The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 27, Milford, Kosciusko County, 18 July 1984 — Page 1

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FATAL ACCIDEM I T — Residents around the intersection of Milford-Syracuse Road and CR 300 East’policed traffic following the tragic accident Saturday afternoon that claimed three lives.

Three lives claimed in fatal accident

A broadside collision on the Milford-Syracuse Road Saturday. July 14. claimed the lives of three people, with another remaining in serious condition According to Kosciusko County Police Sgt. Tom Kitch. Pamela Davis. Camanche. lowa, was southbound on CR 300 East when she pulled out into the path of a

Paris Miller resigns as MAD vice president

By CATHY BRILL Staff Writer The Milford Area Development Council met Saturday. July 14. in the Milford Community Building for its regular monthly meeting. The resignation of Paris Miller, the organization’s vice president, was announced MAD treasurer Don Arnold reported a June beginning balance of $915.85. The balace for the organization at the end of June was $951.37. Deposits for the month totaled $393.37. and expenses for the month were $537.85 Arnold also reported that replacement letters for those stolen from the community building had been ordered. Eva Hamilton, caretaker of the Milford Community Building, stated that the carpet had again been spot cleaned, and that liquor served at many of the meeting and receptions was causing a problem. She explained that when liquor is spilled it dries without staining, but days later a stain appears. MAD members determined that in order to solve the problem, an extra deposit of $25 would be assessed those rentals at which liquor will.be served. The assessment is intended to discourage carelessness, and to cover any cleaning expense which becomes necessary. Mrs. Hamilton also mentioned the matter of loaning community building equipment to parties wishing to remove it from the building. MAD members again determined that no- items will at anytime be removed from the building for private use. Members feel this is necessary to preserve the materials which have all been donated for use in the building. Marcy Haab, president of the MAD, announced that Paris Miller, the organization's vice president has regretfully resigned his post. Miller, she said, based his resignation on his work as an accountant which causes him to spend much of his time outside

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vehicle driven by Gary J. Gerencser, Milford Gerencser, who suffered a fractured leg in the accident, was traveling west on the MilfordSyracuse Road at a speed close to the 55 mile per hour speed limit when the collision occurred. The 19-year-old youth reported to police that he saw the Davis vehi-

Milford Mrs. Haab noted a package of information she was given by Joe Gray of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce on the Greater Warsaw Chamber of Commerce. MAD determined membership in such an organiza-

Barb Myers interim VP —

Sidewalk Days preparation is underway at Syracuse

By CATHY BRILL The Syracuse Retail Merchants met Monday, July 16. at 6 p.m. at the Das Keller. Items on the agenda for the meeting included plans for Sidewalk Days and the election of a new vice president. Decisions regarding advertising for the Sidewalk Days event were made at the Monday evening meeting. Members present committed themselves to $450 worth of advertising with Fort Wayne television station Channel 55. and made plans to purchase another $350 worth of television advertising from a South Bend station. This will bring the television advertising budget for the 1984 Sidewalk Days to a total of SBOO. The group plans to collect S4OO for the ads from Syracuse businesses in the form of S2O donations. Each S2O donation will pay for a 30 second television spot, or two 10 second spots. The generic advertisements, which will focus on the entirety of Sidewalk Days and not indiviual businesses, will work as a matching fund. As contributions come in for the commercial spots, the Syracuse Retail Merchants will match the funds to an established S4OO limit. The commercials will appear on Channel 55 on Aug. 6, 7,8,9,10 and 11. A section near 100 E. Main St. will be blocked off for Sidewalk Days this year. Among the 1984

Pictured above is the vehicle driven by Pam Davis, Camanche, lowa. Mrs. Davis, her daughter Bethany and Leslie Taylor all lost their lives in the mishap. (Photo courtesy of Kosciusko County Sgt. Tom Kitch)

cle approaching the intersection, but he couldn’t stop in time. Two Infants Die Losing their lives in the mishap were seventh-month-old Bethany Davis and her mother. Pamela Davis, 24, both of Camanche, lowa Eight-month old Leslie Taylor, Pierceton, also died in the accident, despite being pro-

tion would lie with the Milford Economic Development Council, and should be passed on to that council. It was decided that a prewinter season fund raiser would be necessary for the support of the Milford Community Building

events will be an auction, dance, BPW bake sale and chicken barbecue on Aug. 11. A fund raiser for the Winter Carnival will also be held uptown in Syracuse. It was determined that during the Sidewalk Days event each merchant will be responsible for any booths to be set up in front of his store. A request to use the sign boards of Wawasee Village merchants during the event will be made. Vice President The next major item on the agenda for the evening was the selection of a vice president, who will be able to assume the presidency of the organization next year. Although the position left vacated by president Jeanne Gardiner’s resignation was not filled permanently. Barb Myers agreed to step in as interim vice president. The organization’s current president is Jim Evans. Following the dicussion of the need for a vice president, Gerry Bauer suggested that some consideration be given to an individual capable of assuming her secretarial duties next year. It was also decided that the offices of secretary and treasurer be combined. In other business. • The new officers of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce requested a list of suggestions in the areas of short

