Banner Graphic, Volume 10, Number 60, Greencastle, Putnam County, 12 November 1979 — Page 1

Highway Commission announces plans for Putnam area projects

The Indiana State Highway Commission < ISHC) has released its statewide highway improvement work programs for the biennial period extending from July 1. 1980 through June 30,1982. Projects included in the ISHC highway improvement program are classified according to two categories: •Capital Improvements, which involves the creation of new facilities. * Operational Improvements, which consist of work items necessary to make existing roads more serviceable. PROJECT WHICH were included in the 1979-81 ISHC Highway improvement Program that are anticipated to be under construction prior to June 30,1980 were not included in the listing. Projects in the Capital Improvement category which will affect Putnam County and the adjoining area are as follows: * U.S. 40 - Continue plan development, start land acquisition and start construction to replace bridges over L & N Railroad, 3.5 and 2.3 miles west of U.S. 231. * Ind. 243 - Continue plan development and start land acquisition to replace the bridge over branch of Deer Creek, 0.7 miles north of 1-70. * Ind. 243 - Continue plan development and start land acquisition to replace the bridge over branch of Deer Creek, 2.8 miles north of 1-70. * 1-70 -- Start plan development and start construction for new Brazil Rest Area serving east and westbound traffic half mile west of Clay-Putnam county line. * Ind. 236 -- Continue plan development and start land acquisition to replace the bridge over Little Raccoon Creek, 7.4 miles east of U.S. 41 in Parke County. DESCRIPTION OF proposed operational improvement activities for the biennial period extending from July 1,1980 through June 30, 1982 for Putnam County and the adjoining area. * U.S. 36 -- Start construction to improve L & N Railroad grade crossing 3.7 miles east of U.S. 231. * U.S. 40 -- Resurface from Clay-Putnam County Line to U .S. 231 (length 10.8 miles). * Ind. 42 - Resurface from three miles

Cougar country

Deputy Biggs has lions, tigers, too at Russellville residence

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor “Lions and tigers and bears-Oh, my. Lions and tigers and bears-Oh, my.” That was the chant Dorothy and her friends uttered as they made their way to see the famed Wizard of Oz. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE to travel “over the rainbow” or follow the “yellow brick road” to find some of these same animals right here in Putnam County. Nestled in the back acreage of his home in Russellville, Mike Biggs keeps two lions, two tigers and one cougar. And although they aren’t the kinds of animals one would most likely curl up with on a cold night, Biggs loves them just the same. He still uses caution and treats them with well-deserved respect when he enters cages to greet the huge cats, and in turn,

First flurries? Increasing tlouds with a 20 per cent chance for snow flurries or rain late Monday night and Tuesday morning. Low in the upper 20s to low 30s. Becoming partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon with high in the low to mid 40s. Indiana Extended Outlook Wednesday through Friday will be generally dry with a slow warming trend through the period. Lows in the 20s Wednesday and Thursday warming to the 30s on Friday. Highs in the 30s north to 40s south at midweek warming to the upper 40s and 50s by the end of the week. Abbv A 4 Bridge A 6 Calendar A 4 Classified 84.85 Comics A 6 Crossword B 4 Editorials A 7 Heloise A 5 Horoscope B 5 Letters A 7 Obituaries AS Sports 81,82,83,84

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Monday, November 12,1979, Vol. 10 No. 60 20 Cents

Career Night slated Tuesday The Greencastle Chamber of Commerce will present an all-county Career Night from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Greencastle High School Girls Gym (Room 122). Career night is open to all county students or persons interested in obtaining information regarding various professions. A complete slate of qualified area professionals will be available to answer questions first hand.

