Palladium-Item du lieu suivant : Richmond, Indiana • Page 7

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 1995, Fire ends breakfast tradition Cause sought in Monday blaze at Cambridge City morning spot By NATALIE ROOT Correspondent CAMBRIDGE CITY -It was a tradition for employees at the Star Bank here. The day's work usually didn't begin before they got something? for breakfast from Frog's Soda Shop. In the wake of an early Sunday fire that destroyed the soda shop and Trash and Treasure, business in the same building, employees are discussing where they go for breakfast now. "Every morning, basically, we go down there, head teller LouAnn Hildebrand said, adding that she often saw bank customers there, too.

Diane Buhl, a customer service representative at First Bank, said most of the employees there live nearby and eat at home, but she still believes the soda shop will be missed. "I just think it was a gathering place," she said. Ronald "Frog" Smith, who leased part of the building for his soda shop, said he won't decide what do next until he talks to his insurance adjuster. "I may buy another place," he said. In addition to destroying the building that housed the soda shop at 122 Main St.

and Trash and Treasure at 124-126 Main Cambridge City Fire Chief John Rauthe Jr. said two homes behind the building suffered heat damage to outside siding. Firefighters were called to the scene at 1:30 a.m. and fought the fire until about 3 a.m., Rauthe said. They were back at the scene twice later in the day to put out "hot spots" places where fire started again, he said.

Firefighters from Connersville, Centerville, Hagerstown, said. The building was owned by day for comment. a BURNS TCI cable employee Bill Chapman works on lines damaged by Monday's fire in Cambridge City. Dublin, Milton and Bentonville Rauthe said the cause of the Richard and Margie Dickinson. also helped battle the blaze, he fire still is being investigated.

They couldn't be reached Mon- Richmond council says go goodbyes I Three outgoing members thanked for 'thankless' job By ANN M. GYNN Staff writer The Richmond Common Council finished the year making adjustments to the budget and saying goodbye to three of its members. Council president Sally Hutton thanked outgoing council members Jane Brookbank, Mary Ellen Donat and Don McBride for their service on the council. "I know it's a thankless job some days," Hutton said. Single parent's income Richmond gets 7th bomb threat makes holiday a struggle By LOIS WILSON did a said.

complete building search," trict High in School October. and the entire disStaff writer Rodal Grant rule upsets educators GARY, Ind. (AP) Some of Indiana's anticipated budget surplus could give a record number of school children extra remedial help next year. But schools have to raise their own money to partially match a state allocation, and that angers some educators. Because of the surplus, Indiana lawmakers set aside $21 million PALLADIUM-ITEM Regional report Hagerstown to receive grant for utility expansion HAGERSTOWN Town officials here have $45,000 received word that for the town get a grant to help pay the utility extension project east of town.

Town council I president Gayle Bond read a letter from the Indiana Department of Commerce Monday notifying the town of the Industrial Development Grant. The town had applied for the grant with Master Mix Feeds, the new owner of property southeast of the railroad tracks, where water and sewer lines will be extended. In other business, the council received cost estimates for the engineering of a new water tower east of town. The council didn't discuss the figures, but the president asked other members to review 1 the information for discussion later. The council also scheduled a special meeting for 8 p.m.

Dec. 28 to approve salaries for next year. The council will meet in executive session at 7 p.m. that day. Indiana official to discuss Brownsville water project LIBERTY Union County officials will meet Wednesday with Lt.

Gov. Frank 0'Bannon and of representatives and of the the Indiana Department Commerce ana Department of Environmental Management about the Brownsville water project. The project to bring a safe supply of water to Brownsville has been at a standstill since a number of Native American artifacts were found at the town's only suitable well site. The Department of Commerce won't release grant money for the project until the water source passes IDEM requirements. But the county can't drill a well until it has further archaeological testing done, and without grant money, it has no money to pay for testing or the well.

