Banner Graphic, Volume 10, Number 39, Greencastle, Putnam County, 18 October 1979 — Page 1

Mrs. Freed sentenced to 35 years By G. PATRICK GRIMES Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Richard B. Joseph Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, escape and armed robbery in Owen Circuit Court at Spencer, while his accomplice, Mary Helen Freed, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. Mrs. Freed appeared in Owen Circuit Court Tuesday, pleading guilty to the charges, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of assisting a criminal. Both stem from her use of a sawed-off shotgun to disarm two police officers at the Owen County Jail, demanding the release of Joseph. The pair then locked up the officers. OWEN CIRCUIT JUDGE William T. Sharp sentenced Mrs. Freed, 34, Plymouth, to 30 years for the two counts of kidnapping, and five years for assisting a criminal. Until now the woman had no criminal record. Judge Sharp pointed out that normal more-lenient punishment for a first-time offender would be waived because this was “offset by threatening two police officers with a shotgun and bringing her son with her.” Mrs. Freed, who seemed on the verge of breaking into tears several times during her hearings, told the court that she was coerced into helping Joseph because he made threats against her life. SHE SAID JOSEPH had told her he would “get” her and her 12-year-old son if she didn’t follow his instructions. She said Joseph told her to go to a gun shop in Plymouth, her hometown, and buy a gun, and to secure a rented car for his getaway. Owen Prosecutor Allan Fountain said this type of defense could not legally be used in her case, and cited a law which Judge Sharp accepted as proof of his statements. Mrs. Freed was asked "do you want to get it over with?” by Fountain. She was informed of her rights by Judge Sharp, who also told her of her right to plead guilty. According to court observers, Freed expressed love for her 12-year-old son, Steven Micheal Cole, who will be put in the custody of the state. JOSEPH. WHO HAS approximately 90 warrants issued against him in more than eight counties, according to some sources, pleaded not guilty to the Sept. 4 armed robbery of the Coal City branch of the Owen State Bank and not guilty to two counts of kidnapping and one count of escape in the alleged Oct. 9 jailbreak. A pauper attorney, Mike Hunt, Bloomington, was appointed for Joseph and requested a trial by jury which is scheduled for Nov. 26. Joseph’s Putnam Circuit Court trial for the alleged May 9 armed robbery of the Jones’ Liquor Store in Cloverdale is set for Dec. 3. Court observers in Owen County say Joseph accepted the appointment of his attorney without incident. JOSEPH IS BEING held by the Indiana Department of Corrections, “for safe keeping,” an Owen court official said. He was apprehended last Friday in Ripley County just minutes after he robbed the Friendship State Bank in the small town of Friendship. There, 72 hours after his apprehension, Joseph pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 years for bank robbery. Mrs. Freed was not charged in that incident.

The 70s are back! Fair and mild. Low in the mid 50s. Chance of showers and mild Friday. High in the mid 70s. Chance of showers 30 per cent. Indiana Extended Outlook Chance of showers and thundershowers Saturday through Monday. Mild for the season. Highs in the 60s and 70s and lows in the mid 40s to the 50s. Abby A 4 Bridge A 6 Calendar A 4 Classified 84,85 Comics A 6 Crossword B 4 Editorials A 7 Family living A4.A5 Heloise A 5 Horoscope B 5 Letters A 7 Obituaries A 8 Sports 81,82,R6 Theatres A 8

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Thursday, October 18,1979, Vol. 10 No. 39 20 Cents

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It Took A Lot Of sixth-grade muscle power to control an antique cider press at the Larry Wiatt farm north of Russellville. The press was built in the late 1800 s and is part of the Wiatt family history. In addition to seeing the operation of the press, Mrs. Ruth Rehlander's class also

Five arrested, sixth suspect sought in string of burglaries

By JIM ZEIS Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor A diligent investigation by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department through the cooperation and information furnished by DePauw security officers and the Greencastle City Police has cleared up a total of nine local robberies with the arrest of five persons. A sixth suspect, Donnie York, 20, Greencastle, is still being sought on an arrest warrant. ARRESTED MONDAY and Tuesday were Darron Deßoy, 20, Greencastle; Matthew Wayne McDonald, 20, 1118 Avenue B, Greencastle; Doug Ash, 21, Route 1, Greencastle; Michael Trammwell, 23, Route 5, Greencastle; and Brent Jeffries, 20, Route 1, Cloverdale. Places entered and robbed were: The DePauw Union Building and

