Logansport Pharos-Tribune from Logansport, Indiana • Page 1

Your Community Newspaper Since 1844 LOGANSPORT, INDIANA Newsmakers to tour; this time for diabetes PageAtQ Sports Sisters Venus and Serena Williams could meet at Wimbledon PageB! Briefly Cass Republicans Fill Commissioner Slot A familiar name in Cass County politics will be on the ballot in November. County Republican officials have selected Wilson Justice, 50, as their nominee for the District 3 county commissioners seat. The seat is currently held by Democrat Rex Harris, who is seeking re-election. Justice is the son of Paulita Justice and the late State Sen. Bill Justice, R- Logansport, who served two terms from 1980 to 1988.

GOP officials met Tuesday at Republican headquarters to make the selection. "I have been a Republican precinct committeeman since 1994," Justice said Thursday. "I helped with my father's two campaigns for state senator and have worked for several other Republican candidates both locally and statewide. Through I have never run for public office, I do support and believe in the principles of the Republican Party. I have been interested in county government and county politics all my life.

I believe an elected official owes the voters his best efforts. If will hard for the taxpayers of Cass County. 1 expect every tax dollar to be spent wisely, fairly and prudently with an absolute minium of waste and 1 believe the taxpayers of Cass County expect the same." Justice, whose family has lived in Clinton Township since 1848, has been farming in Clinton Township since 1972. He and his wife, Leah, have three children and two grandchildren. They attend Calvary Presbyterian Church.

He graduated from Logansport High School and attended Indiana State University and Purdue University. He was drafted in 1969 and served in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1972. Democrats have held the seat since Corbey Slusher won the first of two terms in 1986.

When Slusher died during his second term, Harris was selected to serve the remainder of the term. Police Make One Arrest in Strong-Armed Robbery Police have arrested one of the suspects in the Thursday morning strong- armed robbery of Maverick Walters. The robbery occurred at about 1:30 a.m. outside of Riverbend Apartments, 101 Mall Road. Rodney A.

Johns, 21,718 15th was arrested at 10 p.m. Thursday on a charge of strong-arm robbery. Johns was also arrested on a second charge, a warrant charge of battery that stems from another, older, case, Logansport Police Department Lt. A.J. Rozzi said.

A second suspect remains at large, he said. Walters sustained bruised ribs, a concussion and multiple contusions in the attack. About $1,500 in cash and a check for $300 were taken in the strong-arm robbery, along with credit cards and identification. Sports Pacers introduce No.1 pick Al Harrington in Indianapolis Page B1 Pedaling To A Park Near You Logansport police officers Fred Rogers and Mike Neher ride through Riverside Park as they patrol city parks as part of a new program implemented this summer by the department. (Gary New program allows police to spend time in parks, interact with public By KRISHNA BAKER Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer Logansport police officers Mike Neher and Fred Rogers have turned in their patrol cars and taken up bicycles for the summer as part of a new program established to get police out in the community.

Police Chief Jerry Arnold initiated the pilot program that began earlier this month. Basically, two officers will patrol on bicycles and will be assigned strictly to the city parks, Arnold said in an earlier interview. With the recent hiring of new officers two through the federally funded Cop Fast grant the department is able to patrol the parks in this manner without taking additional officers off the street, he explained. Hired through a previous Cop Fast grant, Neher and Rogers are the first two of four officers to be assigned to the recreational areas. Officers Shawn Heishman and Robert Smith will take over bike patrol Aug.

1, allowing the first duo to return to their squad cars. The program will end Sept. 30 and, depending on how this summer goes, they may be back in the parks next year, Neher said. So far, their new beat seems to be working out. "I'm very happy with it," Parks Administrator Peter Schmidt said, adding that he likes the concept of officers policing the parks and interacting with people there.

"It's good PR for the department," he said, and in the process, they're catching some "bad guys." Although it's still early to tell what sort of impact the policing will have on the parks, Schmidt said he thinks the coverage also may help decrease crime and graffiti there. Riding the bicycles helps in fighting crime, according to Neher and Rogers. They can catch more violations because people aren't expecting to see police offi- Reaching The World Through The Radio Amateur Radio Club members monitor weather, prepare for emergencies and 'meet' people tram all over By NANCY NEWMAN Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer Long before people began "meeting" each other through chat rooms on the Internet, amateur radio operators were striking up conversations with strangers from across town to across the globe. Amateur radio often referred to as ham radio operators have been contacting each other, sharing information and forming friendships, for just about as long as radio has been around, says Todd Ervin, Ervin is president of the Cass County Amateur Radio Club, which has been a part of the local scene since 1953. Ervin has been active for the past eight years, and Dave Wandrei, treasurer of the local group, has been involved in amateur radio for the past five years.

There's a lot to learn, they say, but the enjoyment comes in the learning. Various frequencies and skill levels are a part of the mix. The distance obtained by the amateur operators depends on the frequency used. The local club primarily uses a transmitter, See RADIO, Page A5 Dave Wandrei (L) listens as Todd Ervin makes contact with a fellow amateur radio operator. Wandrei is treasurer and Ervin is president of the Cass County Amateur Radio Club.

