Banner Graphic, Volume 18, Number 238, Greencastle, Putnam County, 15 June 1988 — Page 1

City ban on sprinkling to begin Friday

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor A combination of the drought and water tank repairs has led to a ban on lawn sprinkling for the City of Greencastle, it was announced Tuesday night. Beginning Friday morning, city residents will be prohibited from watering their lawns until further notice as the two-million-gallon water storage tank adjacent to Forest Hill Cemetery is refilled. THE LOCAL BAN IS expected to last 5-7 days, Water Supt. Leon Phillips said, stressing again that the city is “holding its own” in water capacity and is in no danger of running out of water. However, in order to refill the tank, consumption levels around the two-million-gallon mark daily need to be reduced temporarily. “If we don’t, it’ll take forever to fill the tank/’ Mayor Mike Harmless said at the regular monthly session of the Greencastle City Council. “Once we get it filled, everything will be back to normal,” added Phillips. “Once it’s filled, we’ll lift the ban,” the mayor concurred. THE CITY HAS been operating out of the 750,000-gallon tank at Robe-Ann Park the past couple of weeks as Security Painting Co., Indianapolis, recoatcd the standpipe near the cemetery. The interior and exterior painting project is finished, Phillips said, adding that 100,000-150,000 gallons will be pumped into the tank initially. That water will be “heavily chlorinated,” he said, and then must sit for six hours. Hie refilling process will resume at that point. When the two-mil-lion-gallon tank is full, the water department will wait 24 hours and then take a sample to forward it to the State Board of Health for testing. “ONCE THE TEST results are okay, we’ll turn her loose,” Phillips said. The water superintendent, during his department report, noted that water consumption for May was up

The last roundup? Organizers hope to rustle up interest with Russellville rodeo

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor If people can possess as much enthusiasm as Eric Uhls, then you can be certain the Tri-County Fair in Russellville will recapture the successful atmosphere it once had. Uhls accepted no easy task to try and reverse the growing apathy Connected with the fair. (This year, the Tri-County Fair will play to the hometown crowds of Putnam, Parke and Montgomery counties July 6-10). EVERY YEAR, IT seems attendance dwindled. Fewer and fewer individuals and companies offered to display exhibits in the industrial tent. And, it also became harder each year to even contract for something as simple as amusement rides. But Uhls hopes to change all that, specifically by bringing a little

Scattering the dust?

Scattered evening thunderstorms possible, then clear and warm with low in the low 60s. Winds becoming northwesterly at 5-10 mph. Chance of a thunderstorm is 40 percent overnight. A strong thunderstorm is possible in some areas. Partly sunny and not as hot on Thursday with high around 80. Indiana Extended Forecast Sunny and pleasant Friday and Saturday. Lows in the 50s. Highs in the 70s north to middle

Banner Graphic Greencastle, Putnam County, Wednesday, June 15,1988 Vol. 18 No. 238 25 Cents ™

by 8 million gallons over April. He said 49,085,000 million gallons were pumped last month to water users in the city and the five rural water companies the department serves. Councilman Mike Rokicki asked if that increased consumption is due to the new industrial water users now on line, namely TechnoTrim and Shenandoah Industries. “It’s due to the sprinkling,” Phillips said. “I don’t recall another year where it’s been this bad.” WATER LEVELS IN city wells are constant despite the drought, Phillips maintained. “We’re not short of water,” he reiterated. While Phillips’ concerns were drought-related, so were those of Fire Chief Bob Elmore. The fire chief told the Council he is issuing a burning warning, advising people not to bum during the excessively dry period we are experiencing. Councilman Bob Sedlack quickly interjected that the city has a ban on open burning year round anyway. “I’m talking about even in closed containers,” Elmore said, emphasizing the seriousness of the problem. “Even the heat radiating from a container can set fire to the grass it’s so dry. It can get away from you real fast” ELMORE URGED residents to use common sense and refrain from burning until the area receives some rain to lessen the fire threat. Meanwhile, he said he has called off plans to bum the brush remnants of the March ice storm that were collected at the old Rafferty farm property on State Road 240. He plans to wait for rain before requesting approval from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to bum the mass quantities of brush and tree limbs located near the Sherwin-Williams and Happico industrial sites. The City Council conducted a variety of other business during the three-hour meeting. The BannerGraphic will report on those items later this week.