West Central

Putnam projects, water quality and aging plans on Monday's agenda

The West Central Indiana Economic Development District (WCIEDD) Board of Directors will discuss the future of the water quality program and review seven applications for federal funds during their quarterly board meeting at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22 in Sullivan. Terre Haute is applying for a $1,278,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Urban Development Action Grant to be used in a 10-block radius of the Terre Haute central business district. The federal dollars would be matched with $4,500,000 in private and $20,721,724 in savings and loan funds. FUNDS WOULD BE used to provide loans to individuals and businesses for rehabilitation of homes, apartments and commercial structures. Loan recipients could include about 400 dwelling units and 10 to 20 businesses. Indiana State University is seeking $9,792 from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) for a citizens’ energy-saving program entitled

witnessed a grain-drying demonstration. Wiatt is the brother of Russellville Elementary Principal Darrell Wiatt who arranged the trip. At left are Russellville Elementary secretary Carolyn Goff and Principal Wiatt. (BannerGraphic photo by Becky Igo).

East College on Sept. 21, where coins, tape recorders and electronic equipment were stolen; Goodman’s Texaco Station on North Jackson Street; Ridpath Elementary School on Howard Street; Patterson’s Car Wash, South Bloomington Street; Peace Lutheran Church, Bloomington Street; Shell Distribution Plant, Putnamville Road; and the Conßail work train at the siding at the Putnamville Road railroad crossing. Six Roman coins, from 1,500 to 2,000 years old stolen from the East College office of a DePauw professor were recovered Tuesday afternoon where they were buried at Doug Ash’s home at rural Route 1, Greencastle. The coins are priceless in value. THE ARRESTS WERE made Monday and Tuesday by Sheriff Jim

“Helping Each Other.” A local match consisting of volunteered time and university materials will amount to $4,896. The program would consist of four energy-saving seminars each at three community centers. Emphasis would be on energy dollar savings by retirees, widows and low-income families. Programs would be from Feb. 1 - May 31, 1980. THE CHILD-ADULT Resource Service Ind. in Rockville will be applying for $97,000 in HEW funds for the Head Start program operated in Clay, Owen and Putnam counties. The notice of intent submitted to the board for comment lists the local in-kind services share of the program at $24,250. Vigo County’s Economic Opportunity Act Committee Inc. is requesting $6,000 from the Community Services Administration for its Emergency Energy Conservation Program. Purpose of the project will be to pay utility and fuel bills on a one-time basis for about 60 eligible low-income households this winter.

Baugh and Deputy Sheriff Jim Hendrich. The burglaries all occurred between Sept. 21 and Oct. 7. Three of the five persons were arrested Monday and two on Tuesday. Police say the Oct. 6 burglary of the Conßail work train involves Matthew Wayne McDonald, Donnie York, and Darron Deßoy. The DePauw burglary names Matthew Wayne McDonald, York and Deßoy as suspects. The Ridpath incident allegedly includes Brent Jeffries and Deßoy as suspects, and Deßoy is wanted in the Goodman Texaco, Peace Lutheran Church, and Patterson Car Wash break-ins, occurring on Sept. 28 and 29 and Oct. 3, respectively. ALL OF THE YOUNG men were to be arraigned on the charges Thursday in Putnam Circuit Court.

The Vigo County Economic Opportunity Act Committee Inc. is also seeking $3,486 from the Community Services Administration for a training and technical assistance weatherization program in Vigo County. The funds would be used to provide on-the-job and classroom training in insulating and weatherizing homes for the weatherization crew. A TRAINING AND technical assistance program is also being sought for the Community Action Program Inc. of Fountain, Parke, Vermillion and Warren counties’ weatherization program. A total of $5,393 is requested from the Community Services Administration State Office. WCIEDD’s area plan for its programs on aging will also be reviewed by the board. The proposal for Putnam, Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties’ again programs will be submitted to the Indiana Commission on Aging. Total program budgets including federal, state, local and in-kind contributions are $69,115 for administration, $359,235 for social services projects and $814,024 for the senior

