Banner Graphic, Volume 12, Number 90, Greencastle, Putnam County, 22 December 1981 — Page 1

Commissioners make appointments

Bridge bids,'B2 OL pact finalized

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor End-of-the-year business dominated Monday’s meeting of the Putnam County Commissioners, a session which included bridge bid lettings, the signing of OL’s contract, the establishment of courthouse holidays and appointments to various county boards. It was believed to be the most spirited bridge bidding competition in several months with the lettings of Bridge 125, over Big Walnut Creek on County Road 550 south, and Bridge 37, over North Ramp Creek on County Road 1,000 north. EIGHT BIDDERS VIED for work on Bridge 125 with bids ranging from a low proposal of $63,680 to a high of $129,207. The engineer’s estimate was listed at $111,168. After taking the bids under advisement, the board awarded the work to Huber Construction who submitted the low bid of $63,680 18. Six firms competed for work on Bridge 37. Proposals again ranged from a low of $59,846 to a high of $79,810. The engineer’s estimate was $95,682. AGAIN, AFTER TAKING the bids under advisement, the commissioners awarded the work to J.T. Liles Inc. with the low bid of $59,846.50. With probably the smoothest contract signing in recent years, the board put the ink to the county’s contract with the Operation Life ambulance service. Before the agreement was confirmed, OL Director Gary Boswell pointed out changes in the contract included listing the county’s funding of $90,000 (approved earlier by the commissioners and County Council), removed the clause requiring an annual audit of OL, deleted the paragraph from last year’s pact asking the county

First the fog, then more snow

From Staff, Wire Dispatches Dense fog today was added to the growing list of weather problems confronting Indiana motorists in the first week of winter. The National Weather Service issued a travelers advisory for the entire state until mid-morning as fog combined with wet, slushy roadways to make rush hour driving hazardous. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for west central and northern Indiana tonight. Late Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service predicted that the area that could be victimized by “heavy!’ snow Tuesday night is likely to be northwest of line from Crawfordsville to Fort Wayne. The remainder of that state is expected to experience rain, changing to snow overnight. However, before Putnam County residents breathe a sigh of relief over being south of the expected heavy snow area, they should remember that we were also not included in the portion of the state originally anticipated to receive snowfall in either of the two previous storms in the last five days. Southwest winds today were expected raise afternoon temperatures to the mid 30s, allowing precipitation that will move into central and northern Indiana today to fall as rain, the weather service said. A low pressure system will move through northern Kentucky and southern Indiana tonight. As this low approaches, the winds will become northerly. This will cause the temperatures to fall and the rain to change to snow. Forecasters said early today that the heaviest snow would fall in west central and northern Indiana. They predicted more, possibly heavy, snow for northern Indiana by tonight with rain in central and southern Indiana turning to snow late tonight. All roads and interstate highways in Indiana were reported slick and slushy early today.

Keep your eyes on the skies

Winter storm watch for overnight. Rain changing to snow. Some snow possibly may be heavy. Low in the mid to upper 20s. Snow tapering off to flurries on Wednesday. Temperature continuing to fall to the low 20s by afternoon. Chance for measurable precipitation is 90 per cent overnight, then decreasing to 30 per cent. Indiana Extended Forecast Thursday through Saturday will be a dry period with temperatures slowly warming to near normal.

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Tuesday, December 22, 1981, Vol. 12 No. 90 20 Cents

Bridge 160 back in use Bridge 160, located over Big Walnut Creek on County Road 850 south has been reopened to traffic, according to Putnam County Highway Department personnel. The bridge, recently repaired, is located in Washington Township.

purchase a new ambulance and updated the duration of the agreement. TWELVE HOLIDAYS WERE approved by the board for county employees to observe in 1982. They include: New Year’s - Jan. 1; election day - May 4; Memorial Day -- May 31; Independence Day - July 5; Labor Day - Sept. 6; Columbus Day -- Oct. 11; election day -- Nov. 2; Veterans’ Day -- Nov. 11; Thanksgiving - Nov. 25; Christmas - Dec. 24; and New Year’s Eve - Dec. 31. Appointments to county boards were announced as follows: Alcoholic Beverage Commission - Fay Scott; Plan Commission - Roland Cushman and Jerry Masten; Airport Board - Paul Myers; Health Board -- Dr. Richard Veach and Dr. Don Brattain; and Cemetery Commission - - Henry Osborn. Also, Hospital Board - postponed; Veterans’ Affairs - Bruce Albright; Highway Superintendent - Buck Malayer; and County Home Superintendent - Melvin Shinn. All courthouse custodial and elevator operator personnel were also reinstated. IN OTHER BUSINESS, Bob Roach,

