The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 March 1984 — Page 1

Congratulations, Warsaw Tigers!

Phones: 658-4111 & - 457-3666

VOLUME 21

—l6-year-old Syracuse girl victim of—

Murder at North Webster!

Bv ARCH BAUMGARTNER And JERI SEELY A 19-year-old North Webster man was arraigned at 3:30 Tuesday afternoon in Kosciusko Circuit court and formal charges of murder were filed in the death of a 16-year-old Syracuse girl some time after midnight Sunday. Being held without bond in the Kosciusko County jail is Kurt Eugene Ohlwine, son of David and Jean Ohlwine of the North Webster Community. Dead as a result of gunshot wounds about the head is Melinda Ann Young, daughter of Walter (“Wally") Young, of 813 South Front Street, and Ann Marie Young of Syracuse. She was a sophomore at Wawasee High School. MELINDA YOUNG Found In Webster Lake Miss Young was found lying in 18-inches of water in front of the Kenneth Sowers home bn Second Street in North Webster at about 8 p.m. Sunday, investigating officers said. The murder victim was fully clad when she was found, and •there was no evidence that she had been violated Kosciusko County Coroner Gary A Eastlund said the Syracuse teen-age girl was shot three times in the head and once in the chest, according to the autopsy. She was shot inside the Sowers home, located on a knoll nearly 100 feet from the Webster Lake shoreline. The home had been ransacked. The young girl was dead before she was dumped into the lake, but there was evidence she was alive as late as midnight or 12:30 a.m. Sunday, coroner Eastlund said. Working on the case that held officers at bay Sunday night and most of Monday were Judy Coleman. North Webster chief of police; State Police Detective Ray Carich of the Bremen Post; Kosciusko County Sheriff Al Rovenstine; his Captain. Ron ("Frog”) Robinson; Det. Sgt. Tom Kitch; and members of the department of Natural Resources. A press conference was held at the North Webster city hall at 10 a.m. Monday, and following the confession of young Ohlwine, a second press conference was held at 3:30p.m. Monday. According to chief Coleman, the murder suspect was picked up originally “over a little scrap he got into.” His first contact with North Webster police was at about 3 p.m. Sunday, and a second contact was at about 6 p.m. Ohlwine admitted breaking into the Sowers home on Webster Lake.

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Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL !Est. 1888) and THE AW ASEE JOURNAL <Est. 1907)

Ohlwine is single, a high school dropout and is unemployed. Over the past two days Ohlwine has made several statements concerning the murder. With each statement police have been given a better picture of what took place last Saturday night and Sunday morning. In a recent statement, Ohlwine indicated he had been at a friend’s apartment in North Webster on Saturday night and had watched the IHSAA championship basketball game and a movie before leaving at approximately 11:30 p.m. He indicated he had walked towards the Crystal Flash station, located at the north edge of town on SR 13. The station was closed. At that time he saw Melinda walking alone. He recognized her from a brief meeting at a Syracuse gym two weeks earlier and called to her. He had not, according to statements, seen her in that two week period. It was approximately 11:45 p.m. They discussed meeting at a house (later found to be the Sowers home) a short distance from the station — he had reportedly entered the house previously. He told police he instructed her to meet him there. She wanted to make a telephone call; he went another direction. She reached the home before he did. According to information received, when he arrived at the house he didn't think she was there yet. She was. She surprised him and he fired five shots at the figure he saw in the house, using a .38 caliber handgun taken earlier from the Sowers home. He reportedly did not know he was firing at Melinda at the time. The body was then taken from the house and thrown in the lake. Conservation officer Mike Fodor and North Webster police officers Michael Janacek and James Felkner discovered the body after receiving a telephone call that blood had been seen on the floor of the Sowers home when the caller looked through a window. The Sowers are vacationing in California, but they were notified of the entry into their home. Ohlwine said he was alone with the Young girl at the time of the murder. Ohlwine had admitted to a number of burglaries in the North Webster community. No Party Connection It was Miss Young’s father who reported a wild party at a North Shore Drive, Syracuse residence in the early morning hous of Sunday, March 11, at which his daughter was a member. Asked if there was any connection between the Sunday morning murder and the party, detective Carich and sheriff Rovenstine both said they had no reason to believe there was. Also, it was not known if the murder suspect was at the March 11 party. Officers described Miss Young as having a “history of running away.” Her father was co-owner of Quackers on Pickwick Road with his brother Andy. A Muncie physician made an autopsy on Monday, death was caused by injuries to the brain. Miss Young was born August 8, 1967, at Fort Wayne to Walter (“Wally”) Young and Ann Marie (Fremion) Young, both of 813 Front Street, Syracuse. She was a Wawasee High School sophomore. The Youngs had moved to Syracuse from Pierceton four years ago. She is survived by her parents and a younger sister, Wendy, a (Continued on page 3)

1984 Indiana State Basketball Champions

El - ——* EXPLAINS YOUNG MURDER — In a Monday morning and afternoon press conference at the North Webster city hall officers gave details to the press concerning the investigation surrounding the murder of Malinda Young of Syracuse. From left are Judy Coleman, North Webster town marshal; Kosciusko County Sheriff Al Rovenstine; and state police detective sergeantßay Carich. County police captain Ron Robinson also figured prominently in the investigation.

