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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(WARSAW) - (AP) - A 15-year-old northern Indiana boy has offered to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting death of his stepfather in exchange for prosecutors dropping charges of murder and aiding murder. The Times-Union of Warsaw reports that Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed will decide September 27th whether to accept the plea agreement. If he does, the teen faces 20 years to 50 years in prison. The boy and a 12-year-old friend are accused of shooting to death 49-year-old Phillip Danner in April at his home near Lake Wawasee. The 15-year-old boy testified Wednesday that he and his friend
waited for Danner in a living room and shot him when he entered.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(AUBURN) - Northern Indiana Fuel & Light has filed a proposal to consolidate with Northern Indiana Public Service Company. N-I-F-L is already owned by NIPSCO's parent company, NiSource. As part of the consolidation process, N-I-F-L filed a natural gas base rate case with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, it's first in nearly 20 years. In a news release the company said residential customers would see a smaller base rate increase under the consolidation proposal than if the company remained as a stand-alone company. The company said staffing levels will not be impacted by the filing, and existing facilities where employees work will remain in place. It goes on to say the consolidation would allow N-I-F-L customers to take advantage of programs, products and services already offered to NIPSCO customers.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County Prosecutor Tom Wilson has filed a felony count of official misconduct against a state trooper who resigned his commission Tuesday following an alleged incident with a 19-year-old woman this summer on the Toll Road in Steuben County. 28-year-old Michael Mosier is also facing two misdemeanor counts of battery. Mosier was a trooper for 2-and-a-half years and was assigned to the Toll Road. A state police news release say the charges resulted from an investigation by the State Police Criminal Investigation Division. After pulling her over for speeding, Mosier is accussed of allegedly touching the woman's chest and bottom after telling her to get into his police cruiser. Wilson says Mosier has been issued a summons to appear in court at a future date to answer to the charges. No court date has been scheduled yet.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(ALBION) - Bond for a Wolcottville man was set at $25,000 on Thursday during a Noble County initial hearing on charges that were filed after a August 22nd traffic accident that investigators think was alcohol related. 40-year-old Harold Bruce is facing five charges and two infractions in connection with the accident when he collided with another car at an intersection southwest of Kendallville. The crash seriously injured one of his two daughters. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf during the initial hearing. Bruce surrendered at the Noble County Jail after he was released from Parkview-Noble Hospital.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(AUBURN) - What is being called the world's greatest classic car show and festival got underway on Thursday in Auburn. The 54th annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival kicked off with a luncheon at the A-C-D Museum and the return of about 50 classic cars that took part in the A-C-D Festival Hoosier Tour. The festival runs through Labor Day. The schedule includes three auctions, a downtown cruise-in on Friday night and the Parade of Classics through the streets of Auburn on Saturday afternoon starting at 1:00pm. Classic Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs will be parked around the Courthouse Square in downtown Auburn after the parade. Something new this year will be Duesenbergs seeing how fast they can go on the runway at Kendallville Municipal Airport on Friday night. More information on the festival can be found at acdfestival.org.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(ANGOLA) - After some drainage concerns were raised, the Steuben County Plan Commission decided on Wednesday night to table a requested zoning change for a proposed convenience store near Clear Lake. Ned and Judy Sullins petitioned for the zoning change from agriculture to local business on about two acres of land east of 7050 East State Road 120. The store would be operated by Mark Yackee. Those who spoke said they were not opposed to the proposed store. But there were some worries about runoff into Clear Lake and into a nearby tiled ditch. Plan Commission Chair and County Surveyor Larry Gilbert felt some issues needed to be addressed which included drainage and access to the store. The request was tabled so that the petitioners could have more time in putting their plans together.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The on again, off again race for the Steuben County Clerks office is on again. In a ruling issued on Monday, Steuben County Circuit Judge Allen Wheat vacated a July 27th ruling by the Steuben County Election Board and placed Democratic candidate Mahlon Lautzenhiser back on the November ballot in the election for County Clerk. Lautzenhiser was removed from the ballot when the Election Board felt he was not a registered voter following a challenge to his candiacy by Republican Marian Nix. In his appeal, Lautzenhiser says the boards decision was errorneous because his status as a registered voter was accepted by the Clerks office up until he filed his candiacy in July. Lautzenhiser also said he should not have been purged off of the voting records because he did not change his address and it was done so without his knowledge. Judge Wheat said in his seven page ruling that the Steuben County Voter Registration Board failed to follow protocol under state law when they removed Lautzenhiser as a registered voter by omitting the first step of a two step process concerning his address.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Council trimmed over $443,000 from the county's proposed 2011 General Fund budget on Wednesday. The Council spent nearly nine hours going through line items from the various county departments. Another $1.6 million will have to be cut in order to get the budget down to its targeted amount of just under $10.5 million. That amount is in anticipation of the general fund consuming $630,000 in cash balance during 2011. The Council did not made a final decision on 2011 salaries for county employees during Wednesdays meeting. They are scheduled to resume budget work on Thursday morning.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(BUTLER) - A Butler man was among six suspects arrested on Wednesday as part of a federal investigation into the trafficking of ice or crystal methamphetamine. Taken into custody during a raid at his home in the 400 block of East Main was 32-year-old James B. Morris II after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Fort Wayne on four counts of distributing methamphetamine. Indictments were also returned against five Fort Wayne residents. Three were charged with conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Northeast Indiana SWAT team took part in the Butler raid. The U.S. Attorneys Office says the F.B.I. along with the Safe Streets Task Force and Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team served search warrants at eight residences. The round up came after a year-long investigation in the Fort Wayne area. G-NET is comprised of special agents and detectives from the F.B.I., the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriffs Department and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The IMAGE Drug Task Force joined local and federal drug enforcement officials in the investigation.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(AUBURN) - Auburn Police say a teenage boy has been found safe and sound after they say he left his home Tuesday night without permission. Police Sgt. Steve Vallance says 15-year-old Riley M. Randall was located about 24 hours after he left the Jerry Junction Apartments on Rohm Drive. Vallance says Auburn Police will now be working with the DeKalb County Juvenile Probation Department. He adds the police department would like to thank everybody who assisted in the search.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
(KENDALLVILLE) - Labor Day Weekend is always a busy one around Kendallville with the annual Bluegrass Festival at the fairgrounds. But this year the city will see about 250 classic cars parade through the streets on Friday before a speed exhibition and other activities at the airport. The Auburns, Cords and Duesenbergs will leave Auburn at noon and head to Waterloo before turning west on U.S. 6 towards Kendallville. They'll arrive in Kendallville between 1:15 and 1:30 and head south on Riley Street to Diamond Street, then west to Main Street and back north again to State Road 3 and the airport. That's where the Ab Jenkins Memorial Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed...a sort of gentleman's race will put the cars side-by-side on the airport runway. There will also be vintage aircraft on display, including a World War II B-25 bomber, one of only two still in existence. Gates at the Kendallville Airport open at noon with the race starting at 3:30. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $25 for families. Meanwhile, the bluegrass festival kicks off Thursday evening with a free admission community night. Admission Friday is $8, with Saturday admission at $15 and Sunday $12. A weekend pass is $25.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
(TURKEY LAKE) - An autopsy failed to determine the cause of a Stroh area man's death last Saturday. What that autopsy did show was that 19-year-old Thomas Freed did not sustain any life-threatening injuries from a fall as was initially reported to LaGrange County deputies. Freed, who was wheelchair bound, was at a party on an island at Big Turkey Lake when he collapsed for unknown reasons. Medical personnel and police found the 19-year-old Prairie Heights High School graduate unresponsive. He was taken to Cameron Memorial Community Hospital in Angola where he was pronounced dead. Police say Freed's blood alcohol content was .29 percent...more than three times the legal limit. Toxicology results are pending and the investigation continues.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
(ANGOLA) - M.S.D. of Steuben County Superintendent Brent Wilson told the district's school board during a special meeting on Tuesday night that enrollment is up by 54 students so far this school year. While there has been an 11 student drop at the middle school, Wilson says there are 46 more students at the high school. The four elementary schools all had small increases in their student populations. Each new student means an additional $5,500 in state funds for the district. Wilson says the official count will be taken on September 17th. In other business, the board approved an additional full day kindergarten section for Carlin Park Elementary. Because of that, Judy Wakefield was hired as a new kindergarten teacher. The board also formally approved the districts budget for capital projects and bus replacements.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
(STURGIS) – A Sturgis teen is dead after being run over by a car Tuesday afternoon in Michigan's St. Joseph County. St. Joseph County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the intersection of U.S. 12 and White School Road just west of Sturgis at about 12:45pm. Investigators say 17 year old Joshua David Hughes was riding his bicycle west on U.S. 12 on the south side of the road. Hughes lost control of his bike and fell into the path of an eastbound vehicle driven by 88 year old Sarah Hardesty of Sturgis. Hardesty was unable to stop her vehicle and struck Hughes who was pronounced dead at the scene. Hardesty was not injured. Deputies were assisted by Sturgis Police, the Tri Township Fire Department and Life Care Ambulance. The accident remains under investigation.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
(ANGOLA) – Cameron Memorial Community Hospital will be presenting the “Complete Cancer Care” lecture series on Thursdays during the month of September. The one hour lectures will be held at the Regional Cancer Care Center each Thursday starting at 4:00pm. The sessions are free and open to the public. Four classes will be offered as part of the series, each will focus on a different aspect of health and recovery. All area residents dealing with a cancer diagnosis or who has a friend or loved one dealing with cancer are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to register, call 665-2141, extension 2163.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
(AUBURN) - There were some doubts several months ago but a traditional Labor Day weekend event in northeast Indiana will continue this year. A ceremony in which an engine belt was cut instead of a ribbon was held on Tuesday at the newly renamed Auburn Auction Park where the inaugural Auburn Fall Collectors Car Auction is expected to pick up where Kruse International left off. The event is being hosted by Auctions America, which is a subsidiary of Ontario-based RM Auctions. The company bought Kruse International and the auction park near Auburn in July. Kruse conducted a Labor Day weekend auction for nearly four decades. But the recession led to financial troubles for Dean Kruse and the state took away his auctioneers license for two years earlier this year due to slow payments to customers. Auctions America Chief Financial Officer Ed Cepuran says they have made a financial investment of "seven figures" into the park. Company President Donnie Gould says they have made a lot changes since taking over in early July which has led to a lot of 15 to 16 hour days. This years automobile auction will run from Thursday through Sunday starting at 11:00am each day. Organizers say over 1,000 collector cars will be presented during the auction. What is being called the star consignment is an originally built 1934 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Sedan. For more information on the event, log onto auctionsamerica.com.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
(CLAY TOWNSHIP) - A fire of unknown origin destroyed two barns and a silo southwest of LaGrange on Tuesday evening. LaGrange firefighters were called to the Wilma Beechy farm on County Road 250 West just before 5:30pm. Elmer Beechy occupies the farm and spotted the barn on fire. LaGrange Fire Chief Matt Huffman says the first barn was about 40 feet by 100 feet in size and was full of hay. A smaller 20 by 30 feet unattached barn was also destroyed along with a silo full of silage. Firefighters were able to spray and cool down the house, which was next in line, and a second small outbuilding. The house's siding was scorched. Beechy told Huffman two calves may have perished in the fire, but other animals inside the barn were saved. Firefighters from Shipshewana and Topeka assisted LaGrange units and remained on the scene till about 10:00pm. Elmer Yoder Excavating assisted with demolition of the barn so firefighters could extinguish hot spots. No injuries were reported. The cause remains under investigation.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(INDIANAPOLIS) - (AP) - A new report shows Indiana hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers recorded 94 preventable medical errors in 2009, a drop from the 105 mistakes reported in 2008 and 2007. Hospitals in the area reporting such errors last year include Parkview-LaGrange, Goshen General, Elkhart General, Memorial and St. Joseph in South Bend, and Lutheran in Fort Wayne. The most common error in the 2009 report was a foreign object such as a sponge left in a patient after surgery. Elkhart General had one such error. The report released Monday by the state Department of Health counted 17 instances of surgery performed on the wrong body part. There was one incident each at Memorial South Bend, St. Joseph South Bend, and Lutheran in Fort Wayne. Memorial South Bend also reported one instance of operating on the wrong patient and one instance of using the wrong gas or contaminating a patient's gas line. Pressure ulcers, or bed sores, occurred 22 times in 2009 - down from 33 the previous year. Parkview LaGrange reported one such incident and Goshen General had two. The report from the Indiana Medical Error Reporting System credited the drop in bed sores to a statewide initiative focused on improving care for patients at risk for developing such sores.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Due to economic conditions, the Lilly Endowment has been forced to reduce the number of scholarship recipients for each county in Indiana for 2011. That means the Steuben County Community Foundation will only be able to award one Lilly scholarship next year instead of two as in past years. Officials for the endowment point out that when the scholarship program started in 1998, the average cost of tuition and fees for each scholar was just under $50,000 for four years of study. For 2011, the average cost per scholar is estimated at $106,000 for the same time period.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(COLDWATER) – A Bronson man has been arraigned on drug charges following his arrest Monday. Branch County District Court officials say 45 year old Thomas Frank Fulop is charged with operating and maintaining a meth lab. He is being held in the Branch County Jail on $75,000 bond. Bronson Police say they stopped Fulop's vehicle just after midnight on Monday and found meth components in the car. Fulop gave police permission to search his house in the 400 block of North Walker Street where police say they found items used to manufacture meth. Four young children were removed from the house and placed into the custody of Child Protective Services. Fulop is scheduled to have his preliminary examination in Branch County District Court on September 9th.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(EMMA) - Four Westview High School students face disciplinary action along with criminal charges after police found a controlled substance in a student's vehicle Monday. Westview High School Principal Rich Cory notified the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department after receiving information about the incident. Marijuana was found in a 1996 Dodge Intrepid belonging to one of the students. Their names were not released because the four are juveniles.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(UNDATED) - The National Weather Service says some much needed rain could be in our area on Wednesday and Thursday. It has been virtually dry following the heavy rain of August 11th when nearly two inches fell in some areas. Angola's National Weather Service observer Ed Nagle says the city has gotten less than a half inch, .37 to be exact, since the downpour three weeks ago. He says thanks to that heavy rain, Angola has gotten 3.28 inches for the month which is just about normal for August.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(AUBURN) - The Federal Aviation Administration is providing a grant of over $184,000 for the De Kalb County Airport so that a runway can be extended. The grant was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. It will provide funds to reimburse DeKalb County for land acquisition and an environmental assessment to extend the runway. The announcement was made in a joint news release issued by State Representatives Dick Dodge, Bob Morris and Phyllis Pond.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - A pair of brothers were arrested last week and are facing federal court proceedings in connection with the recent robberies of the C.V.S. Pharmacies in Ligonier and Leo. 26-year-old Josiah Davis of Ashley and 18-year-old Jonathan Davis of Delta, Ohio were taken into custody as investigators say they conspired to steal thousands of dollars worth of painkillers. Indiana State Police Detective Mark Hefflefinger says Jonathan Davis was the one who allegedly went inside of the stores to commit the robberies. The News-Sun says Jonathan Davis is charged with robbery and burglary involving a controlled substance while Josiah Davis was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and unlawful transportation of a firearm. Police got a break in the case when Josiah Davis was arrested last Wednesday in Allen County for speeding.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(ALBION) - Noble County authorities have issued a warrant for a Wolcottville man's arrest following a August 22nd traffic accident that investigators think was alcohol related. 40-year-old Harold Bruce along with his 31-year-old wife Janice and the couples two daughters were injured in a two-vehicle crash at 500 East and 415 North southwest of Kendallville. Harold Bruce is wanted on three felony counts of driving under the influence as well as two misdemeanor charges. The Noble County Sheriffs Department said at the time of the accident that a car driven by Bruce failed to stop at the intersection and pulled into the path of a southbound car driven by Michael Burton of Fort Wayne. Deputies say Harold Bruce told them his brakes did not work. But, police say they found open alcoholic beverage containers in and around the vehicle at the time of the crash.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(FREMONT) - A public hearing which only lasted a few minutes was held on Monday night on the Town of Fremont's advertised $3.6 million budget for 2011. Clerk-Treasurer Kathy Parsons said the levy increase is anticipated to be at three-and-a-half percent. As for proposed projects, the budget includes about $225,000 for streets and $354,000 for the downtown revitalization project. The budget also includes money for a new police car. The town plans to apply for a state grant to help pay for the project in October. Parsons said the town is looking at a 12 percent decrease in EDIT and LOIT funds next year adding the town has not utilized any of its Local Option Income Tax money this year. There is $550,000 in Major Moves money in the 2011 budget but Parsons said they will probably pursue a budget reduction resolution like they have in the past in order to free up those monies for the following year.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Angola Mayor Dick Hickman along with Cameron Memorial Community Hospital officials have presented the first Angola Mayor’s Beautification Award to Phillip and Mary Ann Williams. The Williams were awarded this first honor for their landscaping at 612 East Broad. The award, which is sponsored by Cameron Hospital, will be presented once a month. May through October honorees will be recognized for residential landscape beautification while November through April award winners will be honored for the beautification of the exterior of the residential property. The public is invited to nominate themselves or another resident. Nominations must be located within the Angola city limits and the area nominated must be visible from the public right of way. Nomination forms are available on the City of Angola’s website at angolain.org or on Cameron Memorial Community Hospital’s website at cameronmch.com. For more information on the award, contact Angola City Planner Julie Cole at 665-7465.
