The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 9, Milford, Kosciusko County, 13 April 1988 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., April 13,1988

Editorial

Still awaiting results It was one year ago last week, in an editorial, that we questioned the Milford Town Board’s effectiveness in dealing with the dilemma of substandard housing. It has been eight years since an initial complaint was filed by town resident Diane May about a property at 112 E. Fourth St., owned by Ron Davidhizar. May claimed that the house on that property had a sewage problem, attracted rats, and listed a number of structural problems. It wasn’t until five years later that Building Inspector Harry Doty stated that the house “should be condemned” and that it was “not fixable.” The house is still standing. And, while there is no one living in the structure, according to Town Marshal David Hobbs, “It is a safety hazard to children who are getting in there (through open windows).” The board seems to have genuine concern about the welfare of its citizens and the aesthetics around town; however, some of the same things being ordered by the board this time around seem to form an unbroken circle. The board agreed to call Kosciusko County Sanitarian Jon Cupp about checking the Fourth Street property before its next meeting. That same request was made in October of 1980. Nevertheless, all blame cannot be placed on the board, with the expense of enforcing an ordinance, and following it through, handcuffing small towns. Most landlords know Milford doesn’t have the money to engage itself in a court battle, giving them an ace in their hands that they won’t discard. Even some of the larger towns have had trouble enforcing unsafe housing ordinances, with our large neighbor to the north having experienced the most publicized difficulty. However, the tide may be changing with Goshen Mayor Mike Puro having announced the city’s intention of following a case against a landlord for unsafe housing all the way through court. The measure may prove costly, but Puro is hoping it will send a message to all landlords who rent unsafe structures. ' A young town board in Milford seems intent on sending a similar message, with board member John Lehman recently stating, “We have to do something, we can’t just sit on our duffs.” With the absence of a building commissioner causing delays in appropriate action towards the owners of unsafe structures, the board agreed to act as that commissioner on a temporary basis. One of their pressing duties will be to resolve a problem on the south end of James Street, where Levernier’s Body Shop rests. The structure had been damaged during a fire last July and still has a collapsed roof and buckled walls. While the owner had been awaiting an insurance settlement, according to Clerk-treasurer Monica Bice the settlement has been resolved. Lehman had questioned what was to become of the building at three previous town, board meetings before announcing Monday night, “Right now we have an unsafe structure down there (James Street). I think we’ve waited long enough, we should act on it.” The board agreed to send the body shop owner a letter, giving him 30 days to repair or raze the structure. Hopefully, this letter won’t be similar to the document sent to the Fourth Street property’s owner — which could be deemed a chain letter by now. The town board should be applauded for undertaking the responsibility of the building commissioner, but we’ll delay that applause until solutions to unsafe structures are seen, not heard. — MH Police vehicle use An amendment to the employee policy, passed by the Milford Town Board last month, began to show dividends at the board’s fourth meeting of 1988. The board had agreed to arrest the use of town vehicles outside town limits, and after reading the police report it was evident that saved tax money was the result. Amassing an average of 2,976 miles the past three months, the police department patrolled over 1,000 less miles from the period of March 14 to April 8, with 1,920 logged. That also translates into a savings of $lO5, with $149.80 paid for gas and oil, as opposed to an average of $255.27. If the trend continues, the police department will log nearly 8,000 less miles in 1988 than it did in 1987 —a more common sense approach for a town of 1,200. While the Milford Police Department trekked 31,167 miles in 1987, North Webster, a town with about 400 less residents but with more lake roads to cover, totaled 21,806 miles during the same time period. It’s hard to believe that our southeastern neighbor is that much safer from motorists. It’s more likely that the Milford Town Board has finally taken action that should have been taken years ago. — MH What others say — Salute to the brave As April 15 draws nearer, we thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute to the few brave souls who are still trying to do their own taxes this year. For those of you who simply pack everything up and head for the nearest professional tax preparer, like most of us, a few words of explanation are in order so you can fully appreciate the sacrifice being made by the few. Apparently, the IRS felt they were not getting their full share of fines and penalties with the old tax forms, as difficult as most of us thought they were. Being a firmly entrenched bureaucracy, they did the only logical, bureaucratic thing. They changed the rules and added more “gobbldy-gook”. If you haven’t studied the changes or tried to wade through the instructions for filing, we suggest you protect your sanity by not trying to do so now. Most of the brave soils who have for years prepared their own taxes had them in the mail by January 30, at the latest, in years gone by. This year, however, we understand only a handful of these hardy citizens have already made the trip to the Post Office. A word of caution, once your “do-it-yourselfer” has been checked in for treatment, under no circumstances should you try to sort the pile of paperwork in his or her work area. Using thick gloves to avoid contamination, scoop everything into a large paper bag or garbage sack and go directly to the nearest commercial tax preparer. These individuals have received specialized training and will be able to avoid the dreaded tax breakdown. Now that we all understand the heroic efforts involved in tax preparation, we suggest a 1040 second period of silence on April 15 for our fallen brethren. Think of it as a salute to the brave. omasaM to -JM, WAKARUSA TRIBUNE