OL fighting lack of funds until first of year

By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher Putnam County Operation Life, its employees currently working without pay and its bank account balance at a meager SB4, will have to “hang on” financially until Jan. 1, Director Ken Hetlage told the OL board of directors Wednesday night. So far, the serious dollar squeeze hasn’t affected the level of the county’s emergency medical services because ambulance personnel, including paramedics, are continuing to serve without compensation, Hetlage said. But he cautioned that the situation could worsen during the 10 remaining weeks of 1979 and said that if it does, OL might have to consider alternatives, such as asking Indianapolis area paramedics to ride with OL units on weekends and on their days off. THE MONEY CRUNCH threatening the non-profit Operation Life during the final quarter of the year is primarily the result of what Hetlage called a “serious un-derestimation”--by about $30,000~0f OL debts made by former director Tim Hansel last March. “It was on the basis of that report that we based our request for an additional $31,000,” Hetlage told the OL board, referring to the additional appropriation received from the county earlier this year. Although that additional amount brought to $56,000 the subsidy that the county is paying to OL during 1979, the total has proved to be inadequate because of the miscalculation of total debt made in March. “Our bills are fairly current and most personnel are riding free,” Hetlage said during the board’s discussion. “We are buying a bare minimum of supplies-only what’s absolutely necessary to keep the ambulances adequately stocked. We’re just going to have to hang on another 70 to 75 days.” BUT PAYING PERSONNEL, whose overall average compensation is only about 30 cents an hour, and maintaining adequate medical supplies aren’t the only financial realities staring Operation Life squarely in the face. “We have a cardiac monitor unit that’s been in the shop nine times in the last six months,” Hetlage told the board. “We need a new one as soon as possible and that means about $6,000. We have no choice.” Hetlage, who was named acting OL director in April then formally selected as director two months ago, said the ambulance service also must comply before the end of the year with communications equipment improvements mandated by the Federal Communications Commission. Explaining that his efforts to secure a variance had not been successful, he said the cost of the equipment would be about SI,OOO. FINALLY, HETLAGE SAID, Operation Life has reached a point where it must take a serious look at the condition of its equipment and the prospect of not being able to continue using the old Greencastle Fire Department building after next March 1. “Maintenance cost on all of our

citizens nutrition program. Social service programs for the elderly include transportation, information and referral, lawn care and maintenance, weatherization, Help for Older Persons in Emergency Situations, senior citizen centers and legal services. APPLICATIONS FOR funds will be reviewed for consistency with local and areawide planning objectives and for duplication of services. WCIEDD’s Board of Directors will also discuss fiscal year 1980 funding of the Water Quality Program, review Transportation Improvement Program amendments, appoint a nominating committee for 1980 WCIEDD officers and hear staff quarterly progress reports. The meeting will be preceded by a 6 p.m. discussion by the board’s Water Quality Program Subcommittee on future WCIEDD participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Quality Program. A representative from EPA’s Chicago office will meet with the subcommittee.

Water service to be interrupted The Greencastle Water Works office will be shutting off water service at approximately 7 p.m. Thursday for the purpose of changing two fire hydrants. Water service will be disconnected temporarily from an area along Jackson Street beginning at the square (Washington Street), north to Shadowlawn Drive. Only those areas to the immediate east and west of Jackson Street will have the service temporarily interrupted. vehicles is tremendously high,” Hetlage acknowledged. “Recently, we haven’t gone more than three days without one of the units in the garage for repairs that are beyond our capabilities. The two 1977 ambulances are running dependably, but emergency vehicles are intended for an average, of only three years of service, and these have been run over some pretty rough country roads.” A 1974 model vehicle still in service was described by Hetlage as “not so good” and he said another older vehicle, presently inoperable and parked on a lot at the corner of Indiana and Seminary Streets, will be sold as soon as it can be put into running condition. “I BELIEVE THAT BY early summer of 1980 we’re going to have to look at purchasing a new ambulance,” Hetlage told the board. “And we have no firm commitment from the city that we’ll be able to stay in the old fire department after March 1.1 feel we should consider the possibility of a new unit and possibly a building.” Operation Life’s effort to stretch financially until the start of its new budget year on Jan. 1 comes amid some uncertainty as to the future of its contract with the Putnam County Commissioners. As recently as their session last Monday, the Commissioners were saying they want to explore the possibility of rewriting that contract to give the county more direct input into operation of emergency medical services. , According to Commission President Don Walton, the Commissioners want to schedule a meeting with the County Council and the Operation Life board of directors to discuss possible rewriting of the current contract, which was signed in May, 1977. NEITHER WALTON NOR County Councilman Ben Cannon, who serve as the county’s representatives on the eightmember OL board, were present Wednesday night. Tom Graffis, DDS, president of the board, said he had not been contacted about scheduling any meeting with the county. Operation Life had asked Putnam CounCol. 4, back page, this section

Barry Grimes gets contract The long wait for an acceptable bid to build a new concrete block cemetery building at Forest Hill Cemetery on Greencastle’s south side is over. Cemetery Board members awarded the contract to low-bidder Barry R. Grimes, a local contractor. GRIMES* BID WAS $32,483.77. His two competitors were Major and Sons, Clinton, $38,274; and Trice Construction with a base bid without options $26,500. The Trice bid was not organized so it could be easily compared with the other two, but according to Cemetery Board President Ray Herbert, Grimes has been named low bidder. The old cemetery office burned down early this year. Like its predecessor, the new building will serve as a storage area, and an office for the cemetery superintendent. Construction is expected to begin within a few days.