■K! ■jar i i W T I I i -t* A ■ I 31' IHr * - -M W&- t- ’ I . ■ tsL |b '' n I T ' «r S HL j BHSHBhL MURDER DRAWS TV COVERAGE — All three area television stations were attracted to the North Webster murder scene on Monday. Cameramen are shown here filming the Sowers house that was broken into and the shallow water where the body of the 16-year-old Syracuse girl was found Sunday night.

Hefty suit filed against county officials

John C. Mason, r 1, Syracuse, has served a notice of claim in excess of SIOO,OOO against several Warsaw and Kosciusko County officials. The law suit claims Warsaw and Kosciusko County officials are responsible for damaging his personal and business reputation. He accused the officials of “abuse of process, malicious prosecution, slander, defamation, liable, and the violation of his civil rights. Mason served notice to newly elected Warsaw Mayor Jeffrey Plank; Michael Valentine, Warsaw city attorney; Ted Ward, Warsaw Police Chief; C. Alan Rovenstine, county sheriff ; and Maurice Dorsey, Charles Lynch, and Fred Gilliam, Kosciusko County commissioners. The action by Mason stems from an arrest of a minor outside his place of business. The Billiard Parlor, Warsaw. As a result of the accusations and affidavit signed by Robert M. Conley of the county sheriff’s department, Mason was charged with battery, a class B misdemeanor on September 30,1983, in Koscisusko County Court. He was later found not guilty. According to the notice, at the time of the alledged battery, Conley presented himself to Mason

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28,1984

and other individuals in the area as a member of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department. During the time span, Conley verbally stated his position and also displayed a sheriffs badge. In addition, during the time of Flotilla ball to be July 7 The Flotilla Ball will be Saturday, July 7, from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. in the American Legion Hall, SR 13 Syracuse. The date for the ball was decided at a recent meeting of the Flotilla Committee. There will be a cover charge. The Flotilla Committee will be responsible for pre-dance ticket sales with tickets being available at the door. The Flotilla Ball is one of many events which will take place on this Fourth of July weekend. In addition to the ball there will be the Flotilla Parade, a road race and bicycle race. The Flotilla Parade will be Sunday, July 8, and the weekend will be climaxed with a giant fireworks display at the Syracuse Lakeside Park.

the problems. Mason was in connection with officials of the Republic of Honduras concerning the acquisition of a casino’s license. It was Mason’s intentions of doing business in that country. Mason was also being considered for a managerial position with Ewing International Casino Consultants, Las Vegas. Clifford R. Williams, attorney at law, Elkhart, is representing Mason in this matter. Should the situation not be settled within a 90-day period, which Williams included in the notice, a trial will take place in South Bend. Chimney fire at Shriver's Syracuse and North Webster Fire Departments were called to the home of Harry Shriver at 1:49 p.m. Saturday. The Shriver home is located on CR 900 N, one mile east of SR 13. The cause of the fire was a plugged chimney. No damage resulted. Syracuse fire officials report that North Webster bad the fire out when they arrived. Syracuse assisted with checking the home and attic before returning to the station.