Centerville board decides to lower tax levy CENTERVILLE To keep tax bills reasonable, Centerville-Abington Community Schools will advertise a lower tax levy than initially proposed. Although the corporation's budget was approved by the state tax board, Superintendent Brian Smith proposed to trustees that the corporation reduce the tax levy to "help out our local To reduce the levy, $40,000 would be cut from the transportation budget and $150,000 from the capital projects fund. Based on a conservative estimate of an 8 percent increase in the corporation's assessed valuation, the reductions would mean a 9.7 percent increase to taxpayers. That figure could go even lower if the valuation goes up by more than 8 percent. Without the reduction, taxpayer's could have seen a 14 to 15 percent increase.

Trustees agreed that the reductions were necessary, even though it could mean a slight delay in renovations to Centerville Elementary School. board gives approval to generator, truck purchase The Richmond Power Light board voted Monday to buy an emergency backup generator and a 1996 Digger Derrick truck. The board awarded a bid for the generator to McAllister Machinery Inc. for $36,857. The utility never had a back-up generator, but general manager Irv Huffman said one is critical to in this day of reliance on computer.

The board also approved a bid to Altech for $111,988 for the truck. CRIME STOPPERS 935-STOP Police search for clues in Fountain City murder The body of Wilma Cheek was discovered in her 1989 gray Pontiac Grand Prix, parked at the Willow Grove Cemetery at the south edge of Fountain City on U.S. 27, at 11:15 a.m. Oct. 30.

An investigation later revealed that Cheek had been shot to death within the hour. A primer gray 1978 to 1980 GMC pickup truck with a fitted tool box behind the cab and light-colored ladder racks was seen leaving the cemetery at the time of the slay. ing. A K-96 "Hot Country" bumper sticker was displayed on the left side of the rear bumper. Cheek, 48, resided in the Fountain City area and was last seen alive about 7:30 a.m.

Oct. 30. Anyone with information about this or any other felony crime can call Crime Stoppers' 24-hour phone at 935-STOP (935-7867). Rewards of up to $1,000 are paid for information leading to an arrest, and callers never are asked for their names. Compiled from Palladium-item correspondents and staff reports.

Correspondents Centerville: Pam Johnson, 855-3277 Hagerstown: Natalie Root, 478-3423 Union County: Pam Tharp, 732-3513 Barker request delayed Judge's action keeps rape case from reopening By AMANDA TEMPLE Staff writer EATON, Ohio Steven E. Barker's motion to reopen his rape case in Preble County can't be considered by the court because Wayne County officials won't let him out of their jail, a judge ruled Monday. Preble County Common Pleas Judge David Abruzzo delayed indefinitely a hearing on Barker's request because the defendant wasn't there to explain why he should be able withdraw a plea agreement and have a jury trial. Barker was sentenced in May to between 45 and 135 years in prison for a string of attacks in Preble County. His agreement with Preble County prosecutors allowed him to be convicted while still professing his innocence.

He now is in the Wayne County jail awaiting two trials on a total of 37 charges, including rape, burglary and kidnapping, in connection with attacks on five Wayne County women. In November, Barker filed a handwritten motion to withdraw the Ohio plea agreement and asking for a jury trial. Barker didn't consult his lawyers, courtappointed attorney Mark Anzman said. Wayne County Prosecutor Terry 0'Maley said recently that he doesn't want Barker to leave Indiana until his cases here are complete. One trial is set for Feb.

20; the other in March. Preble County prosecutors contacted the Ohio governor's office to see if they could extradite Barker from Indiana for the hearing. But because Barker's case is closed in Ohio, granting extradition would be considered "postconviction relief" and would not be possible, Preble County Prosecutor Rebecca Ferguson said. If Barker is convicted in Indiana, he then could return to Ohio under an interstate agreement on detainers, which allows states to exchange prisoners. In his motion, Barker claimed that an agreement on concurrent sentencing between the two states is being ignored by Indiana and that the state is trying to use his Ohio convictions against him.

"If Indiana isn't meeting its side of the deal, then he might have a strong case, but it could be a while before we hear it," Anzman said. 0'Maley has said no such sentencing deal exists. Brookbank, who didn't run for re-election after serving 12 years, said she enjoyed working with department heads under the administrations of both former mayor Frank Waltermann and Mayor Roger Cornett. Donat, who lost in the November election after sitting on the council for four years, said it had been a pleasure serving the city and thanked her husband and daughter for their support. Her daughter, Emily, presented her with flowers.

