Banner Graphic, Volume 12, Number 97, Greencastle, Putnam County, 2 January 1982 — Page 1

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Putnam County license branch manager Dottie Heavin displays a sample of a vehicle registration form and validation sticker that most motorists will affix to their present license plates. Persons with 1981 plates numbered 100 and up have three-year plates which will expire at the end of 1983. Vehicle owners

Who's news

Compiled by ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Managing Editor Merchants National Bank and Trust Co. of Indianapolis has announced the one-woman show of Cloverdale artist MYRA SCHUETTER. Her exhibit is on display in Merchants Bank’s Plaza Gallery through Jan. 29. The Plaza Gallery is located on the second floor of Merchants Plaza in downtown Indianapolis. Myra Schuetter was born in Jasper. Spending a great deal of her childhood growing up on her grandparents’ farm near Jasper provided many early impressions of rural life which inspires her work now. She works in watercolor and her realistic renderings of rustic buildings and antique heirlooms suggest digging in grandma’s attic trunk. Many family heirloomsquilts, her mother’s doll and her grandfather’s barn create a recurring theme throughout her work. Her concern also extends to support of groups interest in wildlife protection, use of renewable resources and solar energy. Mrs. Schuetter holds a bachelor of science degree from Indiana State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from DePauw University. She has exhibited in one-woman shows and art fairs throughout the Midwest. RICHARD F. WOKOUN, son of Rick and Jinsie Bingham, was recently promoted to Multinational Department Officer in the Corporate Group of American Fletcher National Bank, Indianapolis. The announcement was made by Frank E. McKinney Jr., chairman. Wokoun joined AFNB's Career Associate Program in 1979. He was named a credit liaison supervisor in 1980 and a division representative in 1981. Wokoun is a 1980 graduate of Indiana University and holds a BA. degree in economics and business administration. RITA TAYLOR, a senior from Greencastle, is among 17 Indiana State University business students who have been selected as members of Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society. To be eligible for membership, students must rank in the top five percent of their junior

A 50 percent chance of rain with possible thundershowers both tonight and Sunday. Lows tonight fairly steady after daytime highs in the upper 30s to the low 40s Highs Sunday in the low to mid 40s

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Saturday, January 2,1982, Vol. 12 No. 97 20 Cents

should mail back the registration renewal form they received in December, paying the amount shown, which includes excise taxes. The license branch then will send a validated registration and license plate sticker by return mail. Vehicle owners are responsible for affixing the stickers. (Banner-Graphic photo)

class or the top ten percent of their senior class. Beta Gamma Sigma chapters may be located only at schools of business accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. Miss Taylor is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taylor, 908 S. Jackson St., Greencastle. First Lt. ERIC C. COOPER, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Cooper, Route 1, Coatesville, has completed the adjutant general officer basic course at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. The course is designed to prepare newly commissioned Adjutant General’s Corps officers for their first duty assignment. The training included instruction in leadership, administration, military staff relationship and the Army personnel system. Cooper is a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. Airman STEPHEN J. SCHLATTER, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dean J. Schlatter, Route 1, Reelsville, has been assigned to Keesler Air Force Base. Miss., after completing Air Force basic training. During the six weeks at Lackland Air Force Base, Tex., the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special training in human relations. The airman will now receive specialized instruction in the communicationselectronics systems field. Schlatter is a 1980 graduate of South Putnam High School. Navy Seaman Recruit JOHN C. PURSELL JR., son of Alma D. Pursell of 1016 S. College Ave., Greencastle, has completed recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Orlando, Fla. During the eightweek training cycle, trainees studied general military subjects designed to prepare them for further academic and on-the-job training in one of the Navy’s 85 basic occupational fields. Included in Pursell’s studies were seamanship, close order drill, Naval history and first aid. Personnel who complete this course of instruction are eligible for three hours of college credit in Physical Education and Hygiene. A 1978 graduate of Greencastle High School, Pursell joined the Navy in September.

Chilly and wet

Chilly Monday. A chance of rain or snow in the north with rain possible in southern Indiana Tuesday and Wednesday. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 30s Monday and in the 30s north to mid 40s south Tuesday.

Putnam welfare savings help meet state goal

Seventy-seven counties, including Putnam, exceeded their individual goals in 1981 to help Indiana realize nearly $35 million in total public welfare savings for the federal fiscal year which ended Sept. 30. Donald L. Blinzinger, State Welfare Administrator, attributed the savings to Indiana’s Work Incentive (WIN) Program, which he said had reduced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) direct payments by $10.9 million. The 1981 federally-mandated savings goal of $9.5 million was exceed by 14 per cent,

