The Mail-Journal, Volume 22, Number 46, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 November 1985 — Page 2

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., November 13,1385

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STATE BANK OF SYRACUSE BRANCH OPENING — A large crowd of Warsaw and county residents were on hand last Thursday night to meet officials of the State Bank of Syracuse at the open house for their new branch at 119-123 Center Street, Warsaw. The new branch is in the old location of the Centennial Theater, a well known landmark.

Elkhart Ist National, AmeriTrust to merge

In an historic banking venture, the board of directors of the First National Bank of Elkhart, with whom the State Bank of Syracuse is affiliated, approved a merger with AmeriTrust Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. The move was announced last week by Thomas L. Dustimer, chairman and president of the First National Bank of Elkhart. ‘Biggest Decision’ Chairman Dustimer said, “This was probably the biggest decision that our board and management has ever made and one with which we are extremely pleased and excited. ’’ The fast-growing Elkhart banking corporation will retain its identity and management in the same capacity as at the present time, and none of its employees will be affected. All current employee benefits will continue. The price of the bank’s stock as a result of the merger has been set at SBS per share, to be exchanged for shares of AmeriTrust stock based on a market value within defined markets. The total value of the transaction is about S9O million, tax free, the purchase price being by far the largest amount ever paid for an Indiana bank. Jerry Jarrett, chairman of AmeriTrust, said interest in the merger was sparked by the strong management and earnings of the First National Bank of Elkhart. Dustimer said, “As I see it, this is a stepping stone and an opportunity to make First Indiana Bancorp an even more powerful banking force.” Who Is AmeriTrust? First National Bank of Elkhart

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has assets of S6OO million, and AmeriTrust, a major regional bank holding company/ has assets of $7.1 billion. It is the most strongly capitalized of the 100 largest U.S. banking companies, with a capital to asset ration of 10.83 percent. AmeriTrust was founded in 1894 as the Cleveland Trust Company. Before the end of 1896, deposits passed the million dollar mark. On the last day of the century, they stood at $6,304,738.26.

Ligonier bank —

Succumbs to merger fever

In its continuing expansion program, the First Indiana Bancorp of Elkhart, holding company of the First National Bank of Elkhart, plans to purchase the capital stock of the American Ligonier Bancorp, holding company of the American State Bank of Ligonier. The announcement was made early this week by Thomas E. Conner, chairman and chief executive officer of American Ligonier Bancorp, and by Thomas L. Dusthimer, chairman, president and chief executive officer of First Indiana Bancorp. A letter of intent between the two bank holding companies has been sighed. S6O Million Bank The American Ligonier Bancorp will become a wholly owned subsidiary of First Indiana Bancorp. A S6O million bank, it has offices in Kendallville, Rome City and Albion. FIBC announced earlier that it has signed a letter of intent to merge with AmeriTrust Corp of

On hand to meet visitors were, from left, Michael Mangas, vice president of the State Bank of Syracuse; Cathy Cindrich, assistant branch manager; James E. Caskey, president of the State Bank of Syracuse; Gayle Lackey (seated), branch manager; Tom Dustimer, president and chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Elkhart and director of the State Bank of Syracuse; and William K. Cable, chairman of the board of the State Bank of Syracuse.

In 1908, the Bank moved into the Rotunda, now a city and national landmark, famous for its Tiffany window at the top of the structure 81 feet above the floor. “Through the years, AmeriTrust has been an innovative bank, known for launching new practices and programs. In 1903, long before it became a popular idea, the bank was first in Ohio to launch the branch banking concept, in the early 1900 s, the bank began advertising its services, then a

Cleveland, a $7.2 billion holding company. (Note: See adjoining article.) Pending acquisitions in various stages include the State Bank of Syracuse with a branch in WarS4OO damage when corn over heats Syracuse Fire Department was called by Rex Eby to a corn dryer fire at on CR 29, north of US 6 at 10:32 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. Damage was estimated at S4OO. Syracuse Fire Chief Joe Anderson reports a broken belt on the dryer caused the corn to overheat and smolder within the dryer. Firemen cooled the dryer down and unloaded some of the corn to check for a further fire. New Paris Fire Department was contacted and advised of the fire.

