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Residents consider Plymouth centrally located Most at Plymouth meeting urge lawmakers to push for the zone By YaVONDA SMALLS Tribune Staff Writer PLYMOUTH -- Changing to Central time is a step in the wrong direction, some argued Thursday night. But more argued that going to Central time makes the most sense for Indiana. "Weighing both sides, you've just got to go Central time -- it just makes more sense," said Chuck Elum of Mishawaka. Elum was one of about 45 area residents who attended a time zone public meeting Thursday night at the Marshall County Building. The purpose of the meeting, set by the county commissioners, was to gauge public opinion on Indiana's burning time zone question: Eastern time or Central time? "The issue is very confusing," said John Zentz, president of the Marshall County Board of Commissioners. But after many spoke out at Thursday's meeting, the preference was obvious. "Power of the people for Central time," said Michael Andrysiak, of South Bend, to the applause of the audience. "I'm for Central time 100 percent. It's the right thing to do for the whole state geography-wise, for businesses, people and for children's safety." During a meeting in June, four county boards of commissioners met to discuss the time zone issue -- members of Kosciusko, Marshall, St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. All agreed they want to stay on the same time zone, either Central or Eastern. At a town hall meeting held in late June at South Bend's Century Center, area residents indicated they favored Central time. And the trend continued Thursday at the Marshall County Building. "The people that want Eastern time -- the one thing they can't seem to get around is the location we are in the country," Elum said. "The fact of the matter is we are in the central part of the country." But Raymond Bockman, of Plymouth, would still prefer Eastern time. "We have three states that border our state that are on Eastern time, and it seems like it'd make common sense to be on Eastern time," he said. Though Thursday's meeting was relatively mild-mannered, several key moments were marked by frustration and raised voices. "We're not here to attack people," said Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer, at one point during the meeting. The welfare of children was a key focus of those of who opposed Eastern time. Many argued that sending children to bed while it's still daylight can be difficult and might even affect a child's performance at school. Some also argued that, under Eastern time, many children will have to wait outside in the dark for their school buses in the morning. "Businesses argue (for Eastern time), but it's not worth sacrificing the safety of a child," said David Kinney of Plymouth. "We need to stop romanticizing Eastern daylight standard time and go to the Central time zone for the sake of our children." On another note, other residents emphasized that switching to Eastern time would push TV shows an hour later. "To some people it's trivial, but it's America's favorite pastime," Elum said. He said having to stay up later to watch television shows will be an inconvenience for many people, possibly even affecting their performance at work the following day. Shawn Harley, of Argos, said despite such arguments, Eastern time is the way to go. "I've heard so many things -- I'm tired of hearing it," Harley said. "I think we should stay on Eastern." According to statistics presented during the meeting, out of 1,500 people in WTCA Radio's listening area who voted on the time zone issue, about 76 percent wanted Central time while about 23 percent wanted Eastern time. WTCA's listening area includes St. Joseph, Fulton, Starke and Marshall counties. It plays music from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Andrysiak said everyone has to work together to do what is right for Indiana -- keep the state on Central time. "We have a unique chance to do something special -- let's not mess it up by being divided. We have to be united together as one," he said. "Sure, I don't necessarily like that it will be dark at 4 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. Boo hoo for me and you -- small sacrifice for big picture." "We need to send this governor a message, a clear-cut message that Indiana residents, Hoosier hicks -- whatever you want to call us -- are tired of being pushed around and vote Central standard, Central daylight time. We have to convince the DOT to do this. We'll have only one chance." Zentz said he will compile the input he gathered from Thursday's meeting to give to the Michiana Area Council of Governments. He hopes InDOT will soon set a hearing on the time zone issue in the northern part of the state, preferably South Bend.

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