Banner Graphic, Volume 16, Number 122, Greencastle, Putnam County, 7 January 1986 — Page 1

Rosser leaving DPU post at end of 'B7

DePauw University president Ur. Richard F. Rosser announced today he will retire from the private liberal arts university in June 1987. Rosser’s retirement will concide with the 10th anniversary of his appointment as DePauw’s 17th president and the conclusion of the university’s year-long sesquicentennial celebration that begins in September. UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND staff were informed of Rosser’s plans in a letter they received Tuesday. He said he is announcing his intentions at this time because “an orderly transition of presidential leadership is highly desirable and inevitably takes planning and time.” Eugene L. Delves, Chicago, chairman of the board of trustees, said he appreciates President Rosser’s “giving us this ad-

Commissioners tab Beck

Gene Beck, rural Bainbridge, was elected Monday night to serve as president of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners. Action came during the board’s first meeting of 1986 at the courthouse. Beck succeeds past president Don Walton of rural Cloverdale. In additon, the board elected Commissioner John Carson, 5 Edgelea Drive, Greencastle, as vice president. LATER, THE BOARD finally found new quarters at the courthouse for Greencastle Township Assessor Carl Torr. Torr had to vacate his third-floor office due to remodeling taking place to add areas relative to the Putnam Circuit and Putnam County courts. The commissioners reviewed an estimate Monday evening to convert part of the women’s courthouse first-floor lounge to accommodate Torr’s office.

Halley’s lights up her life ... again

ByERICBERNSEE Banner-Graphic Managing Editor A once-in-a-lifetime occurrence is becoming a twice-in-a-lifetime experience for a 79-year-old Putnam County woman. Mrs. Paul (Iris) Myers, Route 1, Roachdale, is as intrigued about the arrival of Halley’s Comet as she was wide-eyed 76 years ago. Like others around the octogenarian range, Mrs. Myers has endured a second coming of Comet Halley. “I NEVER DREAMED AFTER 76 years I’d be interested in it again,’’ she told the Banner-Graphic. “Really, it’s your publicity about it, the articles you had in the Spectrum (special B-G section) and all that really got me interested this time.” When Halley’s Comet appeared in 1910, Mrs. Myers was a three-year-old living in the countryside near Carmel. “I remember my dad holding me up and pointing,” she recalled. “He kept telling me I’d be ‘an old, old woman’ before I’d see it again. He was funny like that, he always repeated his adjectives twice, like ‘old, old.’ I really remember that more than seeing the comet. ” The memory of experiencing the moment is really what Mrs. Myers remembers. A glimpse of the comet sticks in her mind, but she can’t be sure she really ever saw it. “I REMEMBER DAD WAS frustrated because I couldn’t seem to see what he wanted me to see,” she laughed. The Roachdale woman recalls letting her dad’s “old, old woman” remark soak in, then asking him where he would be upon Halley’s return. “I’ll be six feet under,”

Zeroing in Clear and very cold overnight with ' low around zero. Continued mostly sunny and cold on Wednesday with high around 25. Winds nearly cairn and no precipitation anticipated during the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Thursday through Saturday: Fair Thursday, a chance of snow statewide Friday, chance of snowshowers in the north Saturday with fair skies in the lower twothirds. Cold, with highs in the mid 20s to low 30s and lows in the teens. Abby A 4 Calendar A 4 Classifieds A 9 Comics A 6 Crossword A 9 Horoscope A 9 Obituaries AlO People A 6 Sports A7.AB Supermarket Shopper A 4 TV A 6 Theaters AlO

vance notice because it will enable the Board to proceed in an orderly fashion without any hiatus in presidential leadership.” “Dick Rosser has done a superb job during what has truly been a decade of difficult times for higher education in America,” Delves said. “By all measures, DePauw has done extraordinarily well under his leadership.” Rosser said he has no firm plans for his “second retirement,” a reference to his first retirement in 1973 when he completed 20 years as a professor and chairman of the political science department at the Air Force Academy. “I just thought 5 to 10 years at a school is the proper amount of time, and I stated that when I came to DePauw in 1977,” Rosser said. “I AM CONSIDERING A whole range of

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Tuesday, January 7,1986 Vol. 16 No. 122 25 Cents ■■

However, the board determined the $1,200 estimate was too high. After touring the courthouse, the commissioners determined it will relocate Torr to the second-floor commissioners’ meeting room. The commissioners, instead, will begin conducting regular board meetings in the Putnam County Courtroom on the third floor. THE COMMISSIONERS ARE expected to make that move permanent at the Jan. 20 meeting, pending approval of Putnam County Court Judge Sally Gray. In other business, the commissioners appointed Dr. Robert Heavin to the Putnam County Board of Health. Dr. Heavin’s term is for a four-year period. Concerning personnel, two promotions were approved at the Putnam County Highway Department. Ronald Dorsett will now serve as a truck foreman, while Curt

