The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 34, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 August 1986 — Page 5

NIPSCO rate increase to offset cost of new Unit 18

HAMMOND, Ind. — Approval of Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s rate proposal to phase in the cost of its new Unit 18 is in the interest of all of our customers, said NIPSCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edmund A. Schroer, as the utility began presenting its electric rate case-in-chief before the Public Service Commission of Indiana today. This innovative proposal results from our awareness of and sensitivity to the economic difficulties faced by our customers, including our large industrial customers who purchase a majority of our electric energy and employ a large number of our residential customers,” the NIPSCO chairman said. NIPSCO filed a petition with the Public Service Commission on April 22,1986, which included a proposal to phase in the cost of the 344-megawatt Unit 18 over a five-year period and which provides for small yearly increases —a 3.75 percent “across-the-board” electric rate increase on January 1 of 1987, 1988 and 1989 and a 3.27 percent increase on January I, 1990. The proposal also provides for a $29 million Bailly N1 refund which would be made within 10 days of Commission approval of the settlement proposal, a resolution of all pending electric rate increase matters before the Commission, and a five-year moratorium on other base electric rate increases until January 1,1991. “In developing a proposal to recover the costs of Unit 18, which became operational in February 1986, and other costs incurred to provide service to customers since our last rate case (1982), we sought a comprehensive implementation plan

Helping make the highways very safe

The drunk driving and habitual offender laws enacted by the General Assembly in 1983 raise the probability of conviction for offenders, according to State Senator John Augsburger (RSyracuse). A recently released Purdue University study indicates that since the law went into effect on September 1, 1983, 14 percent more people arrested for drunk driving are being convicted than before enactment of the law. The percentage of license suspensions also increased from 49 to 70 and the average length of license suspensions rose from 95 to 119 days. The 1983 legislation was enacted by the General Assembly in response to a unified public demand for action against the drunk driver “The public is united in demanding solutions to the drunk driving problem — No one is in favor of drunk driving and we must continue to do everything possible to keep our highways safe.” Augsburger said. The judicial system is responding well to the 1983 legislation. The Purdue University study reveals a number of positive trends indicating that the laws are having a significant impact toward alleviating the problem of drunk driving.

Legion Auxiliary has summer picnic

The annual summer pot luck picnic of the Milford American Legion Auxiliary was rained-out, but the undaunted Ladies Legion Auxiliary found a dry spot at the Legion Hall to have their meal with 18 members and three guests present. This being the end of the year and all yearly reports sent in to department and national, the business meeting was dispensed with and everyone just enjoyed the evening. Myrtle Felkner introduced Wade Holmes froni Bremen, who has lived for several months in Australia. He gave a very interesting and entertaining talk about his experiences there. Australia, still belonging to England, consists of six states and has less people living there than live in the city of New York. He went to their school, lived with a family in Victoria, and rode the same school bus with the family’s son, who was younger than he. Students in Australia have to wear uniform type clothing of black and gray — boys with ties

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which would minimize the rate impact upon all of our customers,” Schroer said. “This rate proposal if approved, should accomplish this goal. ” If the proposal is not approved as filed, NIPSCO would have no alternative but to pursue the undesirable alternative of an immediate rate increase of 23.2 percent ($205 million additional revenues on an annual basis), he said. The terms of the rate proposal were approved by eight of NIPSCO’s large industrial customers after seven months of negotiations and incorporated into a settlement agreement. In 1985, all of the utility's industrial customers were responsible for more than 75 percent of its total electric sales. “It should be recognized that viable large industrial customers keep rates to other customers lower than they would be otherwise,” Schroer said. “Besides their obvious employment and tax supports for communities, these customers take large amounts of electricity and for sustained periods. In this way they spread NIPSCO’s fixed costs a over a broader base, thereby reducing the share of these costs that residential and other customers have to pay.” “NIPSCO has reduced substantially its requested rate increase in annual revenues during the negotiations,” he said. “We have made an innovative proposal regarding the implementation of our required rate relief which results in annual percentage increases less than most projections of the forecasted rate of inflation, even though large additional capital investment of more than S7OO million has been made to serve customers.” v The settlement agreement re-