McBride said that, although the council might not have seemed enjoyable, he did enjoy serving the last eight years. During its meeting, the council JoY FUND Albert and Joan Zuzolo, $10 Alpha chapter, Tri Kappa Sorority (in memory of Fran Eward), $50 Opti-Mrs. Club, $25 Dave and Martha Fawcett (in memory of John C. Davis), $25 Anonymous, $60 Phil and Ellie Coffman (in memory of their parents), $25 Crusaders for Christ class, First Christian Church, $100 Ellen Weist (in memory of Howard Hughes), $10 William and Doris Grable, $25 Carl and Kathryn Lipps, $25 Tara Trotter, $25 Bill and Carolyn Smith (in memory of Terri Lohmoeller), $25 Mr. and Mrs.

Max Clevenger, $75 Anonymous, $50 Anonymous, $50 Anonymous, $25 Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 1047, $200 Anonymous, $50 Jack and Ruth Daggy (in memory of Katherine E. Longfellow and Clarence E. Brunner), $100 Daily total, $1,005 Total to date, $5,848.45 for the remediation of students who scored poorly on a statewide assessment test given in March. Schools have until Jan. 31 to apply for their share.

"The General Assembly didn't want to be seen as rewarding schools for not doing well," said Mary Tiede, spokeswoman for the state department education. reduced the 1995 budget by $387,000, primarily from unused police and fire pension funds, to help balance the 1996 budget. Council members also voted to transfer $110,000 from salaries and fringe benefits in the parks department to other expenses, including three open air shelters, two sand volleyball courts, new paddle boats and safety-approved playground equipment. In other business, the council: Voted unanimously to give firefighters a 4.5 percent raise in 1996 and a 4 percent increase in 1997. The raises are part of a twoyear contract recently signed by the local union, the Board of Public Works and Safety and the The seventh false bomb threat of the year was made to Highland Heights Elementary School Monday.

threat was called into the 1751 E. Chester Road school around noon, Principal Chris Rodal said. "We cleared the area they had made reference to, and maintenance (crews) came over and mayor. i Heard from resident Mark Boggs, who asked that it consider giving people who rehabilitate homes a break on their taxes. The council said they would look into the matter.

Approved 10-year tax abatements for manufacturing equipment for Belden Wire Cable to retain 873 jobs, Cinram Inc. to keep 570 and create 19 jobs, Purina Mills Inc. to retain 44 jobs and Spartech Plastics to keep 124 jobs. Accepted $537 from the Wayne County Foundation to buy three sewing machines for the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. Palladium-Item A single parent is struggling to make ends meet during this holiday season.

The family has three children who need clothes for Christmas. The parent is unemployed and living on food stamps and money from Aid Families with Dependent Children. The family is one of the cases recently taken by the Salvation Army. Area residents can help them and other needy residents by donating to the 1995 Joy Fund, sponsored by the PalladiumItem. Readers can send contributions to the newspaper, which will print names and amounts given.

Anonymous donations and contributions in memory or honor of others are welcome. Send a check or money order payable to the Salvation Army to: Joy Fund, Palladium-Item, 1175 N. A Richmond, IN 47374. Contributors include the following: Edna M. Huth, $50 Nothing was found, but as a precautionary measure, Rodal kept students out of that area for the rest of the day.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Department assisted in the search at Highland Heights and filed a report, but no arrest had been made as of this morning. Other false threats were made to Test Middle School, Richmond Four students, a 13-year-old middle school student and three high school students aged 14 and 15, have been arrested on Class felony charge of false reporting and delinquency. No one has been arrested in an Oct. 25 threat the last threat until Monday's that cleared all 16 district schools for a half-hour. Palladium BURNS LEGO my lessons Terry Price (left), a teacher at Parkview and Starr and Karen Berry (right), who teaches at Charles, work with Chris Teufel from LEGO dacta in a workshop Monday in which teachers learned to use LEGOS to teach math and other subjects..