of the “Old West” to the northern Putnam County community. For on July 7-8, Uhls will cofund, along with Russellville resident Jeff Davies, a rodeo, complete with 10 different divisions, prizes and a chance for competitors to go on to national competition. It is an event sanctioned by the Indiana High School Rodeo Association. UHLS PUT THE burden on himself to try and help the fair get back on track. And he is more than ready to face that challenge. “It was solely my idea. Three or four weeks ago, I began working on this with Jeff helping me,” Uhls said recently, setting the stage for what he hopes will be the fair’s rebirth. “Russellville needed something to generate enthusiasm about the fair,” Uhls pointed out. “I’ve been involved in rodeos myself for 14

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City Council picks McCall for spot on school board

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Jeff McCall, general manager of WGRE-FM at DePauw University and professor of communication aits and sciences, Tuesday was appointed to the Greencastle School Board by the City Council. McCall, selected for a seat held the past eight years by DePauw University baseball coach Ed Meyer, was one of three candidates whose names the City Council made public. McCall was selected by a 3-2 margin over Katherine “Kit” Price, a DPU geology and geography professor. IN PUBLIC SESSION, the Council was asked to choose among McCall, Price and Kathy Jagger, a microbiology professor at the university. Councilmen Sue Murray, Bob Sedlack and Mike Rokicki voted in favor of McCall, while Sheri Roach and Tim Conway cast voice votes for Price.

years and I felt that this may be a good way to get that enthusiasm back.” BECAUSE OF HIS experience with rodeos, Uhls knew immediately who to contact to get the event under way. Uhls is investing not only his time, but he and Davies are investing quite a bit of their own money to see the project take flight, hopefully turning the rodeo into an annual event few the Russellville community and the Tri-County Fair. The rodeo is scheduled to take place (as the fair itself does) behind the Russellville Elementary School rain or shine, according to Uhls. The two-day event begins at 7 p.m. each evening at the tractor pull strip. TICKETS MAY BE obtained at Brackney’s Western Store in

Special education fees on the rise

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor The Greene as tie school system is facing an almost 29 percent increase in its 1988-89 special education costs, assessed by the Old National Trail Cooperative, and those costs are threatening regular education programs, school officials say. The cooperative handles the special education services for the ClOverdale, Eminence, Greencastle, Mill Creek, North Putnam and South Putnam school districts. Each district is charged a certain fee for the service, based on the

Council President Sedlack noted that 14 candidates were under consideration for the post, including Meyer, who told the Council that he would consider reappointment if the panel so desired. However, with the last of the Meyer children graduating last month, his reappointment would have meant only school board member Clyde Spencer would have a child in the school system. Spencer’s daughter will be a high school senior in August SCHOOL BOARD members Robert Delp and Bayard Allen no longer have children of school age, while the same could be said for retiring member Pat Hess, whose seat will be filled by the Greencastle Township trustee. No announced has been made for that vacancy, but reports indicate the appointment has been offered to a veteran local educator. Col. 5, back page, this section

Greencastle, or the Russellville Grocery Store. Adult tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance. Children’s tickets will be sold few $3 at the gate for youngsters ages seven to 18. Children six years of age and under will be admitted free of charge. There are rodeo events scheduled for male and female competitors from the approximate age range of 13-18 years, according to Uhls. Entry fees will be assessed and Uhls expects between 60-75 contestants. (Persons with questions about the rodeo may contact Uhls at 4352053). The boys’ events include bareback • riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling. THE GIRLS WILL compete in barrel racing, pole bending, breakCol. 1, back page, this section

number of students enrolled in the special education classes. Those fees fund the cooperative’s budget, which, in 1988-89, will increase to $934,595. The GCSC is the largest school system in the cooperative in terms of enrollments and total assessed valuation. It also provides 51 percent of the cooperative’s enrollments. The $72,854 cost increase reflects greater administrative expenses in the cooperative, according to Greencastle Supt. Gary Druckemiller.

