The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 9, Milford, Kosciusko County, 15 April 1987 — Page 5

Letters to the editor

The game of hide and seek C'lSear Editor: The recent, series of cat and mouse, or better yet, hide and seek between The Mail-Journal and the Milford Town Board has proved very interesting. First, The Mail-Journal claims it has found the board hiding behind a smoke-screen again, and the Milford Town Board says, hiding, nope, not us, and so it goes. It should be a movie. The best so far was when a Journal writer says he found the board hiding in a restaurant in an unpublicized meeting and said got’cha. That was great. From this came an article with a rundown of past facts which just fell into place. The article wrote , itself. Now, get this. Milford’s town attorney came to rescue the board and set us straight with his April 8 letter to the editor. He declared the aformentioned meeting was not public, and the business discussed, not for public ears. Why, then, was the meeting held in a public place where anyone could hear? Now that I have your attention, I am sure I speak for many when I say it is time for the board to be completely open and start working with the people of Milford. It is time to stop dragging your feet. You still don’t have working lights at all of the railroad crossings and we don’t have anymore people to spare. Get tough with Conrail — don’t take no for your answer. Maybe we should detour one or two trains off into the swamp. The board does not like to haVd The Mail-Journal watch it so closely. The town attorney joked that a sports writer was the one to write it up last. It is rather funny

For assessors, trustees — Flood Control ordinance causes problems

I By GLEN LONG Staff Writer Activities relative to the County Flood Control Ordinance which was recently adopted by the Kosciusko County Board of Commissioners and effective February 4, 1987, have begun as the spring building season shifts into high gear. With this activity has come immediate realization of problems in working with the ordinance. At a county meeting of township assessors and trustees on Monday, April 6, several problems about the new Increase of Value Verification form to be used in conjunction with the flood control ordinance were discussed. Problems with using this form were deemed quite serious arid prompted Dan Richard, director of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, to begin steps to get federal approval for a proper form for assessors to sign. Richard stated on Tuesday, April 14, that he has been informed by a federal government representative that changes will be possible in the form to make it useable in Kosciusko County. The most serious drawback to the form is that the assessors will not sign a form which attests to something that has not yet been done. The form was designed for township assessors and trustees to verify that property improvements in a flood district would not increase the value of an existing structure by 40 percent or more when the structure did not conform to use in a flood control district. Marcia Baumgartner, Van Buren Township trustee, commented, “We could be perjuring ourselves if we signed that form because the owner could increase the value of the improvement after he had his building permit.” Another problem which is slated to be corrected is that the Increase of Value Verification Form form refers to market value after improvement. The problem , as several township assessors stated, is they are not appraisers who work with market values, but work with assessed valuations as they relate to true tax or reproduction costs. Sue Ann Mitchell, Tippecanoe Township assessor, said. “We work with a book that has assess-

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when you stop and think maybe the people of Milford view what the board does as a sport and not business. Clean up your act and conduct public interest business in front of the public — not at the coffee shop. As it is, you need a watch dog and I am glad The MailJournal is willing to do the job. Mr. Leemon also says the April Dear Editor: Since 1917, the Marxist scourge has advanced into over 53 countries, partially enslaving almost half of all the people on planet earth! Even our own country has not been immune to this creeping scourge. World conquest has been the unwavering goal of the Communists. So many sleepy people say, “Os course, it can’t happen in America. V. I. Lenin said many years ago, “United States will give us the rope that will cause them to hang themselves! ” I can say further, “We could supply the scaffold as well!” Yes, this hanging could happen! The Reds are very sly and underhanded. No wonder 53 nations are now feeling the touch of Communism with its loss of freedom! , The following is a list of the nations that are sensing the close presence of this Iron Rule: A. Completely Red: Russia 1917 China 1949 Albania 1946 Bulgaria 1946 Romania 1947 . N. Korea 1948 E. Germany 1949 N. Vietnam 1945 S. Vietnam 1975 Cambodia 1975 Laos 1975 Mozambique 1975 Ethiopia 1976 S. Yemen 1980

ment tables relating to square footages. It takes a licensed appraiser to deal with market values. That is a real estate agent area of expertise.” Mitchell added that she has had contact with eight property owners who wanted heri to sign a value verification form so they could get a building permit. A concern several of her residents had was another area of concern the assessors mentioned about the form. Article six of the County Flood Control Ordinance is printed on the form. In relation to non-conforming use of properties in flood plains, floodways floodway fringes or lake districts a building modification is on a “one time basis.” If a building is not raised up to a proper level relationship with the flood plane it can only be improved one time. Charlene Knispel, Turkey Creek Township Assessor, said that a federal law states the one time basis so this probably cannot be changed on the form even though Dan Richard is doing his best to make the form useable. She also clarified that population size in a township dictates if it will have an assessor or if the

