The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 51, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 February 1988 — Page 1

Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 26

C of C needs $25,000 to bring Mier back to Syracuse

I By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer A consensus by members of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors was given this morning (Wednesday) to pursue finding away to bring the Mier car back to Syracuse. The Mier was developed by Sheldon Harkless, Syracuse native, in Syracuse and only 10 were manufactured.

Weather causes delay — * ' > Winter Carnival events this Friday, Saturday

(By NEVIN DULABAL'M Staff Writer The Syracuse Winter Carnival was warmed-out last weekend, the second year in a row, as unseasonably high temperatures melted the thawed the ice, and /caused the postponement of many scheduled events. Because the Winter Carnival committee found itself in the same predicament last year and had scheduled a second weekend as an alternate date, most of the delayed activities will take place, weather permitting, this Saturday and Sunday, F/eb. 6 and 7. rescheduled for Saturday include Snowmobile Drag races, a 3-wheel ATV race, and the Kitty Kat Snowmobile race. Registration for these activities will take place between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Park Pavilion. Registration for the Kiddy Pedal Pull will open at 9:30 a.m. in the Wawasee High School Agriculture Building.

Students treated

Toluene fumes dose school

By MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer Ten Syracuse School , students and one teacher were taken to Goshen Hospital and later released after being exposed to toluene fumes in a classroom at the rear of the school, at 11:49 a.m. last Thursday, Jan. 28. The elementary and middle schools were dismissed at 12:55 p.m., with parents of the affected students being notified immediately. Students in the first and third periods of an industrial technologies class were heattreating metal after using a marking compound and were cleaning putty knives with a solvent. The oven used to heat-treat the metal, at a temperature of 374 degrees fahrenheit, was emitting fumes from a plastic substance found in the bottom of the oven. Unaware of the plastic, four students in the third period, along with their instructor, Rex Rymers, began to feel nauseous and light headed. While some students began to feel ill during their second period classes, it wasn’t until the third period that school officials were made aware of the problem and began to take precautionary measures. After evacuating and ventilating the area, the Syracuse Emergency Medical Service and North Webster EMS responded with one ambulance each at 11:49 am., while additional trips were made at 12:53 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.

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Bill 'Beemer stated, with the help of Harry Appenzeller, the 1905 Mien was located at Imperial Palace, Las Vegas, Nev. Beemer wrote a letter to Richy Kline, administrator at the Palace, indicating Syracuse would like to have the car placed in its permanent museum. Kline was also told there were limited funds. . Kline responded with ’photographs of the vehicle, which had been restored. He noted the Palace was not interested in selling the vehicle, however because of the community's historical

Events will begin at 10 a.m., with the Kiddy Pedal Pull in the Agricultural Building.; Snowmobile drag races will corm mence -at 1 p.m. at Lakeside Park, which will be followed by the Kitty Kat Snowmobile race. At 3 p.m., the Wawasee Kiwanis/Rinker Boat Company ATV race will be held at the same location. Sunday’s slate will consist of the Wawasee Kiwanis/Rinker Boat Company 100-mile Snowmobile Enduro challenge, which begins at 1 p.m. at Lakeside Park. Activities that have been cancelled include: a snowman bCiilding contest; ice skating events and races; a sledding contest; and the Winter Carnival Cross Country Experience. Wawasee Jaycee Horse-drawn sleighs rides are scheduled to be available for rides from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., but will be contingent on snow. Weather reports are calling for colder temperatures and snow in the next couple of days. However, persons may want to call the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of

Some of the students were carried to the ambulances, while others were able to walk with assistance. According to one scene, by the time the second wave of students was taken to the hospital the first wave had been

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QUICK REACTION — Two Syracuse Emergency Medical Service technicians walk a student to an awaiting ambulance at Syracuse School Thursday afternoon, Jan. 28. Syracuse and North Webster Emergency Medical Services were commended by Goshen Hospital after quickly administering treatment to 10 students and one teacher from an industrial technology ClflSS.: Emergency personnel transported the group to the hospital after being notified of fumes being emitted. All were treated and released. (Photo by Mark Huffman)

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907) WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3,1988

point of view, they would sell the car to the town for $25,000. During the discussion Beemer noted nK_and Jeanne Gardiner had met with the Syracuse Library Board, and selected one plan, out of six, for the new library expansion. “Therp will be room for the car in the museum,” noted Beemer. Beemer will be personally contacting the Palace to negotiate the price, as well as trying to seek financial backing. In oth&r new business, the Syracuse Jaycees received the blessings of the chamber for a

