A decision will be reached on a proposed public and work place air pollution ordinance when the Vigo County Board of Commissioners votes at 9 a.m. May 10.
Commissioner President Judith Anderson set the date to force the three-member board to decide “either way” on the ordinance that would restrict smoking, Anderson said.
The Vigo County Board of Health approved a revised ordinance last week, sending it to the Board of Commissioners. The final voting date was moved back from a possible vote later this week to allow a full 30 days of review requested by Commissioner Paul Mason.
“I have been talking with the tavern association and with owners of different restaurants to see what concerns they have, trying to gather all the information that I can get,” Mason said.
Mason said he hopes commissioners can meet with tavern owners next week.
Under a revised proposed ordinance, bars would be exempt. Bars are defined as “any building, room or area used primarily for sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption by guests on the premises, and where only guests that are at least 21 years of age may legally enter the establishment.”
Dave Schroeder, president of Wabash Valley Taverns Association and owner of Ole Simrell’s, said members of the association “have not agreed to anything. We are all in business and this is a free country. There are a lot of places making the choice to go non-smoking, but I have not agreed to anything.”
Schroeder said he received a copy of a revised ordinance last week and still is reviewing the ordinance. Schroeder said he is to meet next week with county commissioners and some members of the county Health Department about the proposed ordinance.
Bruce Adelman, owner of Bohannon’s East, said he also is studying the revised ordinance. “My thoughts are the same as they were three or four years ago. Let’s pass one where everyone has his own choice. If it is a smoking establishment, put up signs saying so; if it is not, put up signs saying it is not a smoking establishment. That is the simplest solution to this,” Adelman said.
Anderson said the issue has been discussed for two years and a decision must be reached.
“Everyone wants things better, but they don’t want to do anything. Look at all the states in this country and all the individual places that are going totally, totally non-smoking. We are trying to work with these people to make it best for everybody involved and nobody wants to give an inch. That makes no sense to me,” Anderson said.
Several states have already adopted smoke-free workplace and restaurant laws. They include Arkansas, California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana, Vermont, Washington, New Jersey, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Hawaii and North Dakota. Other areas include Puerto Rico, Guam and Washington, D.C.
Several large cities have passed similar legislation including New York, Boston, Washington, San Francisco and Springfield, Ill.
Karen O’Brien, regional program director for Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, on Tuesday asked commissioners to consider including bars as non-smoking places in a county ordinance.
“We found in Bloomington that students don’t smoke if there is no smoking,” O’Brien said. However, if students come into a community where smoking “is not aligned with public health policy, where smoking is allowed in all the venues, they start to smoke. They are exposed to smoking as a legitimate acceptable pattern of behavior. They, of course, die like their parents and the generation before.”
Commissioner Bill Bryan suggested work should be made toward a statewide ordinance. O’Brien said passing local ordinances can be more effective and can “tip the balance” for the state Legislature to take action on a statewide level.
“When are we going to start seeking work on diesel fuel? That is a lot more caustic,” Bryan said.
“We can argue a lot of things are caustic, but the deaths from second-hand smoke and tobacco use are no longer argued in the scientific community,” O’Brien responded. Smoking is the third-largest preventable cause of death and has an economic impact on public health-care costs.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@
tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Officials to vote on smoking ban
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Latest Jason Wu Collection Shows Chinese Roots
ShowBiz Minute: Madonna, Beresford-Redman, Pawsc
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
The Pits: Israelis Spit Olives for Glory
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
Girl rescued after avalanche buries village in Kosovo
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Absolute Lin-sanity
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