Key issues loom: Thomas Legislature reconvenes Tuesday

By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher The 1982 Indiana General Assembly most likely will match last year's 4 per cent increase in funding for public education, but not produce the new sources of revenue being demanded by many school boards, administrators and teachers. That’s the legislative eve forcast of Rep. John Thomas (R-Brazil), who will join 149 other House and Senate members in converging in Indianapolis Monday. The legislative session, which actuaily opened with special one-day ceremonies in November, will convene its second day on Tuesday, but political caucuses and Assembly-related meetings will occupy Monday. REPUBLICANS AND Democrats will meet separately Monday afternoon to plan legislative strategies. Thomas said the GOP, which holds sizable majorities in both the House and Senate, will gather at 2:30 p.m. to hear reports by John Huie, chairman of the State Board of Tax Commissioners; Judy Palmer, director of the State Budget Agency, and Rep. William R. Long, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. All three are expected to convey a similar message: Indiana’s purse strings are drawn tight in anticipation of a possible general fund deficit next June. Long and House Speaker J. Roberts Dailey warned weeks ago there would be no chance of adding more money to the $10.9 billion budget bill passed in the 1981 session. Appropriations requests for specific programs will be considered only on a bill-by-bill basis. By law, the 30-working-days session must conclude by March 15. Dailey and Senate President Pro Tern Robert D. Garton are aiming at a mid-February adjournment. THOMAS, WHO WILL again serve as Assistant Majority Leader in the House, said a number of key issues must be addressed, despite the limited amount of legislative working time. He specifically cited public school funding, decisions on

No state word yet on South Putnam plan

The South Putnam School Board will have its first meeting of 1982 Monday night, but further discussion of consolidating the corporation’s three elementary schools apparently won’t be on the 7 p.m.agenda. State public school officials have not yet provided written authorization for the board to proceed with a proposal that would merge Belle Union, Fillmore and Reelsville schools into a new elementary building adjacent to South Putnam High School. That plan was approved unanimously by the board on Dec. 7 and delivered three days later to the Division of Accreditation and School Facility Planning in the Indianapolis office of the State

Putnam Patter Rapturous reading for winter nights

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor In this world of so many unpleasant happenings, it is comforting to read optimistic literary works which restore man’s belief in all that is good and beautiful. Just recently, I found volumes of such printed happiness in my mailbox. Deleted from all pages were words that would hint of defeat, discouragement or despair. Replacing these gloomy terms were glowing adjectives and outbursts of descriptive imagery, all blended together in short paragraphs of delightful reading. AFTER WANDERING spellbound through the pages, 1 am convinced that failure now belongs to the past. The future holds all that is bright and glorious, and the realization of my fondest dreams is but a few short months away. If you have not yet received these joyous

marking the sixth consecutive year the Hoosier state has surpassed the ADFC goal set by federal officials. BLINZINGER SAID a statistically valid formula was developed by Indiana University to calculate the resulting savings in Medicaid and food stamps when AFDC recipients are dropped from the welfare rolls or their assistance is reduced. Total savings amounted to nearly $35 million. More than 6,750 Hoosiers left the AFCD program in fiscal 1981 as a result of the WIN program. The Putnam County Department of

Want to call or write?

Three telephone numbers at the Statehouse are available to Putnam County residents who wish to contact Rep. John Thomas during the 1982 General Assembly session. Messages for Thomas may be left by calling a toll-free number, 120-800-382-9841. Constituents who desire to talk to Thomas personally may call 269-3613 or 269-3614. The Brazil Republican, who represents all of Putnam and Clay counties and part of northern Owen, also may be reached by mail. Correspondence should be sent to his attention in care of the Indiana Statehouse, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 or to his law office, 33 West National Avenue, Brazil,'lndiana 47834.

adminstration of the federal block grant program and needs of the Indiana Department of Corrections. “The legislature will give some consideration to local school funding, but I think the chances are slipi that any major changes will occur,” Thomas said. “I think we will adopt a 4 per cent increase in public education funds, as we did last year. I’m not saying that’s enough, I’m just saying I think that’s what will come out of the 1982 session. “I feel too that a majority of the legislature wants to see a much deeper study of school finance needs. My opinion is that either an existing education commission or a newly-appointed panel will be given a mandate to study the situation in detail and report its findings in time for the 1983 session. I think more permanet action will come in 1983.” THE BRAZIL Republican expressed doubt that public school corporations will be granted power to levy local option income taxes. He said school boards and ad-

Superintendent of Public Instruction. SUPT. JAMES HAMMOND said there is no indication of any problem in securing initial state approval of the consolidation plan. After he personally delivered the proposal in Indianapolis on Dec. 10, the superintendent said the holiday period might prevent state action before the Jan. 4 board meeting. Hammond said the elementary consolidation issue would be added to Monday night’s agenda if any comunication from the state is received prior to the meeting. One subject that will be discussed is South Putnam’s future participation in the Putnam County Vocational Education Cooperative. The corporation’s in-

publications, I suggest you write at once to companies which publish annually a colorful combination of fact and fiction called the seed catalogue. You will have to request it only once. It will keep coming every year as long as you have a mailbox. When your catalogue arrives, find a quiet, warm spot in the chimney corner and look and read until your winter-weary mind is transported to the sunny days of spring. PEOPLE WHO WRITE the seed catalogues will attempt to brainwash you with such encouraging phrases as: Guaranteed to grow; heat and wilt resistant; requires minimum care; your neighbors will envy; be the first to grow this; will grow in all soils; lusciously sweet; remarkable strain; exceptional tenderness; and so on page after page.

