The Times from Munster, Indiana • 14

Hearing on i LDOI High-speed rail service IS proposed L- Page 7 pet neglect continued Page 8 didlirft kmow of tosto By CLAUDINE CHAMBERLAIN Times Staff Writer Illinois investigation unknown until Gary fire MARK SKERTIC Times columnist he said. Li October 1991, IEPA inspectors followed a truck hauling auto debris from Pielet Brothers Scrap Iron Co. in southwest suburban Summit to Enterprises at Ninth and Cline avenues in Gary. Debris was reportedly blowing out of the truck along the way. See TOXINS, Page B-2 After a thorough search of their files, Indiana environmental officials confirmed Wednesday they never received information that Illinois was investigating a firm dumping potentially hazardous waste at Enterprises in Gary.

"We have done an extensive search at our agency and we don't have any evidence in our files of any notification" from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, said Patrick Morrison, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. IEPA spokesman Dan Rion said Wednesday the agency is still looking into the way the Pielet Brothers report was handled and the outcome of the agency's investigation into that company. "We've had no formal complaints against Pielet Brothers since then," Gary's founder wonders how city became like him fM muiipm.jn TJ" dP I Dime store to call it quits in Hobart 1 if i 4 a 1 i- v' ft 1 -c -iffVh i- (, s- to r- -te -rrir -1 -7 4 V-' rj n.r f-. 1 By VIRGINIA CURTIS Times Correspondent HOBART Businessmen were surprised and disappointed when signs announcing a going out of business sale were posted this week at Harvey's dime store. Many rely on the store at 313 Main St.

because they can buy paper and cleaning supplies in small amounts rather than by the case. "We are very disappointed. We've had a store like Harvey's in the downtown for quite a number of years," said Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Hallett, a lawyer who has an office downtown. "We are one of the cities that has a real downtown area, and this is one reason the chamber has set up a joint venture with Main Street Association, (Hobart Industrial and Economic Development Corp.) and the city to encourage businesses to locate and stay in this unique location," Hallett said. "This is a big loss for the downtown," said John Sakes, who owns Hobart Furniture down the block from Harvey's.

Sakes said he would like to see the city work with other organizations to expand and retain downtown businesses. "It's fine to go with these other construction developments, but if we lose businesses in the downtown, we aren't gaining anything," he said. Harvey's will be open for three to four months before its shut for the last time. The company also will close its Griffith store, but those in Michigan City, Lake Station, Rensselaer, Warsaw, Lowell, Walkerton and Valparaiso where its headquarters are -will stay open. Ann Waldron, manager of the Hobart store since October, said employees were surprised to learn it would close.

"We have a lot of older residents and others who like to shop here rather than fight traffic, but it was just a matter of economics," she said. -7'' Times photos by Zbigniew Bzdak Clerk Sally Sak, 77, above, has worked at Harvey's dime store since 1965. Harvey's will close its Griffith and Hobart stores, but those in Michigan City, Lake Station, Rensselaer, Warsaw, Lowell, Walkerton and Valparaiso will stay open. At left, Vanessa Owens, 6, tries on some clothes handed to her by store clerk Debbie Summer. She and family friend Mitchell Lacny, left, went shopping Wednesday to take advantage of low prices.

5iv 'fl 'I'll The new year is only a few months old and already it's been a lousy one for the city of Gary. Hopes for casinos seem doomed for lack of a Republican in the state Senate willing to back the idea. The murder rate is again on a record-setting pace. And this week it was announced one of the city's two hospitals may be sold or closed. With that much bad news crossing my desk every day, I headed to city hall, hoping to talk to some elected official and put together one of those proud-city-fighting-back columns.

I was hurrying up the steps of city hall, trying to get in out of the cold, when he tapped me on the shoulder. "Excuse me friend," the man with the thick mustache said. "Maybe you could help me?" The steps of city hall or not, this is still Gary. So I looked at the stranger carefully, wondering what he wanted. The stranger could see I was nervous, so he extended his hand.

"Gary is the name, Judge Elbert H. Gary," he said, still waiting for me to accept his show of friendship. I know my local history. Judge Gary was chairman of U.S. Steel 90 years ago.

They named the city after him. "But you're dead!" I said. "Yes, and I hear my city isn't doing too much better," the judge said. The judge is not pleased I glanced over at the pedestal that stands outside city hall. Anyone who has driven downtown has seen it.

The bronze image of a stern-looking man, surveying his city's downtown, stands on top. But the pedestal was empty, the statue gone. "God, I don't know how I kept that look on my face," the judge said, walking over to the stone base. "I had to look so damn wise while I stood there feeling so damn bored." "Look at this place," he said, throwing out his arms. "It's empty.

Half the buildings are boarded up. Where are all the people! Fve been gone a long time, but when I left things were booming. What the hell happened?" "So you decided to come down off your pedestal and take a good look at Gary?" I asked him. "Fve tried to keep up, make sure I knew what was going on," he said. "Out of the corner of my eye I saw them build that Genesis Center.

