Banner Graphic, Volume 14, Number 208, Greencastle, Putnam County, 8 May 1984 — Page 1

Fillmore man's bid among demolition quotations

By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher A hometown contractor was the apparent low bidder Monday night as the South Putnam School Board opened three bids for demolition of the 67-year-old former high school building at Fillmore. During a public meeting, the board also ratified a three-year master contract with the South Putnam Classroom Teachers Association, hired a new food service director and approved the teaching staff for 1984-85. Steve Cooper of Fillmore submitted a bid of $29,850 for demolition of the abandoned Fillmore school building, which had served as the high school until the early 19505. The building had housed some elementary classes until the 1982-83 school year, when all students in kindergarten through sixth grade were placed in the newer Fillmore building.

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Greencastle small business representatives (from left) Mike Harmless and Anne Clark join Terre Haute Chamber President Ross Hedges (right) and Mayor Gerald Warren in proclaiming May 6-12 as Small Business Week. Mayor Warren cited the men and women who contribute to "our economic and social well being, which often goes unnoticed or taken for granted." Hedges was the guest speaker Monday for a

No small task

Capital acquisition problem for local businessmen

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor Obtaining capital to begin the establishment of a business is one, if not the most difficult tasks facing entrepreneurs today, according to Ross Hedges, president of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. Hedges spoke to a gathering of Putnam County businessmen and women Monday at a Small Business Luncheon and Conference held at the DePauw University Student Union Building. THE MONDAY AFFAIR AT Greencastle headlined a local program, which was conducted in advance of a regional Small Business Conference scheduled May 17 at Indiana State University. Mike Harmless, general manager of Harmless and Sons, and Anne Clark, owner of Anne’s Fashion Corner, are steering committee members for the Terre Haute conference. Both were instrumental in organizing Monday’s program at Greencastle. Scheduled to appear at the luncheon May 17 at Terre Haute is Gov. Robert Orr It may be one of the best vehicles for Putnam County, and other localities in west central Indiana, to have their concerns heard by the state’s top official. “All of us in business are controlled by what the government does and by its rules and regulations,” Hedges commented preceding the noon luncheon. “And to that extent, the small businessman needs to be involved in that process. “THIS IS WHAT THE Terre Haute conference is all about,” Hedges continued. “It’s obvious what the focus is and what the reason is for the conference.” Hedges said he has a

Lots of sun, but little fun

Partly cloudy overnight with a 20 per cent chance for thundershowers after midnight. Low in the upper 30s. Partly cloudy and coo! Wednesday. High in the mid to upper 50s. Indiana Extended Forecast Mostly sunny Thursday and Friday. Becoming cloudy with a chance of thundershowers Saturday. Cool Thursday. Lows in the mid 30s to around 40 Highs mostly in the 60s Warmer Friday and Saturday with low in the 40s Friday and upper 40s and 50s Saturday. High in the 70s both days. i

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Tuesday, May 8, 1984, Vol. 14 No. 208 20 Cents

Cooper’s bid specified completion of the razing work within 45 days. TWO INDIANAPOLIS firms also offered bids. AAA Wrecking Co. quoted a price of $37,900 and a 90-day completion period, while Dorsey Paving Inc. entered a bid of $45,575, specifying that the work would be finished within 35 days. Acting on Supt. James Hammond’s recommendation, the board opted to take the bids under advisement then award the demolition contract during a special session scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, May 14. During previous discussions, board members had expressed a desire that the building be torn down and the site landscaped before the start of school in August. In other action, a three-year master contract with the South Putnam Classroom Teachers Association (SPCTA) was ratified as board members Don Spencer,

Index Abby A 5 Calendar A 5 Classifieds All Comics A 6 Crossword a 10 Editorials A 7 Heloise A 5 Horoscope All Obituaries Al 2 People A 6 Sports A9.A10 TV A 6 Theaters Al 2

