The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 41, Milford, Kosciusko County, 25 November 1987 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., November 25,1987

Editorial

Thanksgiving, 1987 American Thanksgiving dates officially from 1863 when the nation was locked in a civil war. Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, who had been proposing a national day of Thanksgiving for decades in Boston and Philadelphia, wrote to President Abraham Lincoln — who in October of 1863 issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation. There had been earlier thanksgiving days; some date the American observance to the days of the early settlers — who gave thanks for their food supply and the opportunity America offered. The first probably occurred in the Plymouth Colony in 1621. There had been such observances in other lands but few had adopted annual thanksgiving days prior to the American observance. An international thanksgiving day was held in Washington in 1909, having been conceived by the Rev. Dr. William T. Russell of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Thus, American Thanksgiving Day, this year on the 26th, is uniquely American. In 1987, it finds the nation blessed with peace and prosperity. Advent Sundays The custom of using table wreaths to enjoy the approach of Christmas, and to keeping mind its meaning, is growing. The wreath contains four candles, one being lit on the first Sunday in Advent. (Nov. 29 this year), two the next Sunday, three the next and four the Sunday before Christmas. Many churches teach that Advent is the season one prepares for the advent of the Savior, on the 25th; in some there are elaborate rituals. But there’s doubt when the practice began. Apart from specific rituals and beliefs, the custom of using wreaths has been adopted by Americans of all faiths, just as Santa Claus comes to most homes. Candles and wreaths are reminders of a happy time to come; they add a warmth, and perhaps a Christian atmosphere to our homes. Foul talk Readers will probably agree that gutter language is often introduced into communities by entertainment types. Comedians who have little talent often use dirty words to evoke nervous giggles from an audience. The X movies are full of gutter language (four letter words) today. That appeals to yokels who think they’re seeing something forbidden; that’s a sales psychology promoters have used for centuries. Many other films today are characterized by foul language. The worst part of it is that many now feature coarse and foul-mouthed females (this is liberation). They can do anything males can do, right? Seldom do we see in today’s films the wonderful character of a caring, loving, ladylike mother ill her home, happy caring for her family. Instead, the average female in U.S. films is tough-talking and cynical, who thinks every male is out to throw her in bed, who has a wise crack for every situation. She can use gutter language, too. Behavior an entertainment-crazy population sees on film and television does much to set the pattern of behavior among the young, an impressionable generation. We see the effects of this in the U.S. today.

What others say —

Go after deadbeats to stop loan defaults For two decades, Uncle Sam has helped 35 million of his nieces and nephews get a leg up the ladder of success by helping them borrow money for their college educations. And more than 90% of them did Uncle proud — when they left school, they lived up to their promise and paid back their Guaranteed Student Loans. But the ones who didn’t pay — the 9.7% who are deadbeats — are undercutting this popular loan program. Those irresponsible beneficiaries of federal largesse will cost Uncle Same $1.6 billion this year. That’s appalling. Think what could be done with that much money. Tens of thousands of scholarships could be given out; tens of thousands more student loans could be underwritten. We could even pay off a chunk of the federal debt. Something must be done to stop this waste. Unfortunately, the administration is doing the wrong something. Last week, Education Secretary William Bennett announced new rules to punish schools for the transgressions of their former students. Starting in 1990, any college, university, or for-profit school with a student default rate higher than 20 percent will be expelled from all federal student-aid programs. This is the wrong approach because it will hurt future students and do nothing to punish the deadbeats. The 2,190 schools having default rates over 20 percent are mostly historically black institutions, junior and business colleges, and trade schools teaching everything from cosmetology to diesel mechanics. Experts say high default rates go hand-in-hand with high rates of povertylevel students. So, the schools most likely to be cut off from federal student air are precisely those whose enrollees need it the most. We shouldn’t punish the colleges that are most willing to take a chance on kids who might never get another chance. This approach would put many schools out of business because so many of their students depend on federal aid. That’s wrong. The proper target is the deadbeats. One way to get at them is for the banks to scrutinize applicants. These are risk-free loans for banks because they are guaranteed by the government. Banks should feel obliged to grant loans more carefully and collect debts more aggressively before passing the IOU to Uncle Sam. The government also must continue to pursue cheaters through the internal Revenue Service. In the past two years, Uncle Sam has retrieved more than $250 million from defaulters’ income-tax refunds. Higher education is so expensive today that some young people graduate tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Congress must consider switching some loan money into scholarships for bright students who start out with nothing and whose debts could chain them to the bottom rung for years. Uncle Sam has a right to be angry. But he must not deny an education to today’s students because of yesterday’s deadbeats. -USA TODAY

