The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 2

PAGE 2 THE MUNCIE STAR, WEDNES! 15, 1989 Indiana Arson Ruins Covered Bridge Commissioners Voted to Save It Hours Earlier By BILL SPURGEON The Star's Executive Editor RUSHVILLE, Ind. Ferree Bridge, one of six covered timber structures remaining in Rush County, was torched by an arsonist Monday night, only a few hours after county commissioners voted to save it from dismantlement. Firemen said the 87-foot bridge over the Little Flat Rock River was engulfed in flames when they arrived about 10:30 p.m. Monday. It was judged a total loss.

The bridge was a Burr truss High Court Rules Biker Still to Pay By DOUG RICHARDSON Associated Press Writer INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Supreme Court has reinstated a $26,000 damage judgment against a Howard County boy for a bicycle accident that occurred when he was 9 years old. In a 4-1 decision released Monday, the court concluded more lenient standards of conduct for youngsters don't preclude the damage judgment in a lawsuit brought by Sherry Deutsch. The decision reversed a 1988 state Court of Appeals ruling and affirmed the 1986 verdict from Howard Superior Court. Deutsch sued Todd Kurowsky and his parents, Theodore S. and Jill M.

Kurowsky, after the child crashed his bicycle into a racing bike ridden by Deutsch, then 35, on a street i in the Devonwood subdivision in Howard County on April 20, 1984. At the time, Deutsch, a biking enthusiast from Cincinnati, was visiting her father, who lived near the Kurowskys. According to court records, she suffered a broken rib and fractured clavicle, which forced her to miss almost 2 months of work as a systems analyst at Proctor and Gamble. The accident occurred when the young Kurowsky rode out of a driveway and into the path of Deutsch as he tried to chase friends driving a go-cart up the street. Deutsch's suit alleged the boy failed to yield the right of way and failed to keep a lookout for traffic before entering the street.

Kurowsky's attorneys argued that because he was a child, his behavior and alleged traffic violations should be judged against a child's standard of care and he should be free of any presumption of negligence. However, the high court concluded that a child doesn't have a blanket exemption from negligence. "A jury must be instructed that where a child has disobeyed a statute, he may excuse or justify the violation by sustaining the burden of showing the violation occurred despite his exercise of that degree of care which would ordinarily be exercised by a child of the same age, experience, intelligence and educational level," Justice Roger 0. DeBruler wrote for the court. Without that excuse or justification for the child, a jury can hold the child negligent, the court ruled.

Expressway Deflectors Dropping Off EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) white Hundreds of orange and reflectors have dropped off the Lloyd Expressway, but a new type of glue should solve the problem, state highway officials said Tuesday. The reflectors were glued to the concrete guardrails and walls along the expressway last summer to help motorists see objects in the dark. But hundreds of the plastic reflectors have fallen off in the past few months between Fulton Avenue and Interstate 164, which is under construction. "We think the problem is the glue on back of the reflectors," Gary Abell, an Indiana Department of Highways spokesman, said Tuesday.

"We've found a new adhesive to The problem started because epoxy and masonry coating two materials used on the expressway walls won't bond. The reflectors, which adhered only to the masonry coating, eventually dropped off. structure built in 1873, miles northeast of Milroy on a county road. The Burr truss is a design patented in 1817 by Connecticut bridge builder Theodore Burr. It utilizes an arch that helps support kingposts (vertical members that connect the top of a supporting triangle with the base).

Commissioners said 3 years ago they wanted to replace the Ferree bridge with a more modern bridge, and preservationists fought to save it. The bridge had been restricted to loads of 3 tons or less, and commissioners argued that truck drivers and farmers had to go out of their way to avoid using it. A group dedicated to bridge preservation, Rush County Heritage, was formed, and 6,000 signatures were collected from county voters in favor of saving the Ferree and other covered bridges. Another 3,000 signatures were obtained from minors and out-ofcounty residents. The preservationists argued that to build a new bridge with a 15-ton weight limit would cost $120,000, and that the Ferree bridge could be brought up to that standard by spending only $78,000.

