The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 8, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 April 1990 — Page 5

Under the .. . ' -4 ■ Courthouse Dome By Ron Sharp J b ib IRm3

LABOR SUPPLY AND EMPLOYMENT UP IN COUNTY — A report issued by the Indiana Department of Employment and Training Services shows Kosciusko County above average on national and state scales in the labor market. The‘report shows that the county gained 4.1 percent in number of persons available for work in the county during 1989. This compares with 1.5 percent nationwide and 2.9 statewide. Another strong point was the number of people employed in the county. There was a 4.4 increase in those employed in the county as compared to a national average of 2.2 and a state average of 3,3. Also, to back up our favorable standing in the state and nation are our unemployment figures. The county ranks 11th of the state’s 92 counties (with the top county having the least). A review of the records (by county) of those unemployed shows that Hendricks County has the least number with an average of 2.4 percent. Randolph had the highest number — 8.8 percent. Below is the average for the year of the counties with up to 4 percent unemployed. Hendricks 2.4 Hamilton 2.6 Boone 2.7 Dubois 3.0 Tippecanoe 3.0 Hancock 3.1 Monroe 3.2 Montgomery 3.3 Johnson 3.5 Porter 3.5 Kosciusko 3.8 Huntington 3.9 Putman 3.9 The increase in employment is a healthy sign for the county. It is noteworthy that very few new industries have come into the county. The expansion of industries located here are contributing to our high employment rate. Service-related businesses in our county have mushroomed. They offer many part-time jobs which have significantly increased the employment figures. The figures above could be viewed with some skepticism as some people are holding down two jobs. —O'CREATING SPECIAL TAX ZONE - If Warsaw City officials create a special tax zone for the old freshman high school property on East Main, it is going to cost county taxpayers. The estimated amount that could be lost — if the city keeps all the tax monies that would be derived from a $25,000,000 building on that site — is shown below: Rate Needed Taxing Unit Estimated Loss Per SIOO County $ 50,000-$ 70,000 .02 Warsaw School $250,000-$300,000 .12 Wayne Township Library Prairie Clay Lake Claypool Silver Lake $ 50,000-$ 70,000 .02 If the building was left on the county and school tax rolls, Warsaw (city) would receive $20,000 to $25,000. However, if the city officials hogged the whole tax roll on the improvement, their gain could be as much as half a million dollars. It would take only a little change in the law by the state legislature to convert this money, so it could be used for other than the uptown area of Warsaw. Some believe that if this plan to hog the mbney goes through, it would only be a short time before it would be used for the big athletic complex (CCAC) being promoted by Mayor Jeff Plank. —o— DOG POUND SHOULD BE COUNTY OWNED - County commissioners and council should stick to their guns and operate a county animal control division. It would be practical to appoint a committee and build a new complex rather than get in a bidding war over who owns the present pound. Joint ownership would be just a first step to embroil the county taxpayers in supporting "joint projects," such as: the Warsaw Airport, an athletic complex (CCAC), and all other schemes that might come down the pike. In other words, our county is not a poor relative hunting for a rich "sugar daddy."

Know your representatives

As a public service, ‘the PAPER' is printing the names and addresses of Federal and State Senate and House of Representatives members from the Kosciusko County area. They are: Senate, Federal US Senator Richard G. Lugar. (R), 306 Senate Hart Bldg., Washington, D C. 20510, and 1300 S. Harrison, Ft. Wayne. 422-1505 US Senator Dan Coats. < R), 411 Senate Russell Bldg., Washington. DC. 20510, 202-224-5623 and 46 East Ohio St., Room 447, Indianapolis, Ind. 46204,(317)226-5555 Third District Congressman John P. Hiler, <R), 407 Cannon Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-3915, 224 W. Jefferson Blvd., Suite 101, South Bend, Ind. 46601, 1-800-854-4537 Fifth District Congressman

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Jim Jontz, (D) 1039 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-5037,202-966-6950 Betty N. Lawson, (D), Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph Counties, 17444 Starlite Dr., South Bend, 291-9013. Robert L. Meeks, (R), District 13, DeKalb, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble Counties, r 3 box 51, LaGrange, 463-3198. House Kent J. Adams, (R), District 22, Kosciusko, Marshall, Wabash Counties, 223 W. Sherman, Bremen, 546-3119. David A. Wolkins, (R), District 18, Kosciusko, Noble Counties, 1600 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, 269-2639. Anyone wishing to contact the Indiana Chamber of Commerce may do so by writing One North Capitol, Suite 200, Indiana, Ind. 46204-2248, phone 317-634-6407.

