The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 49, Milford, Kosciusko County, 22 December 1982 — Page 2

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., December 22, 1982

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RjJK ] r L a.w , .JIM H 1 J V '" vl ' Ao v— — -Jb SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER — On Thursday of this week members of the Wawasee Kiwanis Club will be spreading their annual Christmas Cheer when they pass out goods and money to from 15 to 20 area needy families. It is the sixth year for the dub s wideh accepted program. v rx , , _ . Shown above from left are Bob Marion, club vice president and Needy Family Committee member. Deloss ( Buck > Sanders, chairman of the Needy Family Committee: and Don Denny, president-elect of the Wawasee Kiwanis Club. I Sanders says the value of goods given amounts to from 54.000 and >5.000. including 87 pairs of shoes, toys, gift certificates, food, clothing and over 52,000 in cash.

Move Saturday — Monday first day in new daycare center

By GARY LEWIS Monday was the first full day of operation for the Lakeland . Community Services new daycare center, located on W. E, Long Drive in Syracuse, and daycare director Carol Hurd said everything went ‘ really welT for the center ’s 48 children Mrs Hurd said she could tell immediately tl»t the engineers who designed tne building knew what they were doing The building was built to our needs. We just fit right in.” The official moving day for the center was Saturday morning as several boxes of materials were moved from the Calvary Methodist Church to the new site Mrs Hurd said the community support, just as it was since the fund drive's inception, was outstanding. Sitting behind her new desk in her new office. Mrs Hurd said she couldn’t be more pleased. "Now we have four individual classrooms it is built for the children!" Everything from the windows, “low enough for children to see out,” she said, to the wall-to-wall carpeting and scaled-down toilets, were meant for the little ones, she explained "I love the windows . . they have blinds, instead of curtains, so we can make it dark.” she added Curtains were omitted from the design because of the expense of purchasing required fire-proof fabrics She said the design is a cheerful one So cheerful, in fact, that some of her traditional “criers” didn't cry at the new center She attributes this to the nonimposing design of the interior "I think the location is good. I haven't had the parents complain." shesaid Mrs Hurd is making plans for an increase in staff and enrollment. The center is licensed for 52 children The center serves children from two-

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and-a-half years old to age 12. A school bus for school-age children stops by the center each morning and kindergarten runs, by buses and a private car, are made daily. •

1 % vk I A z . BUILDING BLOCKS - Lakeland Daycare Services got a big boost from area residents when volunteers moved supplies from the Calvary Methodist church to the new building at W. E. Long Drive Saturday morning. In this photo, volunteers pick up building blocks to be placed in a shelf at the new daycare center. (Photo by Gary Lewis)

Plans continue for Winter Carnival

Plans for an advertising approach to the 1983 SyracuseWawasee Winter Carnival were finalized last week in a special meeting of the advertising committee. The committee approved a package approach to promote carnival activities. A letter describing the package program was also approved and will be sent to all area merchants. With one donation by each merchant, the committee will advertise the carnival through radio, television, and a winter carnival brochure. Each merchant can purchase an ad in the carnival brochure and this donation will help pay for all of the traditional carnival activities — snowmobile races, fireworks, concessions and games. Co-chairman Jeannie Gardiner said this promotional plan will avoid any overlap. "We’ll be able to contact each of the merchants once without repeating ourselves with a bombardment of requests," she said. Activities for the February 5 and 6 carnival have not been formally announced yet, but most

Although the first day was a triumphant one for Mrs. Hurd, she said the center still needs a few things before it reaches its full capability. She said more equipment is needed in each of

of the 1982 activities will return. Gardiner said. New activities proposed at recent meetings include a tug-o-war contest, skydivers and a visit by a hot-air balloon. "It is our hope that the Syracuse-Wawasee Winter Carnival will eventually be self-

Extremes in the weather Extremes in the weather, whether it by hot. cold, wet or dry. have a great effect on the economy as shown by the figures given by Goshen College weather observer Lores Steury. January of 1982 brought some extremely cold temperatures to the area. Steury's records show that on January 10 and 17 the mercury reached a high of two degrees below zero and a low of 16 degrees below zero. Heating degree days totaled 74 on each of those days. A loss of 96 billion was felt across the nation that winter. The winter of 1976-77 was even more severe with a loss that amounted t 0940 billion. The worst year for hot and dry weather was 1980. A loss of from 915 to 920 billion resulted, mostly from loss of crops and livestock The mild temperatures received lately have helped with heatiig bills. By December 15 we have normally accumulated 1,740 heating degree days, but this year's total, according to Steury, has reached approximately 1,550.

