Banner Graphic, Volume 19, Number 180, Greencastle, Putnam County, 6 April 1989 — Page 1

BannerGrJHMb Greencastle, Putnam County, Thursday, April 6, 1989, Vol. 19 No. 180 35 Cents

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The first “dry hydrant” is installed in Putnam County Wednesday as (from left) Max Nicholfe, contractor Gib Wagle, Jim Shoemaker, Bob Wehrman and Bill Bollman ready the pipe to be laid from the pond on the John Hendrich property north of Greencastle. Roy Hendrich (in

The dry look

Unique hydrant offers rural fire protection

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor It is hard to believe a “dry hydrant” can be a great means of providing fire protection. But Walt Douglas, executive director of Sycamore Trails Resource Conservation and Development Area Inc. (RC&D), says it’s so, especially if you live in a rural area. IN FACT, DOUGLAS and others were on hand Wednesday to install what is the first such dry hydrant in Putnam County at the Hendrich property near Mcßride’s Comer, just north of Greencastle. The hydrant works by being hooked up to a water source, preferably a pond or lake, which, in turn, can be used as a water source in case of fire. It’s true that perhaps nothing can take the place of a well-equipped fire department. But when your house or property lies out in the far reaches of a rural county, a dry hydrant can be a boon, especially if the fire is of such a magnitude that more water is needed that can ever be carried on a tanker. “THIS ALLOWS FOR rural fire protection for those not connected with the city,” Douglas explained of the RC&D project, which was also made available via assistance from the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation office. “We are offering these non-pressure dry hydrants at a reasonable cost for rural areas all over the county,” Douglas continued.

Public wants cleaner park, cleaner-mouthed visitors

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor A kinder, gentler Robe-Ann Park? That’s apparently what Greencastle residents envision, according to the results of a recent questionnaire made public at Wednesday night’s Park Board meeting at City Hall. LOCAL RESIDENTS not only want improvements to the pool, playground and general beautification, they also want such things as common courtesy and cleaner mouths on teen-age visitors, Park Board member Leslie Hanson reported. A few dollars, planning and some elbow grease can take care of

Has to be April fool’s joke

Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain overnight. Rain could change to snow. Overnight low in the low 30s. Cloudy and cold with light snow likely Friday. High in tile low 40s. Chance of snow 60 percent Friday with northwesterly winds at 5-10 mph during the period. Indiana Extended Outlook Saturday through Monday: Partly cloudy Saturday, with a chance of rain Sunday and Monday. Lows ranging from the 20s to mid 30s Saturday, warm-

boat at right) put in the pond in the 1960 s and lives just east of it now. The pipe goes out 12-15 feet into the water and is at least three feet deep to keep it from freezing in winter. (BannerGraphic photo by Gary Goodman).

Although a homeowner, or group of homeowners, pays for the hydrant and its installation, just having it installed on rural property can reduce insurance rates, according to Douglas. “THE COST OF THE hydrant is reduced because of the reduction the homeowners often sees in their premium,” he advised. “In most cases, the premiums can be reduced by a certain percent. “In fact, the landowners where we installed the • hydrant today (Wednesday) said they had already been told by their insurance agent their premiums would be reduced substantially,” Douglas said of the group of residents who joined together with Hendrich to pay for the hydrant and its installation. “With a reduced premium, that could pay for the cost of the hydrant in about two years at the most,” Douglas reasoned. ALTHOUGH THE Hendrich installation was the first for the Putnam County program, Douglas hopes to have some installed in each of the eight counties RC&D serves. “We ordered another one last week and it’s available now for anyone here in Putnam County,” Douglas pointed out The average cost associated with one of the hydrants is SI,OOO, the RC&D executive director said. But Douglas also stressed that estimate includes everything involving installation, materials, the Col. 2, back page, this section

the first three on that list. The last two will have to take care of themselves, Park Board members agreed. The foul language is nothing new to pool manager Glenn Hile, who implements conduct rules at the city pool and by June last year had a list of 15 youngsters who were no longer allowed back in the pool for the summer. “But my jurisdiction ends after they leave the fence,” he said, detailing an encounter with a foulmouthed teen-ager who directed a four-letter word or two in Hile’s direction. “THERE IS A rough crowd that is constantly around a picnic table outside the pool,” he said. “They’re

tog to the mid 30s to 40s by Monday. Highs in the mid 30s to 40s Saturday, warming to the 50s north to low 70s south by Monday, Abby AS Calendar AS Classifieds A7,A8,A9 Comics A 4 Crossword A 9 Horoscope A 9 Obituaries AlO People A 4 Sports A6,A7 TV A 4 Theaters AlO

some of the same group we have trouble with at school (Greencastle High School).” Hile said he’s moved that picnic table too many times to mention, but the teen-agers always move it back. Hile looked to Park Supt. Ernie Phillips for assistance, saying he’d like to see the table removed form the vicinity of the pool. Mrs. Hanson noted that other complaints include pushing and shoving of younger children at the pool. THAT, TOO, HILE said, is against the pool rules. Once caught, youngsters can be expelled from the pool for the day or summer. He conceded that the concerns are nothing new. “It is a problem,” he