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the subject of much public disarray over the past six months, the Milford Town Board seems intent on seeing Levernier’s Body Shop, on south James Street, repaired or razed this spring. The board agreed to forward a letter to the body shop's owner, giving him 30 days to meet the standards of Building Inspector Harry Doty.

Court news

New Claims Goshen Division R. M. Long, assignee of , NIPSCO vs David A. Culbertson, r 5 box 198, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks $817.21 plus interest and costs; assignee of Goshen General Hospital vs Lawrence B. Roden, 12 LaPoint, Milford. Plaintiff seeks $113.60 plus interest and costs County Court Goshen Division The following fines plus court costs have been levied and paid in the Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Failure to use seatbelt — Shellie R. Peyton, 24, Syracuse, dismissed by prosecuting attorney Speeding — Shellie R. Peyton, 24, Syracuse, dismissed by prosecuting attorney; Sam W. Markley, 20, Syracuse, SSB Driving while intoxicated — Shellie R. Peyton, 25, Syracuse, $250 plus costs, sentenced to one year in jail, suspended on condition defendent be on probation for one year, driver’s license suspended for 90 days Failure to show proof of financial responsibility — Shellie R. Peyton, 25, Syracuse, dismissed by prosecuting attorney City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Violation of seat belt law — Marion C. Halsey, Jr., 36, Syracuse, $25 County Court The following persons have paid fines and costs in Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrett presiding: Speeding — Sam Markley, 20, Syracuse, $65; June Spearman, 55, Syracuse, $80; Richard A. Powell, 17, Milford, $65; Nichol D. Schwinnen, 19, Leesburg, SBO. Failure To Yield — Hansen E. Vollrath, 75, Leesburg, S6O. Disregarding Automatic Signal — Gregory R. Garman, 17, Leesburg, S6O. Check Deception — Clarence A. Arms, no age, Milford, dismissed; Debra Sleighter, no age, Leesburg, dismissed. Conversion — Troy Patrick Bornman, 23, Syracuse, $153, K.C.J. 1 year suspended, 1 year probation, K.C.J. 4 days, no gtc. Circuit Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding. Complaint For Injunction Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals versus Randall V. Rolf and Debra J. Rolf, r 1 box 248, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks: Count I — compliance of defendents with terms of Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance plus costs. Count II — penalties imposed on defendents with the terms of Kosciusko County Zoning Ordinance plus costs. Superior Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Superior Court, Judge Robert Burner presiding: Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Adelina Garza, r 3 box 641, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $285.23 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Deborah J. Glassburn, 71099 CR 35, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $304.09 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Angela G. Johnson, r 6 box 184A, North Webster. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $245 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu ver-

sus Donna M. Sherwood, r 2 box 25, North Webster. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $279.40 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Rhonda Osborne, r 1 box 42G, Milford. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $674.34 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Deborah A. Mast, r 5 box 355, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $512.94 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Ellen E. Smith, r 1 box 6178, Leesburg. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $1,072.36 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint On Written Loan Agreement State Bank of Syracuse, 100 E. Main St., P.O. Box 127, Syracuse, versus Robert Wade, 514 S. Fourteenth St., Goshen.' Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $5,416.54 plus interest and costs. Complaint State Bank of Syracuse, 100 E. Main St., P.O. Box 127, Syracuse, versus Mark Minnick, r 1 box 662A, North Webster. Plaintiff seeks judgement in the sum of $2,270.69 plus interest and costs. ’ Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: ' Stidams-Stidams Mark Allen Stidams, 29, r 2 box 53, Leesburg, and Carol Stidams, 30, r 2 box 53, Leesburg. The following couple has filed for a marriage license in Elkhart County Court: Berkey-Bornman Stephen Lee Berkey, 35, 511 Glenwood Dr., Goshen and Vicki Sue Bornman, 42, r 1 box 178, Milford Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in the Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Ferverda — Dirk D. Ferverda, r 3, Leesburg, and Cheryl A. Ferverda, r 3 box 308, Leesburg. The couple was married May 21, 1983 and separated March 17, 1988. There are two minor children. Fuller — Mary K. Fuller,<r 2 box 215, Milford, and James R. Fuller, Jr., c/o Biomet Inc., Airport Industrial Park, Warsaw. The couple was married June 14, 1986 and separated March 31, 1988. Charged for DWI Anthony James Miller, 25, Syracuse, was arrested by Millersburg police on SR 13, south of CR 38, at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 10. He was booked in Elkhart County jail on a charge of driving while intoxicated. THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S.P.S. 3258-4000) Published by the Moll-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: *17.50 per year In Kosciusko County; *23.50 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mall-Journal, P.O. Box IM, Milford, Indiana 46542 few