Augsburger explained that three-fourths of convicted drunk drivers now get jail sentences compared to two-thirds who received them before the law went into effect. The average length of jail sentences increased 54 percent from 95 to 146 days. The threat of jail is often used to persuade an offender to agree to an alternative penalty such as community service or counseling on alcohol abuse. However, they are still forced to confront the problem and amend their unlawful actions. The study also showed that offenders charged with a felony rather than a misdemeanor are more likely to be convicted. The overall conviction rate was 75 percent while the conviction rate for those charged as felons was 95 percent. “It appears that Indiana's judicial system heard the underlying message presented through the 1983 law that drunk drivers should be punished,” Augsburger stated. ‘Drunk drivers should understand that Indiana citizens will no longer tolerate their unlawful and dangerous acts and that if they are going to drink and,drive in Indiana they are going to face a heavy penalty.”

and girls witn no maxe-up or jewelry. Wade said that he followed his “little brother” so as not tb get lost. The Australians have no holiday season. At Christmas they open their gifts and spend the day at the beach, if possible. While living there, Wade saw kangaroos on the golf courses, emus, wombats (a duckbilled, fur-tailed animal that lives in water) and koala bears, which have become scarce in the populated areas. Australia is the country selected by the American Legion Auxiliary as the country to study this year. Holmes mother, Alice Holmes, was present as a guest. She lived in the area at one time. The next meeting will be installation of officers on September 9 at the community building. Practice will be on September 8 at the Legion Hall. The charter was draped due to the death of member, Edith Little. Special prayers were conducted by Glennis Stump and Treva Borkholder.

quires NIPSCO to continue its efforts to control and reduce operating costs, Schroer said. “In short, all of our customers will receive the benefit of the general philosophy underlying the settlement agreement and that is economic recovery of northern Indiana requires energy reliability and predictable prices.” Commenting on NIPSCO’s new Unit 18 the NIPSCO chairman said it is used and useful. “Our testimony conclusively demonstrates that we do not have, nor will we have, excess capacity. “On June 19, 1985, the Public Service Commission found that NIPSCO did not have excess capacity on its system,” he said. “Since that order, which was not appealed, we have added 344 megawatts of capacity and we will lose 400 megawatts of capacity in the near future, a net loss of 56 megawatts.

Common science —

Radioactivitymany questions

Forty-one year ago this month the world entered the nuclear age with the bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since that time immense arsenals of nuclear weapons have been built. More peaceful uses of atomic energy have also been demonstrated. Just what is meant by atomic energy and what does it have to do with radioactivity? To understand these terms we must look at the atom. All materials are composed of atoms or combination of atoms. An atom is the smallest part of any chemical element. Carbon is an element; so are uranium, iron, hydrogen and oxygen. All together there are (or have been) 92 naturally occurring elements. Other chemical materials exist by the combining of elements into compounds. All atoms are composed of even smaller particles. In the center of the atom, the nucleus, there are protons and neutrons. At varying distances from the nucleus, there are electrons. Since a proton from carbon is just like a proton from oxygen, atoms differ from one another in the number of protons they have. For example, carbon has 6 protons. No other element has 6 protons. There are three different forms (isotopes) of carbon depending on how many neutrons are present. The protons and neutrons are bonded together in the nucleus by a special force peculiar to atoms. Some of these combinations are very stable; others are unstable. Radioisotopes have unstable nuclei and will break down (decay) into more stable combinations by emitting particles or energy. The rate at which radioisotopes break down is measured in half-lives, the amount of time it takes for onehalf of the"material to decay. Half-lives range from less than one billionth of a second to more than a billion years. Radioactivity, then, is the decay of an unstable nucleus of an atom. This decay is accomplished by the release of energy (atomic energy). If the energy release can be controlled, it can be harnassed for useful purposes. For example, one gram of uranium could release as much energy as the burning of one ton of coal. Nuclear reactors use uranium-235 or plutonium - 239. These radioisotopes can be bombarded with neutrons. When a uranium nucleus captures an extra neutron, it becomes very unstable and breaks into two parts (fission). The breakdown releases energy and 2 or 3 new neutrons. These neutrons, in turn, can be captured by other uranium nuclei and a chain reaction can occur. If the chain reaction happens very rapidly with enough uranium, an atomic explosion occurs. On the other hand, if the chain reaction is controlled, the energy release can be harnassed to produce steam that drives turbines which produce electricity. Control rods of cad-

