The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 16, Milford, Kosciusko County, 2 May 1984 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL - Wed., May 2,1984

Editorials

We deserve what we get — Someone, we can’t remember who, in observing the American political scene, commented, “America deserves the government it gets!” That’s something of a come-down for a country that boasts of its great democracy, where the strength of its Apolitical system springs from its informed people. But — wait — maybe we have some of this sardonic criticism coming. take a second look. We should particularly take a closer look at our political system and how it works, inasmuch as next Tuesday is primary election day. How we approach this election is something that should draw us up short. It’s a statistical embarrassment that something like half of our people eligible to vote actually turns up at the polls on election day. And in this primary next tuesday, with so few contest facing the electorate, it could easily run less than half. And so, if only half of the people vote, candidates receiving just over half of that vote can elect our public officials. And these are the people for the most part who govern our lives. "x We should mention, that where there are a number of candidates running for a given office, the vote could be split up to a point where the victor could have less than half of the vote and yet come off the winner. Conceivably, then, someone could receive as few as 20 percent of the votes and be a celebrated victor! Maybe we do, after all, deserve the government we get. We can do something about this by getting out to vote next Tuesday — and in every election, for that matter. May, 1984 Spring’s last born darling, clear-eyed, sweet, Pauses a moment, with twinkling feet, And, gold locks in breezy play, 5 Half teasing and half tender, to repeat. Her song of “May.” — Susan Coolidge The month of May contains many memorable dates. There’s May Day. In many colleges and schools, there’s the custom of electing May Queens. It probably began in England, as a survival of Roman festivals. The Battle of Manila Bay was fought on May 1,1898. That battle won ascendancy for the United States (against the Spanish) in Asia. It is remembered for Admiral Dewey’s famous order, “You may fire when ready, Gridley.” . Some Americans will remember the sinking of the liner Lusitania, May 7, 1915, which did much to turn sentiment in the United Staes against the Kaiser’s Germany in World War I. World War II in Europe ended May 8,1945. The first transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10,1869, meeting at Promontory Point, Utah. > The annual observance of Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday, (the 13th) and dates from 1907. Miss Anna M. Jarvis of Philadelphia is Responsible for gaining national acceptance of that day. Miss Mary T. Sasseen, a Kentucky schoolteacher, probably arranged for the first observance of the day, in 1906. V-EDay As time races on, V-E Day falls further into history’s background. Most Americans have no memory of that memorable Tuesday in May - the Bth, in 1945. The Second World War ended for most of the world that day. For Americans, May 8, 1945, came after a hard winter, and the new growth and warmth seemed to visually express new hope. That hope was the world could avoid another war of such magnitude. So far, we’ve managed that, but the United States has suffered two costly, long wars in Asia. And the communist menace has been, and remains, a serious threat to freedom and democracy. What others say — Not newsmen anymore Dan Rather is not a newsman. Neither are his counterparts on other networks.'They are celebrities, shopmen, or entertainers who read news reports. Behind the scenes there are hundreds of reporters digging out the news and feeding it to them. . The television folks who poke microphones into the face of interviewees and ask inane questions are not newsmen. Neither are the camera men and the tape recorder carriers who push and shove and jockey for position in the milling crowd. But the public confuses these people with newsmen. They lump them all together and label them the “press.” Or they toss all newspeople into one pile called the “media.” The difference between the electronic media and the press remains unappreciated by an indifferent public. The definition of media should be confined to electronics. The press should be defined as only print journalism. To put the two in the same bed tarnishes one with the image of the other. Print journalists look down their noses at the media even though they themselves often are mistakenly called the media. True news reporters don’t shove microphones in the faces of the victims and ask them how it feels to hurt. They don’t clutter the scene with massive cameras, flood lights and tangled wires. They don’t attract crowds or create riots or spontaneous demonstrations with their presence. True newsmen work quietly behind the scene with little or no recognition. They don’t thrust themselves into the story. They don’t insist that the cameras focus on them as they work. Yet a portion of the public ill-will toward the press stems from the stigma of the electronic crowd, especialy television. The public has failed to separate the press from the media. • But (with some exceptions) they are two distinctly different creatures. One, a glittering, show-biz, superficial media; the other a quiet, unglamourous dedicated press. Don’t get us wrong. The Dan Rathers may have been newsmen. Walter Cronkite was once a hardworking UP I reporter. But once they hit the shimmering airwaves of television tinsel-town, they become wealthy entertainers playing the ratings game. They transformed themselves into objects of press coverage, with almost no kinship to print journalism. - HARIS NEWS SERVICE

