Banner Graphic, Volume 17, Number 197, Greencastle, Putnam County, 22 April 1987 — Page 1

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Wednesday, Apri122,1987 Vol. 17 No. 197 25Cents

Shelter seen as necessity By JODY AMERS FORD Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Social service officials agreed Tuesday that a shelter to house homeless, battered or crisis-stricken individuals or families is a major need in Putnam County. The meeting at the Putnam County Senior Center was organized by Crisis Center backers Thelma Bumgardner and Jim Albin to inform interested persons or groups about the shelter. Bumgardner, Greencastle Township trustee, and investigator Albin have been working on plans for the shelter for about two months. “THE ALLISON HOME was originally considered, but we couldn’t use it because of the kids that live there. We made a bid for another house but we just found out it was turned down,” she said. Albin and Bumgardner had submitted a $40,000 bid for a house located just south of the Greencastle Fire Station and directly east of the Elks Club on South Indiana Street. The house is owned by the First Christian Church with an asking price of $89,000, officials said. However, Albin said the church was not aware of the plans for the house when the bid was turned down. “WE WILL BE meeting with them again. They were not aware of the plans we had for the house, Albin said. Albin added that Putnam County was in desperate need of the shelter. “We currently have to take battered women to Crawfordsville. You can ask anyone in Crawfordsville where the shelter is and they can tell you. I question the value of these hidden shelters,” Albin said. He continued that the location of the proposed shelter was “precious” because of the central location to police protection, county offices, library facilities and postal service. ALTHOUGH PUTNAM County often does not have the visible transients of larger cities, the problem does exist, he said. “We have all the problems that happen in Indianapolis only in smaller numbers. It’s disgusting, really, to have people sleeping in their cars,” he added. The shelter would additionally house some non-violent offenders and juveniles. County Court Judge Sally Gray said the shelter would provide a place to send offenders who did not require jail supervsion. “ I THINK THIS IS something that everyone is interested in. The state penal institutions are so expensive. The housing would provide needed supervision. In our own jail, people have been sleeping on the floor off and on since October because we’re so crowded. I don’t send people to the State Farm unless I have given up on them. It’s just a nightmare up there,” she said. Offenders placed in the shelter would be required to secure employment or work around the facility or in the county, Judge Gray said. Although the community had been extremely cooperative concerning the effort, the Crawfordsville facility has objected because of the loss of revenue it would experience if such a shelter was secured in Putnam County, officials said Tuesday night. FUNDING WOULD BE provided through several state grants. Putnam County would also have to supply some matching funds and public donations would also be accepted. Applications for the shelfter are expected to be submitted to the state by May 1.

Mushrooming moisture

A 30 percent chance of thundershowers overnight with low around 60. Mostly cloudy with high in the low to mid 60s on Thursday. Indiana Extended Forecast Friday through Sunday: Partly cloudy Friday, becoming mostly fair Saturday and Sunday. Highs from 55 to 65 on Friday, rising to the 60s statewide by Sunday. Lows each day from the upper 30s to the 40s.

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Politics was the topic of discussion Tuesday night at the annual Putnam County Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at the American Legion Post in Greencastle. Democrat candidates for Greencastle mayor, Clair

Democrats hold J-J dinner gathering

Evan's decision due, by and by

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor The Democratic Party may be in a hurry. Evan Bayh isn’t. The Indiana secretary of state for only a little more than four months, the 31-year-old Bayh is already touted as the party’s prime choice for the 1988 gubernatorial nomination. Some are adamant about his candidacy. Others are uncertain. Count the Bayhs - Evan, wife Susan and even father Birch - among the latter. "NO DEADLINE HAS been set,” Evan Bayh told the Banner-Graphic following his Tuesday night address before a Putnam County JeffersonJackson Day dinner gathering at the American Legion Post in Greencastle. “It’s hard to put a deadline on a decision of that magnitude. I think it’s much more important to make the right decision than simply a quick decision. “So I’m consulting with people whose opinions I respect,” Bayh continued, “and many of them have urged me to run. And of course, the polls (which show him defeating all Democratic opponents in the primary and either Republican John Mutz or William Hudnut in November ’88) look very favorable, but the polls can’t make decisions for you; they don’t have judgment or wisdom.” Bayh said he must consider not

