Muncie Evening Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 2

HE'S FILED SUIT OVER BEATING In the Press of 1 things With term near end, will commissioner find a new spot on county payroll? By DOUGLAS WALKER and KEITH ROYSDON Evening Press reporters With the end of Doyle Bell's eight-year career as a Delaware County commissioner fast approaching, the veteran Democrat is apparently exploring the possibility of remaining on the county payroll. In February, Bell to no one's surprise announced he would not seek election to a third term as commissioner in District Three. His decision wasn't unexpected, as county Democrats had been touting Prairie Creek Lake superintendent Ron Bonham to succeed Bell, an amiable sort whose political future seemed clouded by his association with the troubled Justice Center project. Bonham ran unopposed for Bell's seat in May's Democratic primary, and will oppose Republican candidate John R. Gill in the general election.

There was early speculation that Bell, a close associate of Democratic Party chairman Phil Nichols, might end up employed in the building that many feel ended his career as an elected official. Some familiar with Bell said the outgoing commissioner wanted to serve as Justice Center superintendent, a position which would find him in charge of maintenance of the building. That aspiration may have ended when, in September 1989, County Council took action to give County Building superintendent Clarence "Dink" Hensley similar authority over the Justice Center. At a council budget session, Bell argued against the move, wondering aloud about what would happen if repairs were needed in both buildings. "If he has two bosses, and something over there needs work and something over here needs work, which gets done first?" Bell said at the time.

More recently, however, there have been suggestions that Bell might eventually succeed Robert Stewart as the county's veterans affairs officer. Stewart, a former Democrat Party chairman, was mentioned as a possible successor to longtime Evansville chairman Ira F. "Rip" Nelson. After Nelson's death in July 1989, however, Stewart supported the chairman's candidacy of Nichols, a city councilman and firefighter. Stewart even gave the nominating speech for Nichols, who went on to win the chairman's post in a narrow victory over County Auditor Jerry Thornburg.

Less than three months later, county commissioners announced Stewart would replace Raymond "Sonny" Gant as veterans affairs officer. Bell's associates say he would like to serve as veterans officer. But the veterans post unlike the commissioners job is a full-time position. Bell already has a fulltime job as a city firefighter. Bell isn't due to retire from the fire department until spring 1991 a few months after January 1, when commissioners traditionally make appointments to posts like that of veterans affairs officer.

Government employees doing campaign work on public time has become an issue in this year's election. Warren Dorer, assistant city park superintendent, was criticized for using a parks department vehicle to transport materials for wife Ruth's campaign for county recorder. Evening Press reporters have taken calls from people complaining that workers in several county offices have conducted campaign business on county time and with county materials and equipment. In this very political community, the use of public manpower to further the careers of candidates is a long-standing tradition. Sometimes it entails employees leaving their posts to work in party headquarters.

Other times i it means campaign materials are photocopied on county equipment, or that envelopes are stuffed during business hours. Considering how commonplace a practice it is, some are surprised the issue continues to be raised every election year. While the practice may not be ethical, it unfortunately remains a fact of life in Delaware County politics. school natural gas costs from $2,000, Texas Gas says. Texas Gas supplies Southern Indiana Gas and Electric which pumps gas into Evansville buses through a compressor at the school bus yard.

It takes about five minutes to fill a bus for a daily route of 40 to 50 miles, Johnson said. Linda Daniels has driven a bus route using natural gas for two years. She says the only drawback is slightly reduced engine power, which she notices going up hills. But the bus "hasn't been in the shop nearly as much since I went on natural gas," she said. And the engine starts better in cold weather.

buses are running on natural gas EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) Iraqi per 100 cubic feet, which is roughly President Saddam Hussein and his equivalent to a gallon. oil are no threat to Evansville school buses. They're fueled by The corporation will use nearly natural gas instead of gasoline. 130,000 gallons of gasoline and "Whenever gasoline goes up in more than 1.1 million cubic feet of most likely compressed natural gas to fuel price or is not available, there will be natural gas out there," buses this school year, Staley said.

said Charlie Johnson, manager of Based on current natural gas and Pupil Bus Transportation for the gasoline costs, the school system Evansville-Vanderburgh County could save more than $70,000 a School Corp. year. The school system began adaptnatural The schools also save money in ing buses to use compressed 1 in 1987. Natural is the other ways when buses use natural gas fuel gas of Evans- gas, Johnson said. primary in most ville's buses, but they also use "It's cheaper to purchase and it's gasoline as a backup, Johnson said cleaner burning in the motor, so Wednesday.

that means we don't have to service Compressed gas is used as fuel by the motor as often as we would only a handful of Indiana school under gasoline," he said. systems, mostly rural districts that use propane, according to Sgt. The school system has equipped Larry Sherman of the Indiana State 86 of its 153 buses for natural gas. Division. The The smaller buses cannot be fitted Police Motor Carrier school buses.

with natural gas tanks, Johnson division inspects Sherman said the main drawback said. of compressed gas is that the Vehicles running on natural gas converter and gas tank are added to emit less carbon monoxide and buses after they leave the manufac- other pollution, according to Texas turer. Gas Transmission Corp. of integrity of the system boro, Ky. depends on the skill and conscience Converting a bus to compressed of people installing it," he said.

