The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • 13

Area--Highlights pi Area Highlights combining and the herald-press BENTON HARBOR ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1977 It's The 6T win Cities 'Bicentennial Bridge Six Share $200 Prize For Submitting Name Other members of the selection committee were Mayor Joel Patterson of Benton Harbor and Mayor Franklin Smith of St. Joseph; Melvin Farmer city manager of Benton Harbor; G.W. Heppler, city manager of St. Joseph; John Crouse, president of the Twin Cities Chamber of Commerce; and William Starbuck, president of Blossomtime, Inc.

All were present for yesterday's ceremonies. The winning name is to be enscribed on a plaque which will be mounted on the bridge-tender's tower. About 300 spectators braved 90 -degree heat to see the W.J. Banyon, president of the company, presented checks for $33.33 to the winners during yesterday's dedication ceremonies. The winners were Heartha Whitlow, Harry Kaiser, Hertha Arndt and Billie Wagner, all of St Joseph; Joda F.

Cochrane of Sister Lakes; and Diana Velez of Niles. Nancy Clark, chairman of the Berrien county board of commissioners, served on a committee of seven area civic and governmental officials who chose the winning name. She said the six winners, were the only ones to submit an entry with the name exactly as was announced. She said there were many entries suggesting just "Bicentennial Bridge." Fit LJ 5 I 'A mjtmimhimtti- mm inii.riiMi.i,i BY LARRY MacINTYRE Staff Writer Hie new bridge between Ben-' ton Harbor and St Joseph was christened yesterday the Twin Cities Bicentennial Bridge. i The name was announced during a dedication ceremony held on the bascule section over the St Joseph river.

The name will apply to both the bascule section and the span over the Morrison channel as the state highway department considers the two bridges one structure. The name was chosen from over 3,000 entries in a name the bridge contest sponsored by Blossomtime Inc. Six people share the prize of $200 donated by The Palladium Publishing Co. Bridge Wagner, St. Joseph; Harry Kaiser, St.

Joseph; Hertha Arndt, St. Joseph; Diana Velez, Niles; and Heartha Whitlow, St. Joseph. Check presentation was made during dedication ceremony on bridge yesterday. Prize money was donated by Palladium ,3 Publishing Co.

1 CONTEST WINNERS: W.J. Banyon, left, president of Palladium Publishing presents Checks for $33.33 to six people who share $200 prize for submitting winning entries in name the bridge contest. Each person submitted, "Twin Cities Bicentennial Bridge." From left are Banyon; Joda F. Cochrane, Sister Lakes; Billie The Twin Cities Bicentennial Bridge cost a total of $9,271,929.98. The cost breakdown as presented by Ernest Malkewitz, project engineer for the State Highway department is1: Bascule bridge Morrison channel span approaches Length: Bascule 570 feet 6 inches; Morrison channel 507 feet; approaches total 2,950 feet.

General contractor Walter Toebe Wixom, subcontractor John G. Yerington Benton Harbor; marine work by Yerington and Speidel Marine Contractors, St. Joseph. Cost was split 50-50 by federal and state governments. Right-of-way clearance began in 1974 and construction started in Portion of bridge was opened in 1976.

All four lanes were opened in March, 1977. Do wag lac tf A3J I f-lvVML A A. Top Graduates ceremonies which lasted about 40 minutes. The bridge was closed to traffic from 1 to 2:30 p.m. There were 28 community Blossom queens present as well as the bands from Benton Harbor and St.

Joseph high schools. Thirteen members of the bands were revived after reportedly being overcome by heat. Several local and state officials made brief comments. Mayor Patterson said the bridge is a "vital link" for continued growth of the two communities. Mayor Smith said, "This bridge is something future generations will enjoy long after we're gone." State Zollar (R-Benton Harbor) said the bridge has been a dream of the two communities for a long time.

He said the structure will serve as a "bridge to continued community effort and cooperation between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph." Jerry McCarthy, deputy director for state highways of the Department of State Highways and Transportation, said the bridge cost over $9 million and was worth every penny of it. Ardale B. Ferguson of Benton Harbor, former chairman of the state highway commission, said that as a citizen who had spent a lot of time waiting for ships to pass through the old swing bridge, he believed the new bridge will be appreciated by Twin Cities motorists. The new four-lane structure replaces a two-lane, swing bridge that was over 60 years old.

