Banner Graphic, Volume 18, Number 32, Greencastle, Putnam County, 14 October 1987 — Page 1

Manslaughter guilty plea in Thacker case

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor Sandra Thacker, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter, Wednesday morning in Putnam Circuit Court, after being charged with murder in the Feb. 18 stabbing death of Paul H. “Sonny” Boler. Special Judge John Stelle, of Clay County, took the guilty plea under advisement, pending a pre-sentence report to be filed by Probation Officer John Stevens, and set sentencing for Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m. THACKER READ a prepared statement written by her attorney, Darrell Felling. Felling told the court Thacker had read it and said she felt it accurately reflected what happened on Feb. 18 at the Hedges’ Hilltop Apts, residence Thacker and Boiler shared. Thacker told the court she and Boler had returned from Bloomington that evening, and she began to move out of the apartment.

Boler's wound proved fatal in 90 minutes

Sandra Thacker admitted Wednesday morning she stabbled Paul H. “Sonny” Boler on Feb. 18, Inflicting a wound that caused his death 96 minutes later. Boler was stabbed at about 7:20 p.m., though the exact time is unknown. Sometime after the stabbing, Thacker fled Boler’s residence at Hedges Hilltop Apartments and headed for Bloomington While she was fleeing, Boler went to a neighboring apartment seeking help. THE FOLLOWING chronology is taken from medical records that were to be part of Prosecutor Bob Lowe’s evidence in the case,

No results yet from North Putnam mediation

By BECKYIGO Banner-Graphic News Editor A mediation session between the North Putnam Teachers Association (NPTA) and North Putnam School Corporation proved unsuccessful Monday night as no contract agreement was reached. “We did meet for about four hours last night (Monday),” Don Thompson, UniServ director for the Indiana State Teachers Association, and negotiator for the NPTA, said Tuesday. Currently, Thompson said the corporation and teachers’ union are still attempting to come to terms on salary and insurance proposals. "WE DID DO A little more on insurance,” Thompson related via phone from his Crawfordsville office. “But it still doesn’t represent any real improvement over what the parties originally discussed. “We will be meeting on the 19th without the mediator,” Thompson

Water system study authorized for city

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Discussion of a feasibility and cost study of the city’s entire water system Tuesday afternoon developed into a look at other infrastructure projects by the Greencastle Board of Works and Safety. Water Supt. Leon Phillips sought and received Board of Works approval to contract with Bonar & Associates, Indianapolis, to conduct

Hello, Indian summer

Becoming partly cloudy overnight with low in the mid 40s. Partly sunny and warmer on Thursday. High Thursday around 70. Winds light and southerly throughout the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Friday through Sunday: Warm each day with highs in the mid 60s to mid 70s and lows in the mid to upper 40s. A chance of rain north on Friday, but otherwise fair throughout the period.

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Wednesday, October 14, 1987 Vol. 18 No. 32 25 Cents

She told the court she had previously removed her clothes from the apartment, and on Feb. 18, was in the process of removing the rest of her property. “Mr. Boler argued about my moving out and eventually struck me four or five times, sometimes across the face,” She said she also struck Boler in the face during the argument. SHE TOLD THE COURT she grabbed a filet knife that had been in the kitchen “in sudden heat,” and stabbed Boler, knowing she might kill him. She said after wounding Boler, she got in her car and headed for Bloomington “out of fear.” She said Boler “did not look that bad and was still threatening me.” She told the court Boler had told her, “If I can’t have you then no one else will.” The defendant told the court she “was acting under intense passion resulting from the grave and sudden

had it gone to a jury trial. 7:23 p.m.: An Operation Life ambulance is dispatched to the murder scene. 7:29 p.m.: The ambulance arrives at the scene and treatment is initiated. EMTs estimate Boler has already lost one pint of blood, possibly more. He is described as anxious, agitated and apparently very active. These are the early signs of shock. 7:44 p.m. The OL ambulance leaves the scene and begins heading for Putnam County Hospital. 7:50 p.m.: The ambulance

w m i mm

pointed out, “to clarify some of the health matters.” The UniServ director added the NPTA and North Putnam School Corporation have scheduled another

the water system study at a cost not to exceed $7,000. PHILLIPS EXPLAINED that the study would provide future guidelines through the year 2000 for the water works plant and city water system. On a motion by City Attorney Jerald Calbert, the board unanimously granted approval of the Bonar study. However, before the vote was taken, the discussion in-

Index Abby B 1 Calendar Bl Classifieds 84,85 Comics B 3 Crossword B 2 Heloise Bl Horoscope B 5 Obituaries A 8 People B 3 Sports A4,A5,A6,A7 TV B 2