Os li Let Us Remember And •

Give Thanks

Court news

Small Claims The following judgments have been awarded in Small Claims Division, Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrett presiding: Linda Spooner vs Judith Miller Allen. Judgment for plaintiff $931.77 plus costs. Linda Spooner vs Steve and Susan Bennett. Judgment for plaintiff $260.70 plus costs. Teacher’s Credit Union vs John N. Sorenson. Judgment for plaintiff $1,634.02 plus costs. Steve A Metzger vs Ron Linsey. Judgment for plaintiff S3OO plus costs. Marshall G. Boyer, Jr. and Jeanenne Boyer vs Kenny Bourff. Judgment for plaintiff $250 plus costs. Helen Schumaker, C/O Martin J. Gardner Esq. vs Carma Schrock. Judgment for plaintiff $665.13 plus costs. Rainbow Property Management, Inc. vs Bushrod and Cona Ladig. Judgment for plaintiff $1,391 plus costs. Larry D. Worley, Sr. vs Ronald Hobbs and Sondra Delworth Hobbs. Judgment for plaintiff S9O plus costs. Collection Bureau vs Virginia C. Chapa Erb. Judgment for plaintiff $169.70 plus costs. Collection Bureau vs Ellen R. Hatcher. Judgment for plaintiff $25.71 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Frank Hall. Judgment for plaintiff $44.85. Pierceton Middle School vs Pamela Hale. Judgment for plaintiff $44.85 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Debra Rose. Judgment for plaintiff $34.90 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Deborah Finker. Judgment for plaintiff $37.20p1us costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Patty Shafer. Judgment for plaintiff $60.85 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Patricia Hull. Judgment for plaintiff s9.3oplus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Amos Hunt. Judgment for plaintiff $44.85 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Michael Hackworth. Judgment for plaintiff $37.20 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Brenda Baldridge. Judgment for plaintiff $37.20. Pierceton Middle School vs Bob Hurt. Judgment for plaintiff $34.90 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Jack Hurt. Judgment for plaintiff $34.90 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Robert Laskowski. Judgment for plaintiff $37.20. Pierceton Middle School vs Edwin Reeves. Judgment for plaintiff #30.90 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Bonnie Prater. Judgment for plaintiff $34.90 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Ronald Peconga. Judgment for plaintiff $34.90 plus costs. Pierceton Middle School vs Rex Menzie. Judgment for plaintiff $56.80. County Court Goshen Division The following fines plus court costs have been levied and paid in Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Speeding — Pamela D. Scherer, 30, Syracuse, $56; David A. Melton, Jr., 22, Warsaw, $63; Robert C. Willits, 55, Syracuse, S7O; Amy S. Hochstetler, 20, Syracuse, SSB Failure to use seat belt — Chester D. Elder, Sr., 56, Syracuse,s2s No operator’s license — Chester D. Elder, Sr., 56, Syracuse,ss4 City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Ronald W. Brass, 19, Milford, $73; Jeffrey A Haab, 16, Syracuse,s6B

Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk, Jeanne Weirick: Turner-Fleshman Lloyd D. Turner, 44, r 2, box 53-B, Syracuse and Phyllis J. Fleshman,■ 40, r 2, box 53-B, Syracuse. Schrock-Manges Terry L. Schrock, 42, P.O. Box 181, Syracuse, and Kerrie D. Manges, 41, P.O. Box 608, Milford. Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in the Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Walker — Penny L. Walker, r 1, box 388, Nprth Webster and Larry G. Walker, r 1, Warsaw. The couple was married June 25,1979 and separated November 9, 1987. There are two minor children. Petitioner seeks custody. Shelton — Claudia Rae Shelton, Kosciusko County and Virgil Lynn Shelton, r 1, box 230-31, Etna Green. The couple was married October 18, 1986 and separated November 12, 1987. Petitioner seeks restoration of her maiden name of McLaughlin. Felger — Craig Felger, r 1, box 109-B, Mentone and Vickie Felger, r 1, box 623-9, Leesburg. The couple was married June 14, 1975 and separated October 3, 1987. There are two minor children. Cassidy — Bobbie J. Cassidy, Kosciusko County and Thomas P. Cassidy, 1112'/ 2 Chestnut, Winona Lake. The couple was married April 13, 1985 and separated November 9, 1987. There is one minor child. Circuit Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding: Complaint On Account B & P Creative Laminates, Inc. vs Van American, Inc., 2766 E. College Ave., Goshen. Plaintiff seeks $107,449.47 plus interest and costs. Legal Separation Diane Rager, Kosciusko County and Jeffrey Dale Rager, 903 Robson Rd., Winona Lake. Plaintiff seeks custody of four minor children. Complaint Jabin Industries, Inc., d/b/a Safe-Way Door, Warsaw vs Skyline Building, Inc. and David L. Schemmel. Plaintiff seeks jointly and severally $1,252.63 and for additional finance charges, for interest, costs, and all other relief proper. Petition For Writ Os Certiorari Robert E. Snyder and Connie Snyder vs Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals and John Rayburn. Petitioner seeks citation issue for Board of Zoning Appeals to show cause why a Writ of Certiorari should not issue herein and for such further orders as may be provided for by law and which the court shall deem just and proper. ♦ (Continued on page 5)

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S. PS. 3258 4000) Published by the Mell Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 46567. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices Subscription: *l7 per year In Kosciusko Coupty; *23 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mall Journal, P O Box IM, Milford, Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

I' ’ W if - ' v JL s■ ’

BEAVER DAM BASKETBALL TEAM, circa 1934 — Remembered is the 1934 Beaver Dam High School basketball team that won the county, sectional, and regional basketball tournaments and went to the state finals at the Butler Fieldhouse, to be defeated by Richmond. It was Beaver Dam’s second consecutive year to go to Indianapolis. In front from left are Frank Cumberland, Gerald Bidelman, Devon Tucker, Clair McFarland and Eugene Marshall. Seated are l-r, Dean Swick, Verne Reid, Donald Bidelman and Kermit Leininger. Standing, l-r, are student manager Joe Karns, coach Walter Kindy and Principal John McSherry.

A UR SPORTS page article Ilast week concerning II I Beaver Dam’s basketball I XZ wins that took them to the state tournament in 1933 and 1934 — and quoting extensively from Ray Gard’s column in the South Bend Tribune — caught the eye of Maurice Dorsey. Dorsey is a North Webster farmer (he also sells insurance) and four-term Kosciusko County Commissioner from the northern district. Dorsey was a powerhouse on the North Webster basketball team in the mid-19305. He played alongside Thomas Warner, later a twoterm Kosciusko County auditor; Maurice Scott of Pierceton, a former member of the Whitko school board; Claude Beezley, killed in Europe in World War II; and Bernard Roberts, also a North Webster farmer Dorsey showed up with yellowed copies of the old Warsaw Daily Times and The Northern fndianian, which pretty well told the Beaver Dam story as it unfolded in the old Warsaw armory building. It’s well remembered that Beaver Dam coach Walter Kindy took his team to the state tournament.as a favored “dark horse” team in both 1933 and 1934. There was no such town as Beaver Dam — only a small school with a very limited number of students The remarkable part of the story is that such a powerful team could come out of such a small school. The only other Kosciusko County school to get as far as the state tournament two times was the Syracuse Yellowjackets, and that was in 1921 and 1925. Ray Gard’s column was in error in stating Beaver Dam only suited up five members. Actually, they had nine players, as the above photo testifies. ' Maurice Dorsey points out that it was no sure thing that Beaver Dam breezed through the sectional tournament in 1933 on its way to the Butler Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. They nearly got tripped up by Mentone in the semi-finals of the sectional tournament on Saturday afternoon. With 13 seconds to play, Gerald Bidelman, the Beaver’s 6’4” center, put in a one-handed toss from the 17-foot zone for a final score of Beaver Dam 12, Mentone 10. The news story of that fateful game gives Mentone credit for controlling the ball all through the game, making the Beaver Dam Victory all the more exciting. Dorsey’s Mentone team was dropped by Beaver Dam in the first round of play, final score 29 to 16. Then, in the final 1933 sectional game on Saturday night, Beaver Dam won over the Warsaw Tigers 40 to 32, sending them to the Auburn regional tournament. Warsaw staked its claim on John Widaman, their smooth center, but Bidelman was too much for him. Widaman went on to become a Warsaw attorney, I.U. trustee and was later killed in an airplane explosion over North Vietnam. It was no easy thing lor Beaver Dam to come out of the regional meet at Auburn the following year playing Saturday afternoon and evening, March 10, 1934. In the afternoon the Beavers played neighboring Columbia City and won 35 to 30, and in the finals that evening they defeated Ligonier 34 to 33. They met Richmond at the Butler Fieldhouse, the largest basketball arena in the state at that time, and it was there that the Beaver Dam saga ended. (Editor’s Note: See James E. Lough’s Letter to the Editor on the opposite page in this regard.) All this was very heady stuff, coming as it did before fast cars, school consolidations, television, and all that. High School basketball was “king” in the mid-19305. ft was much-talked-about real life drama. Beaver Dam never did have a town — only a consolidated country school — and doesn’t even have a school today. Beaver Dam will never be the same. But the memories linger on for such ardent fans as

