The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 33, Milford, Kosciusko County, 26 September 1990 — Page 4
4
THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., September 26,1990
Editorial
Safety measures must be taken Long a sore spot with Milford residents, railroad crossings within town received crossing signals to enhance safety in recent years, but not before two lives were lost. Another life was taken early Saturday morning at a crossing south of town. While it’s unknown whether a crossing signal would have spared Oscar Pena’s life, railroad and county officials would be wise to look to outlaying areas, where some crossings have virtually no markings. Granted, some are going to disregard signals regardless, but a majority of people do exercise added caution when approaching a “Stop” or warning sign. Currently, four public crossings between Milford and Leesburg feature no stop signs other than those found at the intersecting road (Old Road 15) west of the tracks. In hazy or rainy weather conditions, a driver unfamiliar with the streets may not detect a crossing until it’s too late. Signs cautioning motorists from the east about dangerous railroad tracks may help to slow traffic before it reaches the tracks. A March 11,1987, editorial in this newspaper detailed red tape that P often cuts into solutions when concerning the railroad. County officials must take measures to assure that such red tape does not take the place of public safety. A review of all county railroad crossings and intersections will take a lot of effort on the part of county officials. However, even one life is worth that effort. Banning books will not ban thoughts Attacking new thought at its source by banning books is a long and shameful tradition in the land of the free and the home of the brave. That’s because there are people in this country who believe that a little thinking is a dangerous thing. Fearful of the results of unbridled thought, these cowards of the mind pose as the standard bearers of decency and community values. Ever ready to deal the lowest blows to gain their objective, they often use the moral and social health of American children as their reason to be. In order towage their war, the thought police make hit lists of objectionable books. Why books? Because, like art and music, the written word provides the reader, its audience, with kindling to spark thoughts as well as new and different ideas. Sometimes, the book banners will tell you, these ideas are unhealthy, antisocial or just plain bad. They could corrupt or harm the reader (this usually means a young person). Just one sentence, after all, can lead to questions. And those, it seems, can lead to moral and social decay. However, what these earnest thought-fighters don’t tell us (or maybe don’t know themselves), is that new ideas and questions are the life of conscience. Everyone, young and old, needs to ask questions because when they stop, so does the development of character. Bad character and a lazy conscience are what lead to moral and social decay. Not books. Books, even the ones with wrong, immoral ideas (and there are plenty) are truly food for thought. None of us can afford to starve. What happens when we do come across a nasty, foul-tasting thought? Most of us will spit it right out. Those who do swallow it probably have developed a taste for it somewhere else. The best way to cultivate their tastes in a better direction is to give them more books — different flavors. There are lots of ways that readers who wish to feed their thoughts can fight the book banners. Awareness is a good one and the American Library Association has declared September 24-28 Banned Books Week. Please support their efforts. Speak up and read freely. Our thoughts are worth it. What others say — Prejudice American-style It’s back. It never left, really, but it's one of those ugly, shameful truths about our country many of us like to ignore or pretend don’t exist — racial prejudice. As the gulf crisis has developed, acts of racial hatred against ArabAmericans are on the rise across America. Several Arab-Americans have been forced to move out of their homes because of harassment and death threats. In Toledo, an Arab-American businessman was reportedly beaten by members of a white-supremacist group. The American media, particularly radio stations, have helped fuel this atrocious behavior. According to The New York Times, Detroit radio station WDFX asked listeners to telephone in “bad Iraqi jokes.” The jokes became so distasteful the station manager later went on the air and apologized. Even Fort Wayne has hopped aboard the anti-Arab bandwagon. Early in the crisis, local radio station WAJI had a “Dunk Hussein” contest. That contest was reported by the local media and later copied by at least one other American radio station. But as we said, the prejudice has always been there. There are more than 2.5 million Arab-Americans in this country. Before President Bush sent troops to Saudi Arabia, about one report a week of harassment was taken by the Washington. D C.-based American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Since then, reports have jumped to four a day. In 1985, after the Achille Lauro cruise ship was hijacked by Palestinians, a bombing incident at the Los Angeles Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee office killed an Arab poet. Americans who perpetrate such antics do so in the name of national pride. This kind of pride we can do without. Yet the blame for this anti-Arab sentiment does not lie only at the feet of a few ignorant, insensitive Americans. The U.S. government has led extremely well-organized propaganda and paranoia campaigns against other nations and their rulers for many decades — whenever the situation suits its political agenda, of course. Remember the Japanese during World War 11. We put thousands of Japanese-Americans in internment camps back then, and we recently doled out millions in reparations to cover that transgression. Heaven forbid we forget Vietnam. Ten years, 56,000 dead Americans and $l4O billion later, American retreats from its vigilance to keep the commies out of South Vietnam. Nor should we forget our drug-running CIA confidant, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. We had no quarrel with the Panamanian people, but after we’d used Noriega, we decided he was no longer fit to rule. And now comes Saddam of Iraq — self-proclaimed leader of the Arab states. Our government helped him reach his pedestal, and now we want to knock his block off. American politicians have no problem whipping the public into emotional tizzies against the foreign “enemy of the hour” to support their crusades, but they fail to recognize or accept responsibility for the Consequences. It’s high time Americans took a good, hard look at themselves and the contradictions of their actions. We cannot expect to retain credibility or respect in the international community as long as we preach democracy, freedom and equality abroad but continually practice and promote racism, prejudice and bigotry at home. — THE JOURNAL-GAZETTE
r ■
County railroad crossings are in need of warning signs, with many featuring no stop signs until the driver reaches the other side of the tracks.
