The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 35, Milford, Kosciusko County, 27 August 1986 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., August 27,1986

Editorial

Labor Day, 1986 Labor Day, the Ist of September, has become one of the nation’s major holidays. It was first suggested by Peter McGuire in New York in 1882. McGuire was then president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and an active leader in the Knights of Labor. McGuire chose the first Monday in September because it was about mid-way between July 4 and Thanksgiving. Both his suggestion of a special day and the time it should be observed were eventually accepted in all the states. By 1894, thirty states had begun the observance; and in that year, Congress made the day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and in U.S. territories. It soon became a national day and is now observed by the federal government and all the states. On Labor Day in 1986, Americans should keep in mind the American work ethic, the will to work hard, among the vast majority of Americans of all races and creeds (in labor and management). That built the wealth of the nation. By World War 11, industrial strength had made America the envy of the world, the most powerful nation on earth. As we observe this day, Americans should resolve to do what they can to increase productivity, to help modernize our industries. Unimpressive The latest from NASA is as unimpressive as recent fizzles and failures in the space program. Continuing to over-react to the only flight disaster in twenty years. Administrator James Fletcher has announced that NASA has given up on another shuttle launch for next year. Considering the fact that many shuttle flights were launched successfully in warm weather, that the cause of the recent failure has been identified, and that this information can be used to create very good chances of safety for another shuttle launch, soon, this super caution is misplaced. The emotional civilian reaction to the space tragedy seems to have everyone in the space program going all-out for total safety and no chance whatsoever of an accident. No space exploration program involving rockets can ever attain that degree of safety and security. Nor should anyone expect that. This nation is engaged in critical scientific competition for mastery in space, civilian and military. The outcome of that competition could determine the fate and security of the nation. With stakes of such gravity, there is no place for super-super caution and bureaucratic reluctance to take a chance, to avoid any blame. Chances must be taken. The space exploration program has experienced remarkably few accidents. Far fewer lives have been lost than in many other critical national security programs. Chances are probably 99 out of 100 that firings could be strengthened and improved in a few months to guarantee a safe launch. But we are now going the bureaucratic route. No one wants to risk having to take the responsibility for another accident. Risks must be taken, reasonable risks. Wrong tone Each student athlete of note who kills himself with illegal drugs is immediately hailed by celebrities and politicians as a fine, upstanding young person. who must have gone astray on only that occasion which ended in death. Now the experts tell us that this wasn’t true. Many of these athletes had been K on illegal drugs for some time. So much for the ballyhoo about the famous who die of drug use. The correct assessment, and pronouncement, after such deaths would be one of shock and condemnation of the use of drugs, disgust at the waste of life and forfeited opportunity. Celebrities at funeral orations telling us all how fine this lad was, until he died stupidly and illegally, are out of tune. First graders Six-year olds beginning school are often offered a series of immunization shots. Also, a complete physical examination can uncover defects which have been unnoticed. It’s important that parents and teachers know about such defects so they can help children overcome their handicaps. Immunizations and examinations will undoubtedly mean healthier and happier children; take advantage of them.

What others say —

Employment picture not so bright In our state Maybe all the good news about jobs numbers holding steady or increasing in Indiana isn’t such good news after all. June establishment employment in Indiana is still 9,800 below that of June, 1979. But the big change is not in the number of employed workers, but in the composition of that employment and in real wages paid in those jobs. The number of manufacturing jobs in Indiana has decreased by 146,600 since June, 1979. The number of construction jobs has decreased by 14,300 in that time span. Current weekly earnings in manufacturing and construction average $461.49 a week. Those jobs are the ones which are disappearing in Indiana. Weekly earnings in service and retail jobs — those which have gone up substantially in numbers in recent years — average $197.02 a week. This change in the job mix has cost Hoosiers $2.5 billion annually. Real wages have fallen in all sectors except utilities, communications, and finance-insurance-real estate. The much-touted service sector has not quite kept pace with the cost-of-living. The average loss in the 1986 purchasing power of wages and salaries is about $3,120 for each of the nearly two million Hoosier workers employed in the private sector If Indiana wants to avoid further losses, it first must acknowledge the seriousness of the problem and find ways to deal with it. Education will increasingly determine wages in the future. A high school diploma will no longer be sufficient to obtain the high-paying jobs which auto plants provided high school graduates in the past. The industries where wages and the number of jobs have increased include communications, finance, and high-tech service industries. .... .... However, keeping our high-paying manufacturing jobs by increasing skill levels is equally important. This requires a greater commitment to education at all levels than we have seen in recent years in Indiana. — LaGrange Standard

Bl Sk Dr. Madelynn Allen and Diane Wayt are just two of the many people who labor each day in the greater Lakeland community.

