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.

March 31, 1977 — Steve Cromer, a junior track and football star at Wawasee High School, has filed suit against the Lakeland School Corp., challenging the constitutionality of the school athletic code, which suspended him from competing in sports because he was arrested for drinking beer.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne Wednesday and asked that the athletic code be declared unconstitutional and the school corporation not be allowed to suspend his athletic career.

The suit states Cromer was questioned by police in December 1975 after they found four cans of beer in his possession. However, according to the suit, he was not charged and never admitted drinking any of the beer.

Then a year later, Cromer was arrested and admitted he did drink a half a can of beer.

As a second drinking violation, the school suspended Cromer, in accordance with the school athletic code.

Cromer’s attorneys contend the arrest was actually his first drinking offense, but the school has overruled that claim in administrative appeals. The lawyers also maintain the suspension is cruel and unusual punishment for an offense as minor as drinking only a half can of beer.

The suit asks the court to reinstate Cromer in school athletics, to keep the school corporation from enforcing the code and for attorney’s fees.

March 20, 1971 — One of the most misunderstood organizations in this area is the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, formed two years ago.

Many persons are antagonistic to the commission because they believe the board was formed to curtail their personal freedom.

To clear up misconceptions about the commission, an interview was conducted with Jim Baker, the plan commission director, on the purpose of the commission, how it operates, what it expects to accomplish and what it has accomplished to date.

Baker was first asked what the purpose was of the planning commission.

Baker answered, “The prime purpose of the plan commission is to organize the community so that it can absorb the increased population growth and the accompanying increased economic growth, which we know the community is going to have, and still be able to keep our environment intact.”

March 27, 1956 — Officials of United Telephone Co. of Indiana Inc. announced today their plans to convert the company’s Warsaw exchange to automatic dial service next year. The new dial service was expected to be placed in operation within the third quarter of 1957.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels