Banner Graphic, Volume 10, Number 109, Greencastle, Putnam County, 11 January 1980 — Page 1

Storing Food For the winter used to be the tradition of the squirrel community, but with warmer temperatures, it seems they have found it better to get it while you can. With paws clenched tightly around his favorite food, this furry friend seems contented to go out on a limb for a meal. (Banner-Graphic photo by Ann Woolman).

Treasurer Cockrell to make re-election bid

Myrtle (Mann) Cockrell, a Madison Township native presently residing on Dunbar Hill, has announced her candidacy for a second four-year term as Putnam County treasurer on the Republican ticket. She is married to Bill Cockrell and has two sons, Douglas, 21, a student at ISU, and Dan, 17, a senior at Greencastle High School. IT WAS THROUGH Mrs. Cockrell’s es forts with investing idle county monies that Putnam County won the Outstanding Achievement Award given by the Association of Indiana Counties last December. This award, a first for Putnam County, is given yearly to one of Indiana’s 92 counties demonstrating outstanding record in some aspect of county government. Mrs. Cockrell kept Putnam County investment percentages above the 99 per cent level for the year 1979. This achievement was accomplished with all of the county’s bills paid on schedule. During Mrs. Cockrell’s three years as Treasurer, the county has received a total of $500,573.35 interest from investing county funds. “This additional revenue helps to keep tax rates down for taxpayers,” she said. “With runaway inflation affecting government costs, effective investing procedures are a vital tool in earning additional revenue. “IT IS EXTREMELY important that the treasurer’s office balance books as soon as possible after the tax paying deadline so the auditor’s office can make distribution to all tax supported units such as schools before the June 30 and Dec. 31 deadlines as prescribed by Indiana law. Indiana law also holds the treasurer personally accountable for many other incoming monies such as State Inheritance Tax, Gross on the sale of real estate, License Excise Tax, Bank Tax, etc. Therefore, congenial office personnel who maintain excellent booking

Didn't last long, did it? Clearing and much colder with diminishing winds. Low from 10-15. Mostly sunny and cold Saturday, high in the low to upper 20s. Indiana Extended Outlook Mild Sunday through Tuesday with a chance of rain each day. Lows in the 20s and 30s. Highs in the 40s and 50s Sunday lowering into the 30s and 40s by Tuesday. Index Abby A 4 Bridge A 6 Calendar A 4 Classified 82.83 Comics A 6 Crossword B 2 Editorials A 7 Heloise A 4 Horoscope B 3 Letters A 7 Sports 81,84 TV C Section Theatres A 8

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Friday, January 11,1980, Vol. 10 No. 109 20 Cents

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MYRTLE COCKRELL Announces re-election bid standards and cooperate with the general public are essential to the success of this office.” Before her election as county treasurer in 1976, Mrs. Cockrell was employed intermittingly in the Putnam County auditor’s office, gaining experience with county bookkeeping procedures and knowledge relating to property tax distribution and other functions related to the treasurer’s office. An honor graduate, class of 1953, Greencastle High School, she was employed with General Telephone Co. for more than eight years, first as a telephone operator and later as a clerk. She was also employed with G.C. Murphy Co. the last two years of high school and has been a successful Avon lady. MRS. COCKRELL HAS served as precinct committeeman the past 15 years. She has been an active member of the State Treasurer’s Association for three years. She presently holds member-at-large status with Beta Sigma Phi. Her hobbies are reading and cooking.

Food for thought:

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor TERRE HAUTE-Three surprising statements concerning foods, farming and inflation resulted Thursday evening at the “Your Food” program held at Terre Haute. Two Purdue University professors determined: Grain has become a weapon of politics; seven items have rijsen in cost faster than food; and being overly concerned with food ingredients may result in Americans “starving” themselves to death. THE PROGRAM WAS sponsored by the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and the Indiana Cooperative Extension Service Area V with financial assistance from the Greencastle Production Credit Association. Speakers for the program were Purdue professors Bob Jones, agricultural economist, and Joe Berry, food specialist. Jones began by saying the American farmer “fared better” income-wise in 1979 than a year ago. Prices received by farmers for livestock cattle, broilers and milk rose in 1979, while hog prices declined. JONES SAID FARMERS are currently building up cattle herds but it will take

Not guilty, city man pleads in connection with local break-ins

By ANN WOOLMAN Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Edward Capps, 19, a Greencastle man allegedly involved in a rash of local break-ins, pleaded not guilty Thursday. At his morning arraignment Capps, 1001 Avenue E, pleaded not guilty to three counts of burglary and two counts of theft before Judge Francis N. Hamilton in Putnam Circuit Court. CAPPS HAS BEEN charged with the Dec. 23, 1979 burglary of NAPA Auto Parts on the corner of North Vine Street and Franklin Street, the

