The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 25, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 August 1988 — Page 1

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VOLUME 27

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NEW DECORATIONS — The new Christmas decorations for Milford have arrived. The Milford Kiwanis Club will be sending letters out this week asking for donations to raise the needed $1,500 to pay for the decorations. A total of six large decorations, ranging from four feet to eight feet, and six banners were ordered by a decorations committee several months ago. All but one of the decorations, an eight-foot candle, and the pole wrappings have arrived. Dallas Winchester, 11, utilities commissioner, went to the Milford

Syracuse budget approved — Utilities head Joe Dock resigns

By GLEN LONG Staff Writer

The Syracuse Town Board met in special session last night, Aug. 2, to approve budgets of the town departments. After the budgets were approved, member Bill Hess, liaison with the street, water and sewer department, opened an envelope and read the resignation letter of Joe Dock, who has been utilities Superintendent at Syracuse for seven years. Dock’s letter stated his appreciation to Hess and the board for their help with his job and said he will be working through Aug. 12. He declined to state what his immediate plans are. After Hess said he regretfully r ■ ) | ! 1 * MAJOR FUND RAISER FOR BAYH — A major fund raiser for Evan Bayh, Democratic candidate for governor of Indiana, will be held on Lake Wawasee at the home of Nan and Pete Collias, pier 13. The brunch will be Sunday, Aug. 21, from 12:30-3 p.m. Donations will be accepted of SIOO per couple or SSO for an individual. Persons wanting more information should call 424-3373. Those on the host committee are: Barbara and Bill Beemer, Ann and Tim Borne, the Collias, Sally and Dave Cotton, Patty and Jack DeHaven, Jane and Bob Eherenman, Craig Hartman, Carol and Mike Kiley, Opal and Walt Miller, Short McCormick and Bernice Klink, Brenda and Jay Rigdon, Karen and Steve Ross, and Tom Prickett.

moved to accept the resignation, Hughes said to Dock, “I hate to see this happen and appreciate what you’ve done for Syracuse. We’ve gotten our money’s worth from you.” The resignation was accepted unanimously and members Hess and Carl Myrick will study replacement possibilities and make a recommendation to the board at the next regular meeting. The street department budget, which includes $50,000 to replace a large K-year-old truck and provision for a five percent wage increase, totals $298,260, an increase of 30.491 percent over 1988. The police department budget submitted by Bob Ziller, town marshal, also includes a five percent wage increase. It was approved at $223,224, up 18 percent over this year. Jerry Byrd, fire chief, made a presentation on why the town should hire a full-time fire chief and two full-time firemen. All firemen, including the chief are volunteer at present. The discussion soon changed to include only consideration of a full-time chief. Byrd cited the increased

At North Webster —

Auction to kick off fund-raising drive

A community auction, sponsored by the North Webster Senior Citizens on Saturday, Aug. 13, will kick off the fund-raising for a new community center in North Webster. The building for the planned community center currently serves as the home for the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township EMS, North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Library and the Tippecanoe Township Assessor’s Office. According to Richard Mitchell, Tippecanoe Township Trustee, the renovations to the current building are set to begin at anytime and when the work is complete, all organizations in the North Webster community will have a facility that can be used for meetings, dinners, etc. “The reason for the fund raising campaign is so we can get started with work on the facility right away,” commented Mit-

Area Development Council, Inc., several months ago seeking assistance in purchasing new decorations. MAD organized a committee to choose the decorations for approval. The fund-raising was then turned over to the Milford Kiwanis Club. Shown, left are, Winchester; Don Arnold, MAD treasurer; Paul Tinkel, pFfesident of Milford Kiwanis; Bob Hall, MAD decorations committee member: and John Replogle, MAD president. (Photo by Deb Patterson) '

number of fire calls and paperwork and the need for many more departmental fire inspections as reasons for his recommendation. He said that with 90 percent of the firemen working out of town it is difficult to get enough men to help at fires. He said that in 65 recent runs during the daytime hours there was an average of three firemen on each run. “The time is here and the longer we wait the more critical it will be,” said Byrd. Board member Kenny Johnson said he would like to see at least a paid fire chief in 1989, but agreed that the money must come from somewhere. Ray Darr, Turkey Creek Township trustee, was present and stated his budget would not stand the township’s 55 percent portion of the $20,000 budget being asked for. The board voted unanimously to accept the budget presented without the provision for full-time help. It includes a five percent increase for firemen and a 10 percent increase for dispatchers and totals $133,345, an increase of 8.391 percent over 1988. The EMS department budget of $35,800 was approved. This is 78.527 percent higher than the

