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STORY INDEX Introduction Population of Indiana's northeast counties grew by 81 percent this century Tracking railroads: Since 1900, number of local lines reduced from five to two Longtime area auto dealers have 'seen it all' Amish continue long-held traditions - except on safety issues Cars accelerate lives of Noble County residents The price of cars: How much did it cost to drive one off the lot? Electric Interurban connected area to Fort Wayne, beyond LaGrange residents rally to save historic brick streets U.S. 6, Ind. 3: Kendallville's routes to growth Agriculture ever-changing, advancing in Noble County Comparisons: How far did the dollar stretch? Growing onions, peppermint made 'scents' in early 1900s The Gaby farm: Family-owned and celebrating over 150 years A changing culture impacts 4-H County fair continues to be a big social event Thriving through the times: Downtown Kendallville adapts to a century of changes Dekko's philanthropy remains a 'valuable resource' Rinkel family still at the wheel of Greenfield Hills Commerce nothing new to Shipshewana: Town thrives as one of fastest-growing tourist areas in state Making do during the Great Depression: Retired hatchery owner recalls tough times, bright moments Mill a 'Star' business in Ligonier: Firm has been grinding wheat into flour for 113 years Elmer E. McCray had a major impact on Kendallville Richard R. Cole has long legacy Female executive has seen many changes in workforce Working women: From assisting war effort to competing in global markets Wolcottville a center of commerce, industry in 1800s Mongoquinong area was early LaGrange County commercial center 'The cheapest hired hand we ever had.' Electricity made life brighter, easier down on the farm Monument company's history set in stone Historic Corn School dates back to 1906 Amish continue long-held traditions -­ except on safety issues By DAVID BAINBRIDGE The News-Sun The Amish in LaGrange County are well-known for doing many things exactly as they were done long before the turn of the century. The horse-drawn buggies and wagons which provide the major source of transportation for most of the Amish citizens haven't changed much since the days when the vehicles were commonplace. It is estimated that there are nearly 5,500 buggies in the county, with more than 9,000 in the Elkhart-LaGrange County Amish community. While the animals and vehicles themselves remain relatively unchanged, accessories to the Amish buggies and wagons have been changing in the latter half of this century due to legal and safety issues. Most of the changes have been legislated or voluntarily added to combat accidents during twilight and nighttime hours. According to a study conducted by the state of Ohio, the time of day when buggy accidents are most likely to occur ranges from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with three peak periods: 5 to 7 a.m. (21 percent of the buggy accidents); 1 to 3 p.m. (18 percent of the accidents); and 5 to 7 p.m. (29 percent of the accidents). The majority of the accidents involving motor vehicles and horse-drawn buggies were a result of rear impact (42 percent) or side impact (37 percent), according to the study. Of all buggy accidents examined in the report, nearly 10 percent resulted in fatalities. One of the first buggy-safety accessories adopted by the Amish was the slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem. The triangular orange SMV emblem was approved as an American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard in 1972. Although the Amish have been legally required to put the emblem on their buggies since the mid-'70s, according to a representative of the Fort Wayne Indiana State Police post, Indiana law now specifies that the emblem should be placed in the center of the buggy visible to the rear of the vehicle within 2 to 6 feet from the surface of the road. The use of rear taillights is another development added to Amish buggies within the past few decades. The 4-inch round taillight is suggested as the most visible by both an Amish and non-Amish test panel in the Ohio study. More recently, there has been a call - both from within the Amish community and outside of it - for Amish residents of LaGrange County to begin using reflective tape on their buggies to help make them more visible from the side at night. The tape kits were introduced in October 1998 by E&S Creations, 2480W - 175N. The effort to make the kits available to the public is sponsored by the Northern Indiana Family Safety Committee. The kits are assembled and packaged at ARC Opportunities in Howe by developmentally challenged workers. Ervin Miller, owner and operator of E&S Creations, is in charge of distribution. "It's a totally local operation," Miller said. He emphasized that current regulations for Amish buggies do not require the use of reflector tape on the sides of the vehicles. Steve Engelking, LaGrange County Purdue extension agent, who helped originate the project, recently received an OK from county commissioners to use county funds to pay $2,100 for a direct mailing to local Amish residents concerning the availability of the kits.