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

THIS DQ’S for you . . . and Riley Hospital, too! After five years in business in the haaaHßJ Syracuse Community, Lynn and Randy Johnson are finally taking a moment in their busy schedules to have a “grand opening”. Typical of the couple, however, they are directing the hoopla focus and proceeds to a very special cause — Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, in conjunction with the Children’s Miracle Network. From April 14-17, children of all ages will find special games set up in the parking lot with opportunities to win free cones and Pepsi, and other nifty prizes. Saturday, April 16, is a big day with a visit from Lynn’s Warsaw friend, Jan Callaghan, who will donate her services as a CLOWN to the Riley cause. According to Lynn, Dairy Queen Headquarters has been participating in the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, produced by the Osmond Foundation, for the past five years and is its biggest provider. In 1987 the combined DQ’s raised $1.5 Million and the 1988 goal is $2 Million. DQ Headquarters adds 10 percent to the proceeds and forwards them to participating hospitals — in our case, Riley. The Syracuse DQ activities this week are a part of this effort. This week the DQ promises to provide that “Plus” factor inasmuch as many sick or injured children will benefit directly from your purchases! SIGNS OF the times. Candidates for political office are being touted on signs which are popping up around town right along with the daffodils and hyacinths! —o—- . r THE CONCRETE is poured and the Ward Park launch ramp is in the process of being widened and improved. Completion date is not known at this writing — hopefully by Memorial weekend. READ ANY good books? National Library Week will be celebrated April 17-23, the Friends of the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Library remind us. These “friends” are a low keyed group headed by Carol Swartzendruber, president; Phil Fawley, vice president; Priscilla Rhode, secretary; George Bushong, treasurer; and members-at-large Jim Hartshorne, Margaret Freeman, and Nancy Glon. Their major fundraiser is an annual book sale, this year scheduled for either during Flotilla weekend in July or August Sidewalk Sale Days. While doing spring housecleaning, you are reminded by the group that if you wish to donate used books for the book sale, you may drop them off at the library or call the library and a volunteer will pick them up. And speaking of volunteers, Carol tells us that the group welcomes anyone who wishes to spend a few hours here or there involved in helping the library. They don’t demand long-term commitments, but short term assistance can “really be helpful.” IT’S BEEN like pulling teeth, but Dr. Jim Jinks, DDS, has completed 10 years in business in the Syracuse area. His clientele is made up mostly of children, with approximately 30 percent adults rounding out his schedule. During this time, his two kids have finished college, one is married and the other about to be. A very special 10 years, and, according to Jinks, he has truly enjoyed the community. We hope you’ll enjoy many more, Dr. Jinks! DO YOU wanna dance? On April 15 you can twinkle your toes to the music of the Mock Twins at the American Legion hall. They will be hosting a joint campaign fundraiser with Dean Mock running on an Elkhart slate and Dale on Kosciusko. This promises to be an evening filled with great ballroom music —a specialty of the Mock Twins. Another fundraiser dance. Jerry Claybaugh and his friends had so much fun ’th their mayoral campaign dance during last year’s Sesquicentennial that they’re back making plans for a May 7 dance at the American Legion. The music will again be provided by Premium Productions (DJ), and proceeds will go to the Big Bang Boom fireworks scheduled on Lake Wawasee Sunday, July 3. According to Jerry, he plans a fundraiser each year, with income going to various local community activities! THERE’S A new store setting up in the Village. The former Wawasee Realty office will be the new home of Designs Etcetera 11, specializing in wicker and rattan items. The main store is in Fort Wayne and the owners hope to have “II” open by Memorial Day. MERL AND Maggie Smith are back in town — can spring be far behind? They dove head first into the action scene by visiting the breakfast crowd at the Syracuse Case and signing up for the chamber’s April 20 luncheon. Maggie looked smart sporting some nifty handcrafted items — a beaded scarf and crocheted earrings that she had made. DID YOU know that Terry Griffith of Griffith’s Wawasee Marina, is one of six people in the nation to serve on Correct Craft’s Advisory Council? He’s leaving today for Deer Creek, Fla., to attend a meeting for designing 1989 boats. On his return trip, he will pick up his dad, Larry, and they will drive home together. PIN ONE on! That seems to be a popular pasttime in Canada, anyway. Town Clerk Mark Tatman asked whether Syracuse or the chamber had any sort of commemorative pin that he could send in response to an inquiry while manning (?) the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors

Bureau booth at the Fort Wayne sport and travel show several weeks earlier. Remembering that there were some “Wander Indiana” pins in the chamber office, we agreed that our Canadian friends might be pleased with them and so prepared to mail them off. Caution! These pins do not take well to being placed in a No. 10 envelope and run through a postage machine — they jam the machine and crunch the pin shaft. They will never know the “trouble we’ve seen” attempting to respond to their requests! FROM PEDDLING to pedaling. Picture this. You come up on a cloud of dust while driving on a quiet country road. The dust clears slightly and you view sets of skinny tires, highrise seats and low bent heads. You are following some serious bicycle riders. The Warsaw Bicycle Association, drawing riders from all over the country, outlying counties and other states, finds the county roads around Syracuse to be quiet and well maintained — just right for their weekend jaunts, which sometimes cover 70-100 miles. & One of the association leaders is Dennis Jones, local sales rep for the M-J. He talks eloquently of group rides in Brown County and other scenic areas and seems to find no problem with the idea of pedalling over hill and dale with others of his ilk. In fact, many members pedal from their homes to the outing, then pedal back home when the ride is completed! Serious stuff. - “WE DON’T call him ‘Jimmy the Greek’ yet, but we soon’ ” came to voice over the telephone. This remark in reference to Bob Troutman’s ability at picking the NCAA winner a week ago, in a Syracuse pool. It was high drama at Kemper Arena at Kansas City as the biggest and best of the country’s college basketball teams went head-to-head on a recent Monday evening. Os the 64 college teams entered, Troutman had Purdue and Kansas. Townsman Joe Todd, more conservative with a buck, put his money on Oklahoma — that’s all. After the second go-around, Troutman was left with his Kansas (“an unlikely winner,” he thought at the time), very much in the running. And so, if you watched the finals, you witnessed one of the finest — and closest — basketball games of all time. The WINNER: Kansas! Score: Kansas, 84; Oklahoma 79. Troutman was quick to claim his $24 pool money. And Joe Todd was not far behind to claim his $8 for Oklahoma’s second place showing. IF ANYONE in Kosciusko County was not watching television, he would hardly be aware that there’s an election coming up May 3. So little excitement is there. What races loom on the horizon in the county are within the Republican party itself. The Democrats might come up with a slated ticket in November, however. The political fires were stoned somewhat last week with the appearance in this paper and in the Kosciusko County edition of ‘the PAPER’ of Ron Sharp’s pithy column, Under the... Courthouse Dome. Ron would like to be remembered as the taxpayer’s friend and he’s taken on the “spenders” from the courthouse to the statehouse in a somewhat unmerciful fashion. Well, he did it again last week, naming names of those seeking various political county posts and offering his recommendations in an unrequited manner. Two members of the troika who really call the shots in Kosciusko County have no opposition: Fredrick Gilliam, commissioner from the middle district, and Maurice Beer of rural Milford, commissioner from the northern district. Charlie Lynch of the southern district, is not a candidate for re-election in accordance with the county’s staggered arrangement of electing its commissioners. Sharp likes Tom Anglin for re-election as county councilman, calling him “a true-blue taxpayer’s friend.” Sharp writes, “use the dart board on this one,” in your choice for county surveyor. For state senator, Greg Mishler of rural Syracuse appears an odds-on favorite for that post, his opposition doing minimal campaigning, at least in Kosciusko County. Mishler is receiving some coffee shop flak for being a part-time Kosciusko County resident. Sharp likes Winona Lake Town Board member Dave Wolkins for state representative for his experience in local government and being a successful businessman. His work in the “hustings” shows Wolkins has an active interest in the job of state rep. Others going after that job are venerable J.D. Geiger, former state trooper, and businessman and a resident of North Webster. Geiger ran the Kosciusko County license branch at Warsaw for three years. He became county auditor in 1984 and served one term. When Rep. Thames Mauzy announced he would not seek re-election after 22 years, Geiger was quick to toss his hat in the ring. Also going for state rep. are Darwin Call of Warsaw, Charles Mills of Noble County and Dale Mock, also of North Webster. There will be some real interest here. Dale is a first-timer in politics, plays in a five-piece band with his look-alike brother Dean of Goshen. Dean was a state rep. from Elkhart County for several terms until defeated two years ago by a fellow named Carter (not Jimmy). Dean and Carter are having a re-match up there. (Continued on page 5)