Sandra Langston, Ron Cook and Sherman Hacker all cast affirmative votes. David Landes was not present. AS REPORTED IN THE Banner Graphic on April 26, the day after the SPCTA had approved the pact, the new contract provides teachers a pay increase of 5 per cent plus increments in each of the three years. Effective Aug. 16, the agreement also affords teachers gains in life and medical insurance coverage and retirement benefits. “I feel like it’s a good contract, a contract the school corporation can live with,” Spencer said prior to the vote. “It also signifies a willingness to cooperate between you, as board members, and teachers and a desire by all to get on with the reason we’re all here - to educate children.” On a vote of 3-0 the board hired Mrs. Gloria Stevens as the corporation’s food

Small Business Luncheon and Conference conducted in Greencastle. He emphasized the importance of small businessmen to attend the May 17 regional conference at Terre Haute. Harmless and Clark serve on the steering committee for the conference and were in charge of Monday's Greencastle affair at the DePauw University Student Union Building. (Banner-Graphic photo by Becky Igo). / Zfiv'A

clear perspective of what issues the small businessman faces as he is the owner of a small business in Terre Haute, Liberty Instant Press. He has also served as chairman of the Indiana delegation to the White House conference in Washington, D.C., on small businesses. “I’ve seen both sides of the issues,” he pointed out, “but the biggest difficulty the small businessman faces is the lack of capital formation. There is a lack of a formal approach in the State of Indiana to venture capital. ” Indiana is behind in that area, Hedges asserts, so much that companies are locating outside the Hoosier state. “It (lack of capital formation) makes it difficult for the entrepreneur to rely on,” the Terre Haute Chamber president related. “Other states have a huge network that they work from. Here in Indiana we don’t have that means. So we see a lot of jobs being exported to other states.” THAT TOPIC IS TO BE discussed at the Terre Haute conference May 17. In addition, state and local taxation and management assistance incentives will be discussed. “This is the first conference of this type that we have had in Indiana,” Hedges said. “I think that speaks to the foresight ' and concern of the governor.” The regional conference at Terre Haute is one of eight ’statewide conferences. Delegates will be chosen to represent the small businessman’s concerns at the statewide conference scheduled Nov. 19-20 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. “THE ATMOSPHERE WILL be very informal,” Hedges said of the Terre Haute conference, “and there will be ample opportunity for those who attend to give input.”

Chamber directors pondering Newnum's successor

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor Chamber of Commerce directors moved into executive session Tuesday morning to consider applicants for the position of executive director to replace Ruth Ann Newnum, who recently resigned. In open meeting held in Putnam County Courtroom in the courthouse, Harvey Pinnen, chairman of the Chamber’s Internal Affairs Committee, announced that 31 applications had been received for the position. OF THAT NUMBER, eight have been interviewed and four have been scheduled for second interviews. In the executive session, the board will be briefed on all ap-

service director, filling a vacancy created by the recent resignation of Mrs. Betty Perkins. HAMMOND SAID EIGHT candidates for the job had been interviewed before the field was narrowed to three finalists - Billy Boyette, Jesse Wood and Mrs. Stevens. Hacker then offered a motion that Mrs. Stevens be hired, after which Spencer announced that he would abstain from voting. Cook and Mrs. Langston joined Hacker in voting to hire Mrs. Stevens. “This is not the easiest decision this board has ever had to make. We had some fine candidates there,” Spencer said. Cook also asked Hammond to see that the board is provided monthly reports next fall regarding progress toward enticing more junior-senior high school students to buy their lunches at school. By a 4-0 vote the board approved 1984-85 teaching assignments as recommended by

Twice-a-month pay schedule sought by sheriff's personnel

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor Once is not enough, but twice would be nice personnel at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department want the Putnam County commissioners to know The topic of discussion? Pay schedules. That was the request which prompted Putnam County Sheriff Gerry Hoffa to attend Monday evening’s commissioners’ meeting. The sheriff explained his staff is having difficulty taking the monthly payroll check and stretching it out during a four- to five-week period. “THEY WANTED ME to ask if there is a possibility they could be paid twice a month, instead of just once,” Hoffa said. “It’s not hurting the deputies as much as it is the jailers. “Sometimes, since they get paid only once a month, there are four to five weeks between paychecks. It makes it hard for them to make that stretch,” Hoffa said. Presently, personnel employed at the Putnam County Highway department are the only county staff to receive a twice-a-month paycheck. The remaining county offices’ employees are paid on a once-a-month schedule COMMISSION PRESIDENT Jim Malayer said the twice-a-month schedule for county departments had been discussed before, but was abandoned. “I

