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Band Parent Boosters will meet tomorrow

Commissioners pay tribute to Chet Bastin

Festival art show awards

Jackie Barrett is 1998 FFF Hostess

Dark, starry skies made county good choice for Link Observatory

Martinsville, Monrovia bands advance in ISSMA

Quilt Show registration is Oct. 8

Baby rattlesnakes not being released

Festival tour to leave fairgrounds at 9 a.m.; card party also Wednesday

Morgantown developer sues Trafalgar

Band Parent Boosters will meet tomorrow

The October monthly meeting of the Band Parent Boosters will be Tuesday in the high school music suite at 6:30 p.m.

David Sutherlin said the meeting is important as the boosters will make plans for the upcoming Indiana State School Music Association Regional and the Bands of America competition in October and November.

The boosters will also discuss possible fund raisers, the fall and winter activities and the Winter Guard Invitational, which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, at Martinsville High School.

Sutherline said: "The band parents are an extremely important component of any successful band program and the participation of all parents is greatly needed."

Commissioners pay tribute to Chet Bastin

Morgan County Commissioners this morning took note of the resignation of Chet Bastin from county council. Mr. Bastin, a longtime councilman and, before that, a commissioner, had a stroke in March.

Commissioner Tommy Joe Goss delivered a short tribute:

"I served on the council with Chester Bastin. It's a shame he had to resign. Farming and local politics were his entire life.

"He was dedicated. Whether you agreed with him or not, you knew he was dedicated, truly dedicated and sincere.

"After we'd disagree, he'd come out in the hall and ask, 'How's your dad? How's your cattle?'"

"Everything he did was in Morgan County's best interest. (His resignation) is Morgan County's loss.

"I'll miss Chester, I really will. I'll miss Chester Bastin a lot. He was a good servant for the people of Morgan County."

The commissioners heard from County Engineer Keno Koehl about two bridge projects.

They accepted six bids on replacing the Burton Lane bridge over Indian Creek. The bids ranged from around $400,000 to about $535,000. A consulting engineer estimated the replacement at $461,561.

Mr. Koehl said he plans to repair the Old St. Rd. 67 bridge over Lamb's Creek soon. Estimated cost is $27,000.

Koehl said it was damaged by a dump truck out of Bloomington and he was talking with the company's insurance provider. He understood that the trucker was charged with driving over the load limit.

Koehl also asked for speed limit reductions on Chapel Lane and at Centenary and Smokey Row roads. The commissioners told him to prepare an ordinance.

The commissioners received two tort claims. One was from Kimblerly Nuckles who plans to sue over the death of her husband, Barney, and son, Jesse. They died in a wreck with State Trooper Pat Bartram, Mar. 31, at State Road 144 and Smokey Row. Mr. Bartram was also killed.

The other is from Ron and Terry Basham of Avon. They plan to sue the county Office of Families and Children. They claim their grandson was wrongly removed from their home. He is the son of Trina Smith, Mooresville, who is serving time in prison for murder.

The commissioners also received an offer from a Bloomington pharmacy service offering to dispense medicines to jail inmates. The company said it could offer a savings. Commissioners told the representatives to first consult with the sheriff at the jail.

Festival art show awards

Awards were presented to the festival art show winners Sunday afternoon at First Christian Church. The show continues through Saturday.

Winners included: Kim Walls with daughter Sarah, outstanding craft non-professional; Ellen Pruitt, outstanding craft professional; Sandra Gray, outstanding professional; Marion Poe, best of show; Gary C. Poore, most original; Janet Plummer, outstanding non-professional; Jennifer Moore, outstanding youth.

Jackie Barrett is 1998 FFF Hostess

Jackie Barrett was crowned the 1998 Fall Foliage Festival hostess during the kick-off dance Saturday night at Cater Haus.

Mrs. Barrett, who was sponsored by Kroger's, brought in more than $1,000 for the festival.

From left are Lyna Chaplin, FFF board member; Susan Cramer, hostess contest chairman and FFF board member; Ron Barrett, Mrs. Barrett, Bev Skinner, FFF board member; and Sheldon Buskirk, president of the FFF board.-Keith Rhoades photo

Dark, starry skies made county good choice for Link Observatory

Parke County has covered bridges, Greensburg has a tree in its courthouse, and Brown County has beautiful scenery. Morgan County has the Goethe Link Observatory, and no county has a greater distinction, said Kevin Fleming, secretary of the Indiana Astronomical Society.

