The Indiana Publisher

Page 2 June 2018 Longtime newspaper reporter and editor Norman L. "Norm" Hagg, 80, Warsaw, died Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at Kosciusko Community Hospital following a 16-year battle with cancer and leukemia. A lifelong resident of Kosciusko County, he was born Oct. 15, 1937, to Arnold D. and Gladys E. Ring Hagg. He graduated from Leesburg High School in 1955 and went on to complete training for a career in radio at Midwestern Broadcasting School in Chicago. He enjoyed playing basketball in high school, where he was named the Leesburg Lions Club Most Valuable Player on the Blue Blazers team as a junior in 1954 and was invited by the coach to attend the legendary Indiana high school basketball fi nals at Butler Fieldhouse between Milan and Muncie Central that became the basis for the movie "Hoosiers." Hagg and the former Patricia A. Tusing were united in marriage on Aug. 3, 1958. The couple were active lifetime members of Dutch- town Brethren Church, where they served on the deacon board for more than 30 years. The church was the foundation of their Christian faith, which was so important in their marriage and in the lives of their children and families. In addition to his wife Patricia, Warsaw, he is survived by three children: Beth (Neil) Walker, Westland, Mich.; Mike (Rhonda) Hagg, Silver Lake; and Brad (Aimee) Hagg, Warsaw; seven grandchildren, six great-grand- children and a sister, Rosalie (David) Nye, Warsaw. Family held a special spot in Norm's life. The compassion and care Pat provided to many during a career in nursing and the many positive accomplish- ments and achievements by the children over the years brought much joy to a very proud husband and parent. Hagg retired from the Times-Union in 2013 following an amazing career with the newspaper spanning almost fi ve decades. He had the privilege of working for the Williams family, founders of the newspaper 164 years ago, and whose descendants still own it today. He learned the skills of his profession from such outstanding mentors as Executive Editor William K. Mollenhour, Editor Curtis "Gabby" Garber, and Publisher Reub Williams, who recruited him from WRSW in 1962 to begin his newspaper career as a general assignment reporter. Hagg later served as the Times-Union's sports editor, city editor, managing editor, editor in chief and general manager prior to his retirement. Along with his newspaper duties, Hagg remained active in radio for a period of time and was the "Voice of the Tigers," doing play-by-play basketball broadcasts for many games in the '70s and early '80s. Hagg, as a member of the media, was inducted into the Kosciusko County High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Warsaw newsman Norm Hagg dies at 80 Haag HSPA Staff Steve Key, executive director and general counsel skey@hspa.com • (317) 624-4427 Pamela Lego, MAP advertising director plego@hspa.com • (812) 350-7711 Shawn Goldsby, statewide advertising manager sgoldsby@hspa.com • (317) 803-4772 Ruth Witmer, communications specialist news@hspa.com • (317) 624-4430 The Indiana Publisher is published monthly by Hoosier State Press Association, 41 E. Washington St., Suite 301, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, (317) 803-4772. ISSN 0019-6711 USPS 058-730. Periodicals-class postage paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and at additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Indiana Publisher, 41 E. Washington St., Suite 301, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, (317) 803-4772, Fax (317) 624-4428 Website: hspa.com Subscriptions $25 per year. Ad rates furnished upon request. HSPA Board of Directors President: Chuck Wells, AIM Media Indiana Vice President/Secretary: Patrick Lanman, Vevay Media Group Chris White, The Times Media Co. Pete Van Baalen, Fort Wayne Newspapers Beverly Joyce, CNHI Bill Connelly, LaGrange Publishing co. Cory Bollinger, Schurz Communications, Inc. Curt Kovener, The Crothersville TImes HSPA Foundation Board of Directors President: Michael J. Christman, Fort Wayne Newspapers Vice President: William "B.J." Riley, Horizon Publications Nancy Grossman, Leader Publishing Mark Miller, The News-Banner (Bluffton) John Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) Bill Hackney, The News Dispatch (Michigan CIty) and The LaPorte County Herald-Argus Greg Perrotto, Kankakee Valley Publishing HSPA Foundation Board Members HSPA Foundation Officers HSPA Officers HSPA Board Members For HSPA, it was disappointing that leadership moved forward with language that keeps it secret when: • DUAB reaches out to a school corpora- tion to determine whether a corrective action plan is necessary; • DUAB determines a corrective action is necessary; • The corrective action plan is created and actions are taken to implement it; • DUAB modifi es a district's proposed corrective action plan; and • Requests are made by a school superin- tendent of DUAB to modify a corrective action plan. H.B. 1315(ss) makes public records concerning the process confi dential and calls for DUAB and school boards to meet in secret during this process. While HSPA can understand how leadership may have felt its hands were tied to H.B. 1315 language based on the unusual one-day session, there has been no indica- tion that leadership disagrees with a policy that the public should be denied the knowledge that DUAB has reached out or is working with its school district leadership. There's been no indication that the level of secrecy found in H.B. 1315 is excessive and will be addressed in the 2019 session. The only rationale given for the secrecy is a stated fear that parents who learn their school district may have fi nancial concerns that need to be addressed will simply move their students to another school district – exacerbat- ing the fi nancial situation and creating a self-fulfi lling prophecy. HSPA believes this policy sells Hoosier communities short – saying they can't be trusted to act appropriately if given the knowledge that their school district is facing fi nancial concerns. It doesn't believe a community will rally around its school district to turn the fi nancial picture around. Special Session Continued from Page 1

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