Banner Graphic, Volume 12, Number 85, Greencastle, Putnam County, 16 December 1981 — Page 1

Civil Defense to be headed by sheriff's dept.?

By BECKY 100 B? ,ner-Graphic Area News Editor Putnam County’s Civil Defense program may operate in connection with the county sheriff’s department, or so it was indicated during a Tuesday afternoon meeting of the Putnam County Council at the courthouse. Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Hendrich said he was contacted by county commissioner Don Walton to possibly head such an effort. DURING EARLIER 1982 budget considerations, Council members declined to allow the requested $7,420 to fund the program, unless its worth could be justified by new director Gordon Hanks, Bainbridge. “I was contacted about some way of using the reserves and about taking over as director of Civil Defense,” Hendrich told the Council. “I don’t know what the Council is looking for in a director.” The chief deputy did say the sheriff’s department was trying to determine how to better use reserves, and such a suggestion, may be the answer. “It seems like there is a better way to use the reserves we have and the Civil Defense people. I would be willing to work on such a program, if the Council feels the program would work in Putnam County. “I THINK THERE IS good reason for us to use Civil Defense in Putnam County. Other counties, like Clay, go through the sheriff’s department. It’s more or less a joint-run affair.” Hendrich said such combined efforts have branched off into people specializing in emergency aid, such as a search-rescue team. “All of these functions are earmarked through the jail,” he pointed out. “I think we could have a system like this in the county. Right now, the sheriff’s department doesn’t have the manpower to do something like this. Civil Defense has those people.” CONCLUDING HIS COMMENTS, Hen drich said, “I think this could be looked at, but you either have to have a purpose or goal in mind, or scrap it. If you don’t have any aim or direction, you might as well throw it to the wind.” County Council president Gene Clodfelter later acknowledged a letter written

Poor 'optimistic' about rich Playhouse plan

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor More than 50,000 people have seen local theater presentations during the 20-year history of Putnam County Playhouse, James Poor, Playhouse president, told members of Greencastle’s Optimist Club Tuesday noon at Windy Hill Country Club. THE SHOWS HAVE averaged 235 participants and each year many new people have become involved. A number of those who have been introduced to theater through Playhouse productions have made

The lowdown Variable cloudiness and cold. High in the mid to upper 20s. Occasional light snow likely through Thursday. Low overnight in the upper teens. High Thursday in the mid 20s. Indiana Extended Forecast Generally dry Friday through Sunday. Icy cold Friday. Gradual warming toward Sunday. Lows Friday in the single digits then warming into the upper teens and mid 20s by Sunday. Highs in the upper teens and mid 20s warming into the mid 30s and upper 40s by Sunday. Abby A 5 Bridge B 6 Calendar A 4 Classifieds 86.87 Comics A 7 Crossword B 6 Heloise A 4 Horoscope B 7 House Call B 6 Obituaries AS People A 6 Sports 81,82,83,84,85 Supermarket Shopper AS TV A 7 Worry Clinic B 6

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Wednesday, December 16, 1981, Vol. 12 No. 85 20 Cents

to the Council from Hanks. The CD director, appointed by the commissioners, wrote he would coordinate the organization's efforts with all fire departments, town marshals, city and state officers and ham radio owners in the county. But, as Clodfelter pointed out, there was no indication how he would go about coordinating the efforts, or no details of projected funds. “I DON’T HAVE ANY different feelings than what we’ve done,” Councilman Norman Knights said, referring to the board’s earlier vote not to fqnd the program. “If you want, I will submit a proposal to the Council,” Hendrich responded. Agreeing with Knights’ previous statement, Councilman Jack Waldron noted he would also be inclined not to provide funding because CD “should justify its continued existence.” KNIGHTS ADDED, “The Council did take action by not funding the program. I don’t think we can provide for every conceivable emergency that would happen in the county. In this nation, we’re going to have to start realizing that we simply can’t afford to do it.” Clodfelter also related, “I think it could be a valuable process, but we haven’t seen anything come from it yet.” After considerations, Hendrich was advised to begin drafting a new program, to take the suggestion to the commissioners and bring the matter back before the Council at_a later date IN OTHER ACTION, the Council gave approval for 42 transfers divided among the following offices, each totaling: Auditor--$322.60; eourthouse-$1,388.40; commissioners-$1,376.50; treasurer--$39.20; county home-$436.66, and county agent~s3,4Bo. Also, Circuit Court~s3oo; County Court ~ $314.42; prosecuting attorney-$235.40; jai1—52,791.64; sheriff’s department--$3,112.64; county highway--$170; and clerk’s office-sl,ooo. Finally, the Council voted to amend the 1981 salaries of the sheriff’s department salaries to comply with the STEP program. HENDRICH INFORMED the Council that each deputy taking part in the STEP Col. 3, back page, this section

