Banner Graphic, Volume 17, Number 172, Greencastle, Putnam County, 24 March 1987 — Page 1

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Tuesday, March 24,1987 Vol. 17 No. 172 25 cents

Plan Commission suggestions are revived, but tabled

By ERICBERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Revival of City Plan Commission recommendations concerning traffic flow and sewer services shifted to the back burner Monday night at City Hall. Plan Commission recommendations for extension of Judson Drive north and a north-south access between Indianapolis and Albin Pond roads and another recommendation concerning priority needs for city sewer services were tabled in their revived state Monday night. ALTHOUGH BOTH recommendations had been passed on to the Greencastle City Council last summer, the Plan Commission had intended to reaffirm those recommendations Monday night. After brief discussion, however, tabling of any further deliberations won out at the 75-minute meeting. Board President Bessie Rector reminded the panel and a slim audience that local developer Jerry Masten has signed an agreement to extend Judson Drive northwesterly through to Albin Pond Road in the future. But that agreement with Masten, City Engineer Cliff Norton noted, provides for the extension only if Masten begins further development in the area. “If he doesn’t have any further development, he’s off the hook,” Norton said. AND WITH THE number of homes presently on the local housing market, Norton said the likelihood of development in the near future is nil. Mrs. Rector said both recommendations were received favorably by the City Council. However budgetary constraints have precluded any action toward setting aside funds to purchase a portion of land for a new north-south street or extending city sewer services to

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Putnam County's Ag Day Baby for 1987 is Joseph Allen Bumgardner, born March 19 at Putnam County Hospital. He is the son of Paul and Lisa Bumgardner of Greencastle. Barbara Brookshire of the Putnam County Farm Bureau Ag

So nice while it lasted

Occasional thundershowers, mainly in the evening. Otherwise, cloudy and cooler with low near 45. Chance of thundershowers 70 percent early and 40 percent after midnight. Mostly cloudy and ’ cooler Wednesday with chance of showers 50 percent. High Wednesday around 55.

Rolling Hills, Jefferson Street, Jackson Boulevard and Commercial Place (storm sewers). The city sewerline on Albin Pond Road ends at Castleton Drive, Norton said, noting that it needs to run an additional 1,500 feet to allow Rolling Hills Subdivision (west of Albin Pond Road) to hook on at their own or the developer’s expense. THE CITY ENGINEER estimated that the city could extend the line for $45,000. Mrs. Rector, meanwhile, suggested it might be feasible to use surplus sewage revenues to extend that line along Albin Pond Road to Todson Drive (the entrance to Rolling Hills). Norton, however, noted that adding the three homes on Jackson Boulevard currently unserviced and five homes unconnected on Jefferson Street would not be cost-effective or cost-feasible. He said individual lift stations would be necessary on Jackson Boulevard and Jefferson Street. “IF AND WHEN THE oft-maigned Southside Interceptor Sewer is put into effect, these things could be taken care of,” He added. Unfortunately, federal funding has never been secured for the Southside Interceptor. The Commercial Place storm sewer project is on the drawing board, Norton said, noting that the lirst phase of design is complete. What gets done from here on depends on budgetary matters, Norton added. Mrs. Rector said the Council had urged the Plan Commission “to keep on us.” She added, “If we can help keep aware of these problems, something will break eventually.” AT THE CONCLUSION of the meeting, Greencastle City Councilman Bobby Albright, filling in for Col. 3, back page, this section

Day Baby Committee was on hand at PCH to present mother and child with a $25 check for his savings account and a certificate honoring him as the Ag Day Baby. (Banner-Graphic photo by Gary Goodman).

Indiana Extended Forecast By The Associated Press Thursday through Saturday: Partly cloudy each day, with a chance of showers on Thursday. Highs each day from 45 to 55 north and from 50 to 60 south. Lows from 30 to 40 north and from 35 to 45 south.

State Trooper Stave Hurst checks for damage to a 1983 Pontiac (center), one of three vehicles involved in a 12:05 p.m. accident at U.S. 231 and U.S. 36 Monday. A 1974 International truck, driven by Louis W. Ridgeway, 37, Route 6, Greencastle, experienced engine failure eastbound on U.S. 36, Hurst told the Banner-Graphic. The loss

DPLTs McCall sees lack of understanding Media message said lacking in college

American colleges are failing to provide undergraduate students with an adequate understanding of one of the most powerful institutions today - the media. Instead, college programs ~ and even journalism schools themselves - concentrate more on technical aspects of mass media that offer little true understanding of the workings in the media, says Jeff McCall, an assistant professor of communication at DePauw University, who has written about mass communication studies in undergraduate programs. “MANY PEOPLE graduate from college without even knowing how the media gathers information,” Mc-

