The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 3, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 March 1987 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., March 4,1987

4

Editorial

Freedom is the key word Passport to Freedom.— The Newspaper is the theme for Newspaper in Education Week, March 2-6. The event is cosponsored by the Hoosier State Press Association and the Indiana State Council, International Reading Association and points to the freedom of the press in the USA. It also urges teachers to use newspapers in the classroom during the week and throughout the school year. The Mail-Journal furnished copies of the Indiana NIE Week idea newspaper to schools in Milford, North Webster and Syracuse and teachers are using the newspaper as a teaching tool. The freedom theme goes along with the celebration of the bicentennial of the constitution of the United States and urges the teaching of the freedoms, including the first amendment; something Americans all too often take for granted. k If youngsters learn the value of newspapers at a young age, they will learn to appreciate them as they grow older. They will also grow to appreciate the freedom of the press that is enjoyed in this country. That’s why freedom is the key word in this year’s Passport to Freedom — the Newspaper theme. p Skirts, kites March is traditionally the windy month, with flying kites and skirts, which old and young notice in their respective leagues. Youngsters should be cautioned to avoid electric power lines, especially against using wire or cord with tinsel wound into it; each year serious accidents occur because of carelessness on this point. ■ « ' ' Old and young ought to appreciate the dangers of flying skirts. _ We believe most people Are ready for autumn this year. Rumors are often an effort by one person to destroy the popularity of another. March, 1987 With rushing winds and gloomy skies The dark and stubborn Winter dies; Far-off, unseen, Spring faintly cries, Bidding her earliest child arise; Bayard Taylor March I For Americans March is a month of historic and meaningful dates. The name of the month comes from Mars, the Roman deity, and for many centuries March was the first jnonth of the year. In Colonial America this was the case, so that, in studying history, it’s well to keep in mind that a visitor to America who stayed from February of 1710 to March, 1711, stayed only one month! The Ist in Nebraska State Day and the 2nd Texas Independence Day. Oh the 3rd, in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1842, the developer of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, was born. The 4th is Vermont Day and also the birthday anniversary of Count Casimir Pulaski, Revolutionary hero from Poland — dating from 1748. On the sth in Boston, in 1770, British troops in King Street fired on a noisy, rock-throwing crowd, killing three. John Adams always believed this tragedy was the fateful turning point in American-Ei/glith relations. The 6th is Alamo Day, dating from 1836, when the Alamo was overwhelmed by the Mexican Army. The Bth, dating from 1841, is the birthday anniversary of Oliver Wendell Holmes, born at Boston. The 12th is Girl Scout Day and on the 14th, in 1794, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin. On the 15th, in 1820, Maine was admitted to the Union. On that same day in 1767, near Lancaster, South Carolina, Andrew Jackson, 7th U.S. president (1828-1836) and first president from among the “plain people” was born.

What others say — Lost Amendment of 1789 The recent Congressional pay hike is one for the “books.” Pay hikes for elected officials are never more popular than the people who receive them. The current “automatic” pay raise system is arguably the worst way to raise public salaries ever devised. What we have is a new creation. Congress establishes a system under which its pay automatically climbs unless it votes to overturn it within a certain period. Then, after the raises are in effect legally, they cast a meaningless vote in opposition to please the “folks back home.” One small thing happened. The House unceremoniously adjourned shortly before the waiting period expired, lest a poor freshman in its midst bring the issue to the floor for a vote. It’s nearly the perfect crime. Thanks to a long-forgotten Constitutional Amendment passed by Congress in 1789, but never ratified by the states, the automatic pay raise scam may soon come to an end. y The original Bill of Rights, first introduced and passed by Congress, had 10, not 12, amendments. All but two were ratified and became the first ten Constitutional amendments. The second is very relevant. The text: “No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.” Had the amendment been ratified, “automatic” pay raises would be unconstitutional. Congressmen would have to vote their raise and face the voters back home before accepting it. There is an absence of an expiration clause. In modern history, amendments to the Constitution usually contain a time period — eg: seven years —during which the passed amendment must be ratified. Absence of such a time limit means that this first-proposed amendment may still be ratified. Currently it is pending before several states and the recent is certain to fuel the movement, in time, to ratify the amendment in time for the 200th Anniversary of the Constitution. Six states originally ratified the Pay Amendment. A raise in 1816 brought revival and died down but droves of congressmen were voted out of office. In 1873 another raise brought Ohio’s ratification. Wyoming came aboard in 1978. Two years ago five more joined the fold. Indiana was among three more in 1986 bringing the total to 18. Our constitution is a living document which has preserved our liberties for nearly two centuries. What better way to celebrate its 200th birthday than by finishing the job our Founding Fathers started? The American War of Independence isn’t over. Not yet! — CARROLL COUNTY COMET

