The Kokomo Tribune from Kokomo, Indiana • Page 2

Local 2 Kokomo (Ind.) Saturday, DBC. 28, 1991 Snow possible Local weather observer Robert Wise said Kokonio area residents might see the first snowfall in several weeks today. Wise said today should be cloudy and cool, with an 80-percent chance of rain or snow late Saturday afternoon and evening. Today's low will be about 33 degrees. Sunday should bring rain, turning to snow flurries by noon.

He said Sunday's high will be about 37 with the low near 24 that night. Monday should be sunny and cooler, with a high of 37. The high Tuesday should be 35, he said. A storm system could bring more rain or snow Thursday and Friday. Community support Richard Chamness, executive director of the Crisis Center said community involvement helped provide holiday cheer for the less fortunate of the area.

More than 100 families received food baskets for Thanksgiving, or food baskets an other assistance this Christmas, according to Chamness. Through the generosity of the community, the Crisis Center will be able to continue helping area residents who need assistance, Chamness said. No free taxis Kokomo partygoers will have to plan for safe rides home after the New Year's Eve celebration, since both local taxicab companies say they will not be offering free rides for holiday revelers. The owner of Kokomo City Cab and Rainbow Cab say this year marks the second straight year that free cab services have not been offered to people who have had too much alcohol to drink. Both companies said the rides will not be offered because no local businesses offered to sponsor the program.

Both services will be operating throughout the holiday season, 24 hours a day. Kokomo City Cab can be reached at 457-6666, and Rainbow Cab Co. can be reached at 452-7575. Meeting cancelled The Northside Neighborhood Block Association will not meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Kokomo Daycare Center, 620 N.

Bell St. The meeting has not been rescheduled at this time. Prizes available Nine area schools are participating in the "Miss School, Miss program sponsored by Hills Department Stores. They join over 800 other schools across the country in the campaign, a figure twice that of last year's program participants. In the project, those students who have three absences or less at the end of the school year will be invited to attend a recognition assembly in their honor.

Those students will receive certificates and be eligible for prize drawings. All participating students may win Hills gift certificates, and all elementary schools will host ice cream socials for eligible pupils and their parents. Hills sponsors the program, Hills director of marketing and consumer affairs Glenn Ryerson said, because they believe there is a direct correlation between poor attendance and the dropout rate. "Miss School, Miss Out' is part of Hills' "Education First" program, Area schools participating include: Kokomo High, south campus; Taylor Junior-Senior High; Western High; Clinton Central Elementary; Darrpugh Chapel Elementary; Indian Heights Elementary; Maple Crest Elementary; St. Joan of Arc Elementary; and Washington Elementary.

The Kokomo Tribune (USPC 297-tlO) 300 N. Union St. Kokomo, Indiana 44101 Ardon A. Draeger, Manager Evening editions published daily except Saturday, Sunday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, December IS and January 1. Saturday, Sunday editions published mornings.

Second-class postage paid at Kokomo, Indiana Member ol Audit Bureau of Circulation Member of Associated Press The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use lor publication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise created in this paper and also the local news published therein. Delivery by carrier 12.50 per week and 12.75 on motor routes. By mail, per year, payable in advance, $143.00. No mail subscriptions accepted in towns where carrier delivery service Is maintained. ADVERTISERS: The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors In advertisements beyond the amount paid lor space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred, whether such error is due to the negligence of the publisher's servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement.

The Kokomo Tribune Founded 1150 Convents short of money Tipton motherhouse holding its own financially By Anne Mawhorr Tribune Tipton Bureau TIPTON, Ind. Many nuns wear a golden band on their lef- thand ring finger as a symbol of their dedication to Christ. "We're married to Christ," said Sister Caroline Daele, 82. "It shows we're not eligible for any man's hand." While other married women tend to children and household chores, the Catholic sisters, like Daele, tend to the community. They have spent their lives building hospitals and schools, healing the sick and teaching the children, explained Sister Veronica Baumgartner.

They have worked for free or for a small stipend, she said. It is this dedication to the community which is causing many orders of religous women to flounder financially. As the greater part of their members reach retirement age, there is no money to support them, Baumgartner said. Daele and Baumgartner are members of The Sisters of Saint Joseph, and reside at the order's motherhouse just north of Tipton. Because of the foresight of the Tipton convent financial planners, the order is holding its own.

But Baumgartner and others Police blotter Assailants sought Kokomo police say three Kokomo residents were threatened with handguns and chased through a near-downtown residence early Friday morning as they walked along East Mulberry Street. Capt. Russell Ricks said the victims, John Fatten, 22, Eddie Edens, 19, and a female juvenile were confronted by four men about 2:10 a.m. as they were returning to 701E. Mulberry St.