The question was unresolved for some time, and commissioners finally agreed to wait. Eventually a plan was worked out to move the bridge to the Marjon Motel, where the Rush County Motel Association planned to maintain it as a tourist attraction. The Ferree bridge and the five other remaining in the county had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the other bridges, the 113- year-old, 124-foot Burr span Smith Bridge northeast of here over the Big Flat Rock River, was also Local Man Pleads Guilty to Child Molesting Charges HARTFORD CITY, Ind. A 61-year-old Hartford City man entered an initial plea of not guilty to four counts of class felony child molesting charges Tuesday in Blackford Circuit Court.

William P. Hoover, 107 N. Monroe was arrested by Hartford City Police Tuesday afternoon after a probable cause hearing earlier in the day. Hoover was charged with fonding four girls under the age of 10 years during a Dec. 1 incident in Hartford City.

Blackford County Prosecutor Dean Young said Hoover could face a 2- to 8-year sentence on each count. Hoover was released to the custody of the Hartford City Police and a surety bond was set at $20,000. Hoover is the sixth person to face child molesting charges in Blackford County this year. Parker City Ponders New Town Hall Buy By KEVIN SCOTT Special Correspondent PARKER CITY, Ind. Town Board President James Dykes announced Tuesday that the board had inquired about buying the local Lion's Club building for a town hall.

said the board had wanting a new town hall for several years, but that other buildings had always been too expensive. Dykes said nothing was definite and that a price had not been discussed. Board members said the Lion's Club building, which is next to the firehouse where the board meets now, would be a good town hall because of its size and location. "Maybe next year we could be sitting in a room twice as big as this," Dykes said. In another matter, the board received complaints from residents Mark Whitehead and Dwight Gray about excessive noise at late hours from Kenneth Cope's residence at 545 W.

Howard St. Whitehead said that a chainsaw from Cope's residence woke him Sunday night about midnight. Gray presented a petition signed by 22 people stating dissatisfaction with the late-night noise that included power tools and hammering. Dykes said the board would deliver a letter to Cope stating that his actions violated a disorderly conduct ordinance and threatening either a $500 fine or a 6-month jail term, or both, if Cope does not quiet his late activities. "No one's complaining about his improving the place," Dykes said.

"They're complaining about the time he's doing it." damaged in a recent fire. The Ferree bridge was the county's oldest. Others, all Burr spans, are Offutt's Ford, 85 feet long, 1884, over the Little Blue River, northeast of Arlington; Forsythe, 186 feet long, 1888, over Big Flat Rock River, northeast of Moscow; Moscow, 330 feet long, 1886, over Big Flat Rock River at Moscow, and Norris Ford, 154 feet long, 1916, over Big Flat Rock River northeast of Rushville, 1916. As late as 1953, the county had nine covered bridges; in 1940, there were 12. It once had as many as 18, all built by members of Rushville's Kennedy family.

Three generations of Kennedys Archibald, his sons Charles and Emmett, and grandsons Charles and Karl built more than 50 covered bridges in Indiana and Ohio between 1870 and 1918. Henry County Awaits Arrival of New Trucks By ELDON PITTTS Star Staff Reporter NEW CASTLE, Ind. Henry County commissioners decided Tuesday to wait on two new International trucks they have ordered through Lehman International Truck Sales, Muncie, rather than accept another bid. The spokesman told the commissioners a delay in delivery of the trucks was caused by a model change at the factory when the vehicles were ordered. The commissioners said they would stick with the Lehman bid, however.

In another matter, the commissioners accepted a bid for a used pick-up truck for the county highway department from Boles BuickOlds-Pontiac-GMC, New Castle. The dealer submitted a bid of $9,950 for a 1987 GMC truck, with an extended 4-year warranty for $100. Staton Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, New Castle, submitted bids of $9,500 for a 1987 Chevrolet truck, and $9,200 200 for a 1986 Ford truck. Also Tuesday, the commissioners received notification of abandonment proceedings for 71.34 miles of CSX Rail Transport railroad tracks between Richmond and Marion. The tracks go through Henry, Delaware, Randolph, Grant and Wayne counties.

