The Times from Munster, Indiana • 23

i LOCAL, Women in science i promote careers Professionals praise the field's rewards, and creativity during a discussion panel at Purdue University Calumet RegkxvB-3 Si MliliitBHUiUBIIMdMHit, A quick look at the news FRIDAY March 27, 1998 SECTION 8 PAGES Story tip or comment? Call Times MemlMlle Editor Tony Parker, (219) 662-5337; or e-mail, parkerhowpubs.com Cm inland tai i Unreal ouSy to cDd aBBeoDge Commissioners back assessor, who says state erred in slashing the plant's assessed valuer The county's objection to the $12 million reduction in the value of Inland's Plant 2 property must be filed in Indiana Tax Court before April 2. Plant 2 is the newer portion of Inland's Harbor Works and takes in most of the mill in use today. At issue is whether the State Board of Tax Commissioners erred in February when it determined Inland was eligible for BY ROBIN BIESEN Times Staff Writer CROWN POINT Acting on the advice of Lake County Assessor Paul Karras, the Lake County Commissioners voted Thursday to take the state to court over property assessment reductions given to Inland Steel Co. assessment reductions on some of its buildings. The criterion the state applied is known as obsolescence and is used when a building can no longer be used as intended.

Dushan Nikolovski, who works in the assessor's office, said the assessor's office believes the state went too far in granting tax breaks to Inland. Timothy Brooks, executive secretary for the state tax board, could notHpe reached for comment Thursday. ZZ Representatives from Inland could not be reached for comment late Thursday. But they have said in recent weeks3he state did not go far enough in considering obsolescence for the plant and have See INLAND, B-2 SUNNY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN Whiting cops want chief out Petition demands Mayor Robert Bercik replace Police Chief Dennis Weller. iffy BY DANIEL J.

Y0VICH Times Staff Writer 'O Commissioner suing over look-alike foe Lake County Commissioner Rudolph Clay plans to file a lawsuit today seeking to have a look-alike opponent thrown off the May 5 primary election ballot. Clay, an 11-year veteran of the commissioners' office, un- successfully lobbied election board officials this month to remove Gary resident Carlos Clay from the Democratic primary. Rudolph Clay has accused unnamed enemies of inserting Carlos Clay into the race to confuse voters and draw support away from Rudolph Clay. Lake County Recorder Morris Carter, who is challenging Clay in the commissioners' race, has denied any knowledge of Carlos Clay. Carlos Clay is a political unknown who registered to vote the same day he filed to run for office.

He could not be reached for comment Thursday because there is no phone listing for him. Lake County Jail inmate taken to emergency room CROWN POINT -A Lake County Jail inmate was taken to St. Anthony Medical Center's emergency room Thursday, police said. A hospital spokeswoman said at 9:45 p.m. that it appeared the inmate would be admitted, but she could provide no information on the inmate's identity or coadition.

Roberson, public infor-- mation officer for the Lake County Sheriffs Department, said details will be made available today. Shoulder work will reduce 1-94 lanes CHESTERTON -East- bound Interstate 94 will be reduced to two lanes today and Saturday from Ind. 49 to U.S. 421, south of Michigan City, for shoulder repairs. On Thursday, two lanes were closed for resurfacing, causing as long as a 10-mile-long traffic backup into Lake County.

St. Anthony Hospice fund-raiser set CROWN POINT A dinner and fashion show tonight will help support the St. Anthony Hospice program. The 6 p.m. event is at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 8000 Madison St.

Tickets are $30 per person. Proceeds will help defray the cost of patient care and services of the hospice. The program started in January 1995 and has served about 200 clients. It can accommodate as many as 20 patients at a time. information about the show, which is the hospice's major fund-raising event, call Kevin Rose at 681-6805.

Pancake breakfast to help area organizations CROWN POINT -A pancake breakfast and bake sale benefiting a variety of local organizations will be from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 352 S. Main St. The event, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Crown Point, includes a complete pancake breakfast and a free newspaper to read while dining.

A table with baked goods also will be available. v. Proceeds from the event supports groups such as the Crown Point Little League, Meals on Wheels, the Crown Point church directory, Camp Riley, Pup's basketball and the annual Kiwanis scholarship program. Tickets available at the door are $4 for adults. WHITING Every police officer below the rank of captain, except the chief's brother-in-law, has petitioned Mayor Robert Bercik to sack Police Chief Dennis Weller.

The petition, dated March 3 and signed by 15 officers, says morale in the department is at an all-time low due to a series of miscues on Weller's part, and asks Bercik to remove him. "The irresponsible actions of Chief Dennis R. Weller during the course of his tenure as police chief has left us with no confidence in his ability to govern" the Police Department in an positive manner," it states. "Because of these actions, the morale of the Police Department has deteriorated to the point where we feel that he can no longer perform the duties of police chief." Weller did not return one telephone call for comment Thursday afternoon. Bercik said that while he has received the petition, he has had no time to think about what action, if any, he may take.

