From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society

Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. For more history of Kosciusko County in the news visit yesteryear.clunette.com

Feb. 1, 1983  — No reports of violence have occurred locally, and only one incident has occurred so far in Indiana, but the strike of the 100,000 member Independent Truckers Association has still affected some Kosciusko County area trucking firms.

Ernie Metzger, owner of Metzger Trucking, Silver Lake, said today, “We’re not running. We have a few trucks out –trying to get home. We are not in favor of striking, but we’re scared to run. If they don’t repeal the tax we won’t be in business. But those trucks that are out have had no problems.

Independent truckers began striking Monday and violence was reported in nine states, but the only report in Indiana was when a truck driver reported his window was smashed as he drove near Michigan City.

Feb. 1, 1982 — Nearly a foot of new snow fell Sunday, bringing all activities to a halt in Kosciusko County.

Numerous businesses, industry, the Kosciusko County Courthouse, City Hall and all area schools were closed today. All area police officers, firemen and emergency medical technicians worked Sunday and were back on the job today.

Both the Kosciusko County Commissioners and Warsaw Mayor Paul E. (Mike) Hodges declared a snow emergency early Sunday. City and county officials commented that they expect the snow emergency to be lifted today.

Some believe this is the worst storm since the Blizzard of ’78 and others are bracing for another onslaught of snow that may begin sometime Tuesday.

Feb. 1, 1977 — A nearly two-month-old plot engaged in by certain elements within the Warsaw Community Schools to remove William I. (Bill) Chapel from his recently appointed post of school board trustee collapsed last night when the board members learned he was not the legal liability painted by Byron C. Kennedy, school attorney.

Citing two areas — a constitutional provision against holding two lucrative government jobs at once and a Civil Defense statute prohibiting county directors from holding other government posts — Kennedy last week warned school board president W. James McCleary that Chapel’s appointment could have jeopardized the validity of school board decisions.

Lowering the boom on the attempt to oust Chapel from a term that expires in 11 months were slips of paper that carried enough weight with school board members to call off their school attorney’s research and bury the controversy under the deepest pile of snow they could find.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels