawasee Bakeshop was held at the Wysong home. Refreshments were served to the group at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Owen at 198 North Shore Drive, where many suncatchers were exhibited. Ms. Barbara Mort, at Harborside Condominiums, showed those in attendance how a career woman decorates her home for the holidays. Alan Tehan’s contemporary home on the north shore of Lake Wawasee was also decorated in the spirit of the holiday season On Saturday evening the garden club members, hosts and hostesses had a pre-tour and the club entertained the group with a carry-in dinner at the home of Mrs. Barbara Scantlin. SYRACUSE LIONS will be glad to know Bill Pfeiffer of San Antonio. Texas, recently won the World Championship Chili Cookoff in Universal City. Calif., for the second time. His winning recipe: 1 tablespoon oregano. 2 tablespoons paprika. 2 tablespoons monosodium glutamate, 11 (correct) tablespoons chili powder. 4 tablespoons cumin. 4 tablespoons beef bouillon (instant crushed). 3 cans Budweiser (it’s the official beer for the sponsoring National Chili Society). 2 pounds cubed pork. 2 pounds cubed chuck, 6 pounds ground rump. 4 large onions (finely chopped) 10 cloves garlic (finely chopped), cup Wesson oil or kidney suet. 1 teaspoon mole (powdered). 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 teaspoons coriander, 1 teaspoon Durkee red hot sauce. 1 8ouncecan Hunt 's tomato sauce. 1 tablespoon Masa Harina flour, salt to taste. (Continuedon page 5)