Vidette-Messenger of Porter County from Valparaiso, Indiana • 9

Where 'KeeFls Are SiFaMiteaiecI Oo on a strip of land a short distance away by boat from the island. When Chrisman arrived along with two others one 17 who had been convicted of malicious vandalism in Georgia, the other 22, there on his own accord Chrisman was led to a long open dormitory with 30 beds lined along the walls. "The leader of the the other Lighthouse boys if I say anything for them to hit me in the mouth," Chrisman told Judge Harold Thomas Feb. 24. "So I didn't say too much until finally I started talking a little." In an interview with The Vidette-Messenger, Chrisman said the boys most of them between 15 and 17 were threatened with beatings if they talked to him.

DURING THE INITIAL nights at the Lighthouse, Chrisman's hand was handcuffed to a bed post, and two other residents were assigned "to keep a 24-hour watch on me." He was asked to sign, but declined, a statement pledging to stay a minimum of six months and setting down the Lighthouse groundrules that prohibit possession of such items at chocolate and aspirin. He was on the island for about a week" and a half when Roloff offered to take him to "the valley," a retreat the evangelist operates for senior citizens where fruit and vegetables are cultivated and picked by young visitors from his other camps. Stopping at the Rebekah Home on the return, Chrisman asked and was granted permission to remain with his mother and brother and sister. It was nearing Christmas. "I remember him (Roloff) always saying, 'If you don't work here, you can't so I thought if I didn't work they'd let me go," said Chrisman.

He combined leisure with listening to rock music on his mother's radio in their mobile home on the Rebekah Home grounds, and as a consequence soon learned he would not be at "the farm" much longer, but neither would he be released. He was bound again for the Lighthouse. DURING HIS SECOND stay, two boys tried to escape by running through the knee-deep salt water toward Padre Isfand. "They told us to go catch them, in fact one of the leaders called me by name to go after them. We were supposed to get them.

I ran part way and then stopped and told myself 'These guys haven't done anything to me. I can't go after them." But others, fearful of punishment, pursued the couple, who were brought back, shoved into the mud and beaten badly as they screamed to be freed. Then they were swatted hard several times with a paddle and their heads shaved to mark them as runaways. With that experience behind him, Chrisman realized he would have to be more subtle to win his release and he planned a 4 step-by-step approach. Twice he asked boys who were leaving the camp to take a telephone number with them for a friend in Portage and to contact him to relay his whereabouts.

"ONE GOT CAUGHT with the paper," Chrisman said. "The other one got by when we wrote the number on the inside of his pants leg, but he never called. I guess he, like a lot of others, was afraid he'd get sent back if anything happened." "I remember thinking at one time that 'no one thinks I'm alive I wasn't able to send any mail, and of course I didn't get any. It was a terribly depressing Second in a Series By KEN DOWDELL Most of the young men transplanted to the Lighthouse have been in trouble. For some, involved with drugs or burglary or arson, a stay on the scantily developed island which evangelist Lester Roloff has dedicated to helping residents find "God's will for their lives," is an alternative to prison or reformatory.

A few appeal to be placed there for "spiritual development," and in the atmosphere void of all "wordly goods," pick up the evangelistic cross or ask to be released. Others, like Ken Chrisman, represent a "discipline problem" usually to parents and are shuttled off to have their "hearts straightened out." THE LIGHTHOUSE IS located on one of a myriad of mounds formed off the coast of Texas where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged a protected shipping canal around the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern seaboard. Most of them are used by. Gulf fishermen, who have slapped up elevated shanties for use during short-term stays in the area where they've put out nets for redfish or their seasonal catch.

Those who fish the quiet waters between the mainland and Padre Island, tell of deals that are offered to bring drugs into the country from Mexico 100 miles away via the waterway. Most are familiar with the Roloff camp. SOME RECOUNT THE pleas of escapees from the island for safe passage to the mainland where they can run. Occasionally the runaways have been accommodated by a sympathizer who realizes the futility of their running on foot. It's miles to the nearest road inland across the gigantic King Ranch, and the Lighthouse residents aren't handed a road-map to help their cause when they arrive.

The single-engine plane of Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises that brings mail, supplies and residents to the camp, lands experiences, taking care to keep each account hidden. AND HE FREQUENTLY studied a small bail bondsman's card he had obtained at the Portage Police Department during a visit. It carried an inspirational creed entitled "Don't Quit." Back on the mainland on Jan. 27 he altered its wording for his personal use and added emphasis with bold pen strokes. "I knew the first step to getting away was to get back to the farm," he said.

And the chance for that came earlier perhaps than he had expected. The Lighthouse basketball team Chrisman was one of the faster starters was scheduled to meet the boys team at Zapata, another of Roloff's academies inland from Corpus Christi. On a stopover at the Rebekah Home during the return trip, he asked to remain, hoping then to be able to take a second step toward his release. With Roloff's approval, Chrisman began working in the farm's garage helping repair cars and boats. It was a chance for him to cultivate the confidence of Roloff, a trust he believed necessary to gain his return to Portage.

ON THE AFTERNOON of Jan. 9, the garage monitor for the radio link between the farm and the Lighthouse crackled. Two young men, one resembling Chrisman had set foot on the island, inquired of his whereabouts and left by boat toward Corpus. A message went out to a worker to return from the city with a truck. Plans were being made to shuttle Chrisman to Zapata.

Someone was looking for him, and he had an idea who. So did Roloff, who had been tipped earlier that Chrisman's brother and half-brother were en route to locate the 16-year-old. But there was no need to transfer Chrisman he could be trusted not to cause a disturbance. And perhaps a meeting could be arranged with his brothers. time." Each morning Chrisman and the other boys arose in time to listen to Roloff's radio broadcast at 7 a.m., then would spend a half-hour in the small Lighthouse chapel.

Following breakfast, the boys would sit or fish or commit their daily Bible verse to memory so they could recite it by 10: 30 and retain the right to their next meal. AT 5 P.M. THEY would gather for Roloff's afternoon broadcast, then read from the Bible for 20 minutes, eat and prepare for a lengthy church service each evening. Lights were out at 10 30. On Sunday, the boys were required to recite the seven Bible verses from the week and "the longer you were there, the longer the verse got." "They're trying to make preachers out of everyone there, and most of the people resent having the Bible crammed down their threats." Chrisman said the dormitory toilet didn't work and a cut or scratch was likely to become infected easily.

Parents don't visit the area and seem to care little about the conditions, said Chris-min. "Two of the guys there liked the place, though." But he quickly adds that another, who would have been sentenced to prison for six years for arson, begged Roloff in vain to send him back to jail. If there was something to which Chrisman could cling during his stay on the Lighthouse it was warm memories of the friends who had supported him during the sometimes anxious and turbulent weeks before. He would recall often the assistance and understanding provided by his aunt and uncle and cousin with whom he had resided for a time, and by Portage Sgt. Ed Lloyd and PHS teacher Barbara Love-rich.

Following his leaving the Rebekah Home she corresponded with him and provided homework assignments by mail to help Chrisman regain pace with his classmates. He kept a daily written notation of his I '71 May 7, 1975 Page 9 ToGrade Rdls -ir. I I' )' i iX LAKE ELIZA The county will begin the grading roads in the Lake Eliza area Monday, with any gravel to be put down on the roads to be furnished by the residents. The County Board of Commissioners and County Highwty Department agreed to this action during a meeting at the Lake Eliza Fire Department Tuesday with the area residents. About 180 persons attended the meeting, including tie three county commissioners, County Highway Supervisor Jack Jar-necke, County Highway Engineer J.

Putnam Robbins, and Porter Township TrusteeRogerBaird. Sine most of the roads in the area have not ben accepted for county maintenance, the county is not going to do any work beynd the grading, which in itself would hre been expensive for the residents to htve done on their own. First area to be improved will be roads in Pleasant Hills subdivision, which are private, 20-foot wide roads. Roads must be at least 40 feet wide to be accepted by the county. Residents of the area said they did not want the roads paved, that they wanted to leave the roads gravel only, to discourage speeders, and also because it would be too expensive for the residents.

However, they want the roads graded to fill holes and crevices and to smooth out Arouhd This Area 7 jailer on every floor of the complex on each shift so that there is personal contact with prisoners 24 hours a day. Bradshaw said he wanted the additional jailers and did not know the corrections officials had the same idea. "Now there are only two jailers to a shift and they can make only periodic rounds in the lockup area besides having to book prisoners and take fingerprints and mug shots," said the sheriff. "In fact I only have one man on duty on the midnight shift in the jail section." A man on each floor will eliminate lockup problems such as the recent explosion of a home-made bomb, injuring the hand of the prisoner who designed the explosive from soap and matches. Also mentioned in the report was the yet-to-be-purchased video monitors for the lockup area, which sheriff's police plan to obtain through a federal grant.

