CASS COUNTY - Purdue Extension Cass County and Cass County Farm Service Agency will be hosting an ACRE (Average Crop Revenue Election Program) Information Night on March 29th, at 7pm in the Cloverleaf Complex at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Logansport, Indiana for all corn and soybean producers and land owners.
ACRE is a farm payment program targeted at crop producers which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. The program will give an overview of the ACRE program and how it differs from the DCP program (Direct & Countercyclical Program) and show producers how to use an ACRE calculator to estimate potential payments. In addition, appointments will be available the next day, March 30, 2010 at the Purdue Extension, Cass County Office for producers to run their farms through the calculator and discuss output.
Both ACRE and DCP are administered through the FSA and the deadline to sign up for either program is June 1st. For additional information, please contact the Purdue Extension, Cass County Office at 753-7750.
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's preliminary seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January did not change from the revised December 2009 rate of 9.7 percent. Indiana matched the national rate of 9.7 percent.
Cass County is at 11.3, Pulaski 10.1, Carroll 10.8, White 12.3, Fulton 12.5, Miami 13.1, and Howard 13.2.
Seasonally-adjusted total non-farm employment in Indiana declined by 2,000 in January. Sectors reporting significant employment increases include: Manufacturing, Financial Activities and Professional and Business Services. Sectors reporting significant employment declines include: Private Education and Health Services, Leisure and Hospitality and Construction.
Indiana continues to report the lowest unemployment among its neighboring states. Ohio's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 10.8 percent. Illinois increased 0.3 percent to 11.3 percent. Kentucky increased 0.1 percent to 10.7 percent. Michigan's unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percent to 14.3 percent.
CASS COUNTY - On Saturday afternoon, there will be a public round-table discussion on the proposed renovation of the Memorial Home in Logansport, as a Community Center. The design team of architects and designers is looking for input from the Regional Arts Community.
The Cass County Commissioners, in partnership with the Cass County Arts Alliance are looking at options for the renovation. The meeting will take place at the Memorial Home Saturday from 3:30-5:00.
Information will also be presented during a joint meeting of the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs on Monday from 11:30-1:00 at Boondockers. Members of the design team and the Arts Alliance will lead that discussion.
LOGANSPORT - While it may be Spring Break at Ivy Tech in Logansport, the computer labs at the college are getting a lot of use. Skip Kuker, the President of the Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation says following a series of informational meetings with Tyson employees Wednesday, they are being encouraged to begin the process of applying for unemployment benefits.
Kuker adds that this is a cooperative effort involving Ivy Tech, the Department of Workforce Development, and the Tyson Union. According to Kuker, it's important for employees to sign up by midnight Saturday, even if they will not receive benefits next week.
The hour-long sessions at the Ivy Tech Computer labs take place Thursday and Friday from 8:30-9:30, 9:30-10:30, 10:30-11:30, 12:30-1:30 and 1:30-2:30. Translators will also be available, and each lab will have a representative from Workforce Development. Employees can also sign up on their home computer. The Ramada Inn, where the informational meetings were held, and the Computer labs at Ivy Tech, were packed Wednesday.
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana State Police wants to remind all Hoosiers to ensure they verify phone and door to door solicitors of donations purporting to be collecting funds for charitable organizations.
Recently the Indiana State Police and many other police agencies across the state have received complaints from residents and businesses concerning solicitors who implied they have an association with the State Police or other law enforcement agencies. These complaints have resulted in the initiation of an investigation. People have reportedly been asked to tape the donation to the door of their home or business for collection later in the day. On some occasions, the solicitors have told donors the funds would be used to send a local child to a law enforcement summer camp.
Whenever there is doubt or suspicion about the legitimacy or tactics of a phone or in-person solicitor, the state police advise you to just say 'no' to the request and call the state police or your local police department to report your suspicions.
LOGANSPORT - Logansport Memorial Hospitals CEO Brian Shockney has tendered his resignation effective May 7, 2010, to accept the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Clarian Arnett Health System in the Lafayette region, part of the Clarian statewide network.
