The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 33, Milford, Kosciusko County, 31 August 1983 — Page 4

4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., August 31,1983

Editorials

Labor Day. . . a special day for the worker

American workers will take a well deserved break from their normal routine on Monday as this nation observes Labor Day. Few, however, will give much thought to the history of the day. It was first suggested by Peter McGuire in New York in 1882. McGuire was then president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and an active leader in the Knights of Labor. McGuire chose the first Monday in September because it was about mid-way between July 4 and Thanksgiving. Both his suggestion of a special day and the time it should be observed were eventually accepted in all the states. It was the American work ethic, the will to work hard, among the vast majority of Americans of all races and creeds (in labor and management) that built the industrial wealth of the nation in the late 19th and early 20th century. By World War 11, this industrial strength had made America the envy of the world, the most powerful nation on earth. Labor Day in the Lakeland area isn’t only a holiday, it the beginning of a different way of life for many — it’s the week end when many summer residents close their cottages to return to city life and people realize that fall will be here in a few short weeks. It’s the last fling of summer . . . enjoy it!

September, 1983 There was that nameless splendor everywhere, That wild exhilaration in the air... — Longfellow. September is the month of the harvest moon, this year on the 22nd. The moon appears above the horizon at about sunset for several days, giving enough light for farmers to harvest fields after the sun sets. ' Hitler marched into Poland September 1,1939, and began World War 11. The first Continental Congress met on the sth in 1774 — in Philadelphia. James Fenimore Cooper, the novelist, was born on the 7th at Burlington, N.J., in 1789. The famous Galveston hurricane struck that Texas city on the Bth in 1900. The 9th is Admission Day in California — dating from 1850 when California became a state. The British defeated George Washington and his army at Chadd’s Ford in Pennsylvania on the 11th, in 1777, and took Philadelphia two weeks later as a result, in their third try. The 12th is Defenders’ Day in Maryland, dating from the War of 1812 with the British; John Barry, father of the U.S. Navy, died on the 13th in 1803.

What others say — New laws for Indiana Drunk driving is not what Indiana’s new law, effective September 1, is all about, but driving under the influence is. Under the new law, a driver does not have to be drunk to be arrested and convicted — potentially, a blood-alcohol content of between .05 per cent, and .1 per cent will do it. According to the law, a person with .1 per cent or higher, blood-alcohol content is technically intoxicated, regardless of how it may, or may not, affect his behavior. However, under the new law a person may be under the influence without regard to the percentage of alcohol in his blood. Provisions under the new law, which you should be aware of are: — If you are asked to take a breathelizer test, you must take it. If not, your license will be suspended by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for one year, plus, your refusal is admissable evidence against you in a trial. — Drivers-license revocations will be administrative rather than judicial. Which means if you take the test and fail, the B.M.V. will revoke your license — without ever going to court. — Under the new law, you will get a credit for the days your license is suspended administratively, if a court convicts you 00 if you take a chemical test offered by a police officer. If you do not take a chemical test, no credit can be attained and a full sentence must be served. — Under the new law, you may be arrested without ever taking a chemical test, if the arresting officer has probable cause to believe you are intoxicated at the .1 per cent level. -- If you are arrested for driving while intoxicated, (DWI), the arresting officer will take your license — on the spot, and issue you a receipt for a license until the B.M.V. officially suspends the license — usually less than 10 days from arrest. * — According to the new law, even for first offenders there is a mandatory 30-day suspension before one may obtain a probationary license, there is a maximum suspension after conviction of up to one year. — A related bill, also effective September 1, requires repeat offenders to not only serve a mandatory five-day jail sentence, but serve 10 days of community service as well. — If you have a suspended license due to a previous drunk driving conviction, and are caught driving, you will now have to serve a 60-day jail term. — A third bill, also effective September 1, requires automatic 10-year suspension of driving privileges for habitual traffic offenders. There are currently 14,000 to 16,000 drivers in Indiana who meet or exceed the habitual offender criteria — who still have their licenses. Indiana’s new law is designed to clamp down, not only on habitual offenders — but first time offenders as well. Besides harshly reprimanding offenders, the law’s intent is to make everyone think twice about drinking and driving. The harsh provisions of the new law, which include on the spot license revocations, are intended to be a more crisp deterrent against drunk driving, than the old law. The new law has more shock value, because of instant consequences — rather than drawn out judicial procedures. When the new law takes effect, Indiana will have some of the stiffest DWI laws int he country. lowa, recently adapted tough drunk driving penalties, similar to Indiana’s, in July, 1982. According to the lowa Attorney General’s office, there was a sharp increase in license revocations due to the new statutes. Specifically, from June, 1981 to July, 1982 there were 1983 DWI license revocations, but from July 1982, to June, 1983, the first year the laws were in effect, there were 17,094 license revocations. That’s an increase of 8,857 per cent. The same public official also confirmed that the rate of deaths caused by drunk drivers, for the same period had decreased 5.5 per cent. , ~ BY ATTORNEY GENERAL LINLEY PEARSON

