Banner Graphic, Volume 22, Number 107, Greencastle, Putnam County, 8 January 1992 — Page 1

BannerGKanjMc Greencastle. Putnam County. Wednesday, 1992. 22 No. 107 cents

Humane Society corrals $15,000 challenge grant

The Putnam County Foundation has announced a $15,000 challenging grant to the Humane Society of Putnam County for the construction of an animal shelter. The Foundation will match every two dollars raised by the Humane Society with one grant dollar. The grant period will be from Jan. 1, 1992 until July 31,1993. THE PROPOSED animal shelter is to be located on Ind. 240 at the west edge of the county home property. It will be about 2,800 square feet and will include animal intake for a fee, adoption with spay/neuter provisions, emergency services and educational services. The Humane Society of Putnam County is an active organization started by a group of local volunteers in 1989 for the purpose of solving the increasing problems of small animal proliferation and abuse. The Humane Society is headed by president Barbara Lane and vice president Cindy Allen. A 99-YEAR LEASE has been signed by the Putnam County Commissioners and according to Jim Wright, chairman of the building committee, 1992 will bring final building plans, as well as the completion of the access road to the

Can’t expect families, society to be perfect: Appeals judge

By JOE THOMAS Banner-Graphic Assistant Editor As society continues its transformation from the agricultural age, through the industrial age to the age of technology, it must accept families where it finds them and offer them the assistance needed, despite outdated models and conceptions. That was the message shared by Indiana Appellate Court Judge Linda Chezem Tuesday night at the Putnam County Cooperative Extension Service's annual report and dinner at the ballroan of the DePauw University Student Uniat. “WE HAVE TO DO the best with what we have with the families we have,” Judge Chezem implored. “We can’t expect it to be perfect.”

Conways’ apartments get Zoning Board OK

Only one item required the attention of the Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals at its first meeting of 1992 Tuesday night. The board unanimously approved a special exception request from Tim and Jeannine Conway to use a relocated structure at 205 S. Indiana St. as an apartment house. The former Hanna Court home, previously owned by DePauw University, houses two apartments. It was moved to its located immediately north of Ashley Square Twin Cinemas with the building commissioner’s approval last summer. CONWAY SAID he and his wife had the building moved “to

Cumulus, continuous

Continued cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain durii ? the evening. Low overnight in the middle 30s. Continued cloudy Thursday with flurries possible. Steady temperatures Thursday in the middle 30s. Southwesterly wind around 10 mph during the period. Indiana Extended Forecast Friday through Sunday. Dry Friday, followed by a chance of rain over the south on Saturday and Sunday and rain or snow over the north on Sunday. Daily highs will range from the 30s Friday and Saturday, wanning to

building site. The Humane Soceity of Putnam County is a not-for-profit corporation which does not rely on public tax funds. Money raised to date have been through the Society’s Critter Caper, a silent auction and The Best Doggone Yard Sale, as well as several individual and business cash donations. In announcing the grant, Chuck Chandler, grants committee chairman of the Foundation, said: “It is our belief that the Humane Society project addresses one of several major needs of our county. It is a prime example of a bootstrap operation, started by local volunteers seeing a need and taking the initiative to find a workable solution. The Putnam County Foundation is delighted to be able to participate with these hard-working, energetic volunteers.” PUTNAM COUNTY Foundation president Bob Evans noted that the grant is made possible by the Lilly Endowment Inc. GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) program for specific community projects. Those interested in making contributions to the Humane Society may do so by mail to P.O. Box 444, Greencastle 46135.

SWCD annual meeting set The Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its annual meeting at noon Friday, Jan. 24 in the ballroom of the DePauw Union Building. Reservations for the annual meeting may be made by calling 653-7454.

And Judge Chezem has seen plenty of imperfect families. She began her judicial career on the Lawrence Circuit Court bench, where one of the cases she presided over was the murder trial of Green-

keep the property on the tax roils.” “There was a house there before,” Conway said of the site, “but it burned.” “It’s a nice addition to the property,” Zoning Board member David Wood said in making a motion for approval, which was seconded by Warren Harlan. “Il looks nice and it serves the purpose.” IN THE ONLY other business before the board, reorganization was held with Chairman Jinsie Bingham and Vice Chairman Jerry Rud retaining their positions. Claudia Williams, who was absent Tuesday night, was elected secretary.