Court news
Circuit Court
The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sand presiding: Complaint For Damages Milwaukee Insurance Company as subrogee of James and Pamela Pippenger, no addresses given, versus Charles Wahlgren, Jr., Wenona, Syracuse. Petitioner seeks $13,504.47, interest, costs. Complaint William Bouse, no address given, versus Farm Tech, Inc., SR 15S, Leesburg. Petitioner seeks: Count I — contractual damages; Count II — double compensatory damages, costs, attorney fees; Count 111 — punitive damages. Complaint W. Bruce Maish and Barbara Helen Maish, no address given, and James. L. Babcock and Lynn M. Babcock, no address given, versus Elaine Loser a/k/a Elaine K. Day, Leesburg and Fort Wayne. Petitioners seek to quiet title to disputed real estate, costs. Superior Court The following petitions have been filed in Kosciusko Superior Court, Judge Robert Burner presiding: Complaint Lake City Bank versus Donna Mock, Milford, and Christopher J. Slone, Milford. Petitioner seeks: Count I — $4,341.75, interest, attorney fees and costs against Donna Mock; Count II — $1,754.74, interest, attorney fees and costs against Donna Mock and Christopher J. Slone. Complaint Augsburger’s Super Valu versus Barbara Mumaw, Alexandria, Ind. Petitioner seeks $439.26 plus $55 in court costs. Complaint Collection Bureau of Warsaw versus Julie A. Current, c/o Maple Leaf Farms, Milford. Petitioner seeks $5,622.32, interest, attorney fees, costs. Complaint For Damages William B. Stout, no address given, versus Curt A. Hasting, rural route, Syracuse. Petitioner seeks compensatory damages, costs. County Court The following persons have paid fines and costs in Kosciusko County Court, Judge James Jarrette presiding: Operating While Intoxicated — Christopher Hare, no age, Syracuse, $338, driver’s license restricted 180 days, K.C.J. six days. Conversion — Melissa K. Crosby, no age, Syracuse, $163, K. one year suspended, probation one year, K.C.J. 10 days. Resisting Law Enforcement — Brian C. Wilkinson, 18, Syracuse, $213. Contributing To Delinquency — Vicki Lynn Randolph, 42, North Webster, $163. City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Allan L. Foyle, 18, Syracuse, dismissed; Jenny J. Penick, 17, Syracuse, $63; Dana A. Rogers, 44, Syracuse, S6B No license in possession — James H. White, 25, Syracuse, $54
THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S.P.S. 3258-4000) Published by The Papers Incorporated every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office in Syracuse, Indiana 46567. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main Street, Syracuse, Indiana 46567 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: Newstand rate 45C per copy, sl9 00 per year in Kosciusko County, $25.00 outside county Della Baumgartner, Publisher Ron Baumgartner, General Manager fol Jeri Seely, Editor exH //Zy Kip Schurnm, Advertising Manager POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail Journal, P O Box 188. Milford, Indiana 46542 The Papers Incorporated reserves the right to refuse for publication any advertising that is considered offensive, misleading or detrimental to the public, the newspaper or another advertiser and to edit advertising at its discretion DEADLINES: Legal copy, 5 p.m. Monday, classified copy and display copy, 11 a m. Tuesday.