CIP construction contract bid finally awarded

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Work is expected to begin on the CIP grant-funded downtown improvement project around May 1, Main Street Greencastle Project Manager Bill Dory said Tuesday afternoon. DORY AND ARCHITECT Dave Powers of Powers Kappes Architecture, Indianapolis, met with the Greencastle Board of Public Works Tuesday afternoon to formally announce the awarding of the CIP project construction bid to J. A. Sears Co., Terre Haute. On the recommendation of Powers and Dory, the three-member Board of Works (Mayor Bobby Albright, City Attorney Jerald Calbert and Ralph Taylor) unanimously approved a base bid of $365,834. That figure was arrived at by subtracting 48 trees (at $575 per tree) from an

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Claudia Williams 2nd Ward pick

Voters won’t find the name Claudia Williams on the ballot in the May 5 Greencastle primary, but she will be the Democrats’ Second Ward candidate in November, Putnam County Democrat Chairman Gene Clodfelter revealed Tuesday night. MRS. WILLIAMS, who resides with husband William (manager of Windy Hill Country Club) at 606 Crescent Drive, will be named by the Democrat Central Committee to fill a ballot vacancy, Clodfelter told the annual Jes-

necessarily what is best for him, but what he believes might be best for Indiana. “IT’S SOMETIMES difficult for me to sit in the Statehouse knowing that we could do a better job of rooting out waste and inefficiency, and yet it’s not happening. I think the governor is a good man and has done a credible job, but we can extend upon that.” Wife Susan, a Indianapolis lawyer, is not sure whether her man is the man to do just that in 1988. But if he’s able, she’s willing. “Either way, I’ve told him, ‘l’m behind you 500 percent.’ But one thing I don’t want is for us to be 70

original base bid of $393,434 by the Terre Haute firm. The only other bid up for consideration was a $445,999 base bid from J. Cris, Indianapolis. Subtracting 48 trees at Cris’ price of $650 per tree, still put the revised total nearly $50,000 more than J.A. Sears. The revised Cris bid was listed at $414,799. “A LOT OF DEDICATED people have worked long and hard on this,” Calbert said in making his motion for approval. “I’d say it’s time to get going on it.” By deleting the cost of trees-to be bid separately later-it is possible an alternate portion of Vine Street (both sides) from Seminary to Poplar could be added to the project, Powers said. The Board of Works will have 60 days following the contract award to determine whether or not the alter-

North Putnam sets $300,000 liability minimum

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic News Editor The North Putnam School Board Tuesday night set a $300,000 liability insurance minimum that organizations must show proof of to utilize the school corporation’s facilities. That action came during a special session conducted at the corporation central office in Bainbridge. THE PROBLEM AROSE as organizations made arrangements to use school grounds and facilities, while insurance-connected costs with those uses continues to climb.

Williams (at left, left photo) and Mike Harmless (center, at right) were right in the middle of the conversation. Williams had some pointed remarks for keynote speaker Evan Bayh, Indiana secretary of state, while Harmless

ferson-Jackson Day Dinner gathering. “We’re going to get her appointed right after this election,” the chairman said. The candidacy of Mrs. Williams, a real estate broker for Collins-Evans Real Estate, will give the Democrats their first Second Ward candidate since 1975. Republican Larry Taylor ran unopposed in Second Ward in 1983. Tim Conway, a Republican named to replace the resigned Taylor, is the incumbent.

years old and have a husband who says, ‘You know, back in ’BB, I could have been governor of Indiana,”’ she said. “If he wants it, let’s go for it and work for it the next two years.” EVAN SAYS HIS famous father, former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, is among those undecided on the issue. Birch Bayh, who once aspired to be president of the United States and saw his own political bubble burst, has mixed emotions about his son’s impending decision. ‘‘As a father, of course, he doesn’t want to see his son get hurt,” Evan explained, “and he knows that politics can occasionally be a rough business. On the other hand, he

nate bid is financially possible. It may hinge on how much of the SIO,OOO contingency fund is used as coal bins in the downtown area are uncovered, Dory said. Such underground coal bins will have to be filled in before other work can commence. MEANWHILE, DORY noted that the State Department of Highways was unable to begin work as expected this week on installation of new traffic signals. It now appears as though the highway department will commence work around May 1. It is expected that the CIP project work, comprised of sidewalks, curbs street surfacing and landscaping in the downtown, will take 120 calendar days to complete. Meanwhile, the Board of Works also approved $2,920 bid from Joe Weist of Weist Roofing and Guttering, Route 2, Greencastle, for

