The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 44, Milford, Kosciusko County, 29 October 1986 — Page 12

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., October 29,1986

i J ' : - ■ ' ', ■ t,?^M :<r f E \ ' v. j|j| fl / t ’4 Sißir OPEN HOUSE WINNER — Nova Parker, pictured being congratulated by Ron Douglas, sales manager, was the winner of the color television set given away during the recent open house at Gary's Mobile Home Sales, located on US 30 in Warsaw. Parker, who said she was ‘‘very excited about winning,” has been a customer of Gary’s Mobile Home Sales in the past and-recently purchased her second home from the company. Douglas explained that although the drawing has been completed, due to popular demand the open house prices will be continued through November 1. Also pictured are Andy Johnson and Ken Roemke, salesmen. (Photo by Kip Schumm)

TRAVEL TALK w = —— « —— With = ~ ~~ John Hertzler Group Sales NEW ZEALAND — A VERY SPECIAL PLACE New Zealand is not for collectors of cities. Often quoted to explain attitudes here is the instruction of an airline pilot on approaching Auckland "You are now landing in New Zealand. Put your watches back 20 years. With the possible exception of Christchurch, none of the major cities Auckland. Wellington, Dunedin, Queenstown offers anything ap proaching world-class personality. Even first-time visitors quickly discover this and devote themselves to New Zealand s spectacular outdoors. It is a place where so many of the most beautiful sights in the world are gathered together in one surprisingly small country. Visit the thermal region of Rotorua. "New Zealand's Yellowstone." and see the awesome beauty of Mt. Cook National Pork. The pace is slower in New Zealand, more relaxed than the rest of the world. Visit New Zealand on your own or join an escorted tour group where you'll meet some of the friendliest people in the world. One of our professional staff members will assist you abc TRAVEL SPECIALISTS 1301 N Detroit St.. Warsaw. Or call us at 269-6771: 269-1415 or 1-800-342-5521 Open Monday-Friday 9-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 9-1. Most major credit cards accepted. HINT: Be sure to see some of Australia too while you re down under

r ™ oto a o I WITH SOMEONE NEW I ~ CAST YOUR VOTE FOR H i i * H I I Board Member PTO Committee D Lakeland Day Care Chairman | IE Center Jr ■_» i— H / Active Church Member 8 Business Manager F' Member Os IWWG I I Mother Os Three &NAFE | I - I SHANDA BLUE | H Democrat, Ward 2 ' b I YOU HAVE A CHOICE! M Paid For By Syracuse Democratic Central Committee, Courtney Blue, Treos., 400 S. Lake St., Syracuse, Indiana 46567 ( d

Youthpower conference

The Indiana Youthpower Conference is set for November 6 and 7 at the Airport Hilton Hotel, Indianapolis. High school students will examine, in special interest workshops, career opportunities in several phases of the food industry including distribution, education and processing. During the two-day conference, they will hear speakers in the supermarket, fast food and agricultural sectors discuss good nutrition, food production and “people-oriented” businesses. ■ Abortions down NEW YORK - The number of abortions performed in the United States and other countries where the procedure is legalized have decreased slightly over the past few years, according to a worldwide survey released recently.

For Doug Kehler, ’being out of step isn't necessarily wrong'

ByDEEJAYNES Staff Writer Unconventional. . .off-the-wall. . .phrases that have been used to describe the unique personality of Doug Kehler, advertising manager of United Telephone Company for the state of Indiana. According to Kehler, “being out of step isn’t necessarily wrong,” and he has used his off-beat style to create several award-winning advertising campaigns for UTS. As far back as grade school Kehler exhibited signs of unconventional behavior. Admitting that he was strongly influenced by Spike Jones, Kehler collected all the band leader’s records, memorizing the words to all the songs and entertaining neighborhood friends with an impromptu pantomime of his hero. When Kehler performed his Spike Jones show for a fifth grade “show and tell,” he was asked to repeat it during a National Education Week program at the high school. This performance led to requests from various groups and organizations in the

After the conference, delegates are encouraged to take the information they received and develop a presentation or display materials for the classroom, community groups, clubs, etc. Next spring two Youthpower scholarships will be awarded to delegates based on their followup activities, scholastic achievement and school activities. Youthpower is a non-profit organization depending on farm organizations, educators and health and food-related associations for financial support and leadership. Melvin D. Hollingsworth, Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc., is the 1986 conference chairman. Other officers include Dan Arnholt, Public Service Indiana, vice chairman; Patricia Wood, American Dairy Association, secretary; and John Hiatt, Indiana Farm Bureau Service Company, treasurer.