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18,1984

perly fastened in her safety restraint seat. It is unknown if the Davis infant was properly fastened. Another passenger in the Davis vehicle, Mrs. Jody Taylor, r 1 Pierceton, suffered internal injuries and is in serious condition at Goshen General Hospital. The three deaths were the result of in-

during the winter months. Futher plans on the matter will be made at a later meeting. The next meeting of the Milford Area Development Council will be held Saturday, Aug. 11, at 9 a.m. in the Milford Community Building.

and long term goal setting and improving communications with the town board from the Syracuse Retail Merchants • Itwas mentioned that the Syracuse sesquicentennial will be held in 1987, and not 1985 as once planned. “The town, said Gardiner, has decided to go with the plat date of 1837 in establishing celebration plans." An estimated $2,000 has been collected so far for the park pavillion, which will be constructed for the sesquicentennial in 1987. • Mim Speicher volunteered to serve as chairman of the Moonlight Madness events in October, and Jeanne Gardiner volunteered to chair the Christmas tree lighting and arrival of Santa which are slated for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. • It was suggested that an advertising budget for the Syracuse Retail Merchants Association be established on a yearly basis, and that a set fee for members be established from which a planned advertising budget could be projected. No action was taken on the suggestions, but these areas may be the topic of future action by the group. The next meeting of the Syracuse Retail Merchants will be held at the State Bank of Syracuse Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 8 a.m.

ternal injuries. Investigating the accident along with Kitch and county patrolman Gerry Moser were Syracuse policeman Joe Thornburg and North Webster’s Jerry Craig. Milford and Syracuse Emergency Medical Service Technicians transported the victims to Goshen General Hospital.

Ln ELECTED COMMANDER — Richard F. Wright, a 56-year-old Korean War Veteran, was elected the 66th Department Commander of the Indiana American Legion at the concluding session of the 1984 convention Sunday at the Hyatt-Regency in Indianapolis. Wright succeeds Gerald L. Bole, Van Buren Postmaster, as the new commander. Wright is an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. A native of Bloomfield, he is a graduate of Bloomfield High School and attended Indiana University. He is the owner and operator, with his son. Odell, of the Wright Construction Company of Bloomfield. A member of the Baptist Church, Wright is also affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite, as well as the Forty et Eight. He is past commander of the Legion’s Seventh District, and is a past southern vice commander of the Legion. Mrs. Wright is the clerk-treasurer of the town of Bloomfield. They are the parents of a son and a daughter and have fvie grandchildren.

Reflects 9.1 % increase —

Accept 1985 Lakeland school budget for advertisement

By TOM CHARLES Staff Writer The Lakeland Community School Board of Trustees unanimously approved the advertisement of a $4,179,890 budget for 1985 at a special public meeting on Tuesday night. The budget figure represents a 9.1 percent increase over the current $3,830,837 budget. Tax rates under the new budget are estimated to be $4.07 per SIOO of assessed valuation compared to the current rate of $3.77. However, Superitendent Don Arnold noted that the actual tax rate may be lower than the budget figure. “This year the rate will probably drop from $3.77 to $3.73,” Arnold said. "The rate for 1985 could well be under $4 by the time we get the actual figures.” The corporation is seeking* $2,423,720 for its general fund, $1,191,320 for debt service. $256,750 for the cumulative building fund and $308,100 for the transportation fund. The largest portion of the proposed $349,053 overall budget, increase is in the debt service fund. According to George Gilbert, corporation business manager, the 1985 figure for that fund is $230,016 more than the current budget due to the cost of purchasing new computers, new buses and continuing payment on the Milford school building. “We went through every line of the budget and did the abso'ute best we could,” Gilbert told the board. “I feel comfortable with the figures.” Gilbert will now advertise the proposed budget and the board will resume discussion on the issue at its regular August meeting. A final approval hearing will be held on the last Thursday of August. One Year Contracts - Acting on an issue that was tabled at last week's meeting, the board unanimously approved one-year contract extensions for the principals at Syracuse Elementary, North Webster Junior High and North Webster Elementary schools Kiwanians to hold com roast The 14th annual corn and sausage roast, sponsored by the Lakeland Kiwanis Club, North Webster, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 4, from 11 a m. to 8 pm The roast will be held at Camelot Square on the front lawn of the International Palace of Sports, 5.R.13, North Webster. Tickets may be purchased from any member of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club- Proceeds will be used for youth programs and community projects in the Lakeland area. An estimated 4,000 people will be served Indiana sweet corn and old fashioned stuffed sausage at the roast. Carry-outs will also be available. Task Force chairmen who will assist co-chairmen Dean McFadden and Sherman Bryant in planning the roast are: James Salisbury, Roger Miller and Jon Roberts, securing the corn and sausage; George Bauner, Harry Wible and Larry Stackhouse, serving corn and sausage and carryouts; Bob Morgan, refuse; Clint Butcher, site and clean-up; Dick Mason, Dan Watson and Jack Maule, condiments; Jerry Badskey, publicity; Dick Long, < tickets and advertising; and i Howard Locke, desserts, table 1 cleaning and entertainment. J