Reminded of Mitchell murder By MARY LEE WILLMAN The M-.I Correspondent Once again the North Webster community is faced with the death of a teenage girl. On March 25 the body of 16-year-old “Mindy” Young was found float ng in Webster Lake only a short distance from the spot on Epworth Forest Road where 17-year-old Laurel Jean Mitchell vanished on the rainy night of August 6,1975. Laurel’s body was found the following morning in a branch of the Elkhar River in Noble County. She had been raped and murdered. Cause of death was officially listed as drowning. Both girls were students at Wawasee High School at the time of their deaths. The Mitehell case has never been solved and is still under investigation. Leads continue to come in and are checked out thoroughly. When Wilma Mitchell, Laurel’s mother, heard the tragic news of the Young girl’s death her face saddened. She told this reporter, “My heart goes out to her parents. I know how they feel and what they will be going through.” Laurel was well liked by school mates and people in the North Webster community. She was active in her church and planned to attend college following graduation from high school. The night of her disappearance she was on her way home from a summer job at Cokesbury Inn, Epworth Forest. She was working to earn money for college. The citizens of North Webster were so outraged by the senseless crime that a “Citizens For Law Enforcement” committee was formed and 410,000 was raised and offered as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons responsible for Laurel’s death. A comment still often heard around the North Webster community is, “She was such a nice girl, a good girl, -why would anyone want to hurt her?” The reward fund was dissolved in 1979. Although several substantial leads were brought to the attention of authorities that led to the arrest of a Fort Wayne man, on sex charges involving other Kosciusko County women, concrete evidence relating to the Mitchell ease has so far not been established. Overheated furnace at Shrimp Boat An overheated furnace at the Shrimp Boat Restaurant, Syracuse, sounded the fire alarm and s«nt fire officials to the location at 11:39 a.m. Thursday, Marc h 22. There was no damage reporter.. Syracuse fire officials report the furnace area was checked and the air louvers were found to be closed. Firemen removed the covers f *om the doors and checked the furnace. Employees were advised to leave the furnace openings open. Voter registration at cleric's office / Anyone needing to register to vote in the May primary election, as wel as those needing to transfei their voting registration to Kosciusko County, may do so now thrHigh April 9, in the clerk’s office, according to Jean Messm< re, cleric of the Kosciusko Circuit Court in Warsaw.

Boat industry leads in economic recovery

By GAILWIDMOYER Staff Writer National reports say the economy is steadily recovering from the recession of the late ’7os and early ’Bos and by examining various manufacturing industries, one can find concrete evidence to support the reports. Car sales are up, recreational vehicle sales are up, and more pertinent to the Lakeland area, boat sales and manufacturing are afloat. According to Paul Phillabaum, Sea Nymph president, “We thought 1983 was a good year and actually the industry has been good for several years. But the last two years are probably the best in several.” The division of Sea Nymph in Syracuse manufactures aluminum boats while another plant in southern Arkansas produces fiberglas products. Phillabaum said the Arkansas plant is stronger because of the popularity of fiberglas, but he believes Sea' Nymph is still contributing to the local area. Figures released by company controller Steve Vogel show sales percentages are up 50 percent over the previous year and employment is up from 150 last year at this time to 230 this year. If there are any problems facing the boating industry at this time of prosperity they would have to be lack of skilled employment and the possibility of future shortages. John Cripe, president of J.C. Mfg., Inc in North Webster, concurred with Phillabaum that “we are constantly looking for skilled people.” J.C. Mfg. has also increased its labor force by approximately 30 percent to help handle sales which have “almost tripled what they were last year.” According to Cripe, the industry's season has started early this year and his company is producing 100 units more than at the same time last year. “And we thought last year was good.”

CHAMPION SPELLERS — Lisa Kaiser, 14, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kaiser, r 2, Milford, and her second cousin. Jeremy Beer, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Beer, also of r 2, Milford, are shown with trophies they won in the county spelling bee. Lisa took home the championship after correctly spelling "legible” and “linkage” in the 10th and 11th rounds. Her win entitles her to enter the regional spelling bee which takes place April 14 in Fort Wayne. The winner of that contest advances to the National Spelling Bee, to be held May 27-June 1 in Washington, D.C. She also won the Kosciusko County Spelling Bee two years ■go. Jeremy retains his title of elementary school champion. (Photo by Ben Smith)

NUMBER 11

However, both manufacturers are aware that because of the increased popularity and sales of their products, shortages can happen and Cripe noted his company is already noticing a backlog. Retail Shortages happen on the manufacturing end when orders exceed production capacity and parts are unobtainable. These shortages are then transferred to the retail end of the spectrum. “Right now, most dealers are fairly well stocked but with the increased sales, we will be low on inventory later on in the next few months,” explained Doug Anderson, owner of Wawasee Boat Co. “But shortages in some ways help you (the dealer) because people are moved to buy now since the product may not be there later.” Anderson as well as other marina owners has participated in various boat shows and found that attendance is up by 10 to 15 percent. "People are very interested and they’re buying at shows and the marina itself.” He estimated that sales will have increased by 30 percent for the period ending in March and the next few months will continue with steady growth. George Paton 111, owner of Patona Bay Boat Service on Lake Tippecanoe, agreed the next few months would be crucial in the sales area. “Right now a lot of things are getting Tight and it looks like in another 60 days there will be quite a shortage.” Paton who also participated in the boat shows said this year is better than last year in sales and when his boat stock is depleted, “there’s a long wait for reorders.” For Patona Bay, sales were good through February but with the inclement weather in March sales have slowed some. However, Paton doesn’t expect the lull to last and he predicts that “sales will take off like gang busters when the weather warms.”