The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 44, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 November 1984 — Page 1

Phones: 650-4111 & 457-3666

VOLUME 21

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WINTER'S ON THE WAY — Derk Kuhn, Milford, got a frosty reminder that winter is just around the corner when he walked out to his car on Tuesday\tnorning.

S-W Chamber progress agenda

It might have been called an agenda for progress. It was the fall meeting of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, held Tuesday night at Kimmel Hall at Oakwood Park The meeting touched on some high points of things that are happening in the greater Syracuse community that portends well for its future progress and growth. The f-our main points of development include activities at Lakeside Park on Syracuse Lake, progress on the community’s new nursing home, what’s happening at the old Spink-Wawasee Hotel property, and finally a picture report on Oakwood Park and what plans it has for developing its facility. The Patk First In a good meeting chaired by C-C president Robert Troutman. Kip Schumm. a member of the Syracuse Park Board, was asked to give a report on that area’s proposed pavilion. He said a goal of SIO,OOO has been set, and that slightly over $6,000 has already been raised Construction should begin in the spring, that the newbuilding can be in use next summer He said several of the park board’s members are speaking to groups in the community as an educational and fund-raising tool. “And the response has been good,’’ Schumm said. He added that donations are being cheerfully accepted. President Troutman spoke for the new- nursing home, inasmuch as its representative Tom

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’ AN AGENDA FOR PROGRESS -An agenda for progress, the theme of last nights SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce fall meeting, was outlined by these men. From left are Kip Schumm. who spoke on fund-raising for a Lakeside Park pavilion; A. Hunter Clopitts. who gave an excellent slide presentation on Oakwood Park's improvement program; Harlan Steffen, who talked about progress being made on the old Spink-Wawasee Hotel conversion into condominiums (see bottom rendering); and club president Robert Troutman, who brought the group up to date on the area’s new nursing home (see top rendering).

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Teghtmeyer could not be present. He said the Miller Merry Manor group hopes to decide on a location by January and start construction of the 66-bed podshaped center — similar to the one recently opened at Wakarusa —by March 1985 Early plans are that it will include a 1.500 square foot building for a doctor’s office. Economic Development Corporation bonds have already been arranged for, Troutman said Spink Condominiums Syracuse real estate broker Harlan Steffen, working with Miller Brothers Realty, reported on progress at the old SpinkWawasee Hotel, more recently known as Wawasee Prep. He said the first, second and third floors have been gutted and that studding is going up for the proposed 32 condominium units. The historic landsite is undergoing a complete renovation. The units will all be three-bedroom with about 1,000 square feet, heated by natural gas. and each

Approve salary increases for school support staff

B) TOM CHARLES Staff Writer Lakeland Community School -Corporation support staff will receive pay hikes of five to 10 percent effective January 1, 1985, according to the details of a new salary

The season’s first snow fell on Saturday night and, although the mercury has been rising this week, there is a possibility of more white over the weekend. < Photo bv Tom Charles)

with a glass-screen porch. Four elevators will serve the upper floors. Steffen noted. There will be gas fireplaces, a commons area, two-car garages, lakefront patios, piers, tennis courts, sunbathing decks and a security gate. Each unit will have a twocar garage. Price of the units, Steffen said: $215,000 to $240,000. Oakwood Park A professional two-projector color slide presentation was made by a Hunter Colpitts on developmerit plans at Oakwood Park, known now as Oakwood Spiritual Life Center. He said the original 40 acres was purchased in 1897 for $5,000, and has served its purpose well over the years. It is now in the midst of a $6.5 million conversion and construction program which they hope to have completed by January 1987. He referred to the center as a campus-type area. Pastor Colpitts, associated with Oakwood since his retire-

schedule approved by the school board at its monthly meeting on Tuesday night. "All support personnel are evaluated on a yearly basis and the amount of pay increase was decided partially on that evaluation,” noted George Gilbert,

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14,1984

ment as a Muncie, Indiana, pastor, said "Oakwood is a dream come true." “Our immediate problem," he said, “is more rooms.” President Troutman pointed to several of the chamber’s points of interest, including the Christmas lighting in the community, the Winter Carnival, public Fourth of July fireworks, and the beautification of the entrance to Syracuse. He said a committee is working on a storm warning system for the area. He added they want to work on “the signs” along the town’s right-of-way. He said the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce has 90 members and an annual budget of $3,600. Plaque For Gray Troutman recognized Joe Gray, who has served long and well as the chamber’s executive director. He presented Gray with a handsome plaque for his years of service.