this area their vocations, Poor said. One of the interests which has developed during Playhouse activities has been childrens’ theater with one production in which around 100 kids had opportunities to appear on stage, Poor noted. The Putnam County Playhouse meets the entertainment needs of people from Putnam and surrounding counties and the cost is but a fraction of what live theater would cost in metropolitan centers, Poor said. “Participants are people you know and

Putnam Patter

Central heat means stone cold

By DAVID BARR t Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor Central heating of today is not the first newfangled way to keep warm. One room country schools had it long before thermostats replaced coal buckets. At one of the schools I attended, the stove was in the exact middle of the room, and you can’t get any more central than that. CONFORMING TO THE times, the heater had to be the pot-bellied model, probably because it was cheaper than parlor type stoves which were considered too highfalutin for tax-supported institutions. Primitive as the stove was, it came with three temperature settings -- stone cold, just about right and hotter than a haymow in mid-July. Before the township trustee hired a young lady teacher, he assumed she was not only smart in book learnin’, but that she also knew how to build a fire and keep it going. WHILE THERE WASN’T anything in her contract indicating extra pay for janitorial services, the gal knew by in-

If Kent Jones (right) is going to be an AllPutnam County quarterback some day, he’s going to have to learn to handle the snap better than he did from Les Adams in a touch football contest.

Last stop, Vigo County Jail

Minnick on the move once again

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor William Arthur Minnick was at the Clay County Jail just over an hour, Tuesday before being transferred again to the Vigo County Jail, where he will reportedly stay until his trial at Clay Circuit Court, Brazil. THE RELOCATION CAME soon after Clay County Sheriff Wayne Lucas petitioned that county’s Circuit Court, reasoning the Brazil jail had neither the personnel nor facilities to handle what the sheriff termed a “very desperate” prisoner. “He (Minnick) arrived at our jail at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday,” Lucas recalled during a phone conversation Wednesday morning. “Our judge (Clay Circuit Judge Ernest Yelton) called me and said we would have

this makes productions more interesting and more fun,” Poor said. CITING INCREASING COST of rental facilities for Playhouse productions, Poor told Optimists of plans to renovate a barn, a conditional gift of Mrs. Hazel Longden. The stipulation is that the building must be finished for use by the end of 1983, otherwise it will revert to the owner. Last summer, productions were held outdoors at this site. When the building is renovated, productions will be held in the loft portion of the barn with possibly out-

tuition that she was expected to get the fire going each morning and heave in the coal at needed intervals. She was also expected to know how to “bank” a fire at evening to assure there would be enough live coals the next morning to rekindle an instant blaze. There were times, however, when her best efforts at keeping continuous fire were in vain. Sometimes a shift of wind or other unanticipated conditions caused the smoldering fire to come to life and burn itself to extinction. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, the stove Would be at its stone cold setting, and the room was but a few degrees above that of outdoors when her bundled-up pupils began arriving. Out of compassion and perhaps because she was still dressed for chill conditions, she allowed her kids to stay bundled-up until the stove put out enough heat to start classes. After pupils shed their wraps, she might allow them to run a few laps around the room to keep warm. It all went well, the stove would eventually reach its just about right setting but not for everybody. To understand why

Brent Long (left) provides the defense as the Roachdale youngsters quench their .football appetites once more before the snow and snowballs

to house Minnick overnight, before we would give him to Vigo County. “BUT WE DON’T HAVE the 24-hour supervision here,” Lucas said. “That’s why I went ahead and petitioned the court.” The petition pointed out Minnick had escaped earlier from the Putnam County Jail, a Dec. 6 incident which has seen the suspect charged with counts of escape and battery, in addition to murder charges previously filed. Also, Lucas noted, the Clay County Jail does not have a sufficient number of jail personnel to provide 24-hour supervision, cell dimensions are inadequate as required by state statute and there is no audio monitoring device for Cell Area 2, the top security location where Minnick

door facilities as well. Renovation costs have been set at $75,000 and Susan Crosby is funds campaign coordinator. Cash, pledges or work are solicited and currently $13,485 has been raised. NOTING THAT THE GOAL of raising $75,000 is an ambitious one. Poor said that groups and individuals are challenged to help Putnam County Playhouse realize its dream of a theater of its own. Currently only four or five theater groups in the state have their own facilities.