Hap Williams retires after 40 years

Harmon M. (Hap) Williams, president of The Goshen News, retired last Friday after a 40-year career at The News Printing Company Inc. Williams started at Übat was then called The Goshen NewsDemocrat in 1946 after answering a classified ad. He has been involved in the most dramatic changes in newspaper production in the history of the industry. In his career he also was involved with the commercial printing department and has agisted and supervised county government printing done by the company. Williams has, for many years, been in charge of laying out ballots for county and city elections. He just completed preparing the ballot for the upcoming Goshen and Elkhart city primaries, and he may return from time to time in the future to assist in the process. The retiring president is a member of the Hoosier State Press Association, Inland Daily Press Association, a member of the Indiana Republican Editorial Association, and is on the state

7 meeting date for the Davidhizer hearing was misquoted. I believe it was just postponed to make a point. Nice try. Rather, this tells me once again the board is happy to push this problem deeper into the corner. Come on, handle this problem post haste. Set a demolition date and „invite 'Davidhizer and the townspeople io come and watch, Since 1917... Nicaragua 1979 B. Nations greatly tasting the effects of Communism: Rhodesia 1980 Algeria Syria 1968 Libya 1969 Zambia 1975 Angola 1975 Iraq 1972 C. Nations with a high degree of Socialism: Canada Mexico Several Central American countries other an Nicaragua Many S. American countries under this pressure D. Creeping Communism into

Arrest for welfare fraud

The following persons were arrested in Kosciusko County during the month of March for defrauding the county welfare department of over SB,OOO during 1987: David E. Hernandez, 42, of Milford, was arrested on March 12 for conversion welfare fraud/food stamps. Hernandez is employed and received an overpayment of $422. Mary Ann Miller, 21, of Pierceton, was arrested on March 10, for welfare conversion. Miller is unemployed and received an overpayment of SSBB.

township trustee will do the assessing. Donald Boggs, trustee of Plain Township, expressed concern about the flood control ordinance. He said he felt there should have " been a trustees’ meeting to explain the flood control ordinahce before the forms were sent out. He added that the 40 percent of market value factor and one time basis should definitely be removed and the value verification should be done by APC staff and not assessors. County Assessor Avis Gunter explained that the Increase of Value Verification form is a federal government form designed for use in all states. Most states assess real estate for taxes based on markets? value so the form fits their However, Indiana residents benefit with lower property taxes by having one third of their true tax or reproduction cost be their assessed valuation. This does not fit the wording on the federal form. Flood Control Ordinance Excerpt “The Kosciusko County Flood Control Ordinance is to establish land use regulations for develop-

advisory board for Newspapers In Education. He has served as a member of the Goshen Board of Education from 1965 to 1973, including two years as president, is a charter member of Maplecrest Country Club and served two terms on the board, holding dhe offices of treasurer in 1964-65, vice president in 1981 and president in 1982. He served seven years on the Aux Chandelles board and was president the year that agency merged with the Rehab Center to form the Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County (ADEC). Williams has participated in three Goshen Hospital fund drives and now serves on the board of United Way of Elkhart County, and the Goshen Chamber of Commerce civic affairs committee. He is a member of the Goshen Rotary Club, Elks, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. He is an Army veteran of World War 11, hav-

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then turn the bulldozer loose. It is time for the board to wake up and smell the coffee. Someday you will be on the other side of the table, not liking what you hear, or don’t hear — as the case may be. Milford resident Name withheld by request America (USA) 1. Into our Federal Government 2. Churches with left-wing leanings ‘ 3. Even through the influence of sports, “imagine that! ” 4. Liberal thinkers with love for Socialism and the Red flag There has been no Congressional investigation of subversion within the United States government since 1954! (This is from good authority.) This is too bad for our freedom! America must be on guard. It is later than many of us think! « Clayton J. Mock

Shirley Ann Pollock, 33, of Nappanee, was arrested on March 19 for welfare theft. Pollock is employed and received an overpayment of $1,287. Nicolas Hernandez, 42, of Milford, was arrested on March 24, 1987 for conversion welfare fraud/food stamps. Hernandez is employed and received an overpayment of SI,BOB. Karyn Sue Diles Plybon, 26, of Syracuse, was arrested on March 10 for welfare theft. Plybon is not employed and received an overpayment 0f51,554.

ment of flood prone area's in the jurisdictional area of Kosciusko County and to provide for the administration and amendment of this ordinance and the regulations therein. The development of flood prone areas in Kosciusko County could result in potential loss of life and property, create health and safety hazards and lead to extraordinary public expenditures for flood protection and relief. Since development of these areas is not essential to orderly growth in the community and since these lands are suitable for open space uses that do not require structures or fill and since a Kosciusko County Flood Ordinance is necessary for properties within its flood prone areas to qualify for flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program, the Kosciusko County Board of Commissioners adopts the following (ordinance):” The full text of the Kosciusko County Flood Control Ordinance is on file and available for public viewing in the Area Plan Commission office in the basement of the Kosciusko County Courthouse in Warsaw.

ing served in the South Pacific area. He and his wife, Mary Lou, have four grown children and reside in Goshen. Make Friday fire run Syracuse firemen responded to a call at 2:15 p.m. Friday to the Greenhaus Apartments where a fire broke out in the trunk of an unidentified car. The fire was extinguished when firemen arrived.