assistant superintendent. “We decided to award raises on the basis of evaluation and performance instead of giving a flat percentage increase.” In addition to salary increases, support staff severance pay and health insurance policies were also updated under the new agreement. The new agreement also contains provisions for up to five days of emergency family leave each year. In other salary matters, administration personnel were granted a 6.5 percent pay raise effective January 1,1985. This increase corresponds to the 6.5 percent wage increase granted in the new teacher contracts. More Funds Board members also unanimously approved an additional appropriation of SIIB,OOO for the general operating fund for the current fiscal yeaj. The board also gave its approval to advertise for tax anticipation warrants to cover a temporary shortage of funds at the beginning of 1985. According to Superintendent Don Arnold, the state does not send the money to the school corporation in January. This, combined with the fact that no local funds are released until June, creates an annual shortage in the operating fund at the beginning of i (Continued on page 2)

Renter voices complaints to Milford board By MARK WEINSTEIN Staff Writer The Milford Town Board heard complaints about rundown buildings in Milford during its monthly meeting held at the Milford Community Building Monday, Nov. 12. The only difference this time was that all the complaining was not done by Della Baumgartner. Teresa Hainge spoke about a house that she is presently renting from Howard Haab, Milford. “Delia is concerned with the outside of the houses, but I am concerned with the inside,” proclaimed Mrs. Hainge. “I had a fire in my house last year, the roof leaks and there are several other problems with the house. What I want to know is what can I do about this?” Mrs. Hainge complained that the roof leaked this past spring and that Haab said he would come in and fix it. And he did, so to speak. “He came over like he said he would and put a piece of tin metal over the leak and put two bricks on top to hold the metal,” said Mrs.' Hainge. “Now something has to be' done about this.” Jean Treesh, president of the town board, stated that she should have Harry Doty come in and inspect the house and if it was in as bad of shape as she sdked; then he could condemn it. “But he has already been in and looked over the house,” said Mrs. Hainge. “And he said that there was nothing else that he could do.” Milford’s Street and Water Superintendent Bill Knowles, along with the board, suggested that she invite Doty to her house once more and have him inspect the premise. He has the authority, at that time, to condemn the buidling. In a similiar complaint, Mrs. Baumgartner questioned the slow method of development in the cases of Ron Davidhizar and Richard Widup. She asked for an update concerning the legal action taken against Davidhizar. After directing a few statements to Bob Kirsch, Milford’s Town Attorney, she commented, “For two years we have been working on the Davidhizar problem and we have seen no progress. "Now there are other properties that are in bad shape, but they won’t do anything because they see that nothing has been done with Davidhizar’s.” "Mr. Davidhizar has until November 30 to answer the question to our complaint," said Kirsch. “After that we will just keep on working. As you know, the legal system usually is a long, drawn-out process. You just have to be patient." Hear About Project In other business, the board heard from Deb Wiggins and Matt Dalton concerning Milford's cooperation in a special county project. The two, representing the Kosciusko Development, Inc., stated ways they are trying to attract new businesses into the county. Under the guidance of Treesh, the board decided to table the issue of joining Kosciusko Developemnt, Inc., until the next meeting. It was suggested that Mrs. Wiggins and Dalton return to another meeting, at which time a decision might be made by the board. Max Beer was present to seek the names of people who have received a letter from the town requesting that they hook up with the town’s sewage system. The board would not release the names. Frustration Dave Collier wentbefore the board in what was the most confusing and frustrating topic of the evening. Collier went around in circles with Knowles and the town board concerning the possibility of hooking up with the water tap to his house that presently connects the water line with his trailer. Collier is presently in the pro(Continued on page 2)

