Banner Graphic, Greencastle, Putnam County, 31 December 1973 — Page 1

THE A'-CHIVE: - ; . E: A « KIVERi ITT G. EENCAiViLE, IN 4^115

Weather It will be clearing and cold today with highs in the low 20s. Tonight and Tuesday will be clear and very cold, with lows tonight zero to five below and highs Tuesday in the low to mid teens.

It Waves “Banner Greencostla, Indiana, Monday, Docombor 31,1973

For All

Graphic Volume Four Number 304 Ten Cents A Copy

Evening Edition

Presenting the keys to the 1974 Chevrolet Vega won by Mrs. Betty Cooper, second from left, in the Greencastle Merchants Committee’s drawing Saturday is Bob Myers, Jim Harris Chevrolet-Buick, third from left. With

Saga Of Holiday Snows Continues Here

Putnam County residents dug out again today as the saga of the holiday snows continued with an 11 inch dumping of the white stuff over the weekend. The snow snarled traffic here and dampened New Year’s spirits. Driving conditions were hazardous this morning, but

city street crews had completed snow removal on the city’s main arteries bv the early hours. Dale Oler, city street superintendent reported that his crews got an early -jump on the snow with snow plows out on the roads at 4 p.m. Sunday. He reported that the crews

were continuing to work to clear snow. City police warned motorists to stay off streets tonight unless driving is an absolute necessity and cautioned against driving and drinking on New Year’s Eve. “The slippery conditions will make driving doublv

hazardus tonight," the police noted. A - year-ending storm dumped nearly a foot of snow on central Indiana Sunday and todav, stranding more than 100 motorists in one area and creating treacherous highway conditions for holidav travelers throughout the state.

Coming only 11 davs after Indiana’s worst snowstorm in more than 50 years produced accumulations up to 21 inches, the National Weather Service said the latest snow band made December the whitest month on record in central Indiana. Please turn to page 2, col. 6

Jan.l Marks Anniversary Of Parcel Post

Jan. 1, marks the 61 st birthday of a package de-livering-system which began as a major headache for the post offices of Putnam County and for the patrons who had to get used to a brand new w'ay of

sending boxed goods by mail.

Billed as a “New Year’s gift hailed parcel post as a means

Mrs. Cooper and Myers are Ken Eitel, Jr., left, Howell Bell, second from right and Mrs. Flo Morrison, right. (Banner-Graphic Photo)

to the American people, parcel post delivery was ini'iated throughout the United States on Jan. 1, 1913. A whole new set up of government regulations were needed to imple-

ment the service.

Sources from Washington

Cooper Wins Vega Before Packed House

A jam-packed Greencastle Junior High Gymnasium was the scene Saturday afternoon for the Greencastle Merchants Committee drawing

for a new 19 7 4 Chevrolet Vega. Mrs. Betty Cooper, 801 Cresent, walked away with the prize.

An elated Mrs. Cooper, at one point in tears, noted that the car was the first thing she ever w on. “A big thanks goes to all

the people that turned out for the drawing,” Ken Eitel, Jr., co-chairman of the committee said. Ple«se turn to page 2, col. 5

to bring factory and farm in closer touch with the consumer. As an additional selling point, it was indicated that this method of package delivery would actually reduce the cost of living. “The largest city and the most obscure hamlet will enjoy the advantages of parcel post," -said the Washington correspondent. -It will be open to all on precisely the same terms.” Sources from the capitol admitted that the new system would be in direct com-

petition -with express companies, particularly those in the small package business. County postal employees had to learn a whole new set of rules and limitations. Butter, lard, fresh fruits, berries and dressed -fowls could be sent by parcel post, but not too far. The country was divided into zones and these perishables could go no farther than the 50 miles radius of Zone #1. Eggs packaged separately could go any distance but fresh meats were restricted to 50 miles. Intoxicating liquor, poisons, matches, explosives, fire arms and live poultry could not be sent parcel-post. Weight limit -for parcels was set at 11 pounds. Directions for determining the

package size limit read: “Take a piece of string 72 inches long and wind it once completely around the parcel and then across the top lengthwise. If the ends of the string reach the sides of the parcel, it comes under the limit.” Cost for parcels within the 50-mile limit were five cents for the first pound and three cents for each- additional pound up to 11 pounds. For the eighth zone r over 1800 miles the going price was 12 cents for the first pound and nine cents for each additional pound. - As with all things new, the parcel post complicated the works at local post offices. People persisted in using regular stamps and mailing small packages like -letters. Im-

properly stamped parcels accumulated at all post office locations. Please turn to page 2, col. 1

No Trash Pick-Up New Year’s Day - There will be no trash oick-uo on New Year’s Dav. announced Sunt. Dale Oler. Those people usually serviced on Tuesdays will-have their trash picked up on Wed., Jan. 2. Jan. 2 has alsa been set as the dav for picking up Christmas trees in the Greencastle area Residents should have their trees out and ready to go.

