The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 35, Milford, Kosciusko County, 12 September 1984 — Page 1

Phones: 658-4111 & 457-3666

VOLUME 21

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OFFICIAL CEREMONY — First Federal Savings and Loan of Wabash's Syracuse branch held an official ribbon cutting ceremony this morning; signifying the -completion of extensive building renovations.

Pictured at the ceremony were Joe Gray., Syracuse Chamber of Commerce; Stuart Walker, manager of the Syracuse branch; Becky Hepler, chief administrative assistant; Bob Trotftman. Chamber of Commerce president; Don Frantz, general contractor from Frantz

Ribbon cutting ceremony held this morning nt First Federal

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held at the First Federal Savings and Loan of Wabash's Syracuse branch on SR 13S today, Wednesday. Sept to mark the official opening of the newly remodeled building Present at the ceremony were Nicholas George, savings and loan president Tom McSpadden.

One race in fall general election

By TOM CHARLES Staff Writer If Koscuisko County voters have an easy time deciding on which candidates to elect this fall, they can thank the Democratic Party. In 14 county and state races, the Democrats have managed to field only one person, county surveyor candidate Larry Manuel Republicans are guaranteed of winning the remaining 13 positions. Manuel. ,31. r 3 Warsaw, will face incumbent Charles Brower in the race for county surveyor. A resident of North Webster, the 58-year-old Brower has worked in the countyigurveyor’s office for the past JW years Manuel is a self-employed excavator. One-sided R aces Three Republicans running for state offices will not face any opposition this fall. They are 22nd District State Rep. Greg Mishler. 13th District State Sen. John Augsburger and 18th District State Rep Thames L Mauzy. None of the three was opposed in the May primary election Six incumbent Republicans are shoe-ins for another term in their county offices. They are Superior Court Judge Robert Burner. County Court Judge James Jarrette. Treasurer Vickie Patterson. Coroner Gary Eastlund, Commissioner Fred Gilliam and County Councilman Tom Anglin. The remaining four unopposed Republicans are seeking a first term in office. They are Jeanne Weirick, county clerk candidate; Maurice Beer, county commis-

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chairman of the board; Lawrence Myers, chairman of the building committee;. Stu Walker, branch manager; and Becky Hepler, chief administrative assistant at the branch The ribbon cutting also marked the start of a four-day open house celebration which will run

sioner candidate, and countycouncil candidates Dennis Polk and Kathryn Teel While the assurance of a Republican landslide pleases County Republican Chairman Jean Northenor. she is also somewhat disappointed with the lack of opposition “lam glad that our people are going to be elected, but I'm a firm believer in the two-party system and I’m would like to see some races, even if it means we have to go out and work harder to win." Mrs. Northenor said. "I just think that competition is good for you.” But Don Bixel, county Democratic chairman, notes that it is hard to convince Democrats to run in what has traditionally been a strong Republican county. •‘There aren’t many Democrats who think they have a chance in such a Republican county.” said Bixel. “I can’t remember us ever having onlyone candidate, but I don’t remember us ever fielding a full slate, either.” Both Bixel and Mrs. Northenor pointed to the difference in party organization as another factor in the low Democratic representa-, tion on the ballot. z “There is definitely a difference between the parties in the county," Bixel said. “I think that the Republicans are probably better organized on the precinct level.” “I think that our precinct committee people work hard.” said Mrs. Northenor. “And I think that they are going to work hard to get a lot of people to the polls. Despite the lack of opposition, I

Lumber Co.. North Manchester; and Nicholas George, president of First Federal. The facility has added two new offices, increased the teller space, and improved the drive-up window. Outside improvements include new siding and landscaping. An open house celebration will be held today thru Saturday with merchandise certificates given away daily and a grand prize drawing on Saturday. Refreshments will also be served during the open house. i Photo by Jo Sturgis)

through Saturday; Sept 15 Business hours during the celebration are 9 a m to 5 p.m Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a m. to 12 noon Thursday and Saturday During ,the open house, the branch will conduct a daily draw - ing for five $lO merchandise certificates. A grand prize drawing

don’t expect to see a low. voter turnout on election day .” School Board While the county races suffer from a lack of contestants, six candidates have filed to run for two vacant seats on the Lakeland Community School Board Incumbent Board President Bill Little will seek another term in office. Phil Payne.’the other board member whose term expires this fall, will not seek reelection. In addition to Little, those who have filed for the race are George D. Lung, r 1 Pierceton; Paul E. Reith, r 6 Warsaw; Carol R Swartzendruber, r 4 Syracuse; Jeanne G. Thomas, r 2 North Webster; and Stuart Walker. 119 W.E. Long Dr., Syracuse. Town board agenda given The North Webster Town Board of Trustees will be meeting tonight (Wednesday) at 7 p.m. in the town hall. Among the topics of business will be adopting a no parking ordinance and approval of final payments to Robert Henry Corporation for the treatment pond cementing and Gage Brothers for the paving project. Other topics will be a need for a school crossing guard, a report on the Mermaid Festival from Earl Roberts, several ordinances and a discussion on the town's sewage system with Jim Lauer of Philip Schnelker Associates. An executive meeting may follow the regular board meeting.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,1984

