The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 3, Milford, Kosciusko County, 15 January 1986 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., January 15,1986

Editorials

Time to say thanks It’s time to say thank you the the many sendee club members in the greater Lakeland area. Be they members of the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Jaycees or some other service organization, they are providing many services to make our lives easier. They buy eyeglasses for boys and girls whose parents cannot afford to do so. They provide food for the needy. They entertain the elderly. ' They sponsor educational programs that help the young to grow up to be better citizens of the community in which they live. They sponsor Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. Theylfelp the ill, the deaf, the blind. They donate to projects on a national level and on an international level in order to help their fellowman elsewhere in the nation and the world' The list could take up the entire page. We think, however, our readers know the many things these service organizations do for their individual communities and for the greater Lakeland area as a whole. They charge nothing for their services. There is no interest to pay. They simply do things for other people and they say the reward is theirs. How do they earn the money to do these things? They sponsor dinners, sell calendars, perfumes, flowers, candy, coloring books. They donate hours and weeks of their time to these fund raising projects and to helping others. For the many hours they spend working on projects and for the help they give in making this a better place for all to live, we thank them. Still 18% Major credit cards continue to charge gullible cardholders eighteen percent or so interest on unpaid charges after 30 days. There’s little excuse for continued use of such an excessive rate. With interest rates down several points over two years, protests have begun. Nothing has happened — in most cases. Interest rates have continued to fall and most banks who distribute cards Hike VISA haven’t given customers the deserved adjustments. Many banks, as a result, are making a killing with eighteen percent rates. Proof of that is the current gimmick to lure card holders into not paying. VISA holders who owe several thousand dollars receive statements which state that the account is prepaid, no payment being due. The account really isn’t prepaid. What’s at stake is millions of dollars. If a card company averages $100,000,000 outstanding in loans on which interest is paid (and the big ones have far more), that’s $18,000,000 earned on interest alone, each year. If cardholders pay up each month, the $18,000,000 in interest disappears. So the banks issue cards recklessly. The latest pitch in that direction is a current letter suggesting parents obtain cards for their children! This could be a risky undertaking. In their eagerness to get out as many cards as possible, banks often don’t use proper prudence in issuing them. When some cardholders who never should have been issued cards fail to pay, the loss is absorbed by the huge interest charges to reliable cardholders. The banks then claim the cost of doing business justifies excessive rates. Not true. It’s their own doing. •* Today’s rates for VISA or MASTERCARD should be about twelve or thirteen percent. That would allow a fair profit, if the distribution of cards is responsible. First balloon The air age is such an accepted part of the modern scene we often fail to remember powered flight was only realized in this century. The first balloon ascent in the U.S., however, occurred January 9, 1793 — more than a hundred years earlier, in Philadelphia. The famed French balloonist, Francois Blanchard, came to America in 1792 and arranged to make the flight from the old Walnut Street Prison yard. He offered tickets to the liftoff (to which President Washington was invited and came) ats s . - . ' Blanchard rose into the air — with a message from Washington — and sailed away to Cooper’s Ferry, N.J.’ Cannons boomed, bands played, and Blanchard lost $2,000.

