The Greentown Grapevine – 2003-02, 10:02

              The Greentown
i f
I' Volume IO, Issue 2 " a paper for the people" February 2003
Students to Participate in Veterans History Project
The fifth and sixth grade Challenge
Class students will be interviewing
veterans during some of their class time
this spring. Their teacher, Lyn Shirley,
will be leading them.
Motivated by the urgent need to
collect the stories and experiences of
war veterans while they are still among
us, the United States Congress created
the Veterans History Project. The
legislation was signed into law by
President Clinton in 2000. The
legislation calls upon the American
Folklife Center at the Library of
Congress to collect and preserve audio
and video taped oral histories, along
with documentary materials such as
letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and
home movies, of American's war
veterans and those who served in
support of them.
The project covers World War 1,
World War 11, and the Korean, Vietnam
and Persian Gulf wars. It includes all
participants of those wars - men and
women, civilian and military. It
. documents the contributions of civilian
J
The Greentown Town Council
approved the purchase of a
reconditioned dump truck for the water
and street department. The town uses a
dump truck to haul gravel for alley
upkeep, to spread salt, to carry chips to
the landfill and leaf pick up in the fall.
This truck is seventeen years newer
than the present town truck. It is also
heavier than the present truck. The
price is $ 19,000 with another $ 9,600
for a bed, hoist and paint. The current
truck will be sold by sealed bid at a
later date.
Marshal Bennett informed the
Council of what he has learned about a
company, Government Acquisitions,
Inc., which provides police cars, fire
trucks and ambulances for towns at the
cost of $ 1. The vehicles carry
advertising, from which the vehicles
are funded. The Council told Bennett
to further research the plan.
Town Attorney, Corbin King,
reported that he is looking into the
procedure for forming a Park Board.
Town Engineer, Don Humphrey
reported that he will be sending a letter
to IDEM requesting that the town be
removed from the sewer hookup ban.
He will outline the efforts the town has
made to correct problems. He stated
volunteers, support staff, and war
industry workers as well as the
experiences of military personnel from
all ranks and all branches of service,
including U. S. Coast Guard and
Merchant Marine.
Mark Doud, from Sen. Lugar's office
in Indianapolis, visited with the class
and explained the interview process
and then conducted a couple interviews
so the students could observe. Mr.
Doud commented that when schools
become involved in the interview
project there is an educational value as
they learn first- hand about war- related
experiences. The project will provide
a resource for researchers and family
members in the future. One of the
veterans Mr. Doud interviewed is Jeff
Robbins, a Greentown resident. Jeff
served in the Air Force from 1975-
1995. He was in Saudia Arabia during
the Persian Gulf War and now suffers
from Gulf War Syndrome.
Anyone who would like to be
interviewed for this project may call
Lyn Shirley at her home, 455- 3 100.
Mark Doud, from Sen. Richard Lugar's office, records information about photos
from Jeff Robbins after making a taped interview of Robbins. The audio tape and
photos will be deposited in the Library of Congress.
Photo by Rachel Jenkins
Town to Buv Dump Truck
that there were about thirty- five
violations per year at the time the ban
was imposed. There were only four
violations during 2002.
The Council approved a proposal
from H. J. Umbaugh & Associates to do
a sewage rate study at a cost of $ 5,500
to $ 6,500. Sewage rates are mandated
to be reviewed every two years.
Council member, Craig Trott, said he
has received a grant application from
the Indiana Department of
Transportation for money for
sidewalwstreet projects.
Trott also made a preliminary report
on research into smoke and/ or entry
alarm systems for the City Building.
He was instructed to work with
Marshal Bennett and present a
recommendation.
Introducing. . . . .
Cari Rudy
After six months of being catless following the untimely demise of Lucy Grey,
the Grapevine's Feline Paperweight, the Grapevine office is proud to announce
the arrival of Cari and Rudy. Although still " learning the ropes", they show great
promise of being helpful around the office. Their exact titles are yet to be
The Council voted to donate two determined.
tables to the Greentown Historical
Society. The tables had previously
been used in the Council Room but
have been replaced.
James Harris was re- elected Council
President and Roger Wolfe was re-elected
Vice- president. The Council
voted to retain the law firm of King,
McCann & Scott and to retain
Foresight Engineering. They also
voted to retain all town employees.
Save Items for
Rummage Sale
The Greentown Historical Society
will be having a rummage sale on June
14. As you clean out your closets,
garages, basements, etc., remember to
set aside items to donate for that sale.
All types of items are needed except
clothing.
The Grsentown
Grapevine is published
the first Tuesdav of each
month. This mav fall
anvwhere from the 1st of
the month to the 7th. The
date of the March issue
will be March 4.