Banner Graphic, Volume 21, Number 156, Greencastle, Putnam County, 7 March 1991 — Page 1

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Celebration time was In order for the South Putnam High School Eagles and their fans last Saturday night after winning the Greencastle Sectional at McAnally Center, and they hope to be whooping it up again this Saturday at Hulman Center

Land-use concerns voiced again

By ANGIE HOWLAND Banner-Graphic Staff Writer If a county comprehensive landuse plan would have been in place, attempts to stop the construction of a race car track in the southern part of the county may have been successful, experts believe. And with other facilities slowly finding their way into Putnam County with nothing to stop or regulate them, county officials are hoping the development of a landuse plan and county-wide zoning ordinance will protect the county land. THE THIRD OF FOUR public meetings designed to hear resident’s concerns about the development of a land-use plan was held Tuesday evening at North Putnam High School. About 40 people, including county commissioners, County Plan Commission members and County Council members, attended

Recycling time Greencastle ‘making progress,’ Baker says

By LISA MEYER Banner-Graphic Staff Writer The residents of Asbury Towers and Asbury Village want to continue taking care of the earth where they have long been residents. So many of the senior citizens there have decided to participate in the recycling program being set up by the city and the G.R.E.E.N. committee. ASBURY TOWERS administrator Mary O. Brown said the goal there is to have all residents and employees recycle as much as they can. Currently, more than half of the residents recycle, she said. And

In varying degrees

Clear and cold overnight with low in the low to mid 20s. Variable wind around 5 mph. Friday increasing clouds during the afternoon and a little warmer. High in the middle 40s. Northwest 10 mph. Indiana Extended Forecast There’s a chance of light snow in the north and a chance of flurries or sprinkles in central areas Saturday. Otherwise it will be dry. Lows will be in the middle 20s to low 30s Saturday and the 20s Sunday and Monday.

BannerGrr»ohic Greencastle, Putnam County, Thursday, March 7,1991, Vol. 21 No. 156 35 Cents

the meeting and voiced concerns about how the plan will address future residential growth, and protect prime farmland and other areas. Kevin Parsons, project manager for the Snell Environmental Group (S.E.G.), who is developing the plan, said the plan is designed to conserve the property value of land, ensure orderly growth and provide for the health, welfare and safety of county residents. HE ALSO ADVISED that land uses now in existence will stay the same after the plan is passed by the county commissioners. If a person is currently operating a business in the county, that person must register it to make sure the land is zoned for that use. North Putnam Community School Corporation board member Lora Scott questioned Parsons how residential growth would be addressed. He said that from information

weekly pick-up of recyclable items began in February at the 20 Asbury Village apartments “We’re making progress,” Brown said of the recycling efforts. All recyclable items collected there are taken to the Greencastle Recycling Center at Baker’s Transfer Station on West Columbia Street. GLEN BAKER OF the transfer station apprised a group of Asbury residents Tuesday on the environmental facts of the state and nation’s trash build-up and what is being done to reduce trash going to landfills. “We live, in my opinion, in a

Highs will be 35 to 45 Saturday and Sunday and the 40s to low 50s Monday. Abby A 5 Calendar A 5 Classifieds 82,83 Comics A 9 Crossword B 3 Editorials A 4 Heloise AS Horoscope B 3 Letters A 4 Obituaries AlO People A 9 Sports A6,A7,A8

in Terre Haute. The 17-5 Eagles will face a tall order, however, colliding with 19-3 Terre Haute South in the 11 a.m. Terre Haute Regional opener. The 12:30 p.m. contest will pit the Sullivan Golden Arrows (13-9) against the White River Valley Wol-

taken from the 1990 census, the townships in the eastern and southern part of the county have grown the most Parsons explained that if the public wants the plan to allow for residential growth in those areas but to also conserve the farmland, the particular areas may be zoned agricultural/residential. He said that this zoning classification would allow the farmer who wants to sell his land to a developer to have an easier time getting approval from the county Plan Commission. IF A DEVELOPER wants to build houses near a farm, Parsons said the plan could be written to require the developer to include a buffer zone between the subdivision and the farmer’s land. Gene McKeehan asked how the plan will allow the county to control junkyards. McKeehan lives next to a junkyard located at U.S. 231 and U.S. 36 and although he

very progressive city,” Baker said of Greencastle. Through the G.R.E.E.N. project, the city has received a $15,000 matching grant to buy curbside recycling bins for all residents. Starting in August, the city’s voluntary recycling program will allow residents to set out a bin of recyclable items each week for pick-up. THE RECYCLING center now has a long list of items it accepts for recycling. Large bins have been designated for clear, green and brown glass, liter bottles, plastic milk jugs, type 2 plastic (such as Col. 2, back page, this section

Gambling in Indiana: More than a bet, now

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor INDIANAPOLIS Thursday’s session of the Indiana General Assembly will likely be continuing by the time you finish reading this article even if you wait until bedtime to read it Thursday is one of those deadline days that forces legislators to pass bills or see them die. In this case, the deadline is for bills to pass out of the chamber of origin. From this point on, lawmakers will be working with bills from across the hallway. THE HOUSE HAS ABOUT 150 bills on its agenda while the Senate will deal with about 60 bills. Some represent the hottest issues of the session and promise long debate that could keep lawmakers on the clock until late in the evening. One of the battles that looms over the horizon

verities (23-1). The regional championship game will be played at 8:15 p.m. Saturday. More information on Kieth Puckett’s South Putnam Eagles is in today’s sports section. (Banner-Graphic photo by Gary Goodman).