What others say — -—— —— H—-

Indiana jobs: Where do they come from ? The state Department of Commerce has just released a foreign investment survey that ought to put to rest some old myths s , and in so doing answer the question about just where our new jobs are likely to come from. Myth No. 1 is that Indiana always loses jobs in the international competition for jobs. The department’s survey found multinational corporations from 15 countries operate 98 factories, in Indiana. That includes Wayne Candies in Fort Wayne. All told, those foreign investors have created thousands of jobs in the state. Myth No. 2 is Great Lakes region, which includes Indiana, can’t compete with other regions, particularly the Sun Belt, for international investment. Not so, notes the survey. In recent years, the region has been very successful. Honda has located a plant in Marysville, Ohio. Mazda has located a plant in Flat Rock, Mich. Toyota has plans for an SBOO million plant in Georgetown, Ky. Also note that Indiana was one of the two or three finalists in virtually every new automobile expansion by a foreign investor in the United States. Myth No. 3 is that what foreign investment Indiana can attract has probably already landed here. The state has exhausted its opportunities. Wrong again. While the Department of Commerce study shows most new jobs in the state must come from American investment, there are still lots of foreign investors who could be courted and persuaded to locate or expand operations in Indiana. If anything, the 98 factories mentioned in the survey represent but a fraction of what’s possible. Thee best thing about foreign investment in Indiana is that it represents an actual expansion of the economic pie for Americans. It is new wealth, not jobs being lost in Fort Wayne or St. Louis or Janesville and being transferred elsewhere in the United States, often in the same region of the country. We urge Lt. Gov. John Mutz, who presides over the Department of Commerce, to construe this survey as the clarion call to more action by his department. Let’s see some new initiatives for foreign investment. Thousands of unemployed Hoosiers will be glad to accept the new jobs. - THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL-GAZETTE

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Thanks to those who do so much 1

Letters to the editor

This new national holiday Dear Editor: I am not a racist, nor agree with racism, but I shall be called one by many, I am sure, for this small article on the subject of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his national holiday. I sincerely believe that we should not list this man as a national hero! He just was not. Yes, he did much good and also much harm! There is ample documented evidence that Rev. King was not the man of nonviolence he professed to be but in fact wedded to violence and willing to work with America’s violent enemies to achieve his goals. If only the Hoover files, in regard to King’s activities, could be released. What a surprise we would find! Why are these FBI files sealed away for 50 years? I think thinking people know the answer. Robert Kennedy as attorney general under his brother. Jack, one of the most liberals of liberals, authorized wire taps and even other methods of surveillance of Rev. King after J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI developed evidence, and not circumstantial evidence by a long shot! This evidence certainly brought to light that King was collaborating with and being manipulated by Communist agents. This will be -fully out in the open by the year 2027. So many of us will never know the whole sad truth about this hero of January 20. Supporters of King obtained a court order in 1977 sealing the FBl’s surveillance records and tapes on King in the National Archives for 50 years. We can be sure King was not a Communist, but why did he associate so closely with this class? That’s a good question. For me, I would rather that Lincoln; Booker T. Washington, the great Negro educator; George W. Project SAFE to end The final day householders may make application for assistance under the State Allowance for Energy (Project SAFE) program will be Friday, Jan. 31, according to Jean Merritt, executive director of the Indiana Department on Aging and Community Services, the agency which administers the program. Both regular Project SAFE and Emergency Project SAFE will be unavailable after this date. Demand for Project SAFE assistance has been so great that more than 130,000 households have been assisted. Because of this overwhelming response and a reduced federal appropriation this year, funds will soon be exhausted. Additional information for those who have not yet applied or for those who have questions about the program is available. The toll-free number is 800-622-4973. What in the world is a 'Snotilla?' If the Flotilla is a parade of decorated boats — then it follows that a Snotilla is a parade of decorated snowmobiles, right? Absolutely! The flotilla committee has come up with this unique idea as a means of joining in the festive occasion of the 1986 Syracuse-Wawasee Winter Carnival. Have a blast! People who have a snowmobile that runs, can decorate as their imaginations dictate to create a potential trophy winning masterpiece. There are no entry forms to sign, just be at the starting place, Wawasee Bowling Alley, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. The parade will move through Wawasee Village and uptown Syracuse areas and terminate at Syracuse Lakeside Park, where prizes will be awarded.

