Banner Graphic, Volume 20, Number 178, Greencastle, Putnam County, 3 April 1990 — Page 1

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$5.2 million said highway’s new price tag

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor Bid letting on the Southern Highway project a long-awaited new roadway from State Road 240 to Manhattan Road via the old Penn Central Railroad right-of-way has been scheduled for May 15. The Greencastle Board of Public Works and Safety learned the latest Southern Highway timetable Monday afternoon while meeting in special session at City Hall to sign a formal agreement between the City of Greencastle and the Indiana Department of Transportation. THAT AGREEMENT, unanimously approved by the board, establishes construction, cost-sharing and project management guidelines for the 2.7-mile project. An accompanying document also provides some eye-opening cost estimates. City officials have long believed the city-state-federal project would carry a price tag in the $2.7 million range. And an estimate of the city’s share has almost always been discussed as $300,000. And in fact, when the city received IBM Corp.’s farewell donation, then-Mayor Bob Albright set aside $300,000 in a separate bank account to cover what was assumed to be the city’s share of the project. “THAT $300,000 WAS always sort of a guess-timate,” Mayor Mike Harmless said Monday, noting that since December of 1987 those city funds have earned approximately $49,000 in interest However, the state’s new estimate for the Southern Highway is a total project cost of $5,224,874. The city’s share of that estimate was listed as $445,469, while the state’s share was listed as $860,750. The federal government, according to state figures, will pick up a $3,918,656 tab.

More input on detention center idea

By BECKY IGO Banner-Graphic News Editor The expected turned into the unexpected at Monday night’s commissioners’ meeting. Discussion was to take place about the possibility of locating a medium-security detention center in Putnam County. But the individual who asked to make that presentation was a no-show. COUNTY AUDITOR Myrtle Cockrell said A 1 Bennett of the Everett I. Brown architectural firm requested several times to be on the commissioners’ agenda. After his latest request, Mrs. Cockrell advised him she would place him on the commissioners’ Monday night agenda. However, after almost a twohour wait for Bennett, the board decided to adjourn. But that didn’t keep Commissioners Gene Beck, Don Walton and John Carson from addressing other county business. In a related vein, Sheriff Gerry Hoffa provided the commissioners with information Beck requested

We’ll see 50 again

Clear and cold overnight with low around 30 degrees. Mostly sunny and warmer Wednesday with high 50-55. Northwesterly winds at 5-10 mph during the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Thursday through Saturday. Cloudy Thursday with a chance of showers. Lows Thursday morning in the 30s; highs from the middle 40s to the middle 50s. Fair and cool Friday and Saturday. Lows each morning from the middle 20s to middle

THE SECTION FROM State Road 240 (Indianapolis Road) to U.S. 231 (Bloomington Street) wifi cost $3,443,000 and be shared by the state and feds. The section from Bloomington Street west to Manhattan Road (South Jackson Street) will be a city-federal project totaling $1,781,874. While the $5.2 million figure was somewhat of a surprise, city officials eagerly noted that a $445,469 share of that figure means the local match will be less than 10 percent of the entire project “But where will the rest of the money come from?,” Board of Works member Dorothy Crawley asked. “WE WILL HAVE TO go to the City Council and the Citizens Advisory Commission for Industrial Development (CACFID) and ask for an additional appropriation (from Industrial Development Fund, a.k.a. IBM donation),” Mayor Harmless said, acknowledging there may be other avenues as well for coming up with the additional funds. With bid letting slated for May 15, the project will go out for bids April 17, with groundbreaking expected this June. The project is expected to be completed by 1991. City Attorney Larry Wilson reported that five parcels of property along the Southern Highway have been filed as condemnation suits by the city. The property owners in question are Charlie Buckles, Richard Jackson, Dan Pool, Robert Williams (access rights only, no actual land) and Charlie Alex/Varsity Lanes, the attorney said. MEANWHILE, acquisition is reportedly pending on three additional parcels along the old railroad right-of-way. Col. 5, Back Page, this section

