Banner Graphic, Volume 21, Number 17, Greencastle, Putnam County, 22 September 1990 — Page 1

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1 injured in Friday accident A rural Fillmore woman remains in the Neurocritical Care Unit at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis following an accident Friday afternoon in Chadd Valley. Wanda P. Merrick, 66, Route 1, suffered major injuries when she lost control of her tan 1986 Oldsmobile on Ind. 240 near the entrance to Cash Concrete at about 5:03 p.m. Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Albright reported that no statement could be taken from Merrick due to her injuries, but rainy weather and a wet road were factors in the accident. The eastbound car went into the path of, and was hit by, a westbound 1987 semi-truck driven by Clyde Glover, 35, Route 1, Ladoga. A third vehicle, a 1984 Buick LeSabre driven by Nykoa Clifford, 47, Route 1, Fillmore, was following the semi-truck. Clifford told police she went into the south ditch to avoid the collision of the car and semi-truck. Damage to both the Merrick auto and the semi, registered to Crete Carrier of Lincoln, Neb., was estimated at more than $5,000. Albright was assisted at the scene by Deputy Richard Lyon and Greencastle policemen Jim Hendrich and Randy Seipel. Meanwhile in a later accident, a rural Greencastle woman received Col. 3, Back Page, this section

No scissors allowed Act of giving receives year of probation

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor Joyce Pearson will spend the next year on probation for trying to pass a pair of scissors to her husband, Don Pearson, at the Putnam County Jail on June 5. Originally charged with trying to deliver a deadly weapon to Don, Joyce pleaded guilty to a lesser count, easing her penalty.

Sea voyage ‘whale of a trip’ for local man

By ANGIE HOWLAND Banner-Graphic Staff Writer What would happen if people dumped their trash down Big Walnut Creek or threw it in the Heritage or Van Bibber lakes? En-vironmentally-minded people would complain, but the big loosers are the animals that depend on the water source for life. Luckily, this problem has not hit Putnam County waters. But Larry Behle, Greencastle resident and Avon High School biology teacher, recently observed a trash problem of this magnitude in the Gulf of Maine. He and 15 other teachers and scientists spent two weeks on board an old English sailing vessel, the Harvey Gamage, studying advanced whale conservation and how it is affected by humans. The research expedition was sponsored by the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbour, Maine. The group boarded the sailing

Cooler than a cucumbef

Tonight will be cold with increasing clouds. Temperatures will dip into the lower 40s. Northwest winds will be at 10 to 15 mph. Sunday will be mostly cloudy and much colder with a high of 55 to 60. Indiana Extended Forecast Monday through Wednesday will be dry. Monday will be very cool with lows in tire upper 30s to mid 40s and highs from 55 to 65. It will become warmer Tuesday ard Wednesday. Lows will hit the 40s Tuesday and the

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Just a few weeks ago, the old Penn Central railroad right-of-way was a confusion of cinders and brush at 10th Street south of Commercial Place. But with construction of the $4 million Southern Highway set for completion next spring, workers from Berns Construction Co. of

District funeral directors meeting here

For the first time ever, the annual District 6 meeting of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association Inc. will be held in Greencastle at the Walden Inn this Monday. A SERIES OF continuing education programs will be held 16 p.m. Monday, with social hour 67 p.m. and the banquet to follow. According to District 6 Director

“She now understands the rules and this is not likely to happen again,” Prosecutor Bob Lowe told Putnam Cirucit Court Judge William C. Vaughn 111 this week. The plea agreement worked out between Lowe and public defender Sid Tongret, calls for Joyce to spend one year on probation. That term will run consecutive to the year she is spending on probation

vessel in Boston and cruised northward in Maine waters near Nova Scotia. Behle said he was shocked by the amount of trash in the water. He said the group observed six rubber balloons per one square kilometer on the path the ship took. If the birds and fish eat the rubbery substance, they will suffocate and die. Based on the findings of the six balloons, Behle estimated that more than 500,000 balloons are floating in the Gulf. He also said that 600,000 to 1.5 million pieces of trash have also found their way into the water, including nondegradable plastics which dissolve very slowly. “It is important for people to look at this issue out there (in the Gulf of Maine) because chances are, the same problem is happening here,” Behle said. “In the ocean, you can hide the trash more but on land it is more evident,” he explained, referring to

