The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 15 July 1987 — Page 4

4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., July 15,1987

Editorial

The changing family structure “In 1985 the average-sized family consisted of 3.2 persons — the smallest in our history,” reports R. L. Kohls of Purdue University. “Less than one-third of the households had a family member under 18. Twenty years ago about 42 percent had a youngster or teenager around the table. Os the 1985 families with children, 22 percent were headed by a single parent — more than double the level of 20 years ago. From these families with children, 20 million mothers were in the work force — also more than double the number of 20 years ago.” “Additionally,” the report says, “one out of every four households is a single person living alone — the never-married, the divorced and the widowed. There are also about two million unmarried couples currently living together as household units. ’ ’ “The United States,” Kohls’ report shows, “has the world’s highest divorce rate — five couples per thousand population yearly. This is double the rate of 1965. Also, one out of every five children is born to an unmarried mother! This shocking statistic ranges from a low of eight percent in Utah to 57 percent in the District of Columbia. (Indiana was near the average at 19 percent.) “This is just not a teenage development, because women over 19 years old accounted for two-thirds of out-of-wedlock births,” his figures show. “Also, this situation has a racial overtone. In 1984,13 percent of white births were to unwed mothers; of black births, 59 percent were to single mothers. “These family changes may be affecting the income distribution data,” Kohls’ report notes. “The number of wealthy and poverty families seems to be increasing while the number of middle income families is shrinking.” He continues, “However, it is known that a growing number of those in poverty are families headed by a single parent. On the other hand, many of the growing number of two-wage-earner families make enough income to put them in the high income categories. “In 1985, the median income of white families was $29,152; for black families, the medium income was $16,768,” Kohls writes. “How much of this difference is a reflection of the much greater portion of black families headed up by a single parent? “Our poverty and welfare problems become more complicated by these developments,” he notes. “There is also developing evidence that the way our poverty and welfare programs operate may be encouraging some of this breakdown in the traditional family. Is part of the growing number of children with unwed mother due to the operation of our welfare program?” he questions. “How much of the blame for the poor educational performance of our schools may belong on the doorstep of these family developments? It is well-established that much of the motivation for learning and excellence comes from the home environment rather than the schools. There are also indications that divorce and other home problems leave substantial behavioral scars on the children. Schools are assuming more responsibility for the morals, values and discipline of our youngsters, which must reduce the time and effectiveness for teaching more traditional subjects,” he writes. “Researchers and experts following, these developments hold little hope for a quick return to the traditional family unit of the past. It is of some comfort to recognize that many of these trends have been going on for very long periods of time. Perhaps the problems are even more evident now because of our greater knowledge and publicity. In any case, we will have to learn how to live with change. It is better to see and wrestle with problems than to pretend they don’t exist or will go away! ” he concludes. All we can add is an Amen!

What others sa

'Sex scandals — ll' With Hollywood’s penchant for sequels these days, it might well billboard the affair as “Sex Scandals of 1987-11.” The ads could use a sub-title, “How the Mighty Have Fallen,” or a play on those words. But such hoopla would be off target by a mile. The Gary Hart gaff and the peccadilloes of Jim Bakker have little in common, whether or not you invoke journalism’s favorite phrase, “the people’s'right, to know.” Bakker deserved the scrutiny he got, even if a little “wolfpack journalism” may have been involved. It’s not so clear that Hart deserved what he got. Be that as it may, Hart was not the only loser in the media field day set off by the Miami Herald’s tawdry performance The big loser from the broader perspective was the profession of journalism. Hart lost a career, family unity, some fairweather friends and an undetermined portion of self-esteem. '* Journalism lost another round in its fight for credibility and for public acceptance as a responsible profession. The Herald's approach would have been taken with a grain of salt by the British masses who get their kicks from News of the World, the raunchy newspaper that outdoes this country’s National Enquirer both in “reporting” and big, sensational headlines. But when this kind of keyhole journalism enters the mainstream of the American press, one doesn’t shrug it off as just another titillating supermarket effort by the shock tabloids. What went wrong? The Herald, in spite of executive director Heath Meriwether’s protestations that “we conducted ourselves in a professional manner throughout,” was guilty of stretching the boundaries of investigative reporting beyond any reasonable limits. There was nothing professional about the Herald’s performance. Nor can what the Herald did be dignified by the term investigative reporting, a vital concept that deserves to be nurtured. But it also needs to be reserved for appropriate occasions. When one of the nation’s major newspapers uses five staff members to stake out a candidate’s home and check on his sex life we’ve confused in--B