says the man has a right to run his business, it should be placed in a more suitable place. “This county definitely needs to regulate where to put these types of businesses,” he said, “because they shouldn’t be located near residential houses where property values and water supplies may be hurt.” McKeehan claims that on any given time, tires will be burned at the junkyard and one can see huge rats roaming throughout the property. Pollution also runs freely into a creek that flows through the junkyard. “I DON’T WANT what has happened to me happen to anyone else, and that is why I am for zoning,” McKeehan said. Parsons said in the zoning plan, there will not be a designated place for junkyards or other facilities. But that a developer or business person will have to petition the Plan Col. 5, back page, this section

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Capitol Steps

for the second half of the session hinges on a House vote Thursday, and that is the fight for more gambling in Indiana. Sen. Lawrence Borst (R-Indianapolis) has, once again, introduced a pari-mutuel betting bill

By w _ _a, city July 4 fireworks apropos for ’9l

By ERIC BERNSEE Banner-Graphic Editor All that organizers of the Greencastle Fourth of July Freedom Celebration wanted Wednesday night was support from the Park Board. But what they got was endorsement from the president of the United States. And they couldn’t have asked for better justification of the city’s Fourth of July fireworks plans than George Bush provided Wednesday night. SPEAKING TO a joint session of Congress about the time the Park Board was finishing its meeting, the president said: “Tonight, I ask every community in this country to make this coming Fourth of July a day of special celebration for our returning troops. They may have missed Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I can tell you this: For them and for their families, we can make this a holiday they’ll never forget.” That’s just what organizers of the Greencastle Fourth of July have been preaching the past few weeks. Wednesday night, committee members Zaida Benassi (who is cochairing the 1991 event with Tom Fitzpatrick) and David Jackman went before the Park Board of Commissioners to ask permission to use Robe-Ann Park for the Freedom Celebration and its culminating fireworks display. The park commissioners gave unanimous approval to allow the fireworks to be staged at RobeAnn, but not without several stipulations being voiced. IT HAS BEEN agreed that no spectators will be allowed inside the fenced-in baseball diamond. With only four gates on the diamond, safety factors have become a major concern in the event of an emergency among the pen-ned-up crowd. The diamond will be cordoned off by a police line, Police Chief Jack Hanlon said. The ball diamond will be the site only of ground displays, which now required greater separation from the fireworks crowd anyway, it was noted. Additionally, pyrotechnics expert Mark Hopkins will move his firing base from behind the city pool on Wood Street to the rocked area along Tennessee Street. The

fireworks will be launched over the nearby quarry. Permission will again be secured from the quarry owners via “the annual courtesy phone call,” Mayor Mike Harmless told the Park Board at their meeting in the GTE building. INSURANCE FOR the Fourth of July Committee will be purchased out of funds it raises for the fireworks. The insurance will be under the City of Greencastle policy, however. Thus, once again no tax dollars are being spent on fireworks locally. “All we’re doing is serving as an umbrella or facilitator,” the mayor said, “doing the same things the Chamber of Commerce has done the last 12 years.” As unanimous approval of the use of Robe-Ann Park was being granted, Park District Board of Commissioners President Greg Larkin told committee members, “This is probably the smallest part of your challenge.” Indeed. THE COMMITTEE still must raise approximately SIO,OOO in less than four months in order to fund the fireworks celebration. Donations are being accepted at First Citizens Bank and Philly’s Finest restaurant at present. Another hurdle will be arranging for clean-up and monitoring restrooms during a celebration that has drawn an estimated 10,00015,000 people to the park the last dozen years. “A clean-up plan and restroom maintenance need to be addressed,” Larkin said, adding that the park was “left in extreme disarray” after last year’s fireworks show. With the Fourth of July celebration only a one-day affair (on Thursday) this year, the mayor suggested that volunteer groups like scout troops be encouraged to help ensure that the clean-up is completed by the weekend. “AND GOOD LUCK keeping up with the restrooms,” added Harmless, who chaired the Fourth of July Committee for several years. As reported earlier this week, the 1991 Freedom Celebration will return to its basic format of food vendors, local entertainment talent Col. 2, back page, this section

Glen Baker of the Greencastle Recycling Center tells residents at Asbury Towers what they can do to join the city’s recycling program. Baker talked to the residents Tuesday about the type of recyclable items accepted at the center, and about the overflowing landfill problems facing the nation. (Banner-Graphic photo by Lisa Meyer).

that will allow horse racing across the state. And Rep. Charlie Brown (D-Gary) has once again introduced a bill allowing casino gambling in selected areas across the state. Borst’s bill has already made its way out of the Senate. Brown’s bill will be called down for a final vote on the House floor on Thursday. That vote is expected to be close, but Brown thinks he will win it with between 51 and 53 votes. IF BROWN IS RIGHT, the two bills will be held hostage for each other throughout the second half, meaning there is a chance legislators will open the floodgates on gambling by allowing pari-mutuel betting and casinos, or neither will happen. The strategy is simple: House Democrats want casinos in Indiana and Senate Republicans Col. 1, back page, this section