Banner Graphic, Volume 20, Number 107, Greencastle, Putnam County, 10 January 1990 — Page 10

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THE BANNERGRAPHIC January 10,1990

City Police A Clay County woman suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday night on State Road 240, Greencastle City Police reported. Diana Dyer, 38, Center Point, was transported to Putnam County Hospital via Operation Life ambulance following an 8:25 p.m. accident 116 miles west of Round Bam Road. She complained of neck and back pain. WESTBOUND ON Indianapolis Road, Dyer was in front of the F. B. Distro plant when her 1979 Plymouth was struck from behind by a 1984 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, driven by Michael Cox, 29, 309 W. Liberty St, Greencastle. Cox told Officers Randy Seipel and Jeff Hampton that his lunch box slid off the seat as he was westbound at approximately 55 mph. Cox said he leaned over to retrieve it and when he looked back at the roadway, all he could see were tail lights in front of him. He could not stop in time to avoid a collision with the Dyer car. Damage to both vehicles was estimated at sl,ooo-$2,500, while damage to the lawn at F. B. Distro was listed at S2OO. City Ponce also reported a property-damage accident, which occurred at 4:06 p.m. near the intersection of South College Avenue and Olive Street. According to Assistant Chief Jim Hendrich’s report, Elaine Neathery, 43, Route 1, Bainbridge, was backing a 1988 Ford truck toward Olive Street and did not see Cheryl Noel, 22, Logansport, making a left turn onto College from Olive. Noel was driving a 1984 Chevrolet. DAMAGE TO BOTH vehicles was estimated at S2OO-$ 1,000. For the second time in a month, City Police responded to a bomb threat phoned in by a young male caller.

North Putnam

ber is basing his estimates on the “maximum” situation, believing the projected $3.03 rate for the building program will drop once the actual assessed valuation is known. Board President Byron Gough questioned if phasing in the building program (possibly doing Bainbridge now and the middle school later) would help costwise. IN THERBER’S opinion, there would be no cost difference. However, he added doing any of the work at a later time may end up costing the school corporation more due to inflation, etc. “Plus, you would be delaying time when the kids could have the use of the facilities,” he added. Trying to give the public some idea of what the $3.03 tax rate would do, it was noted a home valued at $50,000 would be assessed at one-third. So, $1 added to the tax rate would mean the homeowner would pay $167 more in taxes. I\vo dollars added to the rate would mean he/she would pay $334 more, while a $3 tax rate would mean an additional $5Ol added to that person’s tax bill. “Again, this is only an estimate of what the financial impact would be,” Therber stressed. “The $3 (tax rate) number, based upon a total project of $12,750,000, is the very worse (or maximum) it would be. I’m not going to come in here and try to low-ball the taxpaying public.” STILL, THERBER said he does not believe a possible $12.7 million building project will end up at the projected tax rate of $3.03 per SIOO of assessed valuation. That is because when the assessed valuation increases, as it is expected to do following reassessment, the tax rate will drop. Also, excise taxes and other variables could cause that rate to lower, he pointed out. Still, the school corporation is obligated by law, Therber explained, to project the “maximum cost” to ensure it will have enough revenue on hand to do the work if need be. Following the 90-minute presentation from Schmidt and Therber, Gough called for questions from the audience. THE FIRST CAME from Deborah White, who questioned if pulling sixth-graders out of the elementary grades and putting them into a middle school atmosphere is the correct way to go. “They’re saying now that students in that grade are not mentally ready to deal with the older kids,” White said. However, Supt. Rohr said other studies prove just the opposite. “The data suggests that from a maturity and educational standpoint, it is better for (sixthgraders to be in with seventh- and eighth-graders, rather than primary

