The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 27 April 1988 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., April 27,1988

Editorial

Syracuse —a town ready to move

In the northeast corner of Kosciusko County sits the town of Syracuse. With beautiful Syracuse Lake at its elbow and Lake Wawasee, Indiana’s largest natural lake, at its feet, Syracuse has shown steady growth and has for many years really come to life in the summertime. An event finally occurred in 1987 which appears to be the turning point that will allow Syracuse to break the bonds which have kept its growth and industrial expansion moving slower than the town’s natural attributes would indicate. This is the sewer expansion project which the town trustees and other managers have doggedly worked toward for over eight years. It hasn’t been enjoyable for past president Carl Myrick, present president Jim Hughes and the other hard working town board members to many times have to tell frustrated Syracuse residents that help was on the way someday for their sewage-filled basements. Or to tell the resident south of town that he would have to “live with” his sewage problem because no more users could be hooked onto the overburdened sewage system. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been necessary for the town trustees, utilities superintendent and attorney to maybe appear unfeeling to problems, but they all knew that at stake at every turn was the need to finally receive the federal and state grants which would allow the town to complete its long-awaited sewer update. The Syracuse sewer improvement project has even more farreaching benefits than increased growth to Syracuse boundaries. It will also allow accepting effluent from part of the much needed sewer system planned by the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District in areas around Wawasee Lake. This will not only benefit property owners at the lake, but will help insure that the lake will, in fact, survive pollution for years to come. As the job of the town’s managers, it won’t be easy. There will be street disruptions in the town. We all, residents and visitors alike, need to stop and remember that disruption of upgrading the sewage system is really necessary. It will be remembered in years to come that something as mundane as a sewage system upgrade was a big factor in the growth of Syracuse. — GL 212 & growing Latest government figures show the United States, 212 years old as an independent nation, is still growing. In 1987 deaths totaled 2,127,000. Births totaled '3,829,000. U.S. population —about 240,000,000, is thus expanding by about 1,700,000 a year. This is an important statistic for the nation’s future. It means consumer demand is certain to expand in the future. It guarantees opportunity for new businesses, means existing businesses can hope to expand. Steady U.S' population growth contrasts with stagnation in other countries, such as West Germany. However, unskilled, poor, and uneducated immigrants are entering the country in record numbers while those with special talents are barred. Congress is currently moving to allow those with special skills and talents — who can add something to U.S. society — exemption from strict entry rules. If such a new infusion of skill and talent is added to annual immigration, population increase will be even more beneficial. Spring fever Tough spring arrived in March, it’s in April that students, other boys and girls of tender ages, and even older citizens, are strangely affected by the warm sun and soft breezes of the changing season. It’s said in spring a young man’s fancy turns to love: no doubt as nature puts on its sparkling new growth show, and pretty things also put on their fashion show, all take note. Something called spring fever grips many of both sexes, of all ages. It’s a wonderful fever, and leads to momentous events, including romance, perhaps the most purposeful, rewarding and unfathomable bloom of all, in spring.

What others say —

A wolf in sheep's clothing

Like the fabled wolf in sheep’s clothing, minimum-wage bills now before Congress are soft and cuddly on the surface, but menacing underneath. At first glance, who would oppose a bill that guarantees a living to those who are determined to make their own way in society? A family of four depending on a full-time minimumwage earner falls $4,600 below the poverty line today. Why not reward determination with higher wages? Because by lining the pockets of some with an extra dollar or two, you strip all income — and invaluable work experience — from others. “It hurts the people it’s supposed to help,” says Robert Sandy, a labor economist at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. With the tremendous growth in the service sector over the past decade, competition is fierce. Firms already are pressured to be as costefficient as possible. Raising the minimum wage to $5.05 over the next four years, as prescribed by the House bill, increases the incentive to combine jobs, to replace workers with machinery and to limit on-the-job training. “If there ever has been a time that increases in the minimum wage would have a bad effect, it’s the next five years,” says Larry Davidson, associate professor of business economics at I.U. Virtually every labor study indicates that an increase in the minimum wage is directly proportional to a decline in the number of available jobs. A 10 percent increase in the minimum wage, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, means the loss of 100,000 to 200,000 new or existing jobs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce predicts the Senate bill raising the minimum to $4.65 would cost up to 1.9 million jobs, including 40,000 in Indiana, by 1995. About two-thirds of the nation’s minimumwage workers are under 25, and 40 percent are teen-agers, many of them minorities. For them, a minimum-wage job is an introduction to the work force, a chance to learn about the business world

