Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 306, Greencastle, Putnam County, 12 August 1985 — Page 3
What price justice? The system cost Hoosier about $4 apiece during 1984
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) judicial system cost Hoosiers about S2O million last year less than $4 a person. State Court Administrator Bruce A. Kotzan puts that in perspective. “Each person in Indiana spent less to operate the judicial system for a year than he would for a movie,” he said in an interview. “They get one-third of their governmental system for less than $4. It’s a pretty good deal.” Overall, combined spending for trial and appellate courts totaled more than $66.6 million in 1984. That was partially offset by $46.43 million in revenue generated by the courts through fees. Most of the fees are for court purposes, such as docketing cases, serving summons and paying for changes of venue. But courts also collected $370,550 for domestic violence programs, $600,751 for victims of
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Exhibiting flower entries deemed worthy of Indiana State Fair competition at this year's Putnam County Fair were (front, from left) Ryan Huff and Renee Wilson and
Witness for Peace won't give up hope
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Despite the recent kidnapping of several Witness for Peace members, the group’s director, Yvonne Dilling, says the activists are determined to continue their methods. “We who believe in non-violence as a way to peaceful ends have to be willing to take some risks. Sitting here won’t lessen the bloodshed there,” Ms. Dilling said. The Fort Wayne native said group members she has talked to agree that the abduction will not deter Witness for Peace, which she calls a non-violent, interdenominational group dedicated to taking risks to promote peace in Central America. Twenty-nine of its members were seized Wednesday as the group’s “Peace Flotilla” sailed from the Nicaraguan town of Granada for a two-day trip down the San
Parents fear whooping cough on rise
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Health officials are reporting an increase in cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and say some parents are resisting immunization for their children because of the risks involved. The DPT vaccine carries apparent dangerous side-effects from the pertussis component of the shots. The side effects range from a slight fever and skin irritation at the site of the injection to convulsions, brain damage and even death. But health officials say the risks of the pertussis disease are much greater than its vaccine. Dr. Michael A. Hogan of Indianapolis, chairman of the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said severe side effects of the DPT vaccine occur only in “uncommon circumstances.”
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violent crime, $80,653 for the conservation department and $3,221 for the marijuana eradication proogram. The cost of justice as administered by the state’s 273 trial courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court is one of the arcane bits of trivia in the 1984 Indiana Judicial Report. The 376-page volume paints a legal portrait of Hoosier society what brings them to court, how their cases are resolved, the fees they pay and how long they have to wait for resolution of their disputes. During 1984, 952,692 cases were filed in Indiana trial courts. The total includes criminal, civil, divorce, traffic, juvenile, guardianship, probate, adoption and other miscellaneous matters. Kotzan said the new filing total is the second highest since his office began keeping those records in 1975. The highest
(back, from left) Becky Gierke, Michelle Huff, Robin Hacker, Michelle Knauer, Angel Hopkins and Traci Chew. (Banner-Graphic photo by Bob Frazier).
Juan River, which forms the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The group made the trip despite a threat of attack by Eden Pastora, whose Revolutionary Democratic Alliance troops are based in the area in their fight to overthrow the leftist Nicaraguan government. The alliance, known as ARDE, has acknowledged making the threat but denied capturing the Americans. Witness for Peace has accused ARDE, retracted the accusation and accused the group again. The group’s members, along with journalists who accompanied them, were released Thursday. On Saturday, the members pledged to remain in San Carlos, Nicaragua until today, holding peace vigils for an end to the fighting Ms. Dilling told the Fort Wayne Journal-
The series of five DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) vaccinations are required of all school-age children. He added that if the 7,500 cases of whooping cough reported in the United States in 1934 were adjusted for today’s population, the resulting 15,000 cases would cause a public outcry. “It comes in an epidemic when it comes,” said Hogan. “We have a lot of parents out there who are more afraid of the vaccination than of the disease they’ve never seen.” Japan and England, which had suspended their pertussis immunization programs because of public opposition, reinstated the inoculations after a surge in whooping cough cases. Ken C. Allman, an immunization
was 975,304 cases in 1980. “Caseloads generally follow economic trends,” Kotzan said. “The more activity within society, within the business sector, the more litigation is generated.” Divorce filings totalled 43,095 in 1984, down slightly from 43,158 in 1983 and 43,694 in 1982. Kotzan remarked on the consistency in the divorce filing totals, but couldn’t explain it. The divorce filings are down considerably from the peak of 49,132 in 1980. The number of civil cases dropped to 65,018, the third straight year of decline. Kotzan speculates that the reduction reflects “a greater inclination of a defendant to settle before litigation is commenced.” Trial courts disposed of a record 919,442 cases in 1984, up about 20,300 from the year before. Kotzan credited the increase to
Gazette that she knew Witness for Peace groups could not long avoid direct contact with Nicaraguan rebels. “I prayed nothing like this (the kidnappings) would ever happen, but I knew deep in my heart something was bound to happen one of these times. I guess all’s fair in love and war,” she said. “But you can’t think about that. You have to keep in mind why you're going there.. .You have strong convictions. You know something has to be done.” Witness for Peace members say their aim is to end fighting between the U.S.backed rebels and the Sandinista government. Their presence in the embattled country is primarily aimed at giving the people emotional support, she said.
