Banner Graphic, Volume 18, Number 195, Greencastle, Putnam County, 25 April 1988 — Page 1

‘Spark’ Taylor named building inspector for city

Former state inspector began duties on Monday

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor The City of Greencastle at long last has a building inspector, Mayor Mike Harmless announced Monday. “Spark” Taylor, a retired state building inspector, began his duties as city utilities coordinator/building inspector. The mayor said Taylor’s salary will be $8,400 annually, which is approximately half the amount budgeted for the city’s utilities coordinator. “We felt it was critically impor-

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With the fearless mayor of Greencastle, Mike Harmless, seated in front of the basket, Purdue University star Todd Mitchell soars over his honor to slam dunk a shot. Mitchell’s high-flying antics came during a slam-dunk exhibition following the Big 10 All-Stars’ 140120 victory over the Greencastle Stars Friday night at McAnally Center. Harmless

City hydrants to be flushed

The Greencastle Water Department will be flushing hydrants this week. Supt. Leon Phillips has announced. Work will begin on the north and west sides of town, starting at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday. Work will progress to

Part and partially

Partly cloudy and not as cool overnight with low in the mid to upper 40s. Partly sunny Tuesday with high in the low to mid 60s. Indiana Extended Forecast Mostly cloudy Wednesday. Partly cloudy Thursday. Lows in the upper 30s to middle 40s. Highs in the upper 50s to upper 60s. Wanner Friday with increasing clouds. Lows in the 40s with highs mostly in the 60s.

tant to get him up and operating,” Harmless told the Banner-Graphic. TAYLOR WILL BE formally intoduced to the City Council Tuesday during a special 7:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall. “This is such a critical time to make certain the construction going on is meeting our standards,” the mayor added. “The codes are there to protect the consumer ” Taylor will be utilizing state; code as he inspects “everything from plumbing to dectrical work to plans,” Harmless said. “He’ll take a

coached the Big 10 club to its victory, overcoming a halftime lead by the local team, “coached" by Banner-Graphic sports editor Keith Domke. Approximately 3,000 fans attended the contest, with proceeds going to the Greencastle High School Athletic Department. (Banner-Graphic photo by Gary Goodman).

the east, beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The hydrant flushing should take only two days, Phillips said, noting that if more time it required the project will be finished on Thursday.

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very level-headed, common-sense approach,” the mayor assured. “WE’RE NOT TRYING to make things difficult for people,” he added. “And ‘Spark* will work with people, and that’s important, because we haven’t been enforcing the codes very strictly.” Taylor can be contacted at the wastewater treatment plant and will soon have his own telephone line, the mayor said. His appointment means Alan Stanley is no longer acting city engineer, a position he has filled since the Dec. 31, 1987 retirement of 22-year city engineer Cliff Norton. Stanley, however, will still be available, Harmless noted, to provide engineering services as needed.

Crowe’s Bridge info still sought

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor Officials at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department are asking for persons with any possible information regarding incidents at Crowe’s Bridge, resembling the latest incident which occurred April 9, to contact the office. "We know there were probably similar incidents to this one,” Sheriff Gerry Hoffa said. “What we’d like to do is find out information from other people and try to compare what happened.” HOFFA AND DET. Richard Lyon are working on the case which evolved after a man, age 4550, accosted a i7-year-old Putnam County girl and her 16-year-old boyfriend at the site, located northeast of Greencastle. The man described as being 5-feet-10, weighing 200 pounds, and having graying hair and a wrinkled faced forced the two at gunpoint to disrobe and perform sexual acts. “We know it’s a popular place for kids to go,” Hoffa said of Crowe’s Bridge. “So we feel there may have been other incidents such as this, but the people were reluctant to report it.” ANYONE, WHO MAY believe they could have even a thread of information, which may help police in their investigation, are asked to contact Hoffa or Lyon by phoning the sheriff’s department at 6533211. Both officers warn, however, that they have no time for prank calls and will work to make sure that doesn’t happen. “What we will try to do is meet with the person who contacts us on a one-to-one basis for an interview,” Lyon explained. “You can

Lugar planting conservation ideas

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor FINCASTLE Wedged into the rumble seat of a tree planter, pulled behind a Kubota tractor, Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar got a teal seat-of-the-pants look at the Conservation Reserve Program in action Sunday afternoon. With about 40 visitors to the 163-acre Jesse Cox farm looking on, Sen. Lugar planted the first dozen of what will be an estimated 85,000-90,000 trees on the former cropland. The ceremony Sunday afternoon marked the beginning of what is the largest single Indiana planting under Lugar-authored Conservation Reserve Program, a part of the 1985 Farm Bill. COX AND HIS WIFE Beulah, Carmel residents who farm the Putnam County ground on the west side of U.S. 231, three-quarters of a mile north of U.S. 36, have retired their land into permanent reserve as part of an effort nationally to retire more than 45 million acres of highly credible farmland. “The Coxes are truly pioneers,” Sen. Lugar said before mounting the back seat of the tree planter to plunge walnut seedlings into the damp earth. “The acreage we’re Col. 2, back page, this section

