The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 33, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 September 1987 — Page 1

' seaquicentennial r 1837-1987

Milford V 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 26

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RESURFACING IN SYRACUSE — Blane Hurd “feathers out” an intersection as Phend & Brown, Inc. resurfaces Palm Drive near SR 13 in south Syracuse. In addition to Palm Drive, the Milford paving contactors are in the

School board discusses goals

I By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer “We’ll work on these and put them together in list form and perhaps be able to start setting priorities by the next meeting,” stated school superintendent Roger Thornton, as approximately 20 different goals were brought up and discussed by the Wawasee School Board during its Tuesday afternoon meeting. Goal prioritizing was not done at this time. Board member Bill Troup suggested the board consider doing an inventory on items needing replaced at the high school and working out a schedule for replacing them. He also stated that full time counselors for middle schools should be instated, more pay should be given to substitute teachers, and an effort should be made to install more patriotic attitudes in students. He added that he would like to see easy access into the school reduced to keep out persons who may be selling unlawful substances. “Drugs and alcohol are coming into the school and, perhaps, if we set up away in which undesireable persons would not

Historical event — Women visit Syracuse Lions as prospective club members

An historic event took place last Wednesday, Sept. 23, when the Syracuse Lions met at the Beacon. For the first time in the 37 years the club has been in existence, women were at the meeting as prospective members. Kay McCulloch, Joyce Selvey, Ivy Mikolajczak and Denise Garner attended the meeting at the invitation of the Syracuse Lions to view first hand the workings of the club and see the possibilities it holds for them. Other guests for the evening wert J. R. Koher, Phil Mock, Dan Mikolajczak, Don McCulloch and Bill Selvey. Syracuse Lions President Charles Haffner expressed the sentiment of the club, “The Lions Club exists to serve the community and humanity where ever real needs exist. Our doors are open to anyone who has high standards of integrity and a serious desire to help others. We invited several people to consider membership in Lions. We are not concerned about their height,

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have easy access to the building we could eliminate some of this,” commented Troup. The board noted that since the facility is a public building, and because parents and family are welcome and need to be admitted without problems, stopping persons from entering would have to be handled with extreme care. Bill Little, board president, suggested the board work on creating a closer non-disruptive working relationship between building principals and board members. He also said that a type of counseling needed to be worked on to help reduce the student drop-out rate, and continued work needed to be done on budget harmony. He advised a continuance on the working of the relationship between all school officials and the board. Little also enlightened the board regarding the student counseling system that is used in Goshen. He explained that the counselors assist in all types of problems, including such things as drugs and alcohol in the home, and how it’s effecting the student who is not a user. Board member Dave Carey stated he would like to see a permanent continuity in curriculum in grades K-12, a striving for a smooth transition for all involved

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

process of resurfacing portions of Sixth Street, Benton/Harrison Street, West Boston Street, Pearl Street, Hillside Drive and Manor Drive.

in the new middle school. He added that he would like to see the school continue hiring qualified personnel, continue good feelings between staff and teachers, and get on target with the budget. „ Carol Swartzendruber, also'a ' board member, explained that she would like to see the school set up a program or process of evaluating programs after they’ve been installed. She would also like to see counselors for grades K-8, a complete and full evaluation process, and work being done on creating an atmosphere where staff, students and employees know they’re an important part of the corporation. “When each staff person feels that they have an important part or position, it translates on down to the students in the hall,” commented Swartzendruber. Board member Curt Jordan suggested the goals for the corporation include revising the policy handbook, setting up a management by objective program, installing a long range plan for all school facilities consistent with the budget, and working out a formula for blending students entering the new middle school. He stated that the “blending” would need to be done when the

race, color or sex. We are here to serve others and have fun while doing it.” He continued, “We should also remember that we have been assisted for years by our wives in various Lions club projects. This step forward allows everyone to participate fully in Lions Club activities. Congratulates Club District 25-G Lt. Governor Ray Einfield of Elkhart was in attendance and congratulated the Syracuse Lions on their work for aid to Guatemala this summer. ”nie Syracuse Club spearheaded the collection of clothing and the purchase of an EMS vehicle for a Guatemala hospital. Special district awards were presented to Kay McCulloch and to Syracuse Lions Vice President James „ Tranter for’their work on this project. The District 25-G Lions are in the process of completing the fund-raising to purchase and send a fire truck to Guatemala in November. The fire truck will be at

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30,1987

time is right, but had to be done before students were dropped off the first day of school. During the goal setting session, Thornton stated, “I’m sitting here feeling really good about what is being said because I feel that you’re really keying in on what’s happening — but I guess what I need to say is — be patient with us but don’t back off of the goal.” Also during the meeting it was announced that the board will be meeting in different buildings in the future and that the principal of each school will be responsible for presenting a short program detailing what the school is doing.