Court news

City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Fred W. Bloom, 49, Syracuse, $47.50; Irma Cruz, 18, Milford, 47, plea bargain Failure to yield right of way—- — E. Meadows, 30, Syracuse, $47.50 Passenger under 18 years of age not wearing protective headgear while on motorcycle — Albert L. Stricklin, 18, Syracuse! $42.50 Circuit Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding: Complaint For Breach Os Contract And Damages James H. Harp and Virginia Harp versus T.L. Jackson Construction, Inc., Thomas Jackson, president, r 1 Syracuse. The plaintiffs are seeking judgment against the defendant for the sum of $3,298.69 for overpayments, plus a fair and equitable sum to reflect the harm and damages done to plaintiffs by the defendant s alleged breach of contract Complaint On Contract Household Financial Corp, versus Robert A Secrest, r 2 box 113, North Webster The plaintiff is seeking judgment against the defendant for the sum of $878.02 plus interest, attorney’s fees and all costs of action, for a past due contract. Complaint For Damages Jay C. Smith and Patricia Smith versus Bob Valentine, doing business as Valentine Construction Company, r 2 Syracuse. The plaintiffs are seeking judgment in an undetermined amount for negligence of defendant and failure of defendant to use skill and good judgment in remodeling of plaintiff’s home. County Court The following persons have been assessed fines and have paid those fines in Kosciusko County Court. Judge James Jarrette presiding: Illegal consumption — Michael J DeWitt, Syracuse, s6l; Lisa Sue White. North Webster, SB6, 60 days KCJ suspended, 1 year probation; Sonia Melendez, Milford, SB6; Tony Allen Blackburn, 20, Milford, SB6 Illegal possession — Michael J. DeWitt, Syracuse, SB6 Public intoxication — Sammy Ray Maxwell, 26, Syracuse, SB6 Possession of marijuana — Blaine Allen Sawyer, 18, Syracuse, $153,28 days KCJ Criminal mischief — Troy Lynne Harney, 18, Milford, SB3, restitution Battery — Luella Bartlett, North Webster, s7l Superior Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Superior Court, Judge Robert Burner presiding: Complaint On Notes Peoples State Bank versus Marvin Miller, r 1 box 10A, Cromwell. The plaintiff is seeking judgment against the defendant for the sum of $9,346.83 plus interest, attorney’s fees and all costs of action, for past due promissory notes. Complaint On Account Collection Bureau of Warsaw versus Jessie M. Coleman, r 2 box 379, Syracuse. The plaintiff is seeking judgment against the defendant for the following past due accounts assigned for collection: $84.73, Miller Heating and Air Conditioning; $162.95, Wisconsin Power and Light ; SB7, Janesville Riverview Clinic. Small Claims f The following judgments have been awarded in Small Claims Division of Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrette presiding: Northeast Indiana Water Service, Inc. versus Dick Overholser; defendant ordered to

pay $150.18 plus costs. Northeast Indiana Water Service, Inc. versus Marvin Recht; defendant ordered to pay $274 01 plus costs. Eris N. Friend versus James A. Friend; defendant ordered to pay $1,500 plus costs. Lori Hanke versus Kay and William Vaughn; defendant ordered to pay $109.34 plus costs. Kosciusko County REMC versus Glenn D. Nichols; defendant’ ordered to pay $152.88 plus costs. Larry and Sarah Dunn versus Dan and Annette Slabaugh; defendants ordered to pay $505 plustosts. State of Indiana has received judgments against the following persons: Woodward and Alleghany Mutual Casualty Company, $2,000; Cynthia (Cole) Fish, $5.50; Ronald L. Adams, $20.50; Thomas C. Oberle, $10.50; Verlyn R. Robbins, $10.50; International Fidelity Insurance Co. and Bill Nellans, SSOO. Marriage Licenses The following couples have ap plied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: De La Fuente-Allen Hector De La Fuente, Jr.. 18, r 1 box 246A, Milford, and Dawn Michele Allen, 18, r 1 box 247 C, Milford Vallejo-Rico Ociel Vallejo, 21, 318 E William St., Milford, and Angie H Rico, 18, 318 E. William St., Milford Alvey-Locke Edward Earl Alvey. 38, r 2 box 511A, Leesburg, and Mary Elizabeth Locke. 37. r 2 box 511 A, Leesburg Cannon-Wolf Barry Leßoy Cannon, 23, P.O Box 68 Milford, and Marcy Darline Wolf, 20, P O. Box 68 Milford Platt-Stapleton Kenneth John Platt, 24, Box 242 Leesburg, and Tina Dauboin Stapleton, 24, Box 381 Leesburg Milford man sentenced Doral E. Haab. 42, Milford, has been sentenced by Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Richard Sand to 22 years in prison after having been found guilty of child molesting in a 12-member jurytrial last month Haab had been arrested on child molesting charges byMilford Town Marshal David Hobbs on Oct. 18, 1985 His sentences were 10 years for having intercourse with a girl under the age of 12; five years for touching and fondling a girl under the age of 12; five years for having intercourse with a girl between the ages of 12 and 16 and two years for fondling and touching a girl between the ages of 12 and 16. Judge Sand ordered Haab’s sentences to be served consecutivelv instead of concurrently Soviets and safety MOSCOW — The Kremlin removed the head of the state atomic safety committee, nearly three months after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and a news weekly said the accident has forced a review of atomic power policy