POLITICAL NEWS ®

Hiler gives PAC money back

Congressman John Hiler returned $9,500 in Political Action Committee (PAC) money as he delivered on his commitment to limit PAC spending in his campaign and return campaign finance to the people of the Third Congressional District. Last week, Hiler introduced his Three Point Plan and offered to give Up all. PAC and out-of-state individual contributions if his opponents agreed to do the same. So far, all candidates have not agreed to that challenge, but Hiler is following through with his pledge - to voluntarily limit PAC spending on his own. “Today, the last day in this Federal Election Commission filing period (March 29), I am returning $9,500 in Political Action Committee contributions. I am following through on my commitment to lead the campaign finance reform debate by example and return elections to the people of the Third District,” Hiler said. “In addition to cutting the amounts of PAC contributions in half, I will also limit PACSs to 25 percent of my total campaign fund. Os course, my proposal to eliminate PAC money and out-of-state contributions entirely still stands and will stand through the primary elections in May. I will

Moberly to receive award from press association

Former State Rep. Stephen C. Moberly will join the illustrious list of persons who have received the Hoosier State Press Association’s First Freedom Award when he accepts the honor on April 6 at the organization’s 56th annual convention in Evansville. Moberly, who opted to leave state government at the end of the 1990 legislative session, was first elected to the Indiana General Assembly in 1972 and had been re-elected every two years since. The Shelbyville Republican will return to the fulltime practice of law in Shelby County. He was chosen to receive HSPA’s First Freedom Award because of his record as a champion of the public’s right to information about governmental bodies and other public groups. Moberly was a primary sponsor of Indiana's Open Door Law, and he backed amendments revising the law and making it more workable, which were passed in 1987. He helped open the deliberations of the judicial nominating commission to the public, and he sponsored a proposal requiring the listing of consultants’ contracts with the state. He also sponsored laws pertaining to the registration of lobbyists, and he is credited with passage of an ethics bill that sets guidelines for doing business with the state and for the conduct of former state employees. Moberly is the sixth person to receive the First Freedom Award, which was first presented to Notre Dame President Theodore Hesburgh in 1978. The following year, the award was presented posthumously to Nelson Poynter, founder of the Poynter Institute for newspapers. HSPA represents 173 daily and weekly newspapers in the state of Indiana. It established the First Freedom Award to recognize continuing service and commit-

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then urge the single Democrat challenger to give up this money, and let the Third District Congressional race be run without money from Washington special interests.”

Roemer Discusses Environment Tim Roemer, Democratic candidate for Third District congressional representative, says, “It’s time we draw the line. People of the Third District deserve progressive environmental leader-

Proposal agreement in farm bill

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Wheat, Soybeans and Feed Grains recently agreed to a proposal authored by Congressman Jim Jontz to tie adjustments in target prices to an index of farm input costs in the 1990 Farm Bill. The Jontz proposal is the only initiative approved so far to protect and improve farm income. The key congressional panel approved the Jontz target price amendment unanimously during its first day of “markup,” or formal consideration, of the Farm Bill. If retained in the final version of the Farm Bill, the Jontz amendment would be the framework for determining target prices for corn, soybeans, wheat and other feed grains over the next five years.