community and provided Kehler with a novel way to earn spending money during his school years. Kehler also won first and second place honors at the Mermaid Festival talent contest with his unique rendition, and appeared on programs on Indianapolis Channel 6 and South Bend Channel 22. Although he still has all the equipment used during his performing days, Kehler recently turned down the chance to revive the act. “It would take me quite a while to get back into form,” Kehler explained. Although he isn’t doing the Spike Jones routine any longer, Kehler can be seen in one unique performance each year. Every Halloween since 1973, Kehler has been found atop the roof of his two story home in east Warsaw, dressed in a ghost costume and accompanied by a Walt Disney sound effects record, delighting passersby with his antics. “I have families coming back year after year,” Kehler said. “When the kids leave they yell up to me See you next year, Mr. Ghost!’ It’s a lot of fun.” For several years, Kehler has spent his leisure hours aboard his sailboat. Although he began his water activities as a power boat enthusiast, Kehler began sailing after purchasing an 11-foot sail boat for his children. “The kids never touched the thing,” he said, “and one day I decided to take it out and give it a try. I literally learned to sail it while holding the instruction sheet in one hand!” After spending some time on the sail boat, Kehler said he was “hooked,” and began to pursue sailing in earnest. Kehler now does his sailing, aboard “No Respect,” the 25-foot sail boat he bought to replace his first boat. His affection for the craft is obvious. Although he admits to being an avid fan of comedian Rodney Dangerfield, the sailboat’s name actually comes from several misadventures experienced by Kehler. After the boat ran into numerous piers, became stuck in a Winona Lake channel and lost countless articles (including a 65-pound anchor, a contact lens and numerous articles of clothing) in a variety of lakes, Kehler determined that the fault lay with the boat’s lack of respect for her skipper, rather than the skipper’s

sailing ability. Hence the name. Despite the levity attached to the name of his craft, Kehler takes the business of sailing seriously. He attended sailing school at Lake Wawasee, qualifying to skipper boats up to 25-feet. He says he hopes to attend a sailing school in the Bahamas in the near future, with an eye toward skippering an even larger boat. “What I hope to do,” Kehler explained, “is to retire early, buy a larger boat, live on it and sail off into the sunset.” If his retirement plans succeed, Kehler hopes to make the Florida Keys and the Bahamas his primary ports of call. A recent plan to sail from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini in the Bahamas was aborted when Mother Nature intervened in the form of a hurricane. Kehler, his two sons and three friends settled for sailing in the Key Largo and Key West areas, but still didn’t manage to avoid the misfortune that seems to surround Kehler’s adventures on the high seas. Three members of the party, including Kehler, fell victim to coral poisoning — contracted from sitting on the highly poisonous coral reefs surrounding the area. Kehler is currently writing a manuscript, based on his “adventures,” for a sailing magazine. He has titled the article “In Search of Respect,” and hopes to have it published in two parts — the first dealing with his misadventures in general, and the second part dealing primarily with the Florida Keys trip. “I think my story will be something other sailors can identify with,” he laughed. “I can’t be the only one out there!” The serious side of Doug Kehler can be found in his dedication to his position as advertising manager for United Telephone of Indiana. The Warsaw native writes and oversees all radio, television, newspaper and magazine advertising done for the company, creating the unique advertising campaigns through “Slow Lane Creative Advertising,” the in-house advertising agency of United Telephone. Since Kehler joined United Telephone in 1979, his efforts have netted him recognition as the winner of the 1981 Independent Telephone Association’s marketing award and for his work, on the 1985 Phone Book

■■■l Isl ■V. I | IT- t ' K C. DOUG KEHLER

cover, depicting the Wander Indiana theme. He has also been involved in promoting the local Crime Stoppers program. In 1983, he won the “World’s Most Unusual Promotion” contest, sponsored by Incentive Travel Manager magazine of Los Angeles. Entries were sought concerning the promotions in which trips were given as prizes and Kehler entered his promotion which offered a trip to Kansas City. “It was great,” Kehler laughed. “I had visions of all these people entering great trips to places like Paris and Pago Pago and then there was Kansas City!” Kansas City must have caught the imagination of the judges because, as grand prize winner. Kehler received an all-expense paid trip to Acapulco —for sending someone else to'Kansas City. Kehler and his oldest son, Chris, were both included in the 1984 issue of “Who’s Who.” Chris, who is currently a third year law student at Valparaiso University, was honored in “Who’s Who in

American Colleges and Unive: sities,” and his father receive recognition in “Who’s Who in th Midwest.” Kehler is the father < one other son, Mitch, sophomore at Ball State Unive sity. and one daughter, Mr Michael (Shawn) Long of Bou bon. In addition to his work wit ‘ United Telephone and his saili' exploits, Kehler is also involve in several organizations. He h. served three times as Exaltt Ruler of the Warsaw Elks, is tl Sergeant at Arms for the Warsa Noon Optimists, and hole membership in both the F Wayne and South Bend Adverti ing Clubs. Although “sailing into th sunset” is still far into the futun Kehler says he plans to spend a much time as possible sailing Things may not always go exact ly as planned, but Kehler looks ai these mishaps philosophically. “Every time something goes wrong,” he said, “I just add another chapter to the manuscript.”