Putnam scanner

The 1:35 p.m. caller told Hardee’s Restaurant workers that a bomb had been planted in a restroom at the Indianapolis Road site. Police evacuated the building, searched both restrooms and the remainder of the building and found nothing. Hardee’s resumed business a short time later. Chief Jack Hanlon told the BannerGraphic. THE POLICE CHIEF said anyone making such threats will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if information implicating a suspect can be substantiated. “It’s a hazard to the business and the police officers who have to respond,” Hanlon said. Late last month a bomb threat was phoned in concerning Greencastle Middle School. That young suspect confessed to school officials, who are handling the discipline. One traffic citation was issued overnight. Rayna Vaught, 19, Indianapolis, was ticketed for speeding on East Washington Street. Officer Seipel ticketed her at 11:15 p.m. for 48 mph in a 30-mph zone. Indiana State Police A Michigan man with a reported history of mental illness was arrested Tuesday for resisting law enforcement after he reportedly ran from a trooper on Interstate 70, Indiana State Police at Putnamville said. Gregory Brent Ferguson, 19, Monroe, Mich., was placed under arrest by Trooper Garry Clark after a brief foot chase on 1-70, a quarter-mile east of the 37-mile marker, near State Road 243. A POLICE SPOKESMAN said the Putnamville Post received a report of a possible escapee from the Indiana State Farm. ISF personnel checked him out and notified the post he was not an escapee but was being belligerent A trooper was sent to talk with him, Ferguson had disappeared by

grade students).” Audience member Cheryl Danberry questioned if the school corporation anticipates a need to increase staff, or expects higher operational costs, if a middle school is built. WITH THE PLAN to incorporate the middle school within the present junior-senior high school, the teaching staff can share duties. So, Rohr reasoned, the need for additional teachers is not there at this time. However, when square footage increases so do the operational costs, the superintendent admitted. “Those costs will rise some, but not a tremendous amount,” Rohr determined. He noted handling the present budget even more conservatively will help to absorb any increase in operational costs which may arise due to the addition of a middle school. Audience member Mike Beck expressed concern the school corporation may not be adding on adequately at Bainbridge, even though the projection is to handle 440 students. “I’m just afraid we’ll be coming back in another five years from now wanting to add more square footage,” he said. ROHR ANSWERED by saying he believes adding on to Bainbridge to allow for growth up to 440 students is reasonable, based upon the current growth factors. In fact, the 1992-93 projected total enrollment amounts to 404 students. The school corporation also has the space available and plans prepared to add an additional four classrooms off the new “Y” addition, which could accommodate more students if need be, he said. Audience member Noble Fry said although he is for improving educational opportunities for students, he believes a sls million building program is too ambitious. Although Fry expressed the need to make improvements at Bainbridge, he is not in favor of a middle school. Supt. Rohr responded by saying the building project most likely not coast sls million, as he and board members intend to pare down the program with input from the teaching staff, administrators and public. “What is a reasonable (monetary) amount to do this work, we can’t tell you that right now until we make the necessary cuts and see what we come back with,” Rohr said. However, Rohr re-emphasized the school corporation is required by law to give patrons some idea of the projected cost via the 1028 hearing. BOARD MEMBER Don Lambermont agreed. “Just because there have been cuts made now doesn’t mean there won’t (also) be more,” he told the audience. “These are just some guidelines (that have

then. However, a second trooper saw the man walking on 1-70 as we was trying to flag down passing semis. He tried to flee when a trooper approached him on the interstate. However, he was apprehended and taken to the Putnam County Jail before being transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. A PUTNAM COUNTY man was one of two minors arrested for possession of alcohol in Morgan County Tuesday afternoon. Joseph D. Alexander, 19, Route 5, Box 208 Greencastle was cited along with Joseph P. Vanet, 20, New Palestine, after the ISP had received a report of an accident. Trooper Richard Myers responded to the call near Eminence. However, he found only a pickup truck stuck in field. He reportedly found Alexander and Vanet in the truck with some alcoholic beverages. They were cited and released. Donald E. Lauer, 25, Route 4, Box 182, Greencastle, was arrested for drunk driving as a felony after he was seen driving left of center on U.S. 231 near County Road 800 S at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday. AFTER HIS ARREST, Lauer was found to have a previous conviction for drunk driving, making this offense a class D felony instead of a class A misdemeanor. Lauer remains in custody in the Putnam County Jail. Putnam County Court Criminal cases filed: Tuesday, Jan. 2 Sidney E. Newman, battery; Charles H. Lyons, battery; Mark E. Caldwell, illegal consumption by minor; Timothy R. Heller, driving while intoxicated; Randall B. Miller, driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated with prior conviction; Carey G. Rogers, illegal consumption by minor; Terry B. King, driving while habitual traffic offender, David A. Pettit, theft.

