The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 28, Milford, Kosciusko County, 23 August 1989 — Page 4

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL —Wed., August 23, 1989

Editorial

Building inspector needed A healthy building industry is an inevitable and desirable byproduct of a booming local economy. Kosciusko County’s economy is enjoying vigorus health and rampant building. Particularly in the Lakeland and Warsaw areas. With this kind of unbridled development going on, it’s no big surprise that the subject of establishing a county building commission recently came before the county council during budget hearings. Knowing the cautious nature of this county’s fiscal body, it’s also not surprising that they tabled the issue until the commissioners could come up with an ordinance establishing a position. What is a little surprising is the fact that the proposal’s strongest backing is coming from the Kosciusko County Home Builders Association. After all, it is county builders who could face tighter restrictions should the commission be established. It is that group, however, that has researched the issue and strongly lobbied for an inspector. Larry Coplen, spokesman for the association, has stated that the group believes, “to achieve respectability within our community an inspection department representing our county and its needs is essential to a better community.” The very fact that local builders are asking to have their work inspected speaks well for them as a group. This county needs to have building codes fairly and evenly applied to insure a good standard for commercial, industrial and residential structures. It is important for county officials to proceed carefully in this matter but this is an idea whose time has not only come, it is long past due. Minding one’s own business never hurt anyone. Suspicion leads many people into many mistakes. Time to play ball in Syracuse Next week marks the dedication of the gazebo at Lakeside Park, one of the projects undertaken by those who have the thankless job of serving on the Syracuse Park Board. Perhaps now is the time to admit that Syracuse is large enough to merit an actual department, with a full-time caretaker funded by the town. Some shudder at such thoughts, with recent town council meetings bringing some complaints about a growing park budget, but it may be a necessity in the future. Syracuse is a lake community and is host to a growing number of people in the summer months and vibrant parks help to bring about a vibrant economy. While some town residents lament over the tax burden placed on them for others' enjoyment, some of that burden could be lessened by recreational programs operated by the park and funded by its participants. The Syracuse Park Board has a master plan that calls for future development of softball diamonds. While such plans would call for a starting fee in excess of $20,000. the dollars it would bring the tpwn in the immediate future would offset that cost. Currently, residents of Syracuse and the surrounding communities of Milford and North Webster venture to Goshen, Ligonier, Nappanee and other communities to play softball. Translation: Money that could stay in Syracuse is going elsewhere. The Nappanee Park Department has one softball diamond it operates for city league play during the summer months and the revenue from that one diamond helps fund many projects for the remainder of the year. With teams paying upwards of 5250 to play 12 to 14 games of softball, one diamond alone could pay for itself within a year. By opening one lighted diamond. Syracuse could facilitate 15 games each week (three games a night). With 30 teams involved in those games paying $250 the town would make $7,500. While the cost of umpires and field maintenance would cut into that profit, proceeds from concessions would be an added bonus while weekend tournaments could bring the community even more money. Currently a fall league sponsored by the Wawasee Kiwanis is underway at Vega Field, with its success paving the way for future leagues. However, the Wawasee School Corporation holds the title to that field and school and youth league activities preempt its exclusive use for adult softball leagues. However, the town would be wise to keep its eyes on the success of the brief fall league and to keep communication lines open with the school corporation. Hopefully city softball will become a reality in the future and Syracuse residents will give way to short-term growth in the budget for long-term growth in the economy.

What others say —

Cutting chemical use

Not all farmers are heavy pesticide users. In recent years, a small but increasing number of farmers have either cut back or stopped using chemicals altogether. The movement toward sustainable agriculture and organic farming is growing. In Indiana, state funds for it would increase its growth. Farmers turning to these methods aren’t leftover hippies, grooving on Mother Earth. They are responsible businesspeople who care about both profit and planet. They realize that a long-term look at the marketplace shows that using less chemicals is the smart way to go. The reasons? Pesticides are becoming prohibitively expensive. Consumers don’t like chemicals on their veggies for anything else). It’s possible, with some savvy to make more of a profit by diversifying than by planting one high-yield, pesticide-dependen* crop And who knows what future environmental regulations will cost? n * Indiana isn’t on the cutting edge in encouraging alternative practices. But state agriculture officials are well aware of their many economic and environmental benefits. They have reached some farmers with the information, and an ambitious agenda should reach many more. The state is especially encouraging sustainable agriculture, which teaches farmers to work with nature, instead of fighting it. Farmers using this method rotate crops, plant cover crops and reduce use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers (in the latter case, often substituting the natural, animal-made kind). The Indiana Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development would like state funds for a sustainable agriculture research center that would find ways to tailor these practices to Hoosier farmland. Putting money into such a project would be a good investment for the state to make B Also promising is recent research undertaken to develop a state organic certification program. The market for chemical-free food is growing, and our farmers should be able to take advantage of it. However, in many states they won’t be able to if they can’t certify their products are organically grown, ratine such a program must be a priority for our state. Creating sucn a P B tre sqrt WAyNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

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A building inspector is needed in Kosciusko County.