chell. He added that if work was delayed until tax dollars could be obtained for use, it might take a year before the work could be started. Mitchell said that the goal is to have the nutrition site for the North Webster Senior Citizens moved into the building by January 1 of next year. He added that currently the site is located in the basement of a local church and the stairs there prohibit many senior citizens from being able to enjoy the daily meal and fellowship time. Mitchell stated that the remodeling work on the building will cost approximately SSO-60,000 and will involve turning current space at the building into meeting rooms and kitchen facilities. Mitchell commented that the new center will be something that the community can be proud of and that will be an asset to the organizations in the area.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3,1988

1988 budget which was cut by the State Tax Board last year. Byrd pointed out that this budget is Only $442 over the budget submitted last year and said he does not know why that budget was cut. The Civil Defense budget of $2,000, the same as tt 1 988 budget, was approved with little discussion. The board whittled $23,200 from the clerk-treasurer budget. This included cuts in insurance, NIPSCO, cleaning and mowing, elections and garbage pickup accounts. The budget was approved at a total of $320,100, an increase of 13 percent over 1988. The park board budget had been previously approved at the July 26 meeting. Other Business The board voted to designate Jim Hughes as representative to the Kosciusko Development Inc. board meetings. The board also agreed to make no concessions to adjust sewage bills of Wawasee Community School Corp, and the Syracuse Public Library as was requested. The school corporation will be advised that it should install a water meter to measure water used on the football field so

Mitchell stated that he believes that the fund raising drive will be very successful and he added that several commitments of donated items and dollars had already been obtained from private citizens as well as North Webster area businesses. The planned community building will also house the Tippecanoe Township Trustee’s Office according to Mitchell. He added that this would make it much more convenient for citizens since then the assessor’s office and the trustee’s office would both be located under the same roof. In addition to the auction, which is to begin at 11 a.m. at the township building, there will also be a bake sale and a garage sale on the 13th. Also, the North Webster Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will be holding an ice (Continued on page 2)

Little, Swartzendruber will seek re-election

By KATE WOLFORD Staff Writer

Bill Little of Milford and Carol Swartzendruber of Syracuse will both be running 1 for re-election to the Wawasee School Board during the upcoming November election. Although Little is a veteran of the school board, having already given 19 years of service, and Swartzendruber is a relative newcomer (if elected, this will be her second term), both share a main concern: the welfare of area schoolchildren. “I guess my basic interest (in the school board) began with my

Rental fees at Wawasee are higher than other corporations

ByGLEN LONG Staff Writer

Wawasee Community School Corporation has published its schedule of textbook rental and consumable supply fees for the coming school year. These fees

this usage can be correctly subtracted from total water use since this water does not go into the sewer system. Hughes said, “We, as a board, need to address our sprinkling ordinance down the line.” Dock added that some provision needs to be made for water used to fill swimming pools that have no drains. The board voted to approve the radiator replacement in ambulance number six which Jerry Byrd said is needed. The approximate cost approved was ssll.

Fund-raising program to begin for Harkless Mier

A fund-raising program, designed to purchase the 1905 Mier automobile built by Syracuse’s Sheldon Harkless, is in the planning stages. The funding program* will be anchored by chamber of commerce member Bill Beemer. The historic vehicle was constructed in a machine shop near the shore of Syracuse Lake. The former shop is now part of the estate of the late Ken Harkless. The vehicle is presently enshrined in the Imperial House, Las Vegas, Nev., and owned by Richie Klyne. Syracuse officials have been in contact with Klyne about purchasing it and moving it into the future library museum. Purchase price for the Syracuse-made vehicle will be $25,000. “This is something that we think people from Syracuse and Kosciusko County will want to get involved in,” said Beemer while presenting the fundraising campaign. “But we are not putting boundaries on who can support the project. I think some car enthusiasts in the area might be excited about this project.” Klyne purchased the enginepowered car in Florida. He transported it to Las Vegas, where he completely restored it to its natural state. The car, according to Beemer, is in excellent condition and

children being involved in school,” says Swartzendruber, when asked why she’s on the board. “I feel like it’s a contribution on a long term basis to our community; because shaping the the education of children is our future, and children have always been very important to me. ” Little says he wants to motivate youngsters to “Take advantage of the best educational opportunities possible.” Like Swartzendruber, he also feels he’s making a positive contribution to the welfare of the community. “I’ve enjoyed tremendously the opportunity to give something back to the community,” he explains. Little also hands out kudos to

