Banner Graphic, Volume 12, Number 77, Greencastle, Putnam County, 7 December 1981 — Page 1

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BILL MINNICK: Reacts to presence of photographer

Delegate Farber impressed with Aging Conference's concerns

Editor's note: Dr. Robert Farber, retired vice president and dean of DePauw University, provided the following firsthand report on last week’s White House Conference on Aging. By Dr. ROBERT H. FARBER The White House Conference on Aging was held in Washington D.C. Nov. 29-Dec. 3 and I was fortunate to be selected as a delegate by Sen. Dan Quayle. THERE WERE SOME 2,200 delegates selected by the governor of each state based on population, one each from members of Congress, and an additional group selected by the Office of Health and Human Services. In addition, there was a group of observers, so the total number of participants was quite large. The group consisted of a cress section of our population, representing every state, age group, race and minority status. The conference was authorized by Congress in 1978 for the purpose of “arriving at facts and recommendations concerning...the improvement of the conditions of older individuals in our society.” The conference followed numerous hearings and conferences which were held in state and regional areas to make recommendations for consideration. A similar conference was held in 1961 and again in 1971. They resulted in very significant legislation-strengthening Social Security, establishing Medicare and Medicaid and in the enactment of the

It's a breeze Partly cloudy and breezy overnight. Low around 40. Mostly cloudy breezy and colder Tuesday. Temperatures near steady around 40. Indiana Extended Forecast Little or no precipitation Wednesday through Friday. Lows ranging from the mid 20s to the lower 30s Wednesday. Highs in the mid 30s to lower 40s. Lows Thursday in the mid teens to the lower 20s Thursday and Friday. Highs in the 30s to the lower 40s. Abby A 4 Bridge A 8 Calendar A 4 Classified A 9 Comics A 5 Crossword A 9 Heloise A 4 Horoscope A 9 House Call AS Obituaries AlO People AS Sports A6,A7 TV A 5 Worry Clinic A 8

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Monday, December 7, 1981, Vol. 12 No. 77 20 Cents

ROBERTFARBER Delegate to Conference on Aging

Older American Act which provided a number of important services for senior citizens. It will be at least two or three years before the results of this conference can be evaluated. The 14 committees made a number of recommendationsseveral hundred of them. They will be published and sent to the President and members of Congress. What legislation will be proposed and passed remains to be seen. MY OWN OPINION IS that our nation

Playhouse enthused by community support of fund-raising efforts

Putnam County Playhouse officials are ethused about the way the public has supported the early stages of its campaign to raise $75,000 for the remodeling of the old Longden barn into a permanent home for the amateur group. THE PUTNAM COUNTY Playhouse Fund Raising Committee has heard the first progress reports on local efforts, and the results are encouraging, members said. Initial contacts have been 90 per cent successful, with $8,900 having been collected in pledges by the first reporting meeting. Of those people contacted, 90 per cent have provided support. In-kind donations of plumbing work and materials, concrete and construction help have been pledged by A.A. Huber and Sons, Lone Star Industries and Don Walton Construction, respectively. More details on their contributions will be announced later.

Minnick recaptured after bolting jail, wrecking car

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor In less than two hours after being returned to Putnam County from another penal facility, murder suspect William Arthur Minnick, 18, Greencastle, escaped Sunday from the Putnam County Jail. MINNICK WAS RETURNED at noon Sunday from the Indiana State Reformatory at Pendleton where he was held for safe keeping until his scheduled Monday morning appearance in Putnam Circuit Court. Minnick faces charges of murder, robbery and unlawful deviate sexual conduct in the Oct. 26 slaying of Martha Payne, 24, 9S. Locust St., Greencastle. It remains unclear how Minnick broke out of the county jail, although jail employee David Costin reported it was a “faulty cell door.” ONE POLICE OFFICIAL remarked Monday that the escape occurred when Minnick allegedly used a Bible located inside the cell to unlatch the cell door. After escaping, Minnick reportedly walked a mile to his mother and stepfather’s home at 1011 Avenue F, Greencastle. Police said his mother, Wanda Rogers, was at home at the time her son arrived. Mrs. Rogers told police her son took the family station wagon. Putnamville State Trooper Wiley Mimms said he was patrolling the Belle Union area when the dispatch of the escape was released on the police radio just after 2 p.m.Sunday. “I WAS ON THE EAST side of Belle

must recognize that we are undergoing a dramatic demographic revolution. The program notes the following: “During th> ? century average life expectancy has increased by 25 years. In 1900 only one American in 25 was 65 or older. Now it is one in nine. And that proportion may rise to nearly one in five by the time today’s young adults reach what in recent decades has been considered “retirement age.” Of course, a major concern of the delegates was the maintenance of Social Security and its integrity and soundness. The controversy, which was well noted by the media, was based on this issue and related issues of voting rules and selection of delegates. Fortunately, the threatened “walk-out” of some delegates did not occur and in the American tradition a compromise resolution on Social Security was adopted. President Reagan pledged to the conference that Social Security would be maintained and methods of financing would be worked out by the 15-member committee which will be appointed shortly. Speakers at the conference included President Reagan, Vice President Bush, Secretary Schweiker of Health and Human Sevices, Sen. Heinz and Rep. Pepper who are chairmen of the Committees on Aging in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. THERE WERE 14 committees and most Col. 3, back page, this section