The board also approved Mark Reiff’s request to rent Wawasee High School facilities for the Cardinal and Blue Track Camp on June 16-21, 1985. Reiff and Dave Wollman, WHS alumni, ran the camp at the high school this year and hope to make it an annual event. In personnel matters, Kathleen Shivers was hired to teach special education classes at Syracuse Junior High for the first semester of the 1984-85 school year. She will fill in for Janet Knapp who is on maternity leave. Reject all bids —

Syracuse to rebid town hall plans

By JO STURGIS Staff Writer With bids for the new Syracuse Town Hall 30 percent over the cost estimated by James and Associates Architectural Firm, Fort Wayne, the town board unanimously voted to reject all bids and rebid the project later highlighting last night’s town board meeting. , Joe Morganthaler opened the discussion by saying. “I don't think it’s a S6O a square foot building. I’d rather rebid the project and if they come in that high again, go a different route. ” The only bid to come in under the estimated cost by James and Associates was the fire protection system. Jerry Firestone of James and Associates asked the board members if they had considered cutting back anywhere else in the building. Carl Myrick, board president, said, “I’m not going to let anything else be cut out of the building. We’ve already cut enough.” Morganthaler added, “If we cut anymore, we ll end up with a $300,000 garage.” The board members told Firestone they would contact him

Robert Kitson is named to Fairfield School Board

Robert Kitson, a teacher in the Lakeland School System for the past 20 years, has been named to serve on the Fairfield Community School Board. Kitson, 42, presently teaches physical science at Wawasee High School. “I was surprised to be elected, but am very happy about being named," said Bob Kitson. “This is a good opportunity for me to keep on improving the quality of education in the Fairfield School System. I am a teacher in the Lakeland School System, but a parent in Fairfield’s. Because of that, I am concerned about my children’s education.” After being nominated for the vacant position during the board’s regular meeting, Kitson was accepted by a 2-1 vote. Board president Rich Gross was the only dissenting voter as he opted instead for former board member, Raymond Dausman. Ironically, Kitson will be working with Gross during the upcoming school year on negotiations. Kitson’s term in office will last until June 30,1988. Kitson, a 1963 graduate of Manchester College, received his master’s degree from Ball State University in 1969 with studies in physics and chemistry.

NUMBER 27

Board members unanimously approved the hiring of Gail Lehman to teach first grade at Milford Elementary. She is being added to bring the studentteacher ratio in line with the 18:1 figure called for in the Primetime program. Sue Ganshorn was also hired at Tuesday’s meeting. She will teach three periods of physical education and serve as as aide in the school. The board will meet again on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. in the corporation office building, Syracuse.

at a later date when they wanted to rebid the project either as a total project or individually or when they can come up with something else. Discussion from the brought up an extensive discussion of old business. Two residents again complained that their garbage was not being picked-up regularly. Clevenger Disposal Service of Pierceton is supposed to service the east side of town on Wednesday and the west side of town on Thursday. Last week, the west side of town never received pick-up service and as of last night, the garbage was still sitting in resident’s yards. Myrick contacted Jim Clevenger, owner, on Monday. Clevenger told Myrick one of his trucks was broke down, but should be in operation by Tuesday and the trash would be picked-up on the same day. But, as of last night, the trash was still sitting. James Hughes asked what alternatives were available to the board. Bob Reed, town attorney, responded, “I don’t think we’re stranded.” Reed read the con- * (Continued on page 2)

ROBERT KITSON Kitson, a rural Syracuse resident, resides in Benton Township, Elkhart County, with his wife, Judy, and four children. Mrs. Kitson is the former Judy Beer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Beer of Milford. The school board position became vacant when Barbara Moneyheffer resigned due to illness.