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Tuesday, August 31, 2010
(COLDWATER) – A Coldwater man was found guilty on Friday of two counts of arson in connection with a three year old fire. A jury in Branch County Circuit Court found 22 year old Devin Maggart guilty on charges of arson and placing explosives near property in connection with a fire that destroyed a Quincy School district portable classroom. According to Branch County Circuit Court officials, the charge of arson is a ten year felony while the charge of placing an explosive device is a twenty year felony. Maggart was arrest and charged in the crime in July 2009. The jury deliberated for 11 hours before announcing the verdict. Maggart is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - That pedestrian who was struck by a police cruiser in Fort Wayne last Friday morning has died. Fort Wayne Police issued a statement this morning saying 34-year-old Rodney Haynes died from injuries he suffered when he was struck by a squad car at North Clinton Street and Lima Road. Police say it's not clear if Haynes was crossing the street or standing there when he was struck by Officer Kevin Jolas' police cruiser. Jolas was responding to a non-emergency call without his red lights or siren activated. A standard alcohol breath test on the officer was negative. A blood test is pending. Fort Wayne Police Chief Rusty York said there's no reason to believe Haynes was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, but blood tests will be done.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(BRONSON) - A traffic stop led to a methamphetamine bust early Monday morning at a home in Bronson. Bronson Police say the stop took place shortly before 2:00am. They say the officer who made the stop found meth components in the vehicle. The driver gave police permission to search his home in the 400 block of North Walker which led to the discovery of what were described as meth making ingredients. The man, whose name has not been released pending a District Court arraignment, was arrested for operating and maintaining a meth lab. Four children in the home were placed in the custody of child protective services. A hazerdous materials team from Plainwell had to be called in to remove the items from the house. The Branch County Sheriff’s Department and Bronson Firefighters assisted at the scene.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The neighborhood around Cameron Hospital is starting to change as the hospital carries out plans to build a new facility. A total of 15 homes along with several garages were auctioned off piece by piece over the last two Saturdays in preparation for demolition. The homes were on East Gale, East South, South Euclid and South Washington. Seven were auctioned off on August 21st, eight more were auctioned off this past Saturday. Hinsdale Auctionerring of Coldwater was commissioned by Cameron Hospital to sell the homes and garages to make room for the new hospital construction and expansion. The earliest construction will start is next May. Plans call for the new hospital to be occupied in September of 2012.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(LAOTTO) - Three people were injured on Sunday night in a two vehicle crash at the intersection of County Road 327 and 11-A in DeKalb County. DeKalb County Police say a car driven by 45-year-old Julie Lothamer of Auburn failed to yield at the intersection just before 6:00pm and struck another car driven by 48-year-old Jane Pepple of Auburn on the drivers side. A passenger in the Lothamer car, 22-year-old Shawn Lothamer of Fort Wayne, suffered a concussion and minor abrasions. Julie Lothamer and another passenger, 21-year-old Kalynn Clark of Fort Wayne, both complained of pain. Pepple was not injured. Both vehicles were described as a total loss.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(ALBION) - Police in Noble County arrested two people over the weekend for allegedly possessing methamphetamine. 22-year-old Christopher Jacobs Arispe of Wawaka was arrested Friday. He was held without bond pending a court appearance. 23-year-old Jeremy Lee Luna of Kendallville was lodged Sunday on a warrant. Bond for Luna was set at $10,000. Both men were lodged in the Noble County Jail at Albion.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Some Trine University students have gone green with one of their projects. After being challenged by Assistant Professor Thomas DeAgostino, seniors in the Department of Engineering Technology have developed the concept of a “green” bicycle frame. The students found they could build a frame of bamboo with areas of easily recycled aluminum. The project is expected to be presented at a senior design expo in the spring along with a business and marketing plan.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(WHITE PIGEON TOWNSHIP) – A Nappanee, Indiana man was injured when his semi was struck by a train near White Pigeon, Michigan. St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk says 59-year-old Robert Herr of Nappanee was driving north on Crooked Creek Road just south of U.S. 12 and failed to stop at the railroad tracks. His semi and trailer were struck by an eastbound Michigan Southern train operated by 38-year-old Marc McCarty of Wolcottville. Herr was taken to Sturgis Hospital for treatment of his injuries. McCarty was not injured in the collission.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(BRONSON) - Bronson Superintendent Jim Modert says two community informational meetings and two tours of existing facilities have been scheduled as voters in the district will decide the fate of a millage issue in November. If approved, the district plans to build a new K-6 Elementary School and do upgrades and renovations to the High School. The Community informational meetings will be on September 14th and 28th. Both meetings will start at 7:00pm in the Bronson High School Cafeteria. The facilities tours will be on September 22nd starting at 5:30pm and on October 9th beginning at 10:00am. Both tours will begin at the Chicago Street School and will take approximately two hours. If you would like more bond proposal information, you can visit the district web site at www.bronson.k12.mi.us.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(BURR OAK) – Two young girls were seriously injured after being struck by a truck and trailer while riding a scooter in Burr Oak. Michigan State Police from the White Pigeon Post say the incident happened around 1:15pm on Saturday afternoon. The girls, ages 11 and 5, were on the scooter and turning left onto South Burr Oak Road. The truck was traveling south on Burr Oak Road and the scooter drove into the path of the truck. The girls were flown from the scene by West Michigan Air Care to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo where they are both listed in serious condition in the hospital's intensive care unit. State Police did not release any of the names of those involved. The crash remains under investigation.
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Monday, August 30, 2010
(EAST LANSING) – Michigan State Senator Cameron Brown has lost his bid to become the next Secretary of State for Michigan. During Saturday's Republican state convention, Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson defeated Brown in a runoff election. Calhoun County Clerk Anne Norlander, State Senator Michelle McManus and State Representative Paul Scott all lost in the first round. Last week, outgoing Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land endorsed Brown for the position. Land can not run again due to term limits. Several political analysts say Johnson won the nomination after courting supporters from the Tea Party.
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Sunday, August 29, 2010
(CORUNNA) - A Kendallville man escaped serious injury on Saturday night in a traffic accident near Corunna. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Department reports 20-year-old Dalton J. Jones was traveling on State Road 327 at about 10:30pm when he lost control of his vehicle and went off the road. The car struck two trees and sheared off a utility pole at its base before it rolled onto the drivers side and came to rest in a yard in the 3500 block of State Road 327. DeKalb County Police says Jones suffered minor cuts and scrapes. Corunna Fire Rescue and DeKalb County E.M.S. assisted at the scene.
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Saturday, August 28, 2010
(BUTLER) - A Butler man was injured Friday night in a an off-road vehicle accident in DeKalb County. Indiana Conservation Officers report 45-year-old Dayle E. Sather was operating a 1980 Honda ACT 110 on County Road 42 when he lost control of the machine and was thrown from it. Sather was treated at the scene and taken by DeKalb County E.M.S. to Dekalb Memorial Hospital. Sather was treated and released. Assisting Conservation Officers were the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department and Butler Police.
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Saturday, August 28, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - (AP) - A religious instruction program during school hours that triggered a federal lawsuit is being replaced with an after-hours program. Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County plans to begin the new initiative, called "Rising Stars Ministry," during the coming year. Earlier this month, the Fort Wayne school board voted to end weekday Bible classes held in trailers on school grounds in the face of a federal lawsuit. Associated Churches says the new program will be held about two hours a week after school hours, either at nearby churches or at school. The program will focus on religious studies and character building and will be offered in the Fort Wayne and East Allen County school districts.
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Saturday, August 28, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A night of comedy and the live auction of dog houses that have been in downtown Angola for the past week will take place Saturday night at Trine University's Fabiani Theatre. The auction starts at 10:00pm which will follow a performance by comedian Scott Dunn that begins at 8:00pm. General admission is $20 in advance and $30 at the door. The event and auction is benefiting the Steuben County Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb and Steuben Counties.
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Saturday, August 28, 2010
(NEWBURY TOWNSHIP) - A Middlebury teenager is facing charges after crashing just after midnight Friday in LaGrange County's Newbury Township. 16-year-old Brian Yoder was transported to Parkview-LaGrange Hospital after the car he was driving left County Road 900 West south of 50-North and struck a tree. The vehicle came to rest on the passenger side. Yoder complained of unspecified pain. Deputies say Yoder had been drinking and charges are pending. Meanwhile, a Middlebury woman was injured when her car left a LaGrange County road and struck a utility pole Thursday night. Police say 32-year-old Terese Shoemaker suffered a chest injury in the crash along LaGrange County Road 1150-West south of County Road 25-South. Police say Shoemaker had been drinking but tested below the legal limit. She told officers she swerved to miss an animal in the road. The car struck a Verizon telephone box and a NIPSCO utility pole at around 9:21pm.
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Saturday, August 28, 2010
(WEST OTTER LAKE) - A benefit at Kahuna's Roadhouse on U.S. 20 near 900 West has been scheduled for September 19th for an Angola couple who were injured in a June motorcycle accident. 45-year-old Brian Reed and his 49-year-old wife Polly were injured in the crash on North Wayne Street near the Meijer Store in Angola. Police say the Reeds were riding their motorcycle when they were hit by a turning car. The benefit will include entertainment that will start at 12:00noon. Behind Barres and Cadillac Ranch are scheduled to appear. There will also be a hog roast, raffles, door prizes and a auction along with a bike run that will cost $10 per person.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - A Fort Wayne man was in critical condition after being struck by a Fort Wayne police vehicle early Friday morning. 34-year-old Rodney Haynes was struck just before 2:00am where North Clinton Street and Lima Roads diverge according to the Journal Gazette. Fort Wayne Police issued a statement saying patrol officer Kevin Jolas struck Haynes while responding to a non-emergency call. His lights and siren were not activated. The accident is under investigation.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District is one of three districts in the state that has won a District Showcase Award. Kayleen Hart from the Steuben County District says the award is from the Indiana State Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is given out yearly to Districts who have done exceptional projects. The Steuben District was honored for its efforts to improve the water quality in the Pigeon Creek Watershed. Hart says she applied for the award last month. State representatives are expected to visit Steuben County sometime this fall to get a first hand look at the work the district has done to the watershed. Districts in Allen and Delaware Counties were also honored for their work by the state.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County is now a StormReady community. The National Weather Service held a recognition ceremony on Thursday at the Steuben County Community Center to honor the work local officials have done in getting the county prepared in the event of severe weather. Michael Lewis from the National Weather Service said communication between various agencies is a key. He says there is an open line of communication between the weather service and Steuben County Emergency Management Director Bill Brown. Angola Fire Department Captain Terry Gary was also honored for his efforts on tornado sirens around the county. The three year Storm Ready designation will help the county pursue grants. To qualify as "StormReady", communities have to do such things as establish a 24 hour warning point and emergency operations center; have more than one method of getting severe weather forecasts and warnings and develop a formal hazardous weather plan.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Tensions between the Pleasant Township Advisory Board and Township Trustee Tom Spidel were clearly evident on Thursday afternoon as a 45 minute question and answer session was held over a state audit report covering 2008 and 2009. Spidel and the Board have been at odds for several months over control of the Circle Hill Cemetery. Most of the Thursday's discussion and questions from board attorney Walter Helmke centered around the audit finding that the township paid over $20,000 for cemetery maintenance and repairs even though the state said the township did not get any financial consideration from the Circle Hill Cemetery Association and board minutes did not mention the cemetery was officially abandoned. Spidel's attorney Rick Samek pointed out that the contents of the audit were discussed with Spidel and members of the township board last April and that Spidel concurred with the findings. Spidel has been trying to transfer control of the cemetery to the township so that it could be properly maintained. He insists everything was done properly after some questions were raised about conveying control of the cemetery to the township from the Cemetery Association. The Association has been run by members of the local Odd Fellows lodge. Spidel says the membership is getting old and its numbers are going down. No action was taken by the board on Thursday after they questioned Spidel who was clearly upset with board members as he walked out of the meeting room.
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Friday, August 27, 2010
(LIGONIER) - Two men were flown to Parkview Hospital following a Thursday morning traffic accident on U.S. 33 south of Ligonier. The Noble County Sheriff's Department says 53-year-old Jeffrey Hochstedler of Goshen suffered injuries to his left arm, chest and head in the accident which took place after he went left of center and crashed into another vehicle driven by 75-year-old Alden Fausnaugh of Ligonier. Hochstedler and Fausnaugh were both flown to Parkview Hospital where the Sheriffs Department says at last report they were in serious condition. A passenger in Fausnaugh's vehicle, Marvey Sponhauer of Ligonier, was taken to Parkview Noble Hospital and was said to be in stable condition.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
(ALBION) - Three children between the ages of two and four were placed into protective custody following a methamphetamine raid on Wednesday in Albion. Two of the children were two-year-old twins, the other child was four years old. The Noble County Sheriffs Department says their Special Operations Group and Northeast Indiana SWAT executed a search warrant at 2813 South U.S. 33 following an investigation by the IMAGE Drug Task Force. Taken to the Noble County Jail on pending charges related to the possession and distribution of meth were 40-year-old Adam Huffman and 25-year-old Elon Napier. Both were being held without bond pending formal charges being filed. The Sheriffs Department says in a press release that the investigation is continuing.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
(MONGO) - Police in LaGrange County arrested a Mongo man Wednesday for allegedly dealing methamphetamine. While on patrol Deputy Randy Mellinger observed a vehicle parked in the G-5 parking area at the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area. That vehicle left the lot and went north to County Road 300 North before pulling into a private drive. A passenger in the vehicle, 19-year-old Dusty Edmondson of Mongo, was wanted on warrants from Steuben and Noble counties. The driver consented to a search of the vehicle and officers found an active meth lab and a quantity of suspected meth. A check of the drive where the vehicle was originally seen also turned up meth trash consistent with that in the vehicle. Officers charged Edmondson with dealing methamphetamine and lodged him in the LaGrange County Jail.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
(HOWE) - A LaGrange man wanted for escape showed up for an alleged drug buy at Nasby Damn near Howe on Tuesday afternoon. However, the deal was arranged by an undercover police officer along with members of the IMAGE Drug Task Force, the Northeast Indiana SWAT Team and LaGrange County deputies who were there to take 43-year-old Kevin Lamar Wallace into custody. Officers found items in Wallace’s vehicle consistent with the use and production of methamphetamine. Wallace was already wanted on warrants for invasion of privacy and escape. He also is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine and dealing meth. Noble County sheriff’s deputies assisted the investigation.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - A crew for the Fox TV program "America's Most Wanted" was in LaGrange County on Thursday taping a segment for an upcoming report on 28-year-old fugitive Nathan Lumbard. Lumbard is wanted on over a dozen charges in Indiana and Michigan. Those charges include the May 2009 arson of the Welch's Steak and Ribs Restaurant in Sturgis. He is also wanted for aggravated battery, failure to appear, breaking and entering and obstruction of justice. Lumbard has managed to elude police several times and has not been seen in this area since July of 2009. Indiana State Police Detective Jeff Boyd was among those interviewed by the Americas Most Wanted crew. Lumbard's case was posted on the shows web site www.amw.com last month. It's hoped the national exposure will lead to a break in the case. Lumbard is described a white male, who is between 5-6 and 5-8 tall and weighs between 150 and 160 pounds. He has blond hair and blue eyes and is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call their nearest law enforcement agency or America's Most Wanted hotline at 1-800-CRIME-TV.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
(ELKHART) - (AP) - The family of a soldier from Elkhart killed in Afghanistan says he had been on his deployment for just five weeks. The military says 28-year-old Army Pfc. Justin Shoecraft died Tuesday after he was wounded when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive in Kakarak. Donna Shoecraft says she's proud that her son wanted to serve his country and joined the Army. Shoecraft graduated from Elkhart Memorial High School in 2000 and worked for the Postal Service for seven years before joining the Army two years ago. He married his wife, Jessica Hernandez, the day before he left for basic training. Shoecraft was a member of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment based in Germany.
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Thursday, August 26, 2010
(STURGIS) – A man who allegedly assaulted a person and raped another last weekend is being held on $250,000 bond. St. Joseph County District Courts officials say that Tracy Raymond Hester is being held on charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Sturgis Police were called to the 100 block of West Chicago Road just after midnight on Sunday morning on a reported altercation. Officers found a 36-year-old man who had been stabbed multiple times. After stabbing the man, Hester allegedly raped a 28-year-old women and then left the scene. Evidence collected by police developed several leads. Officers used that information to obtain and execute a search warrant in the 1300 block of Cato Lane Sunday afternoon. They found evidence of the sexual assault at that location and arrested Hester. A preliminary conference is scheduled for August 31st. If needed, a preliminary hearing will be held on September 2nd.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The "Dragonfly Cottage" from Dennis Spidel Custom Homes has been named the winner of the People's Choice award as part of the Builders Association of Northeast Indiana's 19th annual Parade of Homes. The home was originally built in the 1930's and is located at the corner of John and Broad in Angola. The house has got a pair of two story additions and the interior was reconfigured. It was also given the Parade of Homes top building award and it also won for top landscape.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
(WATERLOO) - An Ashley teenager has died from injuries he suffered in a DeKalb County accident on Monday night. DeKalb County Police say 18-year-old Donald Snyder died on Tuesday at Parkview Hospital after he was taken there with head and internal injuries. Snyder attended DeKalb High School. The Sheriff's Department said in a news release that Snyder was a front seat passenger in a car driven by 19-year-old Dustin Gamble of Corunna which collided with another vehicle driven by 21-year-old Timothy D. Smith of Waterloo at the intersection of County Roads 28 and 31 just after 9:00pm on Monday night. Police say there was no indication either vehicle braked prior to the impact. Gamble also suffered head and internal injuries and is listed in critical condition at Lutheran Hospital. Smith was taken to Parkview Hospital after complaining of pain in his hip and upper leg.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - The Indiana D.N.R. will hold Dogs' Day of Summer at Pokagon State Park this Saturday at the park’s campground amphitheater. Campers and dog owners from the general public are encouraged to bring their four-legged best friends to compete in the Pokagon Dog Idol contests starting at 3:00pm. Dogs will be recognized in several categories. There also will be dog-and-owner look-alike contests. After the contest, there will be a Pokagon Dog Parade through the campgrounds and back to the amphitheater. Although the program is free and open to all, the normal park entrance fee will be charged or you can use your annual entrance pass.
