Banner Graphic, Volume 17, Number 166, Greencastle, Putnam County, 17 March 1987 — Page 1

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Tuesday, March 17, 1987 Vol. 17 No. 166 25 cents

Fringe benefits? City jurisdiction questioned by two-mile reside?

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic News Editor A rural Greencastle man feels there is definitely no “fringe” benefit to living within the city’s twomile zoning area. At least, that was what the Putnam County commissioners were told Monday night as questions and criticism regarding the city’s jurisdiction in zoning matters were offered by Robert Vanlandingham, Route 1, Greencastle. VANLANDINGHAM posed questions to the commissioners specifically about the proposed extension of the city’s two-mile fringe area.

Commissioners vote to keep county home only residential

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic News Editor Concern expressed Monday night about a Putnam County Jail inmate being housed at the Green Acres County Home upon his release, resulted in the county commissioners taking a different stand than what was agreed to earlier. At the commissioners’ March 2 meeting, Putnam County Court Judge Sally Gray requested a jail inmate be allowed to reside at the Green Acres County Home for a 30day period, until he finds employment. THE INMATE. JUDGE Gray said, has an alcohol problem, but is a good worker when sober. All he needs, the judge added, is an opportunity. The request was being made, she said, because the inmate has no relatives living nearby to assist. Commissioners Gene Beck, John Carson and Don Walton agreed verbally to the request, feeling the need to help people when possible. But the commissioners saw a different view when Green Acres County Home Administrator Jerry Monnett addressed the board Monday night. Monnett said he wished Judge Gray had informed him she would be talking about the request at the com-

«gg ~ | II ffl L/W)M'\KKs |y jp j | W$ m^rr* 1 "'" **’ ,< * la, “ ll '' l * ”****' -**»«*■»“• jj&jjt

Conferring with volunteer secretary Helen Johnston, Main Street Greencastle Project Manager Bill Dory oversees recent correspondence from his 14 S. Indiana St. office. Dory has been project manager of the effort since November 1983. Main Street is currently in the midst of a month-long membership drive. (Ban-ner-Graphic photo by Eric Bernsee).

Luck of Irish ends Wednesday

Partly cloudy overnight with low in the mid to upper 30s. An 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms developing on Wednesday with high in the low to mid 50s. Easterly winds at 10 mph during the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Thursday through Saturday: A chance of rain statewide Thursday; partly cloudy north and a chance of rain south on Friday, and cloudy statewide on Saturday. Highs each day in the upper 40s and 50s, and lows in the 30s to low 40s.

The proposal (Ordinance 1987-2 in the city’s books) would extend city zoning authority two miles beyond city limits, as allowed by state statute. The Greencastle Planning Commission, after extensive study, proposed to the City Council that the fringe area should be extended to control the use of future properties which may develop in the area, while protecting existing properties. The recommendation was recently presented to the City Council in ordinance form. The board passed the proposal on the first of three required readings. Voting for the recommendation were City Coun-

Belle Union Road section is closed A section of roadway on County Road 600 south (the Belle Union Road) will be closed to traffic beginning Wednesday for the next two days. The section of road is between County Road 825 east to County Road 900 east, according to Pat Sager of the Putnam County Highway Department. The road will be closed so that workers can place a pipe in the area, Mrs. Sager said.

missioners’ March 2 meeting. “If 1 had known it was going to come up, I would have been here,” he said. IN ANY RESPECT, Monnett was concerned the County Home is being viewed as an “extension of the jail.” “We did something like this out there two or three times earlier,” Monnett told the commissioners, “and it hasn’t worked out.” Monnett also told the commissioners he did not like the way the judge handled the matter. “She did call and talk to me about it,” he said.

Downtown ready for its next 'spurt,' Dory says

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Greencastle’s downtown has enjoyed two heydays in its illustrious past. And a third may be just around the comer. That is the belief of Main Street Greencastle Project Manager Bill Dory. The Turn of the Century and post-World War II boom have been the high-water marks in the square’s past. “THE TURN OF THE CENTURY was probably the busiest,” Dory said, pondering Greencastle past, present and future during a recent interview with the Banner-Graphic. “It was at that time that the courthouse was built. Mr. Prevo built his new department store. And within the first 20 years of the century, you had the Link’s building, post office and library all built. That was probably the real heyday. ” Another peak period evolved just after World War 11, said Dory, who is involved in a membership drive for Main Street Greencastle this month (a special tabloid section on Main Street Greencastle is included in today’s Banner-Graphic and Spectrum editions). “You had men coming back from the war and taking over family businesses or starting new ones,” Dory explained. “Typically, these things run in spurts.” THEN, IS GREENCASTLE ready for its next spurt? “I would think so,” Dory smiled, well aware that a $431,000 project for streets, curbs and landscaping to begin this spring is seen as the impetus for continued downtown revitalization. “What you’re seeing now,” Dory said, “is that some

