The Mail-Journal, Volume 22, Number 16, Milford, Kosciusko County, 17 April 1985 — Page 4

THE — Wed., April 17,1985

4

Editorials

Positive thinking! Lakeland School Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Webster gave a speech Monday night that had a very positive ring; its title, “What’s Right With Our Schools.” It was given at a time when many people are thinking negative about everything. It is time we all stopped looking at the negative and started looking at the positive. It is time to take a look at what’s right with the Lakeland schools. Dr. Webster’s talk was enough to make the buttons pop off the shirt of the most negative person. He discussed the gifted program in the school corporation and the fact it is one of the top 10 in the state. Algebra is offered to eighth graders for high school credit. Next year college credit courses will be offered at the high school. He Miso said: f. • The remedial reading program in the school corporation is individualized for the students. • Some 60 per cent of the young men and women who graduate from Wawasee High School go on to schools of higher education. • Students in the corporation receive higher scores on tests than the national norms. • The vocational educational program is excellent, with Wawasee, Fairfield and West Noble teaming together to provide more fields than one corporation couldon its own. • The building trades class builds and sells a quality home each year. j i • The Wawasee Band brought home a first and a second place award from the Peach Bowl in January. • The Lady Warriors basketball team finished second in the state . With Dr. Webster’s speech in mind we took a look at our school pages on Tuesday afternoon as they were being made up and found a number of things to be very positive about. We urge our readers to take a look at this week’s school pages and find out about: Kevin Pohl, a member of the WHS band, who has been accepted for membership in the United States Collegiate Wind Band. Kevin will be on a concert tour of Europe this summer; and Chris Chalfant, a fifth grader at North Webster, who placed in the top five in the state of Indiana with his gifted program scenario. The scenario has been entered in national competition. And, there are honor rolls, dean’s lists and presidential academic fitness awards. There is much that is right with the Lakeland schools. Thank you, Dr. Webster, for reminding us. Speaka d' English ? S.I. Hayakawa, who retired from the U.S. Senate a few years back, has joined a national effort to make English the nation’s official language. Hayakawa says the country is heading toward a crisis which politicians refuse toaddress. The English language has long been the unifying force in America, he notes, and when he introduced a bill, in 1971, to make English the official U.S. language , he was deluged with positive responses. At that time there was no organization pushing for such a goal. Hayakawa says English should be the only language used on the ballot and that bilingual education should be a transitional process only in our schools. The former California senator is on solid ground in seeking to preserve the degree of unity which this melting pot nation has achieved. This kind of crisis and confusion, and disunity, was what skeptics of the great American republic predicted in the late 1700’s, but for over 200 years the United States has maintained sufficient unity to make for orderly, stable government. This is largely due to the fact that immigrants coming to this land took it upon themselves to learn the language — and wanted to learn it. They their children to learn it, and to be Americans, not hyphenated Americans. By designating English as the official language of the nation, a major unifying force will be retained; thus support for U.S.-ENGLISH is needed (Box 881626, San Francisco, 94188). One accepted language enables all to completely understand the nation’s laws, history, freedoms and traditions — so important to sustaining successful democracy. z, • .

What others say — It's a holiday.. . It must be a holiday. If it’s not a holiday, then maybe we can make it one. We were looking through the mat books from which we get pictures for our advertisements the other day and learned that nearly every day (or at least every week) is a holiday. Supposedly this must benefit someone — maybe florists who can sell flowers for the occasion (if they are aware of the occasion), or maybe government officials who waste the time thinking up what holiday to add to the calendar next. ■> Or maybe they simply do not benefit anybody. We all know about New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the old standbys... those we celebrate with vacations or at the very least a word of greeting to those around us. But you may be missing the boat if you are not celebrating Ag Day on March 21; Newspaper Carrier Day on October 13; Sweetest Day on October 20; Mother-in-law Day on October 28; United Nations Day on October 24, or Unicef Day on October 31. . . Then again if you want entire week celebrations, you might want to include Ag Week March 16 to 22; Poison Prevention Week March 17 to 25; FFA Week February 16 to 23; Housing Week October 14 to 21; Jaycees Week January 14 to 18; Police Week May 13 to 19; Farm Safety Week September 16 to 22; Business Women’s Week October 21 to 27; Cosmetology Week October 7 to 13; or Crime Prevention Week February 10 to 16. The list goes on and on ... if you need a holiday to suit your own purposes, just invent one and don’t forget to write it on the calendar if there’s any room. Maybe we could have several National Vacation Days each year or maybe National Loafing Days — it’d be against the law to even lift a finger on those days — or maybe we could have a National Forget Holidays Day and just pretend thats holidays don’t exist. It won’t be long until no one will put in a full day on the job or in the kitchen. Everyone will be too busy trying to remember which holiday they could be celebrating if they could remember which holiday it is. Happy holiday... whichever one it is. - THE WAKARUSA TRIBUNE

