The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 8, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 March 1983 — Page 4
THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., March 9,1983
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Editorials
Salute to older citizens This editorial is a salute to the older citizens of the Lakeland area, those oyer 65 who continue to be active in serving their communities in one way or the other. We have no special reason for writing it, just that it’s time to pause and remember those who do so much and get so little credit. All three towns — Milford, North Webster and Syracuse — have active Senior Citizen organizations with many of these seniors volunteering to help others much of the time. At the REAL Services site at the Syracuse Scout Cabin many of the seniors volunteer to help — they do all kinds of things and at the Chatter Box in Milford the seniors not only have a good time but sponsor a blood pressure check day and often donate to the emergency medical service. This editorial is not to those senior citizens who have convinced themselves they are no longer of any use but to those who are seen working in flower gardens, sweeping sidewalks, making lap robes and quilts, helping others in any way they can. We tip our hats to all of you — thank you for being there when your services are needed; even though we don’t say it often we really do appreciate the work you do. * Equality fog It has become fashionable in America to speak of people being equal. One finds remarks about people being equal on TV programs, in columns, and in rosy gas spouted by vote-seeking politicians. ' v Are people equal? Os course, not. They never have been and never will be. There is no way any government can make people equal. All democratic governments can do is provide equal opportunity under the law to its citizens. They cannot even provide equal opportunity, only equal opportunity under the law. How could a poor ghetto child, without the best medical care, perhaps without enough parental care, without the best education, without all the advantages wealth, position and association confer, have equal opportunity with the child of caring affluent parents? Not to worry, not to dive out the window or bash one’s head against a wall! Society — no society — has ever been able to make people equal or provide them equal opportunity. Nor can governments provide everyone jobs, comfort, or happiness. ’ Usually, only individual initiative, ability and application provide one with the best in life. What can be said about this American republic’s democratic form of government is: it ofers all its citizens equal protection under the law and equal opportunity under the law, with fewer class barriers than almost any other major democracy, in Europe. South America or Asia. That is enough to make all Americans proud. Windmills? Disappointing initial experiments with giant windmills in this country have not discouraged everyone. (All five giant US windmills built with considerable hope in recent years have been shut down.) John Wright, who heads the technology branch of Britain’s Central Electric Planning Board, sees “good” prospects in wind power. The Board has commissioned a 200-kilowatt wind turbine as part of a 10-year research project into wind power. Meanwhile, the Scottish hydro-electric board is building a much larger (three megawatt) windmill in the Orkneys. They believe that while some portions of the US might more profitable utilize solar power, the climate in England lends itself readily to wind power. And, so, perhaps, the mother country will find away, as mothers do. March's message There’s much about March which moves even cynical newsmen. It’s the new life and green of another year, the first southern winds, longer days, a different shading of sunlight or the first lightweight dresses on cute things. And March stirs nostalgia of other springs. March ushers in springtime flowers and showers; it’s a forerunner of summer, school holidays — and a good time to plan 1983’s vacation. The Red Cross During March the American Red Cross ihakes an annual appeal to the American people for funds to help the distressed in time of emergency. Many are familiar with the work of the Red Cross in the armed services, with the assistance it renders when disaster strikes. Emergency medical and nursing care is provided victims and, in some instances, financial assistance is a part of the relief extended to victims. The annual appeal for funds is made in part by volunteer workers serving in communities from coast to coast. These individuals give hours of work without compensation to make possible extensive assistance by the Red Cross in emergencies.
What others say —
A reporter's job . . .
The nature of a reporter’s job is to report the facts, not create the news. On a small paper, the reporter’s job involves writing obituaries accurately, announcing engagement plans, reviewing local gossip, accounting fpr public board meetings, describing weddings, listing court news, featuring special people, so on and so forth. The reporter’s duty, first and foremost, is to write and edit his work in the best interest of the reader. A reporter is taught to listen, observe and absorb all types of information, yet it is the reporter’s discretion which determines what was actually stated rather than what a source or resource wanted in print. The object is not necessarily to protect the interest of the source of news, but rather to print newsworthy information for the general public’s welfare and benefit. Sometimes it appears that the only news printed is the bad news. But then bad news travels faster than good news in all circles of communications. Blame it on human character, but that is just the nature of what is news and what is not. it is the job of the reporter to define the facts rather than to publish the rumors. If a reporter fails to keep his readers on top of the .news, whether it be a major breaking story or an area club announcement, then the reporter has failed to do the job he or she was hired to do. The reporter on your paper is your eyes, ears and mouth for your community in protecting your interests and keeping you informed about your world. - CARROLL COUNTY COMET
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Senior citizens can, and do, do many useful things in their community.
County problems areas defined
By GAIL WIDMOYER A small group of concerned community leaders met Thursday evening, March 3, to discuss areas where the extension service and community resources could work jointly in community development activities. Under the direction of Dr. Martin Pond, community development and public affairs, Purdue University, nine interested community people met at the Justice Building, Warsaw, to “try to find five or six priority items that the extension service could be working on in the way of community development,” said Victor R. agent. Pond defined the purpose of extension services as being an educational institution and together, the group identified eight problem areas affecting Kosciusko County. Problem areas include: drainage; local awareness of resource use; county road maintenance; coordination of planning of various county groups; crime prevention; local government financing; the rural numbering system for postal services and emergency units; and trash disposal. The problem areas were prioritized in the following manner: 1. Drainage — minimizing the amount of water that collects under county roads; 2. Coordination of planning — combining local groups who have the same goals but are working independently; 3. Local determination of resource use — making an attempt to have local environmental requirements set to meet the needs of area residents; 4. Industrial growth — exploring the possibility of making vacant buildings more appealing to prospective industries; 5. Rural numbering and trash disposal — developing away to make rural homes easier for emergency units to reach; and deciding what can be done with county waste as landfill sites reach capacity levels.
Unsung hero —
Tim Weisser is doing what he wants to do
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” stated Tim Weisser, Captain of the Syracuse Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service. “When 1 first joined the department it interested me, only they had to twist by arm to get in. Once I got involved I’ve liked it and stayed.” Weisser has been with the department going on five years and has been an EMT for four years. He remarked that if be didn’t enjoy the department he wouldn’t continue serving, but there are some bad parts of volunteering. Calls in the middle of the night make it hard to get up and go to work. As for disappointments as an EMT Weisser remarked, “not being able to do enough for the patients to relieve the pain. Most of them we can adequately take care of. “As far as what I like about being a fireman, it’s the fact I’m trying to help do something for someone else,” remarked Weisser.