Public Welfare achieved 127 per cent of its 1981 AFDC savings goal, ranking 49th among the 77 counties which met or surpassed their respective goals. Individual totals ranged from Union County at 601 per cent to Vanderburgh at 100 per cent. INDIANA’S WELFARE savings goal is determined annually by the National Office of the Work Incentive Program. Subsequently, each Hoosier county is assigned a goal, based on its AFDC population. WIN, a program administered jointly by the State Welfare Department and the Indiana Employment Security Division, is

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REP. JOHN THOMAS

ministrators are divided on the issue with many fearing that such legislation would include a provision making local income taxes subject to voter referendums. “Two areas where action could develop are the local option income tax for counties, which was part of the 1973 property tax relief program, and some relief for cities and counties through the adjusted gross income tax,” Thomas added. “Neither of these areas would directly aid school corporations, but they could help cities and counties. “There may be support for broadening the scope of the local option tax. Since, 1973, approximately 40 of the 98 counties have adopted it in one form or another. I’m not saying it definitely will happen, but I do see the possibility of modifications that would make local option more attractive to more counties.” Although school funding debate has dominated headlines since the close of last year’s session, Thomas emphasized other important matters await legislative ac-

volvement in the program has been questioned in light of state-required cuts in its 1982 operating budget. DURING A DISCUSSION of educational priorities at the Dec. 7 board meeting, some patrons questioned the wisdom of continuing to participate in the vocational education cooperative. South Putnam has budgeted approximately $35,000 for the program in 1982. Hammond said 36 South Putnam students are enrolled in cooperative classes at Greencastle, where pupils from the county’s other three high schools also attend. Board member David Landes raised the issue again during a special meeting on Dec. 23, saying he tends to agree with

Fearing you may not be convinced by mere words, the seed catalogue people back up their claims with colored illustrations some of them as big as life and others even bigger. These pictures are proof that what others can do, you also can do-maybe even better. You have the right to your suspicion that some of the artists may not have seen a real live tomato growing on a vine. Catalogue authors carefully avoid mention of bugs, backaches and blisters, the three B’s that often make folks want to hang up their hoes. Neither do they warn that drought, ravaging rabbits or roving bands of kids or cattle can take you out of the garden business at any time during the season. BUT UNDER THE SPELL of the new catalogues, you are in a proper mood to

designed to break the welfare dependency cycle by developing job opportunities, providing employment training and by furnishing needed supportive services. All AFDC recipients are required to register in WIN unless exempted by federal regulations. The program is funded 90 per cent by the federal government with 10 per cent provided by the state. Federal budget cuts have restricted participation in the WIN program to only 25 of the state’s largest counties in the current fiscal year. The 25 represent 85 per cent of the AFDC population.

tion. One of the most vital, he said, is a decision on how Indiana will administer millions of dollars received through the Reagan administration’s block grants program to the states. “THE IMMEDIATE question we face is: Are we going to appropriate block grant money as we appropriate other state funds? The catch is that we don’t know yet exactly what we’re going to get. We don’t know the guidelines that will govern the block grant money. We have a better idea that we did a few months ago, but questions remain unanswered. “My thinking is that we should make general appropriations of block grant money to be administered by a joint committee of the legislature, the governor’s office and private citizens,” he added. Thomas served as a member of Indiana’s human services block grant advisory commission, one of several panels appointed by Gov. Robert Orr to conduct hearings throughout the state in 1981. Each committee heard testimony from organizations and individual citizens suggesting how the federal money should be spent. “OUR ADVISORY commission will be making its recommendations to the governor Monday afternoon,” Thomas said. “In essence, we will suggest some priorities but urge that no program be cut entirely until we completely know the full scope of the block grant program. In other words, we are saying that all human services programs that benefit children, the elderly, the handicapped and other groups remain under active consideration for funding at this time, at least until we have a better chance to examine federal guidelines. “We know that more strings are coming on the block grants than had been implied. We’ve learned, for example, that we must Use certain percentages of block grant funds in certain geographic areas of the state, there are freedoms of choice left to us, of course, but we still don’t know the full impact of federal guidelines.” Col. 1, back page, this section

patrons who have expressed the view that basic education needs should be met before obligating corporation funds for a vocational education program. Landes expressed a particular concern that elementary education programs be protected first in 1982 budget cuts. The board has taken no action in regard to vocational education, but will hear Monday night from David Archer, director of the cooperative. AMONG OTHER ITEMS on Monday night’s schedule is board approval of textbook adoption committees. The meeting will be conducted in the South Putnam administration building, located on U.S. 231 south of Greencastle.

believe the best and will perhaps forget that last year your vegetable patch yielded a return equal to the cost of seed plus miserable pay for your labors. While you can’t get rid of reality by pretending it doesn’t exist, life would have more depressing moments than it already does if there was no way to take short flights into fantasy. And for this purpose, the seed catalogue makes rapturous readings for these winter evenings I have already received three of the seven or eight seed catalogues I receive every year, and by the time you read this, the others will probably have arrived. AS MY ONE ANNOUNCED New Year's resolution, I’m going to order less than I did last year. I’ve been making this resolve for the past 30 or 40 years, and it has yet to last until the middle of January.