By Kathie Godfrey 
Star Correspondent

LOWELL - Although financing for the much-needed project has not been finalized, the town council moved Monday to award contract for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Compliance Plan to low-bidder Bowen Engineering of Fishers for $2,474,400. 
    The council's action follows the last month's tabling of the four bids received for the project that will increase the plant capacity from 2.5 million gallons per day to 4 million gallons per day, and hopefully release the town from a state-imposed sewer tap ban later this year. 
    Mark Downey of Commonwealth Engineering expressed surprise at the July 24 bid opening when the lowest of the four bids received for the project came in much higher than his original $2.2 million estimate. 
    Downey said the higher-than-expected bids were the result of higher construction costs for excavation, piping and dewatering. 
    The town will seek additional State Revolving Fund financing to cover the cost of construction. 
    In other business, Police Chief David Wilson shocked members of the parade ordinance committee present at Monday's meeting with a letter to the council recommending a $5 million insurance policy to protect the town from excessive liability relating to parades and events held in Lowell. 
    Joan Bukovac, wife of Lowell Labor Day Organization Chairman Chas. "Butch" Bukovac, said none of the committee's members had approved the $5 million insurance requirement that had been discussed in monthly meetings held since the proposed ordinance was introduced in mid-February.
    The council again tabled action on the controversial ordinance. Bukovac said the extreme expense would mean the end of the Lowell Labor Day Organization. 

END
    

By Andrew Steele 
Star Managing Editor

CROWN POINT - One of the most popular eateries at the Lake County Fair is the Grange Cafeteria, where Dean Kistler has been organizing the feeding of thousands of fairgoers for more than a quarter century. 
    On Friday, one of Kistler's fellow Grange members paid tribute to him by presenting him a plaque recognizing his years of volunteering. 
    Chester Lobodzinski gave Kessler the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Old-Timers humanitarian award for his 27 years of work at the cafeteria, located in a screened-in pole barn near gate 2. 
    "This guy put 27 years in down here," Lobodzinski said. "He takes his vacation (here), volunteers his time and doesn't ask for any pay." 
    Kessler does most of the cooking at the cafeteria, spending 15 to 16 hours a day there preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
    "We cook a lot of good food here," he said. 
    Work begins a couple days before the fair preparing, Kessler said. Getting all the equipment and tables set up "is like a puzzle," he said. "We put everything back together each year." 
    Two semis bring the stoves and refrigerators, Kessler said. 
    The Grange is a cooperative organization of farmers founded more than 130 years ago, Kessler, who is the Lowell Grange's master, said. 
    "We're the biggest Grange in Indiana," he said. 
    The organization has run a cafeteria at the fair for 53 years - missing only 1966, because of a tornado, Kessler said. 
    And he pointed out he doesn't do it alone. "
    There are a lot of good people working here," Kessler said. From 35 to 50 people staff the cafeteria, he said. Kessler, a Lowell resident, operates a medical laboratory business in Crown Point. 
    Lobodzinski is a retired LTV Steel employee who founded the local chapter of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Old-Timers so "old-timers can keep in touch." 
    The organization honors people who perform significant public services.

END

By Andrew Steele 
Star Managing Editor

CROWN POINT - The School Board gave preliminary approval Monday to a policy change that will allow students who live outside Center and Winfield townships to attend Crown Point schools. 
    Officially, the board gave Superintendent H. Steve Sprunger permission to allow out-of-district students to enroll for the upcoming school year. A vote on a permanent policy change will be held at a future meeting. 
    Tuition for out-of-district students will probably be about $1,400 to $1,500, Sprunger said. The exact amount is determined by a state formula. 
    Sprunger told the board he wanted to allow out-of-district students into Crown Point schools because he feels "obliged to do so as long as it doesn't take away from the education of a current student." 
    "We absolutely want to become the school of choice," Sprunger said. 
    Board member Bart Aiello voted against giving Sprunger temporary authority to allow out-of-district enrollments, and argued that the board should not make a final decision on the matter until it has heard from the public. "It's something I don't want to do on a whim," Aiello said. 
    Aiello said that people who want their children to attend Crown Point schools could move to the Crown Point district and pay school taxes. The tuition payments, he argued, may or may not equal a particular family's share of the cost of operating the schools. 
    Aiello said he wanted some sort of public notification and time for residents to comment on the proposal before the board approves it. 
    Board member Michael McCormick said the proposal is already public, and pointed out no one had attended Monday's meeting to comment on it. 
    Sprunger also pointed out the proposed policy would be similar to ones in most other area school corporations. 
    Sprunger said two school corporation employees want to enroll their children in Crown Point schools this year. School starts Thursday.

END