The Mail-Journal, Volume 28, Number 32, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 September 1989 — Page 1

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Milford 658-4111 &• Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 28

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FUTURE EVIDENCE? — Milford Town Board member John Lehman makes a video record of a house owned by Goshen landlord Ron Davidhizar. who has been the focus of unsafe building squabbles in the past. The house, located on East Fourth Street, was videotaped Saturday to supply Milford Town Attorney Jay Rigdon with a record of how

Time to oct —

Milford Town Council to take stand on Davidhizar's property

By MARK HUFFMAN Sports Writer

Nine years ago (August 11. 1980) the Milford Town Council heard complaints about a home setting on the corner of Fourth and James streets and owned by Goshen landlord Ron Davidhizar. Area neighbors had complained about sewage and rat problems. Located at 212 E. Fourth St., the five-bedroom house has since been the focus of a hearing for violations of the town's Unsafe Building Law and complaints from neighboring residents. With the removal of unsafe housing becoming a priority for the current town 'council. Davidhizar again finds himself at the center of a brewing storm

AP Bureau Chief — Former resident reports on the realities of poverty, hunger, war

I B} MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writer

Back in the United States on what she termed a "home leave." Earleen Fisher spent a little less than a week in her hometown of Milford. Daughter of Donna and Xoble Fisher. Earleen is the chief of the bureau of south Asia for the Associated Press. Besides having some time to spend in her hometown, this home leave also requires Earleen travel to-the home bureau in Xe\v York for some organizational meetings. Following these meetings. Earleen will gradual!} work her way back to New Delhi where she will continue her duties as AP bureau chief ■ Earleen said that she enjoys these trips home not only because she is'’able to see friends and family, but also because she is able to hear "what people are talking about." On her last visit, she said "pasta machines" were

,y v Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

Contacted earlier today. Building Inspector Bill Durbin stated that he will be forwarding a letter requesting the Goshen landlord s presence at a hearing to address four violations of the town's Unsafe Building Law. I talked to the town attorney (Jay Rigdon) yesterday (Tuesday ) to see where we re at and we should be getting a letter out yet this week," Durbin said, noting that the letter will dictate a 30-day order, calling for Davidhizar to attend a hearing at least 15 days from the day the letter was sent. "We still have to find out when Harry Doty (building commissioner) is available to set the hearing." the inspector added If Davidhizar fails to attend the hearing before the commissioner he forfeits his right to appeal, according to Durbin "We are going to ask to demolish the building." he said

the big thing. This time "it’s definitely oat bran. " A 1964 graduate of Milford High School. Earleen went on to study at Indiana University where she graduated with a degree in journalism in 1968 While at If. Earleen**said she also concentrated on history and geography From 1968 to 1971. Earleen worked for the AP in Indianapolis She followed that up w ith work for AP in Xew York City In 1977. Earleen did some freelance work in Egypt for The Xew York Times. Voice of America and AP In 1980 she rejoined the AP staff in Beirut By 1983 she was working in Tel Aviv Bureau Chief Earleen returned to Xew York city working as the supervisor for the desk for the morning papers, but decided she "was not ready tor this desk job." So in'October ot 1987 she went to Xew Delhi w here she is now bureau chief for south Asia As "bureau chief. Earleen has a staff of five reporters and access to an additional number of local reporters The combination of

the structure looks before any notice for repair is given to Davidhizar. Building inspector Bill Durbin will forward an order to the landlord later this week asking for the demolition of the structure, citing the violation of four articles within the Milford Building Code. The Goshen landlord is currently under order not to occupy the building. (Mail-Journal Photo)

' The commissioner will ultimately make the decision on whether the town's order should be complied with, vacated, or modified." Rigdon said, adding. "The town council itself cannot make a decision to tear down the house — it is a fofum for complaints and they just pass them along to the commissioner who decides what to do." Time To Act Such complaints have been lodged for many years and town council member John Lehman contends that now is the time to act. "The board before us has had trouble with it ( Fourth Street property 1 and we've been on him i Davidhizar) for two years — we have to take a stand on it and we will go to court if we have to." the councilman said. Council President Robert Phillips concurred with Lehman, noting. "We just keep hoping that

' administrative tasks and writing" is especially appealing to Earleen and that is the reason that she took the job "This is the one place the bureau chief can Report." she explained, adding. ”1 can go myself on an assignment of send my staff. ” Earleen feels that her job in Xew Delhi "gives me more control over what I'm doing." Her position enables her to go in "a lot of different directions to work at at once . and I need that." Her desk job in New York was "a good editing job." she adrhitted. "but that just wasn't enough." ■‘l need the tear..” she stated, adding, "it keeps me sharp Iran. Lebanon, and Afghanistan are places that Earleen has traveled to in order to get a story "They are the sort of places that 30 years ago. I wouldn't have seen. " she remarked She has w itnessed w ars and she has seen death Her job is to "try to put a human or individual face

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,1989

Mr. Davidhizar will make some improvements and it's not being done. If it's an attractive nuisance to children something has to be done and I think it is that at the least " A third council member. Dennis Wuthrich, was unavailable for comment. Durbin noted that he was citing the property for four violations which question the structural strength or' - stability of the building; the likelihood for a portion. member or appurtenance of the building to become detached, dislodged or collapse and cause injury or damage property; the unsanitary state of the building, which may be unfit for human habitation, and the possibility of being a fire hazard. • Currently under order not to occupy the structure. Davidhizar has owned the Fourth Street pro(Continued on page 2 >

on things." "I try to put the best most complete information together over what is going to happen." she explained, "and that means getting a story out to the world " "I try to bring you to the story. . so you can see it. and smell it." she added Witnessing the harsh realities of poverty, hunger and war does depress Earleen. but in those cases she said her job is to relate that depression to the readers Although Earleen does admit to a certain danger that comes with reporting in areas such as Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, for ex ample, she also insisted shat she "does not take chances." "I try not to get into situations where I might not come out alive, she maintained. These "situations" teach Earleen "a lot about myself, she said, adding, "you learn you can count on yourself " leaking a home in an upstairs apartment in Xew Delhi. Earleen lives with her one dog and tour cats "It s starting to look like a