False and fictitious registration — James H. White Jr., 25, Syracuse, SSB Violation of child restraint law — Danny L. Hackney, 39, Milford, dismissed with proof of proper restraint; James H. White Jr., 25, Syracuse, $25 Marriage Dissolutions The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in the Kosciusko Superior and Circuit Courts: Epperson — Rhonda M. Epperson, rural route, Leesburg, and James E. Epperson, Leesburg. The couple was married June 4, 1983, and separated Sept. 7,1990. There is one minor child. Neibert — Laura Ann Neibert, Happiness Street, Syracuse, and Steven Craig Neibert, rural route, Leesburg. The couple was married June 21, 1980, and separated Aug. 22, 1990. There are two minor children. Bayne — Twilla D. Bayne, no address given, and Cameron D. Bayne, rural route, Leesburg. The couple was married June 28, 1986, and separated Sept. 5, 1990. There is one minor child. Goble — Janet C. Goble, P.O. Box, Pierceton, and Lawrence A. Goble, rural route, North Webster. The couple was married May 7, 1990, and separated Aug. 20, 1990. There are two minor children. Tindle — Tamara Catherine Tindle, Syracuse, and Gregg Lander Tindle, Winona Lake. The couple was married June 25,1988, and separated Aug. 20,1990. Young — Killie Young, no address given, and Andrew Lee Young, P.O. Box, Milford. The couple was married Nov. 14,1986, and separated June 28, 1988. There is one minor child. Marriage Licenses The-following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk Jeanne Weirick: Lamb-Kauffman Jason Todd Lamb, 20, Main Street, Syracuse, and Elizabeth Grace Kauffman, 21, Main Street, Syracuse. Spradlin-Kellogg Danny Allen Spradlin, 18, rural route, Syracuse, and Shawna R. Kellogg, 19, rural route, Syracuse. Heckaman-Singrey John David Heckaman, 27, North Shore Drive, Syracuse, and Cathy J. Singrey, 29, North Shore Drive, Syracuse. The following couple has applied for a marriage license in Elkhart County Court, Goshen Division: Burger-Buhrt Ricky Allen Burger, 22, S. County Line Rd., Syracuse and Pamela Marie Buhrt, 19, W. Wilkinson, Goshen New Subscribers Electronic Center 8436 N SR 13 Syracuse, Ind. 46567 Ronnie Hostettler 13266 N. East Shore Dr. Syracuse,lnd.46s67
"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"
BB / W bSeL w, I I r rrß\ / aa F > F f iwß ' J k ‘ AWI > JI f *
THE MEETING room in Syracuse Town Hall recently received a gift of two new flag poles. Syracuse American Legion Post 223 and American Legion Auxiliary Post 223 purchased the poles for the American and state flags. Shown in the photo, left to right, with the flags displayed on the new poles, are: Ron Burkhead, commander of American Legion Post 223; Lorree Mench, auxiliary president; and Syracuse Police Chief Robert Ziller, who sought the donation. —o— RUMORS HAVE been circulating that one of the town’s pizza establishments will be closing its doors. However, this is untrue. Dennis Paternoster, co-owner of Noble Roman's Pizza, stated he and partner Jack Clark, Indianapolis, have no plans of closing. The business is, however, undergoing some restructuring in ownership. —o— RESIDENTS WHO use the 457 telephone number to call our local county offices in Warsaw should keep an eye and ear on what will be happening to this number. Recently the county fathers voted to eliminate the receptionist’s job in the courthouse, as all county offices have their own telephone numbers. It is the receptionist who answers our calls when 457-5757 is dialed and transfers the call to the correct office. When she is gone, who will answer? Larry Teghtmeyer, county councilman, stated the county fathers are going to look at some alternatives, but he is not sure what those alternatives are. According to Teghtmeyer, it will be up to Pat Brown, county auditor, to come up with a solution. Teghtmeyer did not deny there are a lot of calls being made to county offices by residents in the northern portion of the county via the 457 exchange, and is hoping there is another alternative. Possibly an 800 number could be established, that way all residents could call toll free, but then who would answer this line? There appears to be some questions that need answering in the next three months that maybe should have been thought about before eliminating this position. —o— HERE’S SOME good news. While Goshen and Warsaw will be closing down their Big Wheel stores, Syracuse’s store will remain open. This will be the only Big Wheel store within a 60 mile radius of Syracuse. —o— THERE’S SOME big happenings in Wawasee Village. RC’s Pier is remodeling and Wawasee Service Center is making some changes there. Rick Eyer, owner of RC’s Pier, stated the establishment will be closed for at least two weeks while the