MHHHHH*. R rI~T~ P”" ggV |\£ ‘73’’ B\\l /W* iff ■Wi HR %.I Hk ■ c

Roger ("Buck") Graber and Greg Drake, employees at Commodore Corporation in Syracuse, are among the many working people being honored on Monday, Sept. 5, as this nation observes Labor Day. Ml r-) | 457-3666 Or -J rUISe Call 658-4111, Ext. 17

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Now that the children are back in school, how will your life change? Results of last week’s question: The Wawasee fall sports season is underway. What advice do you have for the football team members and their coaches? Don’t get too hot. It’s too early to be out there.. .No, I’m not into sports. I’m only into golf, and I wouldn’t cross the street to watch that when I can see it on television. I’ve just never been interested in football. . .Goodness, I don’t know. You’re asking the wrong person that question. . Pass the football more often. Put the ball in the air, let the kids play, and go for it. . .I’m sorry. I’m a senior citizen, and I’m not into sports. I’m so sorry. . .Keep playing the way they did last week. Once you start winning, you can’t let up at all.. .You can tell them I’d like to have some of their money.

Rev. Richey —

Not three in the same

I have attended the School of the Prophets (United Methodist Minister’s meeting) for one week each fall for perhaps 20 of the past 40 years. This year was different! This year I went as one recently declared “legally blind.” I didn’t think that I was touchy about being blind, but allow me to relate a story and you be the judge! For all those years I had never, to my recollection, responded audibly in a class except that I do remember that two years ago I was so sleepy and I did yawn aloud — and this did startle the professor! But that had been my only audible response in 20 years. Thursday morning the devotions included several references — and I thought derogatory sentences — or ideas concerning the poor, the wretched, and the blind. This was not a session in which audible responses were expected, and though I was seething underneath, and wanted so much to stand up and call their attention to what they were doing to me, I refrained! That session was followed immediately by our first class session group of persons were involved. The teacher began his session by making some reference to the poor, and I knew that he was going to go ahead with references to the wretched and the blind — though I could have been wrong in my assumption! The moment he said, “Poor” I raised my right hand as high as I could. I didn’t wave it, I just held it high. He continued. I leaned over to my friend and asked him what the words were that I had written on an index card in the session previous. He said, “Poor, Wretched, Blind!” I said, “Fine, nudge me when he looks my way,” because I couldn’t tell. After about 90 seconds the lecture stopped and Jim punched me in the ribs, and the professor said, “Yes,” and I knew it was my turn!” And I said, “You know, in the session ahead of us we had a lot of reference to the poor, the wretched, and the blind. I want you to all know that I was reared in the depression in a very poor home. THE MAU-JOURNAL IUSPS 325 8401 Published by The Mail journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 46567. 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 N

Now, I couldn’t help that. We were poor people, but I never felt put down by it. “So here I am in a category which I thought was being ‘put down’. A few weeks ago I was declared legally blind, 0.K., so I’m poor and I’m blind but I’m not wretched!” “And I don’t intend to be wretched. I couldn’t do anything about my blindness, but I can do something about maintaining my self respect and I’ll be hanged if I’m going to be wretched.” “I don’t want to be lumped together because of two things which I can’t help, with another thing which I can help. Wretchedness or lack of it depends upon me!” The prof said, “I don’t believe I said, ‘the poor, the wretched, and the blind.”’ And I said, “No you didn’t, but you did say ‘poor’ and I was just trying to help you to not anger me further with ‘the wretched and the blind.’ I don’t know, because I couldn’t see his reaction, but there was some affirmation among some of the fellows about what I had just said! And, had there not been, I would have been most wretched — indeed!! Open Door Week/y Report from Senotor John S Avgsburgor Persons convicted of certain crimes may be liable for the monetary loss incurred upon their victims, under the provisions of a new law scheduled to take effect September 1, according to State Senator John B Augsburger (R-Syracuse). Augsburger, who co-authored the law in the Senate, said the sentencing court may order a misdemeanor or felony offender to make restitution to the victim of his crime. The court may do so without placing the offender on probation. Under the new law, a judge can require persons convicted of crimes to compensate their victims in one of three ways: paying all medical bills the victim incurs; compensating the victim for lost wages; or paying the repair or replacement cost to lost or damaged property. Augsburger stated the law is not intended to cover those victims with high losses since the offender may not have the monetary means to do so. “This law was designed to literally make the criminals pay for their crimes when they have the resources to do so,” Augsburger commented. “Last summer a problem arose in a case when the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled the judge did not have the legal authority to require that the offender make restitution to his victim,” the senator explained. “This legislation will clear up any questions concerning this issue in future cases.”