east of Ind. 59 to U.S. 231 (length 18.8 miles). * Ind. 42 - Resurface from U.S. 231 to west city limits of Mooresville (length 29.3 miles). * 1-70 - Start plan development for repairs to bridges over Cory’s Creek, one mile east of Putnam/Parke County Line. * 1-70 - Start plan development for repairs to bridges over branch of Walnut Creek, 4.6 miles west of Ind. 243. * 1-70 - Start plan development for repairs to bridges over Deer Creek, 2.8 miles west of Ind. 243. * 1-70 - Start plan development for repairs to bridges over Vermillion Creek, 4.6 miles east of U.S. 231. * U.S. 231 - Resurface from Ind. 67 to I--70 (length 13.7 miles). * U.S. 231 - Continue land acquisition and start construction to correct sight distance problem south of intersection with Ind. 42 in Cloverdale. * U.S. 231 - Continue plan development and start construction to improve the L & N Railroad grade crossing in Greencastle. * Ind. 236 - Start plan development and start construction to improve L & N Railroad grade crossing five miles east of U.S. 231 in Roachdale. * Ind. 240 - Resurface from U.S. 231 to Ind. 75 (length 10.4 miles). * Ind. 243 - Resurface from Ind. 42 to U.S. 40 (length 9.6 miles).

the cats greet him. It’s sort of a mutual admiration society. “YOU DON’T BECOME friends with them, you let them become friends with you,” Biggs explained. “Some animals can just flat refuse to become your friend. “These cats are very independent. They have a temperament like a house cat. If they don’t like you, then they flat out don’t like you. You have to break them in slow. ” Biggs, a Putnam County sheriff’s deputy, added it was important for the animals to become familiar with their owner and it takes quite a while for the animals to gain trust. THERE IS NO DOUBT these animals, each weighing well over 100 pounds, have large appetites. Biggs said the two tigers eat about 12 pounds of chicken and beef each day. The cougar eats approximately

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With Snowflakes In the air Saturday morning, it was time for a good old down-to-earth groundbreaking ceremony at DePauw University. Participating in turning over the first spadefuls of dirt for the new Lilly Recreation Center were (from left): DePauw Athletic Director Tom Mont, University Chaplain Fred Lamar, Board of

Funeral home leveling expected by Nov. 30

“It isn’t moving along quite as rapidly as we had hoped, but the work is being done well. And, what is equally important, it is being accomplished with conservation as a major concern.” So said Norman Knights, president of Greencastle Federal Savings and Loan Association, when questioned about demolition of the Rector Funeral Home property at Washington and Locust streets to make way for a new savings and loan building. “WE KNOW,” Knights continued, “that many in our community regretted seeing these fine old landmarks come down. We shared the same sentiments. However, given our options there really was little choice. We searched long and hard to find a spot which was available, which could

six pounds of meat daily, which will increase to 10 pounds during the winter months. “I’ve tried to block out of my mind how much it costs to feed the animals daily,” headded. Biggs received most of his animals through zoos located in the northern part of Indiana. Each of the huge cats has a story of its own and some were scheduled to be put to sleep before Biggs stepped in to give them a home. THE TWO TIGERS were kept in a zoo when they were younger but developed a bone disease and were destined to be killed until officials contacted Biggs. He has had the tigers for about 2Vfe years now and there is no sign of the disease in either cat. Probably the animal with the most outstanding story is the cougar Biggs as-

Trustees President F.C. (Bud) Tucker, Greencastle Mayor-elect Jane Harlan, Guernsey Van Riper (husband of the $3 million-plus Lilly family benefactor). Roll McLaughlin of James and Associates Architects, Mrs. Raymond Neal (wife of the legendary late coach "Gaumey" Neal) and Chet Elson, a member of DePauw's unbeaten, un-

meet our requirements, and which would be convenient to our present and future customers. And we are delighted with the opportunity which opened up to us. “Our present office has served us beautifully for well over 20 years, but growth and expanded services have simply pushed us to the wall. And, while our branch operation provides generous parking, our main office lacks any significant parking for those who use the downtown facility.” Knights pointed out that the approach to the demolition work was governed by several factors. “We wanted to complete the job before winter set in so that the area would not be an eyesore for any prolonged period. We had been approached by many

fectionately calls “Chico.” Chico was discovered in an old warehouse in Dayton, Ohio, chained to a water pipe. “He was so weak he couldn’t walk,” Biggs noted. “We don’t know how he got there or how long he had been chained there.” THE LOCAL HUMANE Society decided it might be also best to have Chico put to sleep. A newspaper wrote a story concerning Chico’s fate and that was when Biggs was contacted by a friend to see if he could once again come to the rescue. “They gave us a certain ‘time limit to pick the cougar up. Thejl set it where it would have been almost impossible to make it there in time. I told my friend to get down there and make them wait til we got there. I told him to hold them at gunCol. 5, back page, this section