Discuss Moonlight Madness —

Santa to arrive in Syracuse on Saturday, December 1

By JO STURGIS Staff Writer The Retail Merchant’s Division of the SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce met Friday morning, Nov. 9, at 8 a.m. at the Syracuse Case for their November meeting and discussed the recent Moonlight Madness sale. Suggestions were made for next year’s sale. A notation was also made on the December 1 arrival of Santa in Syracuse and plans were discussed for his visit. The suggestions included moving the sale to Friday evening so the Syracuse State Bank can be involved, gearing the pumpkin decorating contest for adults and coordinating the sale hours between the merchants as much as possible. The suggestion was brought up to move the Moonlight Madness sale to Friday because the bank is closed on Thursdays and the bank could attract even more business to the downtown Syracuse area if it were open on the day of the Moonlight Madness sale. Many comments were heard on coordinating the sale hours so that all the merchants operate under the same schedule. It was suggested the sale should only be at night or it really isn’t a Moonlight Madness sale. But Goldie Pilcher of Pilcher’s Shoe Store pointed out that a one night sale does not allow sufficient time to pay for all the advertising expenses. It was also noted that some stores closed early on the night of Moonlight Madness. Jim Evans, Retail Merchants president, stressed the importance of all the merchants operating on the same schedule. Evans then discussed the possibility of letting the mer-

SADD to present program for Milford Families in Action

The Milford Families in Action, Inc. will hold its first meeting of the school year on Tuesday. Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Milford Community Building. Group Response This group was organized last year as a response to the “Chemical People” program sponsored by the Lions Club. The goals of the organization are: to promote community awareness concerning drug and alcohol

Ml JI I 1 * It 34 *W ■ mm mHHHu WARRIOR LETTERMEN — Wawasee’s boys basketball team will open up its 1984-85 season Friday, Nov. 17, at Carroll. The Warriors enjoyed a 15-6 record last year, but they hope to improve oa that mark this season. Pictured above are the three returning lettermen for John Wysong’s Warriors. From left to right are Brooks KoNe, Seth Swihart and John Hapner. (Mail-Journal Photo)

oil Look who's conning to town chants run their sale for as long as they want; whether it be one day. three days or only during the Moonlight Madness hours, but having all the merchants offer special sale items over and above the other sale items during the Moonlight Madness hours. "We have to give the customers something special to come to town for,” said Jeanine Gardiner, Retail Merchants member. If all the merchants just have a three day sale it doesn’t give the customers a reason to come to the Moonlight Madness sale. “It is good to have a three day sale, but there needs to be something special during • Moonlight Madness,” added Evans. Nothing definite was decided about changing the Moonlight Madness sale, but it will be discussed further in future meetings. Santa’s Arrival Santa’s arrival was the next item discussed by the group. The town has already secured a Santa I and is in the final stages of secur- ’ ing a place to house him. Santa is < scheduled to arrive in Syracuse < on Saturday, Dec. 1. i A discussion was held on having Santa move from store to 1

abuse; to assist with drug and alcohol awareness programs in our local schools; to provide a list of resources for people with substance abuse problems. Milford Families in Action is incorporated with the State of Indiana and can accept tax deductable donations. Serving on the board of directors are Annie Bender, Marcy Haab, Dr. Bruce Lamb, Dr. William Percy, and Dick Roose.

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store on a set schedule of times when he will arrive at each store so customers could follow Santa or know where he is at at any particular time. The group also approved of the idea of having someone take pictures of Santa with children. These pictures will probably be sold for $2. Traditionally, a ceremony is planned for the Santa’s arrival at the Pickwick Square and ideas were discussed on ways to improve the ceremony and make it more special. The group ed the possibility of having a community Christmas tree where residents in the community take their own ornament and place it on the tree. A committee was formed as the last item of business. The committee is going to discuss plans for next year’s merchant activities and discuss ways to improve the exposure for all the different activities held in Syracuse. The committee is made up of Jim Evans. Augsburger’s Super Value; Jeanine Gardiner, State Bank of Syracuse, Barb Myers, Anchor Man Casual Wear; and Mike Skevington, The Papers Incorporated. They are going to meet on Monday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m., at the State Bank of Syracuse. Lions hear Coach Wysong Wawasee High School boys’ basketball coach John Wysong was the guest speaker at the Syracuse Lions Club meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The meeting was held at the Syracuse Case. Wysong spoke to the group on his educational philospohy as well as the upcoming basketball season. In other business, the club approved its budget for the new fiscal year. The club will meet again on Wednesday, Nov. 21.

SADD Programs The program for the November 20 meeting will be presented by SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) from Wawasee High School. Tracy Beaty and Travis Marsh, both Wawasee students, will present the program and explain what SADD is and what their group is doing at Wawasee. Any interested citizens, parents, and students are encouraged to attend this meeting.