Nebraska men held in robbery of blind vet, 64

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Asst. Editor Tips from people in two states have led to the arrests of two Lincoln, Neb., men who allegedly abducted, beat and robbed a 64-year-old blind war veteran in Indianapolis. Dale Joseph Buescher, 35, Lincoln, Neb., surrendered to Hendricks County deputies while in Greencastle, on the advice of his attorney, James William Phipps. He is in the Hendricks County Jail on charges of robbery causing serious bodily injury and criminal confinement. LT. STEVE GOLDEN, a spokesman for Hendricks County

Two die in head-on crash on U. 5.36 near Bainbridge

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor BAINBRIDGE Two northern Putnam County residents lost their lives in a nearly head-on collision at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday on U.S. 36, the cause of which is still under investigation, authorities said. Michael F. Wright, 32, Route 1, Bainbridge, and Crystal L. Cornett, 26, Roachdale, were killed when their two small cars collided about 500 feet east of County Road 500 E, east of Bainbridge, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department reported. POLICE THEORIZE Wright, driving a 1980 Mercury Bobcat, crossed the center line, striking Cornett’s 1984 Oldsmobile Firenza in the left side of the front end. Wright and Cornett died of head and chest injuries, as well as from multiple fractures, dislocations, and bruises, according to a police report. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Biggs, who was assisted at the scene by Sheriff Gerry Hoffa, Chief Deputy Richard Lyon, Bainbridge

Local teen-ager admits guilt in attempted rape of DPU co-ed

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor James Vincent Wright, 17, 1136 Avenue E, Greencastle, will undergo a Department of Correction psychological evaluation before being sentenced for the Oct. 16, 1988 attempted rape of a DePauw University co-ed. Wright, who was waived into adult court two days after being charged with the class B felony, admitted his guilt Wedneday before Putnam Circuirt Court Judge William C. Vaughn 111. VAUGHN ORDERED Wright to the DOC’s Diagnostic Center at Plainfield for an evaluation, which will be turned over to the court prior to sentencing. Wright faces between six and 20 years for the crime, and his plea agreement leaves the punishment up to the court. That means that Chief Deputy

acknowledged. “It’s something we try to do the best we can with.” Part of the difficulty, he noted, is the number of parents who drop off youngsters at the pool for virtually the entire day. Some of that was curbed with an age limit of seven imposed for youngsters not accompanied by an adult. “I’m a real cheap babysitting service,” the pool manager lamented. “I know that; it’s eight hours for sl. That’s cheap.” MEANWHILE, Mrs. Hanson asked Park Supt. Phillips to urge greater safety when he and other workers at the park are mowing and trimming. Several parents, she said, had expressed concern over mowing taking place too near

Sheriff’s Department, said authorities expect David L. Walters, 36, to be extradited “in the next few days” from Clarksville, Ark., where he was arrested after a high-speed chase. The men are suspect in the beating robbery of a blind World War II and Korean Way veteran in Indianapolis. According to Lt. Golden, the men allegedly befriended the blind man at an Indianapolis tavern on the comer of Emerson and 10th streets, asking him if they could buy him a steak. Once the trio got outside of the tavern, Buescher and Walters allegedly struck him in the head, knocking him out, and stole $2,000

Town Marshal Walter Huffman, and Indiana State Police Troopers Mark Kiesler and Jason Fajt. Though police are not yet sure why Wright crossed the center line, they know that neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in the accident. Biggs’ report also shows that Wright was wearing a seatbelt and shoulder harness, while Cornett was not wearing any safety restraint. BOTH VICTIMS were declared dead at the scene of the accident. Crystal Lynn Cornett was bom Oct. 6, 1962, in Indianapolis, the daughter of Walter W. Vincent Jr. and Rita Hammons. On Oct. 7, 1979, she married Raymond Keith Cornett, and he survives. A member of the Church of God at Crawfordsville, she was employed in the home health care unit of Hendricks Community Hospital at Danville. She was a 1981 graduate of North Putnam High School and a 1987 graduate of Ivy Tech. SHE IS SURVIVED by her husband; a daughter, Rachel, and a son, Ryan, both at home; her father, Roachdale; a sister, Tamara, Goldsboro, N.C.; two brothers,