THE PEOPLES CHOICE

v • r 1J <1 / . - i ri i 457-3666 Or M-J HlllSe Ca 11658-4111, Ext. 17 QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What are you going to do special for your mother this year on Mother’s Day? Results of last week's question: Would you favor a Central Lakeland School Corp. Junior High? I am not in favor of a joint junior high or middle school. They cannot even control high school kids, then they don’t need to throw this age group together and cause more problems like they do in the high school. Also, the kids get bussed around too muchnow, they don’t need bussed more ... I don’t see anything wrong with this idea. It would be good because all of the kids will be located in one area . . . I'm not sure what I think of the idea. I see problems both ways. But there is one thing that I think would be good and that is the atheltes would be able to play together longer, which would help out the varsity programs ... I don’t think this would be a good idea, We have enough problems at Wawasee, we don’t need to create more with a school like this . . . This would be the best thing for the school corporation. I think this would help the budget since we would probably have a few less teachers ... I don’t know ... I like the idea. I will push that way if others would be interested in this project... I came from this type of set up and it was good. The students get to know each other better, develop better friendships and in the long run, there are less problems.

Court news

Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jean Messmore: Burnau-Roberts John Norman Burnau, 20, r 5 box 247, Syracuse and Tamera Lynn Roberts, 18, r 5 box 247-SA, Syracuse Badskey-Wail Kent Lee Badskey, 23, r 2 box 171-A, North Webster and Michelle Rena Wall, 21, r 1 box 164-R, Pierceton Hullinger-Fuller Thomas Allen Bullinger, 25, P.O. Box 344 North Webster and Marian Beth Fuller, 25, P.O. Box 344 North Webster Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Lauer — John G. Lauer vs Cheryl R. Lauer, r 1 box 287, Syracuse. The couple was married December 29, 1967 and separated June 1,1983. There are four minor children Keiser — Anita K. Keiser vs Richard P. Keiser, Syracuse. The couple was married June 30, 1973 and separated April 18, 1984. There is one minor child County Court - The following persons have been assessed fines and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court, James Jarrette, judge: Speeding — Robin L. Dust, North Webster, SSO; Wayne M. Campbell, Leesburg, S4O; Mary E. Smith, Leesburg, SSO Disregarding stop sign — Cheyrl L. Dunagan, Leesburg, two counts, SSO each Failure to yield — Mary C. Small, Leesburg, SSO X False registration — Rhonda J. Marchand, Syracuse, SSO; Rick D. Kuhn, Leesburg. SSO Circuit Court The following complaints have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court. Richard Sand, judge. Complaint In Fraud Clyde Bolinger and Ruth Bolinger vs Greenfield Life Insurance Company and James R. Joyce, agent. The plaintiffs are seeking judgment against the defendants for the sum of sß,sfc in count I of the suit for fraud; $5,000 punitive damages; and $2,000 attorney’s fees, plus costs of action, for an insurance claim Foreclosure Federal Land Bank of Louisville vs Dale Lamar George and Sherry A. George of Nappanee. The plaintiff is seeking foreclosure of defendant’s property to satisfy judgment of $197,166.65 each plus costs of action, attorney’s fees and interest to date of judgment