Fleming put together an historical sketch of the observatory, and this is what he said:

Many people's efforts and the vision and generosity of one of Morgan County's leading residents came together on a night in 1939 when the observatory saw "first starlight." That evening opened a notable chapter in advancement of astronomy and started a legacy for this area on the highest hill in Morgan County.

The origin of that night can be traced back to evenings in 1933, at the church still located at 29th and Kenwood in Indianapolis. After their meetings, Boy Scouts exiting the church were beckoned to the parking lot across the street. Samuel L. Water's telescope awaited them. He shared the night sky with them through his telescope and his words.

The Indiana Nature Club also enjoyed his visits. The club's astronomy chairman, Laura Greely, was inspired by Waters and wouldn't relent until he reluctantly agreed to form a group that became known as the Indiana Astronomical Society.

The society's early members included a surgeon named Dr. Goethe Link. Hot-air balloonist, competitive bicycle racer, herpetologist, horticulturist, ornithologist and pioneer of numerous techniques of goiter surgery, Dr. Link also developed a knowledge of astronomy by exploring the night sky over his vacation home on Tanager Hill in Morgan County. His passion for astronomy grew and he decided that some of his resources should be used to give the people of Indiana a research grade astronomical observatory.

His efforts and those of the IAS and the fledgling astronomy department at Indiana University were combined beginning in 1937. Construction began with the hand pouring of a 200-ton, concrete pier upon which the telescope is mounted. The pier is anchored to bedrock 26 feet below grade and rises 30 feet above grade. The building was constructed around the pier, isolating the telescope from vibrations. The oak post and beam construction is of timber cut not far from the observatory.

State-of-the-art features from major observatories of the day were incorporated into the facility. IU offered technical assistance. The glass disk that IAS members ground into the telescope's primary mirror was poured by Corning Glass Works in New York using an experimental method. Because of the experiment's success, the method was then used to create the mirror at California's Mt. Palomar Observatory.

The Link Observatory's newly ground 36-inch mirror was one of the largest east of the Mississippi River and the observatory drew visits from numerous leading astronomers of the day. In 1948 Dr. Link decided that Link Observatory would best serve its purpose if he donated it to Indiana University.

Since then, research at Link has put Morgan County on the map for astronomical discoveries. Only two other sites in the US, Mt. Palomar and Lowell Observatory near Flagstaff, Ariz., have produced more asteroid discoveries than Link Observatory, and work has included spectral analysis of stars and analysis of giant star formation called globular clusters.

In 1988, the IAS began of offer public astronomy programming at Link and viewing through the telescope when a volunteer staff and cooperation from the weather present scheduling opportunities. The observatory's guests have included area civic and school groups, and astronomical societies from cities in and outside of Indiana. Some IAS members also conduct research at the facility, adding to the observatory's legacy.

Many Morgan County people have recently contributed efforts to strengthen the future of the Link Observatory. We are particularly appreciative of the efforts directed toward acquiring resources for refurbishing the facility.

Morgan County was selected as the site for the Link Observatory because its dark starry skies distinguish it from Marion County and much of its surrounding areas, which suffers hazy night skies from excessive light pollution. "We are pleased at some of the reaction to our efforts to provide information about outdoor lighting. Starry skies have made Morgan County a good choice as home county of the Link Observatory. Careful lighting choices can provide better vision and help insure that the legacy continues," said Fleming.

Several IAS members, including two executive officers, live in Morgan County. For many others, its a frequent destination. "We enjoy our visits to Morgan County and look forward to continuing them," Fleming said.

Martinsville, Monrovia bands advance in ISSMA

The Martinsville High School Band received a first division rating in Class A at district Indiana State School Music Association competition on Saturday at Center Grove and advances to Bedford North Lawrence for regional contest on Oct. 17.

The Monrovia High School Band won a division one rating in the small school class at ISSMA competition on Saturday at Center Grove and advances to regional contest on Oct. 17.

Quilt Show registration is Oct. 8

Persons interested in entering the Fall Foliage Festival Quilt Show should register their quilts at Miles Home Furnishings on Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. Judging will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Joanna Evans, a quilter and freelance writer and editor, will be the judge. Her quilts and patterns have appeared in America's Best Quilting Projects: Scrap Quilts (Rodale Press, 1994), Weekend Quilt Projects (Publications International, Ltd., 1996), Quilting Today and Traditional Quiltworks.