Commerce office, 457-5637 to confirm dates and times of events. Although Mother Nature did not cooperate last week with snow and freezing temperatures, Race coordinator Larry Michael is optimistic that the races will be run this weekend. ‘‘l think there’s enough ice out there for us if we don’t lose anymore,” Michael said. “I think we have about a 50-50 chance that the events will go on as scheduled. It is supposed to get colder by the weekend, so I’m leaning towards believing that the ice will be ready. ’ ’ Some Eyents Held With great anticipation, people who planned on participating in the ninth annual Winter Carnival watched snow fall on Monday, Jan. 25. With several inches of accumulation, along with freezing temperatures, it appeared as though the Jan. 30 and 31 carnival would go on as scheduled. However, by Saturday, Jan. 30, the winter wonderland had been transformed into soggy, muddy z land. With a temperature of 43; degrees at 8 a.m., along wjth a-'. snowless landscape and a) half inch of water on the quickly thaw- / ing Lake Syracuse, the Winter Carnival committee reluctantly

released. Those students taken by EMS units included: Ann Bender, 14; Denise Bender, 12; William Bryant, 12; Sam Cannon, 9; Brian Donat, 13; Troy Feaster, 14; Mark Requejo, 14; Stephanie Skelton, 15; Dustin Stahley, 13, and Mike Vorheis, 13. An

fund-raiser of offering a discount coupon book. This book, unlike ones in the past, will be printed, sold and distributed in Syracuse. It is hoped to have the book available by April. In committee reports Bronners from Michigan will be invited to Syracuse to evaluate and make recommendations on Christmas decorations for the town. This will be at no cost. Mrs. Gardiner, chamber president, announced the rural numbering will happen as the commissioners voted for the baseline system earlier in the

postponed most of the Winter Carnival activities. Scheduled events that were able to go on as planned were: an ice-fishing contest; the Todd Realty 5K Winter Road race; a fireworks presentation, and the Winter Carnival Dance. Ed Bogart of; the Fish & Fun Resort was the sponsor of the icefishing contest. Bogart said 95 people entered the competition, although he was certain the number would have easily passed 100 if the temperature had been; below freezing. He explained that several people not familiar with the lakes had arrived for the event, but were a bit hesitant to go out on the ice due to pelting. The contest lastecf all day Saturday, with the prizes being awarded on Sunday at Fish & Fun. The winners were: Bass - Don Berkey (Goshen), 20 3/4”; Crappie - Sam Cleland (Ligonier), 14”; Pike - Greg Ummel (Leesburg), 37” Northern; / Bluegill >—-Richard Metzler i (GoshenX 9”; and Perch - Andrew Schwartz (Nappanee), 11”. An addition to the Pike title, Umf mel captured the overall prize. Special awards also went to Brian Hensley, who was one of

unknown number of other students were transported to the hospital by private vehicles. The Kosciusko County Health Department was also called to determine the problem and its possible effects. After a thorough investigation, Chief Sanitarian Jon Cupp confirmed that the toluene, which is commonly used as a solvent for lacquers, would «, have no lasting effects. School resumed aKB a.m. Friday, while parents were notified of the problem and renlinded about emergency preparedness measures through a newsletter sent home with students Friday afternoon. Battery, tape deck - among items stolen Two incidents of theft were reported to Syracuse Police Monday, Feb. 1, while one of the cases also involved vandalism. Hibschman Motors Inc., 731 S. Huntington St., reported the theft of a battery from a 1983 Ford Escort that was parked on the north side of its lot. The theft was believed to have occurred sometime Sunday night, Jan. 31. Extensive damage was caused to a 1979 Z2B Camaro owned by Larry Germonprez while it was parked at the Precision Automotive parking lot sometime the evening of January 22. Stolen were an in-dash Pioneer tape deck, valued at $450; two Pioneer speakers, $125; a radar detector, $l5O, and one Sanyo power booster equalizer, $250. Speakers were also smashed, the driver’s seat cut, pieces of the dash broken, and the console was damaged.

week. She said the commissioners stated they did not need help or assistance from the private sector, as offered by the rural numbering committee. It was also announced the next . Chamber newsletter will be out on February 15 and pommittee chairpersons were asked to submit a brief report. ; ✓ The next chamber board meeting will be Wednesday, March 2, at 7:45 a.m. in the State Bank of Syracuse. This meeting is open to anyone interested in attending.