daring but highly successful move; in 1914, the President Frederick Goff conceived and initiated the Cleveland Foundation, the first charitable community trust in the nation. In March, 1933, AmeriTrust was the first bank in Cleveland to reopen after the national banking holiday and was the only bank in Cleveland not to have to close again. No depositors lost a penny of their savings in our bank during the Depression.

saw, a new branch on U.S. 30 in Columbia City; the Plymouth office of NorCen Bank in Marshall County, and the State Bank of Lima at Howe in LaGrange tyGuess who is coming to town? Guess who will be coming to town on Saturday, Nov. 30? Santa Claus will be arriving by fire truck in Syracuse on that date and will be available for visits from young and old between 2-4 p.m. Santa will be receiving visitors in Pickwick Place. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be served to visitors and Tim Yeager will be taking photographs. Santa’s visit is sponsored by the SyracuseWawasee Retail Merchants Association.

Irwin given suspended sentence Barbara Ann Irwin, 34, 321 North Union St., Warsaw, received a five-year suspended prison sentence and was placed on probation for five years for charges of reckless homicide and criminal recklessness. Terms of her probation includes the fact she is to provide medical care for her three children. Mrs. Irwin was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court Thursday afternoon, Nov. 7, by Judge Robert Burner. The five-year prison term was suspended for the reckless homicide charge, a class c felony and a suspended 180-day jail sentence for criminal recklessness, a class B misdemeanor. The sentences were ordered to be served lyShe was indicted by the Kosciusko County Grand Jury in December 1984 on three charges in connection* with the death of her son Joseph, 5 1 /z weeks old. He died on November 21, 1984, of severe bronchial pneumonia in the Irwin home. Jurors found Mrs. Irwin guilty of reckless homicide and criminal recklessness and not guilty on neglect of a dependent during the October trial. Quit Faith Assembly Mrs. Irwin, quit attending Faith Assembly services in June and has become the nineth person currently or formerly connected with Faith Assembly to be convicted in the death of their children since August 1984. Additional conditions of her probation include her reimbursing the county for pauper counsel expenses, pay a $25 initial users fee and $lO a month for Probation Department administrative costs. She was also granted an extension of time to pay $lB2 in court costs. Judge Burner read through the pre-sentence investigation report as submitted by the Kosciusko County Probation Department and responded to questions raised by Mrs. Irwin in a letter. She asked a question regarding prosecution of her religious beliefs in which the judge responded the state believes an individual can follow his or her religious believes, yet parents are charged with exercising good judgment and provide proper care for children. Mrs. Irwin questioned if she must report any or all illnesses to the probation department which she was told was not necessary. He did explain if the health condition of one of her children deteriorated within 24-48 hours then it should be reported immediately. Max Reed, defense attorney, stated the three Irwin children were immunized prior to the October trial and that Mrs. Irwin still believes in faith healing. Reed also commented he was satisfied with the verdict as did Michael Miner, county prosecutor. However, Miner stated if Mrs. Irwin violates the terms of probation he will not hesitate to file a petition seeking the court to revoke her probation.

