Banner Graphic, Volume 12, Number 99, Greencastle, Putnam County, 5 January 1982 — Page 1

State archivist John Newman spent Tuesday at the Putnam County Courthouse evaluating public records in terms of proper management. His visit included a check at the Putnam County clerk's office with clerk Sharon Hammond (left) and deputy Marilyn Clearwaters. The survey is part of an overall evaluation about establishing a microfilm library in the courthouse. The information is expected to be given to the Putnam County Council at its Jan. 19 meeting. The Council is considering such a move, but requested additional data. (Banner-Graphic photo by Becky Igo).

Irwin to head commissioners

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor Officers for the Putnam County Board of Commissioners were elected during the board’s regular meeting Monday at the courthouse. ELBERT IRWIN, CENTRAL district representative, was voted in as the 1982 president. Irwin takes over the seat held last year by southern district representative Don Walton. Commissioner Jim Malayer made the motion for Irwin to serve as president. Irwin seconded that motion. Walton abstained. Irwin later made the motion for Malayer to serve as the board’s vice president. Malayer seconded the move. Again, Walton abstained. Malayer represents the northern district. IN OTHER ACTION, members voted to retain the services of county attorney Stephen Pierson for 1982. Also, a final appointment saw John Long reinstated to serve on the Hospital Board.

May 24 trial date set for Thomas Flowers

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor The attempted murder trial of Thomas Flowers Jr., 18, Lafayette, is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 24 following action Monday in Putnam Circuit Court. THE ESTABLISHMENT of a court date came following a pre-trial conference. Putnam Circuit Court Judge William C. Vaughn presided. Also present were Tippecanoe County Prosecutor John Meyers and defense attorneys Michael O’Reilly and Brent Westerfield, both Tippecanoe County public defenders. The cases was venued to Putnam County

On course Increasing cloudiness overnight. Low in the upper 20s to low 30s. Wednesday mostly cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of rain or snow developing. High in the upper 30s to low 40s. Indiana Extended Forecast Seasonal temperatures Thursday through Saturday with a chance for snow on Thursday and Friday. Lows in the teens north to the 20s south. Highs in the 20s north and 30s south on Thursday rising to the 30s north and 40s south on Saturday. Abby A 4 Bridge A 8 Calendar A 4 Classifieds A 9 Comics A 5 Crossword A 8 Heloise A 4 Horoscope A 9 House Call A 8 Obituaries AlO People A 8 Sports A6.A7 TV A 5 Theaters AlO Worry Clinic A 9

Banner Graphic Putnam County, Tuesday, January 5, 1982, Vol. 12 No. 99 20 Cents

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ELBERT IRWIN Commissioner president

A proposal offering the county more insurance liability protection was presented by county insurance representative Gary Hanlon. He noted adding ‘umbrella”

due to pre-trial publicity in the northern part of the state. Flowers, a juvenile at the time the offense was to have occurred, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, attempted robbery causing serious bodily injury, burglary and attempted rape in an alleged June 2 attack of a Lafayette woman. THE MATTER WAS waived to adult court after testimony was heard in Tippecanoe Superior Court detailing Flowers’ past record as a juvenile. Mary Gobble, a probation officer, told the court Flowers had “numerous”

Haag studies options Cloverdale ponders finances

By BARBARA CARHART Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Financial concerns were again the topic of conversation at Monday night’s regular meeting of the Cloverdale Community School Corporation Board of Trustees. In particular, retrenchment of summer programs supported through general fund monies was discussed. Supt. Bernard M. Haag recommended a reduction in recreation, summer band, girls and boys 4-H and driver education programs. The total proposed reduction would be $12,200. After considerable discussion on the superintendents reduction program, the board decided to approve the cuts but leave SI,OOO in both the 4-H programs and consider cuts as needed. In other financial matters, Dr. Haag reported that he has continued to study options for curtailing future financial problems due to reductions in federal funding. Concerned about possible corporation cuts, Haag said his final report will be ready for the board’s review at its next regular meeting on Feb. 1. “We’ve always talked about being in trouble,” added the superintendent, “but

coverage would protect the county against a lawsuit of up to $5 million. THE COUNTY’S CURRENT policy is limited to $500,000 protection in case of a lawsuit. Obtaining the extra protection would amount to a cost of $4,925, according to Hanlon, with the county still having its $500,000 deductible with the current policy. Agreeing the extra protection is necessary, the board unanimously approved to add the umbrella clause to its policy. JANITORIAL BIDS WERE read and awarded at Monday’s meeting. Three companies vyed to furnish the products. Correlated Products Inc., Indianapolis, was accepted as the successful bidder to furnish the majority of custodial supplies. However, Dever Kor-X-All, Terre Haute, was given approval to furnish paper items for the county. Pierson informed the board that the attorney representing ILWD, the In-

