The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 15 June 1983 — Page 1

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VOLUME 20

Plans for Flotilla shaping up

Plans are well underway for the 1983 Lake Wawasee Flotilla scheduled for July 1-4 in Syracuse. The Flotilla comittee, headed by Jon Sroufe, has named T. L. ("Bud") Kline, Syracuse, as commodore for the prestigious Flotilla scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. sharp on Sunday, July 3. This year’s theme is “Let The Good Times Roll.” Judges will be Dale Butt, Helen Alfrey and Mike Kiley. This trio will be judging the entries in six categories with numerous prizes to be awarded. The Flotilla parade will begin at the Wawasee Fish Hatchery on the southeast end of the big lake and travel clock-wise around the lake. Busy Week End The week end promises to be a busy one in the SyracuseWawasee area. A Johah Fish Fry will be held on Friday, July 1, from 4-8 p.m. at the Scout Cabin. It is being sponsored by the Syracuse Lions. On Saturday, July 2, events will start with the third annual bike race at Lakeside Park at 10 a.m. There will be an entry fee. The Flotilla Ball will be from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the American Legion Hall, SR 13. A boat-in worship service at 8 a.m. at Oakwood Park will be held on Sunday. The Flotilla will follow at 12:30 p.m. A new event this year will be the in-water antique and classic boat show at the fish hatchery from 4-6 p.m. Fireworks, also at the fish hatchery, will close the day’s events. They will be held at dusk. On Monday, July 4, The MailJournal Flotilla Road Race will begin at 9 a.m. with plaques being awarded to the first three finishers in 15 categories in the 3.3-mile race and the eight-mile race. Race registration will be at the Lakeside Park. There will be an entrance fee. Beginning at 11 a m. there will be various activities at the park. Included will be arts and crafts, elephant ears, music, a chicken barbeque, concessions and a special event sponsored by the State Bank of Syracuse. Fireworks will conclude the celebration at Lakeside Park at dusk. No injuries in van-truck accident No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at Higbee (SR 15) and Catherine Streets in Milford. The accident occurred when James Egbert, 32, driving a 1979 GMC van registered to R & N Laundry, Elkhart, tried to pass a 1977 Reimers Ice Truck from North Webster on the right, and sideswiped the truck. Milford Marshal David Hobbs reported the ice truck, driven by Mick L. Miller, 19, Leesburg, was northbound on SR 15 and attempted to make a right turn onto Catherine Street when his truck was struck by Egbert. Damage was estimated up to SSOO to the laundry van and up to SIOO to the ice truck. Theft at elevator A burglary and theft was discovered at Clunette Elevator Co., Leesburg, on Friday, June 10. The theft is believed to have occurred Thursday evening, June 9. Money was taken from a file cabinet and the theft or thieves made off with $l6O.

The Mail^^l Journal

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 18881 and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 19071

* * — .....h. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL — T. L. (“Bud”) Kline, Syracuse, has been named commodore for this year’s Wawasee Flotilla. The annual event will take place on Sunday. July 3. This year’s theme is “Let The Good Times Roll.” Kline has lived in the Syracuse area since 1946, currently residing at 724 S. Lake St. He has spent 17 years on the Syracuse Fire Department, the last eight years as assistant chief. He is a charter member of the Syracuse Lions Club, Past Master of Syracuse Masonic Lodge and belongs to the Scottish Rite and Shrine Club of Fort Wayne. He has owned and operated Kline Excavating, lnc„ Syracuse, since 1955. He has one daughter, Vicki Bornman, Lake Wawasee; and one son. Leonard Kline. Syracuse. There are five grandchildren and three step-grandchildren in the Kline family. Posing with Commodore Kline are Patti Gerrity, Milford and Shelly Rogers. Syracuse. (Photo by Deb Fox) a > . ■ The end of a tradition

By GAIL WIDMOYER At every monthly meeting of the Lakeland Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, President Bill Little checks his watch — it’s 6:58. One minute later, at 6:59, John F. Kroh walks in, the board waits for the hour and the meeting begins. Last night (Tuesday), was the last time Kroh entered the building to serve on the board at a regular meeting; and the next regular meeting will be the first time a Kroh has not served on the Lakeland Community School Board since its inception in 1962. “I think 12 years is enough for anybody,” commented Kroh who completes his third four-year term at the end of the month. “You have a fresher approach if you don’t have the same voices on the board,” he continued. Kroh’s father* Charles W,„ served on the Turkey Creek Mr > JOHN F. KROH

