Pubdate: Mon, 07 Feb 2005
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2005 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Note: Only publishes local LTEs
Author: Harold J. Adams

SLAIN INDIANA GIRL REMEMBERED AMID CALLS TO COMBAT DRUGS

CROTHERSVILLE, Ind. -- Katlyn "Katie" Collman was remembered yesterday
at her funeral as a child who cheered those around her during her
short life. And in death, she is inspiring calls for her community to
tackle the problem of drugs head-on.

Katie was killed Jan. 25 because people she saw using or making
methamphetamine were afraid she would report them, authorities have
said.

More than 600 people attended Katie's funeral at the Crothersville
Community Schools gym.

All of them came to their feet when family friend Terry Gray announced
a plan to buy the Penn Villa apartments -- where Katie is said to have
seen the drug activity -- to "tear them down and build a
playground."

Gray said more than $100,000 had been pledged to the $400,000
fund-raising effort since Katie's father, Johnathon Neace, came up
with the idea Friday.

Gray asked the town to rally around the effort much as it rallied to
search for Katie in the four days she was missing before her body was
found in a creek north of Seymour.

"It's time to move on with this and set a goal to turn this meth lab
into a playground," Gray said. Money for the project can be donated to
a fund previously set up by the Crothersville-Vernon Township Fire
Department to help Katie's family.

The Rev. Jon Pearce said her death was a triumph of evil because good
men had done nothing about widespread knowledge of drug activity in
Crothersville.

He cited the ruins of a home that burned in the middle of town when a
meth lab exploded in it late last year.

"This is a wake-up call," he said. "If we don't stop this cancer now
we're going to have more Katies."

Pearce called for the start of a community watch program. "We have to
have enough anger and enough courage to do it, and I believe the death
of Katie Collman gives us that," he said.

In front of the podium where Pearce spoke, a basket was filled with
candy suckers donated by The People's Bank. Katie, a fourth-grader,
went into the bank every day to get one.

When she participated in the Awana youth program at First Baptist
Church, "Katie loved the games and loved the snacks," Pearce said.

A parade of testimonials by friends and family recalled Katie's love
for animals and her ever-present smile. She wanted to help others,
they said.

Jerry Neace, one of Katie's uncles, said, "From our understanding,
Katie went to them apartments . to let them know that their dog got
killed" on nearby railroad tracks.

Katie had been on her way home from an after-school errand to the
Dollar General store three blocks from her home when she was abducted.
The Penn Villa apartments are behind the store, separated from it only
by the railroad tracks.

Crothersville Police Chief Norman Ford would not comment yesterday on
the account of Katie's presence at Penn Villa.

Last Wednesday, authorities arrested Charles "Chuckie" Hickman of
Crothersville and charged him with murder and criminal confinement.
Two others have been charged with lying to investigators. And the task
force investigating Katie's slaying has indicated that more arrests
are possible.

Half a dozen FBI agents were among the mourners at Katie's funeral,
along with Jackson County Sheriff Jerry Hounshel and several of his
deputies, members of the fire department, and Chief Ford.

Each mourner was handed a long-stem red rose in memory of Katie, who
was laid to rest at White Cemetery in Scott County.

"It's not over," Pearce said. He urged the community to remain united
in the efforts to improve.

Gray said after the funeral that one goal is to complete the park
project for what would have been Katie's 11th birthday: "We want to
have the ribbon-cutting on August 13." 
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)