concerning what facilities in the state are accepting juvenile offendcrs. HAVING NO PROPER space at the Putnam County jail for juveniles is one of the main reasons the county is looking into detention centers and other possibilities. The Putnam County Jail not only has no proper quarters for juveniles, but also does not meet jail standards, is outdated and overcrowded. Therefore, Putnam County, like many other counties in the state of Indiana, is in the process of finding other facilities to house local juveniles. However, one such proposal has arrived from Johnson County, Beck announced Monday night. JOHNSON COUNTY sent a proposal to the commissioners, offering to house Putnam County juvenile offenders for SBS per day. “Eighty-five dollars per day sounds awfully steep to me,” Beck said. In adding to that proposal, Hoffa presented the board with a “direc-

30s; highs from the middle 40s to the middle 50s. Index Abby A 4 ■ Calendar A 4 Classifieds AB,A9 Comics A 6 Crossword A 9 Heloise A 4 Horoscope A 9 Obituaries AlO People A 6 Sports A7,AB TV A 6 Theaters AlO

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City loses shot at 2nd grant

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor The City of Greencastle’s effort at securing a second Community Focus Fund grant was not as successful as its first venture, the City Council learned Monday. A preliminary application seeking $300,000 funding to increase the quality, availability and affordability of child care for working residents of the city has been rejected by the state, Council member Sue Murray reported. THE CITY’S GRANT effort did not meet threshold criteria, she explained, because of the number of people to be served for the amount of money spent. The city’s preapplication had indicated the Greencastle Community Child Care Center, which presently serves 15 children ages 3-6, would be expanded to 45 children, 0-6

tory” which outlines all the places in Indiana that house juvenile offenders. Information in the directory details fees charged to counties to house juveniles, in addition to identifying the type of juvenile offender who will be accepted at each institution. ‘THIS IS NOT ALL of them in the state, but it’s most of them,” the sheriff clarified. “For some, there is a four- to six-week wait (to get a juvenile accepted). It’s one day for others, so you really have to look at each line.” In addition, Hoffa said the fee charged to counties to house juveniles at each facility is based ■on 1987 prices. “You also have to consider travel time to and from the facility,” Hoffa told the commissioners. “One of our deputies heard that Jeffersonville is taking their juveniles to Ft. Wayne. Once you get them there (at any facility), it takes about a half hour to one hour for processing.” NONE OF THE facilities, Hoffa

Annual Easter egg hunt set for Saturday at Robe-Ann

the annual Greencastle Jaycees-Hardee’s Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7 at Robe-Ann Park. EGG HUNTS ARE being organized in age groups 3-4, 5-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Groups should assemble near the softball diamond, organizers said. An area will also be provided for handicapped children. One- and two-year-olds will receive an egg from the Easter Bunny but will not hunt.

years. Two immediate benefits were seen as the opening of a licensed center providing care for infants and toddlers and development of a center with sufficient enrollment to apply for Title XX funding on a cost-effective basis. Affordable quality child care being available for even the youngest of children, the preapplication noted, would “have a direct impact on the availability of Greencastle’s low- and moderate-income citizens to enter, re-enter or remain in the workforce.” “IT’S STILL A GOOD idea, and a muchly needed service,” Councilman Murray said in advising that the project was not approved for the second round of OFF grant funding. In the first round of funding, the city was successful in securing the

added, is close in proximity to Putnam County. He also noted Putnam County should concentrate on finding “emergency” placement for its juveniles, instead of long-term placement Due to a lack of proper juvenile quarters at the Putnam County Jail, the court is not sending many juveniles over, according to Hoffa. “We see about one or two per month,” he estimated. “It just depends upon the type of case.” Board President Beck asked county attorney Bob Lowe what his recommendation would be. “I THINK YOU need to find some place to house juveniles at the cheapest and best facility,” Lowe responded. “I don’t know of any better place than what Johnson County is offering.” The commissioners, however, did not sign the agreement with Johnson County Monday night, pending further review. However, Beck did say Johnson Col. 1, Back Page, this section

Everyone is guaranteed an egg. Some 5,000 plastic eggs have been filled with prizes and Hardee’s coupons by Putnam County Comprehensive Services workers. Four-hundred special prizes, including bicycles, will be awarded via numbered eggs in each age group. RAIN DATE FOR the egg hunt will be Saturday, April 14. The Easter Bunny will be at Hardee’s following the egg hunt to meet youngsters.