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - Life in LaGrange County during the 1840's will be re-enacted this weekend as the annual David Rogers Days will be held. Programs at the David Rogers Memorial Park on 550 South near Wolcotville will be from 10:00am until 4:30pm on Saturday and on Sunday from 12:00noon until 5:00pm. There will be a haystack supper after the program on Saturday followed by a folk dance at 6:00pm. Admission is $2 a person and up to $10 for groups. Among the pioneer home skills demostrated will be weaving, running the smokehouse, making clothes and cooking. There will be plenty of food and music from Chandler Lauterbach and his Sly Run Band, Liza and Mark Woolever and Captain Lyon the Canaller.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - A reward is being offered by Steuben County Crime Stoppers after vandals did a large amount of damage to some buildings at the Steuben County 4-H Fairgrounds late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Crime Stoppers Coordinator Shari Dean says once the suspects got inside, they spray painted the floors and tables as well as damaging the property inside and the buildings themselves. Neesa Kalma from the Steuben County Extension Office says the vandals got into the Dairy Barn as well as the Prairie Heights F.F.A. and Swine Boosters stands. She says it's the second vandalism incident at the Fairgrounds in recent weeks. The first one involved the horse and pony stand as well as a junior leader pop stand. Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at 668-STOP or 1-800-600-HALT. You can also go to the web site steubencountycrimestoppers.org. You do not have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(BRISTOL) - (AP) - Indiana State Police say the commander of the agency's Toll Road post near Elkhart has resigned after being questioned about missing money. The agency announced Monday that Lt. Dallard Tackett resigned Friday. State police say the 58-year-old Tackett was asked about money from prosecutors offices in northern Indiana that were supposed to be sent to Indianapolis. State police said a preliminary investigation indicates that Tackett cashed the checks. State police said the missing funds could exceed several thousand dollars from at least three counties. No criminal charges were immediately filed.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(AUBURN) - The Indiana Department of Transportation says traffic on I-69 near Auburn will be restricted starting at about 9:00pm on Wednesday night and going until 6:00am the following morning. All lanes of I-69 will be diverted onto the ramps at Exit 126 in order to demolish portions of the existing bridge over the interstate. The work is weather dependent. Drivers are advised to drive with caution in the work zone. The work is also scheduled to take place during the same hours on Thursday night and Friday morning.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(AUBURN) - A Fort Wayne man charged with killing his girlfriend as part of a violent New Years Day rampage in DeKalb County has been ordered to pay the victims family over $2 million in damages as part of a wrongful death lawsuit. Judge Monte Brown signed the order against 39-year-old Ronnie R. Jones last Thursday following an August 2nd hearing. The lawsuit was filed two weeks after 32-year-old Melissa Patrick was killed. Jones is facing a murder charge in connection with her death. She was found shot to death in an Auburn group home where she worked at. Jones is also facing two counts of attempted murder and a charge of recklessness with a firearm after authorities say he tried to kill his former wife Sara Grimm and her boyfriend Jason Patrick at the Waterloo home they shared. A jury trial has been scheduled for February 22nd.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(ANGOLA) - One of the two suspects who were questioned Friday after the robbery at the Ultimate Warrior store is being accused by Steuben County authorities of not registering as a sex offender. 31-year-old Brian David Gromaski the second of Pleasant Lake was formally charged with the Class D felony on Monday during an initial hearing. Bond was set at $5,000, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf and his next court appearance was scheduled for December 3rd. Gromaski and 21-year-old Joshua Corey Smith were arrested in the Aldi Store parking lot by Angola Police on an alleged traffic violation in the minutes after the robbery but neither were charged with the robbery after they were questioned at the Steuben County Sheriffs Department. Smith was booked for driving while suspended. Two suspects in the Ultimate Warrior robbery are still at large.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A proposed new well for Lions Park may not be in the final 2011 Angola City budget after some objections were raised during a City Council special meeting and budget workshop on Monday. Over $83,000 has been budgeted for the well but Council Member David Martin felt it was not needed. But after further discussion, the money for the well was kept in the budget for now. On another matter, Street Department Superintendent Doug Anderson requested up to $100,000 in Major Moves money for street repairs and maintenance. Clerk-Treasurer Deb Twitchell pointed out that the city almost has as much Major Moves money as they did when they originally got their $3.9 million as only about $31,000 in principal has been used. It was also announced that the Angola Police Department will get an additional officer if a three year Department of Justice grant comes through. A public hearing and first reading on the budget is scheduled for September 20th. Meanwhile, the Council gave fire department officials permission to continue pursuing the lease of a fire engine. It was initially motioned to pursue a five year lease but after there were some questions about how much tax money would be available this year, the motion was withdrawn.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(BRONSON) – Bronson voters will decide the fate of a school bond issue during the November election. The Bronson Board of Education voted 6-1 to place a $23.9 million bond issue on the November ballot. The bonds would be used to finance construction of a new K-6 elementary schools and also do some remodeling of the high school. The estimated millage under this proposal is seven mills. Bronson Superintendent Jim Modert says the millage would cover demolition of the old elementary buildings, construction of the new school along with preparing and equipping playgrounds. Modert says that the district has applied to borrow $15 million in Qualified School Construction bonds. These are interest free and if Bronson get them, it would reduce the final payback costs on the millage.
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010
(INDIANAPOLIS) - While Steuben County home sales were off in July when compared to 2009 figures, median prices went up. According to figures released Monday by the Indiana Association of Realtors, 41 homes were sold in Steuben County during July when compared to 52 in July of 2009. The median price went up six percent to $118,750. As for other northeast Indiana counties, Noble County saw 26 homes sold compred to 21 in July of 2009 while LaGrange County only had 13 homes being sold in July compared to 21 the previous year. DeKalb County had 27 homes sold which was the same as last year. Median prices also went up in Noble and LaGrange Counties but down slightly in DeKalb County. Northeastern Indiana Association of Realtors Board President Dave Hardiek says the federal tax credit has improved figures through July and will continue to do so in August and September. But he adds home sales would be helped by an improved overall economy and job market.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(KENDALLVILLE) - Four members of a Wolcottville family were injured in a two-vehicle crash southwest of Kendallville Sunday evening. The crash at 500 East and 415 North happened just before 7:30pm. Noble County police say a car driven by Harold Bruce failed to stop at the intersection and pulled into the path of a southbound car driven by Michael Burton of Fort Wayne. Bruce, his wife, Janice, and daughters, 6-year-old Katlinn and 4-month-old Megan, were all taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Harold Bruce was listed in fair condition while Katlinn was in serious condition. Janice and Megan were not listed in the hospital directory. Deputies say Harold Bruce told them his brakes did not work. However, police say skid marks were found at the intersection. Police are charging Bruce with operating while intoxicated having previous offense after finding open alcoholic beverage containers in and around the vehicle at the time of the crash. Other charges are pending. Police also say the Bruce girls were improperly restrained in child seats, which contributed to their injuries. Members of Burton's family declined medical treatment.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(HOWE) – Plans are in the works to transform the old Keystone RV facility on State Road 9 into the Michiana Expo Center. The M.E.C. Board on Monday morning held a meeting to introduce it's members and the community to Jody Witzky of J.W. Promotions which is based in Ohio. Witzky says the idea is to hold different kinds of shows and expos in the facility to bring people to the Michiana area. Witzky says with the location of the facility right off the Toll Road and being just two hours away from ten major cities in a three state area, it's an ideal location for this type of endeavor. In addition, having 130,000 square feet of expo space is a big asset. So far there have been some horse sales and a furniture expo in the facility. Witzky says his company will put on three shows: a Holiday gift and craft show in December; a sportsman show in February and a home and garden show in March. Witzky says putting on these types of shows is a boon for the local economy. In addition to the three shows that Witzky's company will be promoting, Freeman Miller of the M.E.C. says they have currently scheduled twelve other shows over the next several months.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - A Michigan man was injured Sunday afternoon in a Lake James boating accident. Indiana Conservation Officer Rodney Clear says the accident happened at about 1:30pm when 50-year-old Gregory H. Smith of Dewitt, Michigan was pulling two tubers on the first basin when the ropes attached to the boat and tubes became entangled. Smith stopped the boat and with the motor running went to the rear deck to untangle the ropes. When they were untangled, Clear says Smith threw the ropes in water and told a passenger in the boat to "give the boat some gas" to get the ropes away from the propeller. When the boat was engaged in the forward gear, Smith slipped in the water. His lower right leg was injured when it struck the moving propeller. A boat in the area was flagged down to tow the Smith boat to the Potawatomi Inn boat docks. Smith was treated at the scene by Steuben County E.M.S. and Angola Fire Rescue before he was taken to Cameron Hospital. He was later transferred to Parkview Hospital where a hospital spokesperson says he is in fair condition.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A plea agreement was filed on Monday in Steuben Superior Court in connection with a June burglary case. 22-year-old Jacob Powers pled guilty to a burglary charge during a pre-trial conference. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors will dismiss a theft charge along with marijuana and paraphernalia misdemeanor charges from another case if Judge William Fee accepts the plea agreement during a September 20th sentencing hearing. Part of the plea agreement calls for Powers to serve 10 years of a 15 year sentence and he would be placed on probation for five years. Powers will be held without bond pending his sentencing hearing.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP) - A Kendallville man was killed Monday morning when the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle at a LaGrange County intersection. The LaGrange County Sheriffs Department says 24-year-old James Tackett lost his life in the accident which took place at the intersection of 100 South and 900 East at about 4:15am. A Sheriffs Department accident report states that 24-year-old James Handshoe of Avilla apparently ran a stop sign and was struck by another vehicle driven by 27-year-old Dustin Davis of Hudson. Tackett was a front seat passenger in Handshoe's car. Both vehicles were totaled in the accident. Davis and Handshoe both complained of pain following the accident. Mongo and Stroh firefighters along with LaGrange Police and LaGrange County E.M.S. assisted at the scene.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Over 100 people were on hand Saturday night as the Steuben County Democratic Party held its annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at Trine University's Whitmer Clubhouse. Indiana author and political advisor Kip Tew delivered the keynote address. Before the dinner, Tew autographed copies of his just released book 'Journey to Blue' which explains how Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Indiana since 1964. Tew said it was a bit of luck and a lot of hard work that led to the Obama win. The luck came from the Indiana Primary mattering as the battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton stretched into June. Tew said the hard work came from Obama connecting with voters at the grassroot level. Many pundits expect a bad mid term election for the Democrats and Tew admits the party has to get out of a ditch. Tew is the Former Chair of the Indiana Democratic party.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(KENDALLVILLE) - The Indiana Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate will be the keynote speaker when Noble County Democrats hold their Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner on September 11th. Brad Ellsworth will be at the Noble County Fairgrounds in Kendallville for the event which starts with a reception at 6:00pm followed by dinner at 7:00pm. The dinner will honor first responders and a portion of the proceeds will fund a scholarship to be awarded to a graduate pursuing a career in police, fire or other public services. Tickets are available from Chairwoman Carmen Darland at 237-1199.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(STURGIS) – A man is being held on charges of rape and assault following a weekend incident. Sturgis Police and the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department were called to the 100 block of West Chicago Road just after midnight on Saturday to investigate an incident. Officers say an altercation occurred between two men, resulting in the suspect stabbing the 36 year old victim three times and then knocking him unconscious. The suspect then sexually assaulted a 28 year old victim that was also in the home, then fled the scene. Investigators developed several leads that resulted in the execution of a search warrant in the 1300 block of Cato Lane. The search uncovered evidence relevant to the assaults. A 42 year old man was arrested and charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. The suspect is being held in the St. Joseph County Jail, pending arraignment in District Court.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(STURGIS) – A Sunday morning fire in Sturgis claimed the life of a woman. Sturgis Fire Fighters were called to 301 McKee Street just before 7:00am. When they arrived fire crews found heavy smoke visible from the building. Witnesses told fire fighters of a person trapped in a second floor bedroom. A ladder was placed at the window in an attempt to enter the building, but the smoke and heat were too intense. The fire claimed the life of 53 year old Maria Soledad Ortega-Martinez. Four other family members were able to escape. Fire investigators from the Sturgis Police and Fire Departments along with the Michigan State Police were on scene most of the afternoon trying to determine the cause of the fire. At this time, the cause remains undetermined and no damage estimates are available on the rental property, owned by Marcia Lou Ballard. Sturgis fire fighters were assisted at the scene by the Tri Township Fire Department, Sturgis Police and Life Care Ambulance.
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Monday, August 23, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A dedication and open house for the Faith Community Health Clinic on South Darling was held on Sunday. The non-profit clinic opened over two years ago as a way to provide free health services to those who are poor and have no insurance. The clinic moved to its permanent location in May thanks to the generosity of many donors. Among those on hand for Sundays formal dedication was the Right Reverend Edward S. Little who is the Episcopal bishop in northern Indiana.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
(ASHLEY) - Two members of the Ashley Fire Department suffered minor injuries on Friday night when their fire engine overturned at the intersection of State Street and Grand Avenue in Ashley. 38-year-old Matthew Pettit and 22-year-old Christopher Kimmel were taken to DeKalb Memorial Hospital by Steuben County E.M.S. following the accident which took place at about 7:35pm. The Steuben County Sheriffs Department says Kimmel was driving the 2005 Kenworth tanker truck when it overturned while traveling to a house fire near Pleasant Lake. They add seatbelts were in use and effective. Ashley Fire and Police along with Hudson Police assisted the Sheriffs Department at the scene of the accident.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Two men were questioned at the Steuben County Sheriffs Department on Friday after the Ultimate Warrior Store on 200 West was held up as a store employee was beaten up. The Steuben County Sheriffs Department says the hold up was reported at about 1:50pm. Chief Deputy Tim Troyer says two men in their 20's at first asked about fishing supplies. As the clerk was getting the items, one of the men showed a sawed off shotgun while the other brandished a handgun. Troyer says the two suspects locked the store's door, assaulted the clerk and then tied him up. The prepertrators took an undetermined amount of handguns, rifles and cash before leaving in a dark blue mid 1990's minivan. Angola Police later arrested two men in the Aldi Store Parking Lot after they ran a stop light at the intersection of North Wayne and Harcourt while they were in a vehicle matching the description of the one from the robbery. They were taken to the Sheriffs Department for questioning but it is believed neither one was involved in the Ultimate Warrior robbery. Investigators would like to talk to an unknown customer who found the door locked when they arrived at the Ultimate Warrior. That person along with anyone else with information is being asked to call the Steuben County Sheriffs Department. The Indiana State Police, the Indiana D.N.R. and Angola Police are assisting with the investigation.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
(LIGONIER) - A Ligonier man was injured Friday night in an Noble County ATV accident. Indiana Conservation Officer Rodney Clear says 36-year-old Christopher Geiger was operating an ATV in the area of 5535 West 1000 North just after 7:00pm when he lost control of the vehicle while performing a jump and landed in some nearby brush. Geiger was flown to Parkview Hospital by the Samaritan Helicopter for treatment of injuries to his head, chest and shoulder. As of late Friday night, Geiger was listed in Stable Condition. Indiana State Police assisted Conservation Officers during the investigation.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
(BRYAN) - The Williams County Sheriff's Office says a Toledo man was arrested on a drug charge after a two county pursuit on Thursday. 30-year-old Montrese L. Harris was arrested and taken to the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio where he was being held on a $100,000 bond. He is facing a charge of Trafficking in Crack Cocaine over the bulk amount which is a first degree felony in Ohio. Harris is also facing pending charges of felony fleeing and eluding, receiving stolen property and driving under suspension. The Sheriff's Office says the Multi-Area Narcotics Task Force was investigating a drug transaction that allegedly involved Harris. Police say he refused to stop for them as he left Holiday City. Officers from several agencies joined in the pursuit which ended in Fulton County after Harris ditched his vehicle in a farm field driveway. The MAN unit was assisted during their investigation by the Williams and Fulton County Sheriffs Department and West Unity Police.
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
(PLEASANT LAKE) - It took almost two hours for firefighters to get a house fire near Pleasant Lake under control on Friday night. A total of 11 fire departments had to be called to battle the blaze at 0600 South 500 East which was reported just after 7:00pm. The fire reportdly broke out in the homes basement. It was not call under control until about 8:45pm and crews were on the scene until about 11:00pm. Pleasant Lake firefighters got mutual aide from Angola, Fremont, Orland, Salem Center, Hudson, Ashley, Hamilton, Butler, Garrett and Waterloo crews. No further information on the fire is available at this time.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The July unemployment figures are out, and they're creeping upwards again in several area counties. Steuben County posted the only decrease in the area, falling from 11.4 to 11.3 percent. LaGrange County's jobless rate climbed from 11.1 percent in June to 11.5 percent in July as the workforce contracted and fewer people held jobs. Elkhart County had the second highest unemployment rate in Indiana as it rose from 13.7 to 13.9 percent. Noble County had the seventh highest unemployment figure in the state as their jobless rate went up from 12 percent to 12.4 percent. DeKalb County rose from 10.9 to 11.2 percent. Indiana Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Mark Everson touted an increase of 13,000 jobs in the state, but said the state's unemployment rate increased slightly to 10.2 percent. He attributes the stubborn rise in unemployment to more Hoosiers rejoining the labor force to continue their job searches. 47 out of 92 counties in Indiana had double digit unemployment rates in July.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A reward is being offered in connection with the August 10th robbery at the Citgo station on U.S. 20 near I-69. Steuben County Crime Stoppers Coordinator Shari Dean says two men were waiting for a Citgo employee at about 5:30pm that afternoon. The suspects then demanded the money the clerk had and got away, possibly in a gold four door older model vehicle. Both of the suspects are described as being Hispanic and in their 20's. One had dark wavy short hair, was 5-7 to 5-8 tall with a skinny build and no facial hair. The second suspect is shorter than 5-7 with short, dark hair. Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is asked to call Steuben County Crime Stoppers at 668-STOP or 1-800-600-HALT. You can also go to the website steubencountycrimestoppers.org. You do not have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Democratic candidate for Steuben County Clerk who was removed from the November general election ballot by the County Election Board has filed an appeal in Steuben Circuit Court. A hearing on Mahlon Lautzenhiser's appeal has been scheduled for next Tuesday morning at 11:00am. The Steuben County Election Board voted 3-0 on July 27th to remove Lautzenhizer's name from the ballot after Republican Marian Nix challenged his candidacy by claiming he was not a registered voter at the time he filed for the position. But in his appeal which was filed last Friday, Lautzenhiser says the boards decision was errorneous. He says his status as a registered voter was accepted by the Clerk of the Circuit Court until he filed his candiacy last month. Lautzenhiser also says he should not have been purged off of the voting records in 2009 because he did not change addresses and it was done so without his knowledge. The Election Board's decision left Republican Shelly Herbert unopposed for the Clerks office.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
(COLDWATER) - Two Indiana men who are already charged with robbing the Allegis Federal Credit Union in Coldwater on July 19th are now facing charges in connection with another Coldwater robbery. 37-year-old Jason Oetting of Fremont and 26-year-old Austin Wynn of Ligonier were both arraigned on Thursday in Branch County District Court on armed robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges in connection with the hold up at the P-S Food Mart on U.S. 12 and I-69 which took place about 12 hours before the credit union was robbed. Bond for both suspects was set at $250,000 and preliminary exams were scheduled for August 30th. A police chase took place after the Allegis robbery. Wynn was arrested in Branch County while Oetting was apprehended in the area of 300 West and 600 North.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
(HILLSDALE) - A Hillsdale man is facing four charges after a nine-year-old girl was killed and her mother was injured Wednesday night when their bicycles were hit by a vehicle in Hillsdale County's Cambria Township. 43-year-old Mathew Alan Bastien was arraigned Thursday on charges of operating while intoxicated causing death, O.W.I. causing serious injury, O.W.I. third offense and failure to stop. The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Department say he fled the scene following the accident which took place on South Hillsdale Road near Reading Road. Nine-year-old Amy Gollnick of Hillsdale was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 33-year-old mother Jennifer was flown from the scene by West Michigan Air Care to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. A hospital spokesperson did not have an update on her condition Friday morning.
