Editor, Times-Union: Is your child considering joining Kosciusko County 4-H? Do you enjoy working with children of all ages? Do you live in the Milford area? There is a need for two 4-H leader volunteers for the upcoming year. Presently, Milford has two local 4-H clubs, the Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club and the Milford Successful 4-Hers. Both clubs hold monthly meetings, combine general and livestock project members and invite boys and girls of third grade school level to high school level to become involved in 4-H. The present leader of the Milford Successful 4-Hers is Paula Kaiser. Meetings for this club are the second Monday of each month and are held at Wawasee Community Bible Church. The leader of the Milford Helping Hands 4-H Club is Beth Lamb. Meetings for this club are the fourth Monday of each month and are held at the Milford Community Building. Both clubs begin meetings at 7 p.m. and adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Paula would like to "shadow" the new club leader and assist with the organization of the club. Beth is looking for a volunteer organizational leader and has an adult volunteer to assist with monthly meetings. Both Paula and Beth are remaining involved in the Kosciusko County 4-H program through the 4-H Council and Extension. The need(s) for an adult 4-H leader(s) comes at a time when both leaders are looking toward other areas of 4-H service and volunteerism. If you are thinking of becoming a volunteer in your community and you are interested in youth, youth opportunities and leading children into their futures, please call one of the following numbers: Paula Kaiser at 574-658-9341, Beth Lamb at 574-658-9166, or the Kosciusko Extension Office at 574-372-2340 (ask for Cathy). Please consider volunteering your leadership skills in this worthwhile youth program. Thank you.
Beth Lamb Paula Kaiser Milford via e-mail
Fireworks Thanks
Editor, Times-Union: As co-chairmen of the Warsaw Community Development Corporation's Annual Fourth of July Fireworks committee, we are writing to express our appreciation to the businesses and organizations that annually fund this event. We are blessed to live in a community that supports the fine activities we all enjoy.
Special mention is given in the memory of Bob Kesler who along with Explorer Van have been Platinum Sponsors for many years. As the fireworks display was being presented, we thought about Bob's love for this community and the support he gave to our community. The baseball diamonds for the Little League is one of the many projects and events funded with Bob's support. He will be missed.
Many people have asked why the fireworks were not displayed at 9 p.m. as advertised. With the heavy rains that did not stop until 8:30 p.m., we came very close to not being able to have the event at all. The barges had been loaded early in the day and needed to be towed into position. Because of the weather reports, the barges were not placed into position until the rain had subsided. After the barges are placed in position, the proper safety precautions needed to be handled along with the final wiring before the show could begin. We trust you enjoyed the show and will return next year. Plan on inviting a friend from out of the county to come and enjoy the MasterWorks Concert before the fireworks show.
Dane Miller John Elliott via e-mail
Memorial
Editor, Times-Union: I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the many citizens, officers, friends and family of Detective/Sgt. Phil Hochstetler that gathered outside our department last week to honor a man who gave his life in the line of duty 10 years ago on June 29, 1994.
I know this day meant a lot to Phil's family, and also to the law enforcement community, and it was great to see our community respond as they did. On behalf of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, thanks again.
C. Aaron Rovenstine Sheriff of Kosciusko County
Marshal
Editor, Times-Union: I wish to thank the ones who chose me as the grand marshal of the 2004 Silver Lake Days Festival Parade. I really appreciated it. I would also like to thank everyone who helped with the festival in any way. It takes a lot of people working together to have a successful festival of any kind.
Sue Clark Silver Lake
Sesquicentennial
Editor, Times-Union: Perhaps I am putting in a last word concerning the "Warsaw Sesquicentennial Celebration." The commemoration, in a way, brings back memories of the old street fairs - minus the merry-go-round, the Ferris wheel and the "girlie" shows. It was invigorating to see downtown Warsaw come alive again, and come alive it did with plenty of activity on Center and Buffalo streets, including the big parade which was viewed by thousands of smiling, cheering spectators, and the many concession stands, principally "Boss Hogg" and his savory meat lunches, not to mention the "Elephant Ears" concession - and what kid wouldn't give his right arm for an elephant ear?
I'll stick my neck out by saying that, since the sesquicentennial was in honor of Warsaw, why didn't the Warsaw band members wear their uniforms even though the temperature was a bit high? The visiting bands with their bright, colorful outfits and undulating flags were a sight to behold. I was loitering along Center Street enjoying the parade when Mitch Daniels, the candidate for governor, came by. For a moment he stood next to me, but I didn't immediately recognize him. He was dressed in plain slacks, a sports shirt, and wore a cap, and at first I thought he was just another friendly guy in the street who wanted to indulge in a bit of small talk here and there. Then, as he walked down the line, shaking hands with a group of elderly ladies, it quickly dawned on me who he was. Mr. Daniels, with his outpouring of handshakes and political chitchat, seemed genuinely warm and sincere and completely without guile in his efforts to impress voters.
For Warsaw's 200th anniversary many of us won't be around, but we wonder what the celebration will be like. The way progress has advanced, maybe, as an added attraction, at the 200th anniversary perhaps there will be journeys to the moon, which can be accomplished by spaceship. Of course, there will be some folks who might turn down an opportunity to go to the moon in a spaceship. They could have the same attitude as the old lady who was thinking about her last days on Earth and her ascent into heaven. When she was offered a trip to the moon in a spaceship, she responded: "No thanks. I'm goin' up in the sky only once, and it won't be in no spaceship!"
Don Kaiser Warsaw
Veterans Series
Editor, Times-Union: Being the co-chairman of the World War II event, I would like to respond to some concerns that have been raised as to how we registered veterans and how the "select few" were chosen for the articles in the Times-Union. The World War II committee began registration of veterans last Labor Day 2003. Through different media during the months leading up to May 2004, we encouraged the public to register their vets at the American Legion Posts, service clubs and other locations in the county. Over 400 registrations were received! Through the generous support of the Times-Union, it was decided that a veteran would be highlighted in each issue during the month of May. Out of that list it was my responsibility to pre-screen 25 veterans and submit their names to Teresa Smith for the interviews. In choosing the veterans, the following criteria was used: Branch of service, theater of service, gender, exemplary service (such as a POW, combat, etc.). To say the least, it was a daunting task to pick only 6 percent of the forms received! I do believe that a broad spectrum was covered focusing on the sacrifice of our World War II generation when our nation called them to preserve democracy.
The Times-Union is to be commended for their support of our World War II celebration through the articles on each vet, sponsoring the two-page ad honoring the "greatest generation" and paying for the frames for the certificates that were presented at the ceremony on May 29th at Warsaw Community High School. Teresa Smith was honored for her thoroughness in telling the stories of the veterans, representative of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II. Teresa is deserving of the awards presented to her by Senator Kent Adams and the American Legion. Along with Denny Nice, co-chairman, our thanks go as well to the hundreds of hours and dollars given by volunteers and businesses to make this event a success. May we never forget freedom really isn't free. Over 405,000 Americans paid that price with their lives during World War II. Many mentioned in their interviews that they are the real heroes. Our intent was to honor all veterans. Thanks, Teresa, for a job not "half done" but well done.