Anyone interested in the abandoment proceedings should call the Interstate Commerce Commission, Office of Proceedings, Rail Section, at 202-275-7245. In other business, the commissioners: Authorized County Auditor Brenda Veach to ask county council for cumulative bridge fund appropriations of $19,000 for a bridge on County Road 100-N over Sugar Creek; $9,000 for a bridge over a branch of Buck Creek on County Road 425-W; and $9,000 for a bridge over Buck Creek on Buck Creek Pike, north of County Road 850-N. Heard a complaint from Mr. and Mrs. Albert Marcum.

The couple said they were buying a house on contract when it burned. The owner never gave the couple a deed or abstract, the couple said, and the county now has the land for non-payment of property taxes. The commissioners said the couple could bid on the property at a public auction March 13, or they could redeem the property by paying the delinquent taxes. Alcohol Board OKs License Renewals WINCHESTER, Ind. The Randolph County Alcoholic Beverage Commission granted four license renewals Tuesday.

They were to: Union City Carry Out, 130 W. Oak Union City, a renewal of its liquor, beer and wine package store permit. American Legion Post No. 158, 318 W. Pearl Union City, renewal of liquor, beer and wine club permit.

Winchester Bowl Ind. 32 East, Winchester, renewal of liquor, beer and wine retailer's permit. Chesterfield Management doing business as Pizza Hut, 228 W. Pearl Union City, renewal of beer and wine retailer's permit. Dateline Henry County NEW CASTLE Tuesday's New Castle Board of Zoning postponed for lack of a quorum.

was rescheduled for 4 p.m. city council chambers, 227 NEW CASTLE Charles former New Castle resident intern in New York, has Photo by David Thurston Park Repairs Ken Johnson, Muncie, and Gary Whittle, Johnson said that as grounds foremen for Henry New Castle, Tuesday repair a picnic table at County Parks Department they will repair 200 Henry County Memorial Park in New Castle. picnic tables this winter as well as build 20. Blackford Economic Progress Gets High Marks as Buildings Go Up By DREW BROWN Star Staff Reporter HARTFORD CITY, Ind. The Blackford County Economic Development Corporation has achieved "credibility and capacity" in its first 2 years of existence, BCEDC Executive Director Tony Demos says.

Demos described the BCEDC's achievements in 1988 and its goals for 1989 during the corporation's annual meeting Tuesday night in Hartford City Hall. "Prior to the formation of the corporation, if a prospective industry was interested in inquiring about the county, it was a very tedious process," he said. "They didn't know who to call Now, prospective industries, as well as existing industries, can call upon the BCEDC for information on a multitude of subjects. "We are now capable of dealing with inquiries from outside the county as well as those from within the county," Demos said. The BCEDC is a private, nonprofit corporation supported by local governments and the private sector.

It serves as the primary marketing and promotional entity for Blackford County. "Simply put, our major responsiblity is to sell the county to outside industry and work with existing industry," Demos said. In an effort to "sell the county to outside industry" Demos listed a variety of activies undertaken in 1988. He said the BCEDC prepared more than 1,000 brochures containing information on available industrial sites and demographics of the county. "We put this together and mailed them out to prospective business clients outside and within the county," Demos said.

He said the BCEDC contacted leading county industries in 1988 and took surveys on issues important to prospective industries. One survey studied the wages and benefits industries provided their workers. "It's important to have that type of information, because any industry looking in that area is concerned about that bottom line," he said. Demos said it also was important East Central Indiana Today Blackford County 8 a.m. Special meeting of Blackford County Commissioners, courthouse 7:30 p.m.

Blackford Area Plan Commission, Hartford City Hall Jay County 7:30 p.m. Jay County Hospital Board 7 p.m. Jay County Council, public hearing on economic development tax Data diplomate of the National Examiners. meeting of the Modlin, son of Grace and Appeals was New Castle, is serving The meeting Veterans, Bellevue and New next Tuesday in hospitals in New York City. N.

Main St. He graduated from New High School in 1979, and S. Modlin a graduate degree from and a medical sity in 1983. In 1987, he been named a Northwestern School of County Group to maintain a positive relationship with the existing industries within Blackford County. "So many communities get wrapped up in trying to bring in new industries through the front door that they lose existing industries and jobs through the back door," he said.