referrals to Tippecanoe County juvenile court and has been committed twice to the Indiana Boy’s School. Also, Gobble testified, Flowers’ connection in an earlier separate offense was waived to adult court. AT MONDAY’S SESSION, Judge Vaughri heard a motion from the defense to reduce Flowers’ SIOO,OOO bond which was established earlier during arraignment in Tippecanoe Superior Court. The defense also voiced a motion for the return of the defendant’s personal property. Judge Vaughn did sustain a motion by Flowers’ attorneys who had requested the

we have always made it in the past. There is only one way to make it this year and that is to cut back. Consolidation of classes has to be considered.” An additional financial burden on the school board’s budget this year will be the phone company as the corporation will have to f<*l the effects of a telephone rate increase. Phone services received in the past as a package deal will now be broken down into individual items resulting in additional cost. HAAG RECOMMENDED an immediate reduction of three phones presently located in the junior/senior high school’s intensive lab, band room and shop. The board accepted Haag’s recommendation for this immediate cut and agreed that a further study of overall costs and systems is needed. In other board business, the school lunch program was discussed. Dr. Haag asked the board to accept a new special tray which could be figured on the state reimbursement count. Dr. Haag explained that the special tray would give the student a choice of foods that would qualify as a regular grade type meal.

dianapolis firm operating a hazardous wastes landfill near Russellville, had contacted him saying the company was not satisfied with the county’s selection of a person to monitor the facility. EARLIER, THE BOARD appointed Russellville resident John Whitley to monitor the site. Although unsure, Pierson said he believed ILWD was objecting due to Whitley being one of the Russellville neigbors who expressed concern over the facility’s construction. The matter was brought to the board for informational purposes only as Pierson pointed out the company has no input in who the county’s monitoring agent will be. Pierson also informed the board Conrail plans to abandon a 21-mile stretch of railroad track from just west of U.S. 231 (on Bloomington Street) to Plainfield. This pertains to the secondary line only. FINALLY, THE BOARD gave approval for Jack Dalton to do minor repairs on three covered bridges in the northern district.

prosecution produce its evidence of fingerprints. 1 THE CONFERENCE, which took approximately an hour saw deadlines established by the circuit court judge for attorneys to file discovery motions. In addition, Vaughn ordered an omnibus hearing, held specifically to hear all motions pertaining to the case, be conducted at 9 a.m. March 5 in Putnam Circuit Court. At that time, all pending motions, in addition to any new motions, will be heard by the court. Flowers is being held at the Tippecanoe County Jail.

“We experimented with this special tray for two weeks,” continued Haag, “and it increased the volume of lunches by 36.” IN OTHER MATTERS, the board: --Presented a resolution accepting a letter of retirement from Forrester Ison, prinicpal at the Junior/Senior High School, and lauding him for his service to the corporation. -Created the Board of Finance giving the school board the authority to deal with corporation’s matters. -Heard a brief report on the regular financial discusion meeting held on Dec. 14 with teacher association representatives and board members Kenneth Kahlenbeck present. The next regular discussion meeting will be held on Jan. 25. -Approved Veteran’s Day as a holiday for school custodians. -HEARD DISCUSSION ON the elementary school disposal drain which needs two new blades and housing. The cost of the repair will be $350 -Heard a report on the Title IV B program appropriation. The school corporation will receive $6,591 of this money.