Daze Work

she remembers him saying. Mrs. Myers’ interest hasn’t been confined to keeping her eyes on the skies. She’s read everything she can get her hands on about Halley’s Comet, absorbing each and every Banner-Graphic article and acquiring Sky and Telescope magazines to help satisfy her curiosity. The Philomath Club of Roachdale even designated Mrs. Myers to “do a littler paper on the comet. ” “IT’S NOT FROM RECOLLECTION, I’ll assure you,” she laughs, noting she’ll give the report at the club’s March meeting. And prior to that meeting, she’d like to talk to others in their 80s who were old enough to remember viewing the comet in 1910. Such persons are invited to call Mrs. Myers (522-1493) or write her at Route 1, Roachdale 46172. “Most people I’ve talked to are very vague about it,” she says, “even though they are old enough. I really haven’t talked to anyone who does remember very

McKim open house set for comet view

An open house at McKim Observatory for the viewing of Halley’s Comet is scheduled 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesday (tonight), DePauw University Prof. Howard Brooks has announced. BROOKS INVITES residents to use the telescope to view the comet, but reminds those planning to attend that the observatory is unheated and has no restroom facilities. The facility is located at Highridge and DePauw avenues. While it is expected to be extremely cold tonight, it is also supposed to be clear. The next 10 days should provide the best viewing of the comet. “It’s our last chance to see it fairly easily with the eyes or a small pair of binoculars,” Brooks explained, noting that the best vantage point (other than the observatory) is probably west of Greencastle in the area of the old landfill. AN OPEN HOUSE IS also set for Jan. 16 at McKim Observatory.

options when I retire 18 months from now. I might be interested in being a consultant to higher education or I might be interested in becoming head of a charitable foundation,” Rosser said. “And I would not rule out another college presidency if it were a particularly attractive and unique institution. “My wife, who is a professional painter, is looking forward to pursuing her interests in painting more fully, so we are both looking forward to some alternative career patterns,” Rosser said. He added he might even join his wife, Donna, in the arts, pursuing his avocational interest in photography, which he’s had for more than 40 years. “DePauw has had a great past and will have a bright future,” Rosser said in his letter to faculty and staff. “I will be proud

Boiler is promoted to heavy equipment operator status. As has been previous policy, the commissioners signed an agreement with Bob Lowe, who again will serve as county attorney. IN OTHER ACTION, the board. --Gave approval for additional borings to be done at Montgomery County Line Bridge 197. The commissioners will also request an additional appropriation of $4,000 to take care of any added expenses relative to the bridge. -Agreed to have a conference Jan. 20 with commissioners of Clay County relative to Bridge 71 on the Clay-Putnam county line. -Gave approval for the county to be involved in the Student State Assistance Program. -Signed the bond relative to the county treasurer.

At library, too The Putnam County Library will have a program on Halley’s Comet 6:30-8 p.m. Jan. 14. It is open to fourthgraders through adults. Dr. Howard Brooks of DePauw University will speak at the library. Weather permitting, he also plans to take the group outside to view the comet. Persons may register for the program at the circulation desk or by calling 653-6216.

“We’ll look at it again in April and May,” the observatory curator said. “But in March it will be low in the sky and early in the morning (4 a.m.) which won’t be too convenient. And in April it will become a telescope object again.” The comet is racing toward the sun in excess of 56,000 mph, getting lower and lower and setting six minutes later each January evening as it

to have been a part of it when I retire in 1987, and especially, to have worked with all of you. “I think DePauw is now poised to enter the very top rank of liberal arts colleges in the country. We’ve certainly been among the very top 40 liberal arts schools in the country for many years, but we’re now poised to move into the select group of that 40. I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made in almost every area of the life of the university. “I SUPPOSE THE MOST spectacular achievement is reaching and surpassing our sesquicentennial campaign goal of SIOO million with more than a year to go in the campaign.” Those funds are primarily for scholarships to bring outstanding students to DePauw and to endow faculty and staff salaries and academic

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GENE BECK New commissioners' president

much.” Mrs. Myers recently attended the 60th reunion of her class at Carmel. She led the discussion about the comet there and was surprised to discover that most classmates really hadn’t paid much attention to such a rare occurrence. “ONE OLDER SISTER OF a classmate remembered the hype about it,” she explained. “She recalled comet pills and comet parties, but most of the others were really too young to care at the time.” The Roachdale woman would like to see that change for Halley’s this time around. Parents, she said, should strive to make the event special for youngsters who might be too young to realize its rarity. “My daughter made some pins, two-inch pins like political buttons,” she said. “They have a big eye and the comet going past. My great-grandson, who is five, is wearing one, and it makes an impression. “Give the child something like that and let him play with it and talk about. Then if it gets put away, maybe the child will remember in 76 years,” she urges. WITH GREATER ADVANCES IN media and microfilming of newspapers and periodicals, Mrs. Myers agrees more recollections of the comet’s visit will survive 1985-86 than they did 76 years ago. Meanwhile, the Putnam County woman will keep her eyes peeled for the comet. “We have a lot of trees around here,” she said of her Roachdale home. “We came home last night (Sunday) and along the road we found Jupiter all right, but we still couldn’t see the comet. ” What she really needed was dear “old, old” dad to point it out to her.