and to develop skills necessary to get a betterpaying job in the future. Should the supply for those jobs exceed the demand, then those who need work most — minorities and applicants with no employment history— will find themselves at the end of the line. That same supply and demand may accomplish naturally what proponents of the minimum-wage hike seek to legislate. Already, competition for workers at fast-food restaurants has driven the hourly wage up to $4. In Alaska, the proposed minimum-wage hike is meaningless. Unskilled, entry-level jobs there command $5 and up. Those who support an increase in the minimum wage are no doubt well-intentioned. And for workers who keep their jobs, an additional dollar or two an hour certainly would bring welcome relief. But perhaps a better answer is to let the market determine the minimum wage for a particular job, and then supplement that wage with such government programs as food stamps or housing subsidies. Another tack, suggested by Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., is to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. Currently, an eligible person responsible for one or more children can claim a tax credit of 14 percent of their first $5,714 of income. The Petri bill will raise that figure to $7,143 and tailor the percentage rate to family size. The maximum credit of SBOO under current regulations could go as high as $2,500. Thus, the family of four depending upon a minimum-wage earner would enjoy a decent living while retaining the incentive to work. And thousands of teen-agers and young adults would still have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience on that first job. Seldom are social and economic issues as simple as crusaders on either side would have the public believe. Congress, as a shepherd of the republic, should unmask this new sheep in the flock and let the public see its true character. - THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS

■ I VOTE

TUESDAY Court news

County Court The following persons have paid fines and costs in Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrett presiding: Speeding—Gregory H. Hooley, 35, Syracuse, $65; Larry A. Rice, 19, Syracuse, $65; Daniel E. Bartels, 21, North Webster, SBO. False Registration — Brian R. Neibert, 30, Leesburg, S6O. Expired Plates — Leo Youngs, 27, Syracuse, S6O; Philip J. Johnson, 43, Syracuse, dismissed; Randall Murphy, 29, Syracuse, S6O. Disregarding Stop Sign — Gregory Sawyer, 19, Milford, S6O. Driving Left Os Center — Charles W. Dippon, 17, Milford, S6O. No Registration Plate — Philip J. Johnson, 43, Syracuse, S6O. Harassment — Douglas Wade Hernley, no age, Syracuse, $153, K. 180 days suspended, 1 year probation. Illegal Consumption — Kendra Brown, 18, Leesburg, $153, K.C.J. 10 days, suspended after 2 days, community service. Public Intoxication — Robert Lanier Brown, 22, Leesburg, $153, K.C.J. 10 days, suspended after 2 days, community service. Operating While Intoxicated — Robert J. Beck, Jr., 25, Milford, $303, driver’s license restricted 180 days, K.C.J. 6 days. Leaving Scene — David D. Poe, 33, Leesburg, dismisses. Marriage Licenses The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: McLaughlin-Legarda r'n Charles Richard McLaughlin,' 27, r 1 box 191-B, North Webster, and Mary Jannette Legarda, 38, r 1 box 191-B, North Webster. Orwig-Dennis Richard L. Orwig, 30, 212 Benton St., Syracuse, and Susan Ann Dennis, 26, 212 Benton, St., Syracuse. Shively-Fisher Robert E. Shively, 69, Florida, and Mary E. Fisher, 63, r 4 box 234, Syracuse. Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in the Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Spitler — James L. Spitler, r 1 box 288, Syracuse, and Evelyn Spitler, r 1 box 288, Syracuse. The couple was married Sept. 29,1984 and separated April 5,1988. Brookins — Susan M. Brookins, no address given, and Denny L. Brookins, no address given. The couple was married May 31, 1980 and separated Feb. 27,1982. Maggert — Ronnelle D. Maggert, no address given, and Ronald C. Maggert, 707 Pittsburgh St., Syracuse. The couple was married Aug. 8, 1982 and separated April 5,1988. There are three minor children. The following marriage dissolutions were granted in Elkhart County Courts: Superior 111 Hochstetler — Patricia Hochstetler, 65(J W. Centennial St., Nappanee and Dirk Hochstetler, r 1, box 261 F, Leesburg. The couple married April 25,1987 and separated Jan. 11, 1988. The wife’s surname of Martz is restored. Small Claims The following judgements have been awarded in Small Claims Division, Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrett presiding: Price Auto Repair vs Tammy Hardy. Plaintiff awarded $303.75 plus costs. . Betty J. Smith vs Ray Hinz d/b/a Hogue Construction/Hinz Construction. Plaintiff awarded $351.02 plus costs. Mike Reiff vs Delmer Noyer and Debra Noyer. Plaintiff awarded $541.91 plus costs. Hide Away Hills Mobile Home Park vs Paul Knight and Rhonda Stull. Plaintiff awarded cost of S3O. Rockhill, Pinnick, Pequignot, Helm and Landis vs Linda Stokes. Plaintiff awarded S2OO plus costs, Sarah Beck vs David Guevara. Plaintiff awarded $1,927.32 plus costs. Rockhill, Pinnick, Pequignot,

