The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 26, Milford, Kosciusko County, 25 June 1986 — Page 5

Adventure in a canoe

By REV. ROSS RICHEY Guest Feature Writer (EDITOR’S NOTE: Rev. Richey is a former pastor of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Syracuse and the Leesburg United Methodist Church. He now resides in Elkhart.) (Concerning my great friend, Ron Workman, an incredibly courageous, adventuresome, and strong canoe paddler!) It was in the late 19705, before I had any indication at all that I would, one day, be “legally blind. ” Ron Workman, a completely blind man at that time, and I had become very good friends in the early spring of 1968 when he was one of our group going into Canada on a smelt fishing trip. It was basically my first experience close up with a blind person. You can well know that I viewed his movements about the cabin. His activity in the process of smelt fishing, his hiking with me along the Chippewa River which is about 40 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie — back above the falls, and his courage was thrilling to observe! It is this man who was my partner in the late 70s on the beautiful Pine River west of Cadillac, Mich. Os course I was anxious! If I know my own soul, and I’m sure that I do, I was more anxiously concerned for Ron’s welfare than for my own. Let me tell you about this friend of mine! Ron Workman was a Christian gentleman of the highest order! His affiliation was with the Goshen City Church of the Brethren. We had visited together repeatedly and discovered common interests. After canoeing a few times on the Elkhart River from Goshen to Elkhart, I shared with Ron the fact that for many years I had been organizing canoe trips which started out to be with ministers, basically Methodist, then United Methodist ministers. These fellows had said, “We have laymen in our church who canoe and would love to become a part of this annual event. (Already ‘the event’ had come to be referred to as the Ross Richey’s river retreat regarding rollicking reverends —or in short — The 7 R canoe trip.) ’’ Well, no one was trying to be exclusive and we insisted that they should be invited to participate and to become one of us in this three-day adventure. They were invited and some did respond. One evening, while evaluating what was happening, one of the fellows said, “My wife loves to canoe. Why can’t we expand our group to include our wives?” There was no reason for not doing so. Again, we were not exclusive and so the wives were invited — and some responded and this enriched our fellowship, and frankly, it cleaned up the stories around campfire a bit! When the time came for choosing partners for the following day, my one only choice, was clearly Ron Workman! After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we “punched in” with Jarolim’s Canoe Rental and were delivered by them, up stream, our purpose being, to arrive back at camp by 4 p.m. The water was rapid, as always, and that’s why we were there, for great feeling, excitement, and good fellowship. Ron and I were among the last to launch our canoe. As we came afloat on this fine canoe stream and felt the rushing water beginning to carry us forward and discovered our necessity for understandable, quick signals, Ron asked, “Ross, how can we make this work best?” I will confess to some pretty rapid thinking and responded to his question by saying simply, “Ron, why don’t we have a very simply system? You paddle normally and I will suggest only two alternatives. The first is to remember that we are in fast water and that there are many, many curves — some long and gradual, some short and sharp. I think that if I can simply say ‘quick left’ you would pull the bow left! If I say ‘quick right’ you’d pull it right, and if those are not adequate, I’ll holler ‘duck! ” Let’s try that for a while and if we both feel comfortable with that, and can make the canoe respond correctly, it’s that simple!” This was agreed upon and these were the only signals necessary for moving our tiny craft down river. Very shortly Ron said, “Ross, if I’m going to get the most possible out of this experience, you will have to talk to me! Talk to me about everything. Tell me what you are seeing, tell me what we are hearing, tell me when we re having fun, anything — everything — talk to me! ” (When I shared this above quotation with friends, they said, ‘That should have been easy for you, you talk too much anyway! ’) I’ll be honest to admit that I did thoroughly enjoy that assignment, but I also do publicly confess that I missed several opportunities, but Ron wasn’t missing anything. Moving along in rushing water, there are often tree limbs dangling in the edge of the river and the water carries them downstream, maybe 12 to 18 inches before the life of the limb flips it back and again the water carries it and it flips back, etc! That was one of the things I missed. After all, I saw it happening and for the noise to accompany the visual and rhythmic part of it, was so natural, and I momentarily forgot that Ron was blind. Soon, I noticed that he cocking an ear in that direction and leaning a bit toward it as though to say, “What is that?” He turned to me and said, “What’s that?” 4 I asked, “What’s what?” Ron said, “That flip, flip, flip — and he had coordinated his description with the action. It called me back to the reality of his blindness and I quickly picked up my responsibility again. I described it as well as I knew how. (sometime, as a mental exercise, try describing that kind of action satisfactorily to someone who does not have any vision.) On another occasion, it was my privilege to describe to Ron the fact that a small river animal (I think an otter) was dragging a dead fish — larger than itself — and was seeking to pull it into the entrance to its underground home. It was interesting to watch and again a challenge to try to describe adequately for my buddy! Haystacks There they were! I had never seen haystacks before. Oh, I was born and reared on a farm and I did know what haystacks were on the farm. But these were in the river — and they were created from the water and wind instead of hay — and, had I never read from a Boy Scout manual about canoeing and having been intrigued by their description of the formation called

