The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 45, Milford, Kosciusko County, 23 December 1987 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., December 23,1987

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Editorial

In those days ‘ a decree went but from Caesar Augustus that ail the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn Luke 2:1-7 RSV They're at it again — Members of the Wawasee School Corporation’s board of trustees should know by now that they cannot hold executive sessions during public meetings. It’s illegal according to Indiana’s Open Door Law, passed in 1977 and amended in 1979. And yet, the attempt at such a maneuver occurred in the high school auditorium Thursday afternoon at the public hearing of Milford teacher Donna Pollen. Mrs. Pollen has been on suspension (with pay) since September 10. on a morais charge. She had asked for a public hearing? Mrs. Pollen had engaged an attorney, and he had hot had time to fully acquaint himself with the case, thus was asking for a continuance. Charles Rubright of Indianapolis, serving as special counsel for the school board, ushered the board to a secluded spot to poll the five members to see if they felt they should grant the continuance. Linda Mullen, reporter for the South Bend Tribune, was immediately on her feet and ascended to the stage to follow the board into its executive session. She was quickly followed by reporters from Fort Wayne, Goshen, Warsaw and by our own Carla Gaff. All of these reporters are familiar with the Open Door Law and its provisions. So should have been Rubright. Rubright contended the meeting was not a regular school board meeting, but rather a hearing, similar to a court of law hearing, to which the Open Door Law does not apply. The Mail-Journal consulted Richard Cardwell, counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association, promulgators of the original Open Door Law, and was told Rubright was incorrect. Cardwell said, “The Open Door Law makes no exceptions for quasi-judicial privileges.” Cardwell said Rubright was “dead wrong,” adding, “he should read the layv and stop wasting his time analogizing.” This pould be written off as an oversight, if it was the first time the executive session clause of the law was abused. But this is not the case. At the August 19 school board meeting, the board went off stage for an illegal executive session, and was told about it in a Mail-Journal editorial by Mark Huffman the following day. The Tippecanoe Township Trustee and Advisory Board decided to give the school board some company last anight — meeting in executive session in the middle of a public meeting. Attorney Bob Reed stated that proper notice had been made prior to the meeting. However, he failed to realize that executive sessions are to be held prior to/or after public meetings — not in the midst of them. Perhaps an Open Door Law seminar is overdue for our area attorneys and governing boards. We feel it’s our responsibility to be a strong advocate of the public’s right to know — and every time governing bodies go into illegal executive session, to remind them and their counsel that it is illegal and will not be ignored.

What others say — Gratis Cynical reality tells us there is no free lunch. Givers expect a return on their good heartedness whether it be in the form of gratitude, public acclaim or a reciprocal gift. Remove the incentives and the probability of being given something for nothing is small. All of which is simply to say that human nature raises the question of what’s-in-it-for-us whenever we are asked to part with what we regard as ours. A great deal of so-called philanthropy is tied to tax writeoffs, with the added incentive of the donor’s name perpetuated in stone or bronze. These tendencies make the Christmas Story all the more miraculous. At least one time in the history of man a Gift was given to undeserving persons who were totally unable to respond in kind. We could not, cannot, reciprocate because what was given nearly 2,000 years ago was the gift of peace on earth and the good will of God toward men. This holiday time, especially, it would be easy to ask where one finds peace and whether an all-wise God is in charge of economic and social events. It is in times like these, however, that the true magnitude of the Christmas Gift is seen. The coming of the long-awaited Child made it possible for each of us to have peace in the midst of chaos, an inner tranquility which transcends the events around us. The prophet Isaiah said it well hundreds of years before the birth of Bethlehem: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder.; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The*Prince of Peace.” Peace, it’s what Christmas is all about. May you and yours have it in abundance during the holidays and all of 1988. - AUTOMATIC MACHINING: DECEMBER 1987

O' HOLY NIGHT

x®. wj|| • fl Remember Christ our Savior, was born on Christmas Day.

