Banner Graphic, Volume 19, Number 297, Greencastle, Putnam County, 23 August 1989 — Page 1

Ba p h i c Greencastle, Putnam County, Wednesday, August 23,1989, Vol. 19

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The field just south of the Y-Palace restaurant at U.S. 231 and U.S. 36 is running like a river just after Wednesday morning’s downpour in Putnam County. Allowed the highway sign at the upper left of this photo points the way to Raccoon Lake, it's a lake

Teen held, another sought in burglaries

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Asst. Editor A 17-year-old Indianapolis boy is in the Putnam County Jail on vehicle theft and attempted burglary charges after a 3 Vihour manhunt in a southeastern Putnam County cornfield was triggered by three stolen vehicles and an attempted house burglary. MEANWHILE, police are still searching for his 19-yeai-old accomplice who managed to escape before police could establish a perimeter around the cornfield. ' ISP Sgt. Tbm Strader said the two Indianapolis residents reportedly began their minor crime spree at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday by allegedly stealing a 1979 Chevrolet van from West Washington Street in Indianapolis. After apparently removing two captain's chairs and a bench

Innkeepers tax proposed to aid tourism

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor A proposal to implement an innkeepers tax, designed to create revenue for promoting tourism in Putnam County, will be brought before the County Council Thursday afternoon. Expected to make Ute presentation before the Council is Keith Brackney, chairman of the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce's Tourism Committee. He will be joined by Sandi Robles, Chamber executive secretary, and a representative from the Montgomery County Tourism Bureau. The Montgomery County representative has been invited to provide input because that county has had the in-

Our relief will be brief

Thunderstorms likely overnight, ending around midnight with low near 70. Chance erf ram, 80 percent. Winds becoming northeasterly at s*lo mph. Partly cloudy and cooler Thursday with low in the low :80s. Indiana Extended Forecast Mostly clear, very warm and humid Friday through Sunday. Lows from the middle 60s to the lower 70s. Highs from the middle 80s to the lower 90s.

of its own pooling up on the east side of U.S. 231. Some west-central Indiana areas reported more than two inches of rain Tuesday, with at least another inch of rain falling in the storms Wednesday morning. More rain was expected throughout the

seat from the back of the van, the pair headed for Putnam County. Strader speculated the back seats were removed to make room for items they intended to steal while in this county. THEY ALLEGEDLY broke into the Route 1, Cloverdale home of Ron and Kay Harvey before the stolen van got stuck in some mud. The pair then allegedly fled, stealing a 1970 red pick-up truck from lhe Terry Clifford residence. Route 2, Cloverdale, before fleeing into a cornfield near the Putnam-Morgan county line. The state police were able to mobilize 10 ISP units, an ISP helicopter, units from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Dept., and four Indiana State Farm K-9 handlers and their dogs. BUT APPARENTLY before they could set established, CoL 1, back page, this section

nkeepers tax enacted since 1986. “THIS IS A USERS tax,” Robles told the Banner-Graphic Tuesday, emphasizing it does not mean an increase in property taxes. Instead, if enacted, the tax will be added to a customer’s motel/hotel room bill. "This is for motel and hotel rooms only,” Robles also stressed. “It does not mean a tax will be added onto your food or beverage at the hotel/motel (or elsewhere).” The innkeepers tax is called a "users tax” because the fee is paid by persons staying in hotels/motels for less than a 30-day period, according to Robles. And, the tax is not applied strictly to motels or

Index Abby A 4 Calendar A 4 Classifieds AII.AIMI3 Comics A 7 Crossword Al 3 Farm M Heloise A 4 Horoscope Al 3 Obituaries Al 4 People A 7 Sports AB>A9,AIO,AII TV A 7 Theaters Al 4