Rural numbering stalled —

Hand Ball to commissioners

By GLEN LONG The next move on proceeding with a new rural numbering plan for Kosciusko County is apparently up to the county commissioners after the Kosciusko County Council recently approved a motion requesting the commissioners to determine the cost of the proposed plan if they favor proceeding with the proposal. Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer, Syracuse, who made the motion relative to project cost, was asked this week to enlarge upon his position on the rural numbering plan. He stated that discussion on rural renumbering at the council meeting which the commissioners attended had become quite emotional and his major concern is that sufficient up-front planning should be put into the

project. Teghtmeyer said that he favors the plan, which has support of medical, fire and emergency service groups, because it would assist emergency vehicles in finding reported emergency locations in a shorter time when time is critical. He added, however, that more research and planning on all facets of the costs of the project are needed, citing the possible doubling of the current $65,000 cost estimate when it includes updating several sets of county records to accommodate the numbering change. “I feel we need to have complete specific costs covered by somebody’s budget,” said Teghtmeyer. “I would anticipate that a project start will be included in next year’s county budgets.” Teghtmeyer stressed the point

“haystack” phenomenon, I would have been not only awed by what I saw but I would have been fearful of apparent rocks. For those who are not familiar with this term, let me simply say that the formation called haystacks is a formation of water resulting from a small, narrow channel where the wide, shallow river is funneled through a very narrow opening into a not so wide river channel with more depth. Another circumstance necessary for this formation is for the wind to be blowing up stream at just the right mph resulting in large waves and looking as though the water is tumbling over a succession of ‘almost’ surface rocks and also resulting in the canoe riding about six inches higher on the tops of these breaking waves in such away that when one enters that narrow section, there is a certain point at which the canoe feels much like an automobile when one accelerates to use the passing gear. Actually, it feels as though you are picked up and thrust forward in a thrilling experience. Remembering what I had read about it, and seeing it unfolding before my very eyes, oblivious to Ron’s need for me to share the excitement of what was about to happen — and then that which was actually happening! The delayed information was not continued long. Ron heard the splash of these waves as the bow was splitting them right at his feet, and the sound was a rhythmic slush...slush...slush...slush, right there in front of him — and he leaned forward some and turned his head as tough to give a better ear to what was happening, and he called to me, and excitedly said, “Ross, what is that!” I said, “I’m sorry, Ron, I was enjoying it so much myself that I forgot to talk to you! We just passed over some haystacks and now that we are out of them I’ll try to describe what I recall from reading about them in a manual.” I described them as best I could, and never in my life did I have more interested listener. After I had finished, he said, “Gee, then, that was fun — wasn’t it?” I assured him that it was extremely exciting, and thrilling, and that it was indeed a new experience for me also. Within the next half, to three quarters, to an hour, miracle of miracles, here it comes again — more haystacks, or, are they really rocks this time? That was the decision which had to be left to me, and I knew they were haystacks. (Fortunately for each of us, I was correct!) I knew that Ron had listened so carefully during the first experience, and this time I intentionally remained silent to see if he would pick it up! He did, enthusiastically! When he felt that surge, comparable to the car responding to a touch of the accelerator and the passing gear, and immediately heard the slush.. slush.. .slush.. .he said, “Haystacks again, Ross? ’ ’ I said, “Yes, Ron, haystacks again! ” His enthusiasm was bubbling over as he said, “Hey, now, that is thrilling! Isn’t that fun! ” There we were — Ron in the bow — totally blind — totally dependent upon me making the right decisions that day to guide our craft. He was so filled with the thrill and the excitement of the action of the river, the sounds of the rushing water, the feel of the wind in his face, the movement of the canoe, the call of the birds, the sounds of silence in this vast storehouse of nature! I recall that mother nature had not yet taken her varigated paints, and brush to the leaves of the maples, the birch, the sycamore which were growing in that area, but on occasion there was a splash of red of the as I recall, there was only one golden yellow birch traß|raautiful, and it stood in regal majesty among the rich greeM®)f the pine trees at the end of a very short straight piece of fSatriver. For me, earnestly seeking to do justice to what I was seeing, and trying my best to describe to my very good buddy, Ron, the kinds of beauty, and the sheer loveliness of nature which I was feeling as we moved along. It was a changing scene, as canoeing always is, but it was, to me, one of the most magnificent trips I have ever had, because Ron had forced,me to see for me and him — the kinds of beauty there were in sight and the sounds and feelings of nature! I can’t leave this without sharing with you a very comical experience which we had that day! I did mention the fact that I* was to “talk us down the river.” I sought earnestly to keep faith with that very pleasant assignment, and, in one instance where we were rapidly approaching a left turn (a sharp one), with excitement I said, “Ron, there is a fast one coming up, and it’s going to take all that both of us have together in order to make this one! It’s a quick, fast turn! ” The fact is that we were moving more rapidly toward it than I had anticipated. Ron had his paddle raised out of the water — and holding it at “ready” position — both hands firmly fixed, and strong shoulders and arms ready to go to work, and he sensed my excitement, but was at a total loss yet to know which way that the river curved! In utter frustration, he turned his head a bit and shouted, “Which way, Ross, which way! ” In my haste to get him the correct information, and in my own excitement, I said, “Quick, hard right, Ron! ” He laid into that paddle like I have never seen before, nor since! He reached out to the right as far as possible, lowered that paddle into the water, and with a strong, quick pull towards the right side of the canoe — it was as though he had picked it up and set it over about two and a half feet! Now, the problem with that whole thing was that I was wrong! I gave him the wrong signal! I should have said, “Quick, hard, left! ” The combined result of my error, and his obedient response, was that the bow of the canoe was on the right bank of the surging river! Immediately, I said, “No, dummy, I meant left — hard left!” And as Ron struggled to get the overhanging branches out of his face, he simply said, quietly, “Oh, I should have known!” Indeed — indeed — he “should have known,” shouldn’t he? The current carried the stern around, and in that process, pulled the bow off from the river bank, and I tried to maneuver this very part into the less rapid water, thus allowing the rapid current to pick up the bow and carry it forward. Then, still upright, I was proud to call out the next “order.” “Paddle hard, just paddle. We are still afloat! ’ ’ Well, it really was a great day. It was a thriller. Now, I call that, “Real, for sure, adventure of the highest order!” J.R.R.