Open house This Thursday, Oct. 1. Wawasee High School will be having its annual open house. Open house will be from 7-» p.m. Parente are encouraged to go and waft around the school and talk with teachers, administrators and guidance counselors. Refreshments will be served throughout the evening in the commons, and National Honor Society members will be serving as guides.

Syracuse on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to be prepared for the trip and the final drive to raise the money to take it to Guatemala. The Lions have raised $3,500 to purchase the vehicle but must raise the $1,500 necessary to deliver it. The featured speaker for the evening was former baseball pitcher Ken Beardslee of Milford. He was introduced by Bud Seely, also of Milford. Beardslee spoke about his experiences playing professional baseball and about his 23 years as a scout for the Pittsburg Pirates. He has written four books about baseball and makes the books available to Youth League players. The Syracuse Lions Club will be selling brooms during the next two weeks. Proceeds will help pay for various club-sponsored projects. Brooms may be purchased at either of the Syracuse barber shops and the Lions will be going door to door with their brooms next Wednesday, Oct. 7.

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At Syracuse — Fate of NIPSCO office uncertain

By DEB PAT*TERSON Staff Writer “We (Northern Indiana Public Service Company) are uncertain what we are going to do with the Syracuse office,” commented Robert Westfall, manager of the company’s Syracuse office, Tuesday afternoon. “We are looking into all of the small offices and a decision, on the small offices, will be made in 30-90 days.” The Syracuse office employs two full-time and one part-time clerk, a manager, and two electrical linemen who report out of Goshen. Should the Syracuse office be closed, these people would not lose their jobs. NIPSCO announced over a "•eek ago if was eliminating the jobs of about 500 employees or Organize IU Alumni Club of Kosciusko Co.A group of Hoosier alumni has been planning for several months to organize the Indiana University Alumni Club of Kosciusko County. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, it will hold a general meeting at the South Shore Golf Course on SR 13, Syracuse. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to get acquainted, establish memberships, elect officers, ratify the constitution and listen to a speaker from the Bloomington campus. There is an estimated 1,275 Indiana University alumni who live in Kosciusko County. Charter memberships for the club will be available that night. The planning committee consists of Jim Baumgartner, Kathy Baumgartner, George Bowser, Dick Carman, Joyce Conlon, Bill Dalton, Georgia Fisher, Mike Fisher, Liz Frazetta, Jon Garber, John Hall, Sonya Harman, Kent Kleeman, Dick Kline, Terry Klondaris, Tom Lemon, Leo Pfister, Lori Weaver and Bill Wood. Public urged to attend meeting Activities of the Syracuse Park Department will be updated on a master plan at a 7 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Syracuse Town Hall on South Huntington Street. The public is urged to attend this meeting to hear an update of the plan work being done for the park department by Troyer and Associates of Goshen.

nine percent of the work force. The Hammond-based gas and electric utility said Wednesday. Sept. 23, it would cut 150 supervisory personnel as of Monday, Sept. 28, and 350 union workers by Oct. 7, as part of the company’s overall restructuring plan and ongoing efforts to remain cost competitive. Union representatives were advised Tuesday, Sept. 29, of the approximately 350 bargaining unit positions being terminated. Procedures for eliminating those positions will be in accordance with the union contract. In addition to the approximately 500 positions being terminated, the company has eliminated about 100 jobs through attrition in 1987. The company expects to save $25 million in 1988 from the staff reductions and with these reductions, NIPSCO will have reduced its work force by about 25 percent since January 1983, from 6,661 to 5,050 employees. There has been a hiring freeze in effect since 1982. Non-bargaining unit employees notified Monday are being

EPA grant approved for Wawasee sewers

I By GLEN LONG Staff Writer The large project of the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District to install sewer lines in several locations around Lake Wawasee has crossed another hurdle, with the approval just received from the Environmental Protection Authority to proceed with design stage. The approval was reported at a special public meeting of the TCRSD on Monday, Sept. 28, in the Syracuse Town Hall. Bob