Also attending the ceremonies were Peter Fletcher, chairman of the the state highway commission; E.V. Erickson of Grand Haven, former chairman of the highway commission; Dale Douthett, chairman of the Berrien county road commission; and Fred Russell, Kalamazoo district engineer for the state highway department. Master of ceremonies was St Joseph realtor David Fister. The Rev. Jack Pepple of Fairplain Assembly of God church gave the invocation.

Primary contractor for the project was the Walter Toebe Construction Wixom. A major subcontractor was the John G. Yerington Benton Harbor. Key Evidence Cited. LOS ANGELES (AP) A tranquilizer drug and photographs of a 13-year-old girl 'will be the key pieces of physical evidence against film director Roman Polanski in his rape and drug abuse trial, the prosecution says.

I I .4 If -sw 1 Facts Lists JON STERILE Sahitatorian Photo shows boats taking 1 iiiliWv mmBmrn ''y wrtS1" RIBBON CUTTING: Blossomtime royalty helped state and local commissioners; Peter Fletcher, -chairman of state highway corri-' dignitaries cut ribbon yesterday marking dedication of new bridge mission; Kathy Necas of Stevensville, Miss Blossomtime; Mayor between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. From left are Kathie Ki- Franklin Smith of St. Joseph; Mayor Joel Patterson of Benton tron, Miss St. Joseph; Gloria Crafton of Lansing, Miss Michigan Harbor; Deborah Joseph, Miss Benton Harbor; and David Fister, Transportation; Nancy Clark, chairman of Berrien county board of master of ceremonies of at dedication.

Teach Writing, U. Of M. Warns TAMARA BREZEN Valedictorian DOWAGIAC Tamara Brezen has been named valedictorian and Jon Steimle salutatorian of Dowagiac high schlol's graduating class of 1977, according to Nelvin Jager, high school principal. Miss Brezen, 17, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Robert Brezen, 402 Orchard, Dowagiac. She plans on attending Michigan State University in the fall. Steimle, 17, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Steimle, Indian Lake, Dowagiac, Steimle will attend Northwestern University, Evanston, to major in mathematics and science.

Miss Brezen maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average during her high school career at Dowagiac. Steimle's grade point average was 3.85. Miss Brezen is president of the drama club, art club, French club and National Honor Society. She is also editor-in-chief of. the school yearbook and has been active in school musicals.

Steimle is a member of the varsity golf team and is also a member of National Honor Society and the student council. schools. Sjorgren quoted a recent faculty 'memorandum by a member of the English department that said the causes for the "deplorable state of writing" were complex and part of broader cultural trends. But, said the memorandum, one cause is the lack of a chance for students to practice writing before they enter college. "In the main," said Sjogren's letter, students at Michigan are as bright and engaged as their predecessors; but in the skills of literacy, they are clearly less practiced." Sjogren said some faculty members were worried because many high schools have dropped or decreased their foreign language courses.

"Teachers of foreign languages agree that one of the principal advantages derived from the study in that field is the improvement of the students' command of English," be said. The admissions director suggested that all high school students who want to go to college take one course each term that emphasizes writing. "Re also recommended that students take at least two years of a foreign language. At the U-M's College of Literature, Science and The Arts, where more than two-thirds of entering freshmen are enrolled, "The writing requirements may be sharply increased and special measures may be taken to assure proper writing skills through remedial instruction." Sjogren told high school educators the university was also concerned by "the trend toward more vocationally oriented high scool curricula that are frequently established at the expense of college preparatory courses." The increase of vocational courses may be causing the decrease of honors, accelerated and advanced placement courses that are useful to students planning to enroll in college, Sjogren said. ANN ARBOR, Mich.

(AP) -High schools must see to it that graduating seniors can write, says the man in charge of admitting students to the University of Michigan. In letters to all high school superintendent and principals in the state, Clifford Sjogren said U-M faculty members are. worried because many" incoming students can not organize their material and write clearly. He also criticized the deemphasis on foreign' language training in Michigan high first round was boat cap- Am -Si 'm i.im,riww i V.i.'.' i'W: yfcy. y-iyS: f' for FLYING START: South Haven is host to 80 sports fishing boats this weekend for community's sixth off for first fishing session yesterday on Lake Michigan.

Boaters are competing for about $10,000 in tained by John Danes of Allegan, with 192 points In second place was boat captained by Don Nichols of South Haven. Ideal weather conditions prevailed tournament's start. (Tom Renner photo) I annual fishing tournament. prize money. Leader after 'S.