Banner Graphic, Volume 18, Number 164, Greencastle, Putnam County, 19 March 1988 — Page 1

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Saturday, March 19,1988 Vol. 18 No. 164 25 Cents

With some help from Ken Carrington, 4Vfe-year-old Megan Sims winds her way between tires on the pedal tractor course at the Mini-Farm Fest at the Putnam County Fairgrounds. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Sims, Route 1, Greencastle, was one of a couple of hundred local youngsters who visited the Community Building to feed and pet farm animals and participate in other agricultural-related activities Thursday. The Mini-Farm Fest was just one of several local activities held in conjunction with thel9Bß Putnam County Ag Day celebration. For more information and photos, see Page A 3. (BannerGraphic photo by Eric Bernsee).

County auditor seeks re-election

County Auditor Myrtle Cockrell, a Republican, has filed her candidacy to seek a second four-year term in that office. Prior to her election to the Auditor’s Office, Mrs. Cockrell was a two-term county treasurer. As treasurer, she won the prestigious Indiana Association of Indiana Counties State Achievement Award for Excellence in Investments. THE DAILY CASH flow method implemented by Mrs. Cockrell is currently being used by several counties throughout the state to earn much-needed dollars. That, in turn, helps to relieve the burden of taxes on the county taxpayer. Recently, Mrs. Cockrell was notified her yearly county financial report was chosen by Jennie

PCH’s Fajt elected

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor The Putnam County Operation Life Board of Directors voted Thursday night to purchase computer hardware and software equipment to be used for word processing and accounting needs. That action took place following the election of officers as the board acquired a new chairman. John Fajt, executive director of Putnam County Hospital, was elected board chairman. He replaces past Chairman Byron Snyder, who remains as a board member. MEANWHILE, Tom Bates, an Indiana State Police trooper assigned to the governor’s security force, was re-elected vice chairman. Local accountant David Bray rounded out the list of officers, after being re-elected secretary-treasurer. The decision to acquire the computer system evolved from the board’s Feb. 18 meeting. At that

Lingering effects of winter

Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of light snow showers developing overnight. Colder with low around 20. A few lingering flurries on Sunday, otherwise partly sunny and cold with high in the mid to upper 30s. Northwesterly winds at 510 mph through the weekend. Indiana Extended Outlook Partly cloudy Monday with a chance for rain or snow noth. Cloud Tuesday with a chance of

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Mitchell, a former State Board of Accounts auditor and currently an instructor at Indiana State University, as a model for teaching college students the complex forms used by county governments. Mrs. Cockrell has been cooperating with the ISU business department instructor, who is sponsoring an educational publication for teaching students about the different facets of county government In conjunction with reassessment and as required by Indiana law, Mrs. Cockrell is coordinating the restoration of county plat maps and records in the Auditor’s Office. The outdated plat records had previously been neglected for over 25 years. AS THE PRESENT auditor, she is also having transfer records

session, OL volunteer David Zeiner, who owns his own computer business known as Information Management Systems, presented a proposal which he believed to be most cost effective. Zeiner detailed the Epson computer system he was recommending would take care of OL’s accounting and word processing needs. He noted the system is easy to use and that he would be personally available for training purposes. FAJT REQUESTED, during the last meeting, that a cost analysis be compiled to see what savings the ambulance service would experience by going to computerization. That information was provided Thursday night by OL Executive Director Gary Gilliam and Assistant Director Ellen Stout. Stout told the Banner-Graphic Friday morning OL could expect to save $2,355.89 annually by going to computer. Cost of the entire sys-

rain Wednesday. Highs: 45-55 Monday; 55-60 Tuesday and Wednesday. Lows: 20s on Monday, 30s on Tuesday and 35-40 Wednesday. Abby A 4 Classifieds A6,A7 Comics A 4 Crossword A 6 Horoscope A 7 Obituaries A 8 People A 4 Sports A5,A6 Theaters A 8

typed, instead of written by hand, so ownership identity can be easily read by the public. A current priority, Mrs. Cockrell says, is updating the current computer system to a method that will coordinate the new parcel ID numbers from the new plat record and reassessment property card. This will allow the taxpayer to receive only one tax bill for all his real and personal property, either by township or county. The computer system must also handle the assessor’s records, the auditor’s payroll, budget and financial records, she notes. IN ADDITION, A good computer system must provide accessibility to the total assessment and tax cycle process, according to Col. 5, back page, this section