Helm and Landis vs Harold Hyde. Plaintiff awarded $2lO plus costs. Price Auto Repair (Ginger Price) vs Ellie Myers. Plaintiff awarded $211.62 plus costs. Wickes Lumber Company vs Unique—Homes and Robert Schafer. Plaintiff awarded plus costs. Surface Plumbing and Heating vs Airegg Haynes. Plaintiff awarded $33.12 plus costs. Dean Burchard vs Robert L. Murphy. Plaintiff awarded $2,000 plus costs. Desmond Jackson vs Rickey Daniels. Plaintiff awarded $308.50 plus costs. Desmond Jackson vs Terri McDonald. Plaintiff awarded $1,328.95 plus costs. Circuit Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding. Complaint Robert C. Laudermilk and Peggy J. Laudermilk, no address given, versus Lindy Vance d/b/a Kids Port Klothes, r 2 box 214-A, Syracuse. Plaintiffs seek $3,794.32 plus financing charges, tax of judgement and costs. Complaint To Foreclose Mortgage GMAC Mortgage Corporation of lowa, f/k/a Norwest Mortgage, versus William L. Johnson, Carolyn S. Johnson, and Credithrift of America, Inc. Plaintiff seeks $37,397.59 plus interest, attorney fees and costs. Superior Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Superior Court, Judge Robert Burner presiding: Complaint For Damages William Blocher, no address given, versus Owen Cobbum d/b/a Water World, P.O. Box 493, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks $4,000 plus attorney fees and costs. Complaint James R. Howard, no address given, versus Charles Stuckman, r 3, Syracuse. Plaintiff seeks $604 plus filing costs of $55. City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Violation of child restraint law — Harold J. Barton, 54, Milford, $25 suspended Speeding — Jon C. Evans, 19, Syracuse, S6B County Court ■ Goshen Division The following fines plus court costs have been levied and paid in the Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Speeding — Cynthia B. Pritchard, 39, Syracuse, $56; Louella K. Firestone, 35, Syracuse, $63 No operator’s license — Timothy E. Kroh, 25, Syracuse, $54 Failure to yield — John D. Graff, 22, Syracuse, $63 No registration plate — Christine H. Waldrop, 34, Syracuse, SSB Smashing gallstones BOSTON — Shock-wave machines, which already have revolutionized the treatment of kidney stones, can also safely smash gallstones and could replace surgery for more than 100,000 Americans each year, according to new research by Dr. Randolph B. Reinhold of New England Medical Center in Boston.

THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S.P.S. 3258-4000) Published by the Mall-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 IN, Milford, Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE”

enroute,

ODAY IS Secretary’s Day. A time for showing appreciation for the person who keeps you on schedule, and with the properly

prepared documents. Yes, the continuous paycheck is the supreme “thank you,” however, an extra special occasion such as today adds a little stardust to the normally hectic schedule. ACE HARDWARE has begun its expansion on the Syracuse store to the south towards the Mary Ann Drive-In. You will soon find a much larger garden service area as Well. This will be quite timely and will fill the gap left by the closing of two local garden centers — Village Green Lawn & Garden Center, and Baker’s Market. Looks like “Ace is the place! ” SAMARITANS ON Standby members are collecting items for their garage sale fundraiser, scheduled for June. Proceeds will go towards purchase of a bus, which will allow the group to take larger numbers of people on their special outings. The Samaritans welcome any items in good condition — just call their office at 457-5548 and let them know what you have. HOW FAST it went. Do you realize that school will be out in less than a month from today? May 26 is the last student day — May 27, the last day for teachers. Then SUMMER will really be here! - •*. . 'wBWWtBk f| QUITE A change when you visit the Syracuse Auto Parts (NAPA) store in the Village! According to Troy, they have repainted,. replaced the front windows, installed a new door, put up new signs. Nice job, fellas! ANOTHER SIGN of Spring. The state highway crew was cheerfully repainting the uptown crosswalks Monday —a great day for any outdoor work! MR. G.L. Perry was observed at his new Syracuse store last week personally overseeing the stocking and layout changes. He’s finding a tight squeeze in square footage which does not allow the store to carry the full array of goods as other G.L. Perry stores and plans to begin work on an expansion program similar to that now underway at the Winamac store. YOU’LL FIND great service at the Syracuse License Branch. In fact, John Neer, Warsaw, who owned a shoe repair business in Pickwick Block 13 years ago, returns to the Syracuse Branch for his licensing needs on a regular basis because the lines are shorter than in Warsaw — and the ladies give such outstanding service. THE SESQUICENTENNIAL time capsule location is now marked by a bronze plaque which states, “Syracuse Sesquicentennial Celebration 1837-1987. Observed August 9,1987. To be opened 2037.” This is the last job of the Sesquicentennial Committee which ordered the plaque through Eastlund-Harris Funeral Home, and who in turn installed the bronze marker last week. -JOG