DON THOMPSON No agreement yet

provocation, resulting from the argument and fight with Mr. Boler.” “I did not murder Mr. Boler, but I am guilty of voluntary manslaughter,” she said. “I THINK SANDY IS a victim of this type of domestic violence,” Felling said after the hearing Sheriff Gerry Hoffa said his department was aware of a history erf domestic violence-related calls involving Thacker. Putnam County Prosecutor Bob Lowe, who handled the case, said his office pursued the murder charge on Feb. 19, “when we had a body, and prime supsect who had fled the scene.” Lowe admitted the fact situation did not support the murder charge once the case had been investigated. He said he believes Thacker was pleading guilty to the crime of which she is actually guilty. INDIANA STATUTE defines voluntary manslaughter as an act in which “a person knowingly or inContinued on Page A 2

arrives at the PCH Emergency Room. Boler is taken immediately to the trauma room. He is unresponsive, and though his pulse is 120, his blood pressure cannot be detected. He is breathing 28 times a minute and his skin is dusky. Between 7:50 and 8 p.m.: Boler stops breathing and ED personnel take steps to begin artificial breathing. 8:15 p.m.: Boler receives his first unit of blood. 8:30 p.m.: The hospital’s surgery team is alerted and Boler gets his second piht of blood. 8:40 p.m.: Boler’s blood

mediation session Oct. 26 at the high school. A mediator was assigned to work with the corporation and teachers to reach an agreement in September. At that time, contract talks were at impasse, although Thompson and North Putnam Supt. Tom Rohr, who is representing the corporation, agreed both sides were “not that far apart” on the issues. NOW, THOMPSON said negotiations are at a point where teachers are beginning to feel disgruntled. “Certainly, the teachers are very frustrated right now,” Thompson related. “They are very frustrated with the fact that the corporation has a $580,000 cash balance and knowing they have a lot of money that they could give as salary increases. But the corporation has said they will not do that.” Thompson declined to specify what percentage in salary increases

eluded a possible “loop” to the industrial site north of Automotive Industries’ new Shenandoah Division plant at Indianapolis and Fillmore roads. Another “probably client” for the East Side 2001 Enterprise Park has requested the water line, Albright said. Mayor Bob Albright said the 13,500-foot loop - bringing the water line north of the AI facility and back to Fillmore Road - would cost “in

Riggs clarif i

Putnam County will not be the site of a new $1.4 million facility being built by Cummins Mental Health, Ron Riggs, executive director of the agency told the Banner-Graphic Wednesday morning. Riggs met Monday night with the Putnam County Council detailing plans for a new facility, but said the cost projections reported by the Ban-ner-Graphic were incorrect. ALTHOUGH RIGGS took objection to the report in Tuesday’s Banner-Graphic, official minutes of the Putnam County Council meeting reflect what was reported.

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SANDRATHACKER Makes guilty plea

pressure has risen to 84/44, though his respirations are still assisted. His third unit of blood is begun. 8:45 p.m.: Boler’s pulse has dropped to 40 beats per minute. 8:49 p.m.: Boler’s heart stops. He is defibrillated twice. 8:51 p.m.: Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation is begun. 8:56 p.m.: Resuscitation efforts are stopped and Boler dies. The initial diagnosis on the cause of Boler’s death was hypovolemic shock (severe bleeding) due to a two-inch laceration in his right side, near the liver.

the teachers are asking for versus what the corporation is offering. “LET’S JUST SAY that the North Putnam Teachers Association is asking no less than what the other two school corporations in the county have settled at,” Thompson said. In the case of the Cloverdale School Corporation, Thompson pointed out a two-year agreement was reached with almost a 15 percent salary increase stretched over two years. “That’s about 7 l k percent, approximately, over that two years,” he said. “It would be silly,” Thompson added, “for North Putnam teachers to settle for anything less than that kind of increase. “THE REALITY IS the North Putnam School Corporation will have to face that it will have to be somewhere in that ballpark,” Thompson concluded, “especially with almost a $600,000 cash balance.”

excess of $200,000. A 12-inch line is being considered- at present, although the mayor noted, “when they come back with the study, we may want to go to 16 (inches). ” THE CITY COULD use funds available through Department of Commerce loans to TechnoTrim and Charming Shoppes. As those loans are repaid, a portion of the funds go Continued on Page A 2

es Cummins facility proposal

According to Riggs, the $1.4 million facility referred to in Tuesday’s Banner-Graphic is to be built in Hendricks County. He later specified that the new Hendricks County facility will cost a total of $1.9 million, comprised of a $1.4 million state grant and the additional money from Hendricks County. “What I explained to the Council is that we received a $1.42 million grant from the state to build a facility in Hendricks County,” Riggs said via phone. “We asked for $475,000 from the Hendricks County Council and the Hendricks County

