The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 16, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 June 1987 — Page 1

Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 26

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SKI LODGE DAMAGED IN FIRE — Mt. Wawasee Ski Lodge at New Paris suffered damage in a fire yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. - According to New Paris Fire Chief Kenny Schmucker, a call was received at 5:18 p.m. and, after noticing the intense smoke, he-called for assistance from the Foraker, Benton, and Milford fire departments. The fire was under control in 15 minutes. Mrs. William Stath, co-owner of the lodge, stated the fire started

WHS junior killed when & /■ - >■ — cor strikes parked trailer

Christopher J. Jordan, 16, r 1, Warsaw, was killed at 11 p.m. Friday, May 29, 1987, after the car he was driving went off the road and hit a parked flat-bed trailer which was parked along Armstrong Road near CR 475E. Jordan was alone in the car. According to Kosciusko County Sheriff’s report, the auto left the southside of the road while entering a curve and rammed under the 40-foot trailer which belongs to Roger Perkins of Leesburg. The trailer was parked approximately 8-10 feet south of the roadway on private property. Police stated the trailer did not have reflectors on the sides or front and that there was no light to reveal the trailer was parked there. Kosciusko County Coroner Gary Eastland pronounced Jordan dead at the scene of massive head and internal injuries. North Webster firemen and EMS officials assisted county police with the accident. Active In School Jordan was bom in Buffalo, N.Y., on September 14,1970, the son of Steven and Diane (Reed) Jordan. He and his family had

Slow down: Advise at public meeting to school board

( By JERI SEELY Editor, The Mail-Journal “Everyone wants to do what is best for the middle school students in the (Wawasee Community School) corporation,” stated Connie Smith of Milford. “The problem is we don’t agree what’s best for the students. ” Mrs. Smith’s remarks were made last Thursday as approximately 100 persons from the Milford and North Webster communities met in the Milford Community Building to discuss the proposed construction of two middle schools. Following a statement by Syracuse attorney Stephen R. Snyder, a question and answer session and much discussion, but prior to the arrival of School Board President Bill Little, those in atteh- ~~ dance agreed to follow a three-point plan suggested by Steven Kaiser of Milford. The points are: 1. Investigate a legal delay (in the board making its decision at the July meeting). 2. Establish a committee to investigate a feasibility study and contact persons opposing the building plan in Penn-Harris-Madison’S School System

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CHRISTOPHER JORDAN resided f at their Barbee Lake home since 1971, moving from New York. He had just completed his sophomore year at Wawasee High School where he was active in football, music, drama, art, and the Varsity Singers. He had returned recently from a tour of Europe with the Youth For Christ Speakers Bureau. Surviving with his parents are a sister. Heather, at home, and

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

in a small shed which was attached to the balcony. The fire damaged the balcony, part of the roof, and an outside wall on the front side (slope side) of the lodge. Chief Schmucker said the fire was accidental and that it was not of a suspicious nature. He estimated damage at $15,000. It remains under investigation. His department remained at the scene until 9:30 p.m. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

several aunts and uncles. Services were held in the First Presbyterian Church, Warsaw, of which he was a member, at 10 a.m., Monday, June 1, with Dr. Howard A. Smith, pastor, officiating. Burial followed in the Syracuse Cemetery. Harris Funeral Home, Syracuse, was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to Youth For Christ or the Wawasee High School Scholarship Fund.

Newspaper editor — Wiley Spurgeon to speak at Syracuse Mayor's Banquet

Wiley (“Bill”) Spurgeon, noted Syracuse and Lake Wawasee historian, will be the featured speaker for the Mayor’s Banquet to be held in the American Legion Hall on Saturday, June 20, at 6:30 p.m. The highlight of the evening, in addition to the presentation of Spurgeon, will be the naming of the Mayor of Syracuse. This will be an honorary position of course, but the various candidates are