Farm inmate escapes possible 38-year term

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor Former Indiana State Farm inmate Larry Lee Brewer was facing 38 years in prison when his battery trial began in Putnam Circuit Court, Tuesday morning. But by the. ume -a 12-iuanbu jury returned a guilty verdict. Brewer was facing as little as three additional months in prison. BREWER WAS charged with battery against a correctional officer resulting in serious bodily injury and with being an habitual offender. The first count carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, while the second count carries a 30-year sentence. Brewer is serving a four-year term for an Indianapolis burglary. He has also been convicted on robbery in Indianapolis. The current charges stem from a March 10, 1989 fight with ISF guard Darrell Bower in Dorm Two. between Bower and Brewer. BOWER SUFFERED a broken facial bone and now has two steel

hotels in Greencastle. Rather, it encompasses all of Putnam County. THE TAX ITSELF ranges from one to five percent, Robles pointed out. The Chamber’s Tourism Committee, however, is recommending a “three percent” innkeepers tax for Putnam County. “We didn’t want to go to with the maximum,” Robles explained. “The hotels and motels already have to pay a five percent state tax, so we felt the additional three percent would be enough." Revenue collected from the tax is to be used to bring visitors into Putnam County, according to Robles. “The main reason the tax is being recommended is because we

Putnam Patter

Hayseeds, pitchforks and blisters

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Editor Those who still call their country cousins hayseeds need to take a drive around the country and learn a few things about harvesting in this day of mechanization. These behind-the-times city slickers are still living in the era of the three-pronged pitchfork that once blistered the palms of farm boys who were at times several inches shorter than the fork handle. Today’s counterpart of the hayseed may not know which is the

day, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for a central Indiana area that includes Putnam County. (Banner-Graphic photo by Gary Goodman).

plates around his left eye, as a result of the fight. Bower told the jury he has been through one surgery and faces a second operation. He also said the nerves on the left side of his face are dead as a result of the fight with Brewer. brewei was uninjured in the fight Instead of finding Brewer guilty of the battery resulting in serious bodily injury charge, however, the jury convicted him of a simple battery, which is a class B misdemeanor and carries a six-month sentence. The class B misdemeanor was a lesser included offense to the class C felony of battery of a correctional officer resulting in serious bodily injury. A lesser included offense in one that is necessarily established by proof of a greater offense, should evidence fail to establish guilt of the greater offense charged. FOR EXAMPLE, A defendant can be charged with robbery, which is the taking of property by threat Col. 1, back page, this section

felt it would be a good way to promote tourism in the county,” Robles said. “All of the money collected is to go for enticing visitors to Putnam County for marketing purposes.” , THE PROPOSAL IS being brought before the Putnam County Council because it is the “fiscal” body of the county. That board alone will decide whether or not the tax becomes reality. However, the county commissioners, as the “executive branch” of Putnam County, will be responsible for selecting persons to serve ‘ on a “commission,” who will, in essence, manage the tourism funds, Continued on Page A 5

business end of a pitchfork since he has been schooled in the ways of mechanical monsters that require more know how than muscle. WHILE PUSHING buttons and pulling levers, the modem hayseed has quite an advantage over the pitchfork boys of other times. He is usually far enough away from the hay to avoid much contaminating contact Operators of the pitchfork were really close to the hay and at the end of a hard day’s toil, they had accumulated a goodly amount of

Annexation ordinances all pass Council

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Annexation, it appears, is all relative. Those opposed argued against it again Tuesday night right up until the City Council voted favorably on the four areas in question. And those in favor again pointed to the future, the good of the community as a whole and being able to plan effectively for growth. Then there’s the mayor’s aunt RIGHT SMACK IN the middle of discussion of the Fillmore-In-dianapolis road area annexation, the hand of Wanietta Lich went up in the center of the Greencastle Middle School audience. It brought a smile to the face of Mayor Mike Harmless. Pointing toward her, he told a crowd of some 50 persons, “This is my aunt ... My aunt is against annexation. So if anybody thinks this is easy, obviously it is not.” Mrs. Lich, who has resided on Fillmore Road for 27 years, proceeded to say she was against the annexation of the 16 homes ifi the L-shaped Fillmore-Indianapolis road area. “MY AUNT AND I have had this discussion before,” the mayor said. “And I have told her I think this is the best thing for the area.” Harmless cited problems from septic systems and the closeness of the houses, as well as a long-stand-ing drainage problem from the former farm property to the west. “Even before this administration took office, we were told we had a responsibility to these houses. That ‘we owe them something.’ We have located two huge industries across the street and changed their lives. And I still believe that (annexation) is the right thing to do for the area ... honestly.” RECALLING HOW residents of that area had come before the City Council during the Gerald Warren-Bobby Albright administration to request being hooked on to city sewers, Mayor Harmless noted that residents signed a May 1987 petition stating they were not opposed to city annexation. A new petition, produced within the past week, was signed by several Fillmore Road area residents reportedly in opposition to the annexation. The mayor admitted confusion by the recent development, especially he said, after some of those whose names appear on the opposition petition called to say they really weren’t against it. Meanwhile, four of the five residents of the Indianapolis Road section in question voiced opposition. TOM GORHAM, WHO recently purchased a home on Indianapolis Road before he knew of the pending annexation, said he believes “it’s never too late to speak your mind.” He said the five homes on State Road 240 have no septic problems. Financially, he said, he cannot afford the annexation, citing the cost of hooking onto the city sewer, closing out his septic system properly and paying city taxes. “I’m ‘maxed’ out,” Gorham said. “I personally don’t have the money

