Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 April 2004 — Page 3

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PACE A3

ABUSE ► Continued from Page 1 thology include chronic lying,” said Morrison. “There are children who have the kind of emotional baggage that without really good double checks and balances in the investigative process you’re not going to know it.” Many are in agreement that the child care system in Indiana needs to be reworked. It is difficult to explain why a child is abused or dies in the hands of a foster parent whether investigations are substantiated or not. Clara Anderson, executive vice president of Children’s Bureau of Indianapolis says that it is always a tragedy when a child dies of abuse whether it is in the home or in foster care. “My experience with foster parents is that most of them are very good and they do work that most people could not do,” she said. “Initially there are efforts made to make sure that foster parents are screened appropriately and when there is an error it is always a tragedy. The system that we have I don’t think is a reflection of foster parents themselves.” Prevention is always the key to eliminate problems before they begin, and it is even more important when trying to save the lives of children. Morrison, Anderson and Prevent Child Abuse Executive Director Andrea Marshall are all in agreement that the community should become more involved in the lives of the children by becoming foster parents to ensure their safety. “Based on the 60,000 reports of abuse that come in annually, if each of these cases were true we would need at least 60 new foster care homes every single day to take care of the demand,” said Marshall. “People need to understand that there is no way that we have that capacity unless more people are willing to be foster parents. We must also do a better job than we are with screening foster parents to make sure that their homes and family situations, and backgrounds are places where we , would want our children to be.” Like the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child.

Slave descendants file $1 billion lawsuit

NEW YORK (AP) - Descendants of slaves filed a $1 billion lawsuit this week against U.S. and British corporations, accusing them of profiting by committing genocide against their ancestors. Lawyers for the eight plaintiffs said the complaint was the first slave reparations lawsuit to use DNA to link the plaintiffs to Africans who suffered atrocities during the slave trade. The suit filed in federal court in Manhattan accuses Lloyd's of London, FleetBoston and R.J. Reynolds oPaiding and abetting the commission of genocide" by allegedly financing and insuring the ships that delivered slaves to tobacco plantations in the United States. The defendants “have destroyed our national and ethnic NEW PLAN ► Continued from Page 1 county budgets have snowballed since the last two mayoral administrations and in the past, local shortfalls have been covered by small tax increases and fiscal bailouts from the state. City and county leaders hope to fix the situation without proposing any form of tax increases. Although many city and county services are combined the two governments still maintain separate budgets, forcing them to sometimes compete for the same revenue. The city budget is crafted and overseen by the mayor’s office and county dollars are drafted by the Marion County Auditor Martha Womacks. The City-County Council approves both budgets. “The needs are important but this nickel and diming of the taxpayers must stop,” Peterson said. “Continuingto throw good money after bad will jeopardize any chance to examine and fix the overall system.” Mayor Peterson, with the backing of the City-Count)' Council, has proposed a Fiscal Responsibility Plan designed to “control local spending, particularly by county government, begin coor-

identit)'," one of the plaintiffs, Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, said at a news conference announcing the suit. DNA testing has made a “direct connection” between FarmerPaellmann and the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone, whose people “were kidnapped, tortured and shipped in chains to the United States,” the suit said. Scientific evidence also has linked the other plaintiffs to tribes in Niger and Gambia, the suit said. Ellen Matthews, a spokeswoman for RJ. Remolds, said the company had not received a copy ofthe suit. Calls to the other defendants were not immediately returned. In January, a federal judge in Chicago threw out a similar lawsuit brought by descendants of slaves.

dinating major expenditures and start fixing a system that has been neglected for decades.” The plan will call for a more stringent review of proposed ordinances that could add expenditures, along with new accounting controls that will tighten the county’s spending. In addition, Petersou has ordered each city department to look for ways to reduce spending and has offered the help of his staff to assist the county with “identifying budget cuts." Since the city has already begun work on its 2005 fiscal budget, Peterson has already met with Womacks to strategize ways to begin work on the county budget. Although alarmed by the projected fiscal shortfall, Peterson has expressed hope that officials can work together to come up with solutions. “There’s an old adage that when everyone has responsibility' for a task, no one has responsibility for that task,” Peterson said in February. “Effectively, no one porson is in charge of finding solutions to ourlocalgovemmentfiindingchallenges in Marion County.”

WE PAY CA$$$H FOR records. | O Ip’s, 45’s, show posters wanted O Missing Link Records 466-1967 • 6053 N. College—Broad Ripple SELL4FREE® OPTION REALTY www_sELL4FitEE.coM

INFrecT^'^

Sell tFree Ron I F sr .it o

•full service less Commission •All Sett4f reed* properties ere pesed on Ml S •Price sells Sell4f reett allows you to keep more equity when selling your home •Juat Do The liatti!

