Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 4, Greencastle, Putnam County, 7 September 1984 — Page 1

Court orders new trial for Minnick

Patrons react to class sizes

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic Area News Editor Patrons were again out in numbers Thursday evening as parents and teachers called for the North Putnam School Board to give more attention to the second-grade and fourth-grade classes at the Bainbridge Elementary School. At the board’s Aug. 30 special meeting, parents reacted to Bainbridge Prinicpal Shirrel Alexander’s recommendation to transfer a second-grade teacher at the elementary school to accommodate the great number of fourth-grade students. According to Alexander, the transfer would allow for three sections of fourthgraders at Bainbridge Elementary, dividing the 70 students. The move would allow three teachers to instruct an average of 23 students per section. BUT PARENTS WERE concerned if individualized instructional attention could be maintained with second-graders. That class has a total of 49 students. The two second-grade Bainbridge teachers-Vera Evens and Katie Lewandowski-would teach 28 and 21 students, respectively. Parents’ concern about the second graders was again voiced by the approximately 40 people in attendance at the corporation office. Leading the discussion was Randy Bee, Route 3, Greencastle, who also attended the board’s Aug. 30 meeting. “We are still concerned,” Bee told board members. “We have not come as adversaries to the board, or to Mr. Alexander. We agree that the fourth-grade at Bainbridge is too large for just two teachers. “But we are concerned that the secondgrade at Bainbridge is losing a teacher,” Bee reiterated. “In the first- and secondgrades, the board has always kept the students at 20 pupils per teacher or less. Having too many students may cause those at the top end to get bored, or those at the lower end to lose out. “WE FEEL THE TEACHERS will be taxed to the limits,” Bee continued. He also noted that, according to his calculations, Bainbridge Elementary maintains a higher student population among the other two corporation elementaries. “The highest student ratio is at Bainbridge,” he asserted. Bee also made reference to board member Mary Martin’s Aug. 30 recommendation for a committee to be formed to study corporation redistricting. Board President Guy Clones followed that suggestion by naming Martin and member Joe Crosby as committee members. “I’ve heard about the redistricting,” Bee said, “and I feel they are just rumors. I have heard those stories for 12 years. My main concern, is even if there was redistricting, that will not help us this year. “THE CLASS SIZES, we feel, are overtaxing teachers at the present time,” Bee re-emphasized. “We don’t feel the number of teachers are adequate for the students involved.” Bee said his wife, Darlene had made contacts with state officials and that there should be Primetime monies available for teaching assistance, if necessary.

'Windy City' lookalike

Windy and mild overnight with low in the lower 60s. Windy and warm on Saturday with mostly sunny skies. High Saturday in the mid to upper 80s. Southerly winds at 15-25 mph. Indiana Extended Weather Chance of showers each day with near normal temperatures Sunday through Tuesday. Highs from the upper 70s to mid 80s and lows in the mid 50s to around 60.

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Friday, September?, 1984, Vol. 15 No. 4 25 Cents

The board acknowledged Primetime monies would become available, but those funds are currently on the bargaining table with teachers. Also, there was a variance in what Mrs. Bee calculated as North Putnam Primetime monies and what the corporation was informed earlier would be made available to it by the state. Primetime, if corporations choose to partake, allows corporations to receive a maximum of SIB,OOO for every teacher hired to keep the first-grade teacher-pupil ratio at 18:1. According to Mrs. Bee’s computations, the corporation should receive $3,600 per classroom. With a total of six fir-st-grade classrooms at North Putnam, the state should allow $21,600, she said. BUT SCHAD NOTED the state had informed former superintendent Merrill Scott that $12,000 only would be awarded to North Putnam for Primetime. “When the state told us that, that was the amount put in the budget,” Schad related. “If we do get $21,600 from the state, with our present budget, we will still be only allowed to spend $12,000. Any amount over that will have to be asked for as an additional appropriation. “Sept. 14 will be our count day,” Schad said, when the state orders all corporations to establish total enrollment. “That’s what we will be basing our monies on.” Board member Joe Crosby said it is possible Mrs. Bee had obtained more current figures, but the board had only the state’s last directive to prepare the current budget. Board member Medford Mcßride noted it is a concern of the board whether it wants to get the corporation involved in Primetime. “There is nothing in the law that says the legislature will fund Primetime next year,” Mcßride related. “We are concerned about starting something that will affect us and then not receive the money from the state to continue. "THAT’S BEEN a concern of ours from the very start,” Mcßride added. “Until the money is committed (from the state), we (the board) can’t commit ourselves.” But parents noted the problem with large Bainbridge Elementary class sizes will not disappear. Jean Mohler, Heritage Lake, wanted the board to justify paying a full-time administrator at the Russellville Elementary School, when some of those monies could be used to hire additional teaching personnel at other North Putnam schools. “You have six teachers at Russellville and a full-time paid administrator, plus music, art, secretaries, cooks and custodians,” Mohler pointed out. “Can the administrator become a teaching person? Does it take all day for that person to do all of the administrative duties?” SCHAD, WHO IS SERVING as acting superintendent for the corporation, said it does take a full-time administrator at Russellville. “It wouldn’t be so bad if your problems came at designated times,” he told Mohler. “It doesn’t happen that way. “If you need a decision made by an administrator, every time you would have to Col. 1, back page, this section