27.8% increase — Tax rate will come down

Syracuse property taxpayers should learn about the first week in November if their property tax rate will be whittled for 1988 as the 1987 rate was cut by the state tax board, according to Jennifer Lewis, Syracuse clerktreasurer. The Syracuse town budget, which was approved by the Syracuse Town Board on August 25, has been sent to the Indiana State Tax Board for final approval. It includes an anticipated tax rate of $2.78 per SIOO of assessed valuation.

r’kJBE “ WOMEN AMONG PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS — la an historical move far the Syracuse Liens Club, women were invited to attend the September 23 meeting as prospective members. Among the guests at that meeting are those persons pictured above. In front are Denise Garner; Kay McCulloch, Ivy Mikolajczak and Joyce Selvey. In back are Phil Mock, J. R. Koher, Don McCulloch. Dan Mikolajctak and BUI Selvey.

assisted through a severance package, outplacement counseling and a resource center to help in finding alternative employment. NIPSCO is contacting companies who might have job openings and is also receiving inquires from companies who have positions available. E.M. Meagher, Hammond Division manager, said the company is confident it can continue the same level of service with fewer employees while making significant savings that will help customers and stockholders. The layoffs of unionized workers will be split about evenly between members of United Steelworkers locals representing clerical and field workers. USW Locals 12775 and 13796 have 3,740 members throughout NIPSCO’s territory. Affected employees will receive a severance package and outplacement counseling, aceording fn Randall C. Jacobs, NIPSCO’s director of public relations. NIPSCO provides natural gas service to 554,000 customers in northern Indiana and electric service to 362,800 customers in

Jones, president of the board of trustees, reported that the group has begun activities to obtain utilities easements on property which will be affected. He said this is an important phase of the project which will be very timeconsuming. Utilities easements will, according to Jones, have to be legally recorded documents that allow access to individual properties to install and maintain the sewer system. Several specific areas around the lake will be affected, including, among others, Morrison Island, Ogden Island, Kale Island, Kanata Manayunk, Willow Grove and Marineland

When it was submitted, this proposed tax rate included an increase of 27.8 percent over 1987. Joe Todd, owner of Todd Realty in Syracuse, expressed concern about such a large tax rate increase. He said he is concerned as a taxpayer and about how an increase in tax rate will affect the market in the real estate business. The submitted tax rate, when finally approved by the state, may be decreased as the 1987 submitted rate of $2.33 was finally reduced to $2.1748. Lewis said that a reduction in tax rate can be partially due to action of the tax board and partly

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the northwestern and northcentral sections of the state. For the past five years, NIPSCO has seen its profitability suffer due to economic decline in the 30-county area it serves. The company has reported reduced earnings and has suspended dividend payments to shareholders for several quarters. With the decline in production and layoffs in the manufacturing sector, has come a drop in utility sales to industry and further loss in revenue. Increasing numbers of its customers are laid off and depend on poor relief. Poor relief funds in populated townships in Northwest Indiana have been depleted, leaving NIPSCO with $lO million in unpaid claims. A sl.l million claim is past due for North Township (Hammond-East Chicago) and has brought a threat by the company to stop honoring poor-relief vouchers issued in that township. NIPSCO also claims it has nearly $9 million due from Calumet Township for payment of utility bills charged to the township’s bankrupt poor-relief program over several years.

the northwestern and northcentral sections of the state.

Gardens. Some of the sewer lines will pump to Syracuse and some to the Enchanted Hills system. Meetings are planned for the second Monday of each month at the town hall at 7:30 p.m. There are also special public meetings scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The location of these two special meetings is yet to be determined. Members of the Board of Directors of Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District are Bob Jones, president; Ivan Rinehart, treasurer; V. Logan Love, secretary; June Cripe, Bob Jesse and Howard E. Long.

as a result of an increase in the total assessed valuation of property in the town of Syracuse. If the final tax rate is reduced 6.66 percent as in 1987 for either or both of these reasons, the final tax rate will be $2,594. This would be a 42 cent increase in tax rate over 1967 —a 19 percent increase. Charlene Knispel, Turkey Creek Township Assessor, anticipates an increase in the final assessed valuation for Syracuse, possibly as much as sl*£ million. She said this would help reduce the 1988 tax rate regardless of how the state tax board adjusts it for other reasons.