Budgets cut by state board

Budgets for area towns, townships, libraries and the Wawasee Community School Corporaton were cut during a threeday budget session conducted by the State Board of Tax Commissioners. Eric Rody, and Jim Craft, field representatives for the tax commissioners, reviewed the budgets during the three-day session. School Budget Craft approved of a 19.93 cent tax rate hike for the Wawasee Community School Corporation on Tuesday with the total tax rate at $4.0793 per SIOO assessed valuation. Last year’s rate was $3.88. School officials proposed to raise the corporations rate by 37.04 when the 1986 tax rate was advertised at $4.2504, but fell short on approval for the full amount. The new tax levy will raise $4,544,885 for the general, debt service, transportation and cumulative building funds. A general fund tax levy of $2,595,308 had been advertised and was slightly higher than the $2,595,054 frozen levy. When Craft finished reviewing the budget the total tax levy was set at $2,595,151 for 1986. A cut of $93,233 was made in the budget since anticipated revenues were both underestimated and

Polk given BZA permission to expand equipment storage area

A number of the petitions were considered by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals last week at the Justice Building in Warsaw. Area pteitions are as follows: The next meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 9, at 9 a.m. The board granted the petition of Larry Polk to expand his used farm equipment storage to the west on 30 acres of ground he owns. This approval includes the requirement that Polk installs solid natural color screening on the south and west sides of his storage operation. The property is located on the north side of CR 600 N just west of SR 15 in Plain Township. Fred Kujawski was given approval to locate an accessory building on a lot with no principal structure on it. He was also given approval for variances related to the building placement, He must combine the deeds on his adjoining lots into one document so they cannot be sold separately. The location is on the north side of old SR 8, west of Bayshore Drive in Turkey Creek Township Rex Johnson was given approval to locate a building 32 ft. from the water at his property at Old Mill Place on the north side of Tippecanoe Lake. The board approved Richard Russell’s petition to locate a 1,008 sq. ft. guest house on the east side of of Warner Road 1,300 ft. northwest of SR 13 in Turkey Creek Township. This is over the normal maximum size of 24 ft. x 24 ft. The board tabled the petition of Beecher Wiggins for a variance to permit construction of a single family residence 1.4 ft. from a side property line and .2 ft. from a roadway so board members can visit the site. The property is on Forest Glen in Plain Township. A petition by Cayle Woodard to permit the temporary use of a mobile home while a residence is being constructed was approved for a two year period. The board also approved placement of a garage, but ordered it to be set back 10 feet from the roadway instead of the requested five feet. The property is located west of CR 725E in Tippecanoe Township. The board tabled George Lowe’s petition for a variance to permit construction of a 30 x 40 ft. garage on a 15,000 sq. ft. lot to provide time for the board to review plat restrictions. The property is on the west side of Lincoln Road in Turkey Creek Township. William Haldewang’s request for an exception to allow placing

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overestimated in three areas in the proposal. The cut will be made in the building maintenance fund. School officials overestimated the auto excise tax in the general fund, underestimated the possible expenditures for the last half of 1985 by $44,000 and overestimated the basic state grant monies by $40,000. Figured into the budget is the amount of state support the corporation will receive which totals $3,503,380, in which $111,374 is for average daily attendance flat grant for debt service fund; $3,370,138 in state support for the general fund and $21,868 for transportation. Township Budgets Jefferson Township seemed to be the only area budget not cut by the commission and had its tax levy established at $7,262 well below the frozen levy limit of $12,037. The tax rate was reduced from 11 to 10.44 cent. The township assessed valuation was set at $6,995,060. Van Buren Township’s tax levy of $27,284 was reduced to $22,922 and the advertised tax rate was cut from 17.4 to 14.05 cents. The assessed valuation for the township was set at $21,187,700. Tippecanoe Township’s tax levy of $56,914 was reduced to $53,801, and the proposed tax rate of 20.41 cents was cut to 18.66

a 36 unit multi-family dwelling in a commercial district in Plain Township was tabled at the petitioner’s request to allow time to gather more pertinent information. The petition for a variance filed by James and Jacqueline Frank to permit constructing a residence addition and a 24 x 26 ft. garage five feet from a roadway and five feet from a side property line was denied. The property is located on the north side of Lakeview Drive just west of Spring Street in Plain Township. The board denied the petition of Charles Stuckman for permission