The victims told police that a verbal altercation broke out, but when the men pulled handguns, the trio sought shelter inside the home. Ricks said the attackers then allegedly forced their way into the home by threatening the occupant, Carol Hancock, with a handgun. After pushing Hancock aside, the men then chased Patton, Edens and the girl through the home and out the oack door of the house, where the victims escaped. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported. Police say no arrests have been made.

Police described the suspects as four black males. Two were wearing camouflage jackets, one wore a black overcoat and the one was wearing a blue, flannel shirt. Anyone with information about this crime should call Kokomo police at 459-5101. are helping to organize the fourth annual fund-raising campaign to gather money to support elderly nuns in orders across the United States. On Jan.

19, a special collection will be taken in the Catholic parishes of North Central Indiana, the Lafayette Diocese, for the retirement fund. The collection is sponsored by the Tri-Conference Retirement Office, according to Sister Mary Oliver Hudon of the Washington, D.C., retirement office. Baumgartner said the fund-raising campaign has made a considerable difference. "It's not just a band-aid," she said. A total of $25 million was collected last year.

The Lafayette Diocese has collected just over $100,000 every year, she said. All but 3 percent of the funds are disbursed to the neediest communities throughout the nation, Baumgartner said. Most of the orders struggling with financial hardships are in the eastern part of the Unitied States, she said. The 3 percent is used for administration and promotion, according to Hudon. Although there are some communities of Catholic brothers in the same situation, the prevailing number of those facing financial ruin are women's communities, Baumgartner said.

Several factors have contributed to the situation, which is fast approaching crisis proportions, she said. Communities of religous women are having more trouble because men typically received more compensation than women, Baumgartner said. Women's communities also are having more problems because women typically live longer than men, sne said. The very mission of the women's communities is now threatening their existence, Baumgartner said. The women worked for very little in order to serve the community, no money ever was set aside for retirement, Baumgartner said.

Now the women risk standing in line alongside the homeless they once served, she said. Fewer young women, who could help support the elderly, are entering religous communities. Ages at the Tipton Motherhouse range from 43 to 91, Baumgartner said. The rising costs of health care and insurance also are devastating, she said. And, until 1972, the government excluded men and women of religous orders from the Social Security program, according to Hudon.

Pet of the week This little fellow has the patience of a saint. Who else could sit in such a precarious position for any length of time and look so cute while having his picture taken. It is obvious that this 8-week-old shepherd and collie mix would rather be romping around and playing in somebody's home. This grey and black little bundle of fur can be found waiting patiently at the Kokomo Humane Society, 713 N. Elizabeth St.

He will gladly accept visitors between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. today, and from noon to 6 p.m. during the week. (Tribune staff photo) Miracle at Riley Hospital INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A 9- year-old New Castle girl emergency workers had given up for dead is improving each day and looking forward to going home soon.

Jennifer Dellinger, who was diagnosed at age 2 as having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, collapsed at her home Dec. 9 while getting ready for school. She was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children, but doctors' efforts to revive her seemed to fail. They determined she had died. About 15 minutes later, someone in the emergency room noticed a slight pulse in Jennifer's thigh.

The doctors immediately began surgery to patch an aneurysm discovered in the wall of her heart, and she pulled through. "It's a miracle," said Pam Perry, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Jennifer's disease, which is hereditary, is a disorder of the connective tissues of the body that has affected her heart. Last January, she had surgery to insert an artificial valve. The tissue had weakened near that valve, resulting in her collapse this month.

Jennifer's mother, Peggy Dellinger, has been warned mat her daughter may suffer some brain damage from her death experi- ence, but so far, there have been no signs of long-term damage. "She's still afraid to go To sleep at night," Ms. Dellinger said Thursday. "She's afraid she won't wake up. "She wants to do something every minute anything to keep from going to Now, Jennifer looks forward to going home, but doctors haven't determined just when that will happen.

Jennifer says the first thing she wants to do when she gets home is play. Herschel Monroe, a family friend, said Jennifer has shown a great deal of courage through her ordeal. "She's a very ordinary little girl, but very special to us," he said. Second boy dies from fire injuries EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) A second boy died Friday from injuries suffered a day earlier in an apartment blaze, authorities said.

Joshua Burris, 11, died at Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky. His half-brother, Chase Morris, 3, died at the hospital Thursday afternoon. Both children suffered smoke inhalation and second- and third- degree burns. The blaze at the Covert Village apartment in Evansville apparently started from two lighted candles in sconces over a couch, said fire investigator Roger Griffin. The boys' mother, Katherine Cook, told Griffin she did not remember blowing out the candles before she fell asleep on the couch.