Blackford County is one of three Indiana counties to adopt a county economic development income tax from which the proceeds are used in a capital improvement plan. The CEDIT rate is .25 percent and is expected to generate 000 over the next 4 years. Demos said funds from CEDIT would be used to construct two buildings in 1989. Construction of a shell building in Hartford City Proud and a building in Montpelier are expected to begin in the spring. Both buildings will be completed in 1989 and the BCEDC will market the facilities to new industry.

Besides constructing buildings, the BCEDC will continue media advertising as well as direct mailing in 1989. "What we are trying to do is create a winning economy," Demos told the small audience. "And, that means creating more jobs, increasing the tax base and increasing individual wealth and income." Also Tuesday, the BCEDC board of directors elected George Wilson, Gary Garlish and Ted Lese to continue serving as president, vicepresident and corporate treasurer, respectively, for 1989. Jay County Prepares for Special March Election STAR STAFF REPORT PORTLAND, Ind. Twenty-one Jay County polls will be open 6 a.m.

to 6 p.m. March 28 for a special election to choose a successor for Fourth District Rep. Dan Coats. However, Jay County Clerk Jane Ann Runyon said Tuesday that locations of some of the polls might be changed. New locations will be announced later, she said.

The Jay County Election Board will use the same punch card system that has been used in previous elections. Republican Dan Heath and Democrat Jill Long are vying for the fourth district House seat vacated by Coats. He replaced Vice President Dan Quayle as Indiana's junior senator. Heath and Long are set to debate in Jay County March 16, with the site to be announced. Jay County is one of 10 counties in the fourth district.

Absentee ballot applications are available at the clerk's office in the courthouse. Absentee voting will begin Feb. 27 in the clerk's office and continue until noon, March 27. Absentee voting can be conducted at the clerk's office from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon March 25. Ballots will be mailed to out-ofcounty voters after Feb. 27. People confined to home will be able to vote from March 20 until March 27.

Voters will be registered in the clerk's office from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Registration will end at 4 p.m. Feb. 27.

More information is available from the clerk's office at 726-4951. Substitutes to Get Raise By RICK KUGHEN Special Correspondent WINCHESTER, Ind. The Randolph Central School Board Tuesday raised the substitute teacher pay from $40 to $45 a day. The rate will apply for both certified and non-certified substitutes. A proposal for a multi-pay level system that would vary the rates for certified and uncertified substitutes was denied by the board.

"As a matter of practicality, you usually contact the people that usually respond," Driver Middle School teacher Gary Kaser said. "You don't look at certification, but at the people that will come for you on a regular basis." Board member David Lind expressed his opposition to the equal pay rates for substitutes. "I think that there should be a good deal of consideration given to the degree of education that the substitute has," Lind said. "I think that a professional rate of that amount is an insult and eventually, we will have trouble getting Board of Medical Charles S. Modlin, his residency at York University Castle Chrysler received his underNorthwestern Univergraduated from Medicine.

In other business, the board rejected a proposal to install a new walk-in cooler at the Willard Elementary cafeteria. The board plans to investigate the proposal. "I would like to see where it would be more cost effective," Lind said. Turner Commercial Refrigeration, Muncie, quoted a tentative price of about $12,000. This amount includes equipment, installation, shelving and remoldeling.

The current walk-in is too small, according to Willard employees. The board accepted the resignation of school nurse Wilma Hahn. Hahn has been the school's nurse for 20 years. A temporary contract was approved for Beth Ann Hale who has substituted for two consecutive 15-day periods. Under state law, a substitute teacher can be employed for a maximum of 15 consecutive days.

For more than 15 days, the school must issue a temporary contract. NEW CASTLE Reservations are being taken for the 67th annual meeting of the New Castle Area Chamber of Commerce. Announcement of the group's citizen of the year will be made during the event March 14 at the Westwood Country Club. The meeting will begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m.

Volunteers who have dedicated their service to the Chamber during 1988 also will be honored. Reservations, $16 a person, must be made by March 10 by calling the Chamber office, 529-5210, or by returning invitation forms that have been mailed..