Meanwhile, Playhouse representatives note that it will take a long time to contact everyone in the area. Those who would like to contribute to the effort may call Jim Poor at 653-9756 in Greencastle, or Susan Crosby at 596-9171 in Roachdale. Those in the Cloverdale area may contact Robert Hedge at 795-4082, while Bainbridge area residents may call Linda Gjesvold at 7396304. PUTNAM COUNTY Playhouse this past summer moved to the donated property on the Longden farm on Round Barn Road in Greencastle, thanks to a conditional gift from Mrs. Hazel Day Longden. The land will become the permanent home of the Playhouse if it can raise the necessary funds to convert the larger of two barns into a theater. Last season’s performances were all under the stars at the eastside location, a situation expected to be duplicated again this summer.

Jurors quizzed at hearing

By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher Twelve jurors were summoned to serve in an “advisory capacity” Monday in Putnam Circuit Court as attorneys for William Minnick sought to have his murder trial moved out of Putnam County. Minnick, 18, is charged with murder, deviate criminal conduct and robbery in the Oct. 26 slaying of Martha Payne, 24, in Greencastle. A plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was filed Nov. 30. TERRE HAUTE ATTORNEY Woodrow S. Nasser entered an appearance for Minnick Monday. Nasser reportedly has been retained by Minnick’s family and is expected to succeed court-appointed attorney Stephen Pierson as defense counsel. Pierson also was in court to represent Minnick Monday. Judge William C. Vaughn called the 12 prospective jurors in an effort to determine what level of prejudice exists in Putnam County that would preclude having the trial here. Nasser and

Union when I drove to County Roads 600 south and 550 east,” Mimms recalled Monday morning. “That’s when I observed a white vehicle heading southbound on a Belle Union Road.” Mimms gave chase, covering a five-to-six-mile trek of Putnam County roads, reaching speeds of 90 m.p.h. at one point, the trooper said. The chase lasted approximately 15 minutes, he added. Joining the chase was State Police Investigator Jack Hanlon who attempted to

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The Christmas season was officially ushered in Saturday afternoon at Cloverdale as Santa Claus arrived atop a shiny fire truck. Setting up shop at his temporary house on Main Street-as supplied by members of the Cloverdale Business Association-St. Nick proceeded to greet scores of local youngsters. Robert (left) and Stacy Stallcop were even able to double team the Jolly Old Soul as they read their Christmas lists for their ample-lapped companion. (Banner-Graphic photos by Tracy Proctor).

Gibbs wins two HSPA awards

Banner-Graphic Publisher Larry Gibbs won two awards Saturday in statewide writing competition sponsored by the Hoosier State Press Association. GIBBS, PLACED second in the “Distinguished Editorial Writing” category, duplicating an award he won a year ago. This year’s award was for a commentary he wrote which criticized the increasing

block a section of road with his patrol car, but Minnick averted the blockade. “When he (Hanlon) tried to block the road, Minnick drove around on the right side,” Mimms reported. “MINNICK LOST CONTROL of the vehicle on the right side, then on the left side of the road. As we went through a curve, I tried to pass him on the left. That’s when he hit my car on the left front door.” Earlier reports indicated Minnick had obtained a small knife during his escape.

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amount of time the Indiana General Assembly is spending in Indianapolis. He also received a third place in the “Best Column" category for a column he wrote entitled “Concerns about kindergarten, loose shoestrings. Written last summer, the column depicted the pre-school concerns of a five-year-old.

Pierson questioned 11 of the 12 jurors extensively during a twohour morning session and the final member was to be interviewed after an adjournment for lunch. Some jurors said they would have difficulty viewing the case with absolute impartiality, while others said they believed they could serve without forming a prior opinion. Asked by Nasser and Pierson what their viewpoint would be if they were in Minnick’s position, most said they would prefer to see the trial moved to another county. AFTER AN HOUR OF questioning Monday morning, Vaughn interrupted the interviews to remind the 12 jurors that they were not being questioned for actual jury selection. Rather, he said, their responses were designed only to determine whether or not another impartial jury could be impaneled. Minnick’s trial date has been set for Jan. 25, but few court observers believe it will actually begin on that date. Related Col. 5, back page, this section

“When we searched Minnick, he stated he had a knife on him, but I didn’t see it personally,” the trooper commented. “Hanlon took it from him. I think he said it was a small pen knife.” The 1968 Ford white and brown station wagon used by Minnick in his escape is registered to Glenn Rogers, 1011 Avenue F, Greencastle, the suspect s stepfather. ESCAPE CHARGES ARE to be filed in Putnam Circuit Court, authorities said.

The two awards were given in competition among dailynewspapers having circulations of 16,000 or less. In all, 50 plaques were presented during a luncheon at the Indiana Convention-Exposition Center in Indianapolis. THE 1981 CONTEST drew a record 1,850 entries from 88 Hoosier newspapers.