The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 3

COMING SOON IN THE STAR PRESS THURSDAY Ball State's landscape architecture program named among the nation's top 10. News FRIDAY Ball State University's Center for Media Design is called an up-and-coming media powerhouse. News SATURDAY Local churches seek to inspire members with the written word. SUNDAY After 75 years in Muncie, Ball Memorial Hospital faces challenges for the future. News MONDAY Community members raise their voices in songs of holiday cheer at the annual Community Christmas Sing.

News 3A WEDNESDAY December 1, 2004 WWW.THESTARPRESS.COM EAST CENTRAL INDIANA Life Metro editor: Doug Walker, 747-5754 Fax: 213-5858 E-mail: newsmuncie.gannett.com Page designer: Jeff Ward, 213-5850 ECI Area Briefly THE STAR PRESS STAFF GM issues second lay-off notice Grant" Btorttonl yMadoon i ii been laid off, got called back due to product build-out changes from DaimlerChrysler. "I can't say that lay-off timelines won't fluctuate again." After the GM-Chrysler joint venture known as New Venture Gear finally dissolved in late 2002, GM was left with the plant on West Eighth Street a GM plant from the start. For decades, the plant has produced manual transmissions, differentials, gears and other components. "The company never did lay off the whole 450, but now they plan to lay off 350 by Sherman Upchurch, president of UAW Local 499. "Who knows? It makes it hard to make statements, but the most important thing for workers and their families is that they will still have GM jobs." GM's math predicts 280 hourly employees will be left after the layoffs.

Union members predicted 276 in a letter to members two weeks ago. Affected employees are eligible to receive unemployment compensation and or Supplemental Unemployment Benefits in accordance with the agreement between GM and the UAW. Impacted employees on layoff for 48 weeks will receive approximately 95 percent of survive past the end of the national contract in September 2007 said it again on Tuesday. In accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, GM on Monday said that it planned to lay off 350 of those employees from Jan. 31 through February.

In May, GM had issued a WARN Act notice that said 450 of 850 then remaining workers at the plant would be laid off. "As of yesterday, the head count at the plant was 630 people," said Darla Park, GM's Pow-erTrain Division's communications manager. "You can do the math. Some who had originally The Call Of The Physician, nurses testify in rape trial I The layoffs are occurring more slowly than was expected. By MICHAEL McBRIDE mtmcbridemuncie.qannett.com MUNCIE The only surprise about General, Motor's second government-required WARN Act notification on Monday was that 630 hourly employees were still at work at Manual Transmissions of Muncie.

However, local labor leaders who have said repeatedly that they do not expect the plant to R0XANNE KAELIN donates money to rings the bell. This is Shreves's first lifji? Answering iCfifa 1 Iff their after-tax, straight-time pay. After 48 weeks of layoff, they might enter a jobs bank and receive regular compensation (based on a 40-hour work week) for the remainder of the current labor contract. Union members continue to transfer to other GM plants, including to Bowling Green, and Mansfield, Ohio, as seniority-eligible slots became available, Upchurch said. "It's a sad time, and the holidays make it worse," Upchurch said.

"We are losing people we will never see again." I Contact business reporter Michael McBride at 213-5826. petechia, burst blood vessels resulting from severe choking or suffocation. Under questioning from Deputy Prosecutors Mark McK-inney and Diane Frye, Rudicel said he had never seen such a severe case of petechia. Defense attor- ney Jay Toney indicated during jury selection that he might challenge the integrity of DNA tests, which prosecutors allege prove that Sharp was the at Sharp tacker. During Tuesday's testimony, McKinney questioned emergency department personnel about the procedures for collecting DNA evidence in rape investigations.

He also asked nurses if they saw Sharp in the emergency department on the nights the victims were examined, apparently in an effort to prevent defense arguments that Sharp's DNA might have been introduced into the evidence at some point after the attacks. Sharp's trial continues today in Delaware Circuit Court 1. If convicted, he faces a standard 30-year sentence on each of the three most serious charges. I Contact news reporter Keith Roysdon at 213-5828. Mojito Wish 1 V-.

List By KEITH R0YSDON kroysdonmuncie.gannett.com MUNCIE A physician testifying in the trial of" accused serial rapist Brent D. Sharp said Tuesday that one of the alleged victims a girl who was 7 at the time was choked until her face was discolored by broken blood vessels. Testimony during the second day of Sharp's Delaware Circuit Court 1 trial on charges including burglary resulting in bodily injury, criminal deviate conduct, child molesting and rape included accounts from medical personnel who treated two of his alleged victims. Authorities say Sharp a 24-year-old Muncie man who has been connected to five rapes in two counties broke into two local homes in December 2002 and May 2003, attacking and raping girls who were 14 and 7, respectively. During Tuesday's session, a physician and two nurses who worked in the emergency department at Ball Memorial Hospital described the procedures used when alleged rape victims are brought in for examination and treatment.

Emergency physician Max Rudicel identified pictures of the face of the 7-year-old. In the pictures, the girl's face was covered with small red spots. Rudicel identified the spots as DELAWARE Goodall resigns as Democratic secretary MUNCIE Hurley C. Goodall, former state legisla-' tor, has resigned as secretary of the Indiana Democratic State Central Committee. Goodall submitted his resignation during a special Nov.