to head OL Board

tern, including software, hardware, etc., is $2,719. Board member Max Nichols said he was asked by the County Council to check if other computer companies had been contacted. The County Council was particularly interested in IBM because of its allegiance to the community, following the closing of the Greencastle plant ZEINER, WHO WAS in attendance Thursday night said he could provide OL with an IBM system, but the Epson was just as efficient He added the Epson computer is less expensive than the IBM unit by 15-16 percent Zeiner did say, however, that the Epson computer system is IBM compatible. After some discussion, the board voted to purchase the Epson system as outlined by Zeiner at a cost of $2,719. In later action, the board agreed to follow Stout’s recommendation

Putnam Patter

Conductor puts hammerlock on ‘dip’

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Editor AJ. Duff was well known as a Greencastle coal dealer, but he was also a familiar figure on the Terre Haute & Eastern Traction line where he was conductor. But he had other talents which could serve him on occasion. He had good vision and a pair of strong arms, which might have been developed in part by use of a coal shovel. It was these latter talents that one

TechnoTrim Japanese trainers bridge cultures

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor Cultural differences? Many. Language barriers? Definitely. Different work ethics? Hardly. THAT IS WHAT less than a dozen Japanese men, who arrived weeks ago at the Greencastle TechnoTrim plant, are experiencing as they were handed the mission to train the plant’s newest workforce. And although most say—through translator E. Sasagawa—that they are enjoying their time, some freely admitted having doubts about coming to the United States. The trainers, all from Tachi-S, TechnoTrim’s parent company in Tokyo, represent the cream of the crop, the finest in their field. Some were sent specifically to train. Others, the engineers, were assigned to fine-tune machinery. AFTER ARRIVING AT the 100,000-square-foot TechnoTrim plant at Indianapolis and Fillmore roads, the trainers began by helping build upon what the local workers learned about the machinery and sewing techniques. Meanwhile, the engineers were involved in helping to assemble new sewing machines used to manufacture the automobile seat covers, TechnoTrim’s signature product Most of the Japanese trainers

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MYRTLE COCKRELL Seeking re-election

to hire five people to fill in during the summer months at OL. These individuals are to be paid minimum wage for a 36-week period, Stout said. HOWEVER, THE summer EMTs will be responsible for finding their own living quarters. Total cost for the summer help was listed at $6,633, Stout said, which is a savings of $376.58 over the previous year. The five summer EMTs are to start work May 25 and will conclude their duties Aug. 10. The board also heard an update relative to linen service through Mechanics Laundry. At a previous OL meeting, board members decided OL would not continue its contract with the company. The Board of Directors decided instead that OL would purchase its own linen, and be responsible for laundrying efforts. That method would result in an overall savings. THE CHANGE WAS Col. 1, back page, this section

of his passengers was sorry he had to use them. The story, in short, reads that the Duff tangled with a “dip,” who before his ticket had expired, was in the hands of the law. THE TERM “DIP” may not be familiar to you. Noth ally, these questionable characters are known as pickpockets. They are artists of a sort, able to lift the contents of a man’s pants pocket and most often the loss is discovered too late. On a late July day in 1914, as

will be on duty at TechnoTrim, until the end of June. Others will leave sometime in July. While assessing their surroundings, the Japanese training delegation say they have been “impressed” with Greencastle. But one voices a frustration heard many times before. “HE SAYS HE IS bored because there’s nothing to do,” translator Sasagawa relates. That’s understandable, after arriving from Tokyo, which boasts a population of 8.3 million, it’s hard to adapt to a small town with only 8,404 residents. Sasagawa said Tachi-S makes it possible so that each one of its employees gets an opportunity for an overseas experience. And fra: the most part, all appear content with their surroundings, having enjoyed contact with American workers at the Greencastle plant FOR SOME, IT IS a first-time experience to train. Still, some are veterans, noting the Greencastle experience is his third training assignment. “All he asks,” Sasagawa interpreted, “is that they allow him six months in between (his new training location).” One of the trainers did admit he was a little anxious about the trip to the states. His concern centered

