Banner Graphic, Volume 12, Number 40, Greencastle, Putnam County, 23 October 1981 — Page 1
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Oil drilling rigs are becoming a familiar site in Putnam County as at least four companies have purchased leases to drill in the area. One such rig is located on the John Hazlett farm near Russellville. Three crews, comprised of two-men each,
Rockville man traffic victim near
A Rockville man, driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed while passing a semi on U.S. 36 near Morton, was killed Tuesday when his truck left the road twice, before striking a tree and overturning, police said. NORMAN O. BURKHART, 61, Route 1, Box 191, Rockville, was pinned in his truck for approximately 35 minutes before he could be extracted by police. Burkhart was pronounced dead at the scene. Police reported James G. Reasor, 58, Route 6, Greencastle, was driving his semi tractor-trailer eastbound on U.S. 36, approximately two miles west of Morton and 1,500 feet east of Portland Mills Road around 9:35 p.m. Tuesday. Reasor, believing the rear of his trailer had been bumped, checked his rearview mirror and noticed Burkhart, also eastbound, overtaking his semi on the right
Mixed with what??? Cloudy and much colder with an 80 per cent chance of occasional rain. High in the low to mid 50s. Continued cloudy and cold with a 60 per cent chance of rain possibly mixed with snow at times. Low in the mid to upper 30s. A 20 per cent chance of showers or snow flurries Friday morning, with clearing during the afternoon. High in the mid to upper 40s. Indiana Extended Outlook Sunny and cold Saturday. Highs in the 50s. Lows in the 20s. Partly cloudy and warmer Sunday and Monday. High both days upper 50s Abby A 5 Calendar A 4 Classifieds 83,84,85 Comics A 7 Crossword B 4 Heloise A 4 Horoscope B 5 Obituaries AS People A 6 Sports 81.83.86 TV A 7
Banner Graphic Putnam County, Friday, October 23,1981, Vol. 12 No. 40 ★ 20 Cents
are conducting 24-hour drillings for oil. The SEC company, based in Cloverdale, has leased Hazlett's property and has completed several identical drillings in Illinois. (BannerGraphic photo).
side of the road. BURKHART’S TRUCK continued approximately 700 feet through fields and lawns, before re-entering the road. The truck continued another 180 feet, leaving the road again on the north side. Burkhart’s vehicle traveled an additional 150 feet, before striking a tree and overturning, coming to rest in the westbound lane of U.S. 36. Reasor told police he believes Burkhart was driving in excess of 80 m.p.h. INVESTIGATING WERE Deputy Mike Biggs, Sheriff Jim Baugh and Chief Deputy Jim Hendrich. Operation Life ambulance also responded. Services for Mr. Burkhart will be conducted at 10:30 a m. Saturday from Moore and Kirk Irvington Chapel, 5342 E. Washington St., Indianapolis, with burial in Anderson Cemetery at Indianapolis.
Guilty verdicts in jailbreak here
A Putnam County Circuit Court jury has returned a verdict of guilty for two men charged with attempted escape from the Putnam County Jail in June. Convicted were Mark Weatherly, 22, Corydon; and George Miller, 19, Versailles. The attempted escape charge is a Class D felony. A THIRD MAN INVOLVED in the escape attempt, Augustus Roy Scank Jr., 18, Greencastle, withdrew his earlier plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to attempted escape. In turn, Scank turned state’s witness, testifying against Weatherly and Miller during the jury trial. Court proceedings were held beginning at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday before Circuit Court Judge William C. Vaughn. THE JURY RECEIVED the case at ap-
Physicist details radiation effect
By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor Risks of radiation and its benefits have been known and studied for nearly 40 years, Roger Cloutier, national president of Physics Society, said Wednesday when he spoke to the Greencastle Rotary Club in the DePauw Union. •RADIATION WAS NOT discovered in
Longer commitment eyed
OL building proposals heard
By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor County representatives to the OL Board of Directors offered insight to a proposed 10-year contract with the county during OL’s board meeting Wednesday night at Putnam County Hospital. Agreeing with earlier statements by Commissioners Don Walton and Jim Malayer, Commissioner Elbert Irwin said he would not be in favor of a 10-year pact. “I HAVE THE OPINION that we would be committing the future commissioners to such a contract, whether they would agree or not,” Irwin told fellow OL board members. “I can appreciate that point,” OL Board President Greg Larkin responded, suggesting even a contract with a five- or six-year agreement would be more helpful to the private ambulance service than the current one-year agreement. “We could have something with an escape clause.” Increasing the contract to a greater period of time was suggested to allow OL
S. Putnam begins erasing deficit