will be held at the end of the open house The top grand prize is SSOO, second place is S2OO and there will be three third-place prizes worth SIOO each. There is no purchase necessary to participate. Renovations The building has undergone extensive interior and exterior remodeling during the spring and summer months Two new offices have been added along with increased teller space and an improved drive-up facility. Exterior improvements include the installation of new siding and new landscaping around the structure. "We take a great deal of pride in our new look." Walker commented "We have received a great deal of positive comments about the changes ” The Syracuse branch has been open for over four years and. according to Walker, has expanded considerably in that time. The expansion project itself was brought on by the need to update the facilities to match the branch's growth. "We are very grateful to the Syracuse community for its continued trust." said Walker. "We have been increasing our services and I am personally grateful for that." However. Walker added that First Federal is not the only business that has benefited from an improved area business climate. "Business around here is doing better,” he noted. “We are not the only ones to make progress and I think we are just reaping some of the same benefits that others are." First Federal offers a complete range of financial services including consumer and mortgage loans, checking and savihgs accounts. passbook accounts, certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. All savings are insured up to SIOO,OOO by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. Walker has been the branch manager since January of 1984.

EDC gives approval to Miller's Merry Manor

By JO STURGIS Staff Writer

The Syracuse Economic Development Commission met at Beer Realty on Monday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. and approved the proposed financing of economic development facilities for Miller’s Merry Manor, Inc. Sandra Chelminiak, marketing planning assistant for Miller’s Merry Manor, Inc., and Jack Lawson, corporate attorney and counsel for Miller’s, Syracuse office, represented Miller’s in their appeal to the commission. Miller’s considered five sites in Syracuse to build the facility, but have tentatively settled*on approximately 5.5 acres, located on Wildwood Drive, in Wawasee Heights, Syracuse. The 66-bed nursing home with intermediate and skilled care is estimated to cost $1,800,000 for the acquisition, construction and equipping of the facility. This figure also includes incidental costs of issuance of the economic development revenue bonds. They plan to start construction in early spring 1985 and expect completion by the end of 1985. Paul Isabell, E.D.C. member, questioned whether the town’s water and sewer system could handle the extra strain of the new facility and wondered if Miller’s had done any research on this since the town does have sewer problems. Lawson assured the group there had been preliminary research done and he didn’t foresee any problems in this area. Lawson added the facility will have no adverse competitive effects on the community because there are no similar facilities constructed in the area. Another area of concern involved whether Miller’s would want Syracuse to pave hard surface roads for the site. Robert Reed, town attorney, said he was not speaking for the town board but didn't think they would be willing to do this and wanted to make this known to the representatives before they talked to the board at next week’s regular meeting. The representatives both said Miller’s planned on paving their own roadways for the proposed site. Lawson next questioned how many of the estimated 32 new employees would be local. Chelminiak said she thought the only person even likely to be transferred from another area would be the administrator. She said the others would definitely be local employees and that they would want local employees. It was also mentioned local physicians would be used.

At LCSC meeting

Board members adopt bond resolution for *990,000 project

Bv TOM CHARLES Staff Writer Lakeland Community School Board members unanimously voted to adopt a bond resolution for the planned $990,000 repair and renovation project at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The project is to include reroofing at North Webster Elementary and Junior High, Syracuse' Elementary and Junior High and Wawasee High School as well as heating repair work at North Webster, blacktopping the parking lot at the high school and resurfacing the high school track. Remonstrators have until October 27 to circulate petitions against the proposed bond issue. According to Bob Reed, school corporation attorney, bonds

Other concerns by the commission included whether Miller’s planned on retaining ownership of the facility. Chelminiak pointed out Miller’s started building nursing homes in. 1964 and now have 27 operating facilities, one under construction and two proposed facilities and have not sold one yet. Also, the question arose as to whether a survey was done to support the

Rental properties topic for Milford Town Board

By MARK WEINSTEIN Staff Writer Milford’s Town Board held its monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 10, with a wide range of

Camp Mack decision put on hold by BZA

By CATHY BRILL Staff Writer

The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals, met Monday evening, Sept 10, at 7 p.m., for another lengthy session. As the third case on a 22 case agenda, the Camp Alexander Mack petition for a special exception for the purpose of a campground in an agricultural district was again heard and tabled by the BZA. Camp Mack is a Brethrenowned church camp located on Waubee Lake, southeast of Milford. The case will appear before the BZA again Monday, Oct. 15, at 9 am., during the regular monthly hearing. The hearing will be held in the basement meeting room of the Warsaw Justice Building. After lengthy statements from the representatives of Camp Alexander Mack and the remonstrating Waubee Lake property holders, the members of the BZA closed the floor to discussion. Although camp officials had outlined some conditions they would be willing to accept as restrictions on the special acception and had reduced the number of RV camping units to 17 from an original 35, the neighboring property holders were not satisfied. "This is our major objection on the whole thing, RVs. At the current time we can not say with the RVs in it it is compatible to the