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Friday, August 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A strategic plan for future economic development in Steuben County was presented for public review on Thursday night in the Dale Hughes Memorial Auditorium. The Steuben County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved the final draft of the plan last month. It was put together by Thomas P. Miller and Associates of Indianapolis. E.D.C. Board Chair Mayo Sanders said the plan will not go on a shelf and gather dust. The plan calls for the development of Biomedical Engineering in the county as well as the promotion of entrepreneurship and a diversification of the county’s auto manufacturing base. With hopes of making Steuben County a center for biomedical engineering, the plan cites Trine University's new Bock Center for Biomedical Engineering and the university's graduate degree program as well as Trine working with Grace College and Ivy Tech Community College at Warsaw to establish a School of Professional Studies branch campus. Other recommendations include the establishment of a redevelopment commission and enhancing the promotion of tourism. Over 100 people were interviewed as the plan was put together.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(WOODRUFF) - A couple from North Dakota escaped serious injury late Thursday morning when their small plane had to make an emergency landing in a field near Woodruff in LaGrange County. The twin-engine Cessna 310 went down in the area of 400 East and 450 South at about 11:15am. Indiana State Police reports 53-year-old Bob Ostmo and his 54-year-old wife Terryl were heading west at about 3,500 feet when the pilot felt an unusual vibration. The plane was unable to maintain its altitude. Ostmo tried to land his plane on LaGrange County Road 450 South but he clipped a R.E.M.C. pole and brought down four other poles. The left wing of the airplane was also torn off. The plane then went into a field where it struck a horse. The plane eventually came to a stop before a small fire had to be put out. The horse suffered multiple fractures and had to be put down by a local veterinarian. Johnson Township and LaGrange firefighters were sent to the scene along with the Indiana State Police, LaGrange Police and the LaGrange County Sheriffs Department. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the F.A.A. office in South Bend.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(HILLSDALE) - A suspected drunk driver is in custody after a nine-year-old girl was killed and a woman was injured on Wednesday night when their bicycles were hit by a vehicle in Hillsdale County's Cambria Township. The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Department says the vehicle fled the scene following the accident which took place just before 8:30pm as the woman and child were riding on the right edge of South Hillsdale Road just south of Reading Road. Police later arrested 43-year-old Mathew Alan Bastien of Hillsdale. After being released from the Hillsdale Community Health Center, Bastien was lodged at the Hillsdale County Jail on charges of Operating While Intoxicated causing death and O.W.I. causing serious injury. The name of the youngster who was pronounced dead at the scene has not been released. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Jennifer Lynn Gollnick of Hillsdale was flown from the scene by West Michigan Air Care to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. The Sheriffs Department says she is in critcial condition. Undersheriff William Whorley says the accident is still under investigation.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(LAOTTO) - An Avilla woman was killed Wednesday afternoon when her bicycle was hit by a car in Noble County. The Noble County Sheriff's Department says 20-year-old Talia Smith was killed in the accident which happened just after 12:00noon on Old State Road 3 north of County Road 400-South near LaOtto. Smith was riding her bike north when she was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by 48-year-old Kirk Weeks of Albion. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Weeks was taken to Parkview-Whitley Hospital for observation. Noble County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Doug Harp told the News-Sun that Weeks told them that Smith swerved into his path before she was hit. The accident is still under investigation.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(AVILLA) - A Kendallville man is wanted on six felony charges after an alleged drive by shooting incident near Avilla on Tuesday night. An arrest warrant has been signed by Noble Circuit Court Judge David Laur for 24-year-old Kenneth Barden Junior. Barden is wanted on charges of possession of a sawed off shotgun, possesion of a destructive device and possession of methamphetamine. Investigators allege that Barden fired a weapon at another man and that man's 16-month-old child while they were driving on Old State Road 3. Kendallville Police later found Barden and his car at a home in the 1300 block of Lima Road but he fled from the scene and at last report was still at large. A search warrant was obtained for the car and police say they found three sawed off shotguns along with a pair of explosive devices, meth and precursors.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(GILEAD TOWNSHIP) – Authorities believe a heat lamp was the cause of a barn fire on Thursday morning in Branch County's Gilead Township. Bronson Deputy Fire Chief Ken Stutzman says his department was called to 971 Gilead Lake Road at 4:15am. When fire crews arrived, they found a 26 by 40 foot pole barn on the ground. Lost in the fire were several chickens and ducks, about 60 bales of hay, a lawn mower, weed eater, a chain saw along with hunting and fishing gear. Stutzman says damage was estimated at $38,000. The owner of the barn, Howard Thomas, had the building insured. There was also some damage done to the vinyl siding of the house. Firefighters were on scene for two hours. They were assisted by the Branch County Sheriff's Department, Life Care Ambulance and Consumer's Energy. A tanker was initially requested from the Orland Fire Department but it was later disregarded.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(UNDATED) - Students in the M.S.D. of Steuben County went back to class this morning for the start of the 2010-2011 school year. With the kids back in school, District Transportation Director Bill Hanna says drivers have to be alert during the morning and afternoon hours. That means paying attention when you are driving near a school. Angola Police Officer Mike Chambers says they will be watching the busy intersection of U.S. 20 and 100 East near Angola High School as student arrive and leave school. Students in the M.S.D. of Steuben County will be dismissed 30 minutes early every Wednesday starting on August 25th for teacher collaboration time. The collaboration early dismissal will be canceled on days school is delayed due to the weather.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Orland Fire Department Rescue Captain Brooke Norton was named last week as the "State of Indiana Basic/Advanced E.M.T. of the Year" for 2010 by the Indiana State E.M.S. Commission. Norton was honored at the Indiana Emergency Response Commission banquet in Indianapolis. She was selected by the awards committee for her work in several areas. Norton has responded to 90 percent of Orland calls for the past 15 years. Besides her work at the fire department, Norton also serves as the Orland Town Marshall.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(FREMONT) - The town of Fremont and Cameron Hospital are teaming up as part of a program called "Think Fremont First". Town Superintendent Chris Snyder said during Tuesday nights Town Council meeting that the program is desgined to award people who make an investment in their property. Cameron is sponsoring the program. The town will appoint people from various Fremont groups to a selection committee that would meet twice a year to go over applications. The Town Council gave its approval for the program on Tuesday night.
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
(QUINCY) - Michigan State Police at Coldwater have released the name of a teenager whose body was found in Quincy on Wednesday morning. The death of 17-year-old Jesse Alan Payne is still being labled as suspicious. An autopsy has been rescheduled for Friday after it had to be postponed. Payne's body was found lying near a tree at the Glenn Avenue Apartments complex. State Police are releasing no further information concerning the case. They are only saying it is still under investigation.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(COLDWATER) - For the fourth time this month, there has been a robbery in Coldwater. The latest hold up took place at the Walgreens Store at 500 East Chicago at about 5:00pm on Tuesday afternoon. Coldwater Public Safety Director Brett Pehrson says a man demanded Fentanyl patches from the pharmacy under threat of a weapon. The suspect is described as a white male about six feet tall in his early to mid 30's. He is said to be clean cut with short dark hair and a thick stocky build. He was wearing off white plaid shorts with a dark gray pullover. The pullover has a short zipper and a circular logo on the left chest. He also had on dark shoes with white socks and a dark colored baseball cap. There is no vehicle information at this time. Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call Coldwater Police at 517-278-4525. The Coldwater Walgreens robbery follows stick ups in recent weeks at the Allegis Credit Union, the P-S Food Mart and the Rodeway Inn.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A free job search workshop will be held this Saturday at the Angola Masonic Lodge. Retired Career Counselor Jim Salway says it will start at 9:00am and run most of the day. The workshop is limited to 100 persons. You can register by calling 833-1739 or e-mailing angolafreemasons@yahoo.com. Those who attend will learn how to do such things as accessing the hidden job market, negotiate a salary, writing an effective cover letter and how to market yourself. The workshop is being co-sponsored by the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Health Department has announced that due to the overwhelming demand for the new school requirement vaccines for students in grades six through 12, a clinic will be held on Saturday, September 11th. The clinic will be held from 10:00am until 4:00pm in the multi-purpose room of the Steuben County Community Center. Parent or guardians must fill out paperwork available at the clinic. If they are not able to accompany their child, they will need to come to the Health Department office and fill out the paperwork prior to the clinic. Each child must have a complete immunization record at the registration in order to receive vaccines. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. There will be no exceptions. Clinic will run on a first come first serve basis as time permits.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Community Foundation has announced the hiring of Joseph Biedenweg for the position of Marketing, Media and Communications Intern as part of a pilot internship program offered to Indiana Community Foundations. Biedenweg is currently a senior at Trine University majoring in Business Administration and Marketing. The Community Foundation Internship is a new pilot program for Indiana Community Foundations funded by a Lilly Endowment grant.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(FREMONT) - Fremont is the latest community to look into banning of the marijuana substitute known in some circles as K-2 or Spice. Town Attorney Kurt Bachman told the Fremont Town Council on Tuesday night that he has consulted other communities and is putting together what he called a form ordinance that would ban the substance and impose some tough punishments. Fines would be up to $2,500 for businesses and up to $1,000 for individuals that would violate the ordinance. Bachman expects a state or federal law will eventually deal with the issue but for now it has to be handled on the local level. No action was taken by the Council on Tuesday night as they asked Bachman to bring back more information for next months meeting before a decision is made.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Council began work on the 2011 budget on Tuesday by spending the entire day listening to presentations from various department heads. In order to meet expenses, the Council will have to trim over $2.1 million from the proposed spending plan which would leave the general fund budget at just over $11 million. The budget is scheduled to be adopted on September 14th.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(BRYAN, OHIO) - The Williams County 9-1-1 system went back on line late Tuesday night after it was knocked out of service because of a traffic accident in Grand Rapids, Ohio. The problem was first reported at about 1:00pm. Williams County 9-1-1 Director Tim Jonovich says the accident caused Frontier Communications to lose services.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(FREMONT) - The Fremont Town Council approved a request from Fremont Schools Assistant Superintendent Laurie Vaughn on Tuesday night for an additional crossing guard. Vaughn requested the guard for West Street after several parents had called. They want to keep students on the sidewalk and away from the high school parking lot. Council member Kay Clark felt the guard should be located on Renee Drive. Vaughn said they would be willing to take a look at that. The Town Council also approved a 2011 fire contract with the town of Clear Lake for $23,800. In addition, Police Chief Joe Patterson honored members of his department, the Fremont Fire Department, Steuben County 9-1-1, Steuben County E.M.S. and employees of Metal Improvements for their efforts on July 7th in saving the life of Jacob Pratter at the plant on McSwain Drive after he had stopped breathing.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The M.S.D. of Steuben County School Board went over the districts proposed 2011 budget on Tuesday night that will be advertised at just over $33 million. With state funding being so uncertain, district officials plan to spend no more than $18.1 million out of the general fund budget. Superintendent Brent Wilson says they plan to be conservative with their spending. A positive for the district is the expected increase in the student population of about 50 students. Final adoption of the budget is set for September 21st.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola City Council tabled a proposed $70,000 fire agreement for 2011 with the Town of Fremont for coverage in Jamestown Township on Monday night after Council member David Martin expressed his misgivings. Martin felt the agreement was putting to much of a burden on city taxpayers and that the city and the town of Fremont can no longer afford to subsidize fire protection to neighboring townships. Martin was upset with Jamestown Township for turning down a request earlier this year to increase their contribution to the city by two percent. He feels the only fair solution is a proposed fire territory which has been discussed in recent months but no agreements have been reached between the city and nearby townships. In other business, Mayor Dick Hickman formally presented the citys proposed 2011 budget to the Council which is reduced by 24 percent from 2010. Hickman says the budget is balanced and that public safety, health and services remain intact. Projects for 2011 include construction on Maumee Street, a new well at Lions Park and miscellaneous sewer separation work. The Council decided to go over the budget during a work session next Monday afternoon. The Council also approved a two year tax abatement so that Fuel Systems of Angola can lease the Real Property Group facility on Wohlert Street. Fuel Systems is eventually hoping to hire 100 employees as a result of the proposed project.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(BRUSHY PRAIRIE) - Prairie Heights Middle School will be holding an open house for students and parents next Monday night. Half hour informational meetings will be held in the gym starting at 5:30pm for fifth graders and at 6:30pm for sixth graders. Classroom visits will start at 6:00pm. Parents of students in grades 6, 7 and 8 will have the opportunity to apply online for the 21st Century Scholarship during the open house. The first day of school for students in the Prairie Heights district will be next Tuesday, August 24th.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(QUINCY TOWNSHIP) – A child was injured Tuesday in a two vehicle collision in Branch County's Quincy Township. Michigan State Police from the Coldwater Post were called to East Chicago Road near Ridge Road. Troopers say a Quincy woman crashed into the rear of an east bound Cintas truck as it turned north from U.S. 12 into a local business. A six year old passenger was taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo with possible internal injuries sustained in the crash. Troopers say he was not properly restrained in the vehicle. The woman and two other children were taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County for evaluation. The woman's name has not been released, pending enforcement action by police. Troopers were assisted by the Quincy Fire Department, the Branch County Sheriff's Department and Life Care Ambulance.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Sentences were handed down in a pair of methamphetamine cases on Monday in Steuben Superior Court. 25-year-old Timothy Austin of Angola was given a three year sentence on a Class D felony for possession of meth after he pled guilty as part of a plea bargain agreement which was filed on July 12th. In exchange for the guilty plea, a Class B possession of meth felony was dismissed by prosecutors. Austin was given credit for 102 days already served with another 102 days for good time credit. In a seperate case, 36-year-old Verlena Boyd-Patrick was also sentenced to three years on a Class D felony for possession of meth. She pled guilty to charge on July 19th. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed a Class B felony for dealing in meth and two other cases. Boyd-Patrick was given credit for 195 days already served and 195 days in good time credit.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(FREMONT) - The Fremont School Districts first summer of providing free meals to children is being called a success with hopes more will be able to take advantage of the program next year. Food Service Director Nancy Swigert told the Fremont School Board on Monday night that they averaged about 165 meals a day. Fremont was eligible for the program because over 50 percent of the elementary enrollment was on a free or reduced meal plan. Any child up to the age of 18 was eligible for the five week Summer Advantage Program. Assistant Superintendent Laurie Vaughn said they would try to market the program earlier next year in hopes that more youngsters can take advantage of it. The program is funded in part by a four year grant.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Hudson woman was ordered to serve two years of a six year sentence in Steuben Circuit Court on Monday after she pled guilty to a Class B felony of sexual misconduct with a minor. 21-year-old Aurrora Fritz entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors on June 21st. Judge Allen Wheat suspended four years of the sentence and placed Fritz on four year of probation. In exchange for her guilty plea, two other similair charges were dismissed by prosecutors. Fritz was arrested following an Angola Police Department investigation into alleged incidents involving a 14-year-old boy which according to court documents took place between February 1st and the end of March.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County Commissioners briefly discussed an K-2 ordinance on Monday morning. County Attorney Don Stuckey has put together an ordinance but he told Commissioners he did not think it was being sold outside of cities and towns. Commissioner Ron Smith wondered if the Steuben County Sheriffs Department should be talked to. No vote was taken but a request will be made to the Sheriffs Department to provide more information during the Commissioners next meeting. A controversy has developed over K2 which is also known as spice in recent months. Although it is legally sold an incense, the substance provides the user a marijuana like high when it is smoked.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Officials at Trine University announced on Tuesday that it’s 20th annual Alumni And Friends Scholarship Golf Outing August 6th raised another record amount for student scholarships. According to a university news release, nearly $68,000 was raised which broke the previous record which was set last year. Alumni came in from all over the country for the outing. The university will host its third annual Scholarship Golf Classic in Sarasota, Florida on January 27th. For more information, e-mail to browns@trine.edu.
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Monday, August 16, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Trine University officials announced a record enrollment of students for the upcoming semester on Monday. According to a news release issued by the University, Trine has enrolled over 2,075 students which surpasses the record set in 1968 when 2,022 students were enrolled. Trine's Office of Admission says the main campus has 1,550 students enrolled which includes 410 freshmen. That represents a increase of over five percent from last year. Nearly 80 percent of the 1,050 resident students will live in apartments and villas built on campus within the last five years. Trine's School of Professional Studies has also seen an increase in enrollment to 525 students which is an increase of 65 students from 2009.
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Monday, August 16, 2010
(LIGONIER) - A man who robbed the Ligonier CVS Pharmacy of an undetermined amount of pills on Sunday morning is still at large. Ligonier Police say the suspect entered the store at about 11;35am, went to the pharmacy counter and demanded prescription drugs. Police say the drugs will remain unidentified but they are listed as controlled substances. They add the suspect displayed a handgun in the waistband of his pants. The man left the store in a black or blue minivan which was last seen heading west on U.S. 6. No injuries were reported. The suspect is identified as a white male who was wearing a white or light colored shirt, blue jeans, a hat and sunglasses. He is said to be 5-10 to 6-2 with dark colored curly hair and a heavy build. Anyone with information is asked to call Ligonier Police at 894-4111 or the Noble County Sheriff's Department at 636-2182.
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Monday, August 16, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County Commissioners upheld a recommendation made by the County Plan Commission on Monday that a request from the town of Hamilton to expand its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction be denied. Town officials made the request so that they could keep the area agricultural. Hamilton Town Attorney Dan Brickerhoff said they wanted to manage growth and development. He emphasized annexation has nothing to do with the request. But Anita Harger pointed out the county's zoning ordinances are more up to date than Hamilton's and residents affected see no benefit for them. Commissioner Jim Crowl felt those citizens would be better served by the county ordinances. Crowl's motion to deny Hamilton's request was approved 3-0.
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Monday, August 16, 2010
(OTSEGO TOWNSHIP) - An Angola man was injured early Sunday morning when his car crashed in Otsego Township. The Steuben County Sheriff's Department says 21-year-old Andrew Runyon was treated at Cameron Hospital for head and shoulder injuries. They say his car was found on its top near a pond on 275 East south of Hanselman Road at about 3:00am. No one was found near the vehicle. Brush and tall grass complicated the search. The Steuben County Underwater Rescue and Recovery team was brought in due to concerns about a possible ejection into the water. Police say Runyon was taken to Cameron by a private vehicle about three hours later. The Sheriffs Department says in a news release that Runyon told them a vehicle was in his lane and he had swerved to avoid a crash. He was ejected into some shallow water and then walked to a residence in downtown Hamilton. The Sheriffs Department says charges are pending and their investigation is continuing.