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

■

THE WEEDS between the sidewalk and curb of an uptown parking lot have been the concern of a number of people who have a vested interest in keeping the uptown area beautiful. We agree, even thought the complaint was sufficient to take a picture of the weeds (shown above) and go to the right people to complain. At first we thought it a city problem, but was informed by street and sewer system superintendent Joe Dock that this is not the case; that, if fact, it is a matter for the property owner to handle. Dock said complainants should contact the city clerk-treasurer, who in turn would contact the property owner. Then, if nothing is done, the city will remedy the problem and bill the property owner. This is handy information, since every once in a while a property owner is an absentee owner, or either just doesn’t care enough about his property’s condition to do anything about it. But street conditions are another matter. Dock informs us the city street sweeper has been in disrepair for about three weeks, and that during this time there has been a certain amount of “gravel wash” into the streets and into the city catch basins. He also said much of this is attributable to the fact that the state highway department has done street repair along SR 13 through town, then ended up sanding the repaired area. This, too, is part of the problem. ’ • • • Several catch basins along SR 13 within the city limits are completely filled with debris and rendered useless. The state has promised Dock they would take care of it, but so far this summer they haven’t. The town of Syracuse has 16.8 miles of sanitary sewers, superintendent Dock says, and seven miles of storm sewer. Four men are at work on the streets and sewers, two of them part time, and their maintenance is an ongoing problem. Dock credits the street and sewer department workers with “doing a fine job,” but adds that he will accept just criticism at any time. - MICHAEL G. Tallon, CPA, who has been in business with his accounting and auditing firm in the Fry-Weils Building in the Village since January 1981, moved his firm late last week into Pickwick Place in uptown Syracuse. His new offices adjoin the insurance offices of Pickwick Insurance. Tallon hails from the Chicago area, having received his CPA degree from Northern Illinois University at DeKalb, 111. Arlene Mohler is his receptionist. IF YOU noticed the handsome dude tooling around town in a sporty, low-slung red car, look again. It was Bill Beemer of Lake Wawasee, Chamber of Commerce president, in his new (to him) 1967 Jaguar E-Type, with its 4.2 liter engine. Bill first took note of the sporty job in a newspaper advertisement, contacted the owner in Fort Wayne, and came home with his new acquisition to the surprise of his wife and friends. Little need to say Bill is proud of his new car; you can see that all over his face.

- -X.» * £?* * ' Ms sAJnrnm j r - imbm

REMOVE CONCRETE FOUNDATION — Up comes the old concrete foundation at the town's property on South Huntington Street, earlier earmarked for a new town hall. Beginning the job of removal on Monday were Don McCulloch and Carl Freel. local contractors who jointly bid the job for 14,500. The proposed town hall is on hold at the present time.

COMPUTERS ARE big (and complex and baffling and nerve-wrenching) as anyone who has just purchased and tried to put into use one of the infernal machines. And, so, someone was sure to do it: come up with a catchy little ditty that tells it all. Since our main plant is grappling with the unexplainable intricacies of the new age, we felt this should be passed along for others finding themselves in the same boat: (computer Purchaser’s Lament Terms like floppy disks, data retrieval, bits and bytes Dominate my days and haunt my nights. Innovations in hardware, software and terminals to use Tend to keep me terminally confused. Decisions like 16K, 32K, 64 ... My memory just can’t process any more. I’m all for new business technologies ... But I’m still learning to speak “computerese.” Hardware, softw are, expandability ... Storing that knowledge is futility, ’Cause by the time I evaluate the information, Somebody’s selling some new innovation. I’ll agree it’s progress, becoming computerized; I just wish buying computers could be humanized. I wish for a great data base somewhere Where people could just question and compare. Isn’t there some common sense solution For keeping up with the computer revolution? After all, geniuses create ail that technology But poems and purchases are left to folks like me. SYRACUSE LODGE No. 454, Free and Accepted Masons, have a double building on East Main Street which they have for rent. Reid Auto Parts, headquartered in Ligonier, had an auto parts retail outlet in the building for six or seven years, and closed on August 8 to concentrate its efforts on the Ligonier store on US 6 and on its truck route. The decision to close the Syracuse outlet was made by Paul Reid, who has taken over active management of the company from his father Chet, who is now in semi-retirement. This move leaves Syracuse with three auto parts outlets — Auer Automotive also on East Main St., and NAPA and Auto-Pro in the Village. Mark Leamon, who has held down the fort at Reid’s Syracuse Auto Parts but resides in the Ligonier area, has been moved to the company’s Ligonier store and has the truck route. (Continued on page 5)