should be ready for sale sometime in December if there is no public opposition. Reed noted that the issue will consist of the sale of 198 bonds worth $5,000 each. The interest rate is not to exceed 10.5 percent and the first interest payment on the bonds will be made in July 1985. The bonds are scheduled to be paid off by 1996. In other business related to the project, board members voted to table a vote on the architectural agreement until they have a chance to discuss the plans with a representative of Everett I. Brown Company, Indianapolis. “I feel a bit uncomfortable with the whole project right now,” said Phil Payne, board vice president. “I am not sure that Everett I. Brown is totally prepared and I want to be sure in my own mind that they know what they are selling.”

need of a 66-bed facility in Syracuse. Lawson said Miller’s Merry Manor staffs a thorough research team who considered several towns and found the greatest need for a nursing home in Syracuse. The State Board of Health did its own siirvey and backed Miller’s findings. After all discussion, the commission unanimously approved the report and resolution for the

topics discussed, including legal action to be taken against one of Milford’s landlords, Ron Davidhizar. One of the living quarters that Davidhizar owns in Milford was

residents,” explained Bill Stath, who lead the remonstrance. After some deliberation by the BZA, a motion was made to grant the special exception provided the camp meet all obligations outlined. These would have included disallowing any RV camping, exclusively using two existing water sources, constructing one.privy to be used in addition to the one already existing, later constructing a 24 by 24 nature center, limiting of camp sites to 50 at any one time, making no paved or gravel roads or improvements, allowing the natural hedge buffer to grow, allowing only service vehicles to use the east access way. limiting the camp use to the Brethren Church with the exception of Scouts and girls and boys clubs, and moving signs to direct traffic away from Camp Mack Road and east onto CR USON. The motion, which failed to receive a second, was dropped. A second motion, which would have denied the Camp Mack special exception was seconded, but lead to a two to two deadlock vote between the four members present. The case was table until the next meeting. at which time, no public comments will be accepted BZA members stated that all possible discussion on the case had already been heard. The case wilhagain be subject to a vote at that time.

Board members have met once with a representative of the firm and will schedule another meeting before deciding whether or not to approve the architectural agreement as. it is now written. Radios The board also gave unanimous approval to Assistant Superintendent George Gilbert’s request to develop specifications for the purchase of radio equipment for corporation school buses. Under Gilbert’s plan, bids for the equipment will be opened at the October 9 meeting and a final decision made at the November meeting. The total purchase will involve between 30 and 40 radios. “The school bus drivers all seem to be enthusiastic about getting the radios,” said Gilbert. “The surrounding corporations have them and this would help us out in assessing the road condi-

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building of a Miller’s Merry Manor facility in Syracuse. Representatives of Miller’s will attend the Syracuse Town Board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18, to gain its approval.

E.D.C. members present for the meeting were Phil Beer, president; Alice Johnston; Paul Isabell and Robert Reed, town attorney.

recently rented to Richard Vanlaningham. The trailer, located at 318 East Williams Street, Milford, was to receive electrical wiring repairs before anyone rented the facility. Milford Building Commissioner Harry Doty noted that no repairs were made prior to Vanlanihgham renting the facility. NIPSCO has reconnected electric and gas to the trailer, creating a potential fire hazzard. Doty said that Davidhizar was to let him know when repairs were complete so he could inspect the building. Vanlaningham has not yet moved into the trailer, and according to Doty, has been encouraged not to do so at all. “If someone moves in there, it may burn down,” informed Doty. “It’s a fire hazzard. There are bare wires all over the place.” Milford’s attorney Robert Kirsch informed the board that he will write a letter to Davidhizar informing him of the infraction. Along with the conditions at the Davidhizar-owned trailer, Doty inquired about another potential problem in Milford — the new apartments at the east side of town. As a member of the Milford Fire Department, Doty felt that the buildings were put too close together. “If one of the buildings catches fire, they will all go,” said Doty. Confusion In somewhat of a confusing < Continued on page 2) Sesquicentennial meeting Monday A Syracuse Sesquicentennial meeting will be conducted Monday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m., in the Syracuse Scout Cabin. Anyone interested is urged to attend.

tions when the weather is bad.” Board members also accepted the resignation of Janet Knapp, special education teacher at Syracuse Junior High. She is currently on a six-month leave of absence and has decided not to return to the classroom. Mrs. Knapp position is presently filled by Kathleen Shivers, who is on a temporary contract with the corporation. Her contract expires in January and the a permanent replacement will be hired at that time. In other matters: • Superintendent Don Arnold presented an updated enrollment report to the board. Overall, the corporation shows an increase of 92 students over last year. The official count will be taken on Friday, Sept. 14. Arnold noted that the enroil(Continued on page 2)