TERRE HAUTE —
Opinions varied as smokers steamed in triple-digit heat outside their clubs Sunday afternoon.
A statewide smoking ban swept across Indiana July 1, while a much stricter version passed by the Vigo County Commissioners came into play locally. Smoking is prohibited in virtually all indoor places within the county now, with the exception of private residences and tobacco stores.
Inside the American Legion, Wayne Newton Post 346 on Wabash Avenue, member Stacie Wagle offered choice words for what local officials can do with their ordinance.
“I just think there should be special consideration for private clubs, especially the veterans,” the 68-year-old said, adding he feels proponents of the ordinance have “rubbed it in our faces” with their celebrations, relegating veterans who smoke to the status of “second-class citizens.”
A smoker since the age of 13, Wagle said he stood outside the club earlier that day, smoking his cigarette in the 100-degree heat, none too happy at all.
A few blocks to the north, several smokers stood outside the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 972 as a birthday party was hosted inside.
Most declined to comment for publication, but Jennifer Albright said the way smokers are being treated rubs her the wrong way, in the same manner as other recent political decisions.
“I have a son in the Army National Guard and I was taking him to drill this morning,” she said, explaining the shared conversation about citizens losing more and more of their rights to government control.
Meanwhile, other smokers dismissed those concerns.
Inside Club Soda on South Fourth Street, members were of mixed opinion on the topic that afternoon.
Program director George Fields said he’d just hosted a membership meeting and the topic was raised again, as it has been throughout the ongoing debates stemming from the city, county and state regulations.
“There are going to be some disgruntled members initially,” he said, noting he just quit smoking himself last August.
Club Soda hosts substance abuse counseling sessions and meetings for groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Designed to resemble a bar, complete with pool table and big screen television, the building strictly prohibits alcohol, drugs and now, cigarettes.
Brooke Dunning, a smoker, said she supports the county’s ban and in the long-run, more people will come to Club Soda because of it. While other members argued that recovering addicts won’t participate in meetings without their cigarettes, Dunning said others have avoided the building because of the smoke.
“I don’t think the ban will (keep people from coming), I think their attitude about it will,” she said, adding she now feels more comfortable bringing her children to social events there.
Fields said members’ heavy smoking in years past did cause some issues, and his own son would become congested while attending events. Despite air blowers throughout the facility, the impact of the smoke was obvious from walls to ceiling, he said.
“Even for people who smoke, the smoke was so thick they wouldn’t come in here,” he said.
Fields now uses a vapor device, which resembles a cigarette and delivers nicotine while generating steam. That’s been very successful in helping him quit, he said. Smokeless tobacco, chew and snuff, are likewise uncovered by the ordinance.
“I think there are a lot of people who do both anyway,” Fields said.
In the short term, Club Soda plans to build a covered deck outside for its members who smoke, and Dunning plans to quit.
“For my kids,” she said.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
News
Related Photos
-
I quit: Club Soda worker Russell Moffatt shows his nicotine lozenge container as he announces he's quitting smoking starting today. He was able to quit once before for a long period and started again about a year ago.
-
Club Soda: Club Soda program director George Fields (left) and members Don Chatham and Brooke Dunning talk about the effect of the smoking ban at the club Sunday afternoon.
Discussion
Smoked out: Bans take effect
First day of ban on lighting up indoors draws mixed reactions from smokers
- News
-
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
- More News Headlines
-
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Today in History May 23
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Today in History May 22
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