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STEPHEN C. MOBERLY

ment to the cause of mankind’s right to freedom of information and expression. To date, all the recipients have had ’’roots’’ in Indiana, and the 1990 recipient lives up to all these criteria. Moberly has lived all of his 48 years in the Hoosier state. A native of Shelbyville, he is a Tax workshop Farmers State Bank’s new Leesburg Branch is sponsoring a workshop on "Tax and Investment Strategies,” Thursday. April 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Leesburg Community Center. Workshop participants will explore various investment alternatives and the relationship between risk and return for each. The effect of income taxes on interest and investment income will be considered. Tax-free and tax-deferred investments will also be examined. A reception will precede the seminar with hors d’oeuvres served between 6:30-7 p.m Seating is limited. To register, contact Denna Miller at Farmers State Bank, 453-3163.

ship in the 19905. We shouldn't be fighting oil spills with rags and mops; we should be investing in new environmental technology to prevent oil from reaching our shorelines.” Throughout his campaign, Roemer has listed environmental reforms as one of his top priorities. He has continually stressed his support for increased recycling efforts and research and development initiatives. In addition, Roemer favors banning

During the recent session, Jontz’s proposal was amended by Rep. Tim Penny (D-Minnesota) to limit increased target prices to a certain percentage of farmers’ production.

Recognize Meeks for voting attendance record

State Senator Robert L. Meeks (R-LaGrange) was recently commended by Indiana Senate President Pro Tern Robert D. Garton for attaining a 99.6 percent voting attendance record during the 1990 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Meeks was present for 454 of

graduate of Indiana University and the Indiana University School of Law. During his 18 years in the state legislature, he represented House District 57, which is centered in Shelby tyHe has received numerous awards from a variety of business and civic groups, including a 1989 Consumer Rights Award from the Citizens Action Coalition.

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interstate trash dumping and increasing environmental training programs. “Recycling provides a good beginning for combating environmental problems but it must be taken a step further,” Roemer said. “Funds should be provided for research and development of new products from recyclable materials. Incentives, such as low-interest loans, should be implemented for private businesses wanting to break into the recyclable market. ’ ’ “Also, Congress should explore the development of more fuel efficient automobiles and costeffective cleaning technology for industries. Numerous opportunities exist for improving our environment. I am committed to pursuing those opportunities.”

the 456 roll call votes records in the Senate this year. “Being present when the votes are taken is the most important responsibility of a state senator,” said Garton, a Columbus Republican. “Senator Meeks’ attendance record shows that he was on the job representing the citizens of District 13.” Garton, who oversees the day-to-day business in the Senate, noted while 189 bills were passed by the General Assembly during 30-day short session, roll call votes also are recorded on amendments, motions and committeereports. “During 12-hour to 14-hour working days when many activities take place simultaneously, considerable concentration and attention to the business before the Senate is necessary to maintain this kind of voting record,” added Garton. “I compliment Senator Meeks for having compiled such an outstanding voting record,” Garton concluded. The General Assembly adjourned for the year on March 13.

Wed., April 4,1990 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

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THE PAPERS INCORPORATED RECEIVES AWARDS — The Papers Incorporated received two awards at a recent Independent Free Papers of America Convention in Saint Louis. The awards were won for best rate card in a single zone and best original writing of a personal column. The peisonal column, “Under The Courthouse Dome,” is written by Ron Sharp and runs in this paper. Free papers from every state in the U.S. were represented, as were papers from Canada. Kip Schumm (in photo), sales manager, and Ron Baumgartner, president of The Papers Incorporated, attended the five day conference.

Letters to the editor

Do you know what is being taught in your school?

Dear Editor: Do you know what is being taught in your school? The State Board of Education has required an AIDS curriculum to be written and implemented for all schools in Indiana. An AIDS curriculum has been formulated by a committee for Nothing done about speeders Dear Editor: Last Friday night, there was another valuable animal hit and killed by a speeder on the Syracuse-Milford Road going 60-80 miles per hour. This could have been a child. Why have none of these speeders been caught and arrested? It is impossible to safely cross the road day or night. There have been many complaints made, but to date nothing has been done. Thank you. Everett Ketering

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the Wawasee Community School Corporation. The proposed curriculum is available at the central office this week for your review and consideration. We encourage you to review the material and express your opinions, written or verbal, to our superintendent. Dr. Roger Thornton; our assistant superintendent, Mr. Henry Smith; and to our school board members. The proposed AIDS curriculum is on the agenda for the next board meeting. It is Tuesday, April 10, at 7 p.m. at the high school. Come to the School Board meeting if you would like information dealing with this aspect of your child's education. Curt Jordan, the school board president, has assured us there will be time given to patrons to express concerns and opinions before any vote is taken to adopt the AIDS curriculum. Bruce and Beth Lamb

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