Court news

County Court Goshen Division The following fines have been levied and paid in the Elkhart County Court. Goshen Division: Speeding — Karen S. Butler. 40. Syracuse. $56; Melinda L. Korenstra. 20, Syracuse, SSB; Nancy E. Heckman, 32. Syracuse. SSB; Erica M. Machan,

From the Syracuse police log —

Doe in school yard

From the Syracuse Police Log is a weekly feature which presents a sampling of the incidents the officers from the Syracuse Fire Department and Syracuse Police Department are called upon to deal with: TUESDAY, AUG. 15] The owner of a dog was hold by authorities to keep it in his own yard. Police were notif-tefl that a particular dog was loose again on a street in town. Low wires were reported to the dispatcher. The wires were on North Shore Drive at Smoker's Hill. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 Police were notified by a woman that a child was shooting a BB gun at her shed and almost hit her! She requested an officer. A person who came to the fire station requesting who to contact regarding a fish hook in a finger was sent by the dispatcher to a local doctor's office. THURSDAY, AUG. 17 The night officer asked the dispatcher to notify the street department about a fire hydrant almost grown over with grass. The officer reported the fire hydrant was at Pittsburgh and Seventh Street. It was felt that a truck driver may come around the corner and not see the hydrant. FRIDAY. AUG. 18 A head custodian notified the dispatcher that he saw a doe in the yard at the Syracuse school The doe then went south towards the creek. He said the police might want to be on the look out for it The police chief checked the area and was not able to locate the deer He told the dispatcher if there was another call he will go back to the area During the late evening hours a resident in Enchanted Hills reported a loud speed boat in a channel The boat was docked at a house and the caller reported seeing a person carrying booze into the house from the boat SATURDAY. AUG. 19 Police were unable to locate a person after checking an area A Kale Island resident requested

Local students make 111 Dean's list

Indiana University, Bloomington, recently released the names of undergraduate students who successfully achieved the Dean’s List for academic excellence during semester 11. 1988-89. Dean’s List students must earn at least a 3.5 grade-point average from a possible 4 0 in a minimum of 12 hours of course work The following students will be honored in the spring of 1990 at the university’s traditional Founders Day program on the Bloomington campus Families of the honored students will be invited for the Founders Day program, which will recognize both the academic achievements of the undergraduate students and the teaching excellence of the faculty: Milford — Sherii Jeanine Bushong. Scott Allan Hartter.

17, Syracuse, $56 New Claims The following new claim has been filed in the Elkhart County Court. Goshen Division: R.M. Long, 308 S. Main St., Goshen vs Mr. and Mrs. William D. Dilts, r 1 box 88, North Webster. Plaintiff seeks $600.99 plus interest and costs.

that the area be checked for a possible suspicious person. The person was described as having long hair, wearing a jean jacket and carrying something behind his back. The Syracuse officer on duty asked that the county be contacted to see if a county officer was available. The county had no unit available, and requested Syracuse police handle the call. The dispatcher received a call :rom a woman who reported someone had taken a chair out of her vard and put it on a truck. SUNDAY, AUG. 20 Lake patrol officers were sent to look for several boats on the lake during the early morning hours. The dispatcher received a call from a resident at a condominium who reported intoxicated persons in a sail boat and on a pontoon. Descriptions of the boats were given to the dispatcher. Eight minutes later the person called back and said the sailboat had no lights on and was heading towards Morrison Island and the pontoon boat had its lights turned out. A complaint was taken by the dispatcher from a man who came to the station. He reported that someone threw trash at him while he was riding his motorcycle on the other side of the lake. MONDAY, AUG. 21 The dispatcher was notified by a person who had driven through town and saw several kids by the uptown bank. The person drove through town a short time later and saw the kids by the parking lot on East Main Street. The officer was notified, who stated he had driven through town about 15 minutes ago and saw two kids He advised them to go home He will check the area again Approximately 20 minutes later the officer reported he had checked the entire downtown area and apparently they have decided to go home. No one is around at the present time. A caller was told his answer would have to wait until October after requesting to know when trick or treat night was.