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been offered).” Also, board member Mary Martin said although the school corporation plans to be conservative in its approach to a building program, improvements must be made and that will cost money. “We have to look at this from a business standpoint,” Martin said. Making improvements in school facilities will help to attract people to move to the North Putnam community. That, in turn, will allow the North Putnam communities to grow and prosper. “WE HAVE TO BE practical and be smart as we look at this,” Martin agreed, “but we also have to plan to make this an attractive facility (to entice persons to consider moving into the school district).” Board member Helen Galford then emphasized although the school board may refer to one part of the program as a “middle school,” it entails more. Included in the plan are improvements in the athletic facilities which will be used by both junior high and senior high school students. “Although there is one project known as the ‘middle school,’ we are actually addressing two needs,” she pointed out Audience member Mark Fordice said as a taxpayer, he must also look at how the building program affects him from a business standpoint. Until the school corporation can determine specific figures, instead of just giving estimates, Fordice said he cannot support the building program. ALSO, JUDY PROCTOR, a teacher in the North Putnam School Corporation who was in attendance Tuesday night, stressed the need for the school board to take a “personal interest” in what they are proposing to initiate. She asked each school board member to go to the educators who will use the new facilities and ask for input “Something may look good on paper, but will end up being unfeasible for the educator,” Proctor reasoned. She asked the board to be “more active” in its approach and “show genuine concern” when finalizing plans for Bainbridge and the middle school. Martin responded by saying teachers have been, and will continue to be, involved in the building program. In fact she said teachers have assured her they will attend meetings when the board readies itself to finalize plans. NEAR THE END OF the approximately 216-hour session, Martin was instructed to read a resolution establishing the building program parameters. The resolution specifies a Bainbridge addition costing between $2.25-$2.75 million, plus a middle school costing between SB-$lO million.

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Financial news you can use

Stocks of local interest, with prices as of 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10. Provided by Edward D. Jones & Co. Previous Indust Close 2764.00 -3737 Dow Jones Indust. 2760.03 -5.97 Dow Jones Trans 1172.48 3.73 Dow Jones Utilit. 224.41 +.63 PSI 1714 unc. IBM 9914 +l4 Anacomp 414 +l4 Eli Lilly «7V4 +l4 Gen. Motors 4314 14 Lone Star 1514 -114 Wendy’ +l4 Phillips Petro 2414 -14 Navistar 4 14 AT&T 4514 unc. Old National Bank 26 +l4 Merchants Natl 2814 unc. Wal-Mart 4514 14 Emhart 3914 unc. Indiana Energy 21 -14 GTE 69 14 Charming Shoppes 1014 14 Johnson Controls 31 -14 Redpath Ind 1714 unc. First United Bank 1014 unc. Sherwin-Williams 3334 -14 Fuji Heavy Ind , 64 unc. Forum Group 114 unc. Precious metals prices as of 11:05 a.m. included: Gold $40835 Silver $537 —55.29 The U.S. dollar in trading against selected foreign currencies as of 11:05 a.m. included: Bonn SI.OO = 1.6702DM Tokyo SI.OO = 14530 V London 1.66401 = SI.OO