City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: No driver’s license (never obtained) — Robert Steinhoff, 17, Syracuse, $45, 10 days in jail suspended, ordered to obtain beginner’s permit by May 18 Speeding — Christopher W. Hare, 19, Syracuse, S4O SUDS is joint effort The Indiana State Excise Police has joined forces with the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Sheriffs Association and the Indiana Chiefs of Police Association in an enforcement program known as Operation SUDS: Stop Underage Drinking and Sales. Operation SUDS will combine forces of all departments in an effort to curtail minors from acquiring alcoholic beverages and to stop adults from selling or furnishing alcohol to persons under the legal drinking age of 21. Efforts will be targeted toward liquor permittees. “Beer bashes,” and adults furnishing minors with alcohol, all common sources for dinking minors. Unidentified officers, spot checks, surveillances and raids will all be methods of enforcing the law. ■ According to national statistics, 90 percent of high school seniors and more than 50 percent of seventh graders have tried alcohol. It is estimated that one in every four high school students drinks at least once a week. Recently 65 youths were apprehended at a beer party in a woods northwest of Fort Wayne. Involved in the raid were eight police departments. The incident was a perfect example of how Operation SUDS might operate. The Governor 's Task Force has recognized Operation SUDS as an effective enforcement program which will contribute to a permanent solution to the drunk driving problem. Tilt Mtft JOTtNII (U.S.PS. 3258-4000) Published by The Mell-Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, lndianaMs47 Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main • Street, Syracuse. Indiana M 547 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: SIS per year in Kosciusko County; SIS outside county POSTMASTERS: Send change of ad dress forms to The Mail-Journal, P.O. Box IM. Milford, Indiana 44543.

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

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A SURE sign of a local business upturn comes from a conversation with Stuart Walker, manager for the past' four months at First Federal Savings & Loan of Wabash, Syracuse Branch. Walker says the rapid upturn in his firm’s business during this brief period is a reflection of the local economy. It has been sufficient to warrant an expansion of the local offices in Wawasee Village, long delayed. (Note: See photo above. From left are the firm’s president Nick George, Walker, teller Jeanette McDaniel and administrative assistant Becky Hepler.) The company, which opened its offices in the summer of 1977 in what they considered would be temporary offices, had an instant burst of success, but then suffered with other financial institutions during the recent nation-wide recession. “Now things have turned around again,” Walker states. He points with pride to a new 18x24 addition being built to the north of their main office structure to provide additional office space and to make room for a third teller. Also included in the remodeling program is a new entrance, a new parking area and a new drive-up window, all to be doneby the end of May or early June. , Not shown in the above photo is head teller Lin Jamiel. — o — ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE of a «good local business climate is the fact that Augsburger Super-Valu stores in Syracuse and North Webster are both enjoying a 30 percent increase in business this year over a year ago. This,, according to John B. Augsburger, the corporation’s president. •< He is adding two new check-out counters to the Syracuse store, giving them a total of seven, “in order to better service our customers.” A 12-foot deli case is also being added at Syracuse. . In the North Webster store, Augsburgers is adding one additional check-out. giving that store four lines. They opened the Syracuse store in 1965 and the North Webster store in 1971. — o - THE VERY active Syracuse PTO is at it again. They’re planning another Jonah Fish Fry, Book Fair and Art School, the kind that was so successful last year. f ' -I Time and place: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 4, at the Syracuse Elementary School. They called last year’s affair “a roaring success,” and they hope to do as well this time around. Last year they used the profits to buy new playground equipment and to improve the grounds; this year they want to dp the same, plus plant several small trees. All this, according to publicity chairman Arlene Berkev. Carol Swartzendruber is president of the organization. — o — HILARY AND Janice Bachman, well known former Syracuse residents, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary on April 14 in Mesa, Arizona, with a buffet for seventy-five friends and family members. Among those attending were daughters Susan Bachman, Concord. Calif.; Mrs. James D. (Beatrice) McGowan, Great Falls. Virginia; Jane Bachman. Chicago; and grandchildren David and Jill McGowan. The Bachmans were married April 28, 1934. , Hilary and his father, the late Charles C. Bachman, operated a grocery store in the old Pickwick Block before it was first remodeled, then moved the store to the building on East Main Street, now a part of the State Bank of Syracuse. Hilary was a member of a family of seven children, including Harriett, a Time Magazine researcher now doing some work for Readers' Digest, and Janice was one of four very attractive girls of the Rapp family. She is a talented musician, having played the piano in an early Syracuse theater accompanying silent films, and given piano lessons to many local aspiring musicians. 4 -oDID YOU ever feel you’d like to play a round of golf with a real, live governor? You can play one hole with Governor Robert D. Orr —for $125, that is — at the Plymouth Country Club on June 6. Two years ago this little political fund-raiser was held at South Shore, but no one remembers (or is telling) just how much money was raised. Former Kosciusko County GOP chairman Ed

