The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 34, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 August 1986 — Page 1

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Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 23

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INSTALL CONTINUOUS RAILS — Motorists in the Syracuse area might be disturbed by the closing of several crossings for the installation of the continuous rails on a 7.7-mile strip or road, but those using the line will be pleased with the newer, smoother line. The work began last Monday and should be completed F riday of this week, according to Francisco Deanda, systems rail supervisor for the CSX Corporation line going through Syracuse. The work began near Milford Junction and continues east through Syracuse, using the 1440-foot (approximately a quarter

'Copters criss-cross county

The fly-over of selected areas of Kosciusko County by an Indiana National Guard Bell HUM helicopter was completed on Saturday afternoon, after having been delayed from the planned morning schedule by poor visibility in Shelbyville, where the helicopters are based. The fly-over of selected areas of Kosciusko County by an Indiana National Guard Bell HU-1 helicopter was completed on Saturday afternoon, after having been delayed from the planned morning schedule by poor visibility in Shelbyville, where the helicopters are based. Lieutenant Cathi Kiger. Indiana National Guard public affairs officer, said the Saturday flights were over many specific areas which were planned to give residents an opportunity to experience the sound the helicopters make. ‘We were pleased with -the number of people who came to the airport to see two aircraft on the ground in the afternoon, said Kiger. “They were genuinely interested and asked many good questions." She added that some county flights in the future would be scheduled to give civic leaders and key people with environmental concerns an opportunity to observe the county areas the national guard helicopters would normally fly over if they are based at the Warsaw airport. A group of officers of the Indiana National Guard met with about 25 elected officials of towns, townships and county government last Wednesday night at the Warsaw airport to discuss the plan to base an Army Aviation Support Facility at the airport and answer any questions. * Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank opened the meeting and said that 85 invitations to the briefing had been sent. He said the National Guard operates as very environmentally sensitive Indiana citizens as he introduced Major General Carl Farrell, National Guard adjutant for the State of Indiana. Farrell said, “We will only come to Warsaw if civic leaders and residents want us to come to Warsaw ” He said 11 communities had been visited and Warsaw was found to be the most desirable for the helicopter base Col. John Freeman, state aviation officer for the guard, discussed the expanding national guard aviation needs and said the helicopter facility would ultimately bring about 40 full time employees to Kosciusko County and that an estimated $1.5 million a year would be spent in the local community Freeman said there would be 2.6 to three flights a day on the average, with most of their activity being on weekends. He said most flights would be above 500 ft. with some low-level training flights and very little night flying.

Si __ 1 • / - M I ■janl - - - * <1 COUNCILMAN READY TO FLY — Bob Richmond, Warsaw city councilman, inspected an Indiana National Guard HU-1 helicopter at a meeting at the Warsaw airport last week. The airport is the planned base for 23 of these aircraft. Public meetings are planned on this project in the near future.

He added that Warsaw, lakes and certain other areas of concern. specifically turkey farms, would normally not be flown over. Helicopter noise frequently causes turkeys to die, apparently from fright, in large numbers. Freeman said Maple Leaf Duck Farms will be contacted to see if this problem extends to duck operations. An area of concern for county environmentalists has been the Heron nesting location on. the Tippecanoe River just west of Warsaw Freeman said this will be no

American Legion supports Huey base

On Sunday, Aug. 10, the Kosciusko County Council of the American Legion met at Post 253 in North Webster for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. Delegates and alter nates, representing American Legion Posts in Warsaw, Milford, Syracuse, Pierceton and North Webster, were in attendance. Warrant Officer Lou Collier, helicopter instructor pilot with the Indiana National Guard, presented the Military Department of Indiana position on the possible relocation of 23 “Huey” helicopters from their existing facility in Shelbyville to the Warsaw Airport, along with approximately 40 support personnel. Collier, a Vietnam veteran with more than 6,000 hours of flight time explained the National Guard’s position as well as the environmental issues that concern the local residents. Collier said, “Kosciusko County is an ex-

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

mile) sections welded into a continuous rail. Circuit joints appear occasionally to monitor circuit switches, said Deanda. The new rails are rated at 122 pounds per yard, replacing the 140 pound per yard rail, and replacement is of the No. 2 (south) track. The No. 1 (north) track was relaid in ribbon rail in 1977. All kinds of automatic equipment is being used in the operation, to lay the track, to secure it, and to do the welding. Deanda said about a mile a day of new track is going into place.