Index Abby A 7 Business A 4 Calendar A 7 Classifieds AIO,AII Comics A 6 Crossword AlO Editorials A 5 Heloise A 7 Horoscope All Obituaries Al 2 People A 6 Sports A8,A9,A10 TV AlO Theaters Al 2

cilman Flossie Keck, John Stevens, Tim Conway and Robert Sedlack. Councilman Bobby Albright voted “no.” ALTHOUGH THE county has no say-so in what the city does with its zoning, Vanlandingham questioned the board about the county possibly getting involved. “The county doesn’t have zoning right now,” Vanlandingham said. “But if it did, would the county have jurisdiction up to the city limits, or would the city still have the rights to its two-mile area?” County attorney Bob Lowe said the county, if countywide zoning were a reality, would indeed control zoning

“I told her I would think about it,” he added. But Monnett said he decided it would not make for a constructive atmosphere to place an inmate with residents. “I JUST DON’T think it’s fair to the other residents,” Monnett said. “I have nothing against this man she wants to bring in, but I just feel it should have been handled a different way.” Commissioner Carson wondered aloud if the county would be setting a precedent, if allowing the inmate seek residency at the home and search for employment. “We were told he had no family around here,” Beck pointed out, looking at the man’s application, “but there are five people listed here.” “When Judge Gray called me a month ago about it, she said it would only be for a month,” Monnett related. “Well, it’s been two months now and I assume he is still without employment. My question is if he is at Green Acres, who is suppose to take him around to seek employment?” “IS THE COUNTY required to take anyone that asks for residency there?” Walton questioned county Col. 2, back page, this section

$19,800 bid accepted on Robe-Ann restrooms

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor J & J Masonry, a relative newcomer in the local contracting business, Monday night was awarded the contract to renovate the Robe-Ann Park restrooms. J & J Masonry, owned by Jeff Kean of Greencastle, was the low bidder on the project at $19,800. Also strongly considered was a $20,000 bid by Mace Construction of Greencastle. BUT WHEN THE PARK Board went to make its decision at a special meeting Monday night, it really only had one choice - the J & J bid -- because of a stipulation in the Mace contract. Mace had asked for an

up to the city’s corporate limits. “THE CITY WOULD have jurisdiction only within the corporate limits,” Lowe explained, “and the county would have control outside of that area, which would include the two-mile fringe area, if we (the county) had a zoning plan.” Lowe said homeowners would have to abide by whatever zoning restrictions the county would enact, the same as they do now in the city. But Vanlandingham was more concerned about efficiency than actual zoning control. Right now, the rural Greencastle resident said, it often takes three months to get zoning approval from the city for a par-

•'* SBH MmJm: m j A /y.v.L'/jHg V V aEb» ®?vc' mPiwb>% '%■ ,?*’%*''*

250 attend Ag Day Breakfast

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Affairs Editor More than 250 farmers, along with business and professional people, converged on the fairgrounds Community Building for an early Tuesday morning breakfast to launch Ag Week observance in Putnam County. Honored on the occasion were the Jack and Ella Marie Torr family who had been selected for the meritorious farmer award, based on civic, community and agricultural

of those World War 11-era merchants are retiring and other entrepreneurs are moving in.” Back in the pre-shopping center, pre-multi-car family, residents relied on the downtown to offer virtually all their needs. For example, Greencastle at one time or another had four downtown grocery stores - Kroger, A & P, Standard and Stop ‘n’ Shop. Now there is no fulltime downtown grocery store. “THERE WAS A GREATER nucleus of activity,” Dory explained, noting that the second and third floors, as well as basements, of buildings around the square were utilized to capacity. “Although that idea is coming back now, we still have more vacant space on the second floors,” he said. Today’s downtown businesses also occupy multiple storefronts. Where multi-door entries open into bigger stores like J.C. Penney, First Citizens Bank and Hook’s, several smaller businesses once occupied the same quarters. Nowadays, Dory said, the business community is much more competitive. No longer can store owners rely on a captive audience. Because of that, the downtown area is in the process of being “fine-tuned,” the Main Street project manager said, “not necessarily to compete, but to better provide the variety that people seek. We need to specialize a little more, which is the nature of retail business across the country.” SINCE THE MAIN STREET effort was sparked in the fall of 1983 with the hiring of Dory as fulltime project manager, steady progress has been made. The Rocking Horse and Wilson Hutchens and Wilson law of-