Thomas has encouraging news for realtors

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor Substantial tax relief could be realized in Putnam County through passage of a bill now in the General Assembly hopper and related to state-owned real property. This word came from John Thomas, state representative from this area, who spoke Wednesday night at a meeting of the Putnam County Board Realtors at the Elks in Greencastle. HOUSE BILL 1020, sponsored by Representative Gerig would provide that real property owned by the state or an agency of the state could be assessed even though it is exempt from property taxation to provide that the state would reimburse each taxing unit for one-half of the revenue it loses from not being able to tax the property. “Think what this wouid mean to Putnam County in the form of revenue from the In-

time to do so. “People are now eating less beef today than they did in 1976,” Jones commented, adding they are projecting each person will eat 105 pounds of beef in 1980. “Hog production right now is about at record high,” Jones said, while noting pork prices would decline as a result. In discussing grains, Jones said, “Grain was up in 1979 over 1978 due to stronger export markets” as he noted grain was still being put in the Grain Reserve. By 1979 there were 1.3 billion bushels of corn and wheat held in reserve. “Twenty per cent of the wheat crop and 10 per cent of the corn crop went to the reserve," he revealed. ALTHOUGH JONES SAID farmers are faring better, he did note that was not true of all farmers. “What is bothering the farmers is that the production costs are going up.” Jones said when industry costs rise, profits and other factors keep businesses financially secure. But the farmer suffers an ongoing battle. Jones said agriculture prices also rise, but the farmer must put the majority of his profits back into farm production and often does not end up with a profit. “The farm prices go up but the food

Dec. 19 burglary of Miller School and the Jan. 4 burglary of Pingleton Lumber Co. on Zinc Mill Road. The two counts of theft against him include charges in connection with the removal of gasoline from Greencastle Community School buses parked at the bus barn on Jacob Street and with damage and removal of money from City of Greencastle parking meters. Upon his plea of not guilty, Capps has been placed in the custody of the sheriff until posting of an approved bond or until the trial date, April 21. Bond has been set at $25,000.

diana State Farm is this bill could become law,” Thomas reminded realtors. Thomas presented digests of a number of biHs that were filed in the General Assembly and are of interest to those in real estate. ANOTHER BILL THAT could have local implications would require the State Board of Commissioners to promulgate rules and regulations for determining the amount by which the true cash value of residential property may be reduced because of the proximity of that property to a landfill or hazardous waste facility. House Bill 1242 would change from one year to six months the time which real property that has been sold by the sheriff on execution order may be redeemed. This would apply, if passed, to sales of property after Aug. 31,1980. Provisions of another pending bill includes the restriction of ownership of more

Purdue experts offer several surprises

prices can become stable,” Jones continued. "Marketing prices increase with the rate of inflation. You have to be looking to the marketing costs to see the prices comedown. “THE WORLD MARKET has become most important to farmers since 1972. We have the capacity to produce more than what we can consume.” In 1979 alone, the U S. exported $32 billion of agricultural products, Jones said. “We import agricultural products but we export a great deal more.” Surprisingly, the U.S. biggest export product is rice, followed by sunflower seeds, cattle hides, wheat and soybeans. “The quanity we can sell abroad sets the price of production,” Jones stated. IN 1977, JAPAN WAS one of our country’s “biggest and steadiest” buyers for grain, he noted, but in 1978, eastern Europe became our biggest buyer. “Grain has become a political weapon,” Jones continued. “The embargo has put farmers in a vulnerable position. We expected exports this year to be greater than last year,” he said. “Farm incomes are going to be lower than what we expected this year. What happens outside of the U.S. is what affects

Two change pleas to guilty in DPU thefts

By G. PATRICK GRIMES Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Two Greencastle youths entered pleas of guilty Friday to charges of theft in Putnam Circuit Court, admitting involvement in the Sept. 20 break-in and ransacking of several DePauw University East College offices and classrooms. Doug Ash, 20, Route 1, Greencastle, and Mike Trammel, 23, Route 5, Greencastle changed their initial pleas of not guilty to guilty after a plea-bargaining arrangement was worked out with the Putnam County Prosecutor’s office. The pair, along with Darren Deßoy (previously reported as Dußois), are said to be responsible r " , r ransacking several offices and classi ok/.tis at the landmark East College building and the theft of some rare Roman coins. BEFORE CIRCUIT JUDGE Francis N Hamilton could accept the changed pleas, he said he must have sufficient evidence to find both young men guilty of the charge of theft. He read aloud the plea bargain arrangement which dropped the charges of burglary against both men in exchange for a guilty plea to theft, a class D Felony under Indiana statutes. “Do you understand that I still could pronounce a maximum sentence against both of you,” Hamilton asked, testing the defendants’ understanding of the arrangement with Putnam Prosecutor Delbert Brewer. “Yes, sir,” Ash and Trammel answered almost simultaneously. HAMILTON FURTHER pointed out for the court record that he n eeded to be satisfied the defendants were making the plea with full knowledge of its consequences. He asked Ash to take the witness stand. “Me and Mike were out driving around and we had been drinking some,” Ash began, relating the events of Sept. 20. “We went over to the campus area and we saw