(Nancy Complaints: Bowyer Violated 9 Rules Of Professional Conduct By DAVE KITCHELL Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer A complaint filed against a Walton attorney by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission contends he acted improperly in three separate cases over a period of four years. The complaint, filed Wednesday in Indianapolis, alleged that Raymond C. Bowyer violated nine rules of professional conduct for Indiana attorneys. Don Lundberg, executive secretary for the commission, said the commission acts on an estimated 50-70 complaints annually. The Indiana Supreme Court has not set a date for hearing the Bowyer complaint.

While Bowyer cannot be fined for any violations, he can be suspended or permanently disbarred for violations, Lundberg said. According to a copy of the complaint, one of the three counts against Bowyer involves a 1995 case in which Bowyer represented Jimmy Richard Sheets, who had been arrested on charges of burglary resulting in bodily injury and aggravated battery. Marc Powell, who was facing the same charges, was represented by Kokomo attorney Charles Scruggs. Without Scruggs' knowledge, Bowyer visited his client twice in the Miami County Jail in Peru without Scruggs being notified. During both meetings, Bowyer spoke with Powell about the criminal cases against both him and Sheets.

That contact is not permitted under state conduct rules. Bowyer also was involved in a 1993 case involved Terry Joe Toops in Cass Superior Court. Toops, who faced several alcohol- related traffic offenses, appeared before Judge Douglas Cox and was eventually convicted. Toops appealed the ruling and was represented by the Indiana State Public Defender's Office. The transcripts from that trial were certified by Cox and by his court reporter.

In communications with the State Public Defender's Office about the appeal, Bowyer See BOWYER, Page A2 cers on bicycles, Neher explained. They can 'spot a squad car a distance away, and by the time you get there, they're gone. They admit some people haven't recognized them and have had to turn their heads: twice to get a second look at the duo. Although they have no shiny badge, the officers are identified by their Logansport Police Department helmets and a printed badge on their shirts. Their uniforms are made up of shorts and a short sleeve shirt light clothing for the hot weather conditions, they said.

Accessorizing the ensemble is a light nylon belt holding each officer's radio, gun, and bottle of Mace. Two 21-speed mountain bikes, donated to the DARE program about three years ago, are their new mode of transportation. The black frames of the bicycles are decorated with a police decal and are equipped with battery-powered headlights. One bad thing about their wheels is that most times when they get a call of a situation in a park, they're usually in another See PEDAL, Page A5 Pulaski County Fair Offering Family Fun i I Long -Fair festivities get under way this weekend as Sunday marks the start of the Pulaski County 4-H Fair. A variety of activities and entertainment are in store during the weeklong event on fairgrounds in back of the Winamac Town Park.

Activities begin with the crowning of 4-H royalty Sunday evening. 4-H members competing for king are Joshua Cotner, Joshua Nies and Kevin Rosenbaum, all of Winamac, 4-H queen candidates are Cynthia Clark, Angela Pierrou and Amanda Winter, all of Winamac, Stacy ofKewanna, Nicole Christensen and Vanessa Schultz, both of Medaryville, and Miranda Wuethrich, of The Miss Pulaski County pageant will follow Monday night with 10 contestants vying for this year's throne. Participants are Cynthia Clark, Cristy Krphn, Jamie Loehmer, Elaine Rausc'h, Tiffany Rife, Ashley Roth, all of Winamac, Stacy Bucinski, of Kewanna, Erica Buczek, of Medaryville, Savannah Hoover, of Star City, and Candace Nelson, of Francesville. Other highlights during the week foryour listening from gospel groupTight" Sunday evening at the Entertainment Stage, along with a performance by "Stomach Monkeys" Monday night. On Wednesday "Band Over" will perform with Friday nighfs events concluding with a show by Faculty" For people interested in power and metal, a truck and tractor pull will take center stage Tuesday evening at 6.

Admission is $5 for' adults and children 6 years old and up. If you crave more of the pulling excitement, a garden tractor pull may whet your appetite Thursday evening. Special events for ladies will be held Tuesday, as Joyce Meyer of the Beef Council presents "Great Steaks of Indiana" and Chris Smith presents a food demonstration. There also be a women's health bar cookie con-. test and more.

Burton Brothers Amusements will return, See FAIR, Page A3 INSIDE THE PHAROS-TRIBUNE Advice. Agenda Area Briefs. Business Calendar Classified. Horoscope B3 Lifestyle A6 B3 A2 A3 A9 A2 B5 B2 Movies Newsmakers. Opinion Scoreboard Sports B3 Obituaries A2 A2 A4 B2 B1 Weather A10 Vol.

153 No. 152 UNLIMITED TOPPINGS! URGE EHItA URGE 2ND LARGE 2ND EXTRA LARGE 2ND MEDIUM ADI) $1 FOR PEEP DISH OR EXTRA CHEESE, NO DOUBLE TOPPINGS PLEASE. Tonight: Partly cloudy, warm and muggy with a chance of thunderstorms. Low of 70. Saturday: Partly cloudy, hot and humid with a high in the 90s.

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