A Year Of Joy And Energy Crisis

It was-a year of new faces in local government, of joy expressed fora returning POW and his family, of excitement during fair time, of frustration as successive summer storms brought considerable wind damage and downed power lines and of an ambitious undertaking at DePauw University. It was a year of the growing dilemma of the energy crisis and its tightening choke hold on transportation and heating, of outstanding football teams and, -as the year closed, record snows and hopes that plans will be completed for a new' hospital here. It was 1973. - As the year opened just 12 short months ago, two newly elected Putnam County Commissioners were inaugurated as the countv’s governing bodv put behind the troubled waters of 1972. The two new commissioners were Gene Beck, 1st district commissioner and Gib Ogles, 3rd district commissioner, who shortly named a third fresh board member, Harry Moore, to fill the vacant second district seat. Gene Beck was named president of the board. One of the thorniest issues faced by the body was the proposal to build a new hospital here. The construction was to be tunded by a tax hike to be okayed by the body. Following several meetings between the commissioners, the Putnam County Council and hospital officials, the commissioners thumbed the hike noting that it would be too big a bite in county paychecks. The board said alternative ways and means should be found to build the structure. In a search for an alternate plan, county and hospital officials agreed on a proposal by Extendicare, with the provision that Indiana Blue Cross change its by-laws to okay coverage in private institutions. At year’s end officials were waiting word from

the company on the matter. Hopes w'ere high that the coverage would be approved. In early 1973, Greencastle Mayor Fred Snively retired and veteran Ray Fisher stepped in. Also John Pursell replaced John Vermillion, who resigned as chief of police. Les Haltom, became the city’s new fire chief following Charles Watkins’ retirement. Also Dale Oler was named new head of the city’s street department. Earl Jeffries w'as named the county’s new highway superintendent. Bells of peace tolled in the county as an end to this country’s involvement in Vietnam was negotiated in Paris and hearts were light as word came of the return of American POWs. Among those released w'as former Fillmore resident Cmdr. J. B. McKamey w ho rode into Putnam County to a hero’s welcome. Hundreds of appreciative county residents turned out on the square in Greencastle as McKamey Day honored the former prisoner of North Vietnam. During the warm months two :violent storms brought high winds to the area which cut a swath of damage through the countv. As fate would have it the two worst storms were over holidays. One storm over Memorial Day weekend was accompanied by tornadic winds while one over the Fourth of Jul^dumped heavy rains and buffeted tree limbs and power lines. Over Old Gold Day at DePauw University, the local school offically announced a $69 million fund raising campaign forfuture development. At the university a major new structure began to take shape as construction progressed—despite wet weather—on the school’s new fine arts center. During 1973 the phrase “energy crisis” became a household word in the county as home-

owners nation-w'ide were urged by President Nixon to dial down thermostates to the 65-68 degree range in voluntary efforts to forestall possible fuel rationing due to shortages aggrevated by Arab oil embargoes. As the winter holidays and winter vacations grew near motorists-were faced with gasless Sundays and higher gas prices. Gas rationing w'as a strong possibility for early 1974. On the gridiron, the county fielded outstanding football teams in the Greencastje High School Tiger Cubs and the DePauw Tigers. The Cubs won the Western Indiana Conference title and for the first time in the school’s history went undefeated with a 10-0 record. Although this was the first year for the state’s high school football playoffs, the Cubs were denied a playoff berth due to the tournament’s point total basis for determining representatives. • DePauw’sfootball men finished a strong season at 6-3 and captured the Monon Bell. DePauw’s head football coach Tom Mont was named the Indiana Collegiate Conference’s coach of the year for the second time in seven years as a result of the team’s performance. Large crowds were on hand once more for the 1973 Putnam County 4-H Fair Parade with Indiana University basketball star John Ritter the grand marshall for the affair. On the-fairgrounds, Linda Everman, Russellville, copped the honors as fair queen as fairgoers of all ages enjoyed the events and amusements of the annual attraction. At the state fair, Fillmore’s Kerry Ames captured the champion crossbred steer award which sold for $5,500 in the spotlight sale. In the final weeks of the year holiday shopping and spirits were bogged down along with traffic as heavy snows were dumped on the area. Fourteen

inches of the white stuff was on the ground as Christmas neared. However, the snow melted away bv Christmas Day. But the slippery stuff made another return as New Year’s neared. ■ Optimists Dance Postponed The New Year’s Eve Opti- snows Sunday and last mght mists’ youth dance has been and as forcing the postponpostponed until further not- ment. ice, Steve Terry, president of the local club said this morn- The club is planning to ing. hold the youth dance at a laTerrv noted the heavy^ ter date, he said.

South Putnam’s Eagles copped the county basketball crown Saturday night. For details see Sports, page 6. (Banner-Graphic Photo)