Guilty plea entered by one of 2 suspects in drug-dealing incident

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor John R. Hudson, 19, Fillmore, has recently pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in cocaine, a class B felony. Sentencing has been postponed until the conclusion of a similar case involving David L. Buis, 27, Greencastle. Hudson and Buis had been charged with possession of and dealing in cocaine. Putnam County Prosecutor Robert Lowe has dropped the possession charge against Hudson, who faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for his offense. Under terms of the plea agreement reached between Lowe and defense attorney Del Brewer, Lowe will not make any recommendation on a prison term at Hudson’s sentencing. BUIS IS CURRENTLY being treated for drug dependency at St Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis. He was transferred by his family from the Putnam County Jail to St. Vincent’s Stress Center, Chemical Dependency Program after Putnam Circuit Court Judge William C. Vaughn 111 approved a motion filed by defense attorney Darrell Felling. Both men were arrested Feb. 4 by Indiana State Police troopers John Mishler, Steve Hurst, Kenny Brum me tt and John Bertram after Mishler reportedly stopped Hudson’s 1984 Chevrolet Camara at the intersection of U.S. 40 and U.S. 231 for a defective headlight. Mishler reported seeing a box containing a set of scales on the car’s seat The trooper also noticed a white residue on the scales. During a routine pat-down of Hudson, Mishler found 1.3 grams of the illegal white powder on the suspect, police said.

passengers loaded at Terre Haute, Duff took notice of a well-dressed young man of about 25. He proved to be a friendly person and engaged the conductor in conversation. He made a good first impression. At the Clayton stop, O.W. Judkins and a family boarded with tickets for Indianapolis. He had no way of knowing that on the following day he would be front-page news in the Greencastle Daily Herald. The run was without incident un-

upon the language barrier. It was probably a feeling shared by many of the American workers when they first heard the training session with the Japanese would take place. But after the stop in Greencastle, most are finding language concerns are few. AS FAR AS THE work atmosphere is concerned, one trainer, who was visiting the Greencastle plant, said there is little difference between TechnoTrim and the Stockton, Calif., factory. “He says that in Stockton, you had to worry about the different minorities,” Sasagawa translated. “Here, there is not that concern. That is the most decisive difference.” Asked what they liked best about working with their American counterparts, the trainers were quick to respond. “They said were impressed the workers do whatever they are told to do,” Sasagawa translated for his peers. “The workers are also very precise. The workers in Japan may do more (than what they are told) or less.” AS FAR AS THE overall plant is concerned, the Japanese trainers said the building is quite “beautiful.” Most of the trainers said they Col. 1, back page, this section

HUDSON REPORTEDLY incriminated Buis in a statement to Mishler. The trooper obtained a search warrant from Judge Vaughn for Buis’ home, north of Mt. Meridian. A search team of troopers assembled at the ISP post in Putnamville went to the defendant’s home for the inspection. The troopers reportedly found a glass vial on Buis that contained 1.8 grams of cocaine, according to the ISP lab in Indianapolis. They also found a plastic bag that contained 2.4 grams of coke, the lab said. Also found at the house was a shoebox reportedly containing marijuana and marijuana seeds and some purple capsules. All of the alleged drugs were sent to the ISP lab for analysis. Felling has requested the defense be allowed to conduct its own, private analysis through Great Lakes laboratories in Michigan City. Judge Vaughn has approved Felling’s request. UNDER TERMS OF HIS plea agreement, Hudson will cooperate fully with Lowe’s office in the Buis case. In exchange for Hudson’s guilty plea, Lowe will not make a recommendation concerning sentencing in Hudson’s case, and Hudson will be given back the Camaro that was confiscated at the time of his arrest. Buis’ case, scheduled for an April 4 hearing, has been continued because Felling will not be in Indiana on that date. At the conclusion of Buis’ case, whether he pleads guilty or goes through a jury trial, Hudson will be sentenced. Until then, he remains free on a SI,OOO surety bond.

til the traction reached the outskirts of Indianapolis and the Judkins were on there feet ready to get off at a certain street AS THEY MOVED TO the rear of the car, the conductor saw that all was not well. The pleasant young man left his seat and crowded behind the Clayton family. Duff saw the dip go into action. On the first try, he came up with a handkerchief, which he discarded. On the second try, he came up with Col. 3, back page, this section