Evansville Courier and Press from Evansville, Indiana • 14

B6 EVANSVILLE COURIER PRESS TUESDAY JANUARY 9 2007 TOLLWAY might hold field hearings outside the six suburban Indianapolis counties if time allows Since the Commerce Connector proposal is intermingled with the 1-69 proposal in Southwestern Indiana would Austin consider a field hearing in Evansville? "We would consider it again it depends on the schedule" Austin said "Traveling taking the entire committee moving it is sort of like moving an army I'm not saying no but again it is going to depend on the schedule because that'll be the second half of the session legislators to act a group of landowners and environmentalists in Morgan County on the path of the planned 1-69 extension will hold its own meeting at 7 pm EST Thursday at Martinsville High School to discuss the tollway proposal The proposed 1-69 would cut through the district of Sen Michael Young R-Indianapolis Young said most of the concern in his district was that 1-69 not be a toll road from Martinsville to Indianapolis "That won't happen since there will be the connector That will be the toll road not 1-69" Young said We'll be hearing a number of issues I'm sure" Rep Russ Stilwell the House Democratic majority floor leader said he has advocated for hearings in Evansville "Clearly it's a very positive side benefit taking the tolls off 1-69" said Stilwell D-Boonville But he said there may be other avenues for having a toll-free 1-69 other than the Commerce Connector "Major Moves" the road-building package Daniels shepherded into law last year leased the northern Indiana toll road to a Spanish-Australian consor Soon after Democrats recaptured control of the Indiana House in November Austin announced plans for House field hearings into the tollway in the suburban communities it would affect "I was asked about the purpose for the hearings It is so we could get to the public more information about the Commerce Connector specifically what it's going to entail some proposed routes and give the public a chance to weigh in" said Austin D-Anderson Austin said the Roads and Transportation Committee tium Proceeds from the lease generated $700 million of the $2 billion necessary to construct Interstate 69 enough to build it from Evansville north to the Crane warfare center With groundbreaking scheduled to begin in about 18 months Daniels proposed the Commerce Connector as a public-private partnership that would fund the rest of 1-69 and make the interstate toll-free from Evansville to Indianapolis Although the House legislative hearings won't be this month the Senate could hold its own hearings Not waiting on Continued from Page B1 generated by allowing a private entity to pay for the rights to build and operate the new Indianapolis tollway bypass Called the Indiana Commerce Connector the suburban tollway would stretch through Madison Hancock Shelby Johnson Morgan and Hendricks counties in central Indiana The proposal has been touted as a way to boost economic development and reduce traffic congestion but it has been criticized for the potential loss of homes and farms through eminent domain RAILROAD Evansville Western line in Illinois within five years Coal was a huge part of the more than 4 million tons moved through the port in 2006 That tonnage was the biggest since 1998 and part of a mostly steady climb since 2000 when tonnage was 2 1 million said the Indiana Port Commission's Jody Peacock Part of the port's mix is Agrium Inc a comparatively tiny shipper where manager Roger Drake also sees in EVWR a "better fit" Agrium gets 100 to 300 cars yearly Three ethanol plants now in some stage of development in Posey County Ind should bring a big traffic boost too The railroad is talking with another ethanol manufacturer about a plant in Southern Illinois Phelps said Continued from Page B1 picture for Evansville Western "we were hamstrung for the first six months or so We literally built a new yard" Reck said The facility west of Indiana 69 in Mount Vernon commanded a goodly chunk of the carrier's $55 million capital budget in 2006 Another large allocation went for buying and rebuilding used locomotives for the line's current fleet of nine CSX one of a few American rail behemoths is indispensible to the national rail system and to short lines that feed it Nonetheless it gets bad marks along with counterparts including Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific and virtually all large railroads throughout US rail history in tailoring service to the needs of smaller customers per carload to ship it sometimes couldn't get empty cars because big railroads would sooner allocate empty cars to a large-unit train than to small elevators wanting 15 cars and many markets large chicken feeders in the Southeast for example were beyond its reach: economics dictated their demand for 65 loads in a unit train instead of Top Ag's 15 cars at a time So Greg Phelps EVWR's head of sales and business development got together with Dale Tippett Top Ag's general manager and with his counterpart at Peavy Grain in McLeansboro 111 also a smaller elevator Could Top Ag and Peavy combine on a unit train? CSX policy was against "breaking a train" that way but Evansville Western was game It took months to put the deal together "It wasn't just us" Phelps said Top Ag and Peavy) had to do some things to make it work" The result was a series of EVWR unit trains laden with cargo from both elevators delivered to Howell Yard for hook-and-haul by CSX to big-ticket clients "It's definitely helped us maintain our business and move forward" Tippett said "If we hadn't been able to do unit trains it wouldn't have let us bid as aggressively for customers' grain Our advantage has been to keep and