45 to 50 range Wednesday. Highs will be from 65 to 75 Tuesday and in the 70s to low 80s Wednesday. Index Abby A 3 Classifieds A6,A7 Comics A 3 Crossword A 7 Horoscope A 7 Obituaries A 8 People A 3 Sports A4,A5,A6 Theaters A 8

Indianapolis have already graded the 2.76 miles of road surface. The two-lane highway will run from Ind. 240 on Greencastle’s east side to Manhattan Road on the west end. (BannerGraphic photo by Eric Bernsee)

Mike Hurt of Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, 62 reservations have been made for the evening dinner with funeral directors coming from as far away as Vincennes. “Previously, the district meeting has always been held in Terre Haute,” Hurt said, “and we felt it was time to have it in Greencastle.

for a drug conviction in Putnam County Court. The consecutive terms mean she must complete her current term of probation before the latest term will begin. The net effect is to place her on probation for two years. Joyce and Don were part of the spring drug round up. She pleaded guilty to possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana in County

trash scattered along the ground. “It needs to be a bigger concern.” However, Behle’s adventure was not soley to count trash; it was to observe marine life. And the group was treated to quite a show. The group sailed 220 miles out from shore through the Gulf waters. Behle said the highlight was observing the almost-extinct right whales. About 300 total whales of that species are left in the world and during the voyage, the group saw four. Behle said that every morning the crew would observe the whales swimming east and every evening swimming west, back to their original home waters. The group was entertained by finback, minke, humpback and sei whales, who watched the boat just as closely as they were being watched. Behle said that also during their travels, they may have discovered the calling grounds for the harbour

Putnam Patter

When cobwebs and committees cooperate

By DAVID BARR Banner-Graphic Civic Editor There was once a woman who worried weekly over a lone cobweb that swayed Sunday after Sunday from a comer of the church ceiling. When her anxieties became known, the church appointed a committee of three to take care of the matter. Two of these people held the ladder while the third, armed with a broom swept away the offending webb. WHILE THEIR action solved a bothersome problem, it created another. Now, where the cobweb had been there was a light streak, evidence of a soiled ceiling.

We’ve gotten a lot of favorable comment from people within the association about moving it here.” INDIANA FUNERAL Directors Association President Maurice Sefton will be on hand, as will directors from the District 6 counties of Putnam, Clay, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo.

Court. Judge Sally Gray accepted a plea agreement that called for Joyce to spend one year on probation, contact the Substance Abuse Treatment Program once a month, submit to random urine tests, and attend Al-Anon meetings. Judge Gray also ordered Joyce to pay sll3 in court costs by Oct. 4. That has not yet been paid. Vaughn Col. 3, Back Page, this section

porpoise. This is the place where a mother and baby porpoise “nest,” and has never been found before, Behle explained. They also observed fishing ships from Bulgaria and Russia, heard sonic booms from the Concord flying from New York to Paris and saw major high and low tidal differences. Behle is no rookie to this type of adventure. Two years ago, he participated in a whale, seals and porpoise course at Bar Harbour, and this summer, he and DePauw University Professor Robert Stark took 20 high school students to the East Coast for a similar Gulf voyage. The students got hands-on experience in observing marine mammal life. And plans are currently under way for another trip next summer. High school students interested in taking the sailing voyage next Col. 2, Back Page, this section

Confronting the problem almost head on, the church appointed another committee to determine the advisability and cost of a cleaning job. Making a report to the church, the chairman observed that if the church aimed to spend that much money, why not spend a little more and put in a tiled ceiling. “Good thinking,” agreed the congregation. SO A COMMITTEE set about to secure facts and figures. From this deliberation came the thought that a new ceiling wouldn’t be in harmony with otherwise drab surroundings. Since the proposed expenditure was already great, why