She awoke around 3 a.m. to find the couch on fire, he said. Fire investigator Roger Griffin said the boys were found on the floor of their bedroom, which indicates the children were awake and attempting to flee the burning home before they were overcome by smoke and heat. The family lost all of its belongings in the fire, including all clothing and Christmas gifts. Cullen Avenue Christian Church is collecting money and personal and household items for Cook and her daughter.

No longer homeless INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A former homeless woman is living in her own home and studying computers thanks to a new program to aid the Moya R. Hurt and her 14-year- old son Todd had expected to spend Christmas in a charity shelter. But a change of luck sent the two to a home on the east side of Indianapolis. Hurt is among several formerly homeless people who have moved within the past several weeks into homes repossessed by the federal government. The program is run by the Center Township trustee's office and the federal government.

HUD spokesman John Robinson said the homes had mortgages insured by HUD but the owners defaulted on them. HUD leases some of these homes to not-for- profit agencies or government agencies like the trustee's office. Sister Caroline Daele is "married" to her work for Christ (Tribune photo by Anne Mawhorr) Kokomo man will be sentenced on Jan. 15 Jan. 15 has been set as the sentencing date in Howard Circuit Court for a Kokomo man who was recently convicted of burglary and robbery.

Brent A. Badger, 20, was among five local men who were charged last January with a series of crimes that were reported during November and December 1990. During a recent court trial, Badger was convicted of Class felony burglary in connection with a break-in and theft at the Gun Room, 1220 S. Dixon Road, and Class felony charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery. Those charges were related to the robbery and Assault of a County Market employee.

Kokomo police have said the employee was struck on the head with a semi-automatic handgun during the incident. Due to the similarity in the conspiracy and robbery charges. Judge R. Alan Brubaker ruled that the conspiracy charge should be dismissed, and did not enter a conviction for that count, court records indicated. The judge also ruled that Badger was innocent of a Class felony charge of dealing in a sawed-off shotgun, records indicated.

The judge requested that the Howard County Adult Probation Department prepare a presente- nce investigation report for Badger. The defendant is being held in the Howard County Jail on $10,000 bond. Auto dialing bill signed into law Silence ahead for those who choose By David Hawkings Tribune Washington Bureau WASHINGTON President Bush this past week reluctantly signed legislation that will virtually ban automatically dialed telephone sales pitches to American homes. The president waited until the possible hour before acting on the measure, which Congress cleared last month on the closing day of its 1991 session. Responding to growing consumer annoyance at telemarketing, the new law not only shuts down most robotic dialing machines, but sometime next year will also probably allow Americans to put their names on a national "do not call me list" that human sales people would be legally obliged to respect.

In a statement issued by the White House, Bush hailed the legislation's "laudable purpose of protecting the privacy rights of telephone users." But he also expressed concern that the new federal regulations required to enforce the law might go too far, hurting one of the few parts of the retail economy that has been booming by comparison during the recession. It was for this reason the administration objected to the bill as it moved through Congress with sudden speed this year. Bush said he expects the Federal Communications Commission, a mostly Republican panel independent of the White House that will to implement the law, to "ensure that the requirements of the act are met at the least possible cost to the economy" and to "preserve legitimate business practices." The FCC will have to decide precisely how to allow consumers to avoid the entreaties of human operators. The bill makes clear that Congress prefers a national "do not call" list as the most effective, although the FCC could also issue rules requiring companies to keep their own lists. Lawmakers had started to fear an unexpected veto the longer Bush waited to act on the bill.

In the end, the telemarketing measure was the last the president signed for the year. The same day he rejected the only other bill left on his desk, to create environmental scholarships. "Now we all can once again enjoy silent nights in our homes rather than be plagued by junk calls, junk faxes and other unsolicited telemarketing," said Rep. Edward J. Markey, the telemarketing bill's prime author in the House of Representatives.

Three dozen states have some laws restricting autodialers, but this patchwork does not prohibit firms from setting up shop in unregulated states and then speed dialing nationwide. Under the law, companies will generally be allowed to robot-dial only homes where the resident has previously bought goods or services from that company. Autodialers will be banned from simultaneously tying up more than two lines at any business, and from calling police and fire stations, hospitals and medical offices, car telephones and paging "beepers." Machines that send out 7 junk fax" advertising would also be curbed. Human sales people will be required to hang up as soon as their potential customer says good-bye. And those who have asked for privacy but are called anyway will be allowed to sue in small claims court for $500 an unwanted call, up to three from a single company.

Robot dialing machines can reach 1,500 homes a day with relentless efficiency that often lasts well into the dinner hour, and 300,000 human operators are also employed by the industry. Despite complaints about their intrusiveness, the value of their goods and services sold has multiplied sixfold in this decade, to (435 billion in 1990. The Direct Marketing Association, which represents 3,000 telemarketers, worked on the final version of the law and has given its blessing. But dialing robot makers say they fear their assembly lines will soon be idle..