citizens interested in acquiring elements of the old structures, so we elected to take a little more time and permit the demolition firm to operate on a salvage basis. In this way, our own costs are kept to a minimum, and the useable portions of the building - which include many items of historical interest and value - were not destroyed, but were made available for sale to any parties interested in acquiring them “FINALLY, THERE IS just a lot of good construction material which can now be reused, as well. All of this is in tune with conservation which is such an important consideration these days. “Moving both the funeral home and adjoining residence was an option we explored,” Knights said, “and we even had a

Add Grandma Jo to Putnam 'real people' list

By AGNES KING Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Josephine Ward was born 95 years ago in Kokomo, on Oct. 30,1884, the daughter of Archie and Mary McCarty. She attended St. Patrick’s School in Kokomo and was later graduated from Kokomo Business College. “I can remember going to the store from my mother when I was a girl with a $1 for groceries,” she recalls. “I would get a loaf of bread for a nickel, a bunch of potatoes for a dime, a package of coffee for 20 cents and some meat for a dime and still have change left over. The first car I saw was in Kokomo and I thought it was great. My husband was later a mechanic and we used to go to a lot of auto races back then. I just loved going to the Indianapolis 500, especially. “I ALWAYS DID a lot of work for the poor and less fortunate and that gave me a lot of satisfaction over the years. I thought Franklin D. Roosevelt was the greatest president and Social Security was a wonderful thing.” “Grandma Jo,” as she’s known to many Putnam County friends, worked as a bookkeeper for Howard National Bank (17 years) and Mid Central Engraving prior to retirement and her move to Greencastle in 1966. “Let me tell you,” she says, “I was good with figures and I made sure everything balanced out before I would go home. I still believe a woman’s place is in the home and I don’t think too much of this woman’s liberation thing. I mostly like to sew and visit with my friends now. I liked to cook until I broke my hip, but now I have a pretty good cook anyway.” GRANDMA JO LIVES with her daughter, Rosamond (Rosie) Tennis. “I really had some questions about moving to Greencastle in 1966.

tied and unscored upon team of 1933 coached by Neal. Elson spearheaded a drive among members of that legendary team to collect more than $1 million to name the fieldhouse portion of the new complex for Neal. (Banner-Graphic photo by Steve Fields).

couple of interested parties delve into it with us. But the economics just did not workout.” If all goes according to schedule, the area will be leveled and filled not later than Nov. 30. “THEN,” KNIGHTS added, “we can set our minds to the completion of plans for our new building which, we hope, will be a credit to our community and blend in well with both our commercial and residential neighbors. We have high hopes of moving into our new headquarters before Christmas 1980. That will depend, of course, on the progress we make in completing architectural plans, on weather - and. perhaps, even on the economy. But, we are optimistic on all counts.”

JOSEPHINE WARD She's "Grandma Jo" to most I’d always lived in Kokomo and I knew everyone there, but the people in Greencastle have been great to me and I love the town. I wondered then if I would be as happy here as I had been in Kokomo, but let me tell you I’m happier. “I still like to quilt and that’s not bad for 95,” she interjects, holding up a perfectly matched square. “I also think TV is absolutely marvelous. I’m an avid viewer. I watch the soap operas, although I don’t always agree with the things they do. They say TV is bad for the kids, but I don’t know about that. My great-grandchildren watch it and nobody can please everyone. Television is just doing all it can. “I GUESS I'VE lived this long because it’s God’s will and I’ve enjoyed every minute of the 95 years. Everyone from my daughter to my friends have spoiled me, but I spoiled her first. Lord willing I just may make 100.” Recently, “Grandma Jo” had three separate birthday celebrations with friends and family and she proudly adds. “I enjoyed them all.” “Grandma Jo” has a multitude of friends, three grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a zest for life. And at 95. “that’s not bad.”