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Monday, August 16, 2010
(BRONSON) – An interim City Manager has been named for Bronson. According to the Coldwater Daily Reporter, the Bronson City Council hired Larry McConn as their interim City Manager during a special meeting on Thursday. McConn will fill the position that was held by David O' Rourke who was asked to resign during last week's regular Council Meeting. Mayor Tom Rissman and City Clerk Karen Smith say they have already received calls from people interested in applying for the position. Bronson will also seek assistance from the Michigan Municipal League and Michigan State University in their search. The City Charter gives the Council 90 days to fill the position.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - Two LaGrange women were killed Friday night when their car was struck head-on by another vehicle on U.S. 20 just east of LaGrange. Indiana State Police identified the dead as 38-year-old Shanie Swihart and 20-year-old Kristin Lipscomb. Swihart was driving eastbound on 20 when a westbound car driven by 16-year-old Taylor Miller attempted to pass a motorcycle on a hillcrest and struck the Swihart car. Lipscomb was a front seat passenger in the Swihart car and died instantly according to police. Swihart died after being flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. Two children in the backseat of the Swihart car, 8-year-old Maci Swihart and 4-year-old Mason Swihart, were also flown to Parkview where they were treated for cuts and scrapes and released. Miller was also flown to Parkview where she was treated for scrapes and bruises and then released. There's no word yet on whether Miller will face charges. LaGrange firefighters set up a landing zone at the LaGrange County REMC where three med-evac helicopters transported the injured. The crash happened just before 11:00pm. LaGrange County deputies and LaGrange police, along with EMS, LaGrange firefighters and the LaGrange County coroner assisted at the scene.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Members of the general public will get a chance to review the new Steuben County Economic Development Strategic Plan on Thursday evening. The Steuben County Economic Development Corporation will host a public rollout and discussion of the plan in the Steuben County Community Center's auditorium starting at 5:30pm. Among the speakers will be Steuben County Commissioner Mayo Sanders, E.D.C. Executive Director Gary Nielander and Tom Miller who is the Chief Executive Officer of Thomas P. Miller and Associates of Indianapolis. They were the consulting firm which developed the plan. There will also be a discussion as well as a question and answer session. The meeting is open to the public.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola Rotary Club will be holding its 6th annual Lobster Sale through the Labor Day weekend. Live lobsters that weigh at least a pound are being sold for $17 apiece with half of the money going towards the Rotary Club's Literacy Program. All orders have to be pre-paid by August 24th. The lobsters can be picked up between 9:00am and 11:00am on September 4th at the Sunset Grill. When you pick up your lobster, you are being asked to bring a cooler and at least two sections of newspaper. To order, get ahold of any Rotary Club member or get ahold of Craig Ralston, Sandy Sanborn or Woody Turner.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
(UNDATED) - Both the Angola City Council and the Fremont Town Council are scheduled to take action next week on fire contracts. Angola City Council members on Monday night will be asked to take action on a proposed 2011 Fire Protection Agreement with the Town of Fremont to cover Jamestown Township that is worth over $70,000. Meanwhile, Fremont Town Council members on Tuesday night will be asked to approve a fire contract between Fremont and the town of Clear Lake.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
(FLINT) - The Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District Board of Trustees are scheduled to hold a special meeting at 5:15pm on Tuesday to finalize litigation concerning Bledsoe Brothers Incorporated. The district and Bledsoe's have been in a legal fight for several years over hookup fees at a Jimmerson Lake trailer park. The special meeting will follow an 5:00pm executive session.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola Walmart held a Re-Grand Opening ceremony on Friday morning of their newly remodeled store. Many store associates and managers were on hand for the ceremony. The Angola store, which first opened in 1991, is one of numerous Walmart stores that have been remodeled in recent months. The remodeled Angola store like others around the country now feature wider aisles for customers as well as brighter interiors and signs were are easier to read. Store Manager Beth Stander thanked the people who worked on the 12-week project along with store associates. During the ceremony, officials for the Angola Walmart passed out $4,500 worth of grants. The Angola Police Department got $2,000 for its K-9 officer program while the Fremont Fire Department got $1,000 to help pay for a water pump on its fire boat. The Steuben County 4-H Fair Board, the Edon Public Library and the Metz Fire Department all got $500 grants from Walmart. The grant for the Metz Fire Department will help pay for its new engine.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
(FREMONT) - Officials for Little Lambs Daycare and Preschool in Fremont have announced that they have gotten two grants thanks to the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" of 2009. The first grant is an Infant and Toddler Quality Enhancement Grant which will provide curriculum support for infant and toddler care. It will also provide resource kits to support safe sleep practices as well as on-site technical assistance and training. The second grant was for $5,000 and will improve the safety of the center's playground by increasing the level of rubber mulch. It was one of only 200 awarded out of over 4,000 applications. Partners in the grants are the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the Bureau of Child Care and the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
(WATERLOO) - A motorcyclist who was injured in a July 31st accident in Waterloo died on Thursday. The Allen County Coroners Office says 55-year-old Gilbert Nieves of Kalamazoo, Michigan died of complications after he suffered a broken leg in the crash. Witnesses told the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department at the time of the accident that he was driving to fast and passing a vehicle on the right before his cycle crashed into a car at the intersection of Washington and North Wayne in Waterloo. According to a news release issued by the Sheriffs Department, 73-year-old Della Hall of Waterloo was trying to make a left turn at the intersection when the crash took place. The impact sent Nieves airborne from his motorcycle and over Hall's car. Hall said she did not see Nieves when she pulled into the intersection.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
(FLINT) - An engineer for the recently completed Orland sewer project told the Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District Board of Trustees on Thursday night that as of now the project is expected to come in under budget by about $370,000. The nearly $6 million project took in the town of Orland as well as Wall and Brown Lakes. Steve Maxwell from Russell Engineering said that included work on the project design, contract increases and land purchases. A final price tag has not been totaled up yet. District Superintendent Tim Frederick said the hook ups are progressing after they began on June 18th. In line with that, the board approved a resolution that waives the 10 percent penalty until September 18th for not paying the $915 capital and connection fee. Since the work on the project is finished, the board passed another resolution which released the town of Orland from a $13,600 pledge to pay some of the projects cost. That money would have covered a preliminary engineering report if the district decided not to proceed with the project.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The "Dragonfly Cottage" from Dennis Spidel Custom Homes has been awarded the top building award in the Builders Association of Northeast Indiana's 19th annual Parade of Homes which starts this weekend. The home is located at the corner of John and Broad in Angola. It was orginally built in the 1930's. The house has gotten a pair of two story additions and the interior has been reconfigured. It also won for top landscape and took second for interior design. Top honors in interior design went to the "Tinboxtu" home built by K and F Design near Helmer which faces Lake of the Woods. The home was also second overall. A total of nine judges consisting of landscapers, builders and interior designers decided the award winners.
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Friday, August 13, 2010
(LITCHFIELD) - A farmer was injured on Thursday afternoon near Litchfield when he was run over by a tractor. The Hillsdale County Sheriff's Department says 66-year old James Demkowski was injured at about 2:30pm when the tractor moved forward and ran over him after he told Sheriffs Deputies he forgot to take the tractor out of gear when he went to attach a hay rake. Demkowski was flown to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo after he was treated by the Reading Emergency Unit. The Sheriffs Department is still investigating the accident.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Fremont man was found innocent Thursday morning of six Class A felony counts for child molesting following a Steuben Circuit Court trial. 28-year-old Gordon Knight was found not guilty by the jury after he took the stand in his own defense. Knight was the only witness called to the stand by defense attorney James Burns after prosecutor Mike Hess called five witnesses on Wednesday. The prosecution witnesses included the two girls who authorities say were the alleged victims in the case. The jury got the case at about 9:40am and only deliberated for about 40 minutes before returning their not guilty verdicts. The defense had argued that the allegations were made as part of a custody dispute and that the only evidence presented by the prosecution were statements made by the two girls. Knight claimed he was innocent of the charges that were filed last November by Steuben County Prosecutors following an Indiana State Police investigation.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(AUBURN) - Auburn Police are investigating the reported weekend theft of two Harley Davidson motorcycles from an area hotel that may have ties to Steuben County. Police Chief Martin McCoy says the motorcycles were stolen from the parking lot of the La Quinta Inn on Touring Drive sometime early Sunday morning. The owners had been staying at the hotel during the time of the incident. The motorcycles were described as a black 2007 Harley Davidson Road Glide and a black 2005 Harley Davidson Soft Tail Deluxe. A tan or silver S.U.V. with Steuben County license plates was seen in the area at 2:00am and police are attempting to identify the woman who was in the vehicle. Police are asking that anyone with information regarding the theft of the motorcycles or the identity of the woman in the S.U.V. to call Auburn Police at 920-3200, extension 1917.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A sketch of one of the suspects involved in the Tuesday afternoon robbery at the Citgo station on U.S. 20 and I-69 has been released by the Steuben County Sheriffs Department. Sheriff's Department Detective Shari Dean says there were two Hispanic males in their mid 20’s that were involved in the robbery. One suspect was described as approximately five-feet-eight inches tall with a thin build and greasy wavy hair. Dean says he was wearing shorts and a dark t‐shirt. If you have information regarding the robbery, call the Sheriifs Department at 668‐1000, extension 5000.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(UNDATED) - It was what some people would call a gully washer. A narrow band of thunderstorms dumped some heavy rain during a short amount of time on Wednesday morning. Angola Wastewater Department Superintendent Craig Williams says 1.56 inches of rain was measured in about an hour at the city's treatment plant which led to a combined sewer overflow of about 194,000 gallons. He says .68 of rain was measured in the first 15 minutes of the storm. The rain was so intense that it exceeded three inches an hour for about six minutes. Williams says it was the fifth C.S.O. of the year at the plant. When a C.S.O. takes place, waters downstream from the plant maybe affected for up to 72 hours. High water was reported on 200 North near the Fairview Missionary Church, the Country Fair Shopping Plaza in Angola and throughout Steuben County from the downpour but no roads were closed. In the city of Angola, high water was reported on Pine Run and on Williams Street near Elliot Manor. A resident at West Otter Lake says they measured 2.88 inches of rain from the storm. Heavy rain was also reported near LaGrange as .86 of rain fell during a 20 minute span. The storms also packed some intense lighting. In Kendallville, firefighters were called to a house on Summit Street that apparently was struck by lightning and caught fire. The home was right behind the city's #2 fire station. No injuries were reported but firefighters had to rescue a dog.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A dedication and open house for the Faith Community Health Clinic at 909 South Darling near Fox Lake Road has been scheduled for Sunday, August 22nd. The dedication will take place at 12:00noon followed by an open house that will last until 3:00pm. The non-profit clinic opened over two years ago as a way to provide free health services to those who are poor and have no insurance. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the clinic moved to its permanent location on South Darling in May.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Dave Hardiek Senior has been named as the Realtor of the Year for 2010 by the Northeastern Indiana Association of Realtors. Hardiek is the Immediate Past President of the local Realtors Association. He also served as President and Secretary/Treasurer. Hardiek Sr. is a member of the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce. He will be officially recognized in September at the fall meeting of the Indiana Association of Realtors in Indianapolis and again in November at the local association’s annual inaugural dinner.
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Thursday, August 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A medical center on the Trine University campus in Angola will be available for students and staff starting with the fall semester thanks to a partnership between Parkview Health of Fort Wayne and the university. The Trine Health Center is located in the center of the campus to allow for easy access. Officials say the center will provide a mid-level medical professional to diagnose, treat and prescribe medicines for most common medical conditions. Patients with acute or chronic conditions will be referred to local physicians or healthcare facilities. Parkview Health is a not-for-profit, community-based health system that serves northeast Indiana, western Ohio and southern Michigan.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(UNDATED) - Students in the Hamilton Community School district went back to class Wednesday morning after a summer of change in the district. Mark Gould retired as Superintendent in June. A search for his successor is underway. Barbara Weber has taken over as principal for grades K through 12, longtime teacher John Dutton is now an administrative assistant while Bill Thomas takes over as Student Activities Coordinator. Classes in the M.S.D. of Steuben County will start next Thursday, August 19th. The first student day in the Prairie Heights school district will be August 24th while Fremont students go back to school on August 25th.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(FLINT) - Opponents to a proposed expansion of the Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District say they have collected over 600 petition signatures from property owners, taxpayers and voters. The petitions have been submitted to the district board and is accompanied by a letter signed by eight people. They state they wanted the board to know there is what they consider overwhelming public opposition to an expansion ahead of their next regular meeting which is scheduled for Thursday night. The letter and petition follows a stormy meeting on July 31st when most of the nearly 200 people who showed up spoke out against an expansion to the northeast section of the district. Opponents have raised such concerns as costs and if a sewer system is really needed for the area.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(ORLAND) - Two people were injured Tuesday afternoon after a vehicle rolled over on the Toll Road near Orland. The crash near the 136 mile marker was reported at about 4:30pm. Orland and Fremont firefighters had to use pneumatic air mats, rescue jacks and two sets of the Jaws of Life in order to free the driver. Orland Fire Department Public Information Officer Kim Norton says the 58-year-old driver from Springfield, Pennsylvania appeared to be passing a semi when he apparently lost control of the vehicle pulling an enclosed car hauling trailer and rolled over in the median. The driver and his passenger were transported to a local hospital by Steuben County E.M.S. with what were described as less than serious injuries. Also assisting were units from the Indiana State Police Toll Road Division, Toll Road Maintenance, and Steuben County Communications.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Two suspects were arrested on Tuesday afternoon after police say they found a large number of counterfeit credit cards in their possession. The Steuben County Sheriffs Department states in a news release that 30-year-old Sabrina Massey of Gary entered the Up In Smoke Store on State Road 127 and allegedly tried to use three credit cards to charge a large amount of cigarettes. After the three cards were denied, police say Massey and Donovan Jones of Chicago left the store but they were later stopped by Angola Police. Police say they found the credit cards during their investigation. Both Massey and Donovan were booked at the Steuben County Jail on ten counts apiece of receiving stolen property. Massey was also booked on three counts of fraud. The owners of the credit cards have been contacted and the case remains under investigation.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Police are looking for two suspects after a manager for the Citgo station on U.S. 20 near I-69 was robbed of the stores nightly deposits late Tuesday afternoon. The Steuben County Sheriffs Department says in a news release that the robbery took place at about 5:30pm when two men approached the manager and demanded all of the money. The suspects were described as two Hispanic males in their mid 20's. Both men had brown to black short wavy hair. One man was wearing a dark shirt and shorts, the other had a dark colored shirt on with green in it. Police say they fled north on foot from the gas station where they may have gotten into a gold, four door, older model passenger car. It is thought the car fled west on U.S. 20. The Sheriffs Department says they want to speak to a male customer who bought a green ad paper at about the time of the robbery. They say he was driving a newer, dark colored pick up truck and may have seen the suspects. No injuries were reported during the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the Steuben County Sheriff's Department at 668-1000, extension 5000. The Sheriff's Department got assistance from Angola Police and Indiana Conservation Officers during the investigation. It's the second robbery in Steuben County during the last week and third in the area this month. The Budgeteer Motel north of Angola was held up last Tuesday morning while the Rodeway Inn in Coldwater was robbed a week ago Sunday. The suspects in those two robberies are still at large.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Lakes Councils in Steuben and LaGrange Counties along with the Indiana Lakes Management Society will be hosting a Fall Forum on Saturday, August 21st at the Lakes Missionary Church at 9030 U.S. 20. The public is invited to attend the forum that will run from 9:00am and 3:00pm. Numerous speakers are scheduled to be on hand including Rod Edgell of the D.N.R. on controlling invasive species. Also scheduled to speak are Brian Musser from the Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation and Eric Henion who will be talking about rain barrels and rain gardens. Lunch will be served. For lunch reservations, call 665-1730.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Council passed an ordinance on first reading Tuesday morning that authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds that would not exceed $1,995,000. Funds from the bonds, which would have a maximum maturity of four years, would be used for the purchase of equipment. The Council went over the 21 page ordinance with Kirk Grable of Barnes and Thornburg of Indianapolis on Tuesday morning. The second and third readings of the ordinance are scheduled for September 14th. The Council also gave formal approval to a $82,000 funding request from the Tri State Steuben County Airport for a snow plow and building needs.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(BRONSON) – The search is on for a new Bronson City Manager. The Bronson City Council accepted the resignation of City Manager David O'Rourke during Monday's meeting by a unanimous vote. The resignation is effective immediately. The resignation was taken after a discussion on the matter was initiated by Mayor Tom Rissman, who says O'Rourke was asked to step down so that City government could take a new approach. O'Rourke has served as the Bronson City Manager since 1995. He was offered a severance package with four months of compensation and insurance. The City will look at finding an interim city manager immediately while the search for a permanent replacement takes place. The Council plans to ask former Mayor Larry McConn to fill in on an interim basis.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Members of Drug-Free Steuben are expressing concerns about the recent trend among teens and college students who are using K2 because of it’s easily available and produces a marijuana-like high. Concerns have been raised about K2's side effects such as increased heart rate, loss of consciousness and vomiting. K2 or “spice” has been marketed in the U.S. since 2006 as a legal substance for use as incense. But it has been smoked by some people in order to get a high similar to marijuana. Ligonier became the latest community to take a stand on K2 Monday night as they passed an ordinance banned it within the city.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(AUBURN) - A DeKalb County Police Officer was injured on Monday evening while a warrant was being served at an Auburn apartment. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Department says they were trying to serve Adam Beery was a warrant for criminal mischief at his apartment at Griswald Estates. According to police, Beery physically resisted as two officers tried to handcuff him. During the struggle, Officer Rick Short suffered a broken index finger. He was taken to DeKalb Memorial Hospital for treatment. Beery was booked on the warrant and later released after posting a $1,000 surety bond. Reports on the incident will be forwarded to the DeKalb County Prosecutors Office for further review.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(HAMILTON) - Hamilton Interim Superintendent Bruce Hippensteel told the Hamilton School Board on Monday night that the university search team is in place and they will begn screening candidates for the superintendents job on October 7th. Hippensteel said until they get down to two or three finalists, the process will be very confidential. Meanwhile, former Superintendent Mark Gould, who retired in June, will be honored during a special board meeting on August 31st. In other business, the board voted to have Barton-Coe-Vilamaa get started with the design phase of updating and improving some of the districts facilities which is expected to cost at least $1.8 million. Representatives from Umbaugh and Associates explained that right now the districts bonding capacity is just over $2 million since an existing debt will be retired in the next year.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(SHIPSHEWANA) - Four area county economic development organizations will present their third annual “Economic Development Forum” on September 16th at the Shipshewana Town Center. Organizers say this year’s forum is entitled “Community/Industrial Relationships” and it's a continuation of a series sponsored by the four organizations that was previously held in Kendallville. The event will be free of charge but space is limited to the first 200 registrations who RSVP by September 1. Registrations can be made to neindiana.edforum@gmail.com or by calling your local economic development office. The forum is being hosted by the DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership, the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, the Noble County Economic Development Corporation and the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(AUBURN) - A Hudson man could get a life sentence without parole if he is convicted for his part in the murder of a Waterloo flea market owner in May of 2009. The DeKalb County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion in DeKalb Superior Court that seeks the enhancement against 29-year-old Matthu Ryan Sanders. A hearing on the motion has been scheduled for August 23rd. Sanders is scheduled to go on trial on January 17th in the murder of Raymond Morrow after he backed out a plea bargain that would have had him testify against co-defendant Jeffrey Cain. Cain was convicted for his part in the murder last month and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20th. The jury in the Cain case has recommended a life sentence without parole. In the enhancement motion filed in the Sanders case on Monday, prosecutors say he was on probation for another felony crime at the time Morrow was murdered.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An Angola man who admitted to molesting an eight-year-old boy in September of last year while he was baby sitting him was given a 50 year prison sentence on Monday afternoon in Steuben Circuit Court. 23-year-old Andrew Gawlik pled guilty to a Class A felony of child molesting as part of a plea bargain that was filed in June. In exchange for the guilty plea, a second Class A child molesting felony and a probation violation from a misdemeanor conversion case were dismissed by prosecutors. The victim and his mother were both in the courtroom. The mother said her son will be in counseling for the rest of his life. Although he was prompted by his mother, the boy could not say anything when he took the witness stand. The plea agreement also left the length of time Gawlik was to serve up to the discretion of Judge Allen Wheat. Gawlik also waived his right to appeal the sentence. He was given credit for 644 days for time already served in the Steuben County Jail. According to the judge, the reasons behind the maximum sentence on the charge included a prior child molesting conviction when he was a juvenile and the fact he was on probation when the crime took place.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP) - A LaGrange County man was injured in a one car crash south of Mongo Monday morning and later he was arrested for battery. 24-year-old Corey Whitcomb of rural Mongo told police he took his eyes off the road to retrieve a cigarette when the car he was driving left State Road 3 and struck a utility pole. He was transported to Parkview LaGrange Hospital for treatment. While there, police say Whitcomb used abusive language towards the emergency room staff. Upon his release, police say he battered his mother while on hospital property. Officers transported him to the LaGrange County Jail and arrested him on charges of disorderly conduct and battery.