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 1031 L Main Street. Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription sl6 per. year in Kosciusko County $22 outside county POSTMASTERS Send change of address forms to The Mail Journal. P O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

-—y.. ■ ’. ..-r.-- ' -- - - . . ■ * ■ -•$ « . . «, •; • OUR REPORTER Mark Huffman filled this space last week, and chose to do a background piece on a subject we’ve discussed at some length in the several previous issues: the unsightly weeds and debris around the town, that have been a subject of considerable concern. While the glaring light of publicity has had a good effect in a number of instances, more could be done. We stand for good housekeeping throughout the community as well as around private homes and places of business. Mark spoke to a number of people, including town board members, about this condition, and found less than enthusiastic support for a community-wide clean-up initiative. Bill Hess, long time town board member, thought more could be done. He said he “noticed areas on Mill Street that really looked rough — it seems that the only way anything gets done is when people raise enough ...”. Hess added, “The town board should take a stronger stance’ — most people take care of their property but it’s the few that don’t that make it bad for others ” Our contention is and has been that the town has the staff on its street department to get the job done, without a single dime's additional expenditure to the taxpayer. To prove our point further, our attention has been called to the -rocky situation ” at the corner of SR 13 and East Chicago Avenue in the Village. Large stones were used to fill a depression where Chicago Avenue joins the limited access road. The stones have refused to stay put and have been strew n over the area to create an unsightly if not outright dangerous situation. What wonders a broom and a little elbow grease would do! (See above photo.). —o—- — THAT there is usually two sides to every story, we thought correspondent Huffman would interview several proprietors in the Village concerning their unwillingness to mow the weeds in front of their place of business and along the highway. One was our good friend, Larry Baumgardt, who falls in this category, but his reasons for not mowing the weeds failed to find themselves m Huffman's article And so, we’ve asked Larry to furnish this paper with a Letter to the Editor concerning his point of view. He did this, and his letter speaks for itself Note the opposite page. THE ANNUL NCEMENT by Henry Smith and Marguerite Hoerr that they would not seek reelection to the Wawasee Community School board of trustees, has caused some speculation as to prospective candidates the three corporation districts could advance for consideration by the voters in the fall election. The three districts are as follows: District 1 is composed of Tippecanoe Township (North Webster); District 2is composed of Turkey Creek Township (Syracuse) and District 3 is composed of Van Buren Township (Milford) and the east half of Jefferson Township Each of the three districts is entitled to two, but not more than two. members on the fivemember board, and each district must have at least one member. & ■ As it stands now, District 1 has one member on the board, David Carey; District 2 has two members, Henry Smith and Carol Swartzendruber; and District 3 has two members. Billy G. Little and Marguerite Hoerr During the past week at least two names have been advanced as possible candidates: Curt E. Jordan of r 1 Leesburg, as a candidate for the District 1 post, and Dan Brown of Milford as a candidate for the District 3 post. Jordan is a retired United Telephone Co of Indiana employee and president-elect of the Lakeland Kiwanis Club. Brown is vice president of Phend & Brown, the Milford asphalt and road building firm, is also president of the Milford Kiwanis Club and current president of the Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana. On Tuesday of this week, Courtney Blue, owner of The Local Craftsman in Syracuse, a custom wood products and cabinetry enterprise, filed for the school bbgrd from District 2, creating sjill more interest. MARILYN CURTIS, guidance counselor at WHS, is proud of her aging father, who has always had an interest in school affairs. James O. Tuttle of Chapman Lake (r 6 Warsaw) will be 94 years of age October 8. and received a prize at the recent county fair for being the oldest person present. Jim Tuttle was trustee of Washington Township (Pierceton) two terms when the main chore of a trustee was the operation of its school, and earlier was trustee of Richland Township (Larwill) in Whitley County.