vestigative reporting with pandering. A.M. Rosenthal of the New York Times News Service came right to the point: “As a reporter for 20 years, I would have refused to carry out such an assignment. As an editor for 23 more years, I would not have given such an assignment or allowed one to be made.” Similarly, syndicated columnist Anthony Lewis said the Herald’s behavior had made him feel degraded as a journalist. “Is it investigative reporting,” he asked, “to write that a woman may have spent the night there — or may not, since we’re not sure we watched all the doors? ’’ It was a hurry-up job to catch the second edition and fair play flew out the window. Hart and his house guest had no opportunity to respond to the suppositions of the Herald before the story was rushed into print. Shades of Joseph McCarthy. Faulty judgment by Hart? Yes. Faulty judgment by Herald executives? Yes. The Herald, as Rosenthal pointed out, indulged in sneaky snooping that its editors would never tolerate around their own homes. What, I wonder, would have happened if the Herald had refused to print the story without getting all the facts. Provable facts. Certainly the circus atmosphere of this shoddy journalistic performance would have been muted. Perhaps Hart would still be in the race. Three years ago, James Reston, the respected New York Time’s Washington Bureau chief, asked rhetorically whether the power of the press or the power of government is the greater menace to the security of Public opinion will decide that question — and it may be that our protection under the First Amendment rides on the issue. The Herald, a paper with an excellent record in the recent past, probably will continue to justify its mistaken role in the Hart affair. But if newsmen and newswomen generally support the Herald’s questionable justification, a far greater error will have been made Rosenthal is, right. In time, if wolfpack journalism meets no resistance from within and thus continues on its reckless way, the American public may waver in its support of the First Amendment and those who would erode the Bill of Rights may well win the day. It’s time for the press to rethink its role Do we really want to go back to the triple-S formula of Sin, Sex and Sensationalism’ IY HARRY HEALTH, PUBLISHERS AUXILIARY

Bli

Many families — one in four — have a single parent at the head. This is*more than double what it was 20 years ago.

Court news

City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Mark W. Cregier, 25, Syracuse. $50.50; Michael D. Wooten, 30, Syracuse, $55.50 Defective tires — Roland D. Miller, 43, Syracuse, $55.50 Failure to yield right of way—- — I. Byland, 81. Syracuse $50.50 Violation of child restraint law — Yong H. Harbes, 37, Milford, $25 suspended County Court The following persons have paid fines and costs in Kosciusko County Court. Judge James Jarrette presiding: Expired boat registration — Paying S6O were: Donald C. Morris, 21, Syracuse; Kevin C. Schrock. 25. Syracuse. Paying S7O were: Tim M. Williams. 33, Syracuse; Fred H. Steffen. 17. Syracuse. Operating boat without sufficient personal flotation devices — Paying S7O was: Randy J. Pear son, 31, Syracuse. Littering — Stephanie D. Elderidge, 19, Syracuse. S6O Circuit Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding: Claim On Account Leiter Enterprises, Inc versus John W. Caster, r 1 box 281 H. Leesburg. The plaintiff is seeking judgment against the defendant for the sum of $2,925 plus interest to date of judgment, attorney's fees and all costs of action. Complaint Enterprise Finance Company versus William L. Harry. Los Gatos, Calif . and Jack E Stookey and Darla C. Stookey. r 2 Leesburg. The plaintiff is seeking judgment against the defendants for the sum of $156,287.11 plus pre-judgment interest, attorney's fees and all costs of action. Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: Bockman-Silveus William J. Bockman. 33, P.O.

Correct pronunciation of Osceola

By MEL WEBSTER Free Lance Writer

On the east edge of St. Joseph County is a small community called Osceola. Putting the name in print or etching it in stone is no problem, or at least causes no argument. Pronouncing the name of Osceola aloud is another matter because there is mild disagreement on the proper pronounciation. During my formative years (age 12 through 62), I pronounced it with the first syllable sounding like the “O” in the word “not." Association in recent years with people from St. Joseph County indicates that the preferred pronounciation is with the first syllable sounding like the “O” in the word “note.” As a native Elkhartan, I think we were right in the first place, with the “O” sounding like the “O” in “box.” This is proved in three different ways, if you will kindly accept my reasoning, spurious as it may be: 1. During my days as a traveling salesman I had occasion once to go through the town of Osceola, lowa. Even then, I had reason to question how our own Osceola is pronounced. So, I stopped in Osceola, lowa, and got a haircut. If a barber doesn’t know how to pronounce the name of a town,, who does? Sure enough, when I asked him, he said the name with the first syllable sounding like the “O” in “blot.” 2. No matter where your Osceola is, the name came from the Seminole Indian chief of the same name. This name is listed in my American Heritage die