not, you need to picture the room arrangement. WITH THE STOVE SMACK dab in the middle of the room, the rows of seats were, naturally, on both sides of it. This meant that seats for first graders started at one wall, and those for eighth graders were on the opposite wall. So it doesn’t take much imagination for you to figure out that just right heat couldn’t be the same for everybody. When those in rows near the stove became comfortable, those on the perimeter of the room were still shaking with cold. To get heat out to the suffering, the stove coritrol had to reach its third setting, hotter than a'hflymQW in mid-July. At this temperature point, those who had been enjoying things as they were realized what a baked potato must go through. I WELL REMEMBER what it felt like to be slowly cooked as I sat not many feet from the red-glowing stove. As proof that my imagination wasn’t working overtime, may I point out that on one or more occasions my crayons in the desk melted and were fused together.

was to be housed. WITH YELTON SERVING AS special judge in Sullivan County, the petition was introduced and approved by special judge Paulette Staggs. “We got rid of him (Minnick) around 11:09 a.m. (Tuesday),” Lucas said, adding Clay County sheriff’s deputies handled the transfer to Vigo County. Lucas, who has been highly critical of the condition of Clay County’s Jail, said the 18-year-old suspect was a “highsecurity risk.” “YOU HAVE A MAN here with nothing to lose,” the Clay County sheriff commented. “He’s very desperate.” Lucas also expressed concern because the cell in which Minnick was to be held at Brazil, has the indentical door which the

Myers'annual poll shows 'deep concern'

More than 25,000 residents of the Seventh Congressional District responded to Rep. John Myers’ annual poll containing 12 questions covering major issues facing the 97 th Congress. “The results of the poll as well as the additional letters and comments sent to my office show deep concern for America’s domestic economy as well as a great deal of interest on the international front,” Myers commented. IN RECENT MONTHS, the attention of the American people has been focused on reductions in federal spending and the results of the 1981 questionnaire show that Hoosiers support spending cuts. Here are the results of the survey with recent congressional action and Congressman Myers’ thoughts on those issues: ** Should some work be required of those who need food stamps but are unable to pay any part of the cost? 92 per cent responded yes. 8 per cent responded no. “The joint House-Senate Conference on the farm bill has adopted language which establishes a nationwide workfare program.” ** Do you favor a substantial increase in defense spending? 68 per cent responded yes. 32 per cent responded no. “The Congress has proposed the largest defense budget in history. We must rebuild our defense capabilities in order to deter the

start to fly. For a look at those gridders who have earned All-Putnam County honors, turn to Page B 1 today. (Banner-Graphic photo by Bob Frazier).

prisoner broke out of at Putnam County. Arriving at the Vigo County Jail just before noon, Chief Deputy Tom Roberts told the Banner-Graphic Wednesday morning no special provisions were made. “OUR JAIL IS A MAXIMUM security jail anyway,” Roberts remarked. “I don’t believe there was anything special done. We know the problem they’ve got and we know the circumstances, but there is no special care. We have the same sort of people in here all the time." According to another jail spokesman, Minnick is being housed in a populated cell block with other prisoners. Minnick, 1011 Avenue F, Greencastle, will face a Clay Circuit Court jury for charges of murder, robbery and unlawful Coi. 3, back page, this section

Soviet Union’s international mischief.” ** “Do you feel the U.S. should resist leftist trends in Central America by aiding friendly, pro-American governments and denying help to Marxist and anti-American groups? 86 per cent responded yes. 14 per cent responded no. “President Reagan has halted all aid to the Marxist controlled government of Nicaragua. Continued cooperation with other Central American nations is designed to resist Communist aggression, while promoting peace and justice.” ** In general, do you support the Reagan Administration’s Economic Recovery Plan? 84 per cent yes. 16 per cent no. “I voted for President Reagan’s Economic Recovery Plan which includes federal budget reductions and the tax cut.” ** Do you favor discontinuing federal tax-supported legal help available through the Legal Services Corporation? 65 per cent responded yes. 35 per cent responded no. “I voted to cut funding for LSC: legal aid for the poor should be provided by block grants to the states,” Myers said. “Next week, we will discuss the six other questions on the poll concerning the neutron bomb, coal, tuition tax credits, AWACS sale. Social Security and import quotas."