Bevan John Hurd, and Julie Dian Schwartz Syracuse — Stephanie Sue Berkey and Amy Jean Glassley

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 Mam Street Syracuse. Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices Subscription $lB 00 per year in Kosciusko County $24 00 outside county POSTMASTERS Send change of ad dress forms to The Mail Journal. P O Bom 188 Milford Indiana 46542

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE”

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ETTING EVEN with his boss is what Syracuse Police Officer Jim Felkner is doing in the Rbove photo.

Syracuse Police Chief Robert Ziller was one of eight persons in the dunk tank during the carnival at Miller s Merry Manor on Saturday. Needless to say Officer Felkner didn’t stop at dunking his boss once, but numerous times on his 12 tries. —o— THE LAKES Area Community Band will be giving a concert on Thursday. Aug. 24, at 7:30 p.m.. in Lucerne Park. Warsaw —o— MANY HAVE been wondering about the site of the old Syracuse Lumber Company, next to Hibschman Motors on SR 13. The property was owned by Frances Johnson Scoville, Asheville. N.C.. until several weeks ago when the property was purchased by Tom and Tami Moore, Ligonier. Moore stated they purchased the property for development which is uncertain at this time. —o— MARK YOUR calendar for next Thursday evening, Aug. 31. This is the last scheduled Music in the Park event at Lakeside Park. The evening will begin with a "build your own sundae” starting at 6:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m . will be the dedication of the new gazebo and official lighting ceremony of the new lights. “Mr. G. and Band Sound" will perform at 8 p.m..JwstfTGnagy and his 12 piece big band has performed all over the state at a variety of events. The repertoire focus is on music from the “big band" era but also includes a sprinkling of contemporary and novelty tunes. The group is made up of five saxophones, three trumpets, trombone, keyboard and percussion players. There is also a male and female vocalist. Don’t forget to take a lawn chair or blanket to the event for seating. —o— A IT WAS standing room only in the Syracuse Case Saturday morning when two customers were arrested. Indiana State Police Lab Tech Tom Perzanowski. who was on vacation, and Syracuse Police Chief Robert Ziller issued warrants for Ernie Rogers and Bill Beemer. Both warrants were read aloud before Rogers and Beemer were handcuffed ;did placed in the back of an awaiting squad cqZ It seems that Beemer was arrested for "bad mouthing a basketball referee" and Rogers for "window peeping.” Both men were taken to Miller's Merry Manor where bond had to be posted by calling friends to donate the bond money Both quickly posted bond and were released Their arrese was part of a Jail-A-Thon to raise money for several charities and the activities for residents at the healthcare facility. The jail was equipped with bread and water, restroom facilities and of course prison rules.

BILL BEEMER AND ERNIE ROGERS

SYRACUSE POLICE Department is beginning another program for fifth grade school students at Syracuse School this year. Project DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), a preventive program with an aim to equip youth with the skills to resist peer pressure to experiment and use harmful drugs. Calvin Kline, will be instructing the program which will start October 3 and last for 18 weeks. Work books, certificates, pencils, films, frisbees, T-shirts and several other items must first be purchased. The police department will be asking local businesses for donations towards the program which is said to be better than the Just Say No program. Donations will be accepted by the department from private individuals also. Interested persons should contact the department for information. —o— THE ANNUAL Kosciusko County Republican's Hall of Fame,Dinner will be held Monday, Aug. 28. ,at the/South Shore Country Club. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Mayor William H. Hudnut 111, Indianapolis, will be the guest speaker. A number of other dignitaries are also expected to be present. Tickets will be available the night of the dinner or from any county official. —o—■W 11 \ -J & - vAST WEEK a photo was provided to us by the Carnival Cruise Lines, but it was the wrong one! Raeni Rinker provided us with the above photo. Miss Rinker and Jay Koontz. Syracuse, pose for the picture just before sailing out of Port Everglades. Fort Lauderdale. Fla. The couple took a four-day. mid-week cruise to the Bahamas on the Carnival Cruise Lines "frun Ship. TSS Mardi Gras.” t Continued on page 5)