Township advisory board prior to his first term oh the Metropolitan School District of Turkey Creek Township board in 1958. He was then appointed interim for the Lakeland Community school board and elected to the organized board in 1962. John F. was elected in his father’s place in 1970 and resumed office in 1971. Rewards “The rewards outweigh liabilities” in a school board position, explained Kroh who called his years of service “a pleasure. ” “A good community has a sound school system. We’re fortunate in the Lakeland area

Stath leads protest — BZA urges residents. Camp Mack to cooperate

By GARY LEWIS Remonstrators against Camp Mack’s petition to expand its primitive camping areas into 139 acres currently zoned agricultural presented a strong dissenting opinion to members of the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night. After nearly two hours of discussion on the case, the board voted to table the issue so the two opposing groups can “get together and iron out some differences,” said board chairman Jerry Grady. Bill Stath, past president of the Waubee Lake property owners association, represented the lakeowners in presenting the typewritten list of grievances against Camp Mack and its residential director, Arden Ball.

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because with our assessed valuation, we can enjoy adequate funding,” Kroh continued. But financial aspects are also the most difficult tasks in school board operations. “A very wise use of tax dollars is essential since you’re spending your friends’ and neighbors’ money,” explained Kroh. Unfortunately, “it’s hard to measure how successful our system, or any school system is. ” Measuring the school board’s success is one puzzle that will remain in Kroh’s mind. “I feel our system is above average, but (Continued on page 2 >

Stath reported that 31 of the 37 property owners adjacant to the property Camp Mack wishes to utilize signed a petition objecting to the project and another petition of “affected residences” was signed by another 68 residents. He cited several reasons why the neighbors oppose the project, including the planned use of RV’s as part of the camping programs, the removal of prime agricultural land and traffic control. Camp Mack, a private camping facility that’s been at Lake Waubee for 60 years, owns the land which is currently zoned agricultural. County zoning regulations require a special exception in order for the camp to use the area for primitive camping. The property is located southeast of the intersection bet-

Dr. Craig retains membership Dr. Robert A. Craig of Syracuse has completed continuing education requirements to retain active membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians, the national association of family doctors. The academy formerly was called the American Academy of General Practice. The requirements call for members to complete a minimum of 150 hours to be eligible for membership. The academy, the country’s second largest national medical association, was the first national medical group to require members to keep up with medical progress through continuing education. The academy, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Kansas City. Mo., was instrumental in the establishment of a new primary specialty in family practice in 1969. The new specialty is expected t< increase the number of family physicians available to y -ve the public in the future. The academy’s conimmng education program is the foundation of elgibility for family doctors now in practice who apply for certification in the new specialty.

Milford man is stabbed with screwdriver in fight

Roldan Hernandez, Jr., 19, Milford, sustained several stab wounds, including one to the forehead, in a fight/knifing Wednesday evening, June 8, at 9:45 p.m. The incident occurred in front of Walter Drugs, Inc., Main Street, Milford Milford Marshal David Hobbs reported that through his investigation he found Hernandez was stabbed three times with a screwdriver in a fight with Ruben Vela, 21. Milford. booked in the county jail on charges of battery and held on

In BZA action , . , Condos tabled, beer gardens stopped

BY GARY LEWIS A petition to establish a condominium project at Lake Papakeechie was tabled, and Lou Yoder's Shrimpboat beer garden addition was denied, as members of the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals considered the two local cases during its regular meeting Monday night. Proper sewage treatment was the major topic of concern in the Papakeechie case. Represen-

Waubee Lake Property Owners Association president Arden Ball has announced a special public meeting of the association this Friday. June 17. at 7:30 p.m. in the Milford Community Building. The meeting will be a question-and-answer session concerning Camp Mack's request to the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals for a special exception to the camp’s property north of the main campground area. All lake residents are urged to attend.

Honor John Kroh — Full agenda at school board meeting last night

By GAIL WIDMOYER “In recognition of unselfish service'” to the Lakeland Community as a school board member from 1971-1983 and for serving as vice president of that board from 1974-1983, John F. Kroh was given an official send-off from his fellow school board members at the regular meeting last night (Tuesday). For his service, Kroh received an engraved plaque and personal letter signed by the other school board members with each expressing their gratitude. After some lighthearted moments, Philip Payne expressed the overall feeling of the group, “Seriously, it has been a pleasure working with you. ” “1 enjoyed working with good people,” commented Kroh. “We have quite a corporation and lam proud to have been a part of it.” In regular business, David Blackwell, band instructor at Wawasee High School, gave a presentation on the band’s recent