that the county council cannot initiate appropriations. Its function is to control appropriations after the commissioners and some other county offices complete their budgets. He said that historically the county council does not side-step any issue for which it gets a legitimate request on which it is empowered to rule. The councilman said that he has checked with Marshall County and, generally speaking, a similar rural numbering system was well-received there. He commented that Jeanne Weirick, Kosciusko County Clerk, has been asked to check with the state election board to see if the subject of rural numbering can legally be put on the November county ballot to determine the wishes of county voters. Weirick said she anticipates an answer on this question in the near future.

ALL LOCATIONS OF 111 111 STATE BANK OF SYRACUSE Hsh Hatchery, Uptown Main Street, Wawasee Village, Warsaw, Columbia City WILL BE OPEN THURSOA Y, JULY 3, FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ALL LOCATIONS WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JULY 4,5 AND 6

Letters to the editor

Fund raising committee soys thank you

Dear Editor: The North Webster Fund Raising committee for the North Webster EMS and Fire Department would like to say a big thank you for the wonderful response to our “Fill the Boot Day,” which was held on May 31. The community donated $604 towards our fund raising efforts for a new ambulance and a new fire truck that afternoon. With various other events planned through the next month we feel again the community will hopefully see our need of updating our vehicles. With the area of lake territory we serve and the increasing need of upgrading vehicles due to the increased area of the industrial park, it is vital that we move ahead to serve our community in the best way possible. On July 1 a door-to-door campaign will be held in the North Webster community for funds to be contributed to this project of purchasing a new ambulance and a new fire truck. We need your help. Remember, every little bit helps in the purchasing of the equipment. However, every little bit goes a longer ways in saving lives. Thank you, Willadean Duncan North Webster EMS and Fire Department Fund Raising Committee

Too much beer

Dear Editor: I was at the New Paris race track recently and oh my, what a terrible site. There were beer tabs or pop tabs, trash, scattered all over the place. Beer bottles being thrown against the wall. There were five young people bringing in their own beer and then throwing their bottles in a pile next to the wall then someone comes along and kicks them, breaking them, and endangering someone getting badly cut. We pay $5 for what? To watch this go on or to watch the races. This one lad was getting ready to throw a bottle and as he was getting ready to throw it, I said I wouldn’t do that if I were you. But he did it anyhow. Well, I don’t think he would of laughed if he got his foot cut. Signed, F.R. Syracuse

Questioning garage sale fee

Dear Editor: I have a big question for our town board. Why do you feel it necessary to charge this $2 fee for a license to have a garage sale? What was the harm in anyone opening their garage doors and selling the items they no longer want or need? I believe I was the first one to have a garage sale in Syracuse. People come back every, year to buy. What will you do with the $2 fee? Buy your coffee? I’m interested in knowing. What is happening to our rights as citizens of Syracuse? Needless to say, I’m disguested! Lucy Rogers P.S. Now that you have handled this major problem, let’s do something about the bass boats tying up the streets and etc. Exchange students A dozen Soviet teenagers will attend a New England prep school next year under a attentive exchange agreement that provides for U.S. students to study at “a very elite boarding school” in Siberia, U.S. officials announced recently.

