Logansport Pharos-Tribune from Logansport, Indiana • Page 1

March 5,1998 PHAROS-TklBUNE 4 A7 A business plan should be easy to read LOGANSPORT, INDIANA Businessman Wants 'Done Deal' Done Right Way Sheriff's Deputies Find Infant Unresponsive DELPHI The death of an 8 girl early Wednesday evening is under investigation by the Carroll County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's deputies received a call at 6:19 p.m. about an infant who was not breathing at 9025W SOON, according to a report. Aspen Renea Fultz, daughter of Michael and Pearl Fultz, was found lying on the living room floor of the residence and wasn't breathing. The child was taken to St.

Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Lafayette, where she was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. by Tippecanoe Coroner Dr. Martin Avolt. Her death, according to the report, was water-related. Another child was removed from the home by Child Protection Services and placed under the care of relatives.

Juveniles Facing Charges In Aduit Court Three 16-year-old males from the North Central Juvenile Correction Center on the Logansport State Hospital grounds were waived to adult court Wednesday on charges of escape and battery stemming from separate incidents. Shawntez L. Gray, Louisville, was waived to adult court on a battery charge in connection with an alleged assault of a staff member at the facility, said Pam Pattison, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Correction. Also waived to adult court were Robert L. Young, Terre Haute, and Michael S.

Morgan, Gary, on charges of escape. According to Pattison, the two males escaped from the facility on New Year's Eve, but were later apprehended. Morgan also faces a charge of possession of stolen property, she said. All three are in the Cass County Jail. A fourth juvenile involved in the New Year's escape also had a hearing in Juvenile Court Wednesday, but he was not waived to adult court, Pattison said.

Boy Killed, Girl Raped After Hostage Situation LOS ANGELES (AP) A teen couple was held hostage for two days before the 17-year-old boy was killed and the 16-year-old girl was taken to a forest, where she was raped, shot in the jaw and left for dead, authorities said. No arrests had been made. Chad MacDonald of Yorba Linda was found dead Tuesday afternoon in an alley in Los Angeles. An autopsy was being performed, authorities said today. A motorist found the girl, who was bloody and partially clothed, on Tuesday along Highway 39 in Angeles National Forest.

She was in serious condition at County- USC Medical Center. The girl, whose identity was withheld due to the rape, told deputies she took her mother's car Sunday to meet MacDonald at a house in Norwalk. There, at least two men took the pair hostage and beat and stabbed them, she told deputies. On Tuesday morning, the captors took them from the house in two cars, including the car belonging to the girl's mother, to the Angeles Forest, about 30 miles away. "They were driven to this location, where she was shot, assaulted, raped," sheriff's Deputy Al Martin said.

"She made reference to her boyfriend being killed." Twenty-five people who live or work in an area targeted for annexation aired concerns before city council Wednesday night By DAVE K1TCHELL Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer One local businessman said he may have to leave Logansport if he's annexed, but a representative of another business said his company welcomes annexation. Those were the extremes of the comments Wednesday night at a special Logansport City Council meeting that allowed residents and businesspersons on East Main Street a chance to vent their views on the city's plans to annex them. The only person who didn't live or work along the strip was Washington Township Trustee Jim Mayhill, who said annexation will mean a hardship to taxpayers who live in his township. "It's a good possibility that there are people who are going to leave town," Mayhill said. "I just hope you don't chase people away." Ron Bullard, operator of the Stony Pike Livestock Auction, said annexation could pose a problem to him if cattle in his barn are forced to drink city water.

Cattle, by nature, will not drink chlorinated water, he said. "I will probably have a problem existing," Bullard said. While he has no objections to the city services provided as a part of annexation, Bullard said another livestock auction he operates in Boswell may be more appealing. "Logansport has been good to us," he said. "If I don't get some help, I will leave Logansport.

I'm not here to complain. I'm here to tell you my side of the story." Bullard, 58, said he has operated his business here for 25 years and would hate to leave the city now. Although he was told annexation is not a done deal, Bullard said he believes it is. He just wants a fair deal. But Bob Brown, of Logan Stampings had a different view.

"We believe in progress and we support annexation," Brown said. "We stand to pay probably the most taxes of anyone and we feel we have the most to gain because of the size of our operation and what the city can do for us." Councilwoman Mary Cotner said she had been told Logan Stampings probably would have to find another See DEAL, Page A2 Washington Township Trustee Jim Mayhill told members of the Logansport City Council that annexation will hurt businesses in Washington Township and could raise the cost of fire protection for his constituents. (Gary 8 i A portion of the roof at the abandoned Blue Brothers warehouse on Tacoma Avenue has collapsed. The warehouse, which is not secured, is located only a few blocks from two. of Loganspprt's elementary schools, Franklin and Columbia.