$2,000 bond Marshal Hobbs stated Vela was across the street prior to the incident and walked across to talk to Hernandez During the argument. Vela kicked Hernandez in the groin and stabbed him with the screwdriver in the forehead. Hernandez was treated by the Milford Emergency Medical Service and advised to see his family physician

tatives of the Wawasee Sewer Company, which operates a sewage treatment facility near the lake, claimed their operation was equipped to handle the extra load generated by the condominiums. Capacity statements from the Turkey Creek Sewer District con tradicted the statements, however. The report says the plant needs extensive work in preventing unwanted infiltration. Also questioned was the com-

ween CR 1150 N and Camp Mack Road, across from the Waubee Lakeside Park. The property is north of the main campground area, which Ball says can be better utilized by his organization as a camping .and hiking area. During his testimony. Ball said the area had been used for camping and hiking for several years before the county Area Plan Commission was formed. Ball said the property is currently being converted back into its natural state, making the area into a wildlife sanctuary. “The area has been used for hiking, cookouts, and camping. The tillable acres have been cashed leased,” explained Ball A shift in the Church of the Brethen’s philosophy toward the program offered at Camp Mack

trip to Washington, D C. A total of $15,000 was raised and spent on the trip by the group and because of “two well deserved second place awards ” and “a comradery developed between students and chaperones,” Blackwell said the trip was worth “all of the $15,000.” Summer Projects Permission was requested to advertise for bids on summer projects at the Syracuse school and Wawasee. The board approved advertising for an approximate $14,000 remodeling at the Syracuse school location which would involve renovation of the outdoor physical education area, sealing and renovation of the playground asphalt area. At Wawasee, an approximate $40,000 would cover renovating air conditioners and the outdoor physical education area, installation of carpet in the library, sound proofing the band room and purchasing a computer. Board member Dave Carey expressed concern about rebuilding

pany’s committment to the Enchanted Hills residential area. Board member Gerald Smalley motioned to table the issue after discussion ended. “We do not have detailed enough plans. What we have are a lot of suppositions," he said. The drawing of the proposed project offered little detail and did not show enough information for the board members to make a decision. Also, pending before the (Continued on page 2)

makes the change a necessity. Bail added. “We have de-centralized camping now, with small groups of people separating for a better atmosphere.” he said. Throughout his presentation and rebuttal. Ball said the area would not be a public campground. “It is not going to be a public campground, " Ball repeated. “We only rent to private groups ... were a not-for-profit organization,” Ball said. “As long as Camp Mack owns it (the property) .. . we’U never open the property to private individuals.” Stath criticized Ball’s viewpoint later, saying an experiment proves that any group Os campers could use the area. “Will it evolve into anything different?,” Stath asked. “We had a gentleman call

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the air conditioning units and was assured by Philip Payne that the work “will save us money in the long run.” Bids will be received at a special meeting on Tuesday, June 28. at 7 p.m. in the administration building. Funds for the recently purchased computers for all schools in the corporation were approved after Kroh questioned the student to computer ratio in respective schools. Superintendent Don Arnold said, all schools were given the same number of computers through this purchase but because of previous gifts and/or purchases, the larger school has more computer units. Personnel Three personnel vacancies were filled at last night's meeting and two resignations were accepted by the board. Jeffrey Hatfield, resident of Traverse City, Michigan, and Central Michigan University graduate, will assume responsiblities for the orchestra program at Wawasee High School. He will be responsible for “getting out and really leading the charge" for the developing program, noted Arnold William Lantz comes “very well recommended” from the Fremont schools and will assume a fourth grade vancancy at Syracuse Elementary School. He will replace Larry Pletcher who will be working with computers and gifted and talented children in the system. Robert Cockburn.who has been working on a temporary contract at Milford Elementary School, will teach fifth grade at Milford next year. "We are very pleased with his work,” commented Arnold. Anne Watts, third grade teacher at Milford, resigned after 21 years as a local teacher and 24 years of service overall. A second resignation was received from David Baumgartner who has (Continued on page 2 >

Inside... Mermaid Festival underway this week end.. Page 15 Syracuse budgets, town hall discussed... Page 2

asking if they space available, and (he) said Well send you literature, ” Stath said RV’s Biggest Hardie If Ball is to receive the special exception status for the property, his biggest obstacle will be to explain the camp’s future plans for the property. Ball outlined a “master site plan” for the property which projects future use up to 1995. “We have been in contact with the state about a dumping station,” Ball said. He maintained that the dumping station is part of a future use for the property, but admitted “We ll put it in soon. " He said the dumping station would not have any affect on the zoning status of the property. Stath remarked that the RV issue is the biggest concern for , (Continued on page 2)