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MINDY NICHOLSON GEORGE GEESEMAN MICHAEL J. HARRIS

Who’s news

MINDY NICHOLSON has joined the staff at Jonie Skaggs Dance Studio and will be teaching tap, tumbling and jazz Saturdays at the Greencastle studio, located at Oddfellows’ Lodge on South Jackson Street Miss Nicholson, a graduate of Greencastle High School, is currently a student at DePauw University. She has studied dancing for 13 years. To enroll in dance classes, persons may call 539-6329. Indiana State Farm Correctional Officer GEORGE GEESEMAN has been selected as the State Farm “Employee of the Month” for September. He has been employed at the State Farm since March 26,1990. According to Philip H. Badger, acting ISF superintendent, Officer Geeseman is an “exceptional correctional officer,” as is displayed by his ability to handle emergency situations. During an assault of one offender on another, Officer Geeseman was knocked down. He was able to gain his composure and through his quickthinking ability, managed to subdue the offenders. Navy Seaman Recruit MICHAEL J. HARRIS, son of Cathy L. and Michael J. Harris Sr., Route 1, Fillmore, has completed recruit training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, 111. During Harris’ eightweek training cycle, he studied general military subjects designed to prepare him for further academic and on-the-job training in one of the Navy’s 85 basic fields. His studies included seamanship, close order drill, Naval history and first aid. Harris joined the Navy in June 1990. Currently, Harris is furthering his education in ETA School for the next 17 weeks at the Naval Training Center in Orlando, Fla. Michael is a 1990 South Putnam High School graduate. Marine Sgt. MARK A. CAPPS, son of Marvin R. and Linda M. Capps, Route 1, Fillmore, recently reported for duty with 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan. He joined the Marine Corps in June 1980. Senior Airman DANIEL J. ARCHER recently received an Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service at Grissom Air Force Base in the 305th Air Refueling Wing. He graduated from Cloverdale High School in 1985 and is the son of the late Herbert W. Archer and Thelma Archer of Cloverdale. Currently, he is enrolled as a junior at Indiana State University. JACKIE KIGER, a student of Patricia Stevens College, St.

not spend a little more for wall paneling and light fixtures? “Our opinion exactly,” agreed the congregation. As the committee began to implement this latest suggestion, someone pointed out that the threadbare carpet and battle-scarred pulpit and pews would look sadly out of place in a new setting. Since there was already a sizable debt in the offing, why not add new furnishings? “WE WOULDN’T have it it any other way,” agreed the congregation. Again the committee considered ways and means to achieve a com-

Louis, was placed on the faculty list for the summer quarter. The honor is achieved by maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average and deemed eligible by the faculty. She is the daughter of Jerry Kiger of Greencastle. Pvt. LEO E. ROBINSON m has completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. During the training, students received instruction in drill and other military exercises. He is the son of Leo E. and Pearl L. Robinson of Route 1, Bainbridge. He is a 1990 graduate of North Putnam High School. Several Putnam County RoseHulman students were named to the dean’s list for the spring quarter of the academic year. The students include KYLE C. ARNOLD, son of James and Colleen Arnold, Route 1, Clayton; RUSSELL PETERSON, son of Ronald G. and Linda Peterson, Route 2, Clayton; JEREMY J. WINNICK, son of John R. and Terri Winnick, Route 1, Cloverdale; DOUGLAS A. COLLIER, son of Fred and Mary Ruth Collier, Route l, Coatesville; MARK C. GUERRETTAZ, son of George and Shirley Guerrettaz, and BRIAN K. MEEK, son of Ronald and Marjorie Meek, Route 1, Fillmore. KATHY KOONTZ, daughter of Charles and Janet Koontz of Lexington, Ky., was graduated from Centre College with a B.A. in French. She plans to go to Emporia State University in Kansas to study in the school of library and information management Koontz is a 1986 graduate of Greencastle High School and was a member of the German Society and member and president of the French Society. DIANA HATCHER, a 1987 graduate of North Putnam High School, serves an intern at Indianapolis C.E.0.. She is serving as an account representative for the publication, calling on businesses to purchase advertising. She works from a base salary and will receive a commission from her sales. She even wears a beeper and has her own business cards. For the JulyAugust issue, she sold more than SII,OOO in advertising. She is a business administration student at Butler University. She has been active at the school in Alpha Chi Omega social sorority, Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, intramurals and YMCA. JULIA BETH PHIPPS. 414 S. Indiana St., Greencastle, received her master’s degree in library science from Indiana State University in June.

pletely new look in the sanctuary and the question of keeping everything looking nice arose. Another need became urgent. “Old Smokey”, the furnace, must go. After all, the proportionate cost of adding a modem heating unit wouldn’t be too great. ‘That’s just the way we see it,” agreed the congregation. COMING TO WORK on their furnace assignment, committee members surveyed the sad state of the church exterior. Its peeling paint and sagging gutters would not be in keeping with a renovated interior. Col. 3, Back Page, this section