ri KJ TOM JACKSON RESIDENTIAL 457-5417 COMMERCIAL • *«om AMitimu • RtnWtliaf • fin

to / - . / ” - - ■ Sesquicentennial Memories • ' ■ .' / • - ■ V ■■■ ‘ ; ''******i. »>M th IM ' - m l ’-"- ■ ■ - J i AAr. . <• ■■■ •' ' ' ! • — - . * 4 — Holton Hotel built on old post office site

The Holton Hotel, located where the present day Pickwick Theater is, offered rooms for as low as $2 per day. This hotel was built on the site of the U.S. Post Office which was destroyed by fire in 1900. The Holton was built around 1904 according to the stone tablet at the top of the building. A news article in a 1913 Syracuse Journal listed Simon Pollock and Mrs. Jacob Green as owners. The same year (1913) a large crowd turned out for a dance in the hotel ballroom, but the band did not show up. Local talent was used as a substitute

Jaycees kick off program

Imagine that a child was hit by a car on his way home from school. The emergency crew first on the scene finds no identification on him except for a small tag in his jacket. On the tag is a tolL free number to Child Safe. The technician calls the number and in a" matter of seconds the Child Safe workers verify the caller and place a call to the child’s parents. The technician is told of the child’s delicate medical history and any allergies he might have. In their call to the parents, specifics are given. The arrive at the hospital just as the ambulance carrying their child does. They are now able to be there for him as the emergency room staff takes over. Os course, this story is fictitious, but the Child Safe program is not and neither is its emergency response center, which operates 24 hours a day. This story could have ended with disaster, with the child being given the wrong medication, or with an unnecessary tiibe lapse locating parents for permission. It’s scary to think that the lack of identification could mean the difference in life and death. But, thanks to Child Safe, perhaps more happy endings can be in store for children nationwide. Child Safe, founded about two years ago, is based in Minneapolis, Minn., and is said to be 99.9 percent foolproof. For a small fee, a parent may register his child with the program. All pertinent data is entered into the Child Safe computer and is only given to verified persons calling the toll-free hotline. Parents may contact the Syracuse Jaycees who in turn will give them information about the program. If interested, parents will receive registration forms which cost $5 per year for the first child and $2.50 for each additional child. The information given to Child Safe is simple, but very impor-

We«k, April 15,1987 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

tant in an emergency situation. A family tree is recorded so that if parents or guardians aren’t available, grandparents, aunts, uncles or close friends may be notified quickly. Blood type, allergies, scars, birthmarks, and any other identifying information are also listed. To keep unauthorized people from getting the information, safeguards are provided. Child Safe officials believe that their system is totally reliable. Each caller desiring information is verified by the program and anyone who finds the child and is just calling to notify his parents is told nothing; the Emergency

Livestock judging April 23

| By RONALD W. HOYT lEvtension Agent, 4-H and Youth The 1987 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest for Elkhart and Kosciusko counties will be held on Thursday, April 23, at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen. Registration for the contest will begin at noon on the day of the contest. The 4-H and FFA members will judge three classes each of beef, sheep and swine, and will give oral reasons for their placings on three of the classes

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and the paper stated the dance “did not turn out so good.” The same paper told about a traveling salesman apprehended in Elkhart county for “skipping out” on his bill at the Holton. His fine, including restitution of the Hotel bill and court costs amounted to a little over $lO. If anyone has information on The Holton Hotel or who the people are in the photo, we encourage them to contact the Syracuse office of The Mail-Journal, 103 East Main Street, or 457-3666. The photo is from the files of Syracuse Public Library.

Response Center contacts the parent personally. Even parents are restricted from the information files unless they first give the child’s password, which is determined by them when registering. Each child receives 50 iron-on labels, included in the fee and more may be purchased if needed. The charge is one that every parent can afford. The program doesn’t interfere with the fingerprinting programs because they were originally designed to identify a child’s body. The tags are hopefully to be used in a better situation. The Syracuse Jaycees will begin their drive to “Protect The

This contest is part of the overall judging program administered by the 4-H Department of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service? Locally, tbp scoring participants will advance to the Area Contest which will be held on Monday, May 4, at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw. 4-H CALENDAR April 15 — Claypool 4-H clubs, 7 p.m., Claypool Lions Building 16 — 4-H Vet Science meeting, 7

Children” on Saturday, April 18, with their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Shanklin Park in Goshen. All parents are urged to support the Jaycees and protect their chjld^. For concerned parents that are unable to be, at the Easter Egg Hunt, family’certificates can be picked up by contacting Christa Francis at the Lakeland Youth Center who has volunteered to help the Jaycees and help protect the children. The regional office is located in Indianapolis and anyone wanting information on Child Safe or for other fund-raising projects can call (317 ) 782-3594.

p.m., Justice Building lounge 17 — 4-H/FFA Dairy Judging Contest, 1 p.m.. Silver Lake Lions 'building 20 — 4-H Junior Leaders meeting, 7:30 p.m.. Justice Building 22 — 4-H Share-the-Fun rehearsal, 6:30 p.m., Warsaw Community High School auditorium 23 — 4-H Share-the-Fun Contest, 7 p.m., Warsaw Community High School auditorium 23 — 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest, 12:30 p.m., Elkhart County Fairgrounds, Goshen

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