are higher than those at other school corporations in Kosciusko County. For grade six, Wawasee charges, excluding options of ESP junior great books and athletic insurance, is $82.95. This compares to $60.80 at Warsaw; $52.13 at Whitko; $46 at Tippecanoe Valley; $45.61 at Triton; and a low of $44 at Wa-Nee (Nappanee). For grade one, Wawasee book rental, insurance and _cpnsumable items such as workbooks, pencils, crayons, etc. cost $74. At Triton, grade one books cost $70.39; at Tippecanoe Valley, $55; at Warsaw, $51.35; and at Nappanee, $44. Henry Smith, assistant superintendent at Wawasee Community School Corp., said it is difficult to compare book costs of different corporations because many variables are possible. “We all work with the state mandated six-year adoption period for textbooks,” he stated. “Differences are possible in the programs offered, but we work to keep the cost of our consumables as low as we can.” Smith added that some cor(Continued on page 2)

would make a natural attraction in the museum. The original engine was a two-cylinder, sixhorsepower, two-cycle marine engine. The $1 million museum project

■MUi—r ■ I

CLASSIC CAR — This 1905 Mier automobile has Syracuse connections as the late Sheldon Harkless, of Syracuse Lake, constructed the vehicle. The car presently resides in the Imperial House, Las Vegas, Nev., and an attempt to purchase will be made by Syracuse officials. A fundraising project will soon be under way and will be spearheaded, by Chamber of Commerce member Bill Beemer. Cost for the automobile is $25,000.

the staffs and administrations with whom he has worked. “I’ve had the good fortune to deal with marvelous staff and strong administrators.” Although Little says he has no particular mission as a board member, Swartzendruber says she is anxious to see through to completion the building of the new middle school. She states that she has been concerned about overcrowding in the system ever since her eldest daughter, Gina, began school. Gina will be a senior this year. Swartzendruber says that redistricting helped the overcrowding problem, but it wasn’t the best solution. “It solved the immediate problem, but it wasn’t something that would solve the problem on a long-term basis,” she explains. The Syracuse mother of three says she also enjoys being part of a long term “goal setting process” for the school district and its administrators. She believes she has learned a lot in her first term as well. “I think it has been an important and insightful ex-

Filing deadline is Sept. 9 Persons interested in filing for election for a seat on the Wawasee School Board may do so in the county clerk’s office beginning next Wednesday, Aug. 10. Filing will close at noqn on Friday, Sept. 9. Seats currently heldbyCarol Swartzendruber of District 2 (Turkey Creek Township) and Bill Little of District 3 (Van Buren and the east half of Jefferson townships) will be vacated on December 31. Both Swartzendruber and Little have indicated they will seek re-election. Persons filing must be from either District 2 or 3. No one from District 1 (Tippecanoe Township) may file for this fall’s election. Each district in the Wawasee Community School Corporation must have one board member and can not have more than two. Board members Dave Carey and Curtis E. Jordan are from District 1. Both were elected to four-year terms in 1986. Bill Troup of District 3 is the fifth member of the current board. He, too, was elected in 1986. During the fall election voters in the school corporation will elect two members to the board. Depending on whether others file or Little and Swartzendruber are the only two on the ballot, voters may elect one board member from District 2 and one from District 3 or they may elect two board members from District 2 and none from District 3, since Troup’s term does not expire at this time.

is expected to be completed within two years. Beemer and other Syracuse residents interested in purchasing the Harkless-made vehicle hope to do so before the completion of the

NUMBER 25

perience. I’ve learned an awful lot about the school system.” In his 19 years as a school board member, Little has probably learned a great deal as well, and says he has seen a lot of changes. An important one is the increased involvement of parents with the school system. He approves of that development saying, “Parental involvement strengthens the entire system.” Little and Swartzendruber plan on filing for re-election on or around August 10, which is the earliest filing date. Although school board members normally serve four year terms, both must run for office after three years, because the term of office now begins on January 1. Terms of office had traditionally begun on July 1 of the year following the November election,', but it was decided that this left newly elected school board members in limbo for too long. As a result of the move to the January date, Little and Swartzendruber were obliged to run for re-election at the end of a three‘/2-year term.

library museum. If accomplished, it will be placed instorage until the museum is completed. Anyone interested in helping in the fund-raising campaign should contact Beemer at 457-3274.