By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher Advertisement of additional appropriations totaling $192,253 to offset budget deficits through Dec. 31 was authorized by the South Putnam School Board Wednesday afternoon. Most of the additional money will come from a $170,252 transfer from the corporation’s cumulative building fund to its general fund, a one-time-only transaction approved last week by the Indiana School Property Tax Control Board. WEDNESDAY’S ACTION by the school board begins the legal mechanism required to allocate the transferred funds. Advertisement of the additional appropriation, which will appear first in Friday’s Banner-Graphic, designates a local hearing on the funds at 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at the South Putnam administration building. The request then goes to the State Board of Tax Commissioners for
Friends may call after 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. He was born in southern Indiana on Aug. 1, 1920, the son of William and Lillian Burkhart. Mr. Burkhart had lived in Indianapolis most of his life before moving to Rockville. THE TRAFFIC VICTIM was a foreman with Richardson Rubber Co. for 28 years, retiring in 1972. He was a member of the Rubber Workers Local Union No. 294 and the Baptist church. Survivors include the wife, Elnora; two daughters, Ruth Ann Reed and Lillian Sue Muse; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Seay; a stepson, Robert E. Bradley, three sisters, Lorraine Bishop, Evelyn Dobkins and Peggy McDonald; a brother, Jack Burkhart, 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
proximately 6 p.m., returning a verdict around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Vaughn set sentencing for all three men at 9 a.m. Nov. 12, following a presentence investigation. A third participant in the unsuccessful escape attempt was Weatherly’s wife, Ruth Ellen. She pleaded guilty to attempted trafficking of a deadly weapon with an inmate on Aug. 24 before Judge Vaughn. MRS. WEATHERLY IS serving a sentence at the Westville Correctional facility. The charges stem from a June 26 escape attempt at the Putnam County Jail. Weatherly and Miller had been serving sentences at the Putnamville State Farm, but escaped from that facility on June 12. They were returned to Putnam County
1945 when the bomb went off,” Cloutier said, noting that its potential was discovered as early as 1895. This was followed by the development of X-ray with its ability to penetrate through matter, the speaker said. Through misuse, its damage to humans became apparent. With this information, scientists began exploring the theory that if radiation could
more financial security to plan for the future. OL BOARD MEMBER Bob Evans, also a county councilman, noted, “I feel there is some common ground. I don’t think we want to marry the county and OL, but I think OL needs some longer commitments with an escape clause.” “But when you’re talking about building, you’re talking about a different item,” Irwin interjected. The commissioner’s comment alluded to OL’s future plans of funding the construction of a new building to house the organization’s headquarters in Greencastle. A projected estimate as to the building’s cost was noted at approximately $70,000 to SBO,OOO. ATTEMPTS TO SECURE loans from local banking institutions for possible construction have been fruitless as bankers want assurance of a longer agreement with the county. Larkin pointed out, “From our (OL’s) viewpoint, we’ve cut our costs and can’t invest in a building. It’s hard to believe with
scheduling of another required local hearing before a final decision is rendered on the state level. “We’re probably talking about the latter part of November, as far as final approval is concerned,” Supt. James Hammond said of the procedure involved. Authorization to advertise the request was made on a 3-0 affirmative vote by the three board members present, Ron Cook, Sherman Hacker and David Landes. Included in the proposed additional appropriation is $61,341 to help pay teachers’ salaries through the end of the year and $59,341 to help finance operation of buildings. The latter includes utility bills and fuel oil. AT THE SCHOOL BOARD’S monthly meeting on Oct. 5, Hammond reported a general fund deficit of approximately $96,000. Subsequently, he and school board members met with the School Property Tax Control Board in the session that
Morton
Meanwhile, services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at Miller Memorial Chapel in Brazil for another area traffic victim, John A. Garlits, 28, Knightsville. THE CLAY COUNTY MAN died as the result of an accident Monday night at the U.S. 40 and Ind. 46 intersection in Vigo County. Burial will be in Clearview Cemetery. Friends may call until 9 p.m. Thursday. Born in Brazil on Nov. 22, 1952, he was the son of Floyd A. and Norma (Warner) Garlits. He married the former Kathleen Smith, Knightsville, in 1973. Besides the parents and his wife, survivors include a son, John Eric, and a daughter, Sarah Jane, both at home; a brother, Steven M., Brazil, and a sister, Rita C. Young, Springfield, 111.
around June 14, preceding their second attempt. Both men were awaiting a court appearance while lodged at the jail. REPORTEDLY, WHILE at the jail, Weatherly and Miller got acquainted with Scank and escape plans were made. Acting on a tip, Sheriff Jim Baugh prepared for the attempt, having deputies stake out the jail and surrounding areas. Previous to the attempt, Ruth Weatherly purchased hacksaw blades from a local hardware store. Using a makeshift rope, Mrs. Weatherly lifted the blades and a knife to a rear window of the jail where her husband and the two other men were located. MRS. WEATHERLY BEGAN fleeing when she was called to by Baugh and Chief Deputy Jim Hendrich, but was later captured.
damage healthy tissue, what would be its effects on unhealthy tissue. Early experiment proved that a tumor treated by radiation became smaller and pain of the victim was relieved. The problem has been how to balance the risks against the benefits, the speaker said. WHILE THE WEARING OF watches Col. 3, back page, this section
an organization that has been around for awhile, that they still have to go door-to-door and worry about if we’ll be able to put our ambulances up. “This isn’t the type of service that should be standing in line hoping someone will be generous,” he concluded. “I’M WONDERING ABOUT the financing,” Irwin said, “and whether we could commit ourselves (past each commissioner’s term of office).” But OL Director Gary Boswell said OL’s attorney, Stephen Pierson, advised that the county commissioners could obligate the contract for a longer term. Irwin said he wondered if the county would be put in the position of being an endorser of notes, comparing the similar situation of the construction of the new Putnam County Hospital. “THE COUNTY IS paying into a fund to see that the hospital payments are made,” Irwin said. “The money is there in a fund in case the hospital doesn’t have enough funds. I believe the county may have to guarantee payments. ’ ’
produced permission to transfer $170,252 from the cumulative building fund. Approved more or less as a last resort for meeting financial obligations through Dec. 31, the transfer also means the corporation cannot expect state budget assistance in 1982. Hammond said Wednesday the transfer of money will leave a balance of $95,627 in the cumulative building fund. In addition to financing new construction or remodeling, cumulative building fund money frequently is used for maintenance and repair of existing buildings. The $170,252 transfer will solve the corporation’s financial plight for the remainder of the current year, but it was only half of the action taken by the School Property Tax Control Board. South Putnam also was ordered to cut an additional $62,951 from its 1982 budget. WHERE THOSE CUTS will be made is
Only 200 of 600 SIOO chances sold so far on Limedale grocery store
By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher Ticket sales are lagging, but members of the Washington Twp. Volunteer Fire Department still are hoping their raffle of a Limedale grocery store will produce funds for badly needed fire-fighting equipment. Everything hinges on a final-week surge in the sale of SIOO chances on Johnson’s Grocery and Texaco. Approximately 200 of the 600 tickets have been sold. "TICKETS HAVEN’T BEEN selling as we had hoped, but we’re still emphasizing the importance of the equipment the department needs,” fire chief Rick Hassler said Thursday. “We’re going to have someone with tickets at the store from 1 to 3 p.m. next Tuesday and, hopefully, there will be a good turnout.” Hassler said the fire department is sticking with its original ticket sale deadline of Oct. 30. If all tickets are sold by that time, a specific date for drawing the winning name will be set; if not, all money will be returned. The Washington Twp. firefighters have been promoting the raffle in cooperation with the grocery’s owner, Ken Johnson. If all 600 tickets are sold, Johnson will collect $50,000 for his business, the department will clear SIO,OOO and some lucky winner will acquire a fullystocked grocery store for SIOO. THE VOLUNTEER firefighters, whose station is located adjacent to Reelsville Elementary School south of U.S. 40, initiated the raffle project as a means of earning enough money to buy a four-wheel-drive “assault" truck. As explained previously by Hassler, the vehicle would be used as a means of responding quickly in
“I guess that would be a possible situation,” Larkin commented. But OL Board treasurer and accountant David Bray said that is not the case. “I’ve talked to a number of local banks and none of the people I talked to mentioned the fact that the county would have to endorse a note. We (OL) would have the buiiding for a mortgage and a 99-year lease on the property.” "AT SOME POINT IN time,” Larkin remarked, “this corporation will be selfsubstantial. But right now, we are nurturing off of the county. ” “If the county was to propose that they would stand to see that the building would be paid for, could OL get the money and build the building?” Irwin asked. “That’s a speculation,” Larkin responded. “Most of the banks say unless we get a greater commitment from the county, we don’t want to talk about it. I understand that viewpoint,” he said, adding no one would be inclined to make an investment on any given situation if there was no Col. 3, back page, this section
the next critical series of decisions facing the school board. Hammond reported some smaller cuts, including a reduction in custodial hours, are about to take effect. However, he told the board Wednesday some cuts would have to be discussed with the South Putnam Classroom Teachers Association, an apparent reference to a possible reduction in the teaching force. South Putnam has functioned as a “controlled” school corporation in recent years because its incoming revenues have not offset expenses. That status, which dictates fiscal scrutiny by the School Property Tax Control Board, will continue through 1982, but will be lifted if the corporation can remain within its budget throughout the year. The school board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 at the administration building.
situations where use of the department’s pumper might require more time. Weight limits on many Washington Twp. bridges prohibit crossing by the pumper, Hassler said, a situation that requires extra time if an alternate route must be taken. The lighter-weight truck would allow quicker response and the four-wheel-drive capability would facilitate fighting of brush fires. The department is responsible for responding to calls in a 52-square-mile area, Hassler noted, and frequently is called upon to assist nearby communities. FOR THE PRESENT, acquisition of the assault truck depends on the success of the raffle project. The bottom line is that 400 tickets must be sold during the coming week. The Limedale grocery, situated on the Manhattan Road a mile south of Greencastle, occupies nearly onehalf acre and includes a 1,590-square-foot main building and a onecar garage used for storage. In addition to a minimum inventory of $5,000 in groceries and miscellaneous items, the store includes several pieces of operating equipment. The list includes a refrigerator, milk cooler, ice cream freezer, meat cooler, meat sheer and display cases All tickets are labeled as donations to the fire department The winner does not have to be present at the drawing, but will be required to surrender the winning ticket. A CLEAR TITLE TO THE proper ty will be provided to the winner. Tickets will be available for sale at the store next Tuesday afternoon or may be obtained through members of the fire department