Banner Graphic, Volume 20, Number 129, Greencastle, Putnam County, 5 February 1990 — Page 1

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Greencastle firemen check the scene Sunday night as smoke is emitted from DQ drive-up window

DQ heavily damaged by fire

A sign outside the Greencastle Dairy Queen at 1107 Indianapolis Rd. proclaims a Saturday reopening. Those plans, however, went up in smoke Sunday. In the midst of preparations for that Feb. 10 reopening, the Dairy Queen was heavily damaged by fire Sunday night. Greencastle City Firefighters were meeting with investigators from the Indiana State Police and State Fire Marshal’s Office at presstime Monday as they tried “to determine cause and origin,” City Fire Chief Bob Elmore told, the Banner-Graphic. ELMORE SAID IT IS apparent the fire started in the back of the

Locals respond at Legislative Update

Excise tax no way to spell relief

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor The excise tax relief plan that GOP leaders and Gov. Evan Bayh are arguing over in Indianapois became the tax cut no one wanted at a legislative update Saturday morning. The meeting featured all four Putnam County legislators, Rep. John Thomas (R-Brazil), Sen. Ed Pease (R-Brazil), Sen. Richard Thompson (R-North Salem) and Sen. Robert Hellmann (DTerre Haute). It was co-sponsored by Putnam County Farm Bureau Inc. and the Greencastle Chamber of Commerce. THE EXCISE TAX RELIEF plans sponsored by the GOP and the governor basically would use lottery profits to replace a $75 million tax break on the auto tax. The biggest difference is the GOP plan calls for the $75 million to be replaced from lottery profits. Bayh’s plan protects his Build Indiana Fund, which is also funded from lottery profits. Bayh’s program would fund Build Indiana and then use remaining lottery profits to replace the $75 million excise tax cut. If there is not enough in the lottery fund, Bayh will borrow money from the state’s surplus to make up the difference, paying back the surplus with the next payment of lottery profits. NO ONE AT SATURDAY morning’s meeting, it seemed, liked either plan. Terry Hall, president of the Greencastle Plan Commission, told the legislators that she would rather pay her excise tax and see the legislators use the $75 million to solve some of the state’s other problems.

Half wet half the time

Continued mild overnight and becoming mostly cloudy late. Low near 35. Cloudy and cooler on Tuesday with high in the mid to upper 40s. A 50 percent chance of rain Tuesday. Indiana Extended Forecast Partly to mostly cloudy Wednesday through Friday. A chance of rain late Wednesday with highs 45 to 55 and lows 30 to 40. Also a chance of rain Thursday with high temperatures between 40 and 50 and

building. “Gasoline was involved,” he said. “Now we’re trying to determine how. There is evidence of a portable generator being used in the building and the rear door being bolted shut.” Fire officials said owner William Hudson and another person were in the restaurant when the fire broke out about 7 p.m. Sunday. “Hudson tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher,” Elmore said, noting the owner’s efforts were exhausted when the extinguisher was spent. HUDSON AND HIS co-worker went on their own to Putnam County Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation following the fire.

Capitol Steps

It was an idea shared by more than 55 percent of the people who answered Sen. Thompson’s legislative survey this year. More than 55 percent said they would prefer the state use surplus funds to offer local property tax relief, while only 35 percent favored excise tax relief. A paltry eight percent favored a one-time tax rebate. Ms. Hall’s sentiment was echoed by Sen. Hellmann, who said he was not sure if the more serious problem was a person “buying a new Pinto has to pay another $25 in excise tax or if we treat state employees fairly,” or deal with some of the other problems facing legislators. AND THERE ARE plenty of other problems, Hellmann knows. “I haven’t seen anyone over there at the Statehouse having any fun,” he said. “When I walked in here this morning, I didn’t see a lot of people smiling.” That is because there are so many controversial issues that deal with so

lows 35 to 45. Lows Friday 25 to 35 with a high of 45. Abby A 4 Calendar A 4 Classifieds AB,A9 Comics AS Crossword A 9 Heloise A 4 Horoscope A 9 Obituaries AlO People A 5 Sports A6,A7,A8 TV A 5 Theaters AlO

