The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page B6

Metro State THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM B6 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2006 ist Obituaries CONTESTING THE COUNT: The recount sought by state Rep. Ed Mahern, is one of three in the Indiana House. More obituaries on the previous page KELLY WILKINSON The Star Constance F. Snodgrass Madison, died Nov. 18, 2006.

Services: 11 a.m. Sat. Nov. 25 at St. John's United Church of Christ, Madison, with visitation there Sat.

from 9:30 a.m. until service. Burial: New Bethel Cemetery, Chelsea. Arrangements: Vail Holt Funeral Home, Madison. Mahern seeks recount after losing by 7 votes Mary K.

Jackson Smith 95, Plainfield, passed away on November 20, 2006 in Plain-field Healthcare Center. She was born on March 12, 1911 in Knightstown, Indiana to Elza and Lena Gaye Hodges Jackson. She married Theodore C. Smith, who preceded her in death on June 30, 1998. Graveside services will be held Friday, November 24, 2006 at 10 a.m.

in Center Valley Cemetery Clayton. She is survived by her children, William T. Smith, Barbara Mosier, and Judy Bartley; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a Daughter Marie Franklin. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society 6030 West 62nd Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46278.

Arrangements entrusted to Hall-Baker Funeral Home Plain-field. Laverne Switzer 70, Indianapolis, passed away October 20, 2006. Laverne retired from Ft. Benjamin Harrison Army Finance Center, where she was a transportation coordinator. In her early adult life, Laverne was actively involved in the Loyal Order of the Moose and enjoyed traveling.

She was an animal lover and supported many wildlife and conservation organizations. She loved music and the arts. As an avid reader, her personal library included over 4,000 novels. Survivors include her sister, Iris Acton of Indiana; brother, Robert "Bud" Switzer of Michigan; 12 nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m.

Saturday, November 25, 2006 at Washington Park East Cemetery. Pastor Dave Smith, from Laverne's church, Abundant Grace Lutheran Church, will officiate. Arrangements have been entrusted to G. H. Herrmann Madison Ave.

Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Ave. Anthony D. Snow "Big Snow" 33, Indianapolis, died Nov. 17, 2006. Service: 1 p.m.

Nov. 25 at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church with calling from 11 a.m. until time of service. Burial at New Crown Cemetery. Arrangements by Lavenia, Smith, and Summers Home for Funeral, Inc.

Jimmezene Burns Taylor 96, Indianapolis, died Nov. 16, 2006. Services: 12 p.m. Sat. Nov.

25 at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church with calling there from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Burial: Floral Park Cemetery. Arrangements: Lavenia, Smith and Summers Home for Funerals. Richard Jacob Vawter 66, Indianapolis, died Nov.

21, 2006. Service at noon at Soldier's Memorial Chapel at Fort Harrison, 5626 Lawton Loop East, with visitation from 9 a.m. until time of service. Arrangements by Indiana Funeral Care. PaulA.Wathen 41, Indianapolis, died Nov.

19, 2006. Arrangements pending: Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service Crematory, Greenwood Chapel. Betty J. Ayres Walker Weist 75, Greenwood, died Nov.

20, 2006. Graveside services: 10 a.m. Nov. 24 at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Flanner Buchanan Funeral Center. James Allen Williams 69, Indianapolis, died Nov.

17, 2006. Graveside services: 2:30 p.m. Wed. Nov. 22 at Ninevah Cemetery.

Arrangements: G.H. Herrmann South East Street Funeral Home James Edward Zellers 64, Indianapolis, passed away November 19, 2006 at the Indiana Heart Hospital. He worked as a custodian at IUPUI. He was a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors include his daughters, Linda Beekebile and Amanda Conrad; son, Billy Brossman; sister, Barbara Barnes; brother, Bob Zellers; and four grandchildren. Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22 in Mattox-McHugh Funeral Home, Shelburn, where friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of service. William H.

Stamper 85, Greenwood, formerly of Lake Placid, FL and Indianapolis, passed away November 18, 2006. He was born August 18, 1921 in Indianapolis to the late Samuel and Alta Montgomery Stamper. Bill married Edna M. Hicks on January 30, 1943 in Portsmouth, VA, and she survives. He was a Navy WWII veteran and a member of Southport Presbyterian Church; fifty year member of Southport Lodge No.

