The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 31, Milford, Kosciusko County, 16 September 1987 — Page 1

sesquicentennial 1837-1987

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Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 26

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CORNERSTONE LAID AT CALVARY — The cornerstone of the new addition at Calvary United Methodist Church, Syracuse, was laid Sunday following the morning worship service. During the ceremonies Harold Oechsle, Elkhart District Superintendent, congratulated the "outgoing congregation," and on the bishop's behalf expressed the extreme pleasure and congratulations on a congregation at work. Al Eades, building committee chairman served as MC. "Ode To Calvary Church," was read by Betty Eaton and Ron Sharp, church historian, went over a list of documents that had been placed in the time capsule. Sharp commented he hoped both time capsules, ( another one is located on the southeast side from the building of the original building) would not be opened for at least 1,000 years. The actual placement of the cornerstone took place following a

Milford man held in Goshen on $200,000 bond

IB- MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer A 28-year old Milford man was arrested Tuesday morning for the rape, robbery, and attempted murder of a Goshen woman and is being held in Elkhart County Jail in Goshen in lieu of $200,000 bond. ' ' .Phillip P. Buhrt was charged with the Class A felony of attempted murder and robbery, while the rape charge is classified as a Class B felony, according to deputy prosecutor Mark Crowder. The charges were filed after the victim identified Buhrt from a line-up photograph from her hospital bed. 1 The victim, a 22-year-old waitress from Elkhart who is s*/s months pregnant, remains in serious condition at Elkhart* Hospital with two skull fractures and other injuries. According to Goshen Police, the injuries were believed to have been caused by a large piece of asphalt or a similar object The attempted murder took place between 12:02 a.m. and 1:23 a.m. Sunday, after the victim left the Goshen Holiday Inn, where she serves as a cocktail waitress. She was assaulted after the defendant reportedly asked her

Cite August 15, 1987 resolution — Wawasee property owners support fish hatchery developmei

0 ■ ■ Directors of the Wawasee Property Owners Association have adopted a rowhdtan supporting Awtopmont of the former Wawasee State Fish Hatchery site as a family recreational area. The resolution was adopted Aug. 15. “It represents our position as to the best use of this area for all the dtiscns of Indiana,” Wiley W. (MB) Spurgeon, association prosidont, saM Indiana’s Deportment of Natural Resources shut down the fish hatchery operation more than two decades ago. For a time, display tanks of fish were maintained there, but in recent years thst has Several years agn, DNR director James M. Ridenour announced plans to dean up the area, renovate a 1990 s bidding there, and develop uie recreational area Modest renovation has been accomplished, and some work has been done on the building. Grass and trees have been planted. “We support the site beautification and its proposed utilisation,”Spurgeon said. He said the delay in making the WPOA resolution public had occurred because he was cut of commission ..

for a ride into Goshen, forcing her to stop in the 800 block of Logan Street, near the Conrail Railroad tracks. i: At the tracks, she attempted to leave the vehicle, but was grabbed from behind and raped. Buhrt then allegedly dragged her by the arms several times over a section of track before raping her at least two more times. The defendant is alleged to have struck the victim on the

Syracuse should have EP A grant in October

tßy GLEN LONG Staff Writer The Syracuse Town Board met on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and received a progress report on plans and specifications for the EPA grant from Randy Lindley, Tenech Engineering Inc. project manager. With the present progress, it is expected that the EPA grant will

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (E5t.1907)

declaration by administrative board chairman, Don Sheline. Richard Neff? mason contractor, was present and was aided by several members of the church in placing the large cornerstone in place. A tour of the new addition followed the ceremony. The tour was led by members of the building committee. Shown to the left of the cornerstone is Betty Eden, church poet, in front. Behind her are Harold Oechsle, district superintendent; Al Eades, building committee chairman; and Pastor David Maish of Calvary United Methodist Church. Shown on the right of the cornerstone, in front, is Ron Sharp, church historian. Behind Sharp are Don Sheline. administrative board chairman; Gran Godley, building committee member; and Richard" Neff, mason contractor. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