This represents a very progressive step in my career with new and exciting opportunities for me and my family, said Shockney. My sixteen plus year tenure at Memorial Hospital has prepared me well for this next step in my career, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded. Memorials leadership team is strong and well equipped to address the future of healthcare as it affects the hospital and those it serves. As I prepare to leave Cass County, I thank the community for the positive contributions made to me and my family during my tenure at Logansport Memorial Hospital.
Memorials Board of Trustees will be making decisions regarding the future leadership of the organization in the coming weeks.
INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced a ruling by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that certain employees of Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction, in Logansport, are eligible to receive services under the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The TAA program is made available to workers who are displaced due to foreign imports or shifts in production out of the country.
The federal ruling was issued on February 26, 2010 and applies to workers totally or partially separated from employment on or after January 20, 2009 through two years from the date of certification. The workers produced friction material.
The TAA program provides benefits to help unemployed workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment. They may be eligible for a variety of re-employment services, job search and relocation allowances and training. In addition, weekly trade re-adjustment allowances may be payable to eligible workers following the exhaustion of employment insurance benefits.
Additionally, DOL issued a certification for Re-employment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) for separated older workers at the Logansport facility. It was found that a significant number of workers at the company age 50 and over possess skills that are not easily transferable and that competitive conditions within the industry are adverse. Older workers may choose between regular TAA benefits or a wage subsidy of 50 percent of the difference between their new salary and old salary, up to $12,000.
CASS COUNTY - The 9-1-1 Governing Board has chosen a new Director for Central Dispatch. Dave Arnold, a member of the Cass County Commissioners, and the Governing Board, says the vote to officially hire Dan McDonald will take place Monday afternoon.
An executive session, where the two finalists were interviewed, took place on Tuesday. McDonald, who lives in the Lucerne/Royal Center area, is a graduate of Penn State. He says his public service experience, dates back to the 70's, where he was a paramedic in Pittsburgh, PA. He has also been a trainer with the Monroe County, FL Sheriff's Department, worked for the Department of Correction in the Juvenile Division, was a member of the state SWAT Team, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, and most recently ran the alternative education program in Pulaski County.
Dan McDonald will replace Lori Forrer, who resigned as Director to take a job with InDigitel. Assistant Director Sandy Ford has been running the dispatch center during the interim. McDonald also has roots in this area. In fact, his Grandfather graduated from Lucerne High School in 1919. He also spent the summers in this area, while he was growing up.
WALTON - The Thompson Elementary Cafeteria was packed Wednesday night, as Southeastern Superintendent Dr. John Bevan outlined some of the ways the corporation is looking to put in place to deal with the reduction in state resources. That includes some 758,000 dollars in the 2010-2011 academic year.
Dr. Bevan says there will be some major changes to the elementary buildings. Both buildings will have kindergarten students, with Thompson housing all of grades 1-3, and Galveston all of grades 4-6.
Under that plan, each building would have about 300 students. Another area centers on incentives for some senior teachers, who are considering retiring. That has been met with a favorable response from a number of teachers.
Dr. John Bevan says after the November election, he is being told that there could be another round of state cuts.
LOGANSPORT - Following action at Monday's City Council meeting, a fire territory involving Logansport, along with Clay, Eel and Noble Townships is a step closer to becoming reality. The Council approved, on first reading, the ordinance establishing the territory.
Formal approval is expected to take place during a meeting March 15th, with representatives from the townships also scheduled to be on hand.
Councilman Scott Kraud is Chairman of the Finance Committee, and notes that the rate would be 43 cents in Logansport, and 25.7 cents in the townships. Two cents of the rate will go towards equipment replacement.
MIAMI COUNTY - Monday morning, at approximately 11:00, officers from the Miami County Sheriff's Office and the Indiana State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on County Road 500 South east of County Road 50 West, which injured a Peru man.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that 55 year old Michael Newman, from Peru, was driving a dump truck eastbound on County Road 500 South. East of County Road 50 West, the dump truck, for an unknown reason, traveled off the south side of the road. Newman overcorrected, bringing the truck onto the paved road surface, but once again traveled of the south side of the road causing the truck to overturn. The truck came to rest on the driver side after having struck a tree. Newman had to be extricated from the vehicle by fire department personnel.