Carver, the peanut genius; or even FDR receive the great honor of a national day of memory. I have come to the conclusion that a great many people should have a second thought. What is your thinking on this national holiday matter? Clayton J. Mock Syracuse Beautiful picture Dear Editor: To the residents of the Syracuse area. After drinking my my coffee this morning, January 8, and assuming that this morning would be like any other cold morning, I went out to warm up my truck to leave for work. Not paying attention to my surroundings, I started my vehicle and peered out my windshield, when I saw the most beautiful picture. There was fog in the air and the trees were covered with a beautiful white frost and dusting of fine, powdery snow. It was a picture-perfect postcard scene. Then my thoughts went back, remembering my last six years which were spent with my family in sunny south Florida. It was beautiful there as well. But this, this was really something! You know, I can remember sitting on the beach at Key Biscayne and wondering, “Will I ever see snow, cold weather, or a beautiful snowy landscape again?” This morning, I kept visualizing scenes of Miami and Keys and then looking outside at the snow and beautiful trees, trying to compare the two and come up with a choice of which is the best and this is it. People in our Syracuse area, the next time you’re out driving around the lakes area, stop and take a look —a good look —at what the northern Indiana lakes area has to offer. Believe me, God surely has blessed this area with beauty — this is paradise! Yours very truly , Patrick Mignery Investigate grant for oral history The Syracuse Public Library Board is investigating a possible application for a grant to make oral history transcriptions or to index old newspapers. The grant, to be met with matching funds, would make available additional materials for the upcoming Syracuse Sesquicentennial. The board has also re-elected-, elected the following officers for 1986: President — Billie Rigdon Vice president — Charles Koser Secretary — Virginia e. Ditmer Treasurer — John A. Naab There is a counted cross-stitch pattern using the newly accepted library logo, which is available at the library at no cost. Present at the December meeting were Charles Koser, Rev. Ken Robinson, Karen Tranter and Virginia Ditmer, as well as librarians Rosalyn Jones and Bonnie Bjella. Absent were Bob Knudsen, John Naab and Billie Rigdon. The next meeting will be Monday, Feb. 3, at 5:15 p.m., in the library.

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 Z \ j POSTMASTERS: Send change of ad dress forms to The Mail Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford. Indiana 46542 ow

"CRUZIN AROUND 7 CUSE"

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THE PROBLEM — if it is a problem —of feeding or not feeding the ducks along the channel at Syracuse wants to die a slow death. Now comes Mike Hartup of r 1 (Box 125) Warsaw, a resident of Barbee Lake (“just behind the Barbee Hardware”) who insists the feeding of the ducks is the good and proper thing to do. He has been doing it for a long time on Barbee Lake and an area near the Barbee bridge. Hartup said he has been feeding some 30 ducks about 10 pounds of corn per day for a long time. In fact, he has solicited aid from anyone who wants to help him. He has had donation cans out in several places in the Barbee Lake area, and has received some financial help. He gives his phone number as $34-2365, and invited anyone interested in the plight of the ducks during the winter to call him.. When reminded of our information, to the effect that if the ducks were not fed, they would soon migrate south, Hartup says, “Tell that to the ducks.” He claims this migration southward is not true for the tame ducks. “Maybe for the wild ones that’s true,” he says. Meanwhile, the debate lingers on: To feed the ducks or not to feed the ducks. BILL MAISH is the name of the bright young face behind the subscription counter at Thornburg Drugs in Syracuse, beginning early last week to serve a six-week externship as a student/pharmacist. He's 23, will graduate in May from Purdue University’s School of Pharmacology at West Lafayette, and is the son of Rev. David and Sallie Maish of this community. Dad Dave is pastor at the Calvary United Methodist Church in the Village. Upo.i graduation Bill hopes to connect with a hospital in North Carolina where his fiance, Rebecca Walter of St. Paul, Minn., will be attending classes at Duke University. They plan to be married in June. t „ * 0— — WITH JIM Hughes* ascendency to the presidency of the Syracuse Town Board last Tuesday might, he should find himself getting along very well with the town’s clerk-treasurer — who just happens to be hits daughter, Jennifer (Hughes) Lewis. —o— RON AND Joan Sharp, 406 North Huntington St., left Saturday morning for Biloxi, Miss., where they will remain until early Apr il. They plan to be home a short time, then go to Needles, Calif., where they will visit relatives. Before leaving for Biloxi, Sharp was emphatic in his denial that he would seek a county political office this year. He has been the subject of considerable speculation, to the effect that he would seek one office or another, but, from the smile on his face, while the thought appears to flatter him a bit, he is quick to tell anyone interested that he’s enjoying retirement too much to want the burdens of political! office. IT MAY be spring before (he Syracuse Town Board agrees to an open house at the new town hall at 500 South Huntington Street. James Hughes, the board’s new president, made this statement late last week.