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Classes in the M.S.D. of Steuben County start on Thursday, August 19 and there will be plenty of activities leading up to the first day of classes. All school offices are now open. Students who are new to the community should contact the appropriate building personnel to enroll prior to the first day of classes. Guidance personnel are also available for new students who will be registering at Angola High School and Angola Middle School. Open houses will be held at all of the elementary schools of August 18th. Angola Middle School will host grade level orientations for eighth graders on Tuesday the 17th and for seventh grader on Wednesday the 18th at 6:30pm each night. New Student Orientation will be held on Monday, August 16th at 1:00pm in the Middle School Large Group Instruction Room. Sixth grade students and a parent are required to attend Survivor Camp at Angola Middle School on the 16th from 7:55am until 12:00noon. Fees and schedules for sixth, seventh and eighth grade students attending Angola Middle School have been mailed. Angola High School will have their registration day on Tuesday from 1:00pm until 7:00pm for all high school students. Book rental for all students must be paid on or before August 19. After School Child Care will also begin on that day. Information on the After School Child Care Program and registration information is available at five schools. The After School Child Care sites are at Hendry Park, Carlin Park and Ryan Park Elementary Schools. Pleasant Lake Elementary and Angola Middle School students will be provided transportation to the program sites. Students will be dismissed thirty minutes early every Wednesday beginning August 25 for teacher collaboration time. Collaboration will be canceled on weather delay days due to state attendance requirements.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola City Council tied up some loose ends on the downtown revitalization project during a special meeting on Monday afternoon as they approved the final change order requests from Parrish Excavating. City Engineer Bill Boyer said the OCRA job concerning the downtown work had to be closed out before the INDOT work on Maumee Street can start. The project wound up going $33,000 over the original contract estimate for a final price tag of over $589,000. Boyer said most the cost overrun was caused by the ashphalting work.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - Police in LaGrange County arrested a Georgia man Friday for allegedly misrepresenting himself as being connected to a local school district. 24-year-old Quentin Roberts of Atlanta is charged with deception, a class A misdemeanor. According to Indiana State Police Detective Jeff Boyd, Roberts was attempting to sell books for school children at several residences on Friday. Boyd said Roberts told people he was affiliated with Prairie Heights Community Schools. One such person called the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department. Roberts was taken into custody by Deputy Adam Fisel after Boyd conferred with the LaGrange County Prosecutor's office. Investigators found numerous checks from individuals in his vehicle.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - A former Howe educator was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison Friday. Special Judge Kevin Wallace from DeKalb County sentenced 37-year-old Andrew Majewski as part of a plea agreement in LaGrange Circuit Court. Majewski, whose address is now listed as Linton, Indiana, received four years for sexual misconduct with a minor, three years concurrently on both counts of possession of child pornography, and one year suspended for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He'll serve one year of probation following his release from prison. Wallace ordered Majewski to have no contact with children under the age of 14 who are not blood relatives. He is also required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. Majewski was the Lower Class Principal and Director of Summer Camps at Howe Military School at the time of his arrest in July of 2009. The charges involved several illegal acts with a 14-year-old male student at the school which lasted a few months. He was charged with possession of child pornography last October for images found on his computer that was seized at the time of his original arrest.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - The Indiana State Police in Fort Wayne would like to remind motorists that children will be returning to the classroom over the next couple of weeks and as such school buses will once again be on the roads. Troopers say motorists should be aware of the Indiana law concerning school buses, flashing lights and stop arms. When approaching a school bus, from any direction, which is stopped with its flashing red lights activated and its stop arm extended, motorists are required to STOP. Motorists who are on a highway that is divided by a barrier or unimproved median are required to stop only if they are traveling the same direction as the school bus. Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A infraction and is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(MONTPELIER) - A Montpelier man was killed Sunday afternoon in a one vehicle accident on Ohio 107 just west of Montpelier. The Ohio Highway Patrol says 47-year-old Kevin E. Traxler was pronounced dead at the scene by the Williams County Coroners Office. Troopers say Traxler was traveling east at about 4:45pm when he drifted left of center and went off the road. He then over-corrected and went off the other side of the roadway where his SUV rolled over several times. Traxler was ejected from the vehicle prior to it coming to rest on its wheels in a field. The Williams County Sheriff’s Office, Montpelier Fire and EMS and the Samaritan air ambulance assisted the Highway Patrol. The crash is still under investigation.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Sheriff's Department has released a composite drawing of one of the suspects involved in last weeks armed robbery of the Budgeteer Motel. Sheriffs Department Detective Shari Dean says the suspect was 5-8 to 5-10 who weighs between 150 and 175 pounds. The Hispanic man also has a dark complexion and short black hair. The Sheriff's Department says two armed men robbed the motel of an unknown amount of cash and tied up the two owners during the holdup last Tuesday morning. The victims managed to untie themselves by the time police arrived. It's still not known if there was any connection between the Budgeteer Motel robbery and the hold up two days before of the Rodeway Inn in Coldwater. Anyone with information is asked to call Kevin Smith from the Indiana State Pooice at 432-8661.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(PIGEON RIVER) - Several law enforcement agencies were busy this weekend on Pigeon River after numerous complaints have been made this summer about illegal activities. Indiana Conservation Officer Rodney Clear says Conservation Officers along with Indiana State Excise Police, the IMAGE Drug Task Force, the Lagrange County Sheriff’s Department and Lagrange Police converged on the river in LaGrange and Steuben Counties on Saturday. Clear says officers checked 382 watercraft and they discovered 39 violations. The violations consisted of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, Insufficient Personal Flotation Devices, Fishing without a License, Littering and Miscellaneous Department of Natural Resources Property Regulations. Clear says details will continue throughout the summer.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - LaGrange County's public transportation system came under some scrutiny during the first of two days of presentations for the 2011 Lagrange County budget. Some council members questioned why the county was being asked to subsidize LaGrange County Area Transit when its fees were lower than those of many of the private Amish transporters in the county. Councilman Mike Strawser wants to see L-CAT raise its rates to make up for its funding shortfall. LaGrange County Commissioners asked for a $30,000 increase in their professional services line item. Commissioner George Bachman said they are looking into out-sourcing some services with an eye towards saving the county about $60,000.
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Sunday, August 8, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - Two men were injured Saturday evening in a golf cart accident at the Lake James Golf Club that the Steuben County Sheriffs Department says may have been alcohol related. According to a Sheriffs Department news release, 39-year-old Christopher Mugoon of Edon, Ohio was driving the golf cart down a steep hill west of a cart path at about 6:10pm when he struck a deep rut just north of St. Andrews Court. The golf cart then flipped over, ejecting Mugoon and a passenger, 41-year-old Stephen Muldoon of Fremont. Mugoon suffered a possible head injury and was taken to Cameron Hospital. Muldoon suffered a possible neck injury. He was first taken to Cameron before being flown to Parkview Hospital by the Samaritan Helicopter. A Parkview spokesperson says Muldoon is listed in fair condition. Stueben County EMS and Angola Fire and Rescue assisted the Sheriffs Department at the scene of the accident which is still under investigation.
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Sunday, August 8, 2010
(FREMONT) - Satek Winery of Steuben County took the Indiana Wine of the Year title for its Kreibaum Bay Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, 2008 at the annual INDY International Wine Competition this past week in West Lafayette. Satek also got three Double Gold medals during the competition. The INDY International Wine Competition is the largest independent and scientifically organized wine competition in the United States. Panels of experts from around the world conduct a blind judging to choose the winners. There were nearly 2,700 commercial entries from 15 countries and 39 U.S. states. Satek Winery opened nine years ago.
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Saturday, August 7, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - A recent decision by the state of Indiana to revert Lake and River Enhancement money back to the general fund because of budget shortfalls was discussed during Saturday mornings Steuben County Lakes Council annual meeting at the Lake James Christian Assembly. Pete Hippensteel, who is a member of the Indiana Lakes Management Work Group, explained during his slide presentation that eight LARE projects in Steuben County were among those around Indiana that have not been funded. He said over $2.4 million in LARE money and nearly $1.4 million in the conservation officers marine fund were reverted back to the general fund. Hippensteel feels that has left some lake associations with no other option but to dip into their own funds so that planned projects can get done. He said he has gotten the same response from state officials about tough economic conditions when he recently wrote to them but Hippensteel thinks the state is going against a law that was enacted seven years ago since LARE money comes from a dedicated fund. Indiana boat owners pay a fee which provides money for the LARE funds. Hippensteel urged lake association members to write to Governor Daniels and ask him to honor the dedicated funds for the lakes.
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Saturday, August 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - With the start of a new school year just around the corner, drivers are being urged to be extra alert when children head back to the classroom. The Lutheran Health network has been distributing front yard signs that tell motorists to drive smart because "Kids Dart". Angola Fire Department Public Information Officer T.R. Hagerty says "Kids Dart Drive Smart" is a safety message and campaign designed to keep kids safe near streets and neighborhoods. "Kids dart" signs for front yards are available for pick up beginning today at the Angola Fire Station while supplies last. You are being asked to follow your city sign ordinance when placing these signs in your yard. Also, place the sign in your yard as if the child on the sign is running toward the street. Statistics show that pedestrian injury remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children between the ages of 5 and 14.
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Saturday, August 7, 2010
(ASHLEY-HUDSON) - It's an event so big, it takes two towns to hold it. The annual Ashley-Hudson Festival wraps up today. One of the highlights will be a parade that starts on Main Street in Hudson and goes to State Street in Ashley. Line up for the parade starts at 9:15am with the parade starting at 11:00am. The parade grand marshalls will be the little league baseball teams from Ashley and Hudson. After the parade, there will be a chicken BBQ at the Ashley Fire Station. Afternoon activities include music by Final Notice along with kids games, crafts and train rides. There will also be a street dance at 5:00pm at the Hudson Fire Station along with a pig roast at Main and Depot Street in Hudson. The festival is sponsored by the Ashley-Hudson Chamber of Commerce.
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Saturday, August 7, 2010
(GREENFIELD MILLS) - LaGrange County police are investigating a case of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon after a rifle round struck a home near Greenfield Mills on Thursday. Officers responded to the home of Martin and Laura Willms at 7340 North County Road 1060 East where they found a rifle round had struck the house and entered a bedroom. The round damaged the siding, sheeting, drywall, door trim and door, causing an estimated $1,000 worth of damage. Investigation by sheriff's deputies and conservation officers determined someone was target shooting southwest of the Wilmms home using a 30-30 rifle and a Winchester .243 caliber rifle. The area had no backstop to contain the rounds. The investigation is continuing.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(SALEM CENTER) - There appears to be more questions than answers after a two story wood frame home near Salem Center was destroyed in a fire which broke out early Friday morning. Salem Center Assistant Fire Chief Randy Stiverson says the blaze at the home owned by Matthew and Jami Hall which is located at 3240 South 700 West was reported at about 1:30am. He says the home was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived and that it almost two hours to bring the flames under control. The cause of the fire is undetermined. It is also not known where it got started. Stiverson says no one was home at the time the blaze broke out. Salem Center firefighters were assisted by crews from Orland, Helmer, Hudson, Ashley, Pleasant Lake, Stroh, Angola and Fremont. Firefighters from Corunna stood by at the Hudson station. Numerous tankers were called in as water had to be hauled in from West Otter Lake. Crews cleared the scene at about 6:30am. No injuries were reported.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - A Kendallville man who crashed a vehicle into a utility pole near Plato in June was arrested Wednesday. 39-year-old Christopher Morris is charged with operating while intoxicated causing serious injury. Police say Morris was driving north on County Road 500 East on June 26th when the car left the road and possibly rolled over before striking the pole. His brother, 43-year-old Eric Morris of LaGrange, was seriously injured in the crash and flown to Parkview Hospital. Christopher Morris was pinned in the wreckage and also suffered internal injuries.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Drivers in Steuben County will have to deal with construction starting on Monday. The Indiana Department of Transportation says travel on U.S. 20 west of I-69 to near the LaGrange County line will be restricted starting at 6:00am Monday morning, weather permitting. Construction traffic may be merging while the construction zone is being prepared. Motorists should be aware of narrow lanes. Intermittent closures will also be in effect with flagmen controlling traffic. The project, which was awarded to Strawser Construction for $574,000, is expected to be complete in late August. INDOT advises motorists to slow down and use caution while driving through work zones. In addition, the Steuben County Highway Department will be closing County Road 100 East between 100 North and 200 North on Monday morning between 7:00am and 12:00noon. Drivers are being asked to take an alternate route.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(ASHLEY) - The Annual Miss Ashley-Hudson Pageant, an event of the Ashley-Hudson Festival, was held Thursday night at the Country Meadows School. The Miss Ashley-Hudson Queen is Morgan Hayes who is the daughter of Brian and Robin Hayes of Hudson. Teen Miss Ashley-Hudson is Kendall Meyer whose parents are Matthew and Karin Meyer of Ashley. The Junior Miss Ashley-Hudson is Madison Oberlin who is the daughter of Michael and Nicole Oberlin of Hudson. The queens were crowned after they were judged in the categories of interview wear, interview, talent, on-stage question and evening wear. Hayes was also named Miss Congeniality while the People’s Choice Award winner is Kale Jones who is the daughter of Maria Likes and Steven Jones of Ashley.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Several non-profit groups will be on hand during Sidewalk Sales in downtown Angola over the next couple of days. The Go Angola Downtown Alliance says the non-profits include Homes For Hounds which will be showcasing their dog houses. All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity in Steuben and DeKalb Counties and the Steuben County Humane Society. Also scheduled to be on hand will be the United Way, TLC Steuben and the Angola Tree Board which is trying to raise money in order to preserve 19 acres of forest on Calvary Lane. Conaways Inflatables will be available for the kids and Angola Fire Department trucks will be downtown on Saturday. Downtown Angola businesses will be open during their normal hours.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Officials from Cameron Memorial Community Hospital and the Lutheran Health Network announced the formation of a Joint Venture Physician Practice Organization involving Steuben County physicians during a news conference on Thursday afternoon. Cameron Hospital and Chief Executive Officer Greg Burns said the partnership does not involve a change in ownership at Cameron or an affiliation of Cameron with Lutheran Health Network and that the hospital remains independent. The partnership came about after a number of community physicians in Steuben County began exploring different options to independent practices last fall. At the time, some physicians were thinking about selling their practices due to a number of factors which included declining reimbursements and increasing malpractice costs to go work for a hospital or a health system. Burns says the partnership will provide patients from throughout the region with increased local access to specialized care. Lutheran Health Network Interim Chief Executive Officer Joe Dorko says it makes sense for them to help regional hospitals. The Cameron Hospital Board approved the partnership on Wednesday after it was presented by an 11-member work group which included local physician representatives and Cameron Hospital officials.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(COLON, MICHIGAN) – There's a special feeling around the Village of Colon this week. The 73rd Abbott's Magic Get Together is underway with approximately 1,000 magicians and their families along with an equal number of visitors in the Magic Capitol of the World. The annual event is put on by Abbott's Magic Company, the Colon Lions Club and the Colon Chamber of Commerce. Greg Bordner of Abbott's Magic Company says the Get Together can trace its origins back to the Great Depression. Other than during World War II, the Get Together has been a summer mainstay in Colon. Friday night's performers include Lie Zihao from China, who is making is first ever U.S. Appearance, Bob Brizendine and Bob Higa. There will be a Saturday matinee at 2:00pm featuring Bill Watson, Yo Master Zeemo and Marien Hopman. The Saturday evening show will have Chris Hart, who played the hand in the Addams Family movies, Tina Lenert and David Williamson. Tickets for the Saturday matinee are $10 for adults and $8 for children and senior citizens. Tickets for the evening show are $20 for reserved seats and $15 for the bleachers. To purchase tickets you can call Abbott's Magic Company at 269-432-3235.