South Putnam is expected to continue Vo-Ed

By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher The likelihood that the South Putnam School Corp. will seriously consider withdrawing from the Putnam County Vocational Education Cooperative appeared to diminish Monday night. DAVID ARCHER, DIRECTOR of the Putnam County Area Vocational School, addressed the school board for more than an hour and a half, explaining the courses of study offered by the three-year-old , That discussion yielded two particularly significant points: -Although South Putnam has budgeted $35,000 to pay its share of the vocational education cooperative in 1982, state reimbursements will reduce the actual cost to the corporation to approximately $17,000. -If South Putnam were to withdraw from the cooperative, there is a possibility the corporation would be legally required to pay tuition transfer costs for any students who wished to pursue vocational training offered by another corporation. THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION cooperative is supported jointly by South Putnam and the other three county school corporations - Cloverdale, Greencastle and North Putnam. Housed in a building at 802 Indianapolis Rd. in Greencastle, the program offers classes in auto body repair, auto mechanics, building trades and health occupations. Students from all four county high schools are enrolled in the vocational education cooperative, spending half the day at their respective schools and the other half at the vocational education center. South Putnam’s continued participation in the cooperative was first questioned at the board’s Dec. 7 meeting when patron Charles Main urged that the corporation consider withdrawing. Citing 1982 budget cuts mandated by the state, Main said the corporation’s first responsibility should be to provide a basic academic education, not to teach a specific trade. THE ISSUE WAS RAISED again during a special board meeting Dec. 23 when member David Landes said he had had second thoughts about a board-approved $7,500 cut in the elementary remedial reading program, which cut compensation for an instructor from fulltime to halftime. Landes said he would prefer to see basic elementary instructional programs exempted from cuts. Although he did not advocate withdrawal from the vocational education cooperative, Landes cited the program as one of those that are “nice to have” but possibly should be considered first when discussing budget reductions. That discussion led to Archer’s appearance before the board Monday night. “Vocational education is not a hobby class, it is a career preparation program,” Archer emphasized to the board. He assessed the program’s “success stories” at 98 per cent, saying many students who have come into vocational education were on the verge of dropping out of school. Instead, he said, many had matured as individuals and gained a sense of selfesteem. ‘‘l’M NOT SAYING WE TURN everything around, but I think we’ve helped a lot,” Archer said. “The demand for vocational education, I think, is there. The interest in vocational education is there.” Archer distributed statistical data showing that South Putnam had 24 students enrolled in the program in 1979-80, the

Local youth listed in serious condition after accidental shooting

Jeffrey Alexander, 14, son of Harold and Marlene Alexander, Greencastle, is listed in serious condition at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after being shot in the neck Saturday when a .22 caliber rifle accidentally discharged. The rifle went off when it was picked up from the ground by Alexander’s friend, Anthony Cash,

first year of the cooperative. In 1980-81, the number increased to 28, while the current year’s enrollment is 35. The cooperative’s total budget for the 1981-82 school year is $127,000, he said, which represents roughly $31,700 for each of the four county corporations. The variation in that figure versus the $35,000 budget figure for 1982 cited by Supt. James Hammond is due to the fact that the corporation’s allocation is based on the calendar year. ARCHER ALSO NOTED the center operates a vocational education program for adults in the evening and offers GED testing for individuals who wish to earn a high school diploma. These programs, he said, actually are operated at no cost to Putnam County taxpayers because of funds received from the State Department of Public Instruction, CETA, the State Board of Vocational and Technical Education and other state and federal sources. One of the key points in the lengthy discussion was Supt. Hammond s statement that the corporation might be held liable to pay tuition transfer costs for individual students if vocational education courses were not available through the cooperative. Those tutition transfer costs were estimated to run from SBOO to $1,400 per student annually. Without the cooperative, Archer said, the closest area vocational program to South Putnam would be Ben Davis High School on the west side of Indianapolis. He said Ben Davis, which offers a number of vocational courses, has a set tuition transfer cost of $1,400. HAMMOND EMPHASIZED that he is not certain of the legal obligations, but he said it is a possibility the corporation could be held liable for tuition transfer payments if students were denied vocational training through the existing cooperative. He cited a previous instance in which a student sought tuition transfer payment to take a fifth-year high school math course not offered at South Putnam. The corporation denied the request, but subsequently was overruled by state officials and had to pay S9OO so the student could take the course in another corporation. Although the board took no action Monday night, the vocational program drew support from two other individuals in attendance. Marion Twp. patron Art Evans, a former school board member, praised the benefits of the cooperative. Citing what he said was the importance of vocational education in light of pending budget cuts, he added. “I’d rather see the vocational program go just before you turn the lights out. ” EVANS ALSO NOTED THAT a number of courses are taught at the high school which, like vocational education, are not speciaically required for graduation. He said that if the board is considering budget cuts, then all such courses should be considered equally. William Gardner, president of the South Putnam Classroom Teachers Association, said the SPCTA is “100 per cent in favor of the vocational education program.” Offering what he said was a clarification of SPCTA’s position, Gardner said teachers oppose any cuts in instructional programs, favoring first a voter referendum on the issue of increased local tax revenue. If cuts must be made, he said, then teachers favor cutting vocational participation before basic education. Archer acknowledged the difficult decisions facing the school board in regard Col. 4, back page, this section

13. The two boys were camping in some woods a quarter of a mile north of State Road 240, east of Chadd Valley when the accident occurred. Alexander was flown to Indianapolis via Lifeline helicopter after being treated by Operation Life. The bullet is still lodged in Alexander’s neck, hospital authorities said. Alexander is in the Pediatrics ICU unit of Methodist Hospital.