Damage estimates were unavailable Monday morning. Elmore said damage will be “considerable,” however. ‘The structure itself is not that heavily damaged,” the chief said. “The back section of the building is heavily damaged and the front has smoke damage, but I wouldn’t classify it as a total loss.” The damage estimate will escalate once the value of the equipment inside the Dairy Queen is determined. ‘THE AREA THAT was damaged the most was the section with equipment like freezers in it,” Elmore explained. “Those are expensive items and we’ll need to get

many issues that are close to so many people, Hellmann said. One of the hottest issues that came up Saturday morning was collective bargaining for state employees. At least the bill started out offering unions to only state employees when it came out of Bayh’s office. By the time the House got done with the bill sponsored by Rep. Rolland Webber (D-Ander-son), it included unionization for university faculty, as well as local police and fire personnel, much to the ire of local officials and their counterparts across the state. But it will not stay that way, all four legislators predicted. By the time the Senate gets done with the bill and it goes through a conference committee, the bill will be trimmed back to cover just state administration employees, they all predicted. THAT DID NOT PREVENT Greencastle Mayor Mike Harmless from questioning each legislator on the bill. Rep. Thomas was the only one of the four who has had a chance to vote on collective bargaining, casting a ballot in favor of it. “I agree with the original concept,” Thomas explained. He said the collective bargaining bill became a Christmas tree bill with amendment hung on it like ornaments. Thomas said he did not like many of those amendments. But when it came time to vote, he said he was confronted with the choice of voting for a bill he liked or against a string of 22 amendments he did not like. He voted for the bill, counting on the Senate Col. 1, Back Page, this section

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Judge Gray seeks re-election

Judge Sally H. Gray announces her candidacy for re-election as Putnam County Court judge. Judge Gray is completing her second term in office. “I am proud of my nine-year record on the bench,” she stated in her announcement. “My pledge is to continue to work with diligence and competence and continue to seek fair and just resolutions of the problems that bring people to County Court. ‘T AM FORTUNATE,” she continued, “to have enjoyed a job which has brought me both personal and professional growth and

back with the owner to determine those losses.” The Dairy Queen had been closed for much of the winter, only recently advertising its intended Feb. 10 reopening. The Greencastle DQ and its sister operation at Cloverdale have recently been advertised for sale by Hudson. It was unknown Monday whether the owner plans to rebuild and reopen the Greencastle store. CITY FIREFIGHTERS responded with three trucks at 7:07, 7:14 and 7:27 p.m. The last unit -returned to station at 1:30 a.m. Monday. Madison Township volunteers were called in to man the local station during the fire.

for that I am grateful to the voters of this county.” The case load in Putnam County Court has increased considerably since Judge Gray’s first term and dramatically in the past year. Court records show that in 1989 the number of felonies filed in County Court was 145, a 35 percent increase over 1988 and a 63 percent increase since 1983. Misdemeanors, totaling 768 in 1989, were 31 percent higher than in 1988 and 60 percent higher than 1983. LAST YEAR, SLIGHTLY over 1,200 small claims were filed in