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FRIGHTFUL NIGHT: Monday was bad news; Wednesday morning could be, too

Three Fort Wayne residents died in a weather-related accident Monday as the second winter storm in less than a week brought up to four inches of snow to central and northern Indiana and coated southern Indiana with ice on the first day of winter. Police said a two-car crash on U.S. 33 in Allen County killed Norma J. Falk, 55; her husband, Paul, 61, and a passenger, Katherine Young, 78. They said the car driven by Mrs. Falk slid on the icy pavement, crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle. A jet slipped off a taxiway at In-

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Cloverdale Township, appeared before the board to discuss-needed attention to County Road 100 south. Representing residents in the area and reading from a prepared text, Roach told the board, “As taxpayers and citizens of the county, we would like to see something for our money. Taxes have doubled and we feel it is a waste of our money to see grading and the spreading of rock on the road. “Part of the road has been blacktopped,” Roach continued, “and we all feel the county should have the balance of the road blacktopped. We’ve heard a lot of promises and nothing has been done. The county is doing a good job as far as grading, but this is not the solution.” Commission President Don Walton pointed out his intention is to see the road chipped and sealed, following necessary ditching. He also noted taxpayers’ property tax monies do not go for road repair. Rather, these funds are furnished from gas tax money and excise tax money from license plate fees. IN AGREEMENT, Commissioner Elbert Irwin said, “It’s the traffic on the road that furnishes money for repairs. All that money comes from the gas tax. The more people that travel on the road, the more money is produced and that is the road that wears out the quickest.” Walton said Putnam County’s lowpopulation reduces opportunities for road repair revenue. “Our revenue sharing money also goes for roads,” he noted. “Hendricks County gets two times as much money as we do, even though we each have 900 miles of county roads. That is due to their population.” Walton concluded by saying as soon as monies are available, the road will receive attention. THERE WAS LITTLE discussion of the

dianapolis International Airport and became mired in the snow and ice Monday afternoon. No injuries were reported aboard the American Airlines Boeing 727 which had landed safely from Dallas and turned off a runway onto the taxiway where it became stuck, officials said. Passengers were bused to the terminal while workers tried to free the airline. Most schools and some businesses closed Monday in southern Indiana as the ice storm hit before daylight. Area police agencies reported an above average num-

Don't help make burglar's Christmas merry this year

One of the best ways to invite a burglar into your home during the Christmas season is to leave your doors unlocked. While the holidays are a time of partyplanning and gift-giving, burglars know they are a time when many people spend long hours away from home. PUTNAM COUNTY authorities urge all persons to take the extra time and make their homes as burglar-proof as possible. Nothing can make a home completely safe, but a few extra steps can make things difficult for the burglar. For instance, authorities say, nothing makes a burglar’s work easier than an open or unlocked garage door.

proposal for the Putnam County Sheriff's Department to take over the operation of Civil Defense for the county. Commissioners Irwin and Jim Malayer did voice opinions they would rather not see the organization function through that department. All did agree to wait for Chief Deputy Jim Hendrich to prepare such a proposal and present the same at a later meeting. In other business, the board: ♦Accepted bids from Correlated Inc. and Certified Laboratories for liquid calcium. ♦HEARD A SUGGESTION from insurance representative Gary Hanlon to consider an umbrella policy for the county which would offer liability protection up to $5 million. The premium would be $4,900, Hanlon said. ♦Acknowledged federal aid funds had been approved for Bridge 190, the old Parker Covered Bridge over Mill Creek near Belle Union. The state is expected to let bids for its replacement in January. ♦Agreed to let Communications Maintenance, Greencastle, repair county highway radios. ♦TOOK UNDER ADVISEMENT a $9,775 bill from Beam, Longest and Neff concerning costs related to Bridge 137. ♦Voted to return performance bonds relating to the Sharon Hills and Ivanwald subdivisions. ♦Reinstated Pat Sager and Wilma Davis as secretaries at the county highway department. ♦HEARD THAT WALTON has been appointed by Circuit Court Judge William C. Vaughn to serve on the Putnam County Hospital Building Association, a board designed to police financial operations of county hospitals.

ber of traffic mishaps. Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Co. said one power line fell because of the ice in northwest Vanderburgh County. By mid-morning, the ice began to melt and roads turned to slush. The precipitation Monday was produced by high pressure over the southeastern states and low pressure in the southern plains. Together, they pushed moist air from the Gulf of Mexico across Indiana. The moist air was moving across a dome of cold air and producing the mixed bag of winter weather.

The following tips are offered for a happier holiday: ♦CHECK THE IDENTIFICATION of any unknown person before allowing them into your home. More than one thief has “cased” a house for a break-in later on by pretending to collect for a worthwhile cause or to deliver packages. ♦Arrange for a neighbor to collect Christmas cards and other mail if you plan to be out of town during the holiday season. ♦Lock your home and garage while going shopping, even if you will be away for only a short period. ♦When shopping, lock purchases in the trunk, or put them out of sight if left in the

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SORTING SORT: Kenny Rader endures Christmas rush

Despite the holiday and bad weather, postmen staying far ahead locally

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor They say neither rain, nor sleet nor even that white stuff will keep a courier from his appointed rounds. That adage was definitely put to the test this week as post office personnel showed how adept they’ve become at driving or walking through 8-10 inches of snow. IN GREENCASTLE, Postmaster John Bergen said this holiday season the postman will not have to ring twice to insure those Chrismtas cards and letters keep coming in. The reason? Early mailings by city residents. In fact, Tuesday morning’s visit to the otherwise bustling mailroom showed a lull in activity. “Our busiest times are always really early in the mornings,” Bergen explained. “That’s when the couriers are getting ready to go out on the routes.” EVEN POSTAL CLERK Jim Allen’s post at the main lobby window was minus the usual long lines for stamps and other necessities. “All last week was really very good,” Bergen said of the height of Christmas mailings in the city. “Even with the weather conditions we’ve been having, it did peak like you’d think it would. “The weather did put off some people mailing and that did cause some highs and lows more than you’d normally have. With the weather problems, we have had some delivery problems.” BUT THOSE DELIVERY problems are few, the postmaster pointed out. “I’ve been checking some of the mail

car. SUGGESTIONS FOR SECURING your home while you are away include: ♦Automatic garage door openers, not only convenient on cold winter nights, are effective security devices. ♦Cane bolts made of steel should be placed on both edges of the garage door so that they cannot be pulled back to one side to allow a forced entry. PADLOCKS, IF USED, should have the following features: --A heel-and-toe locking mechanism. -A five-pin tumbler. --A lock that must be closed before the key can be removed.

and things are getting to where they’re going like a week out of Florida or a week out of California. Everything is running pretty smooth. There are no backlogs and the mail is not taking longer than it normally does. “The mail last week was steady all week long,” Bergen added. “There were an awful lot of parcels.” The postmaster said the recent increase to 20 cent stamps may have caused a slight decline in mailings, but it was really not anything noticeable. “I’M SURE THE VOLUME is probably down some...about like it is in Indianapolis. It’s 6-10 per cent down there. But since we don’t cancel letters here anymore, I don’t have a real handle on it. “We did run out of Christmas stamps. We had 100,000 of those. That was our indication that at least things were near normal.” Bergen said rural Greencastle residents were doing a fair job of keeping snow from hampering deliveries and that help is appreciated. “WE’VE BEEN tremendously fortunate so far,” Bergen said. Although postal employees can refuse to deliver mail to those homes where mailboxes are inaccessible, it’s a policy the employees try to avoid. “It’s not what we really like to do,” Bergen concluded. “We always try to make that little extra effort to get it delivered. If not, the carrier has to keep going back and the mail will build up. It can cause a hardship later.”

-A shackle made of hardened steel at least 9/23rds inch thick. ♦LOCKS SHOULD BE USED on items in the garage such as food freezers, tool boxes, bicycles and lawnmowers if the garage door cannot be locked. ♦Dead-bolt locks should be installed on doors connecting the garage with the house. ♦Anti-slide mechanisms or key-operated devices should be used to secure garage windows. ♦COVERS SHOULD BE placed over garage windows to keep persons from seeing inside. An empty garage signals a thief that no one is home.