As many as 30 television cameras will be installed in the cell blocks to be monitored on the new radio console. Other items listed on the report as satisfactory are: the physical condition of Roorda Kouts Prayer Speaker Wednesday, the jail building and its fire protection the cell blocks and electronic lock systems; bathing facilities, sanitary drinking cups food trays and bedding; cleanliness of prisoners; kitchen equipment; medical service to prisoners; cleanliness of the jail facility including restrooms; provision of reading matter, cards, television, radios and games for inmates; religious instruction; and the commissary and barber shops which were recently installed as conveniences to prisoners. The report noted that no rehabilitation methods or exercise areas are provided at the jail but it did not recommend their addition. Bradshaw agreed with the idea that rehabilitation and large recreational facilities are unnecessary, stating, "It is not our job to rehabilitate people we are just holding them for the courts, although the facility is used for sentences up to about 60 days. "I feel the prosecutor has done a good job getting cases to court quickly.

1 don't think prisoners should be held a year or more due to a backlog in court cases." the roads. The roads are in such poor condition now, that emergency vehicles would not be able to get to the homes, residents said. The meeting was scheduled after a smaller contingent of residents appeared at a County Board meeting last month to request help from the county for their roads. Kenneth Locke has been chosen president of the Lake Eliza association of residents. Extensive research on the ownership of the roads had been done by the county in preparation for the meeting.

Only roads in the area which have been accepted by the county for maintenance are two roads in Marion Acres, which have 40-foot rights-of-way, and roads in Arrowhead (the second addition to Lake Eliza) and the fourth addition to Lake Eliza Park, whose roads have been maintained by the county in the same condition in which they were accepted; in 1971 and 1972 on an "as is" basis. It was reported Tuesday that there are some 40-foot wide roads that will be acceptable for "as is" maintenance in the second and third additions to Lake Eliza Park. Some of the homes in Lake Eliza Park front on County Road 600 which is maintained by the county. Road rights-of-way are only 20-feet wide in Lake Eliza' View and its two additions, and in the first addition to Lake Eliza Guitar and case valued at $225 were taken from a music room on the second floor of Moolenaar Music, 162 Lincolnway, police were told Tuesday. Owner of the instrument, Douglas Anderson, 222 Dogwood, Chesterton, said the guitar was taken between Thursday and Saturday.

Seek Aid In Facelifting Of Town Park CHESTERTON Appeal is being made to community groups by the Park Board for support and financial assistance for the Thomas Centennial Park facelifting project the board is planning. In its discussion of the project at the board's meeting Tuesday night, hopes were expressed to complete the project in time for the town's celebration of the nation's bicentennial next year. Plans include moving and renovating the bandstand, installing sidewalks and new water fountains, and landscaping. Virginia Galvin, representing Delta The-ta Tau sorority, presented $100 to the board for the renovation of the park in downtown Chesterton. James Pepper, director of the community band, presented a schedule of summer band concerts to the board.

The board approved the schedule, which lists the first concert for Memorial Day, May 26. The newly-formed band has 45 members, so far. The board reported signs designating rules for park use will be erected in all town parks. Deadline for signing up for the Softball league program is May 15. Registration for the park summer recreation program will be held from 9 a m.

to noon June 14. First day of activity will be June 16. The nine-week program will end Aug. 15. Director will be Joe Haklin with Sue Speckhard as assistant.

Park. Residents will be notified by the county a week in advance before the county comes in to grade their road. If residents on the road want gravel placed on the road, they will have to purchase it themselves. It was reported by Robbins that cost of putting in an eight-inch thickness of compacted aggregate for a one-mile stretch of 22-foot width road is $25,000. Eight inches is the thickness required under roads which are to be accepted by the county.

Since the Lake Eliza area roads are not to be accepted by the county, as many of them are too narrow and have no possibility of being widened, the residents may make their own decision on whether they want to put any gravel on the roads, and how much. It was reported by an assessor for the area, Harvey Shurr, that many of the roads in Lake Eliza are owned by Thomas Fitzgerald, whose parents, Tom and Bridget Fitzgerald developed most of the area. Tom Fitzgerald said he has not received any tax bill on roads for ten years. Fitzgerald said he didn't think the roads were his, but if they were, he would be willing to deed them to the residents if they wanted to own them. The newly-formed Lake Eliza Association for Progress will schedule another meeting in the future to discuss the area's problems.