First grade target area

Cloverdale endorses Primetime

By BARBARA CARHART Banner-Graphic Staff Writer CLOVERDALE-Patrons of the Cloverdale School Corporation ought to stay tuned to Primetime. The Cloverdale School Corporation Board of Trustees gave Supt. Robert Leturgez the go ahead at its Monday evening meeting to investigate the possibility of debuting the state-sponsored pilot program in Cloverdale schools. “The idea of the program is to reduce the number of students so that there is a maximum of 18 students per teacher in the primary grades,” Leturgez told the board. THE SUPERINTENDENT said it is possible to experiment with the program in the first grade where four classes currently make the teacher-student ratio 22-1. Primetime withstanding, the maximum student-teacher ratio allowed by state law is 30-1. “Next year it looks like we’ll have 68 students in the first grade and it could be up in the 80s,” Leturgez explained. “With a projection of 83 students, we’ll need five classes to have a 18-1 ratio (the maximum allowable under Primetime).” Logistics could be a problem, Leturgez advised, since the use of the remedial reading classroom is dependent on refun-

plications which have been received. Mike Hurt, Community Affairs chairman, told directors that the 4-H Junior Leaders, not the newly formed Civic League (as earlier announced), will be in charge of planting flowers in the concrete tubs in the business area where trees have already been set. Some discussion was held concerning the watering schedules for these new plantings, and it was felt that this should be the responsibility of those who had tubs in front of their places of business. HURT ALSO REPORTED that his com mittee is planning a pig roast on the evening of May 25 to honor the English soccer team which will be among those teams

Hammond. The superintendent said next year’s staff will be the same as the present one with the exception of two teachers whose contracts will not be renewed as the result of a reduction in force. That action was taken some time ago. THE CORPORATION’S non-certified staff for 1984-85, including secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance personnel and other non-teaching employees, was approved 3-1. Mrs. Langston cast the lone dissenting vote. Hammond read a list of extracurricular coaching assignments that included several vacancies at both the junior and senior high levels, acknowledging that “it is getting difficult to keep all these positions filled.” Spencer moved that the partial list be accepted, but his motion died for lack of a second, delaying further consideration of coaching assignments to a future meeting.

think it was because it would have created more work for the auditor’s office,” he said. “Now don’t print this,” Commissioner John Carson told the Banner-Graphic prior to making a statement. What Carson related was that during his former term as auditor, payroll checks were distributed through a computerized system via a bank at Indianapolis and then distributed to a local public depository. The system cut down slighlty the number of employees needed in the auditor’s office at the time and turned out to be an efficient system. Still, Hoffa stressed a twice-a-month pay schedule would be more beneficial to employees. “Can I take you outside and talk to you?” Carson questioned Hoffa, referring to having a discussion outside the realm of local media coverage and the commissioners’ scheduled public meeting. WITH THAT COMMENT, Carson and Hoffa left the commissioners’ court, returning within approximately a, two-minute time span. “I’m going to be a little more braveiL than you are,” Malayer told Carson. Malayer then advised Hoffa that Putnam County would have a new auditor following the fall election and that possibly the pay schedules could then be revised. Current Auditor Jewel Blue is finishing up his