The building is involved in a legal dispute over ownership. (Gary City Singing Warehouse Blues By DAVE KITCHELL Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer The disputed ownership of an abandoned warehouse has city officials wondering who to bill if they proceed with plans to have it torn down. Members of the Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety Wednesday decided to obtain estimates on the demolition of the former Blue Brothers warehouse in the 100 block of Tacoma Avenue on the city's north side. A portion of the warehouse This warehouse in the 100 block of Tacoma Avenue has become home to rodents, City Councilman Ted Franklin told the Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety Wednesday. roof has collapsed and the building is not secured.

City Councilman Ted Franklin, who represents the ward where the warehouse is located, told the board that the building's condition is deplorable. Graffiti, racial slurs and swastikas have been painted on the building's interior and there are rodents living in the building. Mayor Bill Vernon said the ownership of the property is part of a legal dispute between Salin Bank Trust and the former operator of the warehouse, David Blue. Franklin said the bank is paying property taxes on lots at the site. "It looks like the banks own See BLUES, Page A2 Couple Out To Make Spectacle Of Sears In Suit By KRISTBNA BAKER Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer A complaint for damages has been filed in Cass Superior Court in regards to a pair of eyeglasses sold to a Cass County man involved in a vehicle accident.

In the complaint, Raymond and Dorothy Holcomb claim that as a result of a February 1996 accident in Lakeland, the eyeglasses Mr. Holcomb was wearing shattered causing permanent loss of vision to his right eye and 160,000 worth of medical expenses. The couple, represented by Logansport attorney Kelly Leeman, filed the complaint last week against Sears Roebuck and Company, doing business in See SEARS, Page A2 Charges Dropped For Man Arrested In Vehicle Theft By KRISTINA BAKER Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer It was a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time which is why criminal charges have been dropped against a Logansport man arrested Tuesday afternoon. Charges of possession, of a stolen vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia were dismissed Wednesday against Timothy E. Fry, 27, 18 W.

Main according to Logansport Police Department Det. A.J. Rozzi. Fry and his brother-in-law, Jerrald L. Bauman, 29, Star City, were arrested on the charges following two traffic stops on Logansport's south side.

See THEFT, Page A2 O'Baimon Says He Will Back Reform For Those Who Need It By DAVE KITCHELL Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer Gov. Frank O'Bannon says he doesn't know what recommendations his blue ribbon commission on tax restructuring will make, but he wants the end result to be fair reform. In a teleconference with reporters statewide Wednesday, O'Bannon said he'll have to wait to see what the commission's recommendations -are before he'll recommend a course for sending them through the legislature. Indiana's first-term governor says he knows what kind of reform he can support. "It would have to be a bill that says 'We are going to reduce taxes by having the state pick up more of the costs on schools and I think coming up with a plan will depend on the evidence, hearing information and the research the commission has done on the effect on taxpayers and what's causing people the most harm." O'Bannon says the commission has a task of examining the impact of all taxes not just property taxes and the impact on the elderly, business owners and average consumers who pay sales tax, "All those things would have to be looked at and what I'm looking for is a system that is more fair, reduces reliance on property tax and creates economic growth." O'Bannon says legislators such as State Sen.

Lawrence Borst, R-Indianapolis, are among state officials taking a sincere look at how restructuring the state's taxes can accomplish those goals. "I hope we have enough evidence and See REFORM, Page A2 Steele: Buyer's Vulnerable On Trade Issue By DAVE KITCHELL Pharos-Tribune Staff Writer The race for the primary is almost two months away, but 5th District congressional candidate David Steele already has his sights set on incumbent Rep. Steve Buyer. Steele, a Logansport Democrat who is the former president of the County Chamber of Commerce, began a three- day trek to all 20 counties in the district. At one of his first stops in Logansport, Steele said Buyer is vulnerable on the issue of fast track authority for negotiating new trade agreements.

Buyer, R-Monticello, voted against fast track authority earlier this year. "I think it's inconsis-; tent for him to support; "NAFTA on one hand and; then not support fast; track," Steele "Clearly, fast track is good thing." Steele, executive director of the Center for International Business Education and Research at Purdue, said trade agreements should not allow American businesses to be exposed to lower living standards in other countries that could hurt the United See STEELE, Page A2 David Steele INSIDE THE PHAROS-TRIBUNE Area Briefs Classified Entertainment Advice. Lifestyle Movies Newsmakers Obituaries Opinion Weather C5 .03 A6 C3 A8 A2 A4 Vol. 153, No, 54 Bench Seat Engine 4-Speed Automatic Transmission Stereo With Clock 201 E. Broadway Logansport 219-7224135 SALE HOURS: M-T -'TH-F 8-7; WED 8-6j SAT 9-3 MSRP $13,099 SALE 10,859 Area teams prepare as second night of sectional action nears PageBI SFooii Fun T.V.

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