problem area because herons are not sensitive to helicopter noise. He added, however, that because of the concern and the guard’s desire to cause no problems, that area would be avoided when they fly. Twenty-three helicopters are proposed for the site, an extension of the 52 aircraft based at Shelbyville. Freeman said about a 30.000 sq. ft. hanger would be built. This would include an avionics shop and rotor shop. Equipment would include a fire truck and crash maintenance

cellent choice as a possible site, but we are committed to the concerns of local citizens. Following a lengthy question and answer session, the Legionnaires present chose to support the state’s decision regarding the move to Warsaw. Oscar Warner of Warsaw Post 49 said, “We based our decision on the well established American Legion position supporting a strong national defense. This position is never without sacrifice. ” To make their opinions known, individual posts will present resolutions favoring the relocation and will seek endorsements from the County Council, the Second District and the Department of Indiana. David Heath, Commander of the County Council added, “Individual members will be encouraged to communicate their views to the Military Department of Indiana and their elected state officials.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20,1986

equipment. Public information meetings will be scheduled after an environmental assessment of the proposal is completed. Farrell said the Indiana Air National Guard is slated for some reorganization on October 1. He added that he would like to put a few aircraft in the county before that date. Democrats to caucus at Syracuse The Democrats at Syracuse are planning to caucus at the new Syracuse Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday, Aug. 26, for the purpose of nominating candidates for seats on the Syracuse Town Board from Wards 1 and 2. The caucus, which by law will require a quorum of 20 to make it official, has been called by Billy G. Coburn. Syracuse Democratic city chairman. It will be the first political caucus held in the new town hall. Syracuse Republicans will hold their caucus at the town hall two days later, on Thursday, Aug. 28.

Jeanne Gardiner re-elected to marketing association

The Indiana Chapter, Bank _ Marketing Association has reelected Jeanne Gardiner, State Bank of Syracuse, to it’s board of directors for a three-year term. She served as the chapter’s newsletter editor for the past three years, and will assume

Affiliate with ISPA —

Wawasee supportive personnel vote 31-1 in favor of organizing

In a move that was part surprise and part anticipated, 32 members of the Wawasee Community School Corporation support staff — secretaries, aides, cafeteria workers, custodians and bus drivers — met at the Lakeland Youth Center Monday night and voted 31 to 1 to be represented in wage negotiations by the Indiana Supportive Personnel Association. The ISPA is affiliated with the National Education Association. Representing the ISPA was Michael Jester of Indianapolis, and also offering his services was Robert Shultz of The Teamsters Union. The Monday night vote was the culmination of more than a week’s altercation involving support staff members, the school board and the hiring policies of the school administration. In the eye of the storm were Karen Smith, administrative secretary to Dr. Kenneth E. Webster, superintendent; Sue Kraft, also an administrative secretary; Dr. Webster; and Roger Kryder, assistant superintendent for business. Question Hiring Policies ' What triggered the moment of discontent appeared to be the hiring policies of the school administration, involving a new secretary for high school principal Ned Speicher. In a move to upgrade the skills of the high school secretary, the administration worked over a number of applications and came up with the name of Mary Beth (Mrs. Richard) Lemen of r 3 Syracuse. She is an employee at Gulf Stream Industries in Nappanee but was interested in locating near her home south of Syracuse. Smith will not seek re-election to school board Henry Smith, a member of the Wawasee Community School board from District 2 (Turkey Creek Township) for the past four years, said on Tuesday of this week that he would not be seeking re-election to the board this fall. He told The Mail-Journal last ’ week that he was undecided about running for re-election. “It’s time for new ideas and new people on the board,” is the way Smith stated his intentions not to run. Smith came to the Syracuse community in September of 1967, a year before the new consolidated school was to open, and served as principal for 1.3 years. He said this week, “I saw 13 classes graduate, and I’m proud of that.” His tenm e as principal ended in November 1981. At that time he became associated with the Lake City Bank of Warsaw as manager of their Syracuse branch bank, and was elected to the Wawasee Community School board in the fall of 1982. Marguerite Hoerr, a board member from District 3 (Van Buren Township and the east half of Jefferson Township), said earlier she would not seek reelection. David Carey, from District I (Tippecanoe Township), is seeking re-election.

responsibility this year for the annual MAXI Advertising Awards program. In the six years of the competition, Gardiner has captured four MAXI Awards and three certificates of merit for the State Bank of Syracuse in her capacity as marketing representative.

Upgrading secretarial skills is all a part of the administration’s drive for excellence, Dr. Webster stated to The Mail-Journal. But there was a Catch: Mrs. Lemen was being paid $6.80 per hour on her Nappanee job, and by stretching the adopted hiring policy of the school to allow for her eight years’ experience, the corporation could pay her only $6.50 per hour. After some consideration, Mrs. Lemen decided to accept the cut in pay and take the school position. When this salary figure became known by the administrative secretaries, the proverbial lid blew off the pot. Karen Smith, whose husband Henry is the high school’s former principal and is currently a member of the school board, took her case to other members of the support staff, where she found wideranging support. This discontent was the reason for a meeting of support personnel at the Lakeland Youth Center a week ago Monday, at which 32 (about half) of those eligible attended. At that time they met with the Teamsters representative, and were told they could even form their own association for bargaining purposes. Meantime, sensing the discontent, the school administration lowered Mrs. Lemen’s salary to $5.63 per hour, a figure she decided to live with on a temporary basis, with the promise of an increase to a higher figure At Workshop Mrs. Smith spearheaded the move to organize the support staff into a bargaining unit, and it was she who “rallied the troops” for the meeting last Monday night. It was also she who appeared at last Tuesday's school board meeting and read a handwritten statement outlining plans for a concerted bargaining effort on the part of supportive staff members. There were about 50 people present to support her comments. According to Superintendent Webster, 14 members of the school’s administration attended a three-day workshop at Pokagon State Park near Angola, and “when we left everything was all right, but when we got back everything was in a turmoil. Mrs. Lemen had resigned her position with Gulf Stream Industries in Nappanee and reported to work last Wednesday morning at the high school building. She quickly became ap-