The extension board will have an opportunity to discuss these concerns at its monthly meeting. If the board agrees with the order of proposed problem areas, committees for each area wilj be assigned and will design a fouryear plan for alleviating the problems. If the board disagrees with the priorities, another public meeting will be held in an attempt to find a consensus on the top five problems facing Kosciusko County. Court news COUNTY COURT The following area residents of Kosciusko County have had fines assessed and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court, Jim Jarrett, judge: Speeding — Robert M. Johns, 26, Leesburg, S4O; Mark D. Parrish, 21, Leesburg, $65; Debra Lantz, 23, Milford, S4O; Laron D. Gans, 19, Syracuse, SSO; Brent D. Neer, 25, Leesburg, $65 Failure to yield — Betty J. Irwin, 48, North Webster, SSO Disregarding stop sign — William D. Shoemaker, 41, Leesburg,sso COUNTY COURT The following fines were assessed and paid in Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Driving while intoxicated — Gene H. Ostrander, 52, Syracuse, $157,180 days in jail suspended on condition not return on like offense for one year, one year probationary license, six month s probation, ordered to pay probation user s fee Speeding—David A. Hamilton, 27, Milford, $46 CITY COURT The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Failure to yield right of way—- — R. Stricklin, 43, Syracuse, S3B Speeding — Betty L. Nyce, 51, Milford, $43; Danny W. Shoopman, 23, Milford, S3B
He graduated in 1978 from Wawasee High School and enjoys woodworking which includes carving and building objects. Weisser grew up in rural Milford. He and his wife, Laurie, have a son, Jason David. THE MAU JOURNAL (USPS 3258401 Published by The Mail-Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post OHke at Syracuse, Indiana 465 V. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: Sl4 per year in Kosciusko County, $16.50 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box IM, Milford, Indiana 46542. lo\ W 7
"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"
(EDITOR'S NOTE. Georgia Buster is well known in the Syracuse community os on active — very active — senior citizen among her many friends who eat daily at the Scout Cabin She is proud of the fact that she and George Washington share the same birthdate — February 22 She was correspondont for a time for The Mail-Journal.) IN FEBRUARY, 1970 I signed “30” to my column in The Mail-Journal and retired. Os course since then I have retired two more times. I am happy not to be “working” as I have a number of projects going, lap robes for the nursing home, items for the bazaar at Saint Andrew’s in October, small items to enclose in birthday and get well cards to friends. And always the quilts 1 am making (or my family and baby quilts. When I hear of older people getting lonely 1 wonder how, since every minute of my time is taken up. I rest every day and go to the nutrition site and to the game time at the community room at Greenhaus. Some women and I were talking the other day, how much better off older people are today, good homes, good healthy food and medical care, not to mention the programs for entertainment. We complain about the high cost but most of us have everything we need. We have had to cut back like the working man but we are not starving. Did you ever stop to think that a large percentage of the elderly drawing Social Security are getting a great deal more than they paid into the fund. There are so many programs for the elderly and many do not take advantage of them, the nutrition sites where one may get a good nutritious meal for a donation and the bus to take you to the site for a very small cost or one may go to Warsaw shopping for a small amount. There are many such programs and for any one not having the small donation it is free. And volunteers are always needed at the nutrition site. After the site opened in 1976, Liz Slone started coming in to see if she could be of any help. Soon she was a regular volunteer two days a week, since then she has worked as a volunteer for one to five days a week, during that time she lost her husband and after a lengthy illness, her daughter. She has come back and is a real healper, we need more like her. IN JANUARY I noticed my tulips were up about a half inch, then they disappeared now they are growing like mad, also the forsythia is trying to bud, just hope they do not get frostbite. ANOTHER SURE sign of spring — Jim Hamman is running his pedal power again. He will be leaving for Georgia, Alabama and points south soon. DID YOU ever stop to think about the Syracuse parks? 1 know of no other town the size of Syracuse with three well kept parks. Fishing, swimming and boating at one or the other. And did you know the park on the lake here now called Lakeside Park is Potawotmi Park. That is where a treaty with the Potawotmi Indians was signed. I think the people of Syracuse have forgotten the early residents of the town and township. My father William (Buffalo Bill) Cable told me that as a boy he watched the Indians ride across Turkey lake (now Lake Wawasee) before the dam was built. There is a great deal of history here but about all that remains is photographs that Sudlows, Harkless and a few others have. We do not preserve the historic buildings. FEBRUARY IS birthday month, Lincoln, Washington, Saint Valentine, also Jay Peffley, Darryl Bales,, Alice Clark, Opel Keim, Mary Bushong and others. Mine was the 22nd. 1 had two