head with two heavy items several times while she was lying on her stomach. After the incident, Buhrt is alleged to have driven her car to a field near the Holiday Inn where it was found by Goshen Police. Despite the injuries, the victim managed to regain consciousness and walk across the tracks to a Tenth Street residence, where an ambulance was called at about 1:23a.m. Based on the sketchy location

be received by the end of October. Bids will probably be received in December and work can begin in the spring of 1988 The board took proposals for CIP engineering services under advisement and gave them to Joe Dock, utilities superintendent, for analysis. He will report his findings at the October board meeting. Robert J. Houser was approved as a full-time patrolman, having completed his police academy training. Bob Ziller, town mar-

for eye surgery. . . The Wawasee oiiankatian’s resolution also sujgwrts the construction et* o ns hoot ramp on the site — provided it ran be regulated by an oneite employee of the DNR. “The area has fimited parking and is located on a two-lane highway that can be considered dangerous,” Spurgeon said. “Obviously qo place is available for roadside storage of vehicle* and boat trailers. The area is heavily built-up, both commercially and roekiNitiany, and it’s important that no safety hazards be allowed to develop there. “We think regulation of foe site is important to maintain the family fishing and recreational concept. We understand that a arrive,” he said. The WPOA president said Ms organisation recognized problems with rnngiwtion at foe Wawasee Medusa Street launching site in Syracuse Henry Ward Park. “Moving these problems somewhere else isn’t goi )g to solve them,” he said "If pro RMttXalArea can be a tremendounXSTfemforfiSrimtS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16,1987

the victim was able to give police, a search for the assault site ended when officers found articles of clothing, blood, andi other evidence atop a pile of railroad ties off of Logan Street. Her purse, which contained an undisclosed amount of money, was missing and presumed taken by Buhrt. • The Milford laborer offered no resistance when taken into custody at the home of his parents around 7 p m. Monday.

shal, was given approval to purchase targets for the police shooting range near the disposal plant. The range is now designated as police property. The recently received EMS unit has been returned from Allen County Motors in Ft. Wayne, where it had been taken for a new fuel pump. Metal shavings also had to be taken from the gas tank. The new roof on the civil defense building is completed (Continued on page 2)

1 ! I isaAl

Third lowest among 126 major gas companies —

NIPS CO asks for 11.8% increase in natural qas rate

Northern Indiana Public Service Company asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Tuesday to approve an 11.8 percent increase in natural gas rates. NIPSCO estimated the increase would generate S6B million a year in new revenues. Jeffrey W. Yundt, vice president gas operations, said the increase is needed to ensure reliable service to NIPSCO’s 550.000 customers and to restore an adequate return on shareholders’ investment in the company's gas busifissss; NIPSCO is still calculating how the proposed rate increase will affect residential, commercial and industrial customers. Yundt said the impact will be different for each group. However, NIPSCO will still offer all customers some of the lowest gas rates in the country, he said. "This is our first request for an increase in natural gas rates in six years, ” said Yundt. “We do not like to raise rates, but we have reached the point where there is no alternative.” Yundt said NIPSCO is currently earning just over two cents for every dollar invested in the fair value of its gas properties, compared with about seven cents for

Buhrt has a record of criminal arrests from Kentucky, as well as Indiana, including at least one murder conviction in Indiana and confinement charges in Kentucky. Vandalism and theft at Better Way Milford Police discovered an incident of breaking and entering at a Syracuse Street business last Friday morning. Sept. 11, which also resulted in vandalism and theft. Up to $2,000 in equipment was stolen from Better Way Products, Syracuse and James streets, sometime between Thursday night and early Friday morning, while a suspect(s) also cut an air hose and strew objects throughout the building after entering a rear door. Items missing included: spray guns, a buffer, two sanders, two skill saws, a drill punch, three drills, two air rivet guns, a stereo and speakers, electric router set, and an emergency kit. The case remains under investigation, according to Town Marshal David Hobbs.

thuiiwto from tbana’s largest natural lake. It bda«B to all foe dtiwo* of Indiana - not just the adjacent landowners, obviomly, but also not just to certain sports enthusiasts A family with bids shouldn't have to show up at the lake two hour* before dawn in order to fish or launch a boat.” A copy of the resotation follows: TV »-- rZ-™ « - r-rt-J/”/ wiwri inc. supports me use niiiin kifnmiMfliai svuiea ”” The Wawteee Property Owners AMedation would not object to this site. The underotanding must Ito that it wotdd be for individual ■ ' - ■ - - .