Farmers’ Market moving downtown beginning Saturday

The Greencastle Farmers’ Market will have a new location when it opens for business for the first time this year at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 18. The market will be located on the north side of the courthouse square, Main Street Greencastle Project Manager Bill Dory told the City Council Tuesday night. The market will remain open until noon each Saturday through fVtnhpr DESPITE THE drought, several farmers have fruits and vegetables ready, which is why the market will open this Saturday, Dory said. He expects three or four growers to participate the first couple of weeks, with the available produce and participants to grow as the growing season matures. And as that happens, he said, the Council may have to be asked to block off the Franklin Street side of the square. Until then, however, the growers will park parallel to the north side of the square. “There may be some logistical problems to work out,” Dory said. The new location, however, is “expected to provide increased customer traffic for both the market and the courthouse square merchants,” he added. Growers and producers are being encouraged to sell fruits, vegetables, grain, some varieties of processed foods, plants and arts and crafts. RSVP, under the direction of Mary Skidmore, is again acting as market master, as it did a year ago when the market was operated at RobeAnn Park. OTHER MINOR changes have been matte to the market rules and procedures. For example, later this year, the Farmers’ Market will be subject to the new Putnam County Food Service Ordinance. County Food Sanitarian Greg Neese has pledged his cooperation to as-

ACCORDING TO OLD National Trail budgets, the GCSC paid Old National Trail $251,599 during the 1987-88 school year. That figure will rise to $324,453 for the 1988-89 school year. Next year the GCSC will pay 34.7 percent of the Old National Trail’s budget The price hike, coupled with a $200,000 cut in state assistance to the GCSC, adds up to $280,000 fewer dollars in the Greencastle school budget for next year. That means cuts for the GCSC, Druckemiller said, and those cuts will not come from die staff.

Suitcase in hand, Madge played by Beth Lasley is about to leave her rural Kansas home in a scene from the Putnam County Playhouse production of “Picnic." The drama, set in 1954, will be staged at 8 pm. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Hazel Day Longden Theatre on Round Bam Road. Evelyn Robbins (right) portrays Flo, while Bunny Carrel appears as Helen. Among others in the veteran cast is (not pictured) Martha Coffey as Irma Kronkite. Tickets, priced at $3.50 each, are still available at the box office or at Gjesvolds’ Photo and Art Center in Greencastle. (BannerGraphic photo by Eric Bernsee).

sure smooth implementation of the ordinance, Dory said. Fees for the market remain at $25 for a season permit and $3 for a daily permit. As in the past, the fees must be paid prior to selling at the market. Growers and producers have been advised that they can arrive at 7 a.m. Saturday to apply for a permit and begin setting up for the 8 a.m. opening. Questions about the market can be directed to RSVP (653-3011) or Main Street Greencastle (653-4927). “BOTH THE Greencastle Merchants Association and Main Street Greencastle are excited to have the market come down to the courthouse square,” Dory concluded. “The city and RSVP are looking forward to a plentiful and prosperous Farmers’ Market for both the growers and local consumers.” Meanwhile, in another downtown-related topic at Tuesday night’s meeting, the Council agreed to close the north and east sides (Franklin and Indiana streets) of the courthouse square to traffic on Sunday, June 26 for a 1-5 p.m. recreational weekend promotion. The street closing was unanimously approved on a request by Mary Jane Mace of the Special Events Committee for Sunday Shopping. The recreational weekend project will feature state park booths, a food stand, boat and travel displays, a spa and custom vans, among other items. CITY COUNCILMAN Mike Rokicki moved to approve the request, with Sheri Roach seconding the motion. She took the opportunity to acknowledge the new Sunday hours and expanded shopping as “fabulous, especially for those who work out of town.” Mrs. Roach said she had heard several favorable comments about the stores being open Sundays downtown.

Druckemiller has said last year’s elimination of nine teaching positions “is enough spilled blood.” So, he will have to cut educational programs, an area previously considered almost sacrosanct by administration officials. “The money has to come from someplace, so it will come from our regular programs,” Druckemiller said, adding, “We are not pleased with what the additonal costs will do to our budget” IN REAL, IF NOT very likely terms, Druckemiller points out that Col. 1, back page, this section