Leaks are difficult to detect and can cause fires. Compressed gas was more popular in Indiana after the oil crisis of the late 1970s, but tapered off as gasoline prices fell, Sherman said. The Persian Gulf crisis, which caused oil prices to skyrocket, made the advantages of compressed gas obvious in Evansville. In the past few weeks, the price the school system pays for gasoline has jumped from 88 cents per gallon to $1.17, said Gary Staley, administrative assistant for supportive services. The price of natural gas has stayed the same: 43 cents Man sentenced for jail By DOUGLAS WALKER Evening Press chief reporter Delaware County may finally have seen the last of Robert E.

Dustin II at least for awhile. Delaware Superior Court 1 Judge Robert Barnet Jr. today sentenced the 34-year-old Dustin to four years in prison for a July 1989 escape from the Delaware County Jail. The sentence will be served consecutively with a 20-year sentence Dustin received from Barnet in June, when he was convicted of burglarizing a South Brittain Avenue home. On Monday, Dustin appeared before the judge to plead guilty to the escape charge, a Class felony.

A plea agreement placed a fouryear limit on the sentence Dustin could receive on the charge. At today's sentencing hearing, Barnet told Dustin he will likely not be eligible for release from prison for at least 16 years. At the time he committed the Muncie burglary in December 1988, Dustin was on parole for a Marion County burglary.co conviction. While Dustin will no longer be in the custody of Delaware County authorities Barnet recommended he be housed at the Correctional Industrial Complex near Pendleton county officials can anticipate further dealings with the convicted felon. In mid-July, Dustin and his attorney, Scott Forgey, filed a lawsuit against Delaware County in U.S.

District Court, seeking damages for a beating Dustin allegedly received at the hands of a civilian jailer following his 1989 escape from the Delaware County jail. Dustin, who was apprehended two days after his escape, reportedly suffered a broken nose and injuries to his eyes, head and arms in the attack. Civilian jailer Ed Teal was suspended for 10 days by Sheriff Dan Elliott following the incident, and later resigned. Dustin again suffered facial injuries during an altercation with another Delaware County Jail inmate after his burglary conviction in June. Forgey has indicated he might file an additional lawsuit against the county in connection with that incident.

Also today, Barnet: Sentenced a convicted burglar to 10 years in prison. Johen P. "John" Olsen, 21, was accused of breaking into an East Memorial Drive home on April 2. He pleaded guilty to the Class felony charge on Aug. 23.

In 1988, Olsen admitted to burglarizing an Eaton residence, and pleaded guilty to theft, a Class felony. The judge, who imposed the maximum sentence allowed under the terms of a plea agreement, also ordered Olsen to pay $2,400 in restitution to the victim of the burglary. "If you can't feel safe in your own home, you've got nowhere to go," Barnet said of the crime. Set a Jan. 16 trial date for a Muncie woman charged with robbery.

Tonda Denise Lampkins, 28, 808 S. Elm is accused of robbing an employee of a downtown convenience store on Sept. 8. Barnet appointed Geoffrey Rivers to serve as Lampkins's public defender. Set a March 13 trial date for a Muncie man accused of burglarizing a southside tavern.

John W. Goldsberry, 53, 1118 S. Walnut was arrested inside The Circle Bar, 616 S. Walnut on Sept. 16.

Rivers was also appointed to serve as public defender for Goldsberry, who also faces sexual battery charges in Delaware Superior Court 3. The Muncie Evening Press Page 2 Thursday, September 20, 1990 Muncie Hoosierland City workers to get update on lawsuit By JOHN McGAULEY Evening Press reporter About 170 city employees have been asked to attend a meeting Tuesday to update them on the progress of a lawsuit filed on their behalf two years ago. In November 1988, two city department heads sued the city after it was found they would not be paid during the last two weeks of that year. City officials contend salaried employees were paid their proper salary, but received it in 26 pay periods instead of the 27 that fell within 1988. This week, the Indianapolis law firm of Wilson and Kehoe notified employees of the meeting, scheduled to take place at 6 p.m.

in the Ball State University Pittenger Student Center Ballroom. The firm also recently notified employees that an October trial date had been postponed to Feb. 14 by court officials. "The purpose of the meeting is to update the clients on the progress of the case," Harold Wilson, attorney for the employees, said. Wilson said he has had no indication that the city has waivered in its opposition to the suit and believes it will go to trial.