heads for an encounter with the Earth’s star on Feb. 9. Halley’s Comet will be lost in the glare of the sun next month and on Jan. 17, when the moon reaches first quarter, its light will begin to overpower the dim comet. Right now the comet is “at a brightness where you’ve got a fighting chance to see it,” the DPU professor said. Brooks himself spotted it from his yard earlier this week and has had reports from Randy Patrick at Fincastle that he has been able to view the comet with naked eye. THIS IS THE SECOND time around for McKim Observatory as a Halley’s Comet vantage point. In 1910 Prof. Wilbur Vincent and a class of five DPU students observed the comet via telescope and photographed it. That photo, taken on May 25, 1910, has been unearthed by Brooks and now hangs in the observatory. “For most of us,” Brooks said, “this will be our last chance to see it. For some at least, it’s the last chance until 2061.”

programs. “The faculty at DePauw is, I believe, better than it has ever been and the student body clearly constitutes an extraordinary cross section of America. “DePauw’s facilities are unsurpassed by a college our size and we have a remarkable alumni body that has energized this school for generations,” Rosser said. WHETHER HE CONTINUES to live in Greencastle depends on his postretirement choice, Rosser said. “If I were to become a consultant, I could very well continue to live in Greencastle, which would be fine. In fact, I’m looking forward to seeing the revitalization of the downtown area and the results of the Main Street program. I’m especially pleased Col. 2, back page, this section

Cloverdale board adopts curriculum, retention changes

By LARRY GIBBS Banner-Graphic Publisher Emphasis was on academic excellence Monday night as the Cloverdale Community Schools Board opened the new year by approving curriculum changes and adopting corporation policies governing junior high retention and homework for all students. Meeting for the first time in 1986, the seven-member board authorized the creation of accelerated sections of math, English, social studies and science in the seventh and eighth grades. The new. sections, recommended jointly by administrators and the Cloverdale Education Association, will begin with the 1986-87 school year. SUPT. ROBERT LETURGEZ said the accelerated class sections will offer academically capable students “an opportunity and a challenge to move at a faster pace.” Four criteria will be used to determine student eligibility: -Teacher recommendation. -lowa Basic Test scores. -Commendable grades on report card. -Parental recommendation. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE in the accelerated classes, a student must qualify in at least three of the four areas. For example, Leturgez told the board, a pupil who is recommended by both teacher and parents must also have acceptable test scores or sufficient grades. At the conclusion of the 1986-87 school year, the junior high curriculum committee will review results of the accelerated classes program and make recommendations about its future to the school board.

Continuing its discussion of the junior high program, the board voted unanimously to rescind the corporation’s retention policy, which Leturgez said had been found to be “unsatisfactory and educationally unsound. ” THE OLD POLICY, THE superintendent explained, provided that seventhor eighth-grade students who had been retained could move up to the next grade if their work showed improvement during the first nine-week period of the succeeding year. “But,” Leturgez added, “we found thatafter missing the first nine weeks of that next grade-a student had no foundation upon which to build.” Thus, he said, some students were being advanced to the next grade, but still finding themselves unable to catch up and keep pace. The corporation’s new junior high retention policy, the result of evaluation by adKelly Beck in national pageant BAINBRIDGE-Kelly Beck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Beck. Bainbridge, will be representing the state of Indiana Thursday in Denver, Colo., as the Indiana Polled Hereford Queen. Miss Beck and 30 other girls will be competing for the national queen title Thursday. A sophomore at DePauw University and a North Putnam High School graduate, Miss Beck has served as an ambassador for the Indiana Polled Hereford Association during the past year. Her duties included attending shows, sales, field days and other special events.

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RICHARD F. ROSSER To retire in 1987

$5,000 donor anonymous The Cloverdale Community Schools Corp. opened a late Christmas gift Monday night-another $5,000 from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. Near the conclusion of Monday night’s school board meeting, Supt. Robert Leturgez said a $5,000 trust check had been conveyed to the school corporation by the Spencer law firm of Hickam & Hickam, acting on behalf of the nameless donor. THE CHECK, DATED Monday, came with the contributor’s expressed wish that the money be used to install bleachers in the south gym of the junior-senior high. That gym, where junior high and other games are played, now utilizes folding chairs for spectator seating along the side of the court. Monday’s check brings to SII,OOO the total contribution to date by the anonymous donor. An initial SI,OOO was given to the school corporation to construct dugouts for the baseball field, work that Leturgez said will begin in the spring. Another $5,000 was then donated for the same purpose as Monday’s $5,000-bleachers for the south gymnasium. Board president Daryl Branneman expressed corporation gratitude for the funds.

ministrators and faculty, calls for promotion based on earned credits. A nineweek class will be worth one-half credit, a semester class one credit and a full-year class two credits. A student who successfully completes all course work in seventh or eighth grade will earn 14 credits. “A student will advance to the next grade if he or she accumulates 10 credits during the year unless he or she failed both English and math,” Leturgez told board members. “A committee of junior high teachers, guidance counselor and administration will be convened to determine the placement for the following year of those students who do not achieve 10 credits or have failed both English and math.” LETURGEZ EMPHASIZED that credits Col. 1, back page, this section

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KELLY BECK Miss Indiana Polled Hereford