$300,000 maximum grant for a sewer separation project in Commercial Place. The project will repair sanitary sewers, add storm sewers and separate lines where the two systems presently are connected. During its special meeting Monday afternoon, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 1990-12, rezoning a 122.77-acre site at 10th Street and the Southern Highway route from 1-2 (general industrial) and RA (residential-agricultural/suburtan) to all 1-2. APPROXIMATELY 80 acres of the site in question are already 1-2, while the other 40 acres have been RA. Having the entire tract zoned industrial makes it much more attractive to prospective industrial clients, city officials have said. The site has been looked at by

Application deadline for Marlene Bitzer Scholarship nearing

When former Jones Elementary School teacher Marlene Bitzer passed away last Dec. 6, she left a legacy of teaching-*children with love and genuine concern. It was a legacy her family and friends decided should stretch into the future. And to ensure Mrs. Bitzer’s legacy will be a lasting one, they have donated money to create the Marlene Bitzer Memorial Scholarship. GREENCASTLE Classroom Teachers’ Association will act as trustee for the scholarship. The money, provided by the late teacher’s family and friends, has been placed in a local bank. Marilyn Martin, the committee chairman responsible for the scholarship, said the funds will generate enough interest each year to fund it With the capital preserved, the GCTA will be able to offer the scholarship every year. The scholarship will be for not less than SSOO each year and is non-renewable. And while more than one scholarship can be awarded in any given year, if the money is available, the total awards may never equal more than 95 percent of the interest accrued on the principal. Applicants must be seniors at Greencastle High School, where Mrs. Bitzer graduated, or students who arc currently enrolled in or who have been accepted to a college or university intending to pursue a degree in education. THE AWARD WILL be based on merit, not on financial need.

Betty Waldron, chairman of the Seventh District Art Competition sponsored by Indiana Congressman John Myers, places a blue ribbon on the winning entry during judging at the Putnam County Courthouse. The winning entry was submitted by Jeannie Kembler of Lafayette Jefferson High School. The artwork, judged by DePauw University professors William Meehan and David Herrold and artist Omer Seamon of Terre Haute, ; will be on display in the courthouse lobby until noon Friday. The winning entry will be judged in the national contest June 28 in Washington, D.C. Local participants Amanda Buchanan of Greencastle High School and Jeremy Butler of North Putnam High School were awarded honorable mentions for their efforts. (BannerGraphic photo by Gary Goodman).

several companies the past four or five years, City Attorney Wilson said, and one of the concerns has always been that the industrial portion of the property is too small. Industrial clients are often turned off when land they desire is in need of rezoning. What is making the property presently three parcels owned by Eleanor Ballard; Bernice Zimmerman; and Alan and Donna Stanley and Ella Marie Torr Wagle more attractive is the completion of the Heartland Water loop which provides “excellent water pressure” to the site, Wilson said. Mrs. Zimmerman owns the only house on the 122.77 acres. It sits at the NW comer of the site. She has offered no objection to the rezoning. Col. 1, Back Page, this section

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MARLENE BITZER Memorial scholarship set To apply, an applicant must submit a brief personal statement expressing the qualities, potential and desire to become an effective teacher. The GCTA Scholarship Committee will review the applications and make a selection on a winner. The winner’s name will be presented to the Bitzer family prior to the presentation. The award will be in the form of a check made payable to the college or university designated by the recipient THE DEADLINE for applying is Friday, April 22. Applications are available at Greencastle High School.