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Friday, August 6, 2010
(HOWE) - A Michigan potato grower now operating at Fawn River Crossing hopes to expand its presence in Indiana. Lennard Ag Company purchased the former Sun Valley R-V buildings and began operations April 1st. The company is based in Samaria, Michigan and farms over 5,600 acres of potatoes and grain. About 2,100 acres is grown locally. Co-owner Kyle Lennard says at its peak the company employees 36 workers. Lennard says they continue to seek land to lease to expand their presence in Indiana.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County United Way has named Ryan Funkhouser as this years Campaign Chair. Funkhouser has been a sales coordinator at Vestil Manufacturing for the past five years and has been serving on the United Way board for about a year. He also has donated his time to various community and non-profit organizations over the last nine years. Funkhouser is a Trine University graduate who also coaches football at Prairie Heights High School and baseball at Angola High School. United Way Executive Director Darci Gaff says this years campaign goal will be $200,000.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Plan Commission voted 5-0 on Wednesday night to give an unfavorable recommendation to County Commissioners on a request from the town of Hamilton to extend its extra territorial jurisdiction. Town Manager Milton Otero said they wanted to expand its jurisdiction by over 4,700 acres to keep the area which is zoned agricultural as rural as possible. The proposed area of expansion would go east from State Road 1 and 500 South to 600 East, then south to 700 South and then west to 575 East. Seven audience members spoke out against the proposal. They said they prefered staying under county control and they did not want to deal with the town of Hamilton. John Damron from the Hamilton Town Council said they wanted the expansion in order to pull from a larger pool of people for positions on the towns Plan Commission. He also explained that the town has no desire to annex the land that would be part of the expanded jurisdiction. The Steuben County Commissioners will have final say on the request which could take place durng their August 16th meeting.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Park Improvement Committee is in the process of making a recommendation as to what the county should do about the future of its county park. Most of the committee members met last night to give written responses to County Commissioners on whether or not the county should buy the George Pifer or Fun Spot Amusement Park properties or if the county should keep its park as it is and make improvements to it. Commissioner Ron Smith said they will look at the committee recommendations before meeting with the property owners and the County Council before a decision is made. The two appraisals on the properties varied greatly. All Appraisals Incorporated had the Fun Spot property at just over $1 million with improvements while the property was appraised at $813,000 for just the land. All Appraisals felt the Pifer property was worth over $977,000. Good Valuation Incorporated appraised the Fun Spot property at $375,000 and the Pifer property at $430,000. When the project was first proposed nearly three years ago it was felt at the time it would cost between $3 million and $4 million.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(EDGERTON) - The strong storms that went through the area late Wednesday morning were apparently a factor in the death of a teenage worker at the site of the new elementary school in Edgerton. Authorities say 18-year-old Keith LaFountain of Rockford, Ohio was killed when a 10-foot high brick wall at the school construction site blew down on him at about 11:25am. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It's the second major weather incident in Edgerton this summer. A storm on June 23rd destroyed the former town hall, injured a firefighter and damaged several houses.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Democratic Party has announced that Indiana author and political advisor Kip Tew will deliver the keynote address at the 2010 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on August 21st. The dinner will be held at the Witmer Clubhouse on the campus of Trine University. Doors open at 6pm that evening. Tew is the author of the just released 'Journey to Blue'. He is also the Former Chair of the Indiana Democratic party. Local, state and federal Democratic candidates for this falls election are also expected to be on hand. Tickets are $30 apiece or two for $50. They can be obtained at the Steuben County Democratic Headquarters on West Maumee in downtown Angola, calling Elten Powers at 475-1293 or by e-mail at steubencountydemocrats@gmail.com.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(UNDATED) - Police agencies throughout northeast Indiana are warning residents to be aware of a phone scam that has been going on in recent days. Reportdly, the scammer will call you and say they are from a local credit union and that your credit or debit card is frozen. They then ask you for information such as your account number in order to unfreeze it. Police say you should never give such information out over the phone. Instead, hang up and notify police of the call.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(COLDWATER) – Michigan State Police have released further information on a Tuesday morning accident near Coldwater. Troopers say 64- year-old Miriam Leach of Coldwater is in critical condition at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Investigators say that Leach was driving west on M-86 near Branch Road Tuesday at 7:45am when she crossed the centerline and collided with a pickup driven by 29 year old Gregory Cooper of Coldwater. Leach was flown from the scene. Cooper was initially taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County and later transferred to Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. His condition is not available. The crash closed down the road for just over four hours.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(CLAY TOWNSHIP) - A nine-year-old boy was in critical but stable condition after a machinery accident in LaGrange County's Clay Township on Tuesday afternoon. The boy, whose name was not available, was flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne after suffering internal injuries. LaGrange Fire Chief Matt Huffman says the boy was working with several others who were reportedly cleaning up the property at 4250 West 200 North in preparation for a wedding when he was run over by a skid loader. He was flown from the scene by Samaritan and Huffman said the family reported he remained in critical condition.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
(SHIPSHEWANA) - After more than a dozen years as a two-day event, this year's LaGrange County Habitat For Humanity Auction is returning to a one-day format. Mont Arnold of the local Habitat For Humanity group says another tradition that's returning to this year's auction is a special quilt commissioned by the Habitat board. Proceeds from the auction help to build houses for their partner families in need. Lunch on Friday is from 11:00am to 2:00pm with the auction starting at 3:00pm and a haystack supper starting at 4:00pm. All the activities will be held at the Shipshewana Auction Barn.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
(COLDWATER) - Two Indiana men who are suspected of being involved in the July 19th Allegis Credit Union robbery in Coldwater both waived their Branch County District Court preliminary exams on Tuesday. The cases for 26-year-old Austin Wynn of Ligonier and 37-year-old Jason Oetting of Fremont were both bound over to Branch County Circuit Court. A Circuit Court arraingment for Oetting was set for August 16th. Oetting is being held in the Branch County Jail on a $750,000 bond while Wynn is being held on a $500,000 bond. The Coldwater Daily Reporter reports video surveillance showed Wynn taking a large amount of money from the bank while Oetting waited in a getaway car.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
(UNDATED) - A line of strong storms moved through the area late on Wednesday morning. Winds up to 50 miles an hour, heavy downpours and occasional cloud to ground lightning were reported. A power line was reported down on a van near Snow Lake. There were also numerous reports of trees being knocked down in Steuben County including one which blocked both lanes of 50 West near the entrance to I-69. Power lines were also reported down in DeKalb County. One of Auburn's fire stations had to operate under generator power for a time.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A reward is being offered by Steuben County Crime Stoppers after numerous unlocked vehicles were broken into over the weekend in the Hamilton area. Crime Stoppers Coordinator Shari Dean says the thefts took place late Saturday night and early Sunday morning on Lane 210 at Hamilton Lake and on Terry Lake. Items taken included a Colt .45 automatic gun which had a U.S. Army stamp on it. Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is asked to call Steuben County Crime Stoppers at 668-STOP or 1-800-600-HALT. You can also go to their web site which is steubencountycrimestoppers.org. You don't have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Sheriff's Department is looking into the Tuesday morning armed robbery of the Budgeteer Motel on U.S. 127 north of Angola. The Sheriff's Department says two armed men were both wearing masks when they entered the motel at about 4:30am and tied up the owners. The suspects then fled with an unknown amount of cash. Investigators don't know which direction they were heading. One of the suspects was described as having short black hair. The victims, 68-year-old Usheban Patel and 51-year-old Dahyabhai Patel, were not injured. They had managed to untie themselves by the time police arrived. The Indiana State Police are assisting the Sheriffs Department with the investigation. Police are trying to determine if there was any connection between the Budgeteer Motel robbery and the weekend hold up of the Rodeway Inn in Coldwater. Two men were also involved in that robbery which took place at 12:30am on Sunday morning. A night manager was assaulted and forced to open up the motel's safe. The suspects in the Coldwater robbery were described as wearing blue shirts, blue jeans and ski masks.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
SHIPSHEWANA - Fire caused an estimated $200,000 worth of damage to Wellspring Components LLC near Shipshewana on Tuesday. Fire officials say a hot spring dipped into oil caused the flash fire that destroyed the barn. A Topeka firefighter suffered minor injuries.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
(COLDWATER) – An incumbent lost as three contested races for seats on the Branch County Commission were narrowed down following Tuesday's primary election. Four-term Branch County Commissioner William Chinery lost in District 6 to fellow Republican Linda Fronczak 405-380. Democrat Mike King had 78 votes. In the District 4 County Commission race, Don Vrablic defeated fellow Republican Roy Grigsby 584-104. In the District 7 race, Randall Hazelbaker defeated two other Republican candidates. He had 345 votes while Lance Houck collected 195 votes and Lindy Cox had 130. Branch County residents also approved millage renewal for the Branch Area Transit Authority 3615-1570 and the Branch County Commission On Aging millage renewal also passed 3966-1258.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ROYER LAKE) - A crash near Royer Lake in LaGrange County sent three people to the hospital on Monday. The LaGrange County Sheriff's Department says 19-year-old Kellsey Carper of Big Long Lake was driving south on County Road 400 South. A second car driven by 69-year-old Judith Bienz of Lake Pleasant pulled out from County Road 200 South and hit the Carper vehicle. Carper suffered head pain and her passenger, 18-year-old Chelsie Smith of LaGrange, suffered head and neck pain. Bienz complained of back pain. All three women were transported to Parkview-LaGrange Hospital for treatment. The accident happened at 12:26pm. Johnson Township firefighters assisted deputies at the scene.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Lakes Council will hold its Annual Meeting this Saturday morning. It will start at 8:30am at the Lake James Christian Assembly on Lake James. The meeting will include a short business meeting, election of members-at-large, two speakers on current topics and a silent auction. The meeting is open to the public.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola City Council approved a five year tax abatement for Univertical on Monday night as part of a $1.3 million investment by the company. The abatement will allow Univertical to retain 57 employees and hire up to six additional workers. The investment includes a new 30,000 square foot building which company President Chuck Walker says will be ready in about a year. The space is currently being used by I.D.E.M. to clean up the enviromental mess left behind by Dana-Weatherhead which almost led Univertical to leave Angola. Walker told the Council he was optimistic the job numbers will be better than they are currently anticipating. The other part of the investment will include new equipment that will be used to make copper.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola Plan Commission approved a zoning change for a business on the south side of the city on Monday night. Stan Monroe was seeking the zoning change for his business of 25 years at 1302 South Wayne Street so that he could conduct retail sales of automobiles, boats and other related items. The property would be zoned Medium to Large General Commercial after previously being zoned Small to Medium General Commercial. Monroe says the sales lot will be a place where anybody can rent a spot for up to four weeks to sell their items. The business will be known as You Buy Owner Direct. Monroe hopes it will help bring customers to his repair shop and other south side businesses.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Fremont man will not have to serve any additional time behind bars for dealing methamphetamine as part of a complicated sentence which was handed down on Monday in Steuben Superior Court. 37-year-old Jason Ray Hull was given a 12 year sentence on the Class B felony which he earlier pled guilty to. Five years and 331 days of the sentence were suspended and Hull was also given credit for 764 days already served in jail since the case was filed just over two years ago. He will serve four years of the sentence in Community Corrections and be on probation for five years. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped all other charges against Hull.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County Commissioners were presented with an Emergency Action Plan on Monday which spells out procedures for county officials to follow in case of a natural or major disaster. Emergency Management Agency Director Bill Brown said it took about 18 months to put the plan together which is required by OSHA. It details initial responsibilities and actions to be taken by officials until law enforcement personel arrive on the scene of a disaster. It covers such events as fires, tornados, earthquakes, bomb threats, bioterrorism events and hazardous material spills. Tornado shelter areas have been designated for the basements of the Steuben County Courthouse, the Community Center, the County Annex as well as the "time room" at the County Highway Department. Those at the Steuben County Park at Crooked Lake will be asked to leave travel trailers and seek shelter in a gulley or ditch in case of a tornado. In other business, the Commissioners approved a request from Tina Hampshire of the Indiana State Attorney Generals Office for additional space on the second floor of the old jail. The space will become available once the Steuben County Tourism Bureau leaves the building in a couple of weeks for a new location at Mill and North Wayne Street.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $10,000 for May and June. Early Childhood Alliance received $2,000 in support for their “Parents as Teachers” Program, Children First got $5,000 to help with the Family Services Support Worker program while Project Help of Steuben County received $3,000 to support the “Back to School with Supplies” program. The next cycle of grant requests are due to the Community Foundation office by August 31.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County 4-H Fair Board will hold its annual meeting on September 8th at 6:00pm in the Lions Building at the Steuben County 4-H Fairgrounds. Members of the Fair Board will be elected during this meeting. Nominations are being accepted until September 3rd for three year terms on the board. Anyone interested in being a candidate should contact the Purdue Extension Office at 668-1000, extension 1400.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(COLDWATER TOWNSHIP) – Two people were injured when their vehicles collided in Branch County Tuesday morning. Michigan State Police from the Coldwater Post say a vehicle was driving west on M-86 near Branch Road when it crossed the center line and struck an east bound vehicle at 7:45am. Both vehicles were only occupied by the drivers who were pinned in their automobiles and had to be removed by the jaws of life. The driver of the first vehicle was air lifted to a hospital in Kalamazoo. The second driver was taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County. Their names have not been released. Assisting at the scene were Life Care Ambulance, the Coldwater and Bronson Fire Departments and the Branch County Road Commission. The accident remains under investigation.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - LaGrange County Commissioners did not agree with a county plan commission recommendation to deny a rezoning request at East Country Lane near Shipshewana. Zoning Administrator Chris Godlewski says the 31 acres was originally rezoned from agriculture to suburban back in 1999. Land owner Jaydee Hostetler now wants to change the zoning back the agriculture which is opposed by neighbors and the plan commission. Commissioner Larry Miller said he thought the neighbors mostly feared a confined animal operation. Hostetler said he would agree to restrict the land usage to calm the neighbors' fears. County Attorney Kurt Bachman said such a restriction could be included. The commissioners voted to send the issue back to the plan commission to address the restrictions.
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - The 23rd Annual All-Night Star Spectacular will take place at Pokagon State Park on August 14th. It will once again be hosted by the state park’s interpretive services and the Astronomical Society of Hillsdale County. Activities will begin at 8:00pm and run until 2:00am. The Society will provide several large telescopes so you can view stars, star clusters and other cosmic features. The moon will be near one-quarter and offer some views as it sets. The western horizon will also be home for Venus and Mars in the early evening. Viewers are encouraged to bring binoculars. The event is being held on a night that is near the peak date for the annual Perseid showers. All activities take place on the lawn area at the CCC Shelter. In case of clouds, contact the Nature Center before 4:00pm at 833-2012 or the Potawatomi Inn after 4:00pm at 833-1077 to inquire about the program’s status. The program is free but the usual park entrance fee will be charged at the main gate.
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Monday, August 2, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An Angola man pled guilty on Monday to a Class C felony of non-support of children as part of a plea agreement that was submitted during a pre-trial conference in Steuben Circuit Court. 34-year-old Thomas Peel is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4th. According to court documents, the plea agreement calls for Peel's sentence to be capped at four years if it is accepted by Judge Allen Wheat. A Class C felony carries a maximum jail sentence of eight years in Indiana. The case file also indicates Peel last paid his child support in February of 2009 and was over $22,000 behind as of last September.
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Monday, August 2, 2010
(UNDATED) - It could be a slow go on I-69 in Steuben County over the next few weeks. The Indiana Department of Transportation says traffic on the interstate is restricted just south of State Road 4 to one mile north of U.S. 20 due to patching work which started on Friday and led to a massive traffic jam. After being open for the weekend, additional patching and resurfacing work was scheduled to resume Monday morning. INDOT officials say the project is expected to be complete by late August. The restrictions will be lifted on weekends with barricades removed during August. The contract for the work was awarded to Strawser Construction based on the company's low bid of $960,000.
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Monday, August 2, 2010
(GIRARD TOWNSHIP) - Two Coldwater residents were killed Sunday afternoon in a car-motorcycle accident in Branch County's Girard Township. The Branch County Sheriffs Department stated in a news release that according to witnesses, a car driven by 18-year-old Chelsea Marie Clevenger of Litchfield turned in front of a motorcycle driven by 45-year-old Charles Skutt Junior at the intersection of Dayburg and Marshall Roads when she failed to see him. Deputies add cell phone use my have been a factor in the accident. Skutt and a passenger, 45-year-old Janean Allison Skutt, were both pronounced dead at the scene after they failed to respond to treatment by medics. Michigan State Police and Coldwater firefighters assisted at the scene and an accident reconsructionist from the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department was also called in. The Branch County Sheriffs Department is continuing to investigate the accident.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Gary Nielander has announced his retirement. Plans call for Nielander to remain as a consultant to the E.D.C. until at least February 1st while a search is conducted for his replacement. He can be retained as a consultant for 30 days at a time after that depending on the status of projects and the search for a new director. Neilander has been the only executive director of the E.D.C. since it was formed in early 2004. Nielander said it's hoped his replacement will have a strong background in implementing strategic plans such as the one recently completed for Steuben County that was put together by Thomas P. Miller and Associates of Indianapolis.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A memorial service for Paul Weller has been scheduled for next Sunday afternoon, August 8th, at Angola High School. The service will start at 3:00pm. Weller passed away last week. He was a teacher, F.F.A. Advisor and employee of the Y.M.C.A.. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Angola Y.M.C.A. or the Angola F.F.A..