the contestants who signed up for the competition before Jan. 22; and K.J. Keene (Syracuse), who captured two 6 pound walleye. The Todd Realty 5K Winter Road Race began at 10 a.m. on Saturday, in front of the Lakeland Daycare Center. With the balmy weather, the 42 participants had no trouble completing the 3.1 mile course. Brian Shepherd of Helmer, In., and Pete Bowman, of Angola, set a quick pace the race, .rr-d then grabbed each other’s hand right before the finish line at Lakeside Park so they could p** See photos on page 2 share the victory. The two friends crossed the line in 15:45, breaking Bryan Sponseller’s one year record of 17:05. Sponseller finished third in 15:58. Lucy Bowman, of Angola, was the first-place runner in the women’s division. Lucy took the title with a time of 21:23. Along with the overall winners, medals were awarded to the first and second place winners of different age categories. Saturday’s limited activities concluded in the evening, with a fireworks display over Lake Syracuse, and then the Winter Carnival'Dance. The dance was sponsored by the Enchanted Hills Playhouse Guild at the American Legion, and proved to be a popular event. Chamber of Commerce President Jeanne Gardiner said 255 tickets were originally printed for the dance, but were quickly sold. Seventy - five additional tickets were handmade to meet the additional demand, which meant approx(Continued on page 2)

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CLEAN UP STARTED — Darrell Custer of Superior Excavating, Warsaw, started cleaning up the debris Monday afternoon of this week from the fire that destroyed Evans Family Store on Main Street in Milford. The fire, which occurred early Monday morning, Jan. 11,

♦' 1 r ; -J A!®® I- s w Wk* wK ' ]*. \ .JI i wil -w - *j| L - --T—---•"B - "H ■ /*"?■ W “-I ? jHB jMHHI X i DONATION PURCHASES DOLLS — Lakeland ’Eagles Aerie 3760, Syracuse, donated the necessary funds to, the Syracuse Police Department to purchase four anatomically correct dolls. These dolls, costing over SIOO each, will be used in a new program provided by the police department on child exploitation. The program will be introduced to the public in February with the assistance of Sgt. Terry Hall of Indianapolis. Once the program is implemented within the Syracuse Schools, Syracuse will be-the second police department in the state to offer the program. Indianapolis is the only other depart the program. Syracuse PoliceOfticers Ron Moser and Robert J. Houser have attended training to present the program. . V Shown in the photo with the dolls are John Naab, Syracuse School principal; Chief Robert Ziller; Toby Cross, Eagles secretary; Officer Houser; and Floyd Heath, Eagles president. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

All bids rejected on old freshman high

(By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer The Warsaw. Redevelopment Commission voted Monday, Feb. 1, to move back to square one and possibly seek another plan .altogether in tackling the sale of the old freshman high property. The commission voted 4-1 in favor of rejecting all bids, seeking additional time from the Warsaw School Board and checking into purchasing the property themselves. Commissioner Doug Grant cast the only nonconforming vote. Although at this time the com-, mission doesn’t have an accepted bid in hand, the major concern of the city, retaining control of the property, is still there, commented Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank. The city has until February 17 to sell the if an extension isn’t granted by the school board. The commission voted to sell the property to DeMars (with office space for Maple Leaf) for $317,500, and reject the higher bids of $425,100 and $485,000 made by Marsh and Krogers respectively, on Jan. 19. However, on Jan. 26, city attorney Michael Valentine advised commission

members against going through with their decision. He said, “The DeMars bid has irretrievable faults, and for you to receive it would be very wrong.” He did not advise the commission on accepting any of the other bids, but stated, the commission may be obligated to accept one of the others if it meets all the bid specifications. Valentine told the commission, Manfijh officials have asked for the proceedings and were concerned that DeMars made a change in its original bid. Plank addressed the commission this week saying, “We do have an obligation to the school corporation. Although they seem to favor your selection as to the nature of the development, they, like many, wish us to remain very sensitive in regard to the financial dependency of any development in the city. We need to reduce to any extent we can, the city’s marriage to any financial package which will prevent 'taxes from flowing normally from any development on the site in question.” Warsaw city officials have worked nearly a year and a half, attempting to get the “best” purchaser for the site, because of concern for the downtown area. However, since November 30, the effort has been more concentrated, due to the Warsaw School

destroyed the Evans store. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Custer stated that he should have the job completed by the end of the week. (Photo by Linda Musselman)

NUMBER 51

Board giving the city only 10 days to make an offer on the property. At the end of the 10 days (Dec. 14) a joint resolution between the city and the school was formed, r at which time the city was given an additional 62 days to sell the property. The resolution stipulated if the city was unable to sell the property within the allotted time frame, it would be sold on the auction block by the school. During this week’s meeting, commissioner Terry Klondaris said, “We want one thing, and that’s what’s best for the city of Warsaw.” He went on to say, the original bid specifications had no place for Tax Increment Financing (TIF), tax abatement and so forth, therefore all the bids can be considered faulty. The DeMars bid, which included the relocating of Maple Leaf Farms’ corporate offices, originally asked for tax abatement, and later settled on TIF. While the Marsh bid also asked for TIF in the the property, and the area arodnd it. The Krogers bid did not haveextended information concerning TIF or tax abatement. “We need to remain sensitive y. to the fact that many of the School corporation’s taxpayers are our taxpayers as well,” said Plank. Continuing he stated, “A (Continued on page 2)

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