Commissioners, state jail inspector slate get-together

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor A state jail inspector is expected to address the Putnam County Board of Commissioners Monday night (tonight) to discuss aspects of the Putnam County Jail. That meeting was confirmed Monday morning by state jail inspector Walter Smith, who said he has “no prepared speech” for tonight’s meeting. “I AM COMING at the request of Commissioner (Don) Walton,” Smith told the Banner-Graphic via phone from his Indianapolis office. “I have no prepared speech and will be there just to answer questions.” Walton, also reached Monday morning by the Banner-Graphic, said he contacted the Department of Corrections approximately a week ago to have someone come and talk to the commissioners. His intention, Walton said, was to have DOC Commissioner James Aiken address the board. However, the commissioner suspects Smith is being sent in Aiken’s place. WALTON SAID HE had hoped to have as many Putnam County officials available to hear the DOC representative talk about regulations governing jails in the state of Indiana. And Commissioner Gene Beck, board president, said they will try and contact as many local officials as they possibly can. “(Auditor) Myrtle (Cockrell) said she’d try and call as many people as she can,” Beck advised. “And I called (Putnam County Council President) Gene Clodfelter and he said he’d try and get as many Council people as he can there.” BECK SAID MONDAY night’s presentation is to be purely informational so officials can get a better idea of how to address Putnam County’s overcrowded jail problem. Meanwhile, the commissioners have been aware for some time that the jail is inadequate not only for adults, but for juvenile offenders as well. However, Putnam County’s situation is not unique, as other Indiana counties are facing similar types of jail-related problems. Again, the Putnam County Jail is said to have a problem with over-

Fillmore man charged in counterfeit watch scam

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A Putnam County man who worked at the General Motors Truck & Bus Group plant in Indianapolis has been charged with selling counterfeit watches to an undercover U.S. Customs officer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Stuann said Hansford Stinson, 51, Fillmore, has agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with the investigation into counterfeit imports. STINSON ALLEGEDLY was trying to sell fake prestige watches such as imitation Rolexes for about $35 apiece, according to Mike Adams, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Customs Service enforcement office in Indianapolis. Adams said Customs agents also seized about 250 additional

County Court, 20 percent higher than in 1988 and 70 percent greater than six years ago. Traffic infractions have averaged 2,500-2,700 for several years, while civil suits filed on the plenary docket have quadrupled since 1983 and doubled between 1988 and 1989. Last year, the plenary docket hit an all-time record when close to 100 cases were filed, the increase being due in large part to the increase in protective orders requested. “We still hear small claims trials within three or four weeks from Col. 1, Back Page, this section

crowding of its adult population, while there are no proper facilities for juveniles who must be kept out of sight and sound of the adult prisoners. FOR THOSE REASONS, the commissioners have been approached by a firm interested in providing a detention facility for Putnam County. The firm presenting that proposal was Diversified Municipal Services Inc. from Lebanon. Joe Vaughn, DMS president, and company representative Milton Slosson were on hand at the commissioners’ Jan. 2 meeting to discuss the possibility of constructing a local detention center to house medium-security prisoners. Medium-security prisoners were described as those serving 12- to 18-month sentences. Vaughn said DMS officials had contacted the DOC and were told the state is in immediate need of 1,800 medium-security beds. In turn, the state says it will pay a per prisoner fee to house offenders in a county’s detention center. VAUGHN SAID the mediumsecurity facility, if built in Putnam County, would consist of a 70,000-square-foot building constructed on a 10-acre site. Both DMS representatives also projected the center would produce a profit of $1 -$1.5 million annually for Putnam County. However, Vaughn said the county would be committed to a $1.3 million-per-year lease payment over a 20-year period to pay for the center. It was noted during the meeting that the medium-security facility must be at “full capacity” at all times to meet the projected profit margin. THE COMMISSIONERS did not commit to the proposal, preferring instead to invite someone from the DOC to attend a future meeting. Hence, Smith’s appearance before the board tonight. In addition to Smith, the commissioners’ agenda (as of Monday morning) includes discussion pertaining to the Green Acres County Home at 7 p.m., a resident contesting a poor relief matter with the Greencastle Township trustee at 7:30 p.m., plus an appearance by Putnam County Clerk Nancy Michael at 8 p.m.

watches, for which Stinson probably paid about $lO apiece. Stinson is the subject of one of eight counterfeit investigations recently handled by the Indianapolis Customs office, Adams said. COMPANIES LIKE Rolex are hurt by the sale of the counterfeit goods, Adams said. Many companies spend millions of dollars to establish a product “When you see them all over the place, then it cheapens their product,” Adams said. One of the first signs of the counterfeiting problem in Indiana came when agents seized more than $500,000 worth of counterfeit goods from a Shipshewanna flea market in September 1988.

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