The Greentown Grapevine – 2005-06, 12:06

              e9
Celebrating Our 12th Year!
Volume 12, Issue 6
New Town Fountain
to Be Dedicated
Saturday, June 11, 2005, 300 p. m.
After several years of dis-cussion
and over a year of
planning, a new fountain and
plaza is taking shape in front of
City Hall. The previous
fountain, erected in 1976 as a
part of thz Bicentennial of the
United States, was in need of
repair, replacement, or removal.
A survey run in the Greentown
Grapevine showed support for a
fountain remaining. The Town
Council appointed Jolene Rule
to head a fountain committee of
residents, town employees,
representatives of the Parks &
Trails Team and the Glass
Museum. Meetings were held
which resulted in a plan to take
out the old fountain and the
surrounding walls. The foun-tain
plaza was expanded to be
more central to the building.
This moved the handicap
parking spot to a position just
north of the alley. It was agreed
that this was a better spot
because handicap vans open on
the right side. New flag poles
were erected, one for the flag of
the U. S. and one for the state
flag. These were positioned in ’
front of the Utility Office. A
fountain with water cascading
was designed. To make the
fountain unique to Greentown
and to celebrate Greentown’s
glass heritage, a “ Greentown
dolphin” will be at the top of
the fountain. Cobalt blue was
chosen as the color of the
dolphin.
The town council approved
usin:: EDIT funds for the
project.
DEDICATION
CEREMONY
A dedication of the new
fountain and plaza will be held
Saturday, June 11, at 3: OO in
front of City Hall. Participants
will include Craig Trott,
Eastern High School Band,
Greentown American Legion,
Boy Scout Troop 528, Eagle
Scouts, Jim Harris, Jim Teter,
Jolene Rule, and Rachel
Jenkins.
Martha Lou Zirkle was
chosen from among nominees
to officially “ flip the switch” to
start the water flowing in the
fountain. Other nominees were
Carolyn Bannon ( to represent
Jim Bannon), Bob Armstrong,
Norma Jean David, Sharon
Oldaker, Nicole Fillenwarth,
Jim Teter, Mary Mast Pier,
James Lanning, and Rachel
Jenkins.
The ceremony is expected to
last about one- half hour. Lawn
chairs are recommended for
those who do not wish to stand.
$ 2.1 Billion, IO- Year Highway
Funding Gap Revealed
INDOT seeks public input to help
resolve dilemma - July I deadline
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana
Department of Transportation
( INDOT) Commissioner
Thomas Sharp has announced
the agency has a 10- year, $ 2.1
billion funding gap for new
highway construction. The
department also introduced a
preliminary process that, when
fully implemented, will result in
a 1 0- year highway production
plan for both funding and
cons: ructing state highway
projects.
“ Since arriving in January,
we’ve been peeling away layers
and what we discovered is that
there has never been an
accurate, long- term plan for
both funding and building
highway projects,” said Sharp.
From internal historical
information it appears whenever
new construction projects were
suggested, previous admin-istrations
automatically added
them to INDOT’S transportation
program. The projects were not
properly reviewed and no
consideration was given as to
where the funds would come
from to build them.
“ Hoosiers are left with false
hopes and perceptions that
projects are proceeding when,
in reality, little or nothing is
being done,” added Sharp.
“ This isn’t fair.”
The process introduced has
preliminarily identified projects
which can begin construction
within the next 10 years if
adequate funding is provided.
A wide- ranging set of criteria
was used to evaluate each
project in INDOT’s system.
Currently, INDOT invests
$ 500 million annually to
preserve the existing highway
More on page 4
June 2005
Honoring the Fallen
,“$~ 3 0
Members of Greentown American Legion Post # 317, Clyde Ragan
and Roger Wolfe were among those who posted flags in Greentown
in observance of Memorial Day. The Legion puts flags up on
patriotic holidays.
Photo by Rachel Jenkins
By Craig Trott
With the recent addition of
outdoor warning sirens to the
Town of Greentown, many
residents may have questions
aboiit their operation. Thesc
devices sre used as an outdoor
alert for tornadoes, or othsr
emergencies. They are not
intended to be heard while
inside buildings or homes. If
you hear them indoors, consider
yourself fortunate for the
advance warning.
The Federal Thunderbolt
1000 sirens have been installed
in three locations in the Town
of Greentown, the water tower
on Maple St., the sewage
trzatment plant near the high
school and the fire station
downtown. The coverage area
of each siren overlaps the other
and should provide ample
warning if the need arises. Two
of the sirens are on a generator
back- up system that will operate
during a power loss situation.
The activation of the sirens
is the responsibility of the
Greentown Police Department.
The on- duty officer will be
charged with keeping abreast of
scvere weather as it develops
and will take appropriate action
regarding their activation.
TORNADO WARNING
When the sirens are activated
for a tornado warning a constant
wail will be heard for three
minutes. The sirens may be
activated again several times
until the tornado warning has
expired. There will not be an
“ all clear” signal given once the
danger has passed. By tuning
into local radio stations, you
shGuld hear the “ all clear” being
broadcast by them.
MAN- MADE DISASTERS
The outdoor warning sirens
may also be used for man- made
disasters as well. These events
lnay include hazardous material
spills, nuclear attacks or
Guidelines for Outdoor Warning Sirens
terrorist attacks. The sound for
a man- made disaster would be
an up and down wail for three
minutes. Again, there will not
be an “ all clear” signal given.
WHAT TO DO
Once the sirens have been
activated, you should go inside
and turn on a television or radio
for more information. You may
also wish to have a NOAA
weather alert radio available.
This radio can be set to alert
any time the National Weather
Service issues a warning. Do
not call 91 1. The area media
and the National Weather
Service will provide updated
information. Please use your
television or radio to get these
updates. The use of 9 1 1 should
be reserved for those with
urgent need for ambulance, fire
or police. services. Don’t tie up
the 91 1 lines.
You should have a battery
operated radio and flashlight in
continued on page 3