Prosecution is possible at Brazil INDIANAPOLIS - Clay County Prosecutor Fritz D. Modesitt is investigating whether criminal charges should be filed against a Brazil, Ind., woman after a mentally handicapped woman in her care was allegedly beaten. The Indiana Department of Mental Health dropped Bertha Barnett from its alternative-family program after the reported beating, which was the second involving a woman in Mrs. Barnett’s care. Mrs. Barnett, 61, had been a householder in the program since 1983 and had been paid S9OO a month to care for three mentally retarded women. On July 27,1986, Alta L. Fiscus, 61, suffered fatal injuries that police say they believe were inflicted by a roommate when Mrs. Barnett left the women in the care of a 16-year-old sitter. No criminal charges were filed in that case after an investigation by Indiana State Police. However, state officials dropped Mrs. Barnett from the program when the last woman in her care arrived last week at a sheltered workshop with a black eye and an injured arm. Those injuries led to the woman’s removal from the home and Mrs. Barnett’s decertification. Initial police reports indicate that the 48-year-old victim, who has the mental capacity of a young child, has implicated Mrs. Barnett in her injuries.

... Index Aoby A 5 Business A 4 Calendar A 5 Classifieds AB.A9 Comics A 6 Crossword A 8 Horoscope A 9 People A 6 Sports A7.AB TV A 6

of power, cut braking and steering abilities of the truck, as it tried to turn south onto U.S. 231. The truck struck two cars stopped northbound at the light -- the Buick, driven by James P. Forgey, 56, Muncie, and a 1984 Pontiac (left), driven by Teresa K. Fordice, 26, Russellville. No one was injured in the accident, although two small children were

Call said. “There is a basic misunderstanding about the media’s role and how information gets to the public. We’re all media consumers so we should know something about the process that produces information. “To many, the media is a faceless, nameless giant, but if people have a better understanding of it, they won’t be as paranoid,” he says. “Many institutions are already bogged down in long lists of required courses. Besides, enrolling students in a mass communication course will no more likely ensure media literacy than will enrolling students in freshman English ensure they will become great writers,” writes Mc-

Indiana Lt. Gov. John Mutz and Bainbridge Clerk-Treasurer Linda Blocher show off a certificate citing Bainbridge as the recipient of a Challenge Grant from the state for the purchase of a new truck and snowplow. Delivery of the muchneeded truck will be the culmination of last fall's

Mutz visit turns Bainbridge thoughts to plowing snow

By JODY AMERS FORD Banner-Graphic Staff Writer BAINBRIDGE-Although it seemed that spring was in the air and not snow, Bainbridge residents ended a weekend flurry of activity with a new snow removal vehicle in tow. Lt. Gov. John Mutz presented Bainbridge officials with a $14,000 grant that would allow the town to purchase a multi-purpose vehicle. Town organizations will provide the matching funds to purchase the $24,000 dump truck/snow removal vehicle, said Linda Blocher, Bainbridge Clerktreasurer. MUTZ’S DONATION was part

Call in a paper recently presented about media literacy in college education at the Symposium on Professional and Liberal Education at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. TO REMEDY THE situation, McCall suggests that media studies be included in all phases of conventional liberal arts programs. “Integrate the study of mass communication into the entire curriculum. You can make the case that there is hardly any area that is not greatly affected by media. Media is so pervasive that it cannot be ignored. If we think that English, or philosophy, or government is important, we have to realize that the

"Rally 'Round the Snowplow" effort at Bainbridge. Funds were raised through donations and a community-wide flea market held under the water tower during the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival.

of a statewide Challenge Grant program. The program provides funding for small projects in communities such as Bainbridge, she added. To receive the grant, the town must provide more than 25 percent of the funding neccessary to purchase the equipment and also exhibit community involvement in the project. Bainbridge purchased its current snow removal vehicle about 12 years ago and it was already used at the time of purchase, Blocher told the BannerGraphic. “I think Lt. Gov. Mutz summed it up pretty well when he said it was held together with bubble

in the backseat of the Fordice vehicle, near the point of impact. Trooper Hurst said damage to the truck was minimal, while damage was estimated at SI,OOO to the other vehicles. Trooper Mark Keister and Bainbridge Marshal Walter Huffman assisted at the scene. (Banner-Graphic photo by Bob Frazier).

media is important, too.” McCall said faculty at American schools should accept the study of mass media as a legitimate discipline. “The study of mass communication is still considered rather narrowly because academics feel journalism has always been a vocation. But much of what we teach in mass communication is not vocational - criticism, information processing, media ethics.” And, in schools specifically training students to enter the media, programs are too vocationallyoriented, McCall says. “They cater more to the whim of the professionals and the professionals Col. 3, back page, this section

gum and baling wire,” Blocher said. THE NEW TRUCK IS expected to be at its permanent home in about three months. Officals present for the presentation were Mutz; Mike Shaver, head of the state grant section; Andrew Reinke, field representative for the state; Tom O’Conner, salesman for Tom Wood Pontiac/GMC who submitted the winning bid on the truck; Jim Nelson, Bainbridge Utilities Superintendent, and Town Board of Trustee members, Richard Promckus, Walter Stevens and Russell Evans. Also present was State Sen. Richard Thompson (RNorth Salem).