FOR PRIMARY : Boat to freedom : • Many Immigrants crossed the ocean on boats J • / ro-seek freedom In the United States. Can you e / name a few boats or people that did? Now, look in • e the newspaper to find words that have the long O a • sound, like boat and ocean. Glue them on this e • worksheet. J ? NAME — • oeeeeeeeooeeeeeeeeeeooeeeeeeeeeeeoeeeeeeeooeoe (This activity sheet *ay he duplicated ter «*e by year stadeetM Selected passport activities Wahi gleet M* ikine: Read the weather forecast and House pet: Look for a picture of an animal in the toSyTw«U«. newspaper. PmU it to . ahee> ,-per and . W«k —terw Find a job dtortpikto ta the home (or the toiintol to live in. N«ne your-intol ads that tefls about a job you would like to One plus one: Locate five compound words in the headlines of the newspaper. Use them in sentences. Compound interest: Cut words from the headlines to create your own compound words.

Wawasee area schools received passport to freedom newspapers giving study aids for using a newspaper. Shown above is a sample page from that newspaper. %

Court news

Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: Coy-Kehr David L. Coy, 23, r 3 box 624-Al, Syracuse, and Lorna Renee Kehr, 23, r 3 box 624-Al, Syracuse Irwin-Hapner Don Leßoy Irwin, 27, r 1 box 496, North Webster, and Hettie Marie Hapner, 19, r 1 box 496, North Webster McKibben-Thorsen Dallas Eugene McKibben, 39, r 2 box 139, Syracuse, and Sharon Irene Thorsen, 35, r 2 box 139, Syracuse Small Claims The following judgments have been awarded in Small Claims Division, Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrette presiding: Independent Credit versus Michael and Johnna Tucker; defendants ordered to pay $3,733.80 plus costs. Comfortemp, Inc. versus Robert McGuire; defendant ordered to pay $37.05 plus costs. Wade E. Mishler, doing business as Mishler Funeral Home, versus Felipe and Carolyn Flores, Jr.; defendants ordered to pay $2,488 plus costs. Desmond Jackson versus Alfredo Garza; defendant ordered to pay $2,138.24 plus costs. Patricia J. Williams versus Vera Ross; defendant ordered to pay $385 plus costs. Rabb Soft Water versus Jim Elrod and Alice Hackworth; defendants ordered to pay $626.79 plus costs. Phyllis Gerstner, Wawasee Realty, manager Camelot Apartments for Marion Schenkel, owner, versus Bruce Mitschelen; defendant ordered to pay $695 plus costs. James E. Roberts versus Amos and Linda Hunt and Margaret Reed; defendants ordered to pay S3OO plus costs. Jimmy Bartley versus Donald Wannamaker; defendant ordered to pay $5lO plus costs. Raymond Shepherd versus Eric Decker; defendant ordered to pay $2,088.40 plus costs. Leo K. Bocko, commander American Legion Post 424, versus Kay Barnaby; defendant ordered to pay $201.95 plus costs. James O. Blair, doing business as Blair Construction, versus Phillip Hale; defendant ordered to pay $1,472.75 plus costs. Hagen & Hagen, P.C. versus Ricky Powers; defendant ordered to pay $743.90 plus costs. County Court The following persons have paid fines and costs in Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrette presiding: False registration — Donald Kauffman, 21, Syracuse, $53. The following fines plus court costs have been levied and paid in Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Speeding — Raymond S. Hochstetler, 84, Milford, $52.50; Jeffery M. Reed, 29, Syracuse, $52.50; Richard K. Barnum, 17, Syracuse, $52.50; Andrew Stevens, 27, Syracuse, $50.50