the classrooms and, by spring, more playground equipment will beamust. But for now, she’s more than happy to “work with what we have.”

sustaining, however, at the present time we need assistance from the community,” Gardiner said. Donations to the carnival should be made payable to the Syracuse-Wawasee Winter Carnival Those who would like more information should call 4572595

Public support for Syracuse town hall

By GARY LEWIS Syracuse Town Board members received a Christmas gift of sorts in last night’s regular monthly meeting. For several months now, opposition leaders have paraded into the temporary town hall in Wawasee Village to express their varied displeasure over the proposed construction of a new Syracuse Town Hall at the comer of Huntington and Henry Streets. In striking contrast to past meetings, a room full of supporters attended last night’s meeting. Turkey Creek Township Trustee Betty Dust read a statement of support to town board members Carl Myrick, Steve Butt, Bill Hess, Joe Morgan thaler and Jim Hughes. Excerpts from the statement follow: “For the past several town board meetings, it has been unfortunate that the meeting time was reduced to listening to caustic comments, many grossly overstated ... it is our opinion that the town board should be applauded instead of criticized for expressing an interest in furthering the pride and beauty of our town through acquisition of an attractive building. “To date, they have made no commitments other than secure a plan and necessary bid specifications for the purpose of determining the cost, utilization and function of a proposed building. It seems to us that, to date, the board has performed in a concise, straightforward manner.” Schmidt Architects associate Douglas Buell presented a revised cost estimate of the project during the meeting. The latest estimate included revisions in the design of the central entrance to the building and a change in the type of glass used in the all-glass walkway at the front of the building. Also changed was the species of trees to be used in front of the building. Buell said these changes would result in a reduced operating cost, both heating and coding, for the structure. The latest revisions now place the total project median estimate, including all an-

Question burial of pre-mature baby

Sometime last week, Gary Eastlund, Kosciusko County coroner and a funeral director from North Webster, received a call from a Fort Wayne newspaper reporter inquiring on a report of a stillbirth of a six-month-old fetus. At 4:30 p m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, the same reporter called again to tell Eastlund and ask the same question. The reporter then told him that sources told him a baby was born in the Dewart Lake area and the fetus was probably six-months-old. The reporter gave Eastlund the family’s name and address. Eastland recapped these events. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, Gary Beecham called the coroner stating his wife had a miscarriage that afternoon. Beecham asked if a coroner's investigation was necessary. Eastlund said, his first response was no, but he continued questioning Beecham on details. Beecham told the coroner that the mother was approximately four to four and onehalf months pregnant and since according to law, any fetus up to 20 weeks old that dies is a miscarriage and requires no funeral director or coroner contact, Eastlund told Beecham he could dispose of the fetus as he saw fit. Next in the chain of events were the Fort Wayne reporter's calls. Immediately, Eastlund launched an investigation that decided the fetus' remains should be exhumed and an autopsy should be performed at the Kosciusko Community Hospital by Dr. Thomas Kocoshis, a Muncie pathologist. The autopsy revealed the fetus was six-months-old and death was due to prematurity. Reports show the fetus weighed 19 ounces and was approximately 32 centimeters or 13 inches long. "There was no cover-up. It was my judgement error on December 9,” stated Eastlund further adding. “I should have investigated.”