Nice place. "'Course, Tve also caught a few too many glances of kids who should be working or in school making a living out on the street. And I suspect those women on street corners at night aren't there to help drivers with directions." The judge looked indignant for a moment. "In my day, we wouldn't have stood for it." The immigrant's dream In 1906 Gary was an immigrant's dream. The work was lousy and dangerous and didn't pay all that well.

But it was steady work. And that was more than a lot of places could offer. A lot of those first steel mill workers had children born at Mercy Hospital. Now that institution appears on the brink of closing. Sure, it's up for sale.

But who's going to buy a hospital that loses more than $3 million a year? "I hear things. People talk when they walk by me," the judge broke in. "That hospital's in trouble because people in Gary don't use it. The mayor says so. The businesses are gone because the people all left.

"In my day we gave something back to our city. That's why it grew and prospered." Of course, many believe that casinos could make Gary the Las Vegas of the Midwest and bring back thousands of jobs. As he climbed back up onto his pedestal, it was clear Judge Gary agreed. "Do me a favor," he said as he assumed his familiar pose. "If they ever build those casinos, let me know.

I figure a man of bronze won't have any trouble finding work as a bouncer." Mark Skertic is The Times' Northlake editor. Battle brewing over Gary Democratic precinct post McDermott wants state lawmakers to visit Gary Gambling opponents criticize move ByRADA INDJICH Times Staff Writer 3 i -f'' (,, 1 trict; Cleveland Rouster 4th District; Joel H. Harris, 5th District; and William F. Dudley, 6th District Clay said he thinks ponents also criticized McDermott for making the offer. "We're willing to charter a plane and fly senators up here to view the proposed gambling site and some of the problems existing in the community," McDermott said in a prepared statement.

"We'd like to take them to visit the business community on Broadway and take them into neighborhoods to see the thousands of abandoned homes. "I think it is easy to sit in Indianapolis or See GAMBLING, Page B-2 If state senators would only visit Gary to see its blighted neighborhoods and decaying downtown firsthand, they'd probably vote in casino gambling to help revitalize the once-thriving city, Thomas McDermott said. But a Senate Republican leader said he wouldn't make the trip if it's paid for by the Northwest Indiana Forum, which McDermott heads and which has lobbied extensively for casinos in Gary. Gambling op every elected COMER n.n .1. iiij city tapiam "should sit at the table" and have his views heard, whether the chairman agrees with those views or not.

Last Saturday's battle for the chairmanship of the Lake ByPETRALUKE Times Staff Writer CROWN POINT The battlefield from the county Democratic convention's barely cleared, and another war is about to break out, this time over the chairmanship of the Gary Democratic Precinct Organization. Lake County Commissioner Rudolph Clay, D-Gary, said Wednesday he'll be a candidate for city chairman, making it official what he was considering early February. Deputy Mayor Richard Comer, the city democratic chairman, said early in February he'll run for another term as the head of the city organization. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday. "For the Gary City Democratic Precinct Organization, it means unity, it means strength, it means reciprocity, it means fairness," Clay said of his candidacy.

Clay said Comer "doesn't recognize" the captains of the 1st and 3rd districts. "I understand he also has problems with the 4th District captain," Clay said. The city precinct organization is divided into six districts, each composed of about 25 to 30 precincts. Each district has a captain. They are Albert Young 1st District; Cleveland Smith 2nd District; Nate Coleman, 3rd Dis- Democrat turns down Washington job to work for Republican mayor By DEBRA GRUSZECKI Times Staff Writer CLAY ment funds for projects.

He also plans to launch projects that have been on the drawing board for years. Vosti has worked as a financial reporter for Grain's Communications Inc. of Chicago for nearly five years, covering employee benefits, pension funds and international investing. He worked for The Times from November 1983 to March 1988, and is an adjunct professor at Governors State College. Vosti was defeated in the 1991 primary for Hammond councilman at large.

Dedelow, a friend of Vosti's before the election, won that post in November. The Republican Party elected Dedelow after then-Mayor Thomas McDermott See JOB, Page B-2 County Democratic Central Committee may be replayed as city and town precinct organizations are expected to reorganize soon. Those reor-ganizations are to be set by the county chairman. Comer was one of the 11 city and town chairmen who wanted to unseat Lake County Democratic Chairman Robert Pastrick until his boss, Gary Mayor Thomas Barnes, reined him in the day See PRECINCT, Page B-2 HAMMOND Curt Vosti, a former Democratic candidate for City Council, has been offered a city hall job to get idle projects off the ground and pursue government grants. Vosti, 36, of 224 Humpfer St confirmed Mayor Duane Dedelow Jr.

offered him a post, but was hesitant to divulge his title or pay until a contract is considered today by the Board of Public Works and Safety. Dedelow has been attending a conference and could not be reached for comment. If the contract is approved, Vosti said he will help the city get and collect govern.