the 30s to lower 40s by Sunday. Lows will range from the 20s Friday morning, falling into the teens and 20s Saturday morning, then warming to 25 to 30 by Saturday morning. Abby AS Calendar A 4 Classifieds Alo,All Comics A 6 Crossword All Farm A 7 Heloise A 4 Horoscope All Obituaries Al 2 People A 6 Sports A8,A9,A10

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It’s the changing of the guard in the Putnam County Veterans Service as new officer Will Niebold (seated) receives instruction from his predecessor, Bruce Albright.

castle resident Bill Minnick. After a Bedford jury convicted Minnick in the 1981 death of Martha Payne, Judge Chezem imposed the death penalty against the then-teen-ager. Minnick has been appealing a variety of issues in the case since that 1983 trial. CHEZEM WAS promoted to the Indiana 1 Court of Appeals, where she continues to see many of the same types of cases she saw on the bench in Bedford. “I’m really surprised at the juvenile caseload, the crimes against children and the number of divorces that I see,” Judge Chezem said in an interview after her speech. Her speech made it clear that those experiences have led the judge to realize that “you pinch one

Building cost increase seen at N. Putnam

By LISA MEYER Banner-Graphic Staff Writer BAINBRIDGE The North Putnam Community School Board saw a price increase Tuesday night in a project to build a middle school and renovate some parts of the North Putnam High School. Project architect Ron Price pointed out, however, that the increase from $9.9 million in October to a new figure of $10.3 million is due to more accurate estimates and some requirements by county officials. SCHOOL BOARD members David Ferrand, Helen Galford, Byron Gough, Don Lambermont, Ron Richardson, Lora Scott and Deborah Summerlot, and Supt. Jim Bates heard an overview of the project’s budget summary in a special meeting scheduled Tuesday to avoid lengthening the regular monthly board meeting Thursday.

Green Acres residents face SIOO increase

By ANGIE HOWLAND Banner-Graphic Staff Writer Twelve residents living at the Green Acres County Home will soon have to spend an additional SIOO a month to live at the countyrun facility. Currently, the residents pay S3OO a month for room and board. But starting in March, the rent will increase to S4OO after County Commissioners Gene Beck, Don Walton and Dennis O’Hair approved the SIOO increase during their regular bi-monthly meeting Monday evening at the Putnam County Courthouse. THE INCREASE IS part of an effort by county officials to determine if it is economically feasible

Niebold was appointed to the post by the county commissioners, effective Jan. 1, to succeed the retiring Albright. (Banner-Graphic photo by Gary Goodman).

child, and the one next to him turns blue.” And that is why she prescribes to a child rearing philosophy she learned from an old African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.” “BUT VILLAGES are changing,” Judge Chezem pointed out, “and we’re not so quick to reach out to our neighbors’ children.” But now people are becoming judgmental on the structure and organization of some families in the community, the judge said. And those judgments are sometimes preventing society from offering timely, effective assistance to families who can benefit from it. “But families are families and we have recognize that our society is changing in the kinds of families we’re going to have. We’re going

Architect Price told the board that the base cost of the middle school construction has increased $475,000 to put it at $5,880,000. That construction covers a student commons area, attachment of the middle school to the north end of the high school, a media center/atrium concept and 23 classrooms/labs. It also includes site work and utilities work necessary for the building. WITHIN THAT $475,000 increase, Price said that sitework at the school has gone up $165,000 due to a new drainage situation and an entry requirement County officials have told the project engineers that a detention pond must be added so that there will be no more run off from the site into Big Walnut Creek due to the flat surfaces of the building and the paved areas that will be added, Price explained.

for the county to continue operating the home. Discussion on the home began last September when County Council member Bob Evans suggested that the county could save about $121,000 by doing away with the facility. By law, Evans said, the county is not obligated to provide the facility. “Should the county be taxed for taking care of 12 people especially when we are as tight as we are (with the budget)?” Evans asked. COUNTY COUNCIL members then directed the commissioners to conduct a feasibility study on the home. Auditor Cockrell notified Council members two months later