Court news

Circuit Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding: Complaint Debra Miller vs Mary McFar ren and Syracuse Rubber Pro ducts, Inc., Syracuse. Count I: Plamtitt demands judgment against the Defendant in a sum reasonable in the premises. Count II: Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant in the amount of $1,100; costs of action and all other relief just and proper. Count III: Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant in a sum reasonable; for costs of ac tion, and for all further and proper relief. Petition For Support Carol Pitts vs Henry Joe Pitts, Mentone. Count I: Plaintiff demands that this court enter Orders for support; Orders for reimbursement of The Indiana State Department of Public Welfare; for costs and all relief Count II: Wherefore your affiant moves the Court to enter provisional orders upon the obligated parent for support, and all other relief proper. Complaint Robert Schafer d/b/a Unique Homes vs Harold D. Beck and Marion F. Beck, r 3, Syracuse. Count I: Plaintiff seeks damages sustained from his reliance upon Defendants’ false representations; for costs, and all other relief just and proper. Count II: Plaintiff prays the court to order Defendants to pay all outstanding bills arising from said building project; for costs herein; attorney’s fees, and all other relief just and proper. Complaint Milford Motors, Inc. vs Brenda Stamper, Syracuse. Count I: Plaintiff, by councel, respectfully prays the court for entery of judgment of $807.69; for costs; for attorney’s fees, and all other relief proper. Count II: Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant for $324.92, plus interest, costs, attorney’s fees, and all other proper relief. Complaint Dennis Polk and Danny Thompson vs H.D. Cooper, Chickomaugo, Ga. Plaintiff seeks $1,154.80 and $1,383.37, plus interest, costs, and all further and proper relief. Complaint For Damages Lisa Lemasters and James Lemasters vs Richard Scott Snyder, r 1, Leesburg, and Morsches Lumber Col, Inc., r 9, Columbia City. Plaintiff seeks judgment against Defendants, and each of them, in such amounts as will fairly compensate them for their losses herein, together with all other just and proper relief to which they, and each of them, may be entitled. County Court The following persons have paid fines and costs in Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrett presiding: No Registration Plates — Mark R. Aker, 17, Syracuse, dismissed. Speeding — David Collins, 18, Leesburg, $80; Chris Elder, 18, Syracuse, $65. Child Restraint — Barbara L. Shepherd, 38, Leesburg, $53. Public Intoxication — Jeffery N. Reed, 30, Syracuse, $153. Leaving Scene P.D. Accident — Scotty Van Scoit, 16, Leesburg, dismissed Goshen Division The following fines plus court costs have been levied and paid in Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Speeding — Tammy S. Shoopman, 27, Milford, SSB; John C. Bruger, 17, Syracuse, $73 with S2O suspended and defendent must attend defensive driving school;

Curt Davis. 18, Warsaw, $63; Brad A. LeCount, 22, Milford, $63; David D. Huff, 20, Milford, SSB; Javier H. Delafuente, 37, Milford, SSB Disregard stop sign — Jodi D. Dallas, 29, Milford, SSB Expired plate — Danny W. Shoopman, 27. Milford, $54 Failure to yield — Julian D. Hite, 81. Syracuse. SSB Failure to use seat belt — Ron Maggert, 24. Syracuse. $25 Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: Cooper-Gibbs Michael Darby Cooper, 25, 718 S. Huntington, Syracuse, and Cindy Sue Gibbs, 30, 718 S. Huntington, Syracuse. CHLPP-WHITMYER Emanuel Chupp Jr., 29, 618 S. Harrison, Syracuse, and Brenda Ann Whitmyer. 26, 618 S. Harrison, Syracuse. Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in the Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Marriage Dissolutions Stover — Larry Gene Stover, Tippecanoe Lake, and Nancy Johan Stover, r 8, Warsaw. The couple was married January 4, 1968 and separated November 26, 1987. Small Claims The following judgments have been awarded in Small Claims Division, Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrett presiding: Ford Motor Credit Co. vs Dora M. Clingerman. Judgment for the plaintiff $1,534.73 plus S3O court costs. Augsburger’s Super Valu vs Kathy S. Marshall. Judgment for the plaintiff $250 plus $55 court costs. Jay L. Lavender vs Adam Slone. Judgment for the plaintiff $640 plus $22 court costs. Roberta E. Rose, M.D. Inc. vs Douglas Blanton Sr. Judgment for the plaintiff $987.60 plus $22 court costs. Sears Roebuck & Co. vs Odell Herron. Judgment for the plaintiff $694.06 plus S3O court costs. Elois and Alice Brown vs John and Sherrie Pratt. Judgment for the plaintiff $1,418.30 plus S3O court costs. Swanson Service Center/Joe R. Swanson vs Ellsworth Freight Lines/ Frederick Eugene Miner. Judgment for the plaintiff $1,303.42 plus S3O court costs. Virginia Cain vs William Locke. Judgment for the plaintiff $64.25 plus S3O court costs. Virginia Cain vs Janet Carter. Judgment for the plaintiff $36.48 plus S3O court costs. Virginia Cain vs Allee Calhoun. Judgment for the plaintiff $153.11 (Continued on page 5)

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 Office at Syracuse, Indiana 46567. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: sl7 per year In Kosciusko County; $23 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mall Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN. ■ AROUND 'CUS-E"

