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.
CASS COUNTY - The Cass County Arts Alliance is looking to diversify Art on the Avenue. CCAA board president and Art on the Avenue committee chair, Lisa Terry, stays, "We are actively seeking Latino performers and artists for the festival. Thanks to our Latino residents, our community is much richer culturally and we hope to showcase these talents at our annual arts festival."
The committee is looking for a Latino folk dance group, a Latino rock band, a mariachi band, Latino visual artists and crafters, and Latino poets and writers. The festival is September 17 and 18 at Little Turtle Waterway in Logansport. For more information, contact the alliance office at 574-735-ARTS or info@casscountyarts.org.
CASS COUNTY - Cass County Community Foundation Executive Director Deanna Crispen has announced Cass Countys 2010 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program finalists:
Ryan J. Bice, of Pioneer High School
Sarah M. Cahalan , of Logansport High School
Susannah D. Cox, of Logansport high School
Evan P. Dailey, of Pioneer High School
Brett M. Davis, of Logansport High School
Bryce J. Fawcett, of Logansport High School
Applications were received from students attending the four high schools serving Cass County. All identifying information, such as students name, school name, gender, etc, was removed from the applications for the selection process.
We believe that the six finalists selected truly represent the most-qualified, college-bound seniors in Cass County. The finalists were selected based solely on the criteria, which include academic ability, achievements, activities and citizenship; however, financial need is not a consideration, says Executive Director Deanna Crispen.
From the six finalists, two Cass County students will be awarded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships which will pay their full four-year tuition at any Indiana college or university, plus required fees. Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship recipients will also receive $800 per year for books and required equipment. Per CCCF Executive Director Deanna Crispen, Lilly Endowment Inc. continues to be a generous benefactor to our outstanding local students and their educational goals. We are grateful for this incredible program that has motivated and provided funding for twenty-seven Lilly Endowment Community Scholars in Cass County since 1998."
LOGANSPORT - No one was injured, but a significant amount of damage was done to a Logansport home during an early morning fire on Sunday. According to Rex Danley, with the Logansport Fire Department, the initial call came in at 4:45 to 909 20th, and additional manpower was also requested.
According to Danely, Jason and Jacki Brumett were walking out of the home, when firefighters arrived on the scene. He says most of the fire damage was to the front of the house, and the roof did collapse.
Fire Investigator Ted Franklin says the cause of the fire is accidental, and it appears to have begun around the fireplace.
Crews remained on the scene for about four hours. The damage estimate is approximately 80,000 dollars, and the home is considered a total loss.
CASS COUNTY - The Logansport/Cass County Chamber of Commerce has announced the date of final 3rd House Session in Cass County for the 2010 legislative session.
This Saturday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the West Side Diner in Logansport, State Representatives Rich McClain and Doug Gutwein and Senator, Randy Head will be on hand to give a final update on key legislation as the 2010 session draws to a close.
All three lawmakers will discuss the progress on their work in the short session and will be available for a question and answer session.
The Chamber and the Cass County Farm Bureau have teamed up to to provide this opportunity for residents of Logansport and Cass County to have one-on-one time with their State Legislators.
