The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 19, Milford, Kosciusko County, 24 June 1987 — Page 6

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., June 24,1987

6

Community Corner

Betty Dust: A political figure who says she is not a politician

(By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer . Betty Dust has served in elected positions in Syracuse, Turkey Creek and Kosciusko County since 1972, but doesn’t consider herself a politician. “I’m not a politician,’’she stated. “I don’t play the game. If I don’t like something 1 scream loud and clear. After ail what are they going to do, they can’t fire me. ” Betty was elected Syracuse Town Clerk in 1972 and served in the position for eight years. In 1980 she became Turkey Creek Township Trustee, serving in the position for three years, before she was elected Kosciusko County Recorder. Profile She explained that she was not really interested in politics when it all began, but was interested in the community. “I had followed town affairs and attended meetings putting my 2 cents in for years before I ever sought office,” she stated. It wasn’t until the town decided to close up the race and create Dolan Drive, that she made a decision to seek office. The race, was an area in Syracuse used to bring water to the pump house. At that time the water was used to create electricity for the town. “That was when I became involved and started watching the board real close,” commented Betty. “They were meeting twice a month then. I watched where they put the money and had a lot to say about it.” Shortly after she became involved in the race issue, she was approached by the republican chairman who ask her to run for a town board position. Though she declined running for office in the beginning, she eventually gave in. However, she reports that the town clerk’s position was very different from what it is today, as it was not-a full time, full pay position. “I only made a little over $2,000 a year, though I put in close to 40 hours each week,’’she stated.

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A Message For — — Jllfl EVOIIS SESQUICENTEIINIAL I SYRacuSS w I 3lgfe Bob Westfall I For all your time and efforts I spent in coordinating the I Syracuse Sesquicentennial I Mayor's Race and being I responsible for its huge I success. We send a big I THANK YOU It's people like you, that I make Syracuse a fine I community. I From All Os Us... I ■ ■ Ernie Rogers, Honorary Mayor | And I , Honorary Members Os The City Council — I Jerry Claybaugh — Lil Cook — Jeanne Gardiner | Loren Longenbaugh — Jane Nearing — "Bud” Smith | Bob Troutman I Mii iiii 111 ~mgi 11111

■ ' i SERVING HER COMMUNITY - Betty Dust has been in an elected position Serving her community since 1972 and stated, “there’s never a dull moment.” She was Syracuse Town Clerk for eight years, Turkey Creek Township Trustee for three years and is presently serving her fifth year as Kosciusko County Recorder. (Photo by Carla Gaff)

Hands-on training Students spend 41 percent of each day in realistic job settings, and the remainder of their time in classes. Concerned only with preparing students for successful employment, private vocational schools place a significant emphasis on specialized training with less attention to unessential or unrelated subjects. Students get “hands-on” training in an environment that is compatible with working conditions that exist on the job.

■3’’^Eg , ME* y • ' 3 Ji l|3r " 50TH ANNIVERSARY — Mr. and Mrs. James W. Kitson, r 4 box 38D, Syracuse, will their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, Jtme 26. be held at a later date. The cotepiZ was marriedNn—the United Methodist parsonage, Goshen, by Rev. Benjamin Franklin, on June 26, 1937. Kitson and the former Vera Williamson have two children, Phillip Kitson, Antwerp, Ohio, and Mrs. Vincent (Charmaine) Doyle, Woodland, Calif. There are five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The Kitsons are retired farmers and Kitson was employed as a truck driver for many years before becoming a farmer. fGood Luck . At State * Shelley Miss Kosciusko 1986 Q > •Zys

During the eight years that Betty served she reports there were a number of main issues being handled by the town of Syracuse. Although the annexation of three different areas was the major one, the town also worked at getting its first EMS ambulance, building up old equipment, getting more police and city employees as well as setting up matters for emergency funding during and right after the blizzard. “We were all new that year, the town board as well as myself,” stated Betty, “and we were all as green as grass.” She went on to explain,tthe process of learning town business, book work and funding is like no other business. And, that in most cases town officials are not experts in the many fields their forced to work in, and can only do what they believe is i ight.for the town. After serving as Syracuse Town Clerk for eight years, Betty left office feeling that, “after eight years I’d paid my dues to the community.” ' ' ' She left her town clerk position not planning to serve in another elected spot, however after the untimely death of Joe Shueman, she was asked to finish his term as Turkey Creek Township Trustee. This position was another that took a lot of time bufwas not a full paying position, as she received approximately $2,400 per year for her efforts, but she threw her full force effort into the job anyway. While Trustee, Betty was a part of the towns poor relief program, supporting the fire department, preserving old stones in area cemeteries, and reimbursed residents for stray dog damage. She was also active in seeing Syracuse fire station #2 built near Enchanted Hills on Lake Wawasee. It wasn’t until near the end of her trustee term that she considered running for office again. Only this time it wasn’t going to be on the local level, but rather a county position. She was elected Kosciusko County Recorder on January 1, 1983 and is currently serving her fifth year. She stated, “I like this position because I like people. Most people don’t realize how much of their lives pass through this office. It’s just fascinating.” 3 She stated that her position as county recorder is not like anything else she ’ s ever done, and she thoroughly enjoy sit. Betty also enjoys being a member of the American Legion and Eagles auxiliaries and attends the Calvary United Methodist Church. She loves reading, and likes to golf and bowl when she has the time. A part of Syracuse’s political history; Betty Dust is proud to have helped the community in whatever way she could.