Categories for the show include: pieced, appliquéed, embroidered, child's quilt and miscellaneous (wall hangings, clothing, comforters, pillows, etc.).

Prizes will be $25 for first place, $15 for second and $10 for third in all five categories. Best of show winner will receive a maple leaf plaque.

Chairman for the event is Ellen Wilson-Pruitt, (765) 528-2513, and board director is Joyce Hamilton, (765) 342-4212.

Additional information on the contest includes: The contest is open to any Morgan County quilter, and quilts may be any pattern. The quilt entered in the first three categories should be at least twin-sized and may be pieced, appliquéed or embroidered. The fourth category is for a child's quilt. A fifth category will be added as a miscellaneous item, such as clothing, comforters, pillows, wall hangings, etc. All work must have been finished between October 1996 and October 1998 by the quilter entering it.

Individuals as well as groups are welcome to enter (Such groups could be church circles, extension homemakers clubs, sororities, etc.) All entries must be quilts, that is they must have a top, filler and backing sewn together in a "sandwich" style. Hand quilting, machine quilting and tufting will be accepted.

The quilting area will be sectioned off to discourage touching. All winning entries and other quilts, with the owner's permission, will be left on display at Miles Home Furnishings through Monday, Oct. 12. All entries must be signed out.

Baby rattlesnakes not being released

There is no truth to the rumor that the Department of Natural Resources plans to release 400 baby rattlesnakes at the Conservation Club. (Rattlesnakes are protected under the law.)

"Why would we do that?" asked conservation officer Mike Portias. He said the rattlesnake population is healthy in Indiana and there is no need for the DNR to breed or release venomous snakes.

He added that Morgan County is really not the best home for most of Indiana's poisonous snakes.

The county is just slightly too far north for the Timber Rattlesnake. They are more prevalent in places such as Brown County or Hoosier National Forest. That does not mean that these snakes are not here, they just aren't as populous.

There are three other poisonous snakes in Indiana. Massasaugas, or swamp rattlesnakes, live in central and northern Indiana, but are also not common in Morgan County, said Portias.

The dreaded and feared water moccasin, or cottonmouth, only lives in the southern area of Indiana. Many people believe they have seen this snake in central Indiana, but DNR officials say these are sightings of the common northern water snake, which is not poisonous.

The copperhead is found in Morgan County in wooded areas. This snake is a venomous pit viper and the bite is painful, but it is usually not deadly.

Portias said the Nongame Biologists Division of the DNR does release animals through the endangered wildlife program. Recently, they have raised and released peregrine falcons, river otters, bald eagles and turkeys, but never snakes.

Festival tour to leave fairgrounds at 9 a.m.; card party also Wednesday

The soil conservation tour presented by the Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District for the Fall Foliage Festival program will leave the Morgan County Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. (Earlier it was listed at a different time.) Chairman is Bill Brenneman.

The bus tour will return at approximately noon, and there is no charge to participate. However, seating is limited, and for reservations, call 342-5595. A snack will be provided, but if an individual has special dietary needs, he should bring those items with him.

The tour will first stop at an organic farm that grows varieties of herbs, flowers and vegetables. Dr. Doug Johnstone will be host.

The second stop will be at the Cross School, a renovated one-room school, where cider and doughnuts will be provided.

The final stop will be hosted by Dee Terrell, which will cover fall wood, ponds, organic gardens and hiking trails.

The Beta Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Kappa's card party will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the 4-H Building. Refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be given throughout the evening.

Chairman is Fran Craft (342-7547). Tickets are $4 each and are available from sorority members or at the festival office at 110 N. Jefferson. The festival phone number is 342-0332.

Also on Wednesday, the deadline for businesses to enter the festival's scarecrow contest is at 3 p.m.

Morgantown developer sues Trafalgar

Morgantown developer Gary Emberton has sued the Town of Trafalgar in Johnson Superior Court II. He claims he has been denied the right to hear tape recordings of the town hall meetings and asks to hear them.

Trafalgar Town attorney R.J. McConnell said the town has offered to let Mr. Emberton hear the tapes but only during normal business hours, and Emerton has requested to hear the tapes in the evening.

Emberton earlier filed a tort claim for $370,000 against Trafalgar. It contends he was wrongly denied authority to connect to the town's sewer system for a 55-acre commercial development project called Green Farm.

The town said the denial was because its sewer system is at maximum capacity.