o 1V .1 ERRY CHRISTMAS! ° This is our fondest wish for those who take a moment each week to scan this column. And even to those who regularly read The M-J, but find little redeeming value to Cruzin’ Around ’Cuse. As we “work the street” each week td glean a few nuggets that we hope would be of some local interest, often times we fall short. Then there is a line up (not a very big one, to.be sure) of those who proffer worthwhile little gems for publication. It’s a very Merry Christmas to them all. A few years ago we did a column on what a number of local people had a right to expect in their Christmas stocking. It was less than sensational reading, so we didn't do it again. But it is the season of good cheer among men. And, again, we offer a heartfelt MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. —o— THE OLDEST church in Syracuse, the Church of God at 113 East Washington, is keeping up with the times. We are reminded by member Jack Elam that it was built during the years 1866-67, and was dedicated October 13, 1867. So, what's new? The old part of the structure is receiving a new look, Eldm would have us know. The windows on the west side of the sanctuary are being removed and the openings closed up. The outside is being covered with aluminum siding. And a new entrance door and a wheelchair ramp are being installed on the west side so that the physically handicapped may have easier access to attend worship services. o - . - . INCIDENTALLY, ELAM and Kathryn Hibschman co-authored a handsome small booklet, titled The Church On The Hill, A History of the Syracuse Church of God, 1863-1987, and has copies for sale at $5 each. It has a wealth of information on this “first church,” about how other embryonic churches in Syracuse met there until they could get their own church started. The congregation first met at the old Meloy School located between Syracuse and Milford, but quickly moved to its new Syracuse home when it was completed. Old names pop up in this booklet, folks who are ancestors of present-day residents. A U.S. Congressman, Joseph H. DeFrees, who lived in Syracuse and Goshen, pastored the church three different times, beginning in 1874. We would advise anyone interested in the town’s history to latch on to this valuable little historical piece. —o— COMPLEX LEGALITIES involving heirs of the estate of Carlyle Gans of Syracuse have been resolved in order to make way for a 13.3 acre river fropt land addition to Elkhart’s city park system, according to an article in The Elkhart Truth. Involved in the transaction was the Elkhart Rivergreenway»Land, which extends along the west side of the Elkhart River south of Indiana Avenue to Lusher Avenue, purchased by the park department for $15,375, „ In 1971 the late Mr. Gans donated a tot lot, now called Gans Park, to the city of Elkhart. Only problem is, this column has been unable to find out who Carlyle Gans of Syracuse was. IN THE now-they-tell-us department, we were late in learning some local information about Mark Potuck, the entertainment for the evening at the S-W Rotary Club a week ago Thursday night at the club’s 40th anniversary party. Mark wowed the Rotarians and their guests all right, using his best Polish accent. He pawned himself off as a somewhat zany “Dr. Stosh,” a Polish proctologist. He was sweatered, bearded, most everything one would expect from a crazy European medic. But he did get his health hints across — very well. We didn’t know at the time, however, that the good doctor is from Elkhart and has a summer home on Lake Papakeechie.

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AT SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Ginni Xanders is in front of the modernistic Opera House in Sydney, Australia. A relatively new structure, it is a relatively unorthodox shell-like building that is said to be an acoustical marvel. ‘ '

SOMETIMES YOU think you’ve heard of it all, then something like this turns up. To their utter dismay, Bob and Rosalyn Jones received this unusual holiday greeting: a green leaf bearing a hand-written holiday greeting and a 22c and 10c postage stamp. On the other side was their Lake Wawasee address. The card came from their friends, Bill and Christy Nicklin, of St. Louis, Missouri. City carrier Matt Neises, who delivers mail to the SyracuM Public Library where Rosalyn holds forth, yid he had never seen anything like this before. RALPH THORNBURG plans to leave Saturday for Denver, Colo.*, to visit daughter Jill, then go to Phoenix, Ariz., for the winter. Ralph held a Sunday pre-Christmas buffet at his North Shore Drive home for his many friends in the Syracuse community prior to heading west. TWO CARDS from Pete Savage from Cape Town, South Africa — “where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.” One was written atop Table Mountain, 3,000 feet above Cape Town bearing a special stamp. He reports Cape Town has temperatures in the 80s, and that he is leaving for Perth, West Australia. BILL AND Ginni Xanders are home from their open-ended trip to the Orient and have a lot of wonderful tales to tell. While they hit major cities, their memories of Bangkok, Thailand, bring back the fondest of their fond memories. Bill has developed into a consummate story teller, and their trip has provided plenty of fuel for his stories. Ginni, meanwhile, kept a close chronicle of the events as they enfolded, using a portable typewriter. The M-J has been printing her accounts in serial form — the one on page 14 in this issue being the fifth. She’s an English major and does a super job. “Does anyone read this stuff? we asked Bill. His reply, “You’d better believe it.” He said he was utterly surprised at the number of people who commented to the two veteran travelers about their accounts, often relating similar accounts of their own. Bill showed us a breakfast menu of Moose McGillycuddy’s, a less than fanciful eating establishment in Honolulu, Hawaii. The breakfast menu highlighted “21 famous omelettes,” including Ronald Reagan Omelette, Popeye Omeletter, Arnold the Pig Omelette, Senor Omelette and Dagwood Omelette, just to mention a few. Ginni tried a Dagwood Omelette, of bacon, lettuce, tomato with ham and cheese. Bill had the Begger's Banquet, a $2.69 special of three eggs, country potatoes, Texas toast and ham. The whole menu was crazy, but done in such away as to excite one’s curiosity and to draw one’s attention. Have Bill show it to you.

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XANDERS IN BANGKOK — BUI and Ginni Xanders of Syracuse are standing in front of a centuries-old temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Bill seems tqhave “gone native” with his headgear.