Pratt of Warsaw is chairman of the 1984 Governor’s Cup Northwest, or the Bob Orr Golf Tournament. Four golfers can tee off with the good guv for the paltry sum of SSOO. Pratt states, “The fee is considered a political contribution and may be applied toward an individual’s tax credit for 1984.” — o — MORE RETURNING “snowbirds” include Robert L. and June Laudeman of 156 North Shore Drive, Syracuse, arriving home from a winter ht their villa home in Avon Park, Fla. June and Bob report a good winter but that they are glad to be home among old friends. En route home through the several states they found temperatures about 85 degrees, finding it nearly the same when they arrived here. — o — THROWING AN electric light switch or energizing an electric motor are so taken for granted by us all. We seldom if ever wonder where the electrical power comgs from, unless, that is; it fails us, as it did for a brief time during Sunday night’s wind storm. A real eye-opener comes when one visits a generating plant where it ail begins. This writer had occasion to do just this last Thursday as the guest of Robert Westfall, Northern Indiana Public Service Co. representative at Syracuse, along with other NIPSCO representatives and members of the company’s consumer advisory panel. We toured the company’s plant at Wheatfield where Unit 17, a 344,000-kilowatt, fuel-fired’ generating unit was declared operational on April 28,1984, a month jihead of schedule. The enormity and complexity of the R. M. Schahfer Generating Complex where some 450 permanent employees work, defies description, at least for one unschooled in such things, but let us cite some little-known facts. The Schahfer Generation Station, one of four generating plants operated by NIPSCO, is on a 4,200-acre tract in Jasper County, 2,000 acres of which is developed. Unit 17 is a s6ll million high technology cycling unit, the driving force in the company’s current electric rate request before the Public Service Company of Indiana, and is necessary to meet current and future demand in the utility’s job-sensitive service area. At the Schahfer plant. Units 14 and 15 are coal-fired while Units 16A and 168 are oil-fired. The new Unit 17 is designed to burp Illinois coa|. A proposed Unit 18 is designed to be coal-fired and is to be operational in 1986. Unit 17 alone burns 1.5 million tons of coal per From a view atop the large plant one can see long rail lines leading into the plant where three huge coal piles keep a limited supply of western and midwestern coal ready for their big furnaces. The coal must be ground powder-fine and injected under pressure to create a white heat to generate steam, which in turn moves the enormous turbines to generate the electricity that we receive in our homes and plants. Little known is the fact that the plant invested $167 million in environmental facilities -a flue gas desulifurization system, electrostatic precipitators that are 99.7 percent efficient, a dry fly ash removal unit, and a closed-cycle water cooling and condensing system with low-silhouette mechanical draft cooling towers. Unit 17 gives the plant a total net rated capacity to 1,402,000 kilowatts. Unlike the smoke-belching stacks of the past, only a fine steam is being emitted from the four large stacks that dominate the skyline around this rural setting. A large assortment of wild animals run free on this flat spread of land and timber. The switch we throw is totally dependent upon the smooth working of this enormous.grid of furnaces, generators and computers. And on the dedicated people that operate them. Bringing dependable electrical power to us is no accident. — o — FROM TIME to time we try to raise the intellectual level of our readers, and must occasionally borrow material to do this. This stimulus comes from Harper’s Magazine, and while some may consider it trivia, we choose to call it solid gems of obscure knowledge. What good are they, you ask? When you’re at a party and the conversation runs flat, spring one of these; it will open up a vast new line of conversation. Guaranteed. Here they are: Total hours of television watched in American households in the year 1983:213-billion. (Continued on page 5)