New service officer Niebold ready to fight for vets’ rights

By CHARITY SINGLETON Banner-Graphic Intern After more than 10 years, the Veteran’s Office has a new veteran’s assistance officer. Will Niebold, Cloverdale, was appointed the new veteran’s assistance officer by the county commissioners, and assumed his duties Jan. 1. NIEBOLD SAYS he took interest in this position because “so many government programs have been taken away, and I feel veterans are entitled to their benefits.” Niebold, a veteran himself, served in the Army from 1966 to 1969. And one of Niebold’s three adult sons is currently in the Army at Fort Campbell, Ky., having recently returned from serving in the Persian Gulf War as a crew chief of Apache helicopters. Florida and Sheridan, Ind., are the homes of Niebold’s other two sons. Niebold is replacing Bruce Albright in the position of veteran’s assistance officer whom Niebold said did a remarkable iob.

to have young, teen-age-headed families, single parent families, grandparent families, extended families.” she said. BUT ALONG WITH that recognition, society must coordinate the services it offers to families that need help. Different social service agencies often share clients, but the never know it because they don’t take the time to communicate with one another. That must change, and Judge Chezem used the example of the wagon wheel as a model fa that change. She puts the family at the hub of the wheel and the spokes are the varying services families need. Those services range from counselling to welfare assistance to police and fire protection.

The detention pond is a basin designed to capture run-off from the site and allow it to drain away slowly. At its fullest, the pond could be two feet deep for up to six hours, Price said. Located north of the football field within the athletic area, the basin would be mowable. THE COUNTY also has asked for an acceleration/deceleration lane fa access to the property. That will cost an additional $40,000, Price said. An additional $30,000 has been added on the engineering of a storm sewer system. About $90,000 of the increase on the site work is due to the soil boring results which anticipate more grading of the land. An additional $220,000 has also been anticipated for exterior wall construction. That is the cost to construct the wall. THE BALANCE OF the base price increase is in miscellaneous

during their meeting that Beam, Longest and Neff Inc. submitted a proposal for the feasibility study. The estimate put the study cost at SIB,OOO to conduct. Council members did not continue to discuss the matter. The rent increase was the first action by county officials. “It’s still a lot cheaper live in) than a nursing home,” Waiton said of the rent increase. COUNTY AUDITOR Myrtle Cockrell explained that residents pay their rent either out of social security, personal money or funds received from the Welfare Department The commissioners directed Cockrell to send letters of notice to

“I have some tough shoes to fill,” he said. IN HIS POSITION, Niebold will assist 140-160 veterans each year by informing them of the benefits they, their spouse and their dependants are entitled to, helping them fill out forms, and providing information about past veterans. Before taking this position, Niebold worked as a service man at Horace Link Furniture will continue to do appliance repair out of his Cloverdale residence. Having lived his entire life in the Putnam/Hendricks county area, Niebold predicts that 10 years from how, he and his wife will still continue living in the area. “We love it here,” he said. IN ADDITION TO his new job, Niebold also serves on the Cloverdale zoning board and enjoys playing golf in his spare time. His wife, Diane Niebold, is an accounting supervisor for the Clay County Rural Telephone Co-op in Cloverdale.

“We have to get all of the spokes going one way,” Judge Chezem challenged. AND THE FACT that in many cases it is the courts that serve as the agency getting the wheel rolling sends a message, Judge Chezem said after her speech. She told the story of the sin eater in ancient England. The sin eater was a person shunned from the community. Whenever anyone died, food offerings were brought to the sin eater’s doorstep. It was believed that as the sin eater consumed the food, he also consumed the sins of the deceased. For many families, the courts, she said, have become a modem day sin eater. SPEAKING OF Minnick, Judge Col. 2, back page, this section

areas. For example, the architects were working on the assumption that the floors would be vinyl tile rather than the terrazzo now plan--ned. Those increases are the bad news, Price said. In other parts of the project,; costs have either gone down or stayed about the same. The $612,000 of work budgeted for the high school renovation is down about $29,700 from the design development stage, he said. Science department improvements were reduced $85,500. However, that reduction will not solve the elbow-room problem that the students and instructors now face in the chemistry/physics classroom. PRICE SAID IT would cost about SIOO,OOO to move walls and expand the room. The school corCol. 3, back page, this section

the residents of the rent increase. An expanded story on the county home will appear in a future news article. IN OTHER ACTION, the commissioners re-elected officers for the new year. Beck was re-elected president while Walton will remain as vice president. The commissioners also approved several appointments to county boards. Those appointments include: ABC Board-Bill Henderson; West Central Indiana Economic Development DistrictGene Beck; Custodians-Bill Maddox, Bonnie Helton, Jim Campbell; County Attorney and Plan ComCol. 2, back page, this section