CASS COUNTY - Tuesday the Cass County Community Foundation held a pizza party scholarship reception for 2010 scholarship recipients and their families, as well as donors, board members, and volunteers at McHale Complex in Riverside Park.This year, the Cass County Community Foundation awarded 87 scholarships totaling close to $424,000 including the two Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships, which pay full four-year tuition plus a yearly book stipend.

In addition, the reception included the presentation of the 2010 Back Home Again in Indiana Scholarship. This year scholarships were awarded to a record number of recipients. The seven adults receiving the awards are: Misty Biggs, Theresa Dexter, Michael Fry, Robert Gordon, Amber Jordan, Angela Jones, and Randi Wecht who will each receive $500 to further their education.

Deanna Crispen, the Executive Director of the Community Foundation...

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This scholarship is specifically designed to assist Cass County's non-traditional students, such as those who are entering or returning to college after raising a family or pursuing a career

CASS COUNTY - Eel Township Trustee Tom Knepper addressed the Cass County Commissioners Monday concerning the agreement between Eel, Clay, Noble and Miami Townships to form a fire district. Knepper says at this point the ordinance that would establish the district is not ready; he hopes it will be by the commissioners second meeting this month...

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Dave Arnold is President of the Cass County Commissioners...

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A number of people expressed opposition to the proposed district. The next meeting of the Cass County Commissioners is June 21st.

LOGANSPORT - Trine University is one step closer to opening its doors in Logansport. Monday the city council gave initial approval of an ordinance that would allow for the use of Eastgate funds, totaling approximately 80,000 dollars to renovate a portion the former Ivy Tech Building for Trine. Logansport Mayor Mike Fincher talks about the importance of investing in the future, and of having an educated workforce...

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David Wood, the Dean of the School of Professional Studies at Trine, says a good deal of interest, from this area, is already being expressed in the University...

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Formal approval of the ordinance is expected to take place during a special council meeting in a couple of weeks.

LOGANSPORT - The annual Med Flory Jazz and Blues Festival officially wrapped up Sunday afternoon at Little Turtle Waterway in Logansport. Spokeswoman Lita Rouser...

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For the first time the festival was held at Little Turtle Waterway...

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We had a LIVE Broadcast Extravaganza from the Med Flory Jazz and Blues Festival on Saturday night.

CASS COUNTY - Preliminary investigation by meteorologists from the National Weather Service indicates that several tornadoes did move through a number of counties in our area, including Southern Cass, early Sunday morning. Lonnie Fisher, with the Northern Indiana Office, describes what they have discovered...

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Cass County E-M-A Director Alvin Beckman, was in Deacon with the weather service representatives, and WSAL/Mix 102 and Hoosier Country news and talked about what happened with a home in that area...

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The occupant of the home was taken to Memorial Hospital for treatment. We kept you ahead of the storms with radar updates throughout the duration of the severe weather.

The National Weather Service indicates that an EF-0 hit White County, two EF-1's in Carroll County damaging more than 10 homes in the Northern portion of the County. The tornado in Cass County was an EF-1, and an EF-3, the strongest in the area, moved through portion of Miami County, damaging more than 10 structures.

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger has received notice that the B Company, 2-151st Infantry, will return from deployment Saturday, June 5 to Indianapolis. The unit, headquartered in Logansport, is expected to arrive at Stout Field the morning of Saturday, June 5 at approximately 5:30 AM, Indianapolis time.

Family and friends will greet the B Company at Stout Field prior to the unit completing a five-day out processing at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center.

The approximately 160 Soldiers of B Company conducted a heavy operation of security missions while deployed to Afghanistan, including providing a quick reaction force capability to commanders.

B Company’s primary responsibility was to embed with the Afghan National Police and mentor the developing security force as the country strives to establish a sustainable safe and secure environment.

B Company has been operating in theater since August of 2009.
“Security provided by the Afghan security forces is the key to minimizing our involvement in Afghanistan’s internal affairs,” said Maj. Gen. Umbarger. “The work Bravo Company has accomplished over the last year is what will make it possible.”

INDIANAPOLIS - On Thursday, Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell held a Command Meeting with department command personnel from across the state to announce the planned consolidations of State Police Posts. Along with the consolidations, several existing state police posts will have counties added to or removed from the present district boundaries. Sergeant Tony Slocum with the Peru Post says one change will be taking place in Peru...

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So the Peru Post, will add Grant County from the present day Redkey Post. The Peru Post will serve the seven counties of Cass, Fulton, Grant, Howard, Miami, Tipton, and Wabash.

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Terre Haute Post will consolidate with the Putnamville Post effective July 1st, Connersville Post will consolidate with the Pendleton Post effective September 1st, Redkey Post will consolidate into portions of the Fort Wayne, Pendleton and Peru Posts effective November 1st.

The consolidations will not result in involuntary job loss by any civilian or police personnel. All civilian personnel will have the opportunity to transfer to a position at other state police facilities. State police road troopers, detectives and supervisory squad sergeants will continue serving within the counties they are presently assigned. The District and Assistant District Commanders of the consolidated posts will receive new assignments that will not result in loss of rank.

CASS COUNTY - Four of the townships in Cass County have decided to form a fire district. According to a news release, Clay, Eel, Noble and Miami will form Fire District Number One, under the contractual services of the New Waverly Fire Department. Tom Knepper, the Eel Township Trustee...

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A location for the additional fire station has not been announced. The Fire District still needs to be approved by the Cass County Commissioners, who meet Monday afternoon at 1:00. Knepper was asked if this will be a volunteer effort...

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According to the release, the targeted date for full operation of Fire District Number One is December 31st of this year. Contracts will be made with fire departments that have been contracted with in the past.

ROYAL CENTER - Some Pioneer High School students were recognized earlier this week during the annual senior awards program. High School Principal Bob Brock was pleased with the gathering, and had the final figure...

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Brock was asked what that amount says for this year's senior class...

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Pioneer High School Principal Bob Brock.

FT. WAYNE - A former Ft. Wayne man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison, after pleading guilty to three charges, including possession of counterfitted security. 39 year old William Sherman Smith, Junior also entered guilty pleas to possession with intent to use identification documents for fraud, and use of identificaton documents for fraud.

At the time of his arrest, authorities indicated that he had had more than 120 state-BMV-issued I-D cards. Police investigators say he somehow got Ohio birth certificates in the names of people close to his age. He would then use those at a license bureau office, and add an Indiana address. The cards would also contain his picture.

The Logansport Police Department played a key role in the capture of the suspect. Detective Rob Smith, who is no relation to the suspect, explains how L-P-D got involved...

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The suspect was taken into custody in Nebraska...

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Over 180,000 dollars in restitution was ordered, to Marsh and Meijer. Detective Smith received some special recognition from the United States Secret Service for the work he has done in the case that led to the capture of William Sherman Smith, Junior.