Maurice Dorsey — just to mention one. THE HEX Grange calls its Saturday night Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner clearly a success Milly Ginger says they fed just at 300 and hope to duplicate this number at its spring swiss steak dinner sometime in March or April. The two dinners make up the Grange’s fund-raisers, something that has gone on for some 25 to 30 years. Their “take home” amounted to something over SI,OOO Saturday night. For anyone who hasn’t been a guest at one of these dinners before, it proves an eye-opener. Plaudits to the volunteer kitchen help for giving the correct “do” to the turkey and “fixin’s.” Milly says their Community Service Project — fixing up the northeaster corner of SR 13 and US 6 — which won a state championship award, didn't do as well nationally. She said a 3,000-member Washington Grange took those first place honors. THERE’S ALWAYS a wag who latches onto one of our stories to embellish it to his/her own liking. Take the editorial on this page last week, for example, the one dealing with the school, where we commented editorially on an assortment of subjects: The purchase of land for a new Syracuse/North Webster Middle School, the superintendent’s salary increase and his new rental vehicle, and so on. One wag close to the school situation commented that when teacher negotiations come up in the spring, teachers were going to ask for an 8 percent salary increase and a 10-speed bicycle for each teacher. Or, if the package doesn’t include the bike, they would accept a flat 8.2 percent salary increase! SYRACUSE HAS its Christmas decorations in place and they look nice, thanks in large part to Bob Koeber of Triax Cablevision and Kip Schumm of the S-W Chamber of Commerce. Others on the job Sunday include Bill Beemer, Bob Curtis and Dennis Jones. There are 40 decorations in all, posted on utility pole standards. About $1,300 was raised during the past year with the circus in the Village to update the decorations, and more is to be done, according to Kip Schumm. OOPS! WE knew Jay and Lucille Peffley were avid Wawasee Warrior basketball fans, and we knew they had purchased season tickets to home basketball games for 26 years. But we slipped up when we stated in this column a week ago that Jay and Lucille held the same seats for 26 years. We’ve been reminded — over and over again — that the first season tickets they could have purchased at the new school was for the 1967-68 season for a total of 20 years. The other six years were season tickets for the games played at Syracuse High School. Jay remembers this, inasmuch as his daughter Cheryl was valedictorian of the class of 1967 of Syracuse High School. It has been called to our attention that others have been just as faithful Warrior fans. Two, for example, are Phil and Eva Payne of North Webster. They have a “perfect record” as basketball fans at Wawasee High School. We’re sure there are others, and if we attempt to acknowledge them all — Wow! We’ll have a job on our hands. If we’re looking for any consolation in all this, it has to be that a good many people are reading the fine print in this column. THE FACT that Gerald Hen wood, owner with his wife Marian (Mae) of the farm south of Syracuse, a portion of which was recently purchased by the Wawasee School Corporation for a new middle school, died at his Arizona home on Wednesday, Nov. 18, in no way upset plans the school board now has on the drawing board. Henwood's death occurred at his Green Valley, Ariz. home, but the Henwoods signed a contract for the purchase of the 35-acre school site on Friday, Nov. 6, prior to leaving for Arizona on Sunday or Monday, Nov. 8 or 9, according to the school’s legal counsellor Robert Reed. (Continued on page 5)