"I was too busy trying to get things cleaned up after the snowstorm we had," Bercik said. "I really don't want to comment on this matter." Weller has been beset by a number of controversies in recent months. Rank-and-file officers and a former police chief have roundly criticized him for his continued friendship with convicted felon Milan "Moose" Ranci-ch. After Chicago Police Superintendent Matt Rodriguez resigned in November for maintaining a similar relationship, Weller refused to distance himself from Rancich, whom he called a friend and occasional hunting companion. Weller is being sued in federal court by Officer George Semancik for civil See CHIEF, B-2 JOHN J.

WATKINS THE TIMES This old WWII tank just north of Crown Point's square is probably 5-year-old Cole Lipsky's favorite spot. Taking advantage of the fine weather Thursday, Cole's grandmother Judy Llpsky of Crown Point brought the Lowell lad and his cousins here for lunch. Warmer weather consumes area as residents rush to get outdoors "rp car- J-r r-r Though Hobart's high was 72 degrees, Munster only made it up to 68 -but no one seemed to mind that or the 45 mph wind. Lows ranged from 48 degrees in Munster to 60 in Portage. We can thank the winds of Texas blowing our way for the unseasonably warm day, according to Richard Brumer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Romeoville.

Today's forecast also calls for high winds and temperatures in the low 70s. Times Staff Report Thursday's balmy temperatures prompted hordes of area residents to doff winter coats and head outdoors. They swung on swings, flew kites, walked, ran, or just basked in the sun. Temperatures soared into the mid-70s throughout much of Northwest Indiana 25 degrees above normal no record-breaker or tie, but who cared? ALDINO GALLO THE TIMES Mary Ramos of Gary takes advantage of the nice weather Thursday to put flowers at her husband's grave at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville. Bank coaches entrepreneurs Women get help in becoming own boss.

BY ERICA C. HARRINGTON Times Staff Writer the Women's Business Initiative, a program that helps women assess their business needs and helps prepare them to approach banks about financing. Peters, a business development manager for Security Fed- eral, hopes the bank's help in developing the plan will encourage clients to seek a loan there. "Many of us working with the initiative have been business owners in the past, so we have empathy for them," Peters said. See BANK, B-2 gg iJ irA hi i -Of H7'-: MERRILLVILLE When Ann Peters wanted to start an advertising agency 10 years ago, banks denied her and other women financing to open their businesses.

Now, a local bank wants to lend money to would-be women entrepreneurs. Security Federal Bank offers Hospital set to open new wing addition Times Staff Report HOBART From the outside, the new wing of St Mary Medical Center looks like, well, a hospital. Inside, the wing looks as if it's part of a nice hotel. Like a hotel, the rooms will provide a home away from home for the patients who no longer need acute in-patient care. The rooms are part of the transitional care unit located on the second floor of the $2.5 million addition to the medical center.

Construction, which began six months ago, is completed, and the rooms are decorated and ready for patients. While the unit isn't yet open, it has been abuzz with activity this week as administrator Dorene Albright and her staff have hosted open houses and tours. Community leaders and physicians toured the center Thursday night; the public is invited from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday. Albright said she expects the FOP plans softball fund-raiser ALDINO GALLO THE TIMES St Mary Medical Center transitional care unit staff members Barbara Thomas and Kim Juskevice, both licenced practical nurses, walk through the activitydining room of the new 30-bed unit for patients who no longer need acute hospital care.

The new unit, part of a $2.5 million hospital addition, is expected to open next month. Money raised will go to local charities, individuals in need. BY RADA INDJICH Times Staff Writer MERRILLVILLE Plans are in the works for a summer soft-ball tournament to raise money for local charities and needy individuals. The tournament, set for Aug. 14 and 15, is being organized by Merrillville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No.

168. The games will be at Hidden Lake Park, 6355 Broadway, and will be free and open to the public, although the park charges for parking. The FOP hopes to raise money through business and individual sponsorship of playing fields. Sponsorships ranging from $100 to $1,000 are available. "Residents can walk around See FOP, B-2 PhilWieland Times Columnist Albright, hired in January to head the new center, comes to St.

Mary Medical Center from St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers, where she had worked for 20 years, including five years in See HOSPITAL, B-2 transitional care unit will open in mid-ApriL once it secures Indiana Department of Health certification as a skilled nursing facility. The first floor of the addition, scheduled for completion in July, consists of physician offices and an occupational health center. does not appear today because of illness..