23 meeting in Indianapolis to elect Dan Parker as party chairman. In his letter of resignation, Goodall noted he had served under seven state chairmen during his 20 years as secretary. He also said he had made the decision to resign some time ago. Anti-smoking group to award mini-grants MUNCIE The Minority Tobacco Free Coalition of Delaware County will award mini-grants to subcontractors addressing the specific goals of the ethnic minority population of the county. Applications are sought for projects that will reach large audiences and impact the long-term effect of these goals.

The coalition's mini-grants are specifically intended to advance tobacco control advocacy, increase implementation of clean indoor air policies and youth advocacy. An orientation workshop will be 530-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at Future Choices. The guidelines and applications will be reviewed at that time.

Workshop reservations: 747-7814, voice mail 384, by 2 p.m. Friday. HENRY Library plans holiday programs for children NEW CASTLE Children can enjoy a variety of holiday-related activities during the month of December at New Castle-Henry County Public Library. On Thursdays in December, the Library Kids Club for grades 1-5 will be centered on the theme "Christmas Around i the World." The Kids Club I runs p.m. Parents are welcomed, but not required, to attend.

i Super Saturday Craft Times continue Dec. 4 and 11. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on these days, children can stop by the Children's Library to make a free take-home craft.

A cookie decorating open house will be Santa Claus will visit the library at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 during a special Family Night Story Time. Stories, snacks and activities will also be part of the fun, and the whole family is invited to attend. Polar Express reading packets are still available in the Children's Library.

Children who complete the reading card by Dec. 29 will receive prizes. A wrap-up party for the Polar Express program will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 29.

Information: Children's Department at New Castle-Henry County Public Library, 765-529-0362, ext. 16. JAY Portland man faces pot-dealing charges PORTLAND A Portland man has been charged with two counts of possession of marijuana. Edward B. Hicks, 23, 823 W.

Race is charged with a class felony carrying a standard four-year prison term and a class felony with a standard 18-month sentence. He is charged in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred in the spring of 2003. Hicks was released from the Jay County jail after posting a $10,000 bond. Kettle JENNIFER CECIL THE STAR PRESS at Big Lots while Jonathan Shreves "We probably won't charge him. We have contacted U.S.

marshals, and are making arrangements to have him extradited back to Florida." George Sheridan Delaware County sheriff pened (on Monday) had he brought along those weapons as well? "The situation might have been much more serious than it was." As it was, Gray surrendered to police after a 90-minute confrontation, during which he kept his weapon pointed at his head. That was good for Gray, because he will be getting professional help; good for local police who were able to talk him out of harming himself; and good for the FBI, because Gray was apprehended, Sheridan said. I Contact business reporter Michael McBride at 213-5826. FBI wants Florida man involved in standoff Authorities say Sharp a 24-year-old Muncie man who has been connected to five rapes in two counties broke into two local homes in December 2002 and May 2003, attacking and raping girls who were 14 and 7, respectively. The Salvation Army on Tuesday afternoon season with The Salvation Army.

ments to have him extradited back to Florida." Originally from the southeast corner of Delaware County, Gray, 64, is a graduate of Center High School (closed for years and consolidated into the Liberty-Perry School District system). Gray said he planned to see former friends in the area before taking his life, according to Sheridan. However, Sheridan could not explain why Gray chose to confront police at the Petro Stopping Center and Iron Skillet Restaurant on the opposite end of the county. By coincidence, friends of Gray in Bowling Green, Ky. are also long-time friends of Sheridan.

Unnamed by Sheridan, the people plan to bring two assault rifles to Muncie that Gray had left with them on his way from Florida to Muncie. On Monday, Gray had only a semi-automatic handgun with him. "They knew me; they knew where (Gray) was going; and then they found out about the incident," Sheridan said Tuesday. "What could have hap- Marines, firefighters collecting Toys for Tots THE STAR PRESS MUNCIE New, unwrapped toys are being collected for the Muncie Marine CorpsMuncie Fire Department Toys for Tots program. Donations can be made at the Marine Corps League, 700 S.

Nichols White River I The former local man, who threatened to kill himself, had been charged with possession of child pornography. By MICHAEL McBRIDE mtmcbrldeilimuncie.gannett.com MUNCIE Police say a man who threatened to kill himself and precipitated a standoff with officers on Monday was supposed to be in a federal court in Florida instead. Max F. Gray, Kissimmee, had been arrested in Florida and charged with possession of child pornography Sept. 30, according to Delaware County Sheriff George Sheridan Jr.

His arraignment date was supposed to be Monday. "We probably won't charge him," Sheridan said of Gray who was still at Ball Memorial Hospital after negotiators convinced him to surrender his weapon Monday afternoon. "We have contacted U.S. marshals, and are making arrange Plaza, The Music Room, 1416 W. Jackson 289-7544; any Muncie fire station; or in Toys for Tots boxes around the city.

Toy donations also will be taken at a performance by Dazzle Dance Academy at 1 p.m. Dec 12 at the Muncie Arts Center. Toys will be distributed by the fire department. Recipients must be registered with The Salvation Army. I Agencies, churches, schools or charitable organizations can submit Holiday Wish Lists for publication in The Star Press.

Information should be e-mailed to newsmuncie.gannett.com, faxed to (765) 213-5858 or mailed to The Star Press, Holiday Wish List, P.O. Box 2408, Muncie, Ind. 47307. Submissions are due by Dec. 15..