The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 34, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 October 1990 — Page 1

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Milford 658-4111

Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 29

Benefit Saturday —

North rallies

By MITCHELL STINSON Staff Writer

Kathy Browning knew something was wrong when Phil Caveda didn’t come by to pick up his wife’s paycheck on Monday, June 25. Phil’s wife, Sheri, was a fellow employee of Browning at Stacey’s restaurant in Leesburg. Sheri didn’t work on paydays so he used to drop by the restaurant and pick the paycheck up for her. “I was thinking it was kind of strange that he didn’t come . . . and then we found out about the accident,” Browning said. Phil and Sheri weren’t involved in “the accident” but all five of their children were. James, five, and Ashley, six, suffered spinal injuries and were paralyzed. Larry, 18, was the driver of the car and he emerged from the accident with a broken arm and broken leg. Ten-year-old John went into an eight-day coma while Tina, 17, somehow managed to avoid serious injury. Picking up a paycheck was the last thing on the Cavedas’ minds on that fateful day. But with the high costs of caring for the two younger children, money is a big consideration now. That’s why Browning and her mother, Cordelia, are working

Executive director

List of duties and goals formulated

By MARY JANE LORTON Staff Writer

An open house to be held tomorrow (Thursday), will symbolize the end of the interviewing process and the beginning of organizing input received on the SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce executive directorship position. Charlene Rule, who was retained by the chamber to gather input from Lakeland businesses and residents on this proposed

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SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS — Chris Shidler holds the championship trophy aloft as members of the Wawasee boys' tennis team celebrate last night in Elkhart. The squad. 17-1 on the season, captured the first sectional title in the school’s history in boys' tennis competition with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fairfield. The Warriors will now face 15-3 Angola, champion of the DeKalb Sectional, in the Elkhart Regional today at 4 p.m. at Elkhart Central. (Photo by Scott Davidson)

Webster community

around Cavedas

1 CAVEDA KIDS" 'BesMM HELPING NEIGHBORS — The North Webster Town Council passed a motion to have October 6 declared as “Caveda Kids Benefit Day.” This banner was put over Main Street to remind local residents of the event. The benefit program will be held at Adventureland Amusement Park, as a fundraiser for the former North Webster children who were seriously injured in a car accident on June 25.

toward arranging a big “payday” for the Cavedas in North Webster on Saturday. A benefit program will be held at Adventureland Amusement Park from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., to raise funds for the Caveda kids. Upon Cordelia’s request, the North Webster Town Council declared Saturday as “Caveda Kids Benefit Day.” Organizers plan a fun-filled evening with a slave auction, bake sale, miniature golf and dunk tank. Policemen and firemen will be some of the people featured inside the dunk tank. Horse, stagecoach and wagon rides are also being offered. For the music lovers in the crowd, a bluegrass band is scheduled to

position, gave a brief presentation on her findings thus far at this morning’s board meeting. Though Rule emphasized the interviewing process is not done, she said with the information she has collected thus far, she has been able to formulate a list of duties and goals for an executive director and a town manager. While Rule noted preliminary indications were to combine the two positions, she commented, “The evolution as I see it, is becoming more split... two people and two jobs.”

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

play at Adventureland from 11 a.m. to2p.m. The Kiwanis, American Legion and Lions clubs are teaming up to hold a chicken dinner from 11 a m. to 7 p.m. at the community building. Dixie boat rides will be offered from 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., with half the proceeds going to the benefit, and Cruiser’s Night Club is helping the cause by offering half of its Saturday night proceeds. From donations of cash and prizes to donations of time and effort, the North Webster community has rallied around the Caveda cause. The support has made the Brownings' organizational duties a little easier.