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“The most significant threat faced by NIPSCO and our customers, as we experience* economic recovery, is to have a shortfall of the capacity required to sustain that recovery,” Schroer said. “From the NIPSCO service area perspective, new capacity is required by the 19905, given our demand forecasts. This new capacity is required primarily to support economic growth and replace older generation. “We have protected our service • area from capacity shortfalls by our policy of self-sufficiency,” he said. “NIPSCO’s capacity is a benefit to customers and appropriate for their requirements. "Service areas with adequate capacity to serve new load will be the sites of new economic growth. We should like to see northern Indiana in such a favorable position,” Schroer said.

minum or boron can capture excess neutrons and control the reaction. Since radiation from radioisotopes is hazardous to living creatures, there are dangers even in the peaceful use of this power from the nucleus of the atom. The recent loss of control at the Chernobyl facility in Russia illustrates the danger. SBOO damages caused by vandalism Over SBOO in damages and loss resulted from two separate cases of theft and vandalism last week, according to Syracuse Police. Lowell Johnson, East Boston Street, reported a $259.95 loss when he discovered his truck had been broken into and a pistol taken out of the glove compartment sometime Thursday night. Aug. 14. Johnson claimed, that the truck had been locked previous to the incident, which he reported at 10?56a.m., Friday. Aug. 15. The Image Group Inc., SR 13. reported S6OO in damages after it was discovered windows had been shot out sometime between Saturday afternoon, Aug. 16, and Sunday night, Aug. 17. Upon investigating the case, Syracuse Police found that holes had also been shot into property owned by Love Furniture. Pilcher’s Shoe Store, and the State Bank of Syracuse. Police believe the shots were fired from a BB gun

Serving our country

RICHARD L. TROUP Richard L. Troup is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Troup of r 3, Syracuse, and has arrived safely at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Troup has been assigned to the Basic Military Training Squadron. Scaled down The Reagan administration, in a preliminary review of the economy At mid-year, has trimmed its growth estimate for 1986 but has substantially boosted porjections for economic activity next year, officials said recently. May delay President Reagan formally responded to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s most recent arms proposal with a plan that sources said offered to delay — but not to sidetrack or curtail — his “Star Wars” missile defense program.

* trn taHEI READY, AIM ... — Several Syracuse area merchants took advantage of a gun safety program offered August 7 and Thursday, Aug. 14. The program, under the direction of Officer Robert Houser, offers merchants the opportunity to learn gun safety and proper way to shoot a weapon. Additional dates have been set and anyone interested is urged to contact the Syracuse Police Department. Marjorie Shopoff takes aim in the above photo, while, from left, Ernie Fried, Mike Calobrace, and Louis Kuilema listen to directions from Officer Houser in the photo below.