maintain our customer base" A big shipper closer to home Mount Vernon's GE Plastics now has a nearby yard for stor Railroaders and customers agree Evansville Western created a new environment where everybody including CSX is coming out a winner "CSX sold the railroad and yet kept most of the business" Reck said Evansville Western's main connect to the outside world is by feeding carloads to CSX at Howell For EVWR "financially we've done excellent" Reck added Customers too are glad to benefit from a short line's characteristic aim to please Top Ag Cooperative with elevators at the western end of the line at Okawville was too small to load on its own a 65-car unit grain train within allotted time usually 48 hours That spawned three problems: Top Ag paid much more ing cars for its outbound loads Result: faster service At South-wind Maritime Centre rail customers big and small say they're pleased "From the general manager to conductors and engineers (the railroad employs 30) all have great attitudes workmanship and service are good and their time frames are accurate" said Taylor Kanipe general manager of Mount Vernon Transfer Terminal The rail-to-barge coal handler at Southwind moved 22 million tons of coal in 2006 up 10 percent from the year before Kanipe says coal's future is bright Scrubber systems on more power plants mean the area's higher sulfur coal is in demand again Reck said two new mines may start up along the SCHOOLS board approved $20000 to contract with Schmidt and Associates of Indianapolis to provide consulting as EVSC undertakes a long-term facilities use plan Board member Karen Ragland voted against the motion saying she's concerned about the number of consultants EVSC recently has hired Yeager said he will continue fostering discussions on facility and education delivery issues A Facilities Disposition Task Force will be developed to steer the process Yeager set a goal of delivering recommendations to the Continued from Page B1 returning throughout EVSC for the next school year creating an immediate need for more space at those three schools Acting Superintendent Robert Yeager told the School Board which elected Dana Willett as its new president Monday The portables will cost $286000 which will be pulled from EVSC's capital projects budget The temporary spaces would not necessarily be used by kindergarten classes that would be up to principals Yeager said In the same motion the board by Sept 1 on how to handle population shifts from urban to suburban schools the conversion of portable classroom spaces to permanent structures and the revamping of alternative education programs The acting superintendent has said options include kindergarten through eighth-grade schools K-3 schools and "magnet schools" He has downplayed speculation that Glenwood Middle School could close or become a magnet school with a pilot K-8 curriculum being instituted at Culver and Lodge elementary schools "No decisions have been made" Yeager told the School Board In other matters Monday: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jean Baresic said that from 6 to 7:30 pm today parents and the general public are invited to view copies of all new textbooks being considered That meeting will be at the corporation administrative office in the Civic Center complex 1 SE Ninth St Baresic said she hopes peo ple will take the opportunity to look at and comment on the books This is the first time EVSC has had a public viewing of textbooks The board heard an administrative request to reinstate foreign travel for students Overseas travel was suspended after the Sept 11 2001 terrorist strikes Sandra Madriaga supervisor of foreign language said several Indiana school systems have reinstated foreign travel and North High School teacher Jaime Malotte wants to take a few Spanish students to Costa Rica this summer The board will decide the issue Jan 29 The board OK'd new contracts with secretaries and custodial employees Willett the new School Board president takes over for Chris Kiefer Ragland was elected vice president and Terry Gamblin secretary Sally Becker and Patricia Swanson were sworn in as new board members Also taking oaths were Mike Duckworth and Kiefer who won new four-year terms on the board in last year's election ACCIDENT CONVENIENT LOCATIONS Wsr CONVENIENT LOCATIONS 1701 Oak Hill Rd 830 State St in Newbureh 514 Mill Rd 865 Green River Rd ggo Covert Ave Continued from Page B1 "I have had five back surgeries one in the neck and four down low" said Benton who lives in Newburgh "The one in the neck has started to come apart It's going to eventually need to be repaired My family doctor has told me when the pain gets so severe that I can't handle it to go to the emergency room and get some relief" Benton received a shot of Di-laudid a narcotic painkiller The Web site wwwdrugscom lists possible side effects such as weakness dizziness or fainting Benton said he had received the narcotic intravenously but never through his muscles and he didn't know how different the side effects would be At St Mary's Benton said he filled out a patient intake form and marked that he had driven himself to the hospital He said he felt fine after receiving the shot but was asked by emergency room staff to wait about 15 minutes before leaving for his Newburgh home Benton said an ER nurse also asked "if I had a ride" and he answered he did He said he thought the nurse understood he had come to the hospital alone Cathy Fulkerson director of marketing and public relations with St Mary's acknowledged that the hospital treated and released Benton that night She said that after Benton called the hospital the following day "a thorough review of this matter was conducted and the finding was that St Mary's