He added, citing privilege, that Tuesday's meeting will be closed to the public. "That's a confidential communique," he said. The lawsuit claims that the first paycheck employees received in 1988 and a portion of the second were for work performed between Dec. 13-31 of 1987 "and should not be considered part of 1988's salary." Documents filed in relation to the suit state Indiana Statutory Law requires employees be paid on a biweekly basis. Since the suit was filed, 18 of 180 employees have dropped out.

The Teenager held in the death of 84-year-old man SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (AP) A teenager has been arrested on a preliminary murder charge in the death of an elderly Fairland man. Shelby County Sheriff Richard Isgrigg said today that Mark Bostic, 19, of Mooresville admitted killing Norman Scheaffer, 84. Scheaffer was found dead in his home Sept. 8.

Missing from the home was Schaffer's car and wallet, several beer mugs and a video recorder. The car was recovered in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Isgrigg said Bostic, who was arrested Wednesday, made a written and taped confession. The suspect told investigators he and Schaffer were friends. Scheaffer was a retired personnel director at a General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio, Isgrigg said.

Thornburg committee hosting a sock hop The committee to re-elect County Auditor Jerry Thornburg will hold a rock and roll hop from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Riley Center, 1901 N. Walnut Street. Roger Shaffer will provide music for dancing.

A dance contest will be held. Door prizes will be awarded. Admission is $3 for singles and $5 for couples. only elected official to drop out was Dorothea Bump, Dist. 4 city councilman.

"They probably thought it wasn't the proper thing to do," James Hendershot, Muncie Sanitary District administrative manager, said. Hendershot was one of the department heads who filed the suit. Ironically, Mayor James P. Carey, who is named as a defendant in the suit, is also being represented by it. The Muncie Sanitary District Board of Commissioners, also named as defendants, also stand to receive checks if the suit is successful.

In 1988, Carey tried to have $70,000 inserted into the 1989 city budget to cover the error, but Muncie City Council scuttled the proposal. Steven D. Murphy of DeFur, Voran Hanley Radcliff Reed, the Muncie law firm representing the city in the suit, said both sides are confident the trial will begin Feb. 14. City attorneys could not defend the city in the suit because they are also represented by it.

Murphy said he does not feel the city will be found at fault. "We don't think we owe the back pay," he said, based on the fact employees received their proper salary level during the calender year. While hestitant to comment on the case's details, city controller Robert Preston, said the city's insurance against such suits is limited. He said any back pay would likely come out of the city's coffers. "If it's a damage suit or civil rights action, we might be insured," Preston said.

The suit seeks triple the amount of back pay in punitive damages. The suit was originally filed in Delaware Superior Court 1, but Hendershot said it was moved in March 1989. The trial will know be held in Grant County. Pet of the week Looking for a buddy? This little guy is, too. A tan mixed-breed male, he is six-months old, likes children and has had his shots.

He and other animals may be obtained at the shelter, 2100 S. Penn from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. By the way, the cost of adopting an animal that's had its shots and been wormed has risen to $5.

Evening Press photo by Kyle Evens. Indiana Guardsmen are killed when jet crashes in Nevada TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) the early 1980s. Two Indiana National "We have never had an Guardsmen killed during a accident involving the F-4," routine training mission in McDonald said. "The last Nevada were identified today as fatality I can remember Capt.

Ralph C. Miller, a involved an F-100 and was in the commercial airline pilot from early 1980s." Illinois, and 1st Lt. Andrew G. McDonald said the training Baer of Terre Haute. mission began on Monday.

He The two were killed when did not know how many their F-4E fighter jet crashed Guardsmen were involved or shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday when the mission was to end. about 90 miles east of Fallon, Miller was a 1977 graduate of Nev. Both were members of the Schulte High School in Terre 181st Tactical Fighter Group based at Terre Haute. Haute and a 1981 graduate of Miller, 31, of Willowbrook, Indiana State University.

He is commercial pilot for survived by his father and was a Midway Airlines out of Chicago, stepmother, Oscar J. and Nancy said Maj. Con McDonald, a S. Miller, of Terre Haute. spokesman for the unit.

A Terre Baer, who recently left a job Haute native, Miller had been a at United Parcel Service in member of the Guard since 1977. Terre Haute, was a 1979 Baer, 29, the fighter's graduate of Terre Haute North navigator, had been a Guard High School and a 1985 graduate member since 1985. of Indiana State. Survivors McDonald said the cause of include his wife, Carolyn; two the crash was under children; his parents, Robert M. investigation.

and Rose M. Baer; and one It was the first fatal accident brother, Capt. Peter Baer, who involving the fighter wing since also is a navigator with the unit. MUNCIE EVENING PRESS (USPS 367-960) PHONE 747-5700 Published every afternoon except Sunday by Muncie Newspapers, at 125 South High St. Muncie, Ind.

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