specialist with the Indiana State Board of Health said many companies stopped manufacturing vaccines as liability suits began to fall in their laps. That has led to a shortage of the vaccine in the past 18 months. Hogan said he has noticed that the shortage has begun to ease because a Canadian pharamceutical firm has gotten back into the vaccineproducing business. Only one U.S company currently makes DPT vaccine. According to Allman, last month saw about 30 new cases of the disease reported to the State Board of Health. At least three children with pertussis were admitted to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis last week, said Dr. Martin Kleiman, head of infectious disease treatment at the hospital.
better trained judges, a heightened ability to manage the docket and the decriminalization of many traffic offenses, allowing those cases to be handled in a less formal manner than misdemeanor cases. The increase in judicial productivity in 1984 also coincided with legislative approval of a pay raise to take effect Jan. 1, 1985, the first since 1980. “I’ve never charted whether the increase in salary has an impact on dispositions,” Kotzan said. “I seriously doubt it.” On the appellate side, the Supreme Court received 487 cases in 1984 and disposed of 425. The five-man court ended 1984 with 357 cases pending. The Supreme Court backlog has been increasing steadily, from 146 at the end of 1981, to 208 at the end of 1982 and 295 at the end of 1983. Kotzan said that could be
Poll shows uncertainty over plan BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Monroe County residents know little about a plan to dispose of contaminated wastes at six sites in the county and 60 percent are unsure how they feel toward it, according to an Indiana University poll. However, those who claimed to be knowledgeable about the plan tended to oppose it while those who favored it appeared to be less well informed, the poll by lU’s Center for Survey Research said. The plan would require Westinghouse Electric Corp to pay between $75 million and SIOO million to dispose of wastes contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly called PCBs. Westinghouse used PCBs in the manufacture of electrical capacitors and transformers from 1958 to 1972. PCBs are suspected of causing cancer and birth defects in laboratory animals, but their effect on humans is unclear. Jon Masland, co-director of the IU center, said 595 county residents, selected at random, were questioned about the cleanup plan announced in May by Westinghouse and federal, state and local government. "Of those, 26 percent were in favor of the decree, 14 percent expressed opposition and 60 percent said they were unsure either way,” said Masland. “One message that emerged from the survey is county residents lack knowledge about the specifics of the consent decree,” Masland said. “Many claimed to know very little about the decree and were unable to voice an opinion for or against it.” Under the plan, which was negotiated to settle government lawsuits against the company, extensive excavation would take place to remove hazardous wastes from the six sites. The wastes would then be burned in a high-temperature incinerator, federal authorities have said. The sites are Neal’s Landfill, Neal’s Dump, Lemon Lane Landfill, Bennett’s Dum, Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant and Anderson Road Landfill. The first four are on the Environmental Protection Agency’s national priority list for cleanup under the Superfund law. Masland said the poll also showed that county residents, despite being unfamiliar with the plan, consider the PCB issue important. “Thirty-three percent felt the issue is very important, 40 percent somewhat important, 19 percent not very important and 8 percent not at all important,” he said. Persons who were unsure of their feelings about the decree tended to be the least knowledgeable, he said. “Those in favor of the decree were mostly concerned about the health and safety of Monroe County residents, stressing the need to get the PCB contamination cleaned up,” he said. “Those in favor also expressed some frustration, saying it was ‘time to settle the issue’ or that it is the best deal we could get.’