City officials clash over introduction of truck ordinance

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor A city ordinance, designed to rid Berry Street of noise and truck traffic, created a little commotion of its own Tuesday night. In the final regular Greencastle City Council meeting prior to the Nov. 3 city election. Mayor Bob Albright and Fourth Ward Councilman Robert Sedlack, the lone incumbent Democrat in city government, clashed over the ordinance. INTRODUCED ON FIRST reading Tuesday night. Ordinance 1987-16 establishes a 12-ton gross load limit for trucks using Berry, Hanna and Seminary streets. Mayor Albright disclosed the intend of the ordinance at a Putnam County Commissioners’ meeting late last month. “I resent that this issue has been turned into a political football a month before the election,” Sedlack said Tuesday night. The Fourth Ward Democrat noted that truck traffic on Berry Street has been an ongoing problem for years. He “essentially approves” of the idea to divert traffic from the residential area, but said he would not vote in favor of the measure without a plan for where else the truck traffic might go. SEDLACK TERMED the or dinance "a political ploy.” Albright and Sedlack alternately raised their voices briefly and chastized each other for not introducing the measure earlier in their City Council careers. Albright, of course, was councilman-at-large for the first three years of’*his fouryear term. Albright said he had “no excuses*’ for introducing the ordinance when he did. “It’S part of my job,” the mayor said, noting that figures compiled by Lone Star Industries indicated that in excess of 50,000 trucks a year go through the City of Greencastle. He said representatives of Lone Star and Schwerman Trucking Co. are “receptive and positive toward remedying this problem.” THEY ARE AMONG those invited to a 10 a.m. meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27 at City Hall. Officials from the State Department of Highways, County Commissioners, Federal Highway Administration and Lane Ralph, representative for Sens. Richard Lugar and Dan Quayle, will be on hand, Albright said. The meeting is open to the public and members of the City Council are urged to attend. Albright said the meeting would focus on the possibility of federal assistance in building a 1.2-mile leg of the Southern Highway between U S. 231 (Bloomington Street) and Manhattan Road. The state has ruled out building the western part of the roadway, which is why federal assistance and private-sector input are being sought. Sedlack urged that the city “actively and aggressively pursue” that 1.2-mile extension. But he charged that the mayor was “going about this backward.” THE MEETING SET for Oct. 27 should have been first, the councilman said, with the ordinance introduced afterward. Meanwhile, after Tuesday night’s meeting, Democrat mayoral candidate Mike Harmless, in the audience for the 99-minute session, announced that he plans to attend the Oct. 27 meeting to propose what he believes to be “the best alternative.”

commissioners and that has already been approved.” Riggs added that Cummins Mental Health serves clients in both Putnam and Hendricks counties. Currently, Cummins operates its out-patient office at 600 N. Arlington St. WHEN RIGGS TALKED Monday night about building a new facility near the Putnam County Hospital in Greencastle, he was referring to a new complex for the out-patient clients and more severely disabled adults. To do that is expected to cost approximately $400,000-$500,000, Riggs

Opening in city fire dept. The resignation of verteran Greencastle firefighter Steve Campbell was announced Tuesday by Fire Chief Bob Elmore. CAMPBELL HAS resigned, effective Oct. 1. He had been with the department more than 10 years and was described by the chief as a “good driver and good pump operator.” The Board of Works authorized Elmore to take applications for a replacement for Campbell. To be eligible, the chief said, a person must be age 21-35, and possess a high-school diploma. He or she must also be able to pass the examination as required by the state through PERF (Public Employees Retirement Fund). APPLICATIONS FOR the fire department opening are available at the Greencastle fire station.

Harmless said he raised the truck traffic issue in the May Democratic primary, urging the need for the western leg of the Southern Highway. The Council voted 4-0 - with Sedlack abstaining with a “pass” vote - to approve Ordinance 1987-16 on first reading. Second and third readings, City Attorney Jerry Calbert advised, should proceed slowly to allow all viewpoints to be aired and possible exemptions noted. One certain exemption, the attorney thought of Tuesday night, is the community’s aerial fire truck, which weighs an estimated 20 tons. ANOTHER WAS VOICED by representatives of Kiel Brothers Oil, the company that operates the old High Point Oil bulk plant on Berry Street. Don Christopher, representing Public Service Indiana, also noted that many of the utility’s line trucks exceed 12 tons. Other exemptions, Calbert suggested, might be for trucks making local deliveries. Moving vans or grain trucks headed to Poor & Sons are examples. “This is certain to be amended a thousand times before it becomes final,” Mayor Albright said after the first-reading vote. Before the discussion ended, however, Calbert was asked if the same trucks could use Berry, Hanna or Seminary streets if they weight less than 12 tons when unloaded. “That’s my interpretation, yes,” Calbert commented. IN OTHER BUSINESS Tuesday night, the Council: - Agreed to sell Lana Schimpf 5.16 acres of the old industrial park at $2,000 per acre, pending approval of the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), which loaned Greencastle $125,000 to purchase the 62.5-acre property from DePauw University in 1976. All proceeds from lot sales go to the FmHA to retire the loan. Mrs. Schimpf and her husband, Larry, plan to construct an office and warehouse for Cundiff Electric, a local business started by her father. The Schimpfs plan to build yet this year on the lot at the southeast corner of Zinc Mill Road and the old Continued on Page A 2

said, adding there would be no state funding available for that construction. However, Cummins would only be asking Putnam County to pay a portion of the total costs. “I’d say the maximum we would be asking for would be one-fourth of the total costs,” Riggs said, “because that is what we asked for over here (in Hendricks County). And it might be less than that.” As part of an expansion program, Riggs said that therapeutic foster care for children can also be accomplished at the new proposed Putnam County facility.