Option Realty

mmssmaBisMB

The Talon Group 8365 Kayitona Crossing Ste 10? Indpls. IN 46740. Call 317 919 1885 Wendy Osmun—Sales Representative

SaaTrut Mmt. Inc. (Tar Wmidfidd Hi TO Woodfidd CroMta* BkA, Sir* 175 SunTrust indpu, ns 46240 nirrci. >17-74^2929 jeaninr Han*rr-Morta«Rc Loan Officer The Buy From Me, Sell For Free Company®

Malll MIIII66 Dollar Prodicer SoIMFroo Opllaa Realty 11244 M4ol|M Pan Filters, IN 44434 Dlroct: 317 214 MM

NEW OWNER

Waffle House 21 W. 16th St new hours start April 19 Mon. - Sat. 6am-10pm Sunday 7am-10pm Tues. Seniors Night (1/2 OFF) 2pm-9pm

Local Contractor Goes Crazy... And Gives Away $22,000 (Spring season creates opportunity for Indianaprolis area Homeowners...)

Twenty-two local home ow ners uie able to buy a new Deluxe central air conditioner and heating system with no money dow n and get a check for VI .Otltr And it gets heller.

Iron Clad Guarantee I'm so con tide nl that you will save 2(Kv on your electric bill (I'm projecting more like 3(Kv to Wf) that I will pay you Double The Difference if you don't the first year.

If your air conditioner is over 10 years old you might be able to get a new air conditioner and furnace without taking a dime out of your pocket. More about this m a moment.

There's no way you can lose. If these systems weren't among the best on the market. I couldn't afford lo make such a promise.

Right now you mighl he asking yoursell "What's the catch'.’ Otherwise, how can he make an offer like this There is no catch But there is a special circumstance I’ll explain...You see. annually I reserve air conditioners “in hulk" instead of the "onesy. Iwosy" most other contractors do. And why do I do this. , It's simple. I do it lo give myself extra leverage when I go in to "jawhone" the manufacture into giving me lower prices. This Is Your Opportunity I have 22 Deluxe air conditioners reserved that I must move out. Most people only replace (heir old, inefficient air conditioner after it breaks dow n 1 Bui. due to the early spring weather people are not running their air conditioners so none are breaking dow n. Therefore. I had to create a program so financially advantageous... that homeowners with old air conditioners would come out ahead by replacing them NOW, Another thing These 22 air conditioners are brand new 2004 models. They are not seconds, blems or standard "builder" models. And have a full 5 year parts and labor warranty. Just Think If your air conditioner is over 10 years old the money you save on your electric hill could offset the monthly investment on your new system. It's almost like "having your cake, and eating it Uni."

Here's How Just call Brenda at 5%-96.T9 and set up an appointment for your t ree survey. My Comfort Advisor w ill come and measure your home to determine the proper size and explain this Special Ciet Rid Of My Extra Air Conditioner Program. Don't forget. I only have 22 air conditioners. When they 're gone this $ 1.000 off also ends. No Obligation Even after he explains this opportunity, there is No Obligation on your part. If you decide you don’t want lo take advantage, that's ok. I want you to have a surprise gift worth $59 because I want you'lo think well of King of Comfort Heating and Cooling even if you don't buy. Give me a call now at 596-9639. and thank you for reading this rather long ad. I hope you will profit greatly because

Good People • Belter Comfort • Beet Sendee 2804 E. 55' h PI • Indianapolis. In 46220 596-9639

0 2002 AirTmieSOO Inc.. ‘With Approved Credit (WACl. "Certain Restrictions Apply

4 *

We Love a Celebration Check out gifts with purch.i' e, fit events and persor.il appearances in our shoe departments.

y

A

DID YOU KNOW? For a typical shoe it takes 8o different sizes to fit 90 percent of the population.

iCompare that to 4 sizes for a typical sweater.]

NORDSTROM

69.95

NEW BALANCE 'MW717WB synthetic mesh running shoes with rubber outsole and shock-absorbertt insole. White/blue. Men's Shoes.

d ee eeee

7- 12.13.14,15.16.17.18 7/-12.13.14 8- 12,13

NEW BAUNCE MW811WT synthetic walking shoes with rollbar stability. White Mens Shoes

eeee

9-12,13.14.15.16 7-12.13.14.15.16 7-12.13.14 7-12,13.14

[you love a great fit we love shoes] Join us now through April 18 for We Love Shoes', a celebration of our passion for great footwear.

More shoes to love, nordstrom.com Circle Centre 317.636 2121. Located in downtown Indianapolis. Shipping charges may apply