“What we need to do is establish a limit for liability that we expect other organizations to carry,” North Putnam Supt. Tom Rohr prefaced the meeting. “Our insurance carrier is recommending that we request a $300,000 minimum limit,” Rohr added. “If there is any type of claim over the $300,000, then the corporation’s own policy would kick in for the amount over.” ATTENTION TO THE liability insurance question came about as Little Leagues began to organize this year. Although the groups have

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MRS. WILLIAMS has resided in Greencastle the past year and a half and is a 12V2-year Putnam County resident. She has been president of the Greencastle Business and Professional Women’s organization the past two years and has served that group on the district level as well. “We have an excellent slate of intelligent and youthful people determined to make Greencastle the place to live,” Mrs. Williams said in brief remarks to Tuesday’s party gathering.

knows that now that I’ve dedicated my life to serving the public, I have a responsibility to pursue that into higher office if necessary. “So my father is enthusiastic and will support me whatever my decision is.” BAYH IS QUICK and proud to point out accomplishments in his brief political career. He was elected with a premise and a promise.- He said there was waste and inefficiency in state government, and he vowed to change that. And so far he’s been making good on the promise. He cut the operating budget of his office by five percent at a time when other officeholders were asking for a

repairs to leaky City Hall roof. Approval of the Weist bid was made with the stipulation that a three-year warranty be provided. Monnett Roofing and Construction, Greencastle, meanwhile, submitted bids of $3,895 and $5,525 on two versions of repair work. The beard chose the low bidder, Weist, who also agreed to take off the old roof. IN OTHER BUSINESS at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting at City Hall, the Board of Works; -- Approved an $11,203 contract with Doug Neumann Construction, Greencastle, for repairs to the superintendent’s house, park garage and shelterhouse No. 3 at Robe-Ann Park. The City Council had already obligated use of CCI (Cumulative Capital Improvement) funds for the project. - Neither approved nor denied a

joined together and worked out a plan to obtain liability insurance, it is other organizations that may have problems with getting the necessary coverage. Board President David Lane expressed the frustration of the board in trying to be fair to its patrons, but still protect taxpayers from future liability costs. “I feel we have a responsibility to make our facilities available to the community because it is a taxsupported school,” Lane noted. “On the other side of the coin, we have a responsibility to the tax-

joined Seventh District Democrat Chairman Chet Vice in listening to 1988 gubernatorial candidate Steve Daily (right, at right), the current mayor of Kokomo. (BannerGraphic photos by Eric Bernsee).

bigger staff and more money. “Most people get in office and the first thing they want to do is hire more staff, saying, ‘How can we spend more money.’ We’ve tried to turn that around. We’ve looked at each other and said, ‘How can we serve the public using less tax dollars? How can we give quality service at less cost?’ Using more efficient computers? Hiring better people? “AND WE CUT OUR staff. I’m unaware of anyone who’s come into office and cut a staff. We’ve got people genuinely excited about saving money now,” Bayh said. In addressing a large gathering of party faithful, Bayh said perhaps Indiana’s economy and educational system wouldn’t be in the depressed state they’re in today if Hoosier leadership had come from the Democratic Party that past 18 years. “We talk about the need for decent employment -- a topic that is at the top of the agenda here in Greencastle,” he said. “WE TALK ABOUT the kind of employment that doesn’t just mean sentencing our children and our grandchildren to lives of flipping hamburgers in the Burger Kings and McDonald’s of this world. Good, decent, meaninful jobs, the kinds of jobs that will allow them, through innate intelligence, the sweat of their brow, their willingness to get in Continued on Page A 9

request by Locust Grove Carriage Co. to provide horse-drawn carriage rides from Walden Inn through campus and downtown this weekend, which is Parents Weekend at DePauw University. Calbert advised that the petitioners be told “to let their conscience be their guide.” City officials offered no objection to the plan. - APPROVED THE $6,000 purchase of a “mole” by the Water Department, as requested by Supt. Leon Phillips. Phillips said the equipment, used to dig under the surface, will easily pay for itself. Presently the department rents such a machine from Limedale Ditching. Phillips also asked permission to purchase a new riding lawnmower and was advised to bring figures and specifications to the next Board of Works meeting. Col. 4, back page, this section

payers to not put them in a situation for undue hardships regarding lawsuits where we would be unprotected,” Lane added. “I DON’T THINK IT is unreasonable for us to ask that these organizations help to pick up some of that liability,” Lane suggested. Rohr noted the community will really see the effect of the board’s decision for groups that want to utilize facilities one time a year for special events. “The question you have to think about is do we allow these groups to Col. 1, back page, this section