.||f Anthony Beer and Lisa Bushong won individual honors in the classical pianists category at the state music contest last month. They are two examples of “What’s Right With The Lakeland Schools. " Letters to the editor

An open letter to all who care about teens

Dear Editor Once again, the problem of teen alcohol/drug use has surfaced at Wawasee High School. Parents are frustrated and angry over the severity of the rules. For the record, we too argued the severity of the rules. School administrators have to be frustrated and angry over the parents reactions. Sides are drawn and the rules are argued. There will be a “winner”, but it will not be the school, nor will it be the parents. The only “winner” will be the problem of teen alcohol use. Teen alcohol/drug use continues to increase at an alarming rate. Wawasee High School is no different than other high schools. Those who refuse to admit that we have an alcohol/drug problem need only count the alcohol/drug incidents in the past three years. The school did not make our children drink; the parents did not make our children drink; the police did not make our children drink; the church did not make our children drink and the community did not make our children drink. Yet, as long as we continue to argue over the rules, and attempt to place blame, hone of us has the energy to address the real problem. How long before

Caution on Grace findings

Dear Editor: Thank you for your recent correspondence. As one who has consistently supported restraint in federal spending, I find much merit in the Grace Commission recommendations, although I must confess that, out of some 2,500 proposals, I do find occasional grounds for disagreement. Many of these recommendations — particularly those that can be accomplished through administrative action — have been incorporated into the Administration’s 1985 budget request or are already being implemented. Others will be the subject of further study and debate, and at this point I can only express my hope that the Congress will demonstrate greater fortitude than it has in the past in effecting spending reforms. One major caution is in order. The Grace Commission’s report 10-year reunion planned Members of the 1975 class of Wawasee High School is planning their 10 year class reunion for Saturday, July 27, at the Maxwelton Restaurant in Syracuse. If any of the following class members can be located, please forward their addresses to Charles Packer, P.O. Box 261, North Webster, Ind., 46555. Dena Cook, Chris Crooks, Tim Crouch, Debbie Darr, Lisa Emmons, June Gose, Shannon Hall Schllinger, Marianne Harbes, Rusty Hayden, Patti Holtzclaw, Bill Jones, Randy Keck, Joe Kennedy, Kim Kern, Joe Kleinknight, Jim Kussmal, Barb Labra, Mark Lacas, Lani McCullough, Joe Melendez, Teresa Oliva, Jon Owens, John Paymer, Carol Rector, Jack Salazoir, Jim Simpson, John Slusher, Rick Ritenour, Dave Tracey, Jo Ann Trowbridge, Marjorie Trammel Van Sickle, and Bryan Wolfe. Board dedares cash dividend The board of directors of FN Bancorp, the parent company of First National Bank of Warsaw, has declared a cash dividend of 72 cents per share to shareholders of record April 9, payable April 26. After the recently approved four for one stock split, the cash dividend will be equivalent to 18 cents per share, based on 571,928 shares outstanding.

Wawasee has a fatal example of teen alcohol/drug use? Some parents make excuses for their child’s “using”; some parents deny that their child uses; some parents have a “straight” child, at least for today; some parents think that they are the only one that have a child using. Wake up folks, if you don’t have a problem today, you may have one tomorrow. You do not have to sit there feeling guilty, because you alone cannot stop your child’s use of alcohol or drugs. Teen alcohol/drug use cannot be stopped by the school, the parents, the police or the church. .. but a concerted effort by those who care, has a chance. It is time to stop arguing the rules and trying to place blame. It is time that we, as a community, unite to fight this growing problem. Our teens need all the help and support this community has to offer. If you are a parent, grandparent, school administrator, teacher, neighbor, police officer, clergy, or just care about teens and want to help, we need you. Please meet with us Wednesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. For additional information, please call 457-2044. Sincerely, Jim and Judi Morgan

has been widely, and largely inaccurately, described as an analysis of “waste” in federal spending. To be sure, there is indeed waste in federal spending, and we can and should do a better job of policing it. However, the bulk of the savings recommended by the Commission are generated by reforms in federal pay and pensions, by controlling the explosive cost increases of Medicare, Medicaid, and the veterans and military health care systems, and by extensive reductions in other federal subsidy and benefit programs. The deficit crisis is the product of a spending explosion still not yet under control, and, in my view, many of the reforms advocated by the Grace Commission will eventually be dictated by fiscal necessity. Nonetheless, it must not be supposed that he job can be done merely by trimming “waste” from federal spending and thus that budget reform can be painless and essentially free. Federal spending did not double from 1960 to 1969, double again by 1975, and double again by 1981, because of waste alone. Spending growth has reflected many deliberate choices to expand federal benefits and subsidies. This rate of spending growth must be controlled. Doing so will require major programmatic reform, and the political difficulty of achieving that is substantial. I appreciate your understanding and support for that effort, and I would welcome your continued counsel as specific budgetary decisions are considered in the months ahead. Thank you for taking the time to communicate your views. Your continued counsel is welcome. Sincerely, Richard G. Lugar