THE MAYOR NOTED that the utilities coordinator/building inspector will work with city officials like Water Supt. Leon Phillips and Sewage Plant Supt. Charlene Nichols on making inspections of such things as industrial water and sanitary sewer system hook-ups. Taylor will also be the person empowered to follow up on complaints that come through the Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals. Harmless said the addition of a building inspector can also be viewed as a future cost savings for city residents. “Having a very effective building commissioner, I think, will probably have a positive effect on insurance rates locally. I think once

tell a lot right there, if someone is lying or they are fabricating a story.” In any respect, the two officers note the identify of any persons who contact, or talk with them, will be kept confidential. “WE ARE NOT looking for witnesses at this time,” Lyon assured. “All we’re looking for now is information.” The man police are searching for is familiar with Putnam County territory, Hoffa and Lyon maintain. “Putnam County is not quite as big as it used to be,” Lyon pointed out. “You can basically be about anywhere in Putnam County within 20 minutes.” For that reason, Lyon speculates the perpetrator does not have to necessarily be from Putnam County. “We are looking at one person from outside the county,” Lyon confirmed. “WE HAVE NOT ruled out the person may not live in Putnam County now, but could have lived here at one time,” Lyon said. Lyon appeared definite, but Hoffa more cautious, in saying the man could have been the same individual involved in a similar incident reported at Crowe’s Bridge two years ago. On May 3, 1986, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by a couple that said a man approched them and ordered them to have sexual relations. “WE WENT OVER those statements made in 1986,” Lyon pointed out, “and it was almost identical to what happened in 1988. “The man walked up to the car, shined a light in the car and ordered the couple to put their hands up,” the sheriff’s department detective Col. 2, back page, this section

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Pulling a walnut seedling from the box behind him, Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar gets ready to plant one of a dozen trees at the 163-acre Jesse Cox farm near Fincastle Sunday afternoon. Some 85,000-90,000 seedlings will ultimately be planted on the farm as its acreage goes into the Conservation Reserve Program. It represents

we have this in place, you will begin to see insurance rates probably go down as people put in smoke detectors and follow the codes. I think it’ll end up saving the taxpayers money.” Taylor, being retired, is already saving taxpayers money in a way. He agreed to the $8,400 annual salary in order to retain his pension and retirement benefits, Harmless said. The previous City Council had budgeted the $17,000 figure to fund a position formerly held by Byron Snyder, whose tenure ended Dec. 31. IN OTHER BUSINESS at Tueday’s special meeting, the Council will: Consider second readings on three proposed ordinances: The un-

Dr. Gastineau moving practice to Bainbridge

BAINBRIDGE Effective May 9, Greencastle physician Dr. Bruce Gastineau will be moving his medical practice to Bainbridge. Dr. Gastineau, a member of the Putnam County Hospital medical staff since 1986, will be working out of the Bainbridge Medical Facility, which has been served by Dr. Art Manus. Dr. Gastineau did his undergraduate work at DePauw University, completing a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Toledo. He received his medical training at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Gastineau and his wife and two children reside in the Fillmore area.

Evans’ educational forum Wednesday

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor Dr. H. Dean Evans, Indiana superintendent of public instruction, will explain the A+ education program in a public forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday at McAnally Center Auditorium The forum, which is the last of five slated statewide this spring, is sponsored by the Indiana Department of Education. Evans was invited to hold the forum in Greencastle by Dr. Gary Druckemiller, superintendent of the Greencastle Community School Corporation. EVANS AND HIS staff will discuss legislative bills passed during the 1988 short session of the General Assembly, ISTEP and

the largest single such planting effort in Indiana since the program’s inception as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. Lugar earlier addressed some 40 visitors to the farm, located approximately a mile north of U.S. 36 on the west side of U.S. 231. (Banner-Graphic photo by Eric Bernsee).

safe structure ordinance, abandoned vehicle ordinance and an amendment to the building code. Consider street closings for the May 12-15 Preservation Fair. Discuss two letters concerning the two-hour parking enforcement DISCUSS A 1974 inspection of City Hall. Harmless said he doesn’t believe the 14-year-old report was ever discussed publicly. “This should put to rest some of the rumors,” he said in regard to the supposed “condemned” status of a portion of the City Hall building. “It’s not a building that could be remodeled easily,” he said. “It would be very costly to remodel, but that doesn’t mean it’s condemned,” the mayor added.

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summer remediation, performancebased accreditation and awards for schools and school systems, the beginning teacher internship, the At-Risk program and textbook reimbursement, and long-range planning for vocational education. That part of the program is expected to take about 90 minutes. Evans and his staff will spend about 30 minutes fielding questions from the audience. “This is an oppotunity for the people of Putnam County to meet and talk with one of the true education leaders, not only in Indiana, but in the United States,” Druckemiller said. He credited Evans with being “a Col. 5, back page, this section