IF ANYONE would deserve the title as local historian/genealogist, it would have ,to be Jack Elam. One would think Jack is a native of the Syracuse community, the way he is delving into its past. He is working on the Syracuse Sesquicentennial Committee with something of a missionary zeal, and is preparing all sorts of historical genealogical stories Lest one forgets, this paper plans to get behind the sesquicentennial effort in a big way. even doing a separate tabloid paper on the town's past 150 years. And in this regard we’ll be looking for all the old photos and articles anyone can send our way. REALTOR ERNIE Rogers attracted his share of attention with his patchwork quilt trousers. “That’s just what they are, ‘patchwork quilt’,” he said, adding, “you fellows (those jesting him) are just jealous.” JOHN A. Naab. principal at the Syracuse Elementary/Junior High School, took a long, languid look at his desk as classes were about to begin this week, and noted: “I’m not worried about a bomb hitting us. We’ll probably all be buried in a hail of paper! ’’ THE BUILDING trades class, including 10 junior/senior students from West Noble and 18 from Wawasee, got right into their thing Monday morning, the first day of the new school year. They're building a ranch-type house at the new Fox Run development just south of Wawasee High School. According to Vocational Director Dick Wysong, Mark Timpe, building trades instructor at the high school for the past four years, is in charge of the project. The new house will be like the one they built in the Stucky Addition in 1983-84, now owned and occupied by the Brice Slabaughs Students work on a.m. and p.m. shifts, three hours on each shift. Thus, a student works 15 hours ’ a week, and excellent on-the-job construction training. —o—- — TALK — What we know about New England we learned from history books, but a brief, four-day visit to Maine brought most of this to life, and gave us a brief glimpse of life as it was lived in “early America.’’ We were guests of Ambassadair, an Indianapolis co-operative that owns its own planes and specializes in quickie vacations such as this one. Landing in Portland, we had a most delightful boat trip through a maze of coastal islands with Cap’n Bob Fish at the wheel, telling us the history of the area and of the various fish that abound in these watery depths. Our destination was Boothbay Harbor, where Cap’n Fish just happened to own the motels where we stayed. Eventually we began to believe what one passenger said, “This fellow has a good thing going. It looks like he owns half the place.” A veteran of the Korea# War, where he •fought the battle of the French Quarters.” as his literature points out, he proved an accommodating and delightful old salt Boothbay Harbor is a small town of from 3,500 to 5,000 permanent residents that swells to nearly 50,000 in the 10-week summer season. Even Vice President George Bush has a summer place on one of these isolated islands. There were plenty of side trips, one to the Lincoln County seat town of Wiscasset where a "must” was a visit to the old Court House (1824), the old Lincoln County Jail (1809), and of course the near-famous Nickels-Sortwell House (1807), with its famous woodwork and handsome furnishings. Early American ’history and memorabilia are New England's thing New England homes are large frame structures. all painted white with well groomed, flowered approaches. Many of them have been turned into apartments, we were told, and no wonder, considering the upkeep of the huge structures. The old Pownalborough Court House at Dresden still stands, having been built in 1761, the only remaining pre Revolutionary court building in Maine. It literally rings out with old familiar names like the Adamses who practiced law there It gives one a quick glimpse of early American jurisprudence And, of course, another side trip would take us to the famous shipyards at Bath that had the distinction during World War II of turning out a destroyer every two weeks. Andrew Mellon, financier and Secretary of the Treasury, had his famous personal yacht built here — the one where he answered a query about its cost of operation with the now-famous remark that if one had to ask, he couldn’t afford it. We had two nights of grappeling with the fine art of disassembling a lobster, and in this we had plenty of company. The natives found this amusing, while we neophytes found it frustrating, and, well, quite messy Our last day found our group on a tour back to the airport at Portland, via Freeport, the little Maine town where the giant L. L. Bean mail order house is located. Open 24 hours a day. 365 days a year, this little outlet is not little any more. It serves a world market, and Freeport would be less than another Syracuse without the imaginative owners of this retail/mail order house. The huge warehouse near the tiny town is to be doubled in size within the next several years. All this was a lot oi fun, (raiding with our good friends Al and Joan Moss of Flora , and who were we to med as fellow passengers but Dr Basil B. and Julia L Dulin of Johnson Bay, Lake Wawasee Basil is a former Anderson physician who. divides his time between Anderson and his lake home The Dulins are a well traveled couple themselves, having recently visited China. - AEB