ding of the program. “WE JUST HAVE a limit on facilities for the Primetime program,” Leturgez explained, “although I think we can go into Primetime program without difficulty this year.” The advent of competency testing can have an impact on the available classroom space, Leturgez said. “Now students not passing the test have to undergo a remediation program,” he explained. “It could be a four-week program in the summer.” Depending on how many remediation classes are necessary, the new state competency law may have an effect on available classroom space. “UNDER PRIMETIME, if we don’t have the classroom space, we can have a teacher aid to reduce the student-teacher ratio,” Leturgez explained, “but if we have the space, that fifth first-grade teacher must be certified ” The superintendent later explained that if the corporation chooses to experiment with the program in the first-grade level, the fifth teacher could be paid using Primetime funds. “I’m in favor of Primetime personally,” Leturgez said, concluding his presentation, “but I think I need more time to

coming to the city. Charley Brown will be in charge of the roast. Possibly as many as 100 persons are expected. Some discussion was held concerning renovation of a sign at the south entrance of the city. Ralph Hutcheson submitted a quotation of $925 for construction of a permanent float to be used by the Chamber in the annual fair parade. Anne Clark, Retail chairman, announced that there will be a regional Small Business Seminar May 17 at Indiana State University. This is designed to get small businesses involved in governmental matters. She reported that a similar meeting in Greencastle was not well attended. Bob Hutchings, Chamber president, an-

Board members gave their approval for South Putnam’s participation in the summer Primetime program for elementary students after Hammond reported that the state will reimburse the corporation SSOO for a 10-day program at each of the three elementaries. Hammond said each class will have between eight an 18 students and will meet three hours daily over a 10-day period Aug. 6-17. “We will take students who are slow and try to catch them up as much as possible in those 10 concentrated days,” Hammond said in explaining the purpose of the suit mer program. AT FILLMORE, SUMMER Primetime students will be drawn from the present third grade, at Belle Union from the first grade and at Reelsville from the fifth grade. The daily routine will include 90 minutes of instruction in language arts, 30 Col. 3, back page, this section

second four-year term as auditor and has not indicated interest in seeking public office. In later action, the commissioners again discussed with Hoffa the problem of stray dogs within county limits. County attorney Robert Lowe, in attendance at Monday’s session, said he had looked up applicable statues regarding the problem. WHAT HE DISCOVERED is that county law enforcement personnel are responsible for picking up animals running at large. However, they are also responsible for seeing them housed for a 20-day period. If the animal is not claimed after that point, they may be destroyed. “The problem is that they are legally responsible for picking them up, they have no place to take them,” Lowe advised “Clearly, they have a problem in that regard.” Referring again to state law, Lowe said that county township trustees are only required to assess licenses for tax purposes. “They have no authority to do anything with the stray dogs,” Lowe added, referring to the animals’ capture. “All they do is make sure the owner is taxed and a license issued.” What can become a problem for law enforcement officers is if stray dogs are reported to be creating problems with / Col. 3, back page, this section

study it.” A year after its inception, Cloverdale Elementary School Principal Leland McCauimon told the board the gifted and talented program has earned a warm reception from students, faculty and parents. ENTITLED PROJECT CREATE, McCammon said the program used a threeprong approach which received high ratings in its inaugural year. Project CREATE provided enrichment outreach to grades kindergarten-three; half-day enrichment activities for all grades per month and special interest projects for grades four-six. “Basically, everyone said we had a good thing going,” McCammon told the board. Among the special projects under the Project CREATE umbrella were the history and art enrichment series and the future problem-solving program involving 25 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students “We held an advisory council meeting and wanted to expand the council to include the high school by adding JoAnn Bayer, teacher, Gary Novak, administrator, and a high school parent,” McCammon recommended. HE ADDED, “WE ALSO wanted to a|> Col. 3, back page, this section

nounced that there will be a luncheon May 22 for a number of Belgium students who will be coming to the DePauw campus this summer as Rotary International representatives. DIRECTOR ALAN STANLEY will be going to Japan in the interest of the Chamber in industrial affairs. Dick Andis of the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee, brought an update on Hoosier Hospitality Days at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Cloverdale will also have a booth at this affair. Other reports came from Pinney, concerning membership month; Jinsie »Bingham, Community Resources Com mittee, and Dan Doan, treasurer