Jobless level steady The nation's unemployment rate remained frozen at 6.7 percent last month as the economy generated 370,000 new jobs, more than three out of four going to married women, the government said. Jobs of working husbands dropped nearly 190,000.' >X x ' ~ ;%ftfrflflfl (V ■ • L \ ' ■ • V ]fl|, 11 V fll\ A OJL I wl i AUGUST WEDDING — Joan Buletty and Kim Slocum announce their engagement and plans for an August 8 wedding at 3 p.m. in St. Martin dePorres Catholic Church, Syracuse. The bride-elect is the daughter of Lawrence Buletty and the late Beverly Buletty, r 1 box 22, Syracuse. The bridegroom-elect is the son of Kent Slocum, Anderson, and Carolyn Johnson, San Diego. Calif. The bride-elect is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, and Indiana University/Purdue University, Fort Wayne, with a master of science degree in elementary education. She is a member of Sigma Delta Tau Sorority and employed as a fourth grade teacher in the West Noble School Corporation. The bridegroom-elect is a graduate of Indiana University and is employed as general manager at Rinker Boat Company. I

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CALENDAR -Week us June 24 To July 3 WEDNESDAY J. / North Webster Park Board 7 p.m., in the North Webster Town Hall-Fire’Station Eagles Auxiliary Meeting Aerie 3760 7 p.m., Lakeland Eagles, 404 Sycamore Street, Syracuse Syracuse Fire Department Regular Meeting 7 p.m., in the fire station Teen AA, Under 20 Group 7 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse Alcoholics Anonymous Wawasee Group 7:30 p.m., in Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Alanon 7:30 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, SR 13N, Syracuse THURSDAY Wawasee Community Toughlove 7 p.m., in Lakeland Youth Center, Syracuse. Parent support group for parents troubled by their teenager’s behavior North Webster Lions Club 7 p.m., in Don and Dee’s Family Restaurant Lakeside VFW Post 1342 8 p.m. FRIDAY Milford Kiwanis 6:45 a.m., in Milford Community Building Alcoholics Anonymous Carl Sheperd Memorial Group 7:30 p.m., Wawasee Episcopal Center, All Saints Episcopal Church, south shore of Lake Wawasee, one-half mile east of South Shore Golf Club on Vernon Road Heart of Lakes Squares 8-10:30 p.m. in Syracuse Elementary SATURDAY Wawasee Kiwanis 7 a.m., at Gropp’s Syracuse SUNDAY Alcoholics Anonymous Fireball Group 10 a.m., in North Webster Fire Station Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday Night Recovery Group 8 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church, Closed meeting Alanon Sunday Night Group 8 p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church, closed meeting ’ MONDAY Lakeland Kiwanis 6:45 a.m. in Church of God Meeting Room, North Webster Alanon Milford Family Group 7:30 p.m., in Milford United Methodist Church Alcoholics Anonymous Milford Group 7:30 p.m., in United Methodist Church, Milford, closed meeting Alcoholics Anonymous North Webster Group 7:30p.m., in North Webster United Methodist Church Milford J ay ceettes 7:30 p.m., in Jaycee Clubhouse TUESDAY- - Just For Today P 9:30a.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Chdrch, Syracuse Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary / 12 noon in Beacon Restaurant I Adult Children of Alcoholics 1 6:30 p.m., in North Webster United Church basement WEDNESDAY Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce /VSSSfX 7:45a.m., in South Shore Golf Club /TM MIA Syracuse Lions Club \ 6:3op.m.,inßedconltestaurant Teen AA, Under 20 Group » 7 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse a Alcoholics AnonymodS Wawasee Group 7:30 p.m., in Episcopal Retreat House, South Shore Drive, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Alanon 7:30 p.m., in St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, SR 13N, Syracuse Syracuse Jaycees 7:30 p.m., in Lakeland Eagles Order of the Eastern Star 7:30 p.m., in Milford Masonic Lodge 1 A V* J fl fl K Ml k aa TflUflflflflflHfli CELEBRATING GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY — Mr. and Mrs. Robert O. White, r 1 box 225, Etna Green, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday, July 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Heritage Park in Etna Green. Robert O. White and the former Mary Ellen Heckaman were married July 10, 1937, at Akron by Rev. Eschleman. White is retired from Bendix Corporation, South Bend, and is currently serving as the Etna Township Trustee. Mrs. White is retired from Playtime Products, Warsaw, and is the Etna Township Clerk. Mr. and Mrs. White are the parents of four children: Jim White, Syracuse; Mrs. Frank (Kay) Furfaro, Mishawaka; Mrs. Verlen (Mary Ann) Bules, Etna Green; and Mrs. Lee (Lauretta Sue) Holderread, Muncie. They also have 11 grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.