Abby A 3 Calendar A 3 Church A 4 Classifieds AB.A9 Comics A 5 Crossword A 8 Heloise A 3 Horoscope A 9 Obituaries AlO People A 5 Sports A6.A7 TV B section Theaters AlO

INDIANAPOLIS-The Indiana Supreme Court late Friday overturned the 1982 murder conviction of William A. Minnick, who had been sentenced to die in the electric chair for the fatal stabbing of a Greencastle woman. THE FIVE INDIANA justices ruled that it was in error for police to persist in questioning the suspect, after he had asked for a lawyer. Minnick, then 18 years old, was charged in the Oct. 26, 1981 stabbing death of Martha Payne, 24, who was found in her 9 S. Locust St. home. The court ruled that the interrogation prompted Minnick to make an incriminating statement, which was in-

'Coping with Diabetes' first < v l 1 ‘ Hospital begins educational series Tuesday

By BARBARA CARHART Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Diabetics may find the answers they are seeking on coping with their disease during a community education program sponsored by the Putnam County Hospital. First in a series of education forums to include discussions on Alzheimers, arthritis, medicare and medicaid and cardiac cookery, “Coping with Diabetes” will kickoff the program 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 in the downstairs classroom of Putnam County Hospital. DR. MARK CONWAY will answer questions about the disease itself and hospital dietician Sharon Black is ex - -" pected to discuss how diabetics can ffiapt their diets to special situations. The forums will be held the second Tuesday of staggered months - November, January, March and May -- 7-8:30 p.m. in the downstairs classroom at the hospital. A possibility exists that additional subject areas dealing with healthrelated problems will be added to the series, Sue Murray, director of social services, Putnam County Hospital, told the Banner-Graphic Thursday afternoon. The reason why a forum on diabetes was chosen to introduce the series, Murray explained, is necessity.

CONTACT training class to begin again Sept. 18

Would you like to help people find resources? To explain about free clothing, furniture and legal service? To direct callers toward help for alcohol abuse? To assist women who have been physically abused? Or perhaps you are interested in listening as individuals talk about their personal concerns. You feel you can be helpful to those who are lonely or depressed or worried about a family situation. WOULD YOU ENJOY talking to children? You can understand why many Putnam County children who are alone call CONTACT’S Call-a-Friend number to find a friendly, interested person to talk with. The caring person who chooses to become a CONTACT worker may be faced with--and is prepared for-any of these situations. The CONTACT telephone number gives the caller a help line, and the worker who answers 653-2645 is dedicated to do his or her best to answer a caller’s concerns. Deciding to become a CONTACT worker is only the first part of a larger com-

troduced as evidence in his May 1982 trial that was venued to Clay County. The high court said the statement should not have been admitted as evidence in the case. A Clay Circuit Court jury convicted Minnick in Mrs. Payne’s murder. He was sentenced by Judge Ernest Yelton to die in the electric chair. IN OVERTURNING the murder conviction, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a new trial for the Greencastle teenager, who has been serving time on Death Row in the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City. The original trial, in which Minnick was

Pork Day at DPU

Once again football fans will not only see the pigskin tossed, but also sample lean pork at DePauw University this fall. On Saturday, the Putnam County Pork Producers will host their second annual “Pork Day" before the DePauw-Illinois Wesleyan football game. THIS YEAR 2,500 mini pork burgers will be grilled outside the main entrance to the football stadium on the southeast corner. The latest consumer nutrition information concerning pork, will also be made available at the game.