Prosecutor Dianna LaViolette ana defense attorney Darrell Felling will argue over how much if any time Wright will serve. Wednesday morning he admitted to grabbing the 18-year-old co-ed by the hair and dragging her into some bushes at a parking lot behind the Pi Beta Phi sorority house at 303 S. Locust St. WRIGHT ALLEGEDLY threatened to kill the girl if she did not comply with his wishes. He reportedly began struggling with the victim’s clothes, but before he could complete the rape, three DePauw men in a nearby parking lot came to her rescue. After fisticuffs, Wright ran away, but was apprehended later by Greencastle City Police. A sentencing date was not set, pending the filing of the evaluation results. Felling waived the 30-day sentencing requirement for his

where children were playing. Phillips, however, said he routinely moves to another area to mow if youngsters are playing nearby. He also agreed to ask, as Mrs. Hanson suggested, for groups to move for their own safety if nearby mowing is necessary. The survey was returned by 336 residents, an estimated 42 percent of those polled. Respondents ranged in age from 5 to 84, Mrs. Hanson reported, with the highest percentage in the 18-35 age group (representing 44 percent of those responding). ROBE-ANN PARK facilities used most often, according to survey results, are the playground (191 replies), picnic areas (161) pool

cash. The blind man was later found in a ditch by a passing motorist on 65th Street west of Raceway Road. LT. GOLDEN SAID patrons of the tavern were angered by the crime and notified police. But the suspects were still able to make good their escape. Lt. Golden said they apparently had been staying at the Briana Inn south of Interstate 70 at Cloverdale. They reportedly were independent contractors working in some capacity with Lone Star Industries, though the police spokesman did not know the nature of their work. The case began to break when Clarksville, Ark., police stopped

Brian, Daytona Beach, Fla., and Michael, Charleston, S.C.; an aunt, four nieces and a nephew. Services for Mrs. Cornett are set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Servies and Morgan Funeral Home in Roachdale with burial following in the Roachdale Cemetery. Visitation is 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Michael Floyd Wright was bom July 19, 1956 at Putnam County Hospital. He was the son of Jack and Betty (Hubble) Wright He married Melissa Boswell April 16, 1977. A graduate of North Putnam High School, he was employed at Vasey Heating and Air Conditioning in Zionsville. He was also a farmer, a bus driver for the North Putnam Community School Corp., and a firefighter with the Bainbridge Volunteer Fire Dept. Along with his wife and his parents, he is survived by a daughter, Courtney Wright, and a sister Anita Clark, Indianapolis. Services for Michael Wright are set for 1 p.m. Saturday at HopkinsRector Funeral Home, Greencastle. Burial will be at New Winchester Cemetery. Friends may call 2-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

client, telling the court he felt the evaluation might take longer than one month to schedule and complete. IN AN UNRELATED case, Edward C. Parsons, Greencastle, received a suspended sentence for stealing three handguns owned by his mother’s boyfriend. One of those guns a .45caliber pistol allegedly was used in a Brazil homicide by Reelsville native Tim Cheatham. Cheatham remains in the Clay County Jail awaiting trial for reckless homicide, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, involuntary manslaughter and theft/receiving stolen property. Parsons told Judge Vaughn that he was feeding some animals owned by John Sage, 405 W. Jacob St., Greencastle, while Sage was on vacation. While in Sage’s house, Col. 5, back page, this section

(152) and shelterhouses (124). The volleyball court received the least response, with only five persons indicating use. Besides indicating improvements sought in the pool, playground and general park beautification, the public would also to see better attention to park neatness (80 replies) and picnic areas (73). The softball area, already widely acknowledged to be upgraded this summer, had only 22 responses in this category. Some 71 percent of the respondents indicated a preference for a recreational director to coordinate park activities and plan functions for all ages. Thirty disagreed with Col. 2, back page, this section

Walters on a routine traffic stop, which initiated a high-speed chase. When Clarksville authorities ran Walters’ name through their computer, they discovered the warrants issued by HCSD. WALTERS HAS apparently indicated to Clarksville police that he plans to waive extradition proceedings and will return to Indiana for trial. Meanwhile, the Lincoln, Neb. CrimeS toppers unit had received an anonymous tip saying Buescher was also in Clarksville. Lt. Golden said he apparently returned to the Cloverdale motel upon finding out police in his hometown were looking for him.