Newman was transported by Helicopter, to Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne, with unknown injuries. He was not wearing seat belt. The International dump truck was a Miami County Highway vehicle. Newman was working at the time of the crash.
INDIANAPOLIS - On Saturday, February 27, Lewis Cass High School sent 41 instrumentalists to the ISSMA State Solo & Ensemble at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Those 41 students earned a total of 56 medals. Of those medals, 51 were gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze.
These students or groups earned Gold medals for their Group I performance:
LOGANSPORT - Logansport Fire Department crews were dispatched to a residential fire at 804 Spear, just before 10:30 Sunday night. The occupants of the two-story home were out when crews arrived on the scene. Smoke could be seen coming from the room as firefighters battled the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
LOGANSPORT - Just after 2:00 Monday morning, Logansport Fire Department crews were called to a fire at Columbia Middle School. Assistant Chief Kim Costello says crews could see smoke in the hallways when they arrived. Firefighters made their way to the science room, where it is believed the fire began. According to Costello, the room was totally engulfed in flames when they got there. A couple of windows were broken to help ventilate the room, and the fire was put out.
While the investigation into the fire is ongoing, Superintendent Julie Lauck says it appears that the fire was caused by a heat lamp, that was heating a snake cage.
LOGANSPORT - Less than 20 parents were on hand Thursday night at Franklin Elementary for an informational meeting concerning standardized wear. The program is currently being piloted at Fairview.
Of the parents who spoke, three indicated that they would support expanding standardized wear to Franklin, one was neutral, and one expressed some concern over it.
At a meeting earlier in the week at Landis, some of the parents asked for statistical data that standardized wear would improve the students ability to learn.
A similar informational meeting is set for next Thursday at Columbia Elementary, and it will begin at 6:30.
CASS COUNTY - A 48 year old Wabash man has been sentenced to 30 years with the Department of Correction, including 18 executed for a string of burglaries, he committed. Timothy G. White plead guilty to three Class "B" felony burglary charges, following incidents that took place at a number of Cass County homes from September through December 2008.
The plea agreement was accepted, and the sentence handed out Thursday in Cass Circuit Court.
White's attorney said that while the burglaries were committed, his client had a severe addiction to crack cocaine. White had previously admitted in court that he took the items from the homes in order to sell them, so he could purchase drugs.
LOGANSPORT - The window for the next round of ISTEP testing begins on Monday. Michele Starkey, the curriculum director in the Logansport Community School Corporation says this particular set of tests is for third through eighth graders, and is the applied skills portion of the tests.
According to Starkey, while the tests can be difficult at times, and while it's important for students to do their best on them, administrators and teachers do not want students to stress out over them.
Administrators hope to have the results of the exams from the state, by the end of the academic year.
CASS COUNTY - A good deal of interest continues to be expressed in analyzing the wind in Cass County. In fact, Dave Arnold, a member of the County Commissioners, indicates that while one met tower has already been set up, two additional towers are being considered for the Northern portion of Cass County as well.
Arnold says the hope is that two other met towers will also go up in Southern Cass County, including one at some point in March. Arnold indicates that, that particular met tower will likely be in Deer Creek Township.
LOGANSPORT - The Logansport City Council has just received the official word from the state on the 2010 budget. Scott Kraud, the Chairman of the City Council Finance Committee says the D-L-G-F has indicated that it was approved as is. So, Kraud says the cuts that had been discussed over the past few months will now be put on hold. And Kraud says while it will be a council decision, he believes the pool will be allowed to open this summer.
CASS COUNTY - A couple of public informational meetings have been set up in the Southeastern School Corporation, where administrators will present some ideas the corporation is planning on implementing, to deal with state budget cuts. Superintendent Dr. John Bevan says that 758,000 dollars needs to be trimmed from the 2010 budget alone.
The meetings will take place on March 3rd and 4th at 7:00 both evenings. The meeting on March 3rd will be at Thompson Elementary, and the meeting on March 4th is set for Galveston Elementary.