270 F. A.M.; past president of Greenwood Sertoma Club and Indiana Bell Conservation Club. He was employed forty years for Indiana Bell retiring in 1980 as manager of accounting. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 25 at Southport Presbyterian Church, 7525 McFar-land Blvd. The family will greet friends following the service.

Other survivors include daughter, Susan Ellerbrook of Indianapolis; son, William M. (Margee) Stamper of Greenwood; grandchildren, William R. (Amy) Stamper, Jennifer Warfel, Ryan Stamper, Bryce Stamper, Jeff Ellerbrook, and Jayma Ellerbrook; greatgrandchildren, Libby, Jake and Abby Warfel, and Hayden and Morgan Stamper; and sister, Marymae Zinkan of Indianapolis. He was also preceded in death by sister Helen Smith. Singleton Community Mortuary and Memorial Center is handling arrangements.

Memorial gifts have been suggested to American Diabetes Association, Hemophilia of Indiana or Boy Scouts of America. www.singletonmortuary.com Democrats A federal ruling meant no opening prayer was said. From Bl of poor people or mentally ill people," he said, referring to a decision being weighed now by Daniels on whether to place some of the Family and Social Services Administration under private management. Bauer warned that the Democrats have a tool that can influence that and other possible privatization contracts: a voice in crafting the state budget. "Anyone that wants to come in and do a billion-dollar contract might want to know that at least the state's share might not be there," he said.

"But we are not just going to shut the door. We want a hearing on it." House Minority Leader Brian C. Bosma, R-Indianapo-lis, said he was disappointed Bauer didn't lay out more details of what the Democrats plan to pursue now that they control the House. "Today was the day to see the vision (of Democrats)," Bosma said. "I didn't hear that clearly today." Apparently, he said, Democrats, by standing against privatization, "like the bureaucracy that we deal with in government every day and don't want to look to the streamlined efforts of the governor and others to bring some business practices to government." But, he said, "hopefully we'll find common ground." Asked how long bipartisanship might last, Bosma laughed and said: "What day do we come back? I think Jan.

8." Without a prayer One thing that made this organization day unique was the absence of the traditional opening prayer. In November 2005, in a lawsuit filed against then-House Speaker Bosma, a federal court judge ruled that sectarian prayers such as prayers to Jesus could not officially be sanctioned. While the ruling allowed for nonsectarian prayer, legislators in both parties believed the decision was an intrusion on a separate branch of government. Rather than tell the invited ministers and clergy how they could pray, the House discontinued the prayers and instead had members meet in the back of the chamber to pray. The Senate, which was not a defendant in the lawsuit, opted for a moment of silent prayer, and continued that practice Tuesday.

The House, though, had no prayers other than any that legislators said privately. Bauer said he left that decision up to Secretary of State Todd Rokita, who gaveled the House into session and presided until Bauer was officially elected speaker. Rokita could not be reached for comment. Bauer said he will consult Attorney General Steve Carter on whether to continue to appeal the federal court ruling. In the Senate Sen.

David C. Long, R-Fort Wayne, was elected president pro tempore of the state Senate. He replaces Robert Garton, R-Columbus, who led the chamber for 26 years. Star reporter Theodore Kim contributed to this story. Call Star reporter Mary Beth Schneider at (317) 444-2772.

Anne Sadler said the re-created ballots and ballots scanned later by poll workers are "standard operating procedure" in elections and are done under the watch of election workers from both parties. The State Recount Commission will re-examine the tally and decide which votes should be counted or rejected. Then a House committee of four Republicans and four Democrats will look at the outcome. Tuesday, House Minority Leader Brian C. Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said his goal "is to be certain the majority party doesn't do what majorities have in the past, which is to attempt to steal the election and thwart the wishes of the voters." He refused to cite specific examples.

One case that Democrats point to came in 1995, when the Republican-controlled Senate voted to seat Republican Sandy Dempsey over Democrat Frank Mrvan, who had been declared the winner on election night and by the recount commission. Mahern said talk of election theft is "premature." He said there is no doubt in his mind the vote tally will change in the recount but it could benefit either him or Elrod. The other two recounts are being sought by Larry Hile, a Hartford City Democrat who lost by 19 votes to Rep. Tim Harris, R-Marion, and Billy Bright, a Republican incumbent from North Vernon who lost by 1,607 votes to Democrat David Cheatham, also of North Vernon. The race between Elrod and Mahern is the closest in the House since 1994, when Republican John Becker, Fort Wayne, defeated Democrat Ben Gia-Quinta by seven votes.