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WELCOME TO RIO — One of the hottest performances during Monday evening’s portion of the talent contest at the Mermaid Festival was a group of young girls who tap danced to the song “Welcome To Rio” — maracas and all! The girls, who are students at Lee Anne Stewart’s Dance School, took second place in the contest, which was open to y juths between kindergarten and fifth grades. Pictured from ihe group are, from left, Jessica Shoemaker, Meichi Stahley, Trische Speicher, and Laura Grothans. In back are Jenny Sorensen, Sarah Bultemeier, Gina Hollar, and Shanda Trump. (Photo by I eslie Miller)

Bayh proposes — Trust fund for license branch profits

Hoosier taxpayer and not the politicians would benefit from state Ecense branch profits under a plan Evan Bayh, Democratic candidate for Indiana Secretary of S tate. has proposed. Displaying a large check payable to “Indiana Taxpayers,” Bayh said, “Hoosier motorists will involuntarily contribute more than $2.8 million in profits to the politicians who control the state’s 187 license branches in the next two years. ” “Under my proposal,” he said, “license branch profits would go in to a trust fund and be spent to educate our children, retrain and return our unemployed people to work and repair our roads. ” Bayh, whose campaign cornerstone is eliminating waste and mismanagement in state government, outlined his proposal Wednesday in a series of statewide news conferences. “We can’t afford this kind of waste. Politicallycontrolled license tranches are yet another example of waste and mismanagement in state government,” Bayh said. “Public officials should not profit in a providing basic public service. It’s just plain wrong.” “The Republican politicians continued use of license branch profits for their own benefit is particularly troublesome in light of all the talk in Indianapolis about raising taxes. It’s not right for the politicians to continue to profit while the taxpayers are asked io pay more,” he asserted. “Michael Packard, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles commissioner, would oversee the trust fund,” the candidate explained.

'Advanced scholar's diplomas' for graduates

In an attempt tc persuade high school students to excel beyond minimum state st indards, a proposal to offer “advanced scholar’s diplom.s” to students who exceed the state’s minimum graduation requirements will be made to the Sate Board of Education Wednesday, July 2. Speaking before a meeting of the Indiana Cong ress on Education, State Schcols Superintendent H. Dean Evans reasoned, “An advanced scholar’s diploma is one way to pre vide ‘carrots’ to our academical y inclined student.” Current graduation requirements, which went into effect this year for the class of 1989, call for a minim nn of 38 credits, while the new pi oposal would require 44 high sch jol credits. “Students who meet the ad-

Wed., June 25,1986 —THE MAIL-JOURNAL

“Under terms of the trust, license branch profits would be transferred into the trust fund so that the money is available for the General Assembly to appropriate," Bayh said. “The $2.8 million in license branch profits which the Republican Party will realize during the next two years could pay 196 entry-level teachers salaries, retrain and return to work 613 unemployed people and repair more than 44,000 potholes,” he said. “The governor has the authority to create my proposed trust fund because he appoints the branch managers," Bayh said. “My proposal would complement state legislators’ action to reform the BMV during the General Assembly’s last session,” Bayh said. Lawmakers passed a law which transfers control of the license branches from the politicians to the state beginning July 1, 1988. In the interim, a study committee is to determine the most feasible means of operating the license branches. “Two years is too long to wait. I want to put a stop to it now,” Bayh said. He recalled that the General Assembly passed similar reform legislation in 1971 only to repeal it a year later. “No matter what the Legislature does down the road, we want to save the money now for the tax payers,” he said. “This is not a partisan issue. I’m calling upon Democrats, Independents and Republicans, and I’m calling on the governor and my opponent to join with me in saving this money for Hoosier taxpayers,” Bayh said.

vanced requirements would receive a more ‘classy’ or distinguished looking diploma, we might even attach a ‘governor’s’ seal to the diploma or award a special ‘State Board of Education or Superintendent’s Diploma’ to supplement their own high school diploma," Evans said Use tall ladder Planning to repair your roof or clean drain spouts? Be sure your ladder extends at least two feet above the eaves line.

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According to recent studies, improved Scholastic Aptitude Tests have accompanied the increase in the average number of years of study in academic courses, prompting school officials to take a serious look at the proposal. On 1972 treaty Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger has said he would oppose extending the 1972 AntiBallistic Missile Treaty if it interfered with the development of President Reagan’s Star Wars defense.

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