The resolution further stipulates the total projected $12,750,000 building project will be funded via: corporation’s capital projects fund. school fund loan. And, $11,166,000 from a building corporation bond issue. The program, the resolution further specifies, is based upon the need to increase the debt service rate from $1.90 to $2.10 over a 20year period to pay for the bond issue. AFTER MARTIN READ the resolution, Gough inteijected, “I have a concern about the middle school concept ... whether we’re really ready to address this. In tying this all together (Bainbridge and the middle school), I’m concerned about the sl3 million (projected cost). I’m not comfortable with sl3 million. I’m not saying we don’t need a middle school, but I don’t know if we need it right now.” But school corporation attorney Hostetter said the board is not at a point to really have anything to object against. Again, Hostetter noted, the 1028 hearing is solely to project costs, not solidify them. “You’re not locked into doing anything, if you approve this resolution tonight,” Hostetter further clarified. ‘This is only a preliminary step and does not define the parameters (of a building program).” BUT BOARD member David Ferrand said he is in favor of doing Bainbridge and the middle school “as one project.” That is because the Bainbridge improvements are based upon taking sixth-graders out of the elementary atmosphere and putting them into a middle school concept. (In fact, the need to give junior high students more of an identify and the other improvements being proposed now at North Putnam are similar or identical to recommendations made in two previous studies completed for North Putnam by Indiana State University in 1976 and by Interdesign in 1980, Supt. Rohr noted earlier). Ferrand followed his statement by making a motion to approve the resolution. His motion was seconded by Martin. Voting for the resolution were Ferrand, Martin, Galford, Don Lambermont and Ron Richardson. Gough voted “no.” Board member David Lane was absent NEAR THE END OF the meeting, it was again noted the 1028 hearing is only one preliminary step in a lengthy legal process. The public, it was stressed, will have the opportunity for further input during future public meetings. Those meetings will be announced in the Banner-Graphic, once established by the school corporation.

Coast to Coast closing Crawfordsville facility

CRAWFORDSVILLE (AP) Coast to Coast hardware company will close its Crawfordsville distribution center in April, leaving 165 employees out of work, a company official says. THE COMPANY will continue to maintain its regional headquarters for sales and field operations in Montgomery County, retaining about 35 clerical and management employees, said Wayne E. Waldera, president and chief executive officer of Amdura, parent company of Coast to Coast. All of the warehouse workers, supervisors and truck drivers were notified Monday that they would be

South Putnam-

could be used, thereby saving some money. PIERSON SAID THAT new projects must always have the site resurveyed and the soil tested. Supt. James Hammond told the board that the cost of the soil testing has been budgeted at SIO,OOO, but that figure could be exceeded. Hammond asked the board to give him approval to review testing quotes with Pierson, and accept the lowest bid. That will keep the project on schedule, he said. The board unanimously granted that request. In a energy analysis of the high school project, engineer Holm told the board that he has figured that the new gas heating system will save about $15,000 in utility bills. THE HIGH SCHOOL had a 1989 electric bill of about $84,000 along with a $6,000 bill for gas heating. The new building will have a total utility bill of about $15,000. Also, the board unanimously approved the form of a lease for the high school with the new holding corporation. The five-member holding corporation will be the actual owner of the iiigii school, with the school

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Among winners selected in the photography division of the 1990 Putnam County Art League Exhibition were (from left) amateur Lance B. Myers, first place; professional Cindy Wright, second place and third place,and amateur Phyllis Scroggin, second place and third place. Their work, as well as that of Putnam County artists, remains on display at the DePauw Art Center through Jan. 21. (Ban-ner-Graphic photo by Lisa Meyer).

losing their jobs. Mayor Philip Michal said the city would help coordinate efforts to find a buyer for the property that will be vacated, and will help plan for the retraining or relocation of the affected employees, some of whom will be eligible for other jobs within the company. WALDERA SAID the company planned to open a new distribution center in the South “to improve operating efficiency and lower operating costs.” No site has been selected, he said. Coast to Coast opened the Indiana distribution center in 1975.

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board making annual lease-rental payments for the use of the building. BOARD ATTORNEY John Zciner said the lease is “pretty much a standard form.” It sets out the lease-rental payments that the school system will make to the holding corporation, but those figures will not be finalized, Zeiner said, until after the financing bonds are sold. The board set a public hearing on the lease for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12. That date is also the next regularly scheduled meeting of the school board. Those attending the meeting besides Hammond, Hacker, Zeiner, Findley, York, Pierson, and Holdm, were board members Mike Rissler, Jim Proctor, Jackie Schlueter and Bill Singleton.

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