“We had a lot of calls to the hospital from adult diabetics,” Murray added. “They were looking for answers to questions particularly those that came up after their diagnosis.” A FORUM, MURRAY explained, makes it easier for those with ailments and medical problems to come and share their concerns.

mitment, however. All of the people who work at CONTACT are required to complete a training course. Principle goals in the class are that the trainees develop their listening skills and learn to understand human problems such as grief and loneliness, alcohol abuse, domestic crises and suicidal feelings. Group acitivities in the class are divided between acquiring information and practicing telephone skills. THE BEGINNING DATE for fall 1984 is Tuesday evening, Sept. 18. Sessions will continue 7-10 p.m. Tuesday and extend from mid-September through early December. The $lO registration fee covers the cost of materials. The volunteers who work for CONTACT come from a wide variety of backgrounds. No educational or religious requirements are set. Of more importance is that trainees are caring men and women who are non-judgmental in their thinking. They should have a sincere desire to help others and be free enough of stress in their own personal lives that they can concentrate on the caller and give his needs first priority. Col. 2, back page, this section

represented by attorney Woodrow Nasser of Terre Haute, cost Putnam County an estimated $49,000. A new trial date has not yet been set. At press time, there was no comment available from Putnam County Prosecutor Delbert Brewer, who presented the state’s case in the murder trial, or City Police Chief Jim Hendrich, who as a sheriff’s department deputy at the time, teamed with state police officer Jim Smith to interrogate Minnick. Their questions and Minnick’s answers were taped and Judge Yelton ruled that recording admissable as evidence during the trial.

The DePauw Pork Day event has been a result of cooperation between Putnam County Pork Producers, DePauw head football coach Nick Mourouzis and DePauw University. With the game starting at 1:30 p.m., the samples will be passed out starting around noon and will be available at halftime or until the sandwiches run out. FOR FURTHER information about DePauw Pork Day, persons may contact Audra Holton, Route 6, Box 438, Greencastle (739-6525).

“We stai ed the pre-natal program a year ago last August,” Murray added. “And it really showed the need and the desirability for the hospital to be a resource for the community. ’ ’ That was the beginning, Murray offered, of specialized education for the community. THE PROGRAM WILL, in fact, dip into

Rev. Wendell P. Webster dies in car accident

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REV. WENDELL P. WEBSTER Killed in car accident

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WILLIAM MINNICK

A beautiful late summer afternoon Thursday proved to be an ideal time to get in some painting for Sandy and Floyd Ewing, who were sprucing up the fence along the West Walnut Street side of Julian Jarvis' Gillespie Street home in Greencastle. Mr. Ewing, who is director of music and education under Rev. Phil Applegate at the First Assembly of God Church, enjoys painting and doing odd jobs in his spare time. (Ban-ner-Graphic photo by Bob Frazier).

the community’s resources to provide the basis for an ongoing community education series. “Dr. Conway, Sharon Black and Dr. (Robert) Winders have already committed themselves to the program,” Murray explained. It was these doctors, medical professionals and their colleagues heading hospital departments which laid the groundwork for the present program. ‘‘l made contact with various department heads,” Murray explained, "and they submitted areas of concern expressed to them by their patients.” FEEDBACK CONTINUED from medical personnel and evaluations from those participating in the programs will provide the basis for additions to the series. “We are going to be using a physician, as well as a local resource person for each forum,” Murray confirmed. Murray has already reported much interest in the “Coping with Diabetes” program' and expects support from the community will continue. “I think people see the hospital as a resource for them,” Murray concluded, “and it seems like an appropriate setting to offer these types of forums. ”

FOREST, 111.-Rev. Wendell Preston Webster, 51, a Baptist minister formerly of Putnam County, was fatally injured Thursday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident on Route 47 in east-central Illinois. Rev. Webster, who maintained addresses at Paris, 111., and Elgin, 111., where he was involved in public relations at Judson College, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:55 p.m. accident, Illinois State Police said. The accident occurred, Illinois authorities told the Banner-Graphic, as Rev. Webster was northbound on Illinois Route 47, north of Champaign. His car collided with a pick-up truck driven by Earl Leman, 18, Route 1, Forest, 111. Police said Leman, who was uninjured, was making a left turn into a farm field when the Webster vehicle crested a hill and slammed into the side of the pick-up truck. The accident occurred 4> 2 miles south of U.S. 24.