3. Attend, as a group, the June school board meeting (slated to be held in the administrative offices at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9). Kaiser also suggested the group hold another meeting in two or three weeks. A meeting date was later set for Tuesday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Milford Community Building. Snyder Speaks Jim Beer, co-chairman, said they assumed a lot of pfcbple were at the meeting because they were against the two-school proposal. “If they are,’’ he said, “that will be the key to the whole thing.” Snyder informed those present that the legislature has left the location of schools to the school board “You have elected members of the school board,” he said. “Their main purpose is to guide the school corporation. They are also there as your representatives. ’ ’ What you need to do, he instructed, is to influence the individual members of the board. He suggested lobbying. Providing them with information they don’t have access to, like a scientific random sampling poll. Why not hire a professional to determine the extra child-miles two schools verses three schools will generate? Statistics, Snyder said, are available as to the number of accidents per childmile on a school bus. Experts in the field of education, he said, can pro-

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3,1987

To hold rally Wawasee High School Principal Ned Speicher has announced a High School USA Memorial Rally 2br Chris Jordan, in conjunction with Wawasee High School, will be held on Sunday, June 14, at 2:30 p.m. in the WHS auditorium. Everyone is invited to attend — students, parents, faculty and community members. Additional information will be forthcoming in next week’s paper.

working as if it were the real thing. The candidate with the most “votes” will be named as the Mayor of Syracuse, with each dollar raised counting as one vote. Spurgeon, a resident of Muncie, and Lake Wawasee, is the executive editor of The Muncie Star and Muncie Evening Press. He is the author of “Muncie and Delaware County: An Illustrated (Continued on page 2)

vide performance information on students who attend schools in their own communities as opposed to being bussed elsewhere to attend school. Walking to school vs riding the bus also has an effect on the child. Facts may be the only way to influence the school board, he concluded. Snyder then fielded questions from the floor. Little, who was called during the meeting and asked to come, answered some of the same questions. Becky Doll of Milford questioned the amount of time the group would have to conduct such studies if the board is slated to make a decision in July. Snyder said he felt the committee had significant time. Barbara Sledge of North Webster stressed the fact that Dr. Thronton wanted the board to make a decision in July. Little said a delay might be possible if the request were a reasonable one — 30-60 days. He said the superintendent’s idea is to let bids in the fall and have the first building up within two years. Nancy Bonner of North Webster questioned "Doesn’t our opinion count?” “Yes,” came the answer, “but you need more than numbers,” said Snyder. At North Webster, she said, Dr. Thornton made a statement on the fact they were building because of an increase of ill students The rest is projection.

Public input important —

To conduct survey on Syracuse beautification

I By DEB PATTERSON Writer A survey will be developed and distributed concerning what the businesses and residents of the SyracusjeWawasee area would like to see done in the area of beautification. This was a decision made at the second public meeting of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Beautification project, Wednesday evening.

Barn burning —a coincidence or is it on oct of arson ?

In the last two months, three area farmers have lost their barns to fires. Is this just a coincidence or an act of arson? The latest barn fire occurred Sunday morning, May 31. The bam is part of the Albert Knoble estate and is located on Old Road 15S, Milford. The Milford Fire Department received the call at 4:20 a m. and responded with 18 mst) and four pieces of equipment. According tb' Fire Chief Max Duncan, the barn and contents were a total loss. Lost in the fire were foub-Sows and 40 pigs belonging to Clark "jSchieler. They were valued at between $5,500-$6,000. Maurice Beer who farms the land lost approximately $2,000 in farm equipment. There was approximately SI,OOO damage done to a 1977 Ford van owned by Steve Tucker who resides on the farm. There is no damage estimate to the building and contents and Duncan stated the fire is still under investigation. Previous Fires On March 11, a barn on the Alvin Waldbeser farm, located on CR 250E, east of the MilfordSyracuse Road, received $70,000-SBO,OOO damage. Among the items lost were 2,000-3,000 bales of straw and hay, a utility tractor, snowblower, utility wagon, and grain augers. Hogs in the bottom part of the bam escaped unharmed. Cause was listed as electrical. Then on May 25, a large bam at the comer of Old SR 15 and CR 900 south of Milford was totally Special town board meeting at Webster The North Webster Town Board has called a special meeting for Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m., in the town hall. The purpose of the meeting will be the hiring of reserve police officers during the Mermaid Festival week

Bill Beemer, chairman, stressed public input for recommendations and suggestions for development of a final plan is needed. He asked if the project should be postponed until fall, as those present are heavily involved in the town's sesquicentennial celebration. It was decided to continue. It was noted work on the final plan cannot be started by Leßoy Troyer and Associates until input is received. The survey, it was felt, is the most logical way to go. “It’s not up to the chamber of commerce

destroyed by fire. The barn, belonging to Jesse Beer, contained 3.000 bales of hay and several pieces of farm equipment. The loss was close to $40,000. The cause is still under investigation.