Syracuse Chamber seeks new image

The Syracuse Chamber of Commerce held its Wednesday, Nov. 6, meeting at the Kale Island Beacon over the noon hour. Although a variety of old business was discussed, items on the new business agenda highlighted the meeting. Creating a new image for the chamber was the main point discussed under new business. Col. Joe Gray will be working on a brochure to answer the question, “What does the chamber do?” It will also include a history of past and present accomplishments of the chamber, such as Christmas decorations for the town and heading the sesquicentennial project. The brochure along with added press coverage on meetings and activities should better inform the community on all of the facets of the chamber. Also brought to attention, by Bill Beemer, was the repair work slated to begin in May of 1986 on the bridge by Kale Island. The chamber is aware of the extensive use of this bridge during the summer months and hopes that the project can be postponed until early fall. Joe Todd then discussed the ice warning signs. He has already sent a letter and projects that the signs should be put up in December.' Under old business, the sesquicentennial meeting, headed by Bill Beemer, was discussed. Clubs and organizations were represented and are continuing their work on the projected celebration in July of 1987. The sesquicentennial committee will again meet on Monday, Dec. 16.

cents. The assessed valuation will be $31,818,480. Turkey Creek Township had its tax rate of 37 cents reduced to 26.5 cents and the tax levy slashed from $145,823 to $94,274. The assessed valuation was established $54,849,980. Town Budgets Milford’s tax levy was reduced from an advertised $203,734 to $168,850 with the tax rate of $2.26 to $1,876. The assessed valuation for the town was set at $9,000,570. Syracuse’s tax levy was slashed from $593,845 to $512,914. The frozen levy limit for the town was $513,002. The proposed tax rate was cut from $3,077 to $2.72. The assessed valuation was set at $21,282,790. North Webster’s tax levy was reduced from $158,359 to $137,246. The tax rate was reduced from $3.51 to $2.96. The assessed valuation was set at $4,716,330. Library Budgets Milford Public Library received a cut tax rate from 23 to 17.87 cents per SIOO assessed valuation with the advertised levy of $38,806 being reduced to $28,328. The assessed valuation was set at $21,187,700 for the library’s taxing district. Syracuse Public Library’s tax levy of $56,845 was reduced to $47,774 with the tax rate cut from 10.88 to 8.71 cents. The assessed valuation was established at $54,849,980.

to construct a garage on the east side of Papakeechie Lake south of SR 8 in Turkey Creek Township. The construction was opposed, by several area residents at the meeting. The petition of Leroy Mason for a variance to permit construction of a six foot high fence six feet closer to the shore than the edge of the house was denied. Attorney Robert Reed represented Mason and Steve Snyder spoke in behalf of other residents of the area. The property is on the nor'h side of North Road at Beach Road in Turkey Creek Township.

Next on the agenda was a report by Bob Westfall on 911 emergency number-. Installment of the system has tentatively been set for December of 1986. A new electrfinic system must first be installed into the phone system. Bob Kocher then discussed the storm warning system. At present the chamber is still getting estimates on the equipment. The Syracuse Lake Association is going ahead and purchasing a system which should be in operation by spring of 1986. Maintaining the floor, Kocher furthered his discussion by stating that the downtown Christmas lights would be put up on Sunday morning, Nov. 16, in anticipation of Santa’s arrival on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 30, at t Pickwick Place. Continuing on with old business, Jennifer Lewis reported that she is making headway on house numbers for people on routes in the city limits. Jeannie Gardiner followed that discussion by pointing out the need for three additional trash containers in the village area. Actual locations and costs for the containers will be researched. The chamber mentioned that anyone wishing to donate for advertising purposes should contact Jeannie Gardiner. In behalf of the chamber, Bob Westfall has written a letter to the town board in reference to updating' street signs that are ' damaged or missing. Westfall concluded the discussion with a reminder that the chamber will be sending out a newsletter before Christmas and the suggestion was made that it be included with the merchant’s minutes. I