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S.P.S. 3258-4000) Published by the Mail Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 46567. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse. Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: sls per year in Kosciusko County, s2l outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

WHAT KIND of a bash would it take to bring a standing-room-only crowd of revelers to a small tavern and eatery like the Sleepy Owl, located south of Syracuse on SR 13? It would take a personal experience to fully understand this. It’s something called Dyngus Day, which Mike and Darlene Calobrace, owners of the popular establishment, adopted from their native South Bend. In South Bend, with its huge Polish population, the observance — thought to have come a thousand years ago when that country adopted Christianity for its religion — first caught on at the West Side Democratic Club. But even that is lost in time as the idea was picked up to foster business by such non-Poles as Senor Kelly for his MexicanIrish case, and even by the Marriott Hotel. Everyone has been trying to write themselves into the act. And politicians — even in this nonelection year — were in evidence at South Bend’s Dyngus Day. But wait until an election year, when politicians from across the state are thicker than hops! Dyngus Day has been called “the unofficial post-Easter indulgence marking an end to Lent and the season of self-restraint.” Wordsmiths are continuing to grope for the exact narrative to describe Dyngus Day, and it continues to elude them. This has not been lost on Mike and Darlene Calobrace, and they’ve brought their own version of Dyngus Day to their small Sleepy Owl. It was not only SRO, but patrons jamming their place had to park as far away on SR 13 as Baker’s Farm Market. Their bash began at 4 p.m. Monday, the eighth, and at 5 p.m. they had a full house. The little supper club could handily seat 150 customers, but at times Darlene said there were easily 50 customers standing. She figured they served 300 to 350 people in all. “This was our sixth Dyngus Day,” said Darlene Calobrace the next day, “and it was easily our best. It sure was a lot of fun.” And what did they serve: 175 pounds of that famous Polish sausage, 60 pounds of ham and 350 colored Easter eggs, plus a lot of potato salad, slaw, and whatever could be stacked on a paper plate to overflowing. The well known Vice Brothers of North Webster thumped and strummed away with their three-piece instruments until 12 p.m. when everything was shut off. “That was enough,” said Darlene, as she blew out a long breath in a gesture of exhaustion. Polish polkas and popular tunes from the Vice Three played on, and voices were raised in order to be heard in the two-room place of business. “I can’t describe this sort of thing,” said Darlene Calobrace. “You’ll just have to come out next year and see for yourself.” THE NORTHERN Indiana Public Service Company has been receiving plaudits for its participation in the National Child Watch Program, in helping solve the tragic missing children problem in America. The utility, which operates in the northern third of Indiana, sends out 625,000 bills each month, and gas and electrical users of NIPSCO can look for photos of missing children in their bills. ■ • Likewise, Augsburger’s Super-Valu, with stores in Syracuse and North Webster, has joined the campaign. Beginning last week, they have been bagging groceries in bags that carry two large photos of missing children. Store manager Ron Swartz and Veep Jim Evans said Food Marketing of Fort Wayne, their supplier, has urged stores to join in the growing campaign. Evans said at the present time their two stores use about 40,000 bags per month and this figure will jump up during the summer months. He is urging their customers to take time to look these photos over. Last month this writer was part of a White House presidential press conference in Washington where the president made an urgent appeal to community publishers to back this program which he and his wife wholeheartedly support. We applaud NIPSCO, Augsburgers and President Reagan for their interest in this important program. IS GOOD, old-fashioned home delivery coming back? Could be, says Dick Waterson of Waterson’s Grocery, formerly Galloway’s Grocery, on the south side of Lake Wawasee. His store plans to start a home delivery service during the summer months — May 31 to August 31. The only catch is that the order must be at least $lO, and a delivery charge of $1.50 will be made. Dick could be starting a trend. We’ll see. UPTOWN SYRACUSE butcher shop and grocery store owner/operator Darrel Bales has been asked by his friends what the name is of the bull featured in his weekly newspaper ads. “I don’t know. I guess it doesn’t have a name,” he answers. Now he has hit on the idea of holding a “Name That Bull” contest. Anyone have any ideas along this line? If so, contact Bales, not us! WHEN THE photo recently appeared in this column of the 1925 North Webster women’s basketball team, Evelyn Smith chided player Ethel (McClintic) Hite, asking her for the pattern of her twopiece suit (black sateen bloomers and red middie blouses). Ethel replied, “I can do you one better than that; I can give you the suit. I still have it.” Mrs. Hite, a resident of the south end of Lake Wawasee, said she had the name “Drukey” on the front of her blouse. It was her nickname, after a relative, Emory Druckamiller, a legendary Syracuse Yellowjacket.