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FIRST ITEM — The first item for the Wawasee High School Music Booster’s fund-raising auction was donated by Dalton Folger of Syracuse, right Jerry Dain, president of the music boosters, is thanking Folger for his donation of a usable outboard motor. All area citizens are encouraged to watch for notices of item pick-ups and donate any usable item that may be of value to someone else for the April 16 event. (Photo by Gail Widmoyer)
Music Boosters hold fund-raising auction
The Wawasee High School Music Boosters are planning an auction for Saturday, April 16, to help finance the jazz band’s trip to Washington, D.C. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. outside of the high school trades building, and inside the building in the event of bad weather. Letters have been sent to area businessmen and all Wawasee High School parents in Milford, Syracuse and North Webster, notifying them of the auction. Dalton Folger, Syracuse, gave a used outboard motor to the
cake*, ice cream, gifts and received 2S cards. Also a phone call from my son and daughter-in-law at Glendale. Ariz. Bob had been spading his garden. MAGGIE WEATHERHEAD and I were talking over “the old days” last week, how we made soap and used it for everything — washing the cream separator, clothes, dishes and baths. The soap was made with lye but was good for the skin, listening to the commercials today one would think only the most delicate soaps and lotions should be used on the hands and skin. FOR ANY of you who did not attend the first Lenten service at Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church Sunday. Feb. 28. at 7 p.m., you missed a great deal. The program was presented by Resounding Brass of Grace College. Winona Lake and featured Jill Hamell as vocalist. Jill is a Syracuse girl, a Wawasee High School graduate and a student at Grace College majoring in art. The town should be very proud of Jill. I HAD a note from Helen (Lane) Jacobson from California, her grandparents were William and Martha Cable, of Cable's park near Macy’s Slip. Helen does volunteer hospital work. She has relatives here. Her brother. Cable Lane, had a television business at Kale Island before his death. THE MORE 1 read about the death on the highways caused by drunk drivers, the more 1 believe that jail or fines are not the answer, some friends and I were talking about that and 1 said if the drunk driver lost his license permanently and the car impounded if he continued to drink at least he would not be on the highways. Some one said he would have to have his car to get back and forth to work. Not. so. I know men working every day with no car. They ride with others. Older people find they can get around without a car. As long as alcoholics are allowed to own and drive a car there will be deaths on our streets and highways. Think about it. X I MET Jean Coleman in the village recently. Jean moved from the Greenhaus Apartments to Fishers and was here for a visit. RECENTLY THREE members of the Hamman family showed up at the nutrition site — Jim from here. Ivan from South Bend and Robert and his wife from Cromwell. Jim had a framed picture of his grandfather David Hamman who resided at Spear Lake. .. f Exercise is the thing to do now, if you do not jog then you must exercise. Just how much you do depenth on your health and will power. Walking is good for most older people and if you are trying to take off those extra pounds, talk to your doctor before you embark on a strenuous program UP TOWN Syracuse will not be the same with Jay Peffley, NIPSCo, retiring. He is very community minded and we hope his fishing and traveling will not keep him away from Main street too long. NOTICED IN the grocery stores more and more canning companies are distributing no salt or low sodium foods, with other diet foods most people on diets can eat better. WE HAD a short summer, the last bit of ice in front of Don Westlakes mailbox was enough to cause him to fall and break his wrist. Lucy Miles fell recently at her North Shore home and fractured her leg. , Lent has started, the sectionals too and Easter early in April. Soon boats on trailers will appear on the highways and cottages will show signs of activity. Have a good and safe summer.
auction, making him the first donator for the fund-raiser. On March 19 and 26; and April 2, one vehicle per community will be in an accessible place to pick up donated items. In Milford, a van will be in Schwartz’s parking lot; in Syracuse, a van will be in the Augsburger-Ace Hardware parking lot; and in North Webster, a van will be in the parking lot north of Augsburger’s. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry (Letitia) Dain, president anjft vice president of the Music Boosters, noted extensive advertising will
be used to encourage area residents to help support the Wawasee High School Band. Any excessive funds raised through the auction will be put into the music department account for necessary equipment and repairs. The funds will also be used to help purchase student awards for the end of the year program. For more information on the auction or to donate an item for the auction, call Jerry Dain at 834-4193; or Howard Dixon at 4572225.