* W ■ IB TRACTOR EXPLOSION CAUSES HOUSE FIRE — A lawn-tractor Are at the Mike Kern residence on Backwater Rd. in North Webster, Friday, May 29, at 8:43 a.m. caused extensive damage to the home and property. It was reported that 14-year-old Brian Kern was filling the lawn mower with gasoline when it violently exploded and burned the youth, a car, the garage, house and most contents within. Kern stated, “We were lucky. It could have been so much worse.” Brian is currently at St. Joseph Burn Center, and it is estimated he will remain there for several weeks. He has third degree bums on his ankles, and burns on his legs and part of his hand, and is scheduled for surgery later this week. North Webster Fire Chief Gary Hill stated that his investigation has shown “the fueling of the tractor” to be the cause of the fire. But that the department has only theory in relation to why the tractor exploded, and that it is all very puzzling. He went on to say, the estimated value loss of the structure is estimated at $72,M9 with another $30,000 on loss of contents, and $1,500 in the loss of a 78 Chevrolet Impala. The Syracuse Fire Department was notified for additional water supplies to assist the North Webster Department, in which. Chief Hill stated their assistance was greatly appreciated. Because the blaze was battled for a number of hours, and as shown here, firemen were prone to over heating, many removed their uniforms in order to cool down. (Photo by Carla Gaff)

“That’s one thing,” Snyder said, “a feasibility study will show.” Questions as to whether proposals are limited to Dr. Thornton’s or if anyone can make one were voiced. Snyder said anyone can make a proposal but only a school board member could put it in the form of a motion. This, |oo, was confirmed by Little. Cris Galegor of Milford said she had heard a rumor that property has already been purchased near Syracuse and wanted to know if this is true? The insuing discussion revealed that Vega Field has been purchased by the school corporation, however, the ' superintendent promised at the Milford meeting that the school would be built half way between the two communities. Additional discussion was held on the heavy traffic on the Milford-Syracuse Road and the speed the students going to Wawasee travel on that road. Snyder said this is what the people should show and tell an expert doing a feasibility study. has one opinion. Get another Linda Eastman of North Webster said she was concerned that the board was moving too quickly on this and questioned away to delay this action. Snyder said he would be amazed if there isn’t a legal way to (Continued on page 2)

to force its thoughts and ideas on the public,” commented Beemer. The suggestion of a survey came from Jeanne Gardiner who has found the response is overwhelming when surveys are used. The question then arose concerning what to include in the survey since asking the right questions is the key. It was suggested Pat Brown of Leßoy Troyer and Associates, Mishawaka, be contacted for an estimated cost for developing a survey. Beemer stated the project will receive money from the Harkless Foundation. Once a cost estimate is received from Brown, Beemer will contact the Harkless Foundation to see if it could be funded. Ideas Tossed During the brief meeting, which was attended by eight persons, ideas of what areas to address were discussed. Suggestions for improving the sidewalks, streets, and plantings along the roadways were made.

DR. BRUCE LAMB I GAwffii Repart )

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This raised additional questions of where to start. It was the general consensus the project should start along SR 13 both uptown and in Wawasee Village. Robert Westfall noted some of the trees in Wawasee Village should be relocated as the view of businesses is blocked. A suggestion of planters, using railroad ties, was made with the responsibility of maintenance belonging to the park department. Beemer stated it was no good to set up a program if what was done was not maintained. Jim Hartshorne, a resident of the town for two years, suggested something be done with greenery to make the trip along SR 13 nicer. Others at the meeting included Robert Troutman, Ernie and Julie Rogers and Jim Evans. A meeting was set for August 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Syracuse Scout Cabin. It is planned to have the survey developed and distributed to businesses and residents before this meeting.