Call Star reporter Mary Beth Schneider at (317) 444-2772. By Mary Beth Schneider mary.beth.schneider(3indystar.com Democrat Ed Mahern says mishandled ballots and other election errors may have tainted the Nov. 7 election in which he was defeated for reelection to the Indiana House by seven votes. Mahern is seeking a recount and is contesting the outcome of the election. His opponent, Republican Jon Elrod, Indianapolis, was provisionally sworn in pending the recount's outcome.

"Make no mistake about it. I want to continue to represent the people of the 97th District I want to continue to be in the House," Mahern said. "It's also to make sure that voters are protected and that all the votes that have been cast have been counted." The recount is one of three in the Indiana House, which Democrats now control 51-49. Elrod said he had expected the recount and didn't think anyone was attempting to steal the election. "I think we both just want to make sure all the votes get counted that were legally cast," he said.

Mahern cited several problems. The wrong ballots were sent to a nursing home, so that at least 19 voters there could not cast votes for state representative, he said. In addition, he said, Democratic poll watchers told him that poll workers re-created ballots, filling in ballots without the voters present, after the original ballots were rejected by optical scanning machines. He also said that at many precincts, the machines initially didn't work. That meant voters had to leave and let poll workers cast the ballots later, he said.

Marion County Clerk Doris Share and Remember In Memoriam ads in The StarClassifieds. To place an adr or for information, e-mail classifiedsindystar.com or call 317.444.7345. Think you're smarter than a turkey?" WHAT'S NEXT The Indiana General Assembly will return to work Jan. 8. Lawmakers will have until April 30 to deal with numerous issues and, with a Democrat-controlled House, Republican-controlled Senate and Republican governor, compromise will be a must.

Among the key issues: The state budget: This is the only bill which lawmakers are constitutionally required to enact. Failure to do so would force Gov. Mitch Daniels to call them back into special session. Daniels also has not ruled out a special session if he doesn't like the budget they craft. The $24.3 billion budget enacted by the then-Republican-con-trolled legislature in 2005 was among the leanest the state has passed.

Property taxes: Several factors, including changes in the way property is assessed and the elimination of the state's inventory tax, are again putting upward pressure on property taxes. Both parties have said they will be looking for ways to give homeowners relief, but it won't be easy. The money available for increased property tax relief is limited, and the wish list of projects is long. Find out in today's Star Classifieds and win! KICKING OFF THE HOLIDAY Obituaries Go through today's Star Classifieds and count the ads containing this graphic and enter to win. Each day is a new chance to win a $100 grocery gift card.

While you're there, don't miss out on all the great classified deals! So, pickup Star Classifieds. Look for turkeys. Find turkeys. Count turkeys. Win a prize.

Contest ends and entries must be received by 5 p.m., Nov. 24, 2006 Jess Wilson 74, Logansport, died Nov. 20, 2006. Arrangements: Kroeger Funeral Home StarClassifieds turkey hunt Mail to: Star Classifieds Turkey Hunt P.O. Box 299, Indianapolis, IN 46206-0299 Name To our readers Address.

Commemorate your friends and loved ones who have passed away with a memoriam in this section. To place your tribute, or for more information, email or call 317-444-7276. State City. Daytime Phone Number of Turkeys for Wednesday, 1122. SUTORIUS In Loving Memory of Jessie Sutorius Who passed away Nov.

22, 1979 When days are sad and lonely and everything goes wrong, we seem to hear you whisper, "Cheer up and carry Each time we see your picture, you seem to smile and say, "Don't cry, I'm only sleeping. We'll meet again some From Grace, Jerry, Stephen and Stacie ALAN PETERSIME The Star Colts players Justin Snow (center) and Josh Betts (second from right) dish up a Thanksgiving feast with Kerry Brenneman (right) and Colts staff members (from left) Brad Berry, Greg Hylton and Jay Souers at Wheeler Mission. The meal Tuesday was part of the Great Thanksgiving Banquet, a national initiative that provides hundreds of thousands of Thanksgiving meals at rescue missions nationwide. Enter online at www.indystar.comturkeyhunt To subscribe, call 444.4444. No purchase necessary.

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