Journal

the average gas company in the United States. Returns Have Declined NIPSCO’s returns have declined due to higher fixed costs, increased capital investments, and lower demand from industry, which traditionally accounts for 60 percent of the company’s natural gas business. Since 1982, the company has invested in excess of S2OO million to improve safety, service and efficiency. NIPSCO is a low-cost distributor of gas. The American Gas Association’s most recent

Milford Town Board adopts codification of ordinances

J By MARK HUFFMAN I Staff Writer The Milford Town Board adopted an ordinance codifying all ordinances within the town's jurisdiction at its regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 14, in the town hall. The codification allows for easier access to ordinances. Ordinance 87-13, making it unlawful to bum garbage, refuse, or natural debris within town without a covered incinerator, was also accepted. The ordinance, drafted by Town" Attorney Bill Leemon, does allow leaves to be burned within town

■■Easssi ■SKf ir- ■ Wl ■■ READY TO CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION'S BIRTHDAY — Tony House, eighth grade teacher at Milford Junior High School, right, makes a point about the Bill of Rights to some of his students. From the left are Pam Joyce, Melanie Hobbs, Michael Wright and Mike Schwartz. Milford students will be wearing red, white and blue all week to celebrate the 200th birthday of the Constitution of the United States. They will listen to the radio birthday broadcast of the national bicentennial celebration of the constitution at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. A special school convocation is also planned for Friday, Sept. 18, in the gym at which a special elementary school choir will sing. (Photo by Glen Long) ' ‘

survey showed its residential gas rates ranked third lowest among 126 major gas companies in the United States. If the requested increase were in effect today, NIPSCO would still rank in the lower third, Yundt said. In 1986, A typical NIPSCO residential customer paid $705.27 for 1,500 therms, a year’s supply of gas. NIPSCO project lower natural gas- prices will cut this bill mqxethan SIOO this year. In NIPSCO’s last gas rate order in 1982, the IURC directed the company to bring the different rates of return for its various customer

during April, October, and November. Violation of the ordinance may result in a fine of up to SIOO. The board was also given a map of an area on the northwest side of town that Milford resident John. Perry is considering developing. Perry has informed the board that he would donate a street to the town that is near the site, located west Os SR 15 and south of CR 1250 near the Lakeland Loving Care Center Ind. The preliminary plans call for construction of a housing development or condominiums, although Perry has no definite ideas. In other business, Tony Ciriello, new police deputy, was

; .. v-.: j We feel that regulation of any faXrawriro I <a the limited amount of parking a ~ of B foe citizens < MeetiMof Awtiatu

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NUMBER 31

groups more in line with the actual cost of serving them. This may mean that the percentage increase borne by residential and commercial customers might be higher than the overall increase. Yundt said that within a month the company will have completed estimates of the effect of the proposed rate increase on typical bills for homeowners, businesses and manufacturers. The new gas rates are not anticipated to be in effect until summer 1988. NIPSCO is Indiana’s largest gas distributor.

introduced to board members, while the resignation of park board member Dick Koschnick was regretfully accepted. “Dick had so much enthusiasm for the parks, he was a tremendous asset to the town,” board president Jean Treesh said, adding, “He has served well, we’re sorry to see him leave.” A replacement for Koschnick will be announced in January. The current sewer penalty for late payments was also revised to simplify the clerk-treasurer’s duties. Currently the sewer utility calls for a two dollar fee for late payment. Under the new plan the penalty would be the same that is currently assessed on water bills — calling for a 10 (Continued on page 2)