A $3 flowering bush was removed Tuesday from the front lawn of Phyllis A. Brandy, 301 Indiana, police were advised. The woman told officers she had planted the bush Monday. PORTER A chain saw left in the driveway of Billy J. Rucker, Box 51, was stolen from his yard, police were told Monday.

Thieves took three fishing rods and reels and a box of lures valued at a total of $200 from the home of Gene Curtiss, 809 Yellowstone, county police said Tuesday. PINES Bullet shot this morning through the headlight and into the battery of a car owned by Steve Rightvill, 3442 Dunes Highway, is believed to be from a .22 caliber gun, county police said. "The Crusade For Cancer has topped $25,000, it was reported at Tuesday's meeting of the American Cancer Society's Porter County Unit. Chairman Bill Bertig said persons not contacted in the house-to-house campaign may mail contributions to the Cancer Society office at 204 E. Lincoln-way.

Two men from Northside Fire Station put out a brush fire Tuesday about 6 p.m. along the Grand Trunk Railroad property near Hope Street. Board of Trustees of Porter Memorial Hospital will have a special meeting at p.m. today at the hospital to select the contractor for a parking garage to be built for the hospital. Bids for the project were opened and taken under advisement April 8.

Following that session, the board will appear at a special meeting of the Valparaiso Board of Zoning Appeals at 7 p.m. to consider setback variances for the high-rise garage. V-M CIRCULATION Manager Don Ragsdale Messenger office where telephone election result (right) andiis assistant, Tom Koselke, tabulate service wds provided Tuesday night. and project figures on screen at The Vidette- (V-M Staff Photo) uggest Adding Eight Jailers KOUTS Rep. Walter Roorda, R-DeMotte, will be featured speaker May 16 at the Kouts Prayer Breakfast, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

The breakfast, called a "strictly laymen worship service" by Chamber President John Albright, is open to all Kouts residents who make reservations with chamber member Don Oberholzer before the event, to be held at Hilliard's Restaurant. During a short meeting Tuesday, chamber treasurer Daniel Glass reported that last Saturday's White Elephant Sale netted $235. Gladys Press, chamber secretary, volunteered to supervise the placement of several flower pots around the downtown area. BURNS HARBOR Two DeMotte men, Donald Kachlic, 29, and Richard Palmer, 27, were treated early this morning at Porter Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained when the parked car in which they were sitting was struck by an auto driven by C. W.

Hamilton, 24, Rt. 11, Valparaiso, while the pair was waiting for another rider on the grounds of Bethlehem Steel. Valerie Mallas, 8, of 2204 Linden Drive, was treated for injuries she suffered Tuesday evening when her bike and a car driven by Shelly J. Brigham collided at the intersection of Campbell Street and Green-acres Drive. Firefighters from Central and Northside fire stations responded about 1 p.m.

Tuesday to an alarm at General Telephone 15 Lafayette, which they discovered upon arrival had been accidentally tripped. PORTAGE For the second time in less than a week, police learned Tuesday that vandals had damaged a crane owned by Crisman Sand Co. while it was parked on North Samuelson Road. Ed Nicholson, owner of the sand mining firm, advised officers that three windows and the instrument gauges were broken, causing $250 damage. Addition of eight jailers to the staff at Porter County Jail was recommended by the Indiana Department of Corrections officials who recently made their annual tour of the county facility Adding jailers was the only suggestion for improvement of the facility as it is now operated although the entire jail complex and operation were reviewed in the three-page evaluation.

Sheriff Jack J. Bradshaw told The Vidette-Messenger today be was pleased with the report which he said was very fair to his department. He also stated he would request the additioo of the eight jailers before the County Board of Commissioners. Bradshaw said it is his goal to place a Mrs Lynn Whipple. President V.

Anderson, General Manager Herbert Steinbach. Managing Editor Published daily eicrpt Sunday by The Vidette-Messenaer Co Valparaiso. Ind 83 Successor lo Th Daily Vidfttt (ounded IM2, and Th Eveninj Messenger founded 871 combined July 5. 1927.