Thank you for helping to make the pancake-sausage fund-raiser for the family of Bill and Patricia Nicodemus a success. Employees of the Whitko School Corporation, friends of the Nicodemus family, and members of the communities of Columbia City, Larwill, Pierceton, South Whitley and Warsaw responded to help meet a common goal. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated.
Laura Davis, Coordinator Nicodemus Family Benefit
Project Learn
Editor, Times-Union:
During the week of July 14-18 five students and three adults from Washington Elementary School attended Project Learn in Indianapolis. Project Learn, sponsored by the Dekko Foundation, involves students in authentic learning experiences as they design experiments about water.
The local group of students, also known as the Warsaw Waves, has posted its experiment results, along with details about what students learned, on the Internet. The team's information can be located at www.dekkolearning.org/learn/.htm/
Ann VanDuyne Claypool
Campaign Fund Abuses
Editor, Times-Union:
So our illustrious Congress is holding hearings about campaign fund abuses. Good Lord! We ordinary people know without holding an expensive hearing that the politicians of all political parties take funds from anywhere they can get them.
The sad thing about all these congressional hearings is the money that they cost, which in most cases is a terrific waste. It would be bad enough if they were wasting tax dollars, but they are adding to our national debt.
When our country was founded, the politicians were truly statesmen who were not out to feather their own nest. Today it is a very sad commentary about so many of our people we send to Washington.
Fred R. Yohey Atwood
Bowling Competition
Editor, Times-Union:
Thank you for publishing the article about my competing in the International Coca-Cola Scholarship Bowling Tournament in Memphis, Tenn.
Because of the article, I would like to thank everyone for all the cards, letters and phone calls of support that I received, along with the individuals and businesses involved.
I did well in the tournament but did not place high enough to win further scholarships. Our tournament officials told us that if you placed 56th in the tournament, that means that you were 56th in the world.
I want to invite all my friends to watch for Saturday morning league sign-up and join the YABA. When Coca Cola Tournament qualifying comes around ] do it. You never know what might happen. While in Memphis I had the opportunity to meet and compete with 273 kids from the Far East, Europe, Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Canada and the USA, plus meet and get personal coaching from Team USA. It was an experience I'll never forget. Thank you, everyone.
Rachel Jaynes Warsaw
Child Safety
Editor, Times-Union:
This writer realizes the drivers of pickups will not appreciate this. However, I wish to call the following to the attention of Mayor Wiggins and the Warsaw Police Department.
This concerns children riding in the bed of those trucks unrestrained. In case of an accident, be it in front, side or rear ] where do the children end up? Perhaps thrown to the pavement, critically injured or killed. Are we going to wait until this happens before you people do something about it? It could be your child.
We hear about wearing seat belts and a child restraining seat, but nothing to protect children in the above instance. Let's get with it before something happens.
R.W. "Mac" McQueen Warsaw
Olden Days
Editor, Times-Union:
I have two things I would like to talk about.
The first is about the lady who wrote in about Donnie Kaiser's letter. He was not bad-mouthing downtown Warsaw. All he was doing was telling about the way it was when he was young (by the way Donnie, the letter was wonderful, just like all the rest you have written).
We all have some time in our life that we called the "good ol' days." I know I do.
In the past, Donnie has written about kids of today and yesterday. He wrote about the sugar drawings they use to have in Leesburg. What a joy that was if you won a 5-pound bag of sugar. Almost as sweet as the lottery. He wrote about "Gone With the Wind." The man probably knows more about that movie than anyone. He could probably tell you line-for-line what they say. He may not be as tall as Rhett Butler, but I'll bet he could say the lines as well and turn old Scarlett's heart to butter.
So to this lady ] this man was only reminiscing from the past. He would probably be the first to say he meant no wrong. So remember, gone are the good old days, so let's make good memories for our children so when they grow up they will say remember the good old days.
The second thing I want to talk about is Lawrance Randall. Years ago (back in the good old days) Lawrance and Mrs. Randall had a garage and filling station in downtown Leesburg. This was the most fascinating place. There were all kinds of neat things in this station. I remember the candy, a really lot of good kinds; the pop cost a nickel; and a long wooden bench was along the west wall and always had two or three men and Mr. Randall standing telling a tale about something.
I remember as a child, he always had time to listen to me and pull my braids and ask what I had done all winter (I visited my grandparents in the summer).
This kind, kind man has gone to be with the Lord now. But the memories will remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him so well.