Box 297 North Webster, and Renee Marie Silveus, 24, P.O. Box 297 North Webster Wine-Miller Willard Lee Wine, 30. r 4 box 333, Syracuse, and Cindy Lynn Miller, 25, r 4 box 333, Syracuse Williams-W altemath Stephen Robert Williams, 22, Nappanee, and Constance Sue Waltemath, 25. r 1 box 125E, Milford Sawyer-Adams Gregory Lee Sawyer, 18, Milford Meadows, Milford, and Jackie Ann Adams. 18. r 8 box 298, Warsaw Goshert-McMillan David Leßoy Goshert, 21, 72645 CR 43, Syracuse, and Diana Lynn McMillan, 20. 72645 CR 43. Syracuse Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Coy — Michael I). Coy. r 3 box 551A, Syracuse, and Yvonne C Coy, address unknown. The couple was married Dec. 26, 1970, and separated March 21, 1987 .There are four minor children Anderson — Donald L. Andersson, r 5 box 322, Syracuse, and Lois A Anderson, r 5 box 322, Syracuse. The couple was married Feb 23, 1963, and separated June 15,1987 Republican caucus called Rex L. Reed, chairman of the Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee, has called a caucus of all Warsaw precinct committeemen and vice committeemen for the purpose of filling a vacancy existing on the Warsaw municipal election ballot for the office of councilman-at-large. The meeting will be held in Republican Headquarters. 211 W. Center St., Warsaw, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 Any persons seeking to be a candidate for the vacancy must complete a declaration of candidacy form and it must be filed with Reed at least 72 hours before the time fixed for the caucus.

tionary clearly defining the good chief and shown to be pronounced in the first syllable like the “O” in the wbrd "got.” 3. Last fall, the Florida State University football team appeared at least twice on networx television They call themselves the “Seminoles. " Their mascot is an Indian chief who rides onto the football field on a horse. The “chief” hurls a flaming spear into the ground, and the name of the mascot chief is, you guessed it, Osceola. On both occasions that I saw this ceremony, the announcer pronounced the name of the chief with the first syllable “O" sounding the "O” in the word “dot.” Natives of our northern Indiana town, you are pronoucing the name-of your community incorrectly. Smarten up!

Mel Webster is a free lance writer from Mishawaka.

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 Otfice 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 KosciuSjko County; $22 outside county POSTMASTERS Send change of ad dress forms to The Mail Journal, P O Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542

p<*l©H

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE''

WELL, THE Syracuse Sesquicentennial is over! It was a jam-packed with events of every imaginable kind. It was crowned with a Saturday noon-day parade the likes,of which the community will not see forh good long time — “at least for another 50 years,” in the words of one parade route viewer. Th? weatherman smiled on the week’s activities, and beamed down a brilliant, if torrid, sun during the Saturday parade for the benefit of photographers. Parade chairman Deb Patterson said the 'parade was in the making since October 1984, and came together splendidly as the Saturday deadline neared. She said there were 154 entries, twenty of them entering on Saturday, for the mile and a half route from the Village, uptown to the stoplight, then west and south to the high school. The first unit stepped off at 11:10 and Chief of Police Ziller said the last unit crossed the line at the high school at 1 p m. Deb Patterson worked her heart out. She said on Monday morning. “I really slept well Saturday night when it was all over!” This writer enjoyed riding on The MailJournal float, hamming it up on occasion for the benefit of photographers, of which there were ample lining the parade route. Reporter Carla Gaff did the honors with her camera and photographed the winners after it was all over See her story and pictures of the winners on page 1, and a full page of pictures elsewhere ih this issue —o—c THE FIVE judges who had the tough job of picking a queen and her court at the Sesquicentennial Queen contest at the high school auditorium last Tuesday night had their work cut out for them. Their job was to pick a queen and a court of four from among twenty very fine entries. Chris Schenkel, well known throughout the sports world, led the judges Others were Mike Kiley, Nick Litchin, Amanda Wilson and Nancy Blake. Lots of credit goes to Chris Roberts of Fort Wayne’s WOWO for a masterful job as MC. Chris and his wife Rena make their home on Lake Wawasee and are becoming very much a part of the lakes community. No one could find fault with the judges’ choice for queen Kathie Yoder is and was every bit the queen and will carry that responsibility gracefully and with aplomb. Kathie is well known in the community as owner/operator of Hair Force, a Pickwick Block beauty salon for the past five years A 1979 WHS graduate, Kathie is 5’6”, weighs 125 pounds, blue eyes and blond hair. Her effervescence easily won her “Miss Congeniality," a choice of her fellow contestants. She operates Hair Force with three stylists besides herself :, Angie Hunnicutt, Stephanie Eisfelder and Beth Carey. Paula Smith, her receptionist, was third runner-up in the beauty pageant. Kathie was given a jeweled crown, a scepter, a rose bouquet and a handsome trophy — along with a check for $1,006! What does a pretty young lady do with $1,000? In this case S2OO goes to the Chris Jordan Fund for an art scholarship. Chris, a WHS junior; was 16 years of age and was recently killed in an auto accident. He was a North Webster youth. Kathie will give SIOO to the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce Christmas Fund for needy families, SIOO to the New Life Christian Church Building Fund. New Life is a Warsaw church to which she belongs. The remaining S6OO will go into a personal savings account, Kathie said, adding, "not a single cent will go for clothes.” Sounds like our new Sesquicentennial Queen knows where she’s headed for.