On North Huntington Street — Syracuse board discusses funding for improvements

By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer

Possible ways to fund engineering costs to improve North Huntington Street were discussed without a decision on which direction to take during Tuesday evening s Syracuse Town Council Meeting. Preliminary engineering fees and acquisition of right of ways are expected to be $46,000. Mike Fitch, with Bonar and Associates, stated the, construction costs would be approximately $450,000 with the town responsible for $114,000. If the council chose to go with local funds to pay for the preliminary engineering. Assessors need new addresses Residents of Turkey Creek. Tippecanoe and Van Buren Townships who have had addresses changed by the postal service are urged to contact their tocal assessor or township trustee/'assessor. Charlene Knispel. Turkey Creek Township Assessor, noted it is very important in the mailing of tax statements. By keeping the assessors or trustee/assessors current on addresses, property owners cap avoid delinquent tax fees and penalties. Concern comes from those residents who have had their addresses changed since March. 1988. by the post office. According to Anthony Rudasics. Postmaster at Syracuse, two letters were mailed to residents effected by the address changes stating that after April 1989. mail addressed with the former address will not be forwarded. Address changes are only kept on file at the post office for one year. Correct addresses are needed for the mailing of Form 11. notification of the reassessment values. Notification of address changes will also be important following the implementation of rural numbering after the first of the vear.

zoo." she laughed "It is very basic.” she added. And Xew Delhi is very hot. dusty and humid. The food is "a lot more basic than anywhere." she described, adding. "I rate the hotels that I stay in by their cheeseburgers " Earleen "blames two things" for her desire to do the work that she does; the globe her parents gave to her for Christmas when she was seven or eight-years-old and the Milford Public Library. Seeing the "there" in books and on the globe made Earleen want to learn what that "there" was. She added, "coming from a small town made me want to get out of a small town " In addition, she said she "enjoys going to different places because I can add to it." With.her wealth of experience and know ledge of w hat is going on in these foreign countries she explained "I can add to people s knowledge " She concluded, "with all of. my experience, it seems a shame not to use it "

its portion would be $165,000 If the council went with federal funds paying for part of the engineering, the town's portion would be $128,000. Fitch explained in the past the division of local assistance has not approved funds for preliminary engineering, however, there will be some changes allowing minimum allocation of funds This is where

Candidates are chosen for Swartzendruber replacement

I By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer

Jeff Wells. Jon Roberts, and Carolyn Anderson have been chosen from six candidates as the final three, in the search by the Wawasee Community School Corporation Board of Trustees to CAROLYN ANDERSON name as the replacement of former board member Carol Swartzendruber. These three candidates will be interviewed, publicly by the board, this Saturday. Sept. 23. at

fTt t f I r 1 IWp KIM ANTS WELCOMES EARLEEN FISHER — The guest speaker for the 6:30 a.m. Milford Kiwanis Club on Friday. Sept. 15. was Earleen Fisher. She is the daughter of Noble and Donna Fisher of Milford and is current!} the bureau chief of south \sia for the Associated Press. She spoke to the packed crowd at the Milford Communit} Building about her job reporting abroad. She spoke about "globalization" and "a commonality in the world" in an effort to encourage people to care about the places from which she is reporting. "The world is shrinking, she pointed out. adding, "a lot of thesepeople are coming here il .5.1." Shown, from left to right, are Paris Ball-Miller, past president: Earleen Fisher, and Bill Little, president-elect. (Photob} Mars Jane Lorton'

federal participation on the engineering could be sought Other areas of potential funding for various parts of the project are general obligation bonds. Indiana Department of Commerce. Indiana Department of Transportation, local road and street funds.' and special assessments. Fitch spoke about the Barrett Law in which adjacent property owners could be

2 p.m.. in Room 130 in Wawasee High School. The public will not be allowed to ask questions as the law requires no public involvement with the interview process. Curtis Jordan, board president, announced the board's selections this morning, following the board member's review of all apf M A JON ROBERTS plicants last evening, in an executivegession The public is encouraged to attend the public interview on Saturday to listen and learn about the candidates and have a "feeling that the board does what it should do in filling the vacancy "It will also give the public a chance to listen to the candidates' response to questions by the

NUMBER 32

assessed for curbing, sidewalks and guttering. This would work where the property owner would be assessed 25 percent of that cost with federal funds picking up 75 percent. These assessments could be paid by property owners qver a 10-year period, or lump sum. He also explained further procedures if the Barrett Law was i Continued on page 2)

board. Results of this interview will determine the appointment of a new board member. Jordan stated all three candidates will be interviewed simultaneously. However, the candidates will not be asked to respond to the same question at the same time. Each board member will ask appropriate questions as he sees fit. No candidate will be asked a question in a set order. It is anticipated the public interview will last I-IU hours. after this the candidates will be free to leave. An open discussion by the JEFF WELLS board will then follow. The appointment of the board member will be made Tuesday. Sept . 26. at 7 p.m.

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