The notion of a combined position has some people confused, Rule noted. “Is it one job? Is it two jobs?” Those are questions in the minds of those interviewed she said. In addition, this confusion has caused some overlap in the two job descriptions. “The easy part is defining needs, the hard part is defining who does it,” Rule remarked. Explaining that the idea of the combined position originated because of questions concerning funding, Rule did add, “The person can be a 'jack of all trades’ until we see what can happen.” Rule added she has talked to

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3,1990

“I think we’ve got a pretty wonderful community,” Cordelia said. “We’re working together and it’s such a great feeling.” “We just really appreciate everyone who’s helped in any way,” Kathy added. The Cavedas moved from the North Webster area to Fort Wayne shortly after the accident. The move allowed them to be closer to Parkview Memorial Hospital, where the children receive therapy. But they will return to their old stomping grounds on Saturday to make an appearance at the benefit. The Brownings were in on the ground floor of the local charity efforts and they have watched the

various individuals with respect to their ability to help fund an executive director. “Many thought it was too soon to commit,” she said. Rule invited the public and business representatives who care to provide input on the matter to tomorrow’s open house. Rule will be in the chamber office in the Syracuse Town Hall from 9 toll a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. The committee researching the executive directorship will meet with Rule to discuss her findings next Wednesday, Oct. 10. In another matter, retired hospital administrator Floyd Miller reported on the research he completed with respect to physician recruitment. The chamber decided at last month’s meeting to look into recruiting doctors to the Lakeland area following the closing of the Lakeland Urgent Care Center. With this in mind, Miller offered his services to the chamber. In the Lakeland area, Miller reported there are grant monies available to help pay for medical personnel if the area can be classified as either “medically underserviced,” or as having a “medical personnel shortage.” Following up on this information, Miller called officials at the state board of health to inquire if Syracuse could be classified in either category. Responding negatively, the state informed Miller that Syracuse is deficient in two areas. First, it is too close to medical service in Goshen and secondly, the physician to popula tion ratio is too high to merit either classification. Miller said the state gave its assessment without having com pleted any in-depth research on the matter. After conducting his own study, Miller reported he believes Syracuse can meet one (Continued on page 2) October 9 is registration deadline Tuesday, Oct. 9, is the last day eligible voters can register to cast their ballots this November. Residents of Kosciusko County can register to vote at the county clerk’s office. The clerk’s office, located in the Justice Building, Warsaw, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Friday.

movement grow by leaps and bounds. They credit a higher power for the way that everything seems to be falling into place. “I don’t think things would have come about without the Lord’s help,” Cordelia said. “He’s put people at the right place at the right time.” For Kathy, it was just a matter of reaching out to friends in need. She remembered how nice Sheri Caveda had always been to her at work. She remembered joking around with Phil Caveda when he came in to pick up his wife’s paycheck. So when Kathy heard about their misfortune, she wanted to help. On Saturday, the whole community will get a chance to help out their former neighbors.

Former school superintendent —

Death claims Lewis S. Immel

Former school superintendent Lewis S. Immel, 77, 186 n S. Harkless Dr., Syracuse, died at 12:51 a.m. Friday, e Sept. 28, 1990, in Kosciusko y Community Hospital, Ware saw, after suffering an apparent heart attack in his n home. Born September 21, 1913, in New Paris, he was the son of Ross E. and Mary M. Stiver Immel. On June 9, 1944, he married Gwen•t dolyn Stucky; she survives. A long-time Syracuse area resiit dent, Mr. Immel graduated from e New Paris High School in 1931. He received his bachelor of arts d degree from North Central Col0 lege, Naperville, 111., attended l Manchester College, and was . granted his master’s degree in e educational administration in 9 1953 from Indiana University where he also did post-graduate e work. He taught in the New Paris •t and Middlebury high schools s prior to going to Syracuse High School in 1951 where he served as d a teacher, guidance counselor d and assistant principal. He was d superintendent of the 0 Metropolitan School District of e Turkey Creek Township from s 1958 to 1962, the first superinteni dent of the Lakeland School Cora poration from 1962-67, and prine cipal of Milford Elementary School from 1969 to 1980.

Committee gives recommendations for old Syracuse Middle School

I By DEB PATTERSON Staff Writer Syracuse Middle School Study Committee, after two months and eight meetings, will make four recommendations to the Wawasee Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees next Tuesday evening concerning the future of the Syracuse Middle School building. The recommendations reflect the potential uses for the building, and costs to bring the building up to code. The recommendations did not appear to come easy for the seven-member committee as four drafts were made before wording in the final recommendations were agreed upon. The group met for just over two hours on Saturday and again last evening (Tuesday). Recommendations to be submitted, which state “after this careful study” are: (The recommendations appear in quotations.) “That the building not be used by any group except the school corporation for the following reasons: funding sources do not appear to be currently available for non-school corporation groups

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BOOKS FOR SERVICEMEN — The American Legion and North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Library are teaming up to sponsor a book drive for servicemen who are serving in Saudi Arabia. The library will collect books and pass them on to North Webster American Legion Post 253, which will make arrangements to get the books to the servicemen. Libraries from Milford, Syracuse, Cromwell, Albion, Warsaw and Pierceton will also be a part of the book drive. People can donate their books by dropping them off at the libraries or at the American Legion post. Organizers plan to ship the books out in batches of about 1,000 apiece. Pictured with a bunch of Saudi Arabia-bound books are post commander Mark Argenbright and librarian Helen Leinbach. (Photo by Mitchell Stinson)

Mr. Immel was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Syracuse; Order of the Eastern Star; Scottish Rite, Valley of Fort Wayne; Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, member and past president of the SyracuseWawasee Rotary Club; Rotary International; National Education Association; Indiana State Teachers Association; Kosciusko County Retired Teachers Association; past master of Syracuse Masonic Lodge; and president of Friends of the Library, Syracuse. He served with the United States Army in Europe during World War 11. Surviving in addition to his wife are one daughter, Mrs. David (Mary Barbara) Martin, Endwell, N.Y.; two grandchildren; and one brother, Woodrow Immel, North Manchester. He was preceded in death by one brother. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in Calvary United Methodist Church, Syracuse, with Dr. Jim Babbitt and Rev. Kennard Robinson officiating. Burial was in Syracuse Cemetery. Eastlund-Harris Funeral Home, Syracuse, was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to Calvary United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund.

to properly maintain a structure of this size; and given the priority for this site is education, and that we have a substantial investment in an elementary school, deviation from that purpose would not be a prudent use of funds.” Suggestions were received, in letter form, to utilize the building for such purposes as adult programs, dance classes, rental of office space, senior center, home for the homeless. Members of the committee felt all the suggestions were good, however, because the building is attached to the existing elementary school these would not be viable uses. The second recommendation: “That the building not be renovated for classroom purposes. If more classrooms were needed then new construction could be designed to be more functional, more efficient, and built in a more cost effective manner than renovation of the existing building.” The committee reviewed feasibility studies on the school by Everett I. Brown and Company (August 13, 1985); Dr. Kenneth E. Webster; Syracuse School Advisory Committee (January 7,1986) and Barton-Coe Associates (November 18, 1986). In addition, a walk through and around the building was done during the past two months with Dick Barton.

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Also, presentations were made by a teacher, compliance officer, citizen, superintendent, and representatives from the Wawasee School Taxpayers Association. Based on estimated costs to bring the building into compliance with electrical, mechanical, fire safety, handicapped accessibility, and termite infestation as well as asbestos, the committee felt adding on would be more cost effective. Using a figure of $67 per square foot. Jeff Wells, committee member, figured it would cost $3.4 million, to renovate the building, and right at $2 million for the demolition and building of at least six additional classrooms. Feelings of several committee

Chamber seeks public input The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce will be offering the general public and area businesses an opportunity to present ideas on how the chamber can best serve the community on October 4. Charlene Rule, a marketing consultant, will be in the chamber office, in the Syracuse Town Hall, from 9 to 11 a m. and Ito 4 p.m. Thursday. , - Should the chamber concentrate more effort on tourism? What do you think of the executive directorship idea? What can the chamber do for you? These are just a few of the questions the chamber would like the public to consider and provide input on. The general public and business community ate both encouraged to visit with Rule on Thursday.

LEWIS S. IMMEL

members were what if several years down the road the educational philosophy of the corporation changed and the sixth grade moved back into the elementary level. “Then we will wish we had the building.” Also, even though it has been five years since the demise of the building’s use has 6een known and no viable use has been developed, committee members felt someone may still get a “light bulb” idem Thus the development of recommendation three. “That should there be a change in the 5-3-4 plan under which our school corporation is organized or should new information become available, that informa(Continued on page 2)

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