H Uli I s H kr Bfil r 'I aTF B ■ WAT 5 CENTS WILL BUY — Last summer Lucy (Mrs. Lloyd Kammerdiener, of 301 North Huntington Street, Syracuse, visited a Goshen garage sale where she purchased the above photo for five cents. It’s of the IS2O-21 Syracuse High School basketball team which reportedly “won everything in sight” that year. The team, sparked by Emery L. Druckamiller, an all-state player in his junior and senior years, won the county tournament at Milford, the district tourney in Warsaw and the semi-finals at Lafayette. Huntington defeated them at Indianapolis at the old Coliseum. Final score: Huntington 20, Syracuse 16. Druckamiller made all 16 points for his Syracuse team! . In the above photo are, front row from left, Emery L. Druckamiller, Orville Klink, Everett Evans, Guy Rarig and Fred Couts. Back row, I to r, Roy Klink, Paul Riddle, Andrew Hibner and coach Court Slabaugh.

Hughes gave credit to outgoing president Carl Myrick for the work he did in seeing that the plans for a new town hall were carried through. “The town of Syracuse owes Carl Myrick a great deal of thanks,” Hughes said. Hughes said the new town hall will be a very efficient building, but noted there are certain things that need to be corrected before the building is accepted. “But these are things you’ll find in any new building; it’s no big deal,” said Hughes. He added that the town board has been thinking of an open house, but now is not the most appropriate time. - MYRICK HIMSELF was more than aUittle miffed at the manner in which he was relieved of the town board presidency at last Tuesday night’s meeting. He had held the presidency for the past six years, much of it during the ongoing debate over the new town haill, and says now that this controversy is all behind us, the board saw fit to relieve him of his responsibility. Myrick said he has often asked if anyone else wanted to serve as president, and no one stepped forward. The meeting last Tuesday was “cut and dried” prior to the board’s assembly at the town hall, Myrick said. He said, “I don’t object to losing the office, but I didn’t like the manner in which it was done.” THE CHRONIC smoker who was getting tired of friends bugging him about his bad habit came up with this one: i Did you hear about the fellow who tried to give up smoking, and admitted that the only puff that really felt good to him was the first one. He would j light up, take a long drag on the cigarette, then throw it on the floor and stomp it out? “No, tell me about it,” his listener said. “He died of foot cancer.” —o— THE PERENNIAL problem of the advertising signs located between the limited access road and State Highway 13, south of Syracuse, is again becoming a public issue. The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is taking up the cause in the form of a letter dated January 10th addressed to James Hughes, as president of the Syracuse Town Board of Trustees. The letter, in part, states: “In an effort to improve the appearance of our community, the Board of Directors of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce would like the Board of Trustees of the Town of Syracuse to develop and implement a comprehensive sign ordinance for the Town of Syracuse. We understand the possible repercussions from many existing sign owners but feel that an ordinance is necessary to permit equal treatment to all residents and businesses in Syracuse.” It is the hope of the S-W Chamber that an ordinance could be adopted along the lines of such an ordinance enacted by the City of Warsaw, according to the letter signed by C-C President Robert F. Westfall. CATS HAVE always been a big thing in the Robbins household in Cromwell, and they still are. When the late Don Robbins was publisher of the i Continued on page 5)