Complaint On Account State Bank of Syracuse versus Daniel S. Brodhead, Haleyville, Ala. The plaintiff is seeking judgment in the amount of $2,243.06 for the unpaid portion of a promissory note. City Court The following fines have been •levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Teresa S. Martin, 23, Milford, $55.50; Troy P. Ropp, 17, Syracuse, $55.50 Superior Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Superior Court, Judge Robert Burner presiding: Complaint State Bank of Syracuse versus Bradley T. Lemberg, Ft. Wayne. The plaintiff is seeking judgment in the amount of $3,908.09 for the unpaid portion of a promissory note. Car fires caused SI,BOO in damages Syracuse Fire Department responded to two car fires on Saturday, Feb. 28. No injures were reported in the fires and damage was estimated at SI,BOO. The firemen were called at 1:27 a.m. to a car fire at US 6 and CR 29. The fire report indicates firemen found grass burning around the car. The owner’s name was not available and no damage estimate was listed. At 7:53 a m. the fire department was called to Borny Bait Shop, SR 13S, when a gas line broke on a 1979 Ford owned by Buford Flora, 71249 CR 9 r 1, Nappanee. Damage was reported to be SI,BOO to the car. Fire officials report the motor compartment and dash were completely engulfed in fire when firemen arrived. Simpler W-4 Treasury Secretary James A. Baker 111 said that he has told the Internal Revenue Service to develop a simpler W-4 tax withholding form, calling the current one “entirely too complicated.” Helms ousts Lugar Senate Republicans stood by the traditional seniority system and elected Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., to the top GOP post on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The 24-17 vote of the Senate Republican Conference overruled a 7-9 vote by GOP members of the Foreign Relations Committee not long earlier in favor of Lugar.

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 103 E. 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. 0.. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542. H

“C RUZIN AROUND * OUSE"

rai !|An DR. ROGER THORNTON ’; (EDITOR’S NOTE: This week's column was written by the new Wawasee Community School Corporation Superintendent, Dr. Roger Thornton. Dr. Thornton began his duties in the local school corporation on January 1, coming from the Smith-Greeh Community Schools in the Churubusco area.) #’ AS A newcomer to the community, “Cruzin” hasn’t been easy to do. When you’re not accustomed to the roads and haven’t yet gained a sense of direction, roads that are interrupted by lakes don’t always turn in a direction that makes sense. Shortcuts through the country aren’t always shorter. Between drives to and from school each day plus those times that weren’t short cuts, some thoughts that need sharing have come to mind. —o— PARENTS OF seniors, prepare. If this child? is your oldest and if they will be going away next year to school, service, etc. get ready? for a change. It isn’t bad. But it’s a change. You might want to talk to a parent or two of last year's seniors. ” Delivering that son or daughter to the college campus is a busy and long-planned-for ■ event. Driving away without them isn't. The rush is over. The belongings are in a new and somewhat intimidating place. So is your child. The drive home is longer than expected. The phone bills get much higher. Letters are nice but not the same as to "reach but and touch someone." After a while, the new phase of life seems good. But, you know you’ve left another phase behind. Not better. Not worse. But another to be enjoyed and learned. It seemed to help to know' when and what to expect in the "terrible two’s." Maybe a little preparation will help you enjoy that first few months of college, also. —o— DIKING A February 11th trip to Indianapolis and a visit to the 1957 legislature, several l»oard members and school officials found education to be a'lively topic of discussion. Most legislators seemed to feel that the new program, if adopted in total, would require a tax increase greater than they were willing to pass. Figures for. an extension of the school year range from $lO million per day to sl2 million per day. Thus, adding ten days to the school year results in a SIOO million plus cost that would require new taxes. Other programs would be less costly. The ISTEP testing program is an example. A statewide test would be developed to measure the achievement of students in various grades. Failure to reach a certain score would cause the student to be retained unless the school could prove to the state that the test score wasn't a true reflection of the student's achievement level. Proponents suggest that the test would insure an end to social promotion and would also create accountability for local schools. Others suggest that learning that, a child Letters to the

School needs own junior high

l ear Editor: Once again ignorance comes to the forefront with the suggestion that the junior high students of the Wawasee Community Schools would better be served by a central junior high school, built guess where? Syracuse. The only people that would serve are the selfish pressure groups who think it should be built at Syracuse. Granted, Syracuse desperately needs a new junior, high school. I’m sure most people are in favor of this. So, why not build it for Syracuse students and leave Milford and North Webster students where they are? If North Webster needs more room, build or expand at North Webster. Milford has a new junior high school. I would hate to think we wasted our money. It’s ridiculous to think that if you put young kids in a bigger group you will have a better educational system. With older, more mature kids in high school, it will work but not with kids who are 11-13 years old. Syracuse people are apparently ignorant of the fact that