flooring, kitchen, bar and cooling system are all torn out and replaced. A complete remodeling and redecorating task is planned for the interior. The business closed for the work Sunday, Sept. 23. Out at Wawasee Service Center, Gil Combs, owner, has had the building to the south of the business torn down. This building handled the mechanic work for the center, but because it is harder to work on newer cars, Gil has decided not to lease the building, but destroy it. This goes along with his plans of expanding the center with hopes of adding new gasoline pumps and a new front on the building. If tilings go according to plan, all this should be completed by spring. WELL, FOOTBALL season is definitely upon us. No longer are the guys at the coffee shop talking about golf as much as they are college football, particularly Notre Dame. Os course there are several Purdue fans in the clutch and with the clash between the Boilermakers and the Irish this weekend in South Bend, football talk was hot and heavy earlier this week. The latest is that Notre Dame will defeat Purdue by 24 points.
PLANS FOR the Red Ribbon Week in the area are moving along. The workings are already underway for a kick-off at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, with a day in the park, weather permitting. The Varsity Singers and Dream Company, directed by Tom Beckett, from Wawasee High School will be performing, as will the Syracuse Fifth Grade Choir, directed by Sherry Lantz. Other entertainment will be a rap group from the high school, a story and music by Tim Bushong, and Jay Griffith will be telling his story and recovery. Also, the Mizpah Shriners from Marion will be on hand. Refreshments will be furnished by members of the Wawasee Kiwanis. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Wawasee High School Auditorium. —O'AN AWARENESS Series sponsored by Wawasee Information Network (WIN) will begin Monday, Oct. 1, in Room 130 of Wawasee High School. The series will begin at 7:30 p.m. every Monday evening through November 5. The series will feature speakers who are experts in the field of adolescent problems and concerns, including drug use. Topics will include: Patterns of adolescent drug use, building selfesteem and setting goals, communicating with kids — it is possible, alcohol — the insidious beverage, illicit drugs — what you want and need to know and tell it like it is —a student panel. Interested persons can attend all or any of the sessions, which are free of charge. WIN is a task force of concerned teachers, parents, students, and community members who are working together to create drug-free schools. The goal of WIN is to develop a five year plan for the Wawasee school community, which will include school and community drug education and special programs to increase awareness and promote drug-free lifestyles. In addition to the awareness series, WIN is sponsoring the annual Red Ribbon Week and will also be sponsoring a Safe Homes program for parents and community adults who wish to make a pledge that their homes will be alcohol-free for all students. Membership in WIN is open to anyone who is interested in creating drug-free schools and in providing help and support for students in the corporation. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month. Because of the activities in October, the next meeting will be at 7 p.m. November 19 in the LRC Annex of Wawasee High School. THE DEAL has yet to be finalized on the local library board purchasing the home of Jim and Ruth Pounds on Harrison Street, directly behind the library. However, the library board received the approval from the town's board of zoning to demolish the home to make room for parking. A SUPPORT Group for Caregivers in the Syracuse area is being formed by Sandy Roehm, resident services counselor of Miller’s Merry Manor. Anyone who gives care to a person for any illness or disease and is interested in this support group can call Sandy at 457-5501, or Sally Kelly, 453-4895, for information. The first meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16. at Miller’s Merry Manor. It will be an organizational meeting, but with open discussion. A PROFILE was presented in The MailJournal this summer on 25-year-old Melissa Helman, who is battling chronic pancreatitus. The disease caused her to lose her job, and has run up thousands of dollars in medical bills. She lives in a trailer court with husband, Roland, and daughter, Malinda. Malinda's teacher, Kim Conrad, is receiving donations to help raise funds for Melissa to go to the Mayo Clinic to find away to control the disease or at least ease her pain. Anyone with questions, or who wishes to donate, can call Kim at 457-5319 or 457-4484. ‘ (Continued on page 5)