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ticipated costs such as office furnishings, site survey, inflation adjustment, architectural and engineering fees, at $626,305. The minimum estimate by the architect is $577,835. Sewage Treatment Discussed Proposals for the upgrading of the Syracuse Wastewater Treatment plant were presented by Mel Wessler of Wessler and Associates engineers. A complete facilities plan, which would include a vast improvement of the present facility, cannot be completed until after the Indiana State Board of Health approves the Syracuse In-filtration-Inflow report. Wessler said the state board is aware of the report, but no action has been taken. Improvement is needed at the present treatment plant in order to meet requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana State Board of Health. The facility plan is based on population projections for the year 2005, with the revised treatment plant completed by 1985. EPA regulations require a 20-year planning period Unless the state board of health approves the Infiltration-Inflow report, the facility plan cannot be completed. A federal government grant from EPA would pay 75 per cent of the cost of the improvements but the facility plan must be completed by October 1 of 1984. Wessler and associates have been working on phase I of the project, formulating a facility plan, for the past three years. When the state board of health approves the Infiltration-Inflow report, another public meeting will be scheduled to discuss the completed facility plan. Garbage Collection Changed A representative of Stuckman Sanitation announced changes in the collection of garbage in the town. Both businesses and residents on the east side of SR 13 will have their garbage collected on Wednesdays and the west side of SR 13 will be collected on Thursdays. A year-end meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday, Dec. 28, at 7:30 p.m. An executive session will follow the public meeting.

Yesterday (Tuesday). Eastlund said he was unclear about further responsibility for the issue. According to the coroner, a death certificate requires an age for the deceased and in the case of stillborn children, the death certificate has to be completed by an attending physician. In this case, there was no attending physician and a coroner is not allowed to fill out a death certificate. The Beechams, members of the Faith Assembly, cooperated with authorities in the investigation. Three other Beecham children were born at home and are healthy. Santa visits Senior Citizens Santa Claus was a special visitor when members of the Turkey Creek Senior Citizens met Saturday in the Scout Cabin at Syracuse for a Christmas dinner. Santa made his rounds as table games were played and presented each member with a treat; His visit was sponsored by the Eagles Lodge Tables were decorated with holiday decorations and at each place was a tiny stocking with treats. Ham for the meal was furnished by the club. Memorial chairwoman Betty Bassett gave the table blessing. During the meeting, following the meal. Mary Carrell read the names of members having birthdays in December and "Happy Brithday" was sung. A card was read from a member residing in Florida and letters were read from the United Way and the Winter Carnival committee. The following were re-appointed to committees: Betty Basset*, memorial; Mary Carrell, corresponding secretary; and Florence Ashton, historian. All senior citizens are invited to attend the organization's meetings. The next meeting will be January 15 in the Scout Cabin with a carry-in dinner at noon.

19 ... Golden Dome recipient Paul E. Reith honored for community service Paul E. Reith, assistant vice president of the First National tfank of Warsaw and Milford branch manager, was awarded the Golden Dome Award for outstanding community service at ttie annual bank employees’ Christmas party on Saturday. The award has been presented every year since 1975 to a bank employee who has demonstrated a sincere interest in the community he serves. Reith’s interest in the Milford community is evident by the various projects he has been involved in since he came toMilford six years ago. As president of the Leisure Living Apartments, Reith joined area citizens in receiving a $471,000 federal grant for construction of senior citizen housing facilities UkMilford. All of the present apartments are spoken for and there is enough interest in the community to build even more units, noted Reith. Reith was also instrumental in securing a new industry for the Milford area. Sprague Devices, a Michigan City based industry, has added 15 jobs to the area and demonstrates a possible addition of 50 more jobs sometime in the future. Communications between the Milford community, Kosciusko Community Hospital and a Canadian doctor resulted in demolition of the Hamsher buildings and plans for building a medical office in downtown Milford. Reith along with other interested citizens encouraged the new development. Several other condemned buildings were purchased by First National Bank or individuals through Reith s encouragement. When funds failed to meet the demand, Reith joined local fund-raisers to secure necessary monies. “I’m pleased the town didn’t have to. borrow money for recent improvements,’’ he commented. Personally. Reith is a past president of the Milford Lions Club and he and his wife, Debrah, have sponsored 25 Vietnamese families. Reith is “proud" of recent additions to the town and believes Milford is “growing and improving.” He and his wife live at r 6 Warsaw with their three children: Troy, Wawasee High School sophomore; Amy, f WHS freshman; and Cindy, seventh grader at North Webster Junior High School.

j ’ 1' SANTA AND BEN Creek Citizens president Ben Valentine takes a break from table games to chat with Santa Claus (Butch Plikerd) who stopped by during the meeting for some conversation. Santa’s visit was sponsored by the Eagles Lodge. (Photo by Gary Lewis)

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