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Monday, August 12,1985, The Putnam County Banner Graphic
eased with the enactment of a constitutional amendment limiting the Supreme Court’s obligation to handle direct criminal appeals, except in the most serious cases. Such an amendment was approved by the 1985 Legislature. It must pass again during either the 1987 or 1988 session and then be approved by the voters in a statewide referendum before the amendment would be effective. Justice Alfred J. Pivarnik led the Supreme Court in total dispositions with 104 cases, followed by Justice Donald H. Hunter with 93, Chief Justice Richard M. Givan with 82, Justice Roger O. Deßruler with 77 and Justice Dixon W. Prentice with 69. The Supreme Court also handled 507 special judge appointments, disposed of 50 attorney disciplinary cases and reviewed
state
Fort Wayne profits from new companies in nearby villages
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) Small companies have been flocking to booming northeastern Indiana to take advantage of lower labor rates in rural counties, and many of the dollars they bring in are finding their way to Fort Wayne. More than 95 plants employing 9,300 people have opened in the region since 1983, with nearly nine of every 10 opening in towns and cities around Fort Wayne, according to estimates by Indiana Northeast Development, a regional economic development agency. “We’re talking about an economically interdependent region,” said Lincoln F., Schrock, coordinator of the regional development agency. “That means whatever happens in Auburn, be it good, bad or indifferent, is going to show up in the cash registers at Glenbrook Square (in Fort Wayne).” Karl I. Bandemer, Fort Wayne Economic Development Department director, agreed. “Better they go to Auburn than Elkhart,” he said of the new plants. Bandemer said he believes many Michigan firms have opened assembly operations in Indiana’s northernmost counties simply to take advantage of rural labor rates. “If all you’re concerned about is employing low-wage earners off the farm, why be in Fort Wayne?” said Bandemer, warning that some of the companies might abandon rural northern Indiana if wages rise. Muskegon Paper Box is the most recent example of the trend to check into small northeastern Indiana towns. Last week it received the Auburn Economic Development Commission’s initial approval for $3.5 million in tax-free bonds to pay for an 87-employee print shop on Auburn’s east side. Fort Wayne also holds its own on the economic development front, thanks to a few major developments, Bandemer said.. ITT Corp.’s Aerospace-Optical Division plans to expand its Fort Wayne operation and expects eventually to employ 550 people at its new military radio plant on
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eight petitions from would-be lawyers who failed the Indiana bar exam. The appeals court, with its 12 judges, received 1,150 cases in 1984 and disposed of 1,137. The appeals court’s Third District, which covers roughly the northern third of Indiana, disposed of the most cases, 364 Judge George B. Hoffman of the Third District led his 12 colleagues with 146 majority opinions, followed by Judge William I. Garrard of the Third District with 113 and Judge Wesley W. Ratliff of the First District, which covers southern Indiana, with 111. Other judges with more than 100 majority opinions in 1984 were Judge Stanley B. Miller of the Fourth District, which takes cases from all over the state, with 103 and Judge Robert W. Staton of the Third District with 101.
the city’s north side. Bandemer also said Fort Wayne can put together complex deals beyond the scope of smaller cities. The city, Allen County and state assembled a S2B million road and utility improvement package to accommodate General Motors Corp., which is building a 3,000-employee truck assembly plant of the southwest of the city, and a S2B million airport improvement package was arranged by the city and state for Burlington Northern Air Freight Inc., which next month intends to open a cargo hub at Baer Field employing 350 mostly part-time workers. “There are certainly companies opening in Fort Wayne and most of them are bluechippers, the Fortune 5005,” Schrock said. “But certainly in terms of numbers, the predominate number of manufacturers have located in northeast Indiana There are a lot of reasons why they are doing it.” Money is foremost, he said. Rural wages are lower, as are land and living costs, and Fort Wayne's image as a strong union town can repel companies, Schrock said. In addition, many companies, particularly the dozens of auto parts suppliers that have moved to the region from Michigan and Ohio, want to be as close as possible to Detroit, Schrock said That means building near the intersection of Interstate 69 and Interstate 80-90 in Steuben County. In Muskegon Paper Box's case, many customers had moved out of Michigan, so the boxmaker, which had opened in 1910 in Muskegon, Mich., decided to follow, said John E. Tgaeger, company president. When one of Traeger’s Michigan customers recommended Indiana for its lower workers’ compensation rates and unemployment insurance taxes, Traeger took an interest in northeast Indiana, a region handy to the company's cardboard recycling plant at White Pigeon, Mich. After hearing pitches from several northeastern Indiana communities, Hatfield chose Auburn, which he noted has the advantages of a small town but still is close to Fort Wayne’s restaurants, shopping centers and cultural events.
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