initial payment of SB2O at the outset of construction. Mayor Gerald Warren, on hand for the Park Board meeting, said the city cannot advance funds like that until the project is completed. The restroom renovation was estimated by both bidders as a maximum 15day project. Three bids were originally submitted at the Park Board’s March 4 session, but a $32,000 bid was ruled out since the project is to be funded by not more than $20,000 in Cumulative Capital Improvement (CCI) funds. STREET COMMISSIONER Jim Wright helped advise the Park Board on the bid process. He said

ticular project. County Commissioner Gene Beck did interject the county does have a County Planning Commission, which mostly approves subdivisions, etc. “EVEN IF THE county had zoning,” Lowe told Vanlandingham, “you would still have similar procedures to follow (to get zoning approval) as what the city has you go through now.” “What I’m trying to get at is simplification,” Vanlandingham related. “You go down to one office now (for city zoning), and then they send you off somewhere else,” he pointed out. “I can tell you right quick,” Corn-

contributions to Putnam County. Making the presentation was Fred Mann who recognized the family by presenting a plaque. Selected previously for this honor were Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Torr, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hurst and Mr. and Mrs. Doris Salsman. WHEN THE CHEERING died down at the close of a spirited goatmilking contest, Dale Jessup, Kroger manager and goatmaster, declared that Bill Merkel, South Put-

fice currently are the most visible of the program. “I think we’re doing pretty well,” Dory said. “We’re starting to gain interest from a lot of younger people starting out in business. Walden Inn has been a great anchor for us in the Vine Street corridor area. And Ashley Square Cinema has expanded our entertainment, not only for Greencastle, but for the whole county.” Rather than become “cutesy” like Indianapolis’ Union Station renovation, the Greencastle Dory sees is one of a “practical mix of stores to meet the needs of the community, and hopefully attract consumers from the outside.” DORY SAID THERE IS proof the downtown revitalization effort is already paying dividends to that end. The Walden Inn’s dining facilities have become a powerful drawing card, not only for evenings and banquets, but for lunch, Dory said. Several merchants have reported Terre Haute or other out-of-town visitors strolling through their stores after doing lunch at the Walden. “And as the weather gets better and stays nice, you’ll see more people wandering Greencastle and shopping,” Dory predicted. Main Street’s major goal, the project manager said, is the completion of the CIP grant project. Beyond that, accomplishments cannot be measured in concrete, accent paving and restored splendor. “We’re doing quite a bit of work recruiting new business, trying to fill vacancies around the square,” Col. 2, back page, this section

City Engineer Cliff Norton and City Attorney Jerald Calbert had both reviewed the final two bids and found them virtually identical, except for the $202 difference and the Mace request for SB2O. Both bids stated that A.A. Huber would do the plumbing work. “The materials and the liability are the same,” Wright said. “Everything’s the same, right down to the nails.” The restroom renovation project will provide modem restrooms at the city park for the first time. The renovated restrooms, located west of the softball diamond backstop, will be handicapped-accessible both inside and out.

missioner John Carson interjected “you will not simplify anything {by changing from city zoning to county zoning). “YOU’D STILL HAVE to go through all the things that you have to go through now with the city,” Carson said. “And if you wanted to do something, there is always going to be someone who will object to it. There is no simple way, but it does help to protect what you’ve got.” “The same laws would apply and the same kinds of procedures,” Lowe added regardinig county vs. city zoning. “What bothers me,” VanlanCol. 2, back page, this section

South Putnam High School basketball coach Bill Merkel was perhaps the only competitor not utterly confused during Tuesday morning's goatmilking contest at the annual Ag Day Breakfast. The competition this year pitted the county's four boys' varsity basketball coaches. Runner-up to Merkel was North Putnam's Bruce Farley, with Greencastle's Doug Miller and Cloverdale's Jim Stewart left to cry over spilled milk. (BannerGraphic photo by Bob Frazier).

nam varsity basketball coach, had outstripped his competition. Coming in second was Bruce Farley of North Putnam with Jim Stewart, Cloverdale, anti Doug Miller, Greencastle receiving “also-ran” awards. A farm-business exchange, initiated more than 35 years ago by the Chamber of Commerce and Kenny Harris, then Putnam County Extension Agent, will be re-enacted this year as a part of local Ag Week observance. Col. 2, back page, this section

THE BOARD’S OTHER main item of business -- selection of a new park superintendent - was tabled. The board interviewed three candidates in executive session, but could not deliberate on those interviews in time to select a candidate to be announced during the public portion of the agenda. In other business--Wright reported that Mark McGaughey of McGaughey’s Electric will inspect the softball diamond lighting at 7 p.m. Friday to determine how much work is necessary to restore the lighting to acceptable playing standards. If the old lights are removed and new ones Coi. 5, back page, this section