hasn’t learned isn’t much help unless the resources are available to help the child. Retaining a child by itself won’t, help most children learn. Factors such as home environment, behavior problems, etc. impact how a child learns and how they do on a test. Most teachers regularly become aware of conditions affecting children’s outside-of-school life that would be difficult, if not impossible, for we adults to cope with. Sometimes the kids do better than the adults with whom they live. Makes you wonder what scores the adults would get. How to fund programs we have come to expect to be funded is another problem facing legislators. Primetime, gifted and talented programs, vocational education. What portion the state will pay and hqw jt will pay it must be determined. If the legislature is typical, the actual programs adopted and how they will be funded will be determined just prior to the end of the session on April 30. Dr. Evans and Governor Orr have a broad and intensive list of changes they seek to implement. Your senator and representative have some tough decisions ahead. RELATED TO the legislature and to every session it holds is the issue of school finance. Since Governor Bowen's property tax relief plan of 1973, the state has assumed almost total control of school funding. In 1973, about 35 percent of school funds for operation of the school came from thestate, with6s percent coming from local taxes. The ratio is now reversed. About 65 percent comes from the state and the remainder from local sources. Most new funds seem to be what is called "categorical aid.” That is, a category or program is established. Funds are then available if you adopt the program. Primetime is a good example. Special education, vocational education, and gifted and talented education are other examples. Discussion presently is underway at the state to begin full-day kindergarten. While these special categories all have their supporters, the regular student or "the middle class of the school" seem to have been forgotten. School administrators we know are quite concerned that while new programs make good politics, they don't help kids much if they are done at the expense of the basic program. School funding formulas, many would say, are: — Political statements rather than educational statements; — |Too closely tied to what was practiced in 1973? — Reflecting what state, political leaders want instead of what local schools and parents might feel are important. EFFORTS ARE now underway in Kosciusko County to more closely connect business/industry with schools. Desired results are a closer relationship of what students do in school with what is expected in what we are told is the "real world." Those business/industry relationships with scho&s in our area seem strong at present. Future changes made possible through this project can only serve to better meet the needs of students. >( OBSERVATIONS OF a newcomer to the community scene.'are: -- High coverage of school activ'itie'slay the local media reflects what is important to the people who write and the people who read the newspaper. Students and what they do in school is important here. That’s indicative of a community with a strong future. — The emphasis on "what’s best for kids" permeates the district. Many discussions have already been focused upon that phrase. — People look out for others. While looking over a building site as we attempt to find "the place" for our home, we were thoroughly questioned by a lady who helps watch a property for her elderly friend. It reminded us of where we grew up. People Care enough to get involved. I hope my parent's neighbors care that much. — A new emphasis is evident among county officials to intervene in student behavior that predicts serious problems later on. Truancy has been identified as the connecting link among several problems teens sometimes experience. For that reason, students who don't attend regularly will soon find a reason to do so. This just might have a more effective impact on these students than any of the new programs coming from down-state. — If you see someone driving down a road, looking lost and in a hurry, please help. It could be me seeking a shortcut on the way to deliver this. On the other hand, having read it perhaps you might prefer it didn’t arrive. V '. editor

Milford and North Webster parents have to drive all the way to Syracuse every time there is a high school activity and they have been doing this since 1969. Seeing as how the majority of Syracuse residents do not have to do much driving to get to the high s.uool, it is understandable why they think nothing about uprooting other students and making it more inconvenient for parents. You should have heard some of the Syracuse parents whining about their problems when it was proposed that some of their kids should be transferred to Milford Junior High. How inconvenient! They would have to drive to functions like the other two communities have been doing for years. Our elected school board should wake up to the fact that the majority of residents and students are not in favor of a central junior high school. They should also not knuckle under to self serving pressure groups of one community. / Jim Beer /

Does not like insurance coverage Dear Editor, Do any of the people in 1 Syracuse have any idea of the terrible insurance coverage the volunteers in this town have? On December 10,1986, my husband was insured at an accident scene where the fire department responded. It is now almost three months later and we are still making numerous phone calls (including long distance) and no i one, including the town board or the town clerk seems to care. It’s our name on the notices from the hospital, not the Town of Syracuse’s. Isn’t this a great way to I “thank” those who volunteer!! t Now you know one of the many I reasons we don’t have the - number of quality people ' volunteering their time any » more. f Kathi Birkel (Continued on page 5)