than 320 acres of real property in Indiana by non-resident aliens, or by corporations, partnerships, trusts or associations having a certain percentage of their capitol owned by non-resident aliens or having a certain number of their owners as non-resident aliens. THOMAS SAID THIS legislation relates to the family farm concept which has been under consideration by the legislature in the past. Senate Bill 91, introduced by Sen. Joe Harrison would remove conditional land sale contracts from provisions governing mortgage foreclosure proceedings and provide that a forfeiture provision in such a contract would be both reasonable and enforceable. Senate Bill 140 would prohibit a court from creating a lien on real estate for failure to pay child support without ren-

the U.S. producers and consumers.” JONES SAID IF THE government took over contracts and kept grain off the markets, that would reduce the risk for the grain markets and would hold up prices which would benefit farmers. But, he added, if the government later decided to reimburse the grain companies, the farmers could be hurt. He also stated the U.S. may attempt to keep a “leakage” of grain from getting to Russia during the embargo, but did not think it would be successful. . CONCERNING FOOD PRICES and inflation, Jones said, “I’ve heard people say that food prices or rising energy costs cause inflation. That is not so. Inflation is due to the supply of money and goods expanding more rapidly than the supply of goods and services.” In a 12-year period ending in 1979, Jones showed that home costs, medical care, housekeeping services, utilities, auto repair and gasoline have risen faster than food costs. He also noted out of every dollar for food, approximately 72 cents goes to marketing and the remaining 30 cents to the farmer. WHEN ASKED BY PUTNAM CountV

Darren Deßoy. He asked us for a ride and Mike said yes. We drove for a long time, drinking and stuff. We went way out into the country south of town almost to Brazil and that area, then we came back into town and the campus area. “Darren asked us if we wanted to go to East College because he said that’s where some people go to just sit and talk and drink and stuff. He said the doors -- the fire escape doors - were usually open. So we went there and sat on the steps just talking and we drank some more. Darren got up and started to walk away and after a long time Mike decided to go see what he was into. I would have gone but I hurt my foot and didn’t want to get up. “MIKE CAME BACK and said Darren had been breaking into rooms and stuff to see if there was anything he could take to trade or sell, you know. And Mike and I decided we had better get out of there. Darren came down the steps with some stuff in his hands and we were walking to the car. He asked us to help him and we said no. I asked Mike to take me home. He said yes. So then they took me straight home.” Ash told Judge Hamilton that at the top of his driveway Deßoy persuaded him to take some of the Roman coins and hide them. “I didn’t want to, but I did because he kept asking me and stuff,” Ash explained to the court, adding that he buried the coins at the top of his driveway near a small tree and under some wood chips. “That was the last I saw of them,” Ash s lid. ASH’S CO-DEFENDANT, Trammel, then took the stand. Trammel told about the same version of what had happened and then detailed the rest of the evening’s events after he and Deßoy dropped Ash off. “Darren put the stuff in the trunk of my Col. 3, back page, this section

dering a judgment that determines the amount of support owed. OF INTEREST TO ALL taxpayers would be a proposal which would change the starting date for the next general reassessment of real property from Jan. 1, 1982 to Jan. 1,1986. Pending bill 1093, would require the county auditor to send notice of sale to a mortgagee of real property which is subject to sale due to delinquency in property taxes. Thomas told realtors that the above bills and other related and of interest to their profession were among the more than 460 filed in the House before the deadline. THOMAS SAID ONLY a fraction of bills filed would get out of committees or could be considered during the short session of the legislature expected to conclude by the end of February.

Extension Youth Agent Darrell Thomas to predict the outlook of future food prices, the answer was not promising. “I expect within a five-year period, that the food prices will be 50 per cent higher than what they are now,” Dick Kohls, dean of the Purdue Ag Department, answered. “I’m saying that not having any idea what farm prices will be.” Roger Winger, Greencastle Production Credit Association, asked. "Should the government have some kind of buffer program for the farmer whose livelihood is dependent on exports?” Kohls answered “yes" to that question citing “the risk factor has become fantastic.” FOOD SPECIALIST Berry relayed his views of food quality and safety as he concluded the program. “The availability of our food is often taken for granted.” he began, “the saying, ‘Give us this day, our daily bread’ is now almost a demand. ’ ’’ Berry said consumers were warned of a lot of dangers in foods but hardly are ever reminded of the good points. “Increased life span or increased height of our people goes back to better foods.” Berry said that all foods contain some sort of “danger.” For example, he noted Col. 3, back page, this section