hayseeds, weed dust and briars, some of which was in their eyes and the rest inside their shirts. While the “seven-year itch” lasts longer, the hayseed itch is every bit as scratchy when aggravated by weather and honest sweat, as folks down our way called it. I’m not sure what dishonest sweat was supposed to be like. BEFORE I WAS OLD enough, or supposedly smart enough, to operate a hay wagon, I was sentenced to drive a horse-drawn 14-foot rake, an instrument of torture that

and I don’t know where I’m going to get it” He reminded the City Council that 80 percent four of the five residents in question on Indianapolis Road were against the proposed annexation. THAT PROMPTED Second Ward Councilman Tim Conway to make a motion to amend the Fillmore Road area annexation to exclude the five homes (owned by Gorham, Max Evans, Woodrow Power, Helen Godfrey and Madeline O’Hair) on Indianapolis Road. “Majority roles in this country,” Conway said. “That seems to be the best way to go.” However, Conway’s motion died for lack of a second. First Ward City Council representative Sheri Roach told the group the area had to be considered as a neighborhood to avoid misunderstandings later on. Someone, she said, might otherwise buy a home, knowing a neighbor was on city sewers, only to discover that the adjacent property was outside city limits and on a septic system. “NOT ALL OF US are against it (annexation),” Mrs. Robert Clover said as the discussion continued. “We have wanted it and we still want it." City Plan Commission member Robert Breese said that’s the way he remembers it, too. He recalled the “rather large contingent” of Fillmore Road residents who approached the Plan Commission in 1987 about annexation as a method of acquiring city sewers. The Fillmore Road annexation prompted the most discussion, but ultimately was one of two areas passed by a 3-1 vote on second and final reading. Councilmen Bob Sedlack. Sue Murray and Mrs. Roach voted in favor, with Conway opposed. Mike Rokicki was out of town on business and unable to attend the 2 Vi-hour session. ' AFTER PASSAGE, Mayor Harmless promised to come to the neighborhood , to meet with residents there and explain “true numbers” and the 504 assistance program under which some residents will have their hook-on fee paid by a federal program. “There are a lot of rumors floating around, like SIOO sewage bills that just are not true numbers,” Harmless said. “I want to see you get the true numbers." Also passed by an identical 3-1 vote was the Foxridge-Tennessee Street area. Councilman-at-large Rokicki had left a letter in his absence, noting he believes the logic of the Foxridge annexation to be correct but that he would not have voted for it because of the uncertainty of grant availability to run sanitary sewers in the neighborhood. Rokicki and Conway had voted against the Foxridge annexation on first reading Aug. 8. “THE COMPELLING reason” for Foxridge annexation, Coucilman Sedlack stressed, “is a public health issue." City resident Evan Penturf asked for an explanation, saying he was hearing Foxridge residents say they don’t want it and he, as a taxpayer, CoL 1, back page, this section

gathered the hay into windrows. It went fast but it also went rough. This done, the pitchforks were passed out and handlers had the task of throwing hay onto waiting wagons. The first thing the young forker learned was not to poke his fork into a bunch of hay bigger than he could lift, and, second, he learned not to expend all his energy on the first load. Hay day lasted to sundown if hay lasted that long. Unfortunately for my well being, our community was blessed with Continued on Page AS