The Greentown Grapevine – 2000-05, 07:05

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The Greentown
Volume 7, Issue 5 66ap aper for the people" May 2000
American Legion Post Water Usage Advisory Residents of Greentown recently 1988. As far as mound water levels are
. Continues Strong
New Project Added
The Lowell E. Symons American
Legion Post # 317 has announced a
project to help decorate Greentown on
, patriotic holidays and other special
occasions. They will be installing an
" Avenue of Flags" along Main Street
and part of Meridian Street. The
American flags will hang from poles.
The first date on which the flags will be
displayed is Memorial Day of this year.
Donations are being accepted. $ 50 will
sponsor a flag in memory of a loved
one. Donations are also needed for
maintenance. For more information or
to donate, any of the following may be
contacted. Brad Flook, 628- 3336; Roger
Kelley, 628- 3066; or Jerry Pontius,
The local Legion participates in many
activities throughout the year. They
help the Greenlawn Cemetery Board
clean the cemetery each spring and place
flags on veterans' graves for Memorial
Day They sponsor the American
Legion Baseball Team Post 3 17. They
also sponsor Boys State Delegates and
provide two $ 500 scholarships for
Eastern seniors, one for a boy and one
for a girl. Their Honor Guard and
Firing Squad are called upon for
rmhtary funerals and patriotic programs
such as the July 4th service at Jerome
Christian Church, Howard County Viet
628- 0069.
Nam Veterans Reunion, and the kickoff
for the Howard County Veterans
Memorial.
Post Commander, Brad Flook, reports
that the membership of the post is
climbing, while many posts are in a
decline. # 317 presently has 222
members and leads District 5 in year
2000 goal. The post has twelve 50- year
consecutive members with ten living in
the community and two in Florida.
There are active Auxiliary - and Sons of
the American Legion.
The post has remodeled their building
at 222 North Meridian Street inside and
out, and areplanning on having a mural
of the American flag painted on the
south side of the building.
Flook states that 500,000 American
veterans die each year, 350,000 of those
being from WWII, or about 1,000 per
day. The Greentown post was named
for Lowell E. Symons who was born in
Union Township and whose plane was
shot down on July 27, 1943. His body
was never recovered. He was
participating in his last scheduled
mission before he was to return to
Greentown for a visit. His name is on a
memorial near Manilla. A memorial
stone has also- bcen placed next to his
father's grave at the Simpson Cemetery
in eastern Howard County.
Amuzing Animals from the Rain Forest
Kelsie Cook and Brandt Nulf, sQdents in Annabelle Hibschman's kindergarten
class, are delighted by the macaw being held by Mike Kohlrieser. Kohlrieser is
head animal trainer for Undersfanding M/ d/ ife, a non- profit organization who's
goal is to increase awareness of the need for rain forest conservation. The
Eastern Elementary PTO sponsored convocations for students and an evening
performance for the public on March 29. The program included animals typical
of the rain forest. The purpose of the program is to entertain while teaching about
what can be done to help save the tropical rain forest.
Photo by F. Jenkm
received a notice stating, " We do not
anticipate aproblem, but due to the diy
weather we are having, we would like
everyone to watch their water usage
and check for'any leaks they might
have. "
The Indiana Department of Natural
Resources monitors a network of
observation wells scattered over the
state. In 1999 the extended period of
below normal precipitation in the
summer and fall caused ground water
levels in several wells to decline to
record lows. However, in many years
the annual low water levels in many
wells are within one or two feet of
record lows. The DNR has compared
the drought of 1999 to the drought of
concerned, there- is not much difference
in the two years. However, the drought
of 1999 came later in the year. The
Indiana- American Water Company
measures precipitation at Kokomo.
They report the total precipitation in
1999 to be about normal, wi$ the later
months in the year being below normal.
So it seems the conclusion is that well
hater supply is not presently threatened,
but the amount of rain ( or lack of it) this
spring and summer could change that
situation.
Typical water usage:
Tub bath = 30 gallons
Shower =- 4 gallons/ minute
Clothes washer = 50 gallons/ load
Leak: I drop/ sec. = 7 gallons/ day
j J;
? The Planting of . Trees...
is the Least Self- centered ofAll That We Do." Thornton Wilder
Craig Trott, Greentown resident, remembers as a child the row of maple trees
down South Meridian Street. Most are now gone, some from the 1965 tornado
and some by age and condition. Realizing that sevexal old trees in Greentown
have been removed, Craig wished to replace some. He received permission from
Postmaster David Schoenradt to plant two trees in front of the Post Office at
Meridian and Walnut Streets. Craig selected Bradford pear, a popular tree for
urban planting because of its pyramidal shape, white spring blooms, shiny leaf,
and maximum size of 35 R. The Greentown Area Residential Association.
purchased the trees. Craig planted and will nurse them along until they get well
established.
Photo by R. Jenhns