By ARCH BAUMGARTNER (A Card Os Thanks) AS I sit down to write some words to fill this column this week I have ample opportunity to wrack my brain and vocabulary for superlatives to express my deepest concerns and compassions during this time of my critical health problems. Those that easily come to mind are compassion. love, understanding, perhaps brotherhood — and Christian community. If not Christian community, what else do we have? This and more in living four-color, as we say in the publishing and printing business, come into sharp focus as one sees an abundance of good health slip away, only to be replaced by piercing pain brought on by invading cancer cells. This has gone on long enough, one tells;

oneself, but there appears no magic elixir or xray beam that will halt the cells’ invading progress. \ «. • So much has been done in the research laboratories, one has to tell oneself to surround and stamp out this debilitating invasion of the human torso—yet so much more has to be done. Where, then, does the appeal for love, compassion, understanding and call for Christian brotherhood and community come from? It obviously comes from the response of the townsfolk to one so plagued. As if to “report” on our case, we want to let our host of friends and acquaintances in the area we have served for a long lifetime that we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response (if “response” is the correct word) in the flood of postal cards, ranging from expensive to handspun cards by youngsters. Personal letters have helped make up this avalanche. So have longdistance telephone calls from across the country from some long-lost friends. One party sent a ninth get-well card. In all, the blizzard of cards ran something over 200. One self-styled card made from two colored pieces of paper, hand-delivered by Becky Patterson, five-year-old daughter of Deb and Tom Patterson, her mother a loyal reporter for these pages each week, in which she expresses her love. Who wouldn’t be moved? Another from nine-year-old Jamie Beer, son of Jim and Debbie Beer of rural Milford, signed “your good friend Jamie.” Jamie frequently visits his great-grandmother, my neighbor and sister, Helen Funk, and uses some of those occasions to pay me a visit. These visits may end, for I’m frequently exhorting Jamie to do better in school. Let’s hop? the visits continue. The telephone call from the furtherest distance was from Dr. Dennis N. Cory of Hamburg, Germany. It was taken by son, Ron, friend and high school classmate of Cory’s. Dr. Denny, with his wife Pamela, an Ohio native he met at Manchester College, operate their own school for the blind, serving a broad European community of blind folks. And so, while this may not be my valedictory, it certainly is a card of thanks to that host of people who remembered me in their prayers (which made up the common chord of the cards’ and letters’ themes) for a return to an abundance of good health. I am so very, very grateful for all the above concerns. „ All of this lead me through at the Elkhart General Hospital, Dr. William D. Pletcher, oncology, physician, to the Methodist Memorial Hospital, in Indianapolis where Dr. Thomas Leipzig and seven other, trained neurologists make up their staff. Consultations there based on their and Elkhart’s examinations led to a decision to have cranial surgery to relieve a fluid pressure on the brain. And so, at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 15,1 underwent what amounted to drilling two holes — “each the size of a nickle” — on either side of the head fairly high on the crown. It relieved the pressure all right. And, believe me, I’ve suffered a fair amount" of personal jokes about two more holes in the head. I don’t need any more of these. This entire piece could be devoted to the excellent attention and care I received from everyone at Methodist Memorial from my neurosurgeon, a youthful-looking Dr. Thomas Leipzig, to the nurses in charge of my care. My reportorial skills slipping, I gathered mighty few statistics on the size of the facility, other than to say it was big — real big! A large hotel joins the hospital for people who have family in the hospital, and their hotel rates are reasonable we found out. Della and daughter, Jane Yoder, a resident of Indianapolis, took a large double room, and they were joined one night by Ron and Gloria. One of their fascinations was looking out their hotel window to see the emergency helicopters come and go with frequency. The long weekend went fast. An then, by Wednesday when the word was out that we were able to return home, this patient was overjoyed, to say the least. But back to our original theme, that we are and continue to be so grateful for the cards, letters, flowers and expressed prayers for our complete and absolute recovery. SENATOR JOHN Augsburger and his wife, Oweita, will be joining the Peace Corps when he leaves his Senate seat at the end of his term. According to an article in the Saturday, April 16, issue of The Indianapolis Star, Augsburger is hoping for a position in Barbados, a job that would involve being administrator for seven islands and 250 volunteers. He stated, “I’m just looking for a new challenge. We feel kind of a need to help.” The position as country director in Barbados is not available until August and is a two- to fiveyear appointment. If that job doesn’t come through, there may be a lengthier wait as he is hoping for an appointment to an Englishspeaking country. If there is a long delay, Augsburger is considering going through training to learn a second language and perhaps apply for an opening elsewhere. The Peace Corps is an independent volunteer overseas agency established in 1961 with the purpose of helping people in undeveloped countries.