Humanly speaking —

Families of the mentally ill

By KATHY GRIESER, M.S. Inpatient Unit Therapist, Bowen Center The presence of a chronically ill family member has a very disruptive, disorganizing effect on family life. Not only must the family provide for the needs of its ill member, it must also deal with the inevitable conflicts among its healthy members, often within an atmosphere of confusion, stigma and secrecy. Typically, anger and guilt regarding the cause of the patient’s illness and his resulting behavior leads to a painful, crippling cycle. Equally painful is the ongoing sense of loss and grieving that can accompany the growing awareness that the ill relative may never meet his own or other’s expectations. Anxiety may be ever present. Typically, families relate the experience of waking up each morning with feelings ranging from discomfort to dread. Will the ill person yell at hallucinated voices in the store today 9 Will a sibling get angry and storm out of the house because of a conflict? Will there be a fight about medication 9 What will happen if parents eventually cannot handle the behavior due to age or stress? What does one say if a neighbor asks, "How’s everything going?" Because most families make

When you budget this winter’s expenses... "TT ~ jfTWW St --"7 -a w ~\ . J# ? ■■ We’re HereTo —HELP—...with the 8-Month Budget Plan. Money sure can go fast when you plan out use. Any over- or underpayments will be the family budget. No matter what time of shown in your May billing. Your local the year it is. NIPSCO office has a free pamphlet explainThat’s why NIPSCO offers a special billing >■* the beneflts <* this he, P ful P r <« ram program called the 8 Month Budget Plan. Whatever your particular energy concerns It’s a lot like our Equal Payment Plan, are, remember, we re here to help. For more which averages out energy costs for a year. information, contact your local NIPSCO But the 8-month version begins in October Customer Service representative, and ends in May. So you’ll be averaging out 010 energy costs over the coldest months only. When you sign up in September, we’ll tell you what the average energy costs will be JI for the next 8 months Just use that figure as you do your budgeting. The 8-Month Budget Plan has no add-on , . charges. You pay for only the energy you There When yOU need US. I XHM.’iOMi

many sacrifices for their ill relative, they may give too much and lose their capacity for support, recreation or keeping company with others outside the family. Families who are primary caretakers are also at a substantial risk of exhaustion and emotional burnout. What sorts of interventions might ease the family’s burden? Acquiring .stress management techniques may be particularly of value. Obtain information about the relative’s illness, course of treatment and education about what the mental health system offers. Families also report that coming together with others who have similar problems is of tremendous value. Interfamily networking not only reduces isolation and stigma, but also offers a nonthreatening supportive environment for families to learn new skills and approaches. It also provides an outlet for a family ’s need Schultz on S. Africa Secretary of State George P. Shultz told Congress recently that imposing punitive sanctions on South Africa would lock the Reagan administration into a “straitjacket of rigid legislation” and weaken or destroy the ability of the United States to influence events.

Wed.. August 20, 1988—THE MAIL-JOURNAL

Mobile home burglarized

Crime Stoppers, a non-profit organization involving the police, the media and the public in the fight against crime, offers anonymity and cash rewards to persons who furnish information leading to the arrest and the filing of criminal charges against felony offenders and the capture of fugitives. The following “Crime of the Week” was furnished by the Kosciusko County Crime Stoppers organization: The burglary of a residence in

to be of service through advocacy and public information projects. The Bowen Center is establishing a Support Group for friends and families of any person who may be severely emotionally disturbed. This group is

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the southwestern portion of Kosciusko County is the "Crime of the Week . ” A mobile home located near the intersection of CR 1200 S and CR 600 W was the scene of a burglary on August 9 Taken in this burglary were four guns, including a 12-gauge pump shotgun with a 39-inch barrel. This gun has the name DM Baugher engraved on it. Also taken was a Remington Target Master .22 caliber rifle and two .410 shotguns. Other items included a portable AM/FM stereo tape player and some antique coins. Persons with information concerning this burglary are asked to contact Crime Stoppers, tollfree, at 1 800-342-STOP. Crime Stoppers will pay up to SI,OOO if the information leads to an arrest or indictment. Callers will be assigned a code and not asked to reveal their names.

offered free of charge and will eventually function independently of the Bowen Center. If interested in this group, please contact Kathy Grieser or John George at 1-800-342-5653 or 267-7169. f

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