emergency department staff followed proper procedure" Fulkerson declined further comment Benton said he took the Lloyd Expressway back to Newburgh and became dizzy as he got near Epworth Road He turned on Eporth and pulled in to Deaconess Gateway "I saw the big red 'emer- recently been injected with a painkiller) might have sounded plausible" A sheriff's deputy drove Benton home after the crash Benton said he met later Wednesday with St Mary's chief corporate responsibility officer Michael Klueh who raised the possibility of a financial settlement But Klueh called Benton back Thursday and rescinded that statement Benton said "I guess I'm going to have to seek counsel" Benton said "Instead of going through all this mess I wish they would just settle this thing I don't want a lot of money I just want a car" Benton was cited at the crash scene for having false or fictitious vehicle registration He said he recently had traded in another vehicle for the Cadillac he was driving on the morning of the crash "I didn't get the licenses changed and I was at fault for that" Benton said gency' letters and headed in that direction and I passed out" Benton said After Benton regained consciousness "it was glass everywhere" he said "I had gone through the big plate glass window in front of the emergency waiting room They got me onto a gurney and took me inside" Benton said he explained what had happened to Deaconess Gateway emergency room staff and to a Warrick County Sheriff's Department deputy He asked that his blood be drawn to determine his level of impairment but no test was given "I practically begged them" Benton said Warrick County Sheriff Marvin Heilman said such tests are administered at the officer's discretion Sam Rogers spokesman for Deaconess said he didn't know why Benton was not given a blood test but that "the explanation from the driver (about having SPIRITS Early Times Bourbon Whiskey 17s 1699 Southern Comfort Liqueur 17s 2599 Jack Daniel's Sour Mash Whiskey 750 I899 Woodford Reserve Bonbon Whiskey 750 2699 Canadian Club Canadian Whisky 175 1799 Calvert Blended Whiskey 175 1499 Chivas Regal Scotch 750 2499 Rare Scotch 175 3499 Bombay Gin 750 1499 Burnetts Gin 175 1399 Stolichnaya Flavors Vodka 750 1799 Smirnoff Vodka 175 1799 Captain Morgan Private Selection Rum 750 21-99 Malibu Rum 175 1899 Sauza Gold Silver Tequila Liter 1499 St Remy Brandy 750 1099 Kahlua Liqueur 750 1599 Dekuyper Amaretto Liter 1099 Jim Beam Zinger 6pk 599 WINE Sutter Home Cabernet Chardonnay Meriot Knot Grigkt 15 999 Sutter Home White Zinfandel White Cabernet White Meriot 15 799 Indigo Hills Cabernet Chardonnay Meriot JfH 750 699 French Lick Blackberry Cherry Raspberry 750 1099 Briefs FROM STAFF REPORTS Water pact seen winning approval Kendall-Jackson Cabernet 750 1399 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay 750 1099 Kendall-Jackson Meriot 750 1399 Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir 750 1399 MOUNT VERNON IND Fire destroys Mount Vernon home A Mount Vernon home was destroyed in a fire early Monday morning No one was injured but the 1409 Byrd St home was a total loss Mount Vernon Fire Chief Charlie Reese said The fire was reported around midnight by a neighbor who lives across the street The one-story home was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived Reese said The fire was under control within 40 minutes A cause has not been determined The state fire marshal's office is investigating The homeowners' name was not released WARRICK COUNTY IND Electrical short likely caused blaze An electrical malfunction may have caused a fire early Monday that destroyed a Warrick County home The Owen Township Volunteer Fire Department went to 2655 Barren Fork Road around 1:30 am A single-car garage was fully engulfed and the flames quickly spread into the home said Fire Chief Shawn Huffman No one was home Huffman did not know the name of the resident He said it appeared that a circuit box inside the garage may have shorted sparking the fire Kendall-Jackson Johamusberg Riesling 750 899 Kendall-Jackson Sauvignon Blanc 750 899 Yeuowtail Cabernet Chardonnay Meriot Shiraz 15 1099 BGG Beaujolais 750 699 750 699 Because of American's "proven track record of water-quality compliance" the city elected to stay with the company the mayor's office statement said Part of the agreement requires American to add staff to "meet their responsibilities" in advising the city's capital improvement program for water systems A "guarantee of service excellence" in the agreement has been upgraded to include "new enforceable standards" the mayor's office said A penalty of $500 per violation will be assessed American Water if it fails to respond to any customer complaint by the end of the next business day The company also is required under the new deal to "have a plan to deal with each complaint" within two days of receiving it By BYRON R0HRIG Courier Press staff writer 464-7426 or rohrigbcourierpresscom A city board is expected to approve a new water management contract the administration says will save $600000 this contract year The new agreement with American Water for managing the city's water filtration and distribution system will be presented to the Utility Board this afternoon In a written statement Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel called the new agreement "a significant improvement" that will save money and "ensure that American is more responsible to city residents" A performance audit of American Water which has managed local drinking water delivery for a decade was conducted last year by the city GaMnano Chianti OOCG 750 799 Mondoro Asti 750 999 BEER DosEquis Amber Special LNlzoz 6 PKLN 699 Killians Red 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