Mrs. Hite said she remembers playing the Wolf Lake girls’ basketball team in 1925, (nicknamed “The Onionraisers), playing on a dirt floor. — - \% j W \ ■ Bl % '' ‘ V \ THERE ARE times when we experience a slow news week, and that’s when we scrounge around for anything unusual we can find. One such occasion occurred in front of the Ben Franklin store in the Village, when we saw this large dog behind the steering wheel of his master’s car. At one time the dog had his paws up on the wheel like he was in full command of the situation. But when we raised the camera for the shot you see here, he proved less of a showoff and put his paws down. WE WISH we’d never brought the subject up! By now our statement that Syracuse has no oneway streets, has opened a Pandora’s Box. The latest is a note from Luella (Mrs. Loren) Longenbaugh, 542 South Main Street. She points out that as one turns off Boston Street to the elementary and junior high school and back to Main Street, one finds it a one-way street. She adds, “Also, what many think is an alley back of the homes in the 500 and 600 blocks of South Main at one time had a name posted on Boston Street, which read 'Sigby Place.' It is oneway front). Boston to Brooklyn and one-way from Freels residence to Brooklyn. However, all of these have been violated many times.” 9 Q I AND WE’VE found out that Sanibel Island in Florida is across the big bridge from Fort Myers and not Bradenton, thanks tolhat island’s regular winter visitor Bob Deahl. RAY YODER is back in town from his winter in Florida where he worked at his old stomping grounds, Deer Creek Country Club, and at Boca Woods Country Cliib, the latter being six miles west and three miles north of Deer Creek. He’s awaiting completion of The Guide, on the east side of Lake Wawasee, and says his hopes to open it by Memorial Day have been dashed. Look for an opening shortly after that, however. Yoder tells us Craig Perna, the tall, handsome general manager at South Shore several seasons back, is now general manager at Stone Bridge Country Club, located about 15 miles northwest of Deer Creek, whose location has become so familiar to local golfers. The only local person remaining at Deer Creek is. Steve Roderick, says Yoder. ANYONE WHO has been a customer at My Store in Pickwick Place for the past 12 years must miss the smiling, accommodating face of Miriam (“Mim”) Speicher. Mim has been manager of the fabric center since it opened December 10, 1973, working with Jerry Bauer who came aboard at the same time. Mim has also been active in the community’s retail merchants’ committee, helping with various retail promotions. She has taken a job with her son Ted and his wife Sandy, in their new Sandy’s Beauty Boutique and Tanning Salon, located on South Main Street in Nappanee. The new job is closer to her home and family, and her friends wish her well. My Store has Jerry Bauer and Dorothy Jones at the helm, but is looking for a fulltime manager, the two women state. TRY AS we may, it’s difficult to escape the watchful eye of reader Bill Spurgeon of Muncie. Bill is well known in the area and is executive editor of The Muncie Star and Muncie Evening Press. If we have a reader who scans every line of each issue of The M-J, it would be Bill. He caught us in one last week. He compliments reporter Deb Patterson on “an excellent job with the high water story and the problems over the runoff being accommodated by Turkey Creek. z. Then he notes, “Ms. Patterson did get off the track, however, in noting that the 1948 Kosciusko Circuit Court order set the legal lake level at 858.87 inches. This figure is feet, given in elevation above sea level. As you can understand, .87 of an inch would be mighty hard to calibrate on a lake gauge!” TOWNSMAN JOE Gray has taken a lot of good-humored joshing about the marine title he loves, that of “Colonel, USMC, Retired”. He has even be referred to as “GI Joe,” by his good friend and Chamber of Commerce compatriot Bob Troutman. Gray says, “I worked for that rank, I earned it, and I’m going to use it.” But he wasn’t ready for the title given him by the office of Lt. Governor John Mutz — that of “Colonial.” “I know I’m getting ancient,” Gray commented, “but Colonial?” ATTENTION IS again called to the bearing and sight screening to be held Saturday, April 29, 2-4 p.m., at the St. Andrews United Methodist Church, and sponsored by Syracuse Lions. It is for six-year-olds and up. “There is no age limit over six years,” Lion Hub Anglemeyer points out. Karen Ringler and Gwen Mills are assisting. Linns are looking for a large turn-out.