4 « O A Ju I NATO PURCHASES ARROW VAN — Jack Stump, Hag secretary of the U.S. Navy, accepts the keys to a 19«6 Arrow Corp, custom-designed van from the Milford company s president, Larry Bray. Stump, a former Milford resident who is stationed in Norfolk, Va., drove the van back to Virginia for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which opted for Arrow’s product over seven other bidders scattered throughout Georgia and Indiana. NATO will use the van to transport dignitaries and guests of the secretary of defense. President Reagan will get a first-hand view of the van when he rides it to the launching ceremony of the Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear aircraft carrier.. Steve Troup custom designed the van, the first of its kind purchased by NATO, while Admiral Lee Baggett Jr., the Supreme Allied Commander of the Atlantic, spearheaded the purchase. Arrow has been doing custom van conversions for the past 11 years. (Photo by Mark Huff man)

prised of the maelstrom she found herself in, and at the end of the day resigned her position and left the school in tears, according to principal Speicher Superintendent Webster and his assistant Kryder felt Mrs. Lemen had sufficient office skills to warrant the higher starting pay. The school’s personnel handbook allows them to grant five years' credit for experience but not eight years. Granting more than five years credit for experience must be a school board action. Karen Smith said she and others were so incensed at what they termed arbitrary action on the part of the administration that she told Roger Kryder on Friday before the school board meeting that she planned to look into the possibility of forming a union. She later backed away from the word “union,” thinking perhaps it would be detrimental to their cause in an area that is generally considered non-union territory. As near as could be learned, no other small area schools have supportive personnel unions or affiliations. On Tuesday. August 5, Karen Smith and Sue Kraft were called into Superintendent Webster’s office with Kryder and director of instructional services Howard J. Hull to face up to the differences and work toward a solution. They met with little or no success,-and before the meeting was over Dr Webster asked for Karen Smith's resignation, according to Mrs. Smith. She said Dr. Webster demanded her resignation before the Tuesday, Aug. 12 school board meeting, accusing her of insubordination. Mrs. Smith said the meeting was held after school hours, at about 4 p.m., for about 25 minutes. She said, “I was emphatic in stating, ’No, I will not resign” In a meeting with support personnel at the school’s large auditorium last Monday morning, Dr Webster threatened to replace the mutinous secretaries, according to Karen Smith, adding that the meeting was one of intimidation. She said Dr. Webster told the group Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Kraft “were lying.” Mrs. Smith, who has 15 years' service as secretary to the superintendent, said there are several within the corporation who have sufficient secretarial

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skills to qualify as secretary to principal Speicher Webster’s Statement Early this week Dr. Webster issued the following statement: “I am very concerned about the recent complaints that have surfaced from our support personnel. These matters had not been brought to our. attention during previous meetings or negotiation sessions, “I will present a plan to the board of school trustees at our next meeting that will outline a direction designed to open com : munications lines with the various support personnel groups.” At the Tuesday, Aug. 28th, budget meeting, Dr. Webster plans to offer a means for representatives of various support groups from each school to meet periodically with Roger Kryder and a school board member to air differences and/or offer suggestions for improvement. Dr. Webster said prior to the workshop meeting the girls in the office said they had a good summer and were looking forward to the new school year. Henry Smith, when asked how he coped with being on the school board and having his wife take such an active role in organizing the support personnel, said, “She is an individual. She is independent in her thinking. My responsibility is to the taxpayers and the community. I hope things don’t degenerate to who wins and who loses' I will not abstain from voting . . . and I hope (I vote) intelligently.” Mr. Smith spoke highly of Dr. Webster “I have to have formed a comfortability with both people (Dr Webster and Karen),” he said. Billy G. Little, school board president and member for the past 17 years, called the altercation “a raw issue,” and said he had high regard for Dr Webster and the support personnel, calling them “good, loyal, hardworking professional people. Little said, “This is a problem that has to be addressed. ” One close observer said this story has all the hidden qualities of a soap opera. Another noted that it might be blown into a full scale serial. Hardly that; but it was compelling enough and involved enough prominent people in our smooth-running educational system, that it could not escape a public airing.