■ * A *- WK, i * ,zj ■ A" J f» r' ■ EJ. rl v K * r i ■ X* ■f* , B f' F * ■ * * rv a r

1936 MARDI GRAS BEAUTIES — For many Syracuse residents the recent sesquicentennial brought to mind the 1936 Mardi Gras. This came to light at the sesquicentennial queen contest at the high school Friday night when the 1936 Mardi Gras Queen, Rowena (insley) Laird, the first runnerup, Priscilla Rhode, were called to the stage. Since'then the above photo surfaced. In front are, l-r, Susan (Kroh) Myrick. Jack Clark and Sasha Hire. The queen and her court are shown in the back row, l-r, Martha Ann Thornburg, fourth runner-up; Priscilla Rhode, first runner-up; Queen Rowena; third runner-up, Jean (Emerson) Baumgartner; and fifth runner-up, Laura Jane Deady.

THE SELECTION of a queen had a lot of meaning for Rowena (Mrs. Robert) Insley Laird of r 3 and for Priscilla Rhode, 137 North Shore And why not? Rowena was crowned Lady of the Lakes at the community’s first (and only) Mardi Gras celebration, and Priscilla was named first runner-up. They were both on hand to see Kathie Yoder crowned Sesquicentennial Queen. Both women remember the crowning which occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 2,1936, which was duly reported the following day in the Syracuse Journal. Seth Rowdabaugh, prosecuting attorney and former Syracuse restaurant owner, crowned the new Queen and “delivered an appropriate address,” the Journal stated. The Mardi Gras was held September 2,3,4, 5,1936. And Rowena recalls second runner-up as being Dorothy Jane Tremper; third runner-up, Jean Emerson; fourth runner-up, Martha Ann Thornburg; and fifth runner-up, Laura Jane Deady. Commenting on her appearance last Tuesday night, Mrs. Laird said, “Thank goodness we didn’t have to appear in bathing suits!” The September 3d Journal article said appearing on the Queen’s float were Queen Rowena, her court, two charming little girls, Sasha Hire and Susan Kroh (now Mrs. Carl Myrick and deputy township assessor), together with the crown bearer Jack Clark (now Dr. Clark, well known Syracuse physician). Mrs. Insley said there was a 1935 and 1937 attempt at a public celebration but neither turned out as well as the first Mardi Gras. Roscoe Howard was general chairman of the 1936 affair, with Ralph Thornburg, Sr., Matt Katzer, Wales Macy and Journal editor F. Allan Weatherhold in charge of publicity. MARILYN MOORE, a resident of North Shore Drive and a self-taught artist, was thrilled to be the object of an article in the Lifestyle section of the LaPorte Herald-Argus in its July Ist issue. She has been teaching water color painting to inmates of the Westville Correctional Center at Westville, ranging from ages 18 to 38. She has been working with George Scott, the art instructor at WCC, who will continue what Mrs. Moore has begun at the institute. Her work has caught the attention of Governor Robert D. Orr and John Shettle, acting superintendent of the Indiana Correctional Department, who are making plans for a traveling art show in 1988 as part of Hoosier *BB celebration, including the work of inmates of all the state’s prisons. Marilyn has attended workshops and seminars across the United States, and says she was “intimidated” at the idea of teaching men to paint. She said I thought they’d think painting was “sissy.” A member of long-standing in the Syracuse area art community, Mrs. Moore comes to her work with the following credentials: a member of the Northern Indiana Artists in South Bend; Naples Art Association, Naples, Fla.; Lakeland Art Association in Warsaw; and the Hoosier Art Salon in Indianapolis. “TURKEY CREEK Township folks are going to raise hob if the superintendent’s (Dr. Roger Thornton’s) plan for two junior high schools goes into effect. Right now they don’t seem to realize there won’t be a junior high in their home township.” This remark was heard during the past week, and caught the ear of several, even in the midst of all the sesquicentennial hoopla. ■ ~ The person making the comment compared it with the local concern over the Jaycees beer tent in the uptown parking lot. “Those folks (the objectors to the location of the beer tent) made all the noise after the horse was out of the barn,” is the way it was phrased. Another objector commented: “It'll never go through; there’s just too much community (Continued on page 5)