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(KENDALLVILLE) - (AP) - Three 15-year-old girls and a mystery man are being credited with rescuing a man whose wheelchair got stuck on railroad tracks as a train bore down on him in Kendallville on Saturday. Jordan McCarty tells The News-Sun that she, Chelsea Stephens and Holly Handshoe were walking to pick up a movie from Family Video. She says they saw Mike Schneider stuck on the Norfolk Southern tracks. The girls and the man first tried to push Schneider forward and off the tracks, but the chair wouldn't budge. McCarty then called 911, while the others kept working, managing to dislodge it by pushing it backward two minutes before a train barreled past.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Angry residents in the northeastern part of the Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District expressed utter contempt for a proposed sewer system during a stormy meeting hosted by the district board on Saturday morning at the Ramada Inn. Most of the nearly 200 people who showed up took their turns blasting the idea of a sewer system serving Big and Little Otter Lakes, Lake Charles and the area near Pokagon State Park. There were times when some audience members snickered at or sarcastically put down District Superintendent Tim Frederick and Board President Bill Heckley. Heckley said the earliest any funding would be available for the proposed project would be late in 2011 and that no decisions have been made. He added negative feedback would be a factor in any board decision on the project. Audience members who spoke were upset mainly about the potential costs and what they felt was an unnecessary need for a sewer system.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(WATERLOO) - A motorcyclist who witnesses say was driving to fast and passing a vehicle on the right was injured Saturday afternoon when his cycle crashed into a car in Waterloo. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Department says 54-year-old Gilbert Nieves suffered a broken leg and was flown to Lutheran Hospital following the accident which took place at about 4:50pm. According to a news release issued by the Sheriffs Department, 73-year-old Della Hall of Waterloo was trying to make a left turn at the intersection of Washington and North Wayne when the crash took place. The impact sent Nieves airborne from his motorcycle and over Hall's car. Hall said she did not see Nieves when she pulled into the intersection. Nieves hometown was not listed in the news release.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(BATAVIA TOWNSHIP) - A motorcyclist was killed and his passenger was injured Saturday night after a deer ran in front of their cycle on West Bater Road in Branch County's Batavia Township. The Branch County Sheriff's Department says 66-year-old George Kenneth Jones was pronounced dead at the scene while 60-year-old Janice May Jones was taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County by LifeCare Ambulance. The hometowns of the victims were not listed in a Sheriffs Department news release. Deputies say the driver was unable to avoid hitting the deer when the accident took place at about 7:30pm. The Honda Trike motorcycle then went into a nearby ditch and overturned, ejecting the driver and the passenger.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(COLDWATER) - Police are looking for two men after the Rodeway Inn in Coldwater was robbed early Sunday morning. The Branch County Sheriff's Department says the hold up took place at about 12:30am when the victim told them the two suspects had handguns and got in through the back of the building at 180 East Chicago. The victim was then assaulted and forced to open up the motel's safe. The suspects were described as wearing blue shirts, blue jeans and ski masks. The victim thinks they left through the back door because no one up front had seen anyone. The victim was taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County for treatment of facial injuries. A Branch County K-9 was called in to help with the search along with Coldwater Police and Michigan State Police from Coldwater. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Branch County Sheriff's Department at 517-278-2325 or Branch County Crime Stoppers.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
(BATAVIA TOWNSHIP) - A couple from Farmington Hills, Michigan was injured Sunday morning when their motorcycle crashed after a deer ran in front of it in Branch County's Batavia Township. The Branch County Sheriffs Department says the accident happened on M-86 west of Wheeler Road at about 11:20am when 55-year-old James Kenneth Hart was unsuccessfull in trying to avoid hitting the deer. Hart and a passenger, 55-year-old Bonnie Kellman Hart, were both taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County after they were thrown off of the cycle. Police say both of the Harts were wearing their helmets and alcohol was not a factor in the accident which is still under investigation.
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
ANGOLA - A large turnout is expected this morning when the Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District holds a public meeting to discuss the possibility of a sewer project for the northeast corner of the district. That would take in the areas around Pokagon State Park. A meeting last January produced an overflow crowd at the Ramada Inn.
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
FREMONT - Head Start for both LaGrange and Steuben Counties is now accepting applications for children ages three to five for its centers in Angola, Fremont, Hamilton and Lagrange. For an application call 800-551-9819.
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
ANGOLA - Former students, friends and family are mourning the loss of Angola High School teacher Paul Weller. Weller died earlier this week from bleeding in the brain according to his step-sister, Stephanie Krill. He was a teacher and F-F-A advisor at Angola High School and also was employed by the Steuben County YMCA. Krill says the family will meet this morning to finalize arrangements. Two memorial services are being planned. One is scheduled for next Saturday at 11 a-m at the Burlington Church of God in Burlington, Michigan, near Weller's home town of Tekonsha. Plans for a memorial service in Angola are still being arranged.
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
KENDALLVILLE - A fire that critically injured a woman near Kendallville may have been set intentionally. Detective Sgt. Shawn Dunafin of the Noble County Sheriff's Department told The News Sun that the fire appears to be suspicious. A 40-year-old woman whose identity has not been released was in critical condition at the St. Joseph Medical Center burn unit. The home at 4754 East U-S 6 was rented, and the injured woman was a friend of the occupant. Dunafin told the paper that investigators don't believe the occupant was involved.
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
UNDATED - A LaGrange County man who police believe tried to fake his own death to elude them has landed on the web page of America's Most Wanted. 28-year-old Nathan Lumbard is wanted by police in LaGrange and St. Joseph County, Michigan.
Indiana State Police Detective Jeff Boyd says there are some worse people out there, but it would be good to get Lumbard off the streets. LaGrange County charges against Lumbard include aggravated battery, battery, obstruction of justice, receiving stolen property and failure to appear in court. A total of nine charges are pending against Lumbard in St. Joseph County, including assault and resisting police. During its 22 years, America's Most Wanted has helped police capture over one-thousand fugitives by taking their cases nationwide.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
KENDALLVILLE - A woman was in critical condition following a house fire along U-S 6 west of Kendallville Thursday afternoon. According to the News Sun of Kendallville, firefighters found the woman in the front room of the home after a passing ambulance spotted the flames. The victim was flown to the St. Joseph Medical Center Burn Unit in critical condition. Her name was not released. Firefighters from Orange Township, Kendallville, Albion and Johnson Township put the fire out. The cause of the fire was not known.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
LAGRANGE - Lakeland School Corporation announced registration dates for the coming school year. Registration will be held at all Lakeland school buildings on Wednesday, August 18th from noon to 7 and on Thursday, August 19th from 10 a-m to 5 p-m. School supply lists are available on the lakeland web site (lakeland.k12.in.us) under the word SCHOOLS using the drop down menu to highlight your student's building. Lakeland students return to classes on Thursday, August 26th.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
BRUSHY PRAIRIE - Prairie Heights High School fall athletes will begin practice on Monday. Football will practice from 3 to 9 p-m, volleyball from 5 to 7 p-m, boys tennis from 4 to 6 p-m, cross country from 7 to 8:30 p-m, soccer from 5 to 7 p-m on Monday and 8 to 9:30 on Tuesday morning. Girls golf begins practice tonight (Friday) at 5:30. Middle school athletic practice times will be posted at registration on August 10th.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
BIG TURKEY LAKE - An observant Indiana trooper helped capture two of three men who fled while driving a stolen vehicle from the area of Big Turkey Lake on Thursday afternoon.
Trooper Matt Lazoff heard a dispatch from Steuben County Communications about the stolen vehicle, which he spotted moments later at State Road 327 and 500-South.
As he turned around on the vehicle it sped up and fled east of 500-South.
Lazoff spotted it again a few minutes later on 700 South just east of 725-West. The pursuit went east on State Road 4 and then into DeKalb County on County Road 15.
The vehicle turned down a private drive and then drove 10 to 15 feet into a corn field, where the occupants fled the car on foot.
One suspect was captured immediately by an Ashley police officer. A second suspect was captured around 3 p-m following a manhunt involving officers from several departments.
They are identified as 36-year-old Brian Edward Domer of Hudson and 19-year-old Cody David Mullins of LaGrange. Both are charged with possession of stolen property and resisting law enforcement.
Police know the identity of the third suspect and plan to file charges against him as well.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
MONGO - The teenage entrepreneur from Mongo we introduced you to last week will be on TV across the state this Sunday. Fourteen-year-old Aleena Sallot, who recently opened a casual wear business called Boondock Designs, LLC, along with Mary Popovich, marketing coordinator for the NEISBDC, were guests on yesterday's taping of “Inside INdiana Business” with Gerry Dick. Their interview segment will run this Sunday on WPTA in Fort Wayne 11 a.m., at 8:30 a.m. on WSJV Fox 28 in South Bend, and at 9 a.m. on South Bend PBS Station WNIT.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
STEUBEN COUNTY - Some patching work on I-69 in Steuben County resulted in some lane restrictions today. The Indiana Department of Transportation says those restrictions stretched from just south Ashley to one mile north of U-S 20.
The full road should be open after 5 p-m through the weekend. The restrictions should be back in place on Monday morning in weather permits. The work is expected to continue through August with barricades removed on weekends.
Strawser Construction Company is doing the repair work.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
ORLAND - A quick response may have limited the damage caused by a diesel fuel spill into Fawn River near Orland.
The spill happened July 16th and involved a diesel fuel mishap at an irrigation system according to Mark Larimer of Lord's Seed.
He says a water leak caused the spilled diesel to run off into the Fawn River, creating a sheen on the water.
Between 20 to 25 gallons of diesel were involved.
Larimer's company hired E-R-S, a contractor from Fort Wayne, to contain and clean up the spill.
Booms were put on the river to collect the diesel and soil around the spill site was excavated.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management Public Information Officer Amber Sinkelstein says work on restoration of the soil is continuing and that Lord's has placed a spill pen around the irrigation pump fuel tank.
The site is close to the Fawn River State Fish Hatchery. District Fisheries Manager Neil Lidet says there were no issues from the spill at the hatchery.
Sinkelstein says a survey was conducted downstream but no determination was made as to how far the contamination spread.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
BRYAN - The father of a 4-month old infant is in police custody following the child's death Tuesday. Bryan Police say Aiden Oehler-McGinley died at Toledo Children's Hospital from injuries he suffered on Monday.
The father - 20-year-old Kevin Oehler - is charged with endangering children, which is a second degree felony. He's held at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
ALBION - Police in Noble County took a Syracuse man into custody on Wednesday for a stabbing that happened at a bar on July 4th.
34-year-old Brian Hiestand faces a count of felony aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing Randall Smith in the chest during an argument.
Smith was taken to Parkview Hospital in stable condition at the time of the incident.
The alleged incident happened at the Hill Top Bar at Big Lake.
Hiestand was held without bond at the Noble County Jail.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
UNDATED - At least part nearly every county in our listening was under a severe thunderstorm warning at some point yesterday afternoon.
The storms brought high winds and heavy downpours to some areas.
In Howe, a dugout at The Howe School was destroyed by winds that blew off the roof to the other side of the road and flattened the walls. There were also reports of several trees knocked down in Howe.
Winds also toppled trees at Oliver Lake, near Topeka, and near Cree Lake north of Kendallville.
Rainfall amounts included 1.45 inches northeast of Goshen, three-quarters of an inch at Millersburg, nearly two inches at Leesburg in Kosciusko County, and 1.61 inches at Woodburn in Allen County.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
ANGOLA - Registration for all Angola High School students will begin on Tuesday, August 10th. The school will be open from 1 to 7 p-m to take care of registration. The activities include updating student demographic information, picking up class schedules, locating lockers and classrooms, paying book fees, getting parking passes. Also sports passes and yearbooks will be available for purchase, lunch accounts paid, and parents can sign up for online access to the student database.
For more information contact the counselors at Angola High School
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Friday, July 30, 2010
ORLAND - A quick response may have limited the damage caused by a diesel fuel spill into Fawn River near Orland. The spill happened July 16th and involved a diesel fuel mishap at an irrigation system according to Mark Larimer of Lord's Seed. He says a water leak caused the spilled diesel to run off into the Fawn River, creating a sheen on the water. Between 20 to 25 gallons of diesel were involved. Larimer's company hired E-R-S, a contractor from Fort Wayne, to contain and clean up the spill. Booms were put on the river to collect the diesel and soil around the spill site was excavated. Indiana Department of Environmental Management Public Information Officer Amber Sinkelstein says work on restoration of the soil is continuing and that Lord's has placed a spill pen around the irrigation pump fuel tank. The site is close to the Fawn River State Fish Hatchery. District Fisheries Manager Neil Lidet says there were no issues from the spill at the hatchery. Sinkelstein says a survey was conducted downstream but no determination was made as to how far the contamination spread.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
HAMILTON - Hamilton Community Schools will hold a Back to School Event on August 3rd and 4th for parents of children in grades K 12 in the main gymnasium.
Two sessions will be held. One will take place August 3rd from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm with another session August 4th from 4:00 until 8:00pm.
Seventh grade orientation will also take place on August 4th at 6:30pm.
Refreshments will be provided on both days.
Organizers say parents will be able to pick up their child’s schedule and drop off school supplies while meeting the new administrative team.
There will also be opportunities to prepay for cafeteria expenses, pickup and pay for assorted items. Extra curricular and athletic opportunities can also be explored.
For more information about the event, you can call Hamilton Community Schools at 488-2161.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
MILLBURY, Ohio (AP) A northwest Ohio police station destroyed by a tornado last month will be rebuilt in hopes of opening in the fall of next year.
Lake Township trustees voted Wednesday night to use an estimated $1.7 million in insurance money to replace the township administration building, which housed the police department and other offices.
The building was in the path of a tornado with winds up to 175 mph that struck the area near Toledo on June 5. Six people were killed.
The trustees plan to include a storm memorial in the new administration building and are currently taking designs and bids.
The old police headquarters will be demolished in coming weeks. Several police cruisers left mangled by the tornado will be used for car crash rescue training.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010 8:56 AM
ANGOLA - The Democrat candidate for Steuben County Clerk won't be on the ballot in November.
The Steuben County Election Board voted 3-0 Tuesday evening to remove Mahlon Lautzenhizer's name from the ballot.
Republican Marion Nix challenged Lautzenhizer's candidacy by claiming he was not a registered voter at the time he filed for the position.
The election board agreed.
That leaves Republican Shelly Herbert unopposed for the office.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:49 AM
ASHLEY - A Waterloo man was injured Tuesday evening when he lost control of his motorcycle on a DeKalb County road near Ashley.
18-year-old Tucker Erwin suffered bruises to his face and head in the crash along County Road 39 that happened at 7:38 p-m.
Police say Erwin was southbound in a curve when the cycle began to shake and crossed the center line before leaving the road and ejecting Erwin.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:50 AM
FORT WAYNE - A DeKalb County man did not survive a self-inflicted gunshot during a traffic stop yesterday.
24-year-old Trenton James Stuller of Auburn died at around 6:30 p-m at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Stuller grabbed a handgun from under his leg and shot himself in the head when a state trooper pulled him over and asked him to step out of the car.
The incident happened around 2:20 yesterday morning at the intersection of Maplecrest and Stellhorn Roads in Fort Wayne.
Trooper Caleb Anderson made the traffic stop on Stuller for an equipment violation.
A search of the vehicle following the shooting turned up a one pot meth lab under the front passenger seat.
The web site "Indiana's Most Wanted" listed an outstanding warrant from Steuben County for failure to appear in court on charges of possession and manufacturing meth.
The site listed a tattoo on Stuller's back that said "Death Before Dishonor"
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
HUNTINGTON - A Coldwater man is facing charges in Huntington County related to the alleged abduction of his ex-girlfriend.
51-year-old Jack Hower is currently jailed in Branch County on Michigan charges of driving while suspended, domestic battery and false imprisonment.
Indiana State Police say Hower allegedly entered a residence near Huntington on Monday morning and forcibly removed 33-year-old Julie Musser of Coldwater. They say he forced her into her own van and left with the intention of driving her back to his residence in Coldwater.
Indiana authorities contacted Branch County deputies who located the van and stopped it.
In Huntington County Hower is charged with one count of kidnapping, two counts of criminal confinement, and one count of battery.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:48 AM
The turnout was underwhelming at two public hearings on a request by NIPSCO to increase natural gas bills nearly 3 percent.
Fewer than 50 people attended a hearing Monday evening at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne.
Just seven people spoke at a similar hearing at the Century Center in South Bend last night.
Pro-business and economic groups generally spoke in favor of NIPSCO's request, while those who serve low-income and retired residents voiced concerns about the increase. rnoon as emergency response centers.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010 12:00 PM
ANGOLA - There was no opposition Monday night to a commercial special exception request from Larry's Lock & Safe Service.
The business needs the exception to conduct the sales of firearms, accessories and ammunition at its property at 1601 North Wayne Street.
The Angola Board of Zoning Appeals had no concerns about the request and approved the special exception according to City Planner Julie Cole.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:33 PM
CENTREVILLE - A decision has been made on what to do about the Saturday night entertainment at this year's St. Joseph County Fair.
Fair Manager Bill Johnson announced last week that Saturday head liner Kellie Pickler and Chris Young, who was set to open for George Jones on Thursday night, had cancelled their appearances at the fair. Both are on tour with Rascal Flatts and will be opening for them.
After a meeting late last week, the Fair Board has announced that the Saturday night entertainment at the Fair will be "Satisfaction, the International Rolling Stones Show", a touring tribute band.
Johnson says he and the Fair Board understand the frustration this year's cancellations have caused. As a way to make it up to the community, the Saturday "Satisfaction" show will be free.
Anyone who purchased Kellie Pickler tickets can get a refund by calling the ticket office at 888-873-0550. If you ordered your tickets through Stars Ticket Plus, you can contact them at 888-585-3737.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010 3:27 PM
ANGOLA - Another plea agreement's been struck in the case of an Angola man charged with molesting.
32-year-old Scott Estep pled guilty but mentally ill on Monday to the charge in Steuben Superior Court.
Judge William Fee, who has rejected previous plea agreements in the case, scheduled sentencing for September 13th.
The agreement calls for a sentence of 20 years in prison.
Estep admitted to having intercourse with a 3-year-old girl.
Previous mental evaluations of Estep found he has an extremely low I-Q.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:34 PM-UPDATED Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:47 AM
ANGOLA - Phone service in the Fremont and Clear Lake areas remains intermittent following a cable cut yesterday afternoon.
Frontier Communications hoped to have repairs made by late in the afternoon but later said they were taking longer than expected.
Steuben County Communications tells us this morning that intermittent outages are still possible.
The Fremont Fire Station and Clear Lake Town Hall were activated Tuesday afternoon as emergency response centers.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:12 AM
LAOTTO - A rollover crash in DeKalb County last night injured a Kendallville man.
19-year-old Cameron Rogers was a passenger in the pickup truck driven by 17-year-old Bryant Calzado of Kendallville.
Rogers suffered a fractured hand and lower arm. He was transported to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. A hospital spokeswoman said he was not in the hospital's directory this morning.
The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department says Calzado was driving west on County Road 66 west of State Road 3 when the road turned from pavement to gravel.
Calzado's truck began to swerve and he overcorrected, causing it to spin into a ditch and roll onto its top.
Calzado was not injured.
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ANGOLA - An Angola teenager was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday for burglary.
17-year-old Nathan Lundgren's guilty plea was accepted by Steuben Superior Court Judge William Fee, who issued the maximum sentence under the plea agreement.
Lundgren's case was moved to adult court because of the seriousness of the charge, which resulted from the burglary and theft of a safe from an Angola home last August.
The judge suspended six years of the sentence and granted credit of nearly one year for the time Lundgren has spent in custody and another 356 days of credit for good time.
If he earns additional good time credit he would end up serving about two more years.
Following his release Lundgren must serve five years of probation. er 13th.
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LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP - A 5-year-old boy remains in critical condition following a crash in southwest Michigan that killed his younger stepbrother and injured both of his parents.
Michigan State Police say Jayden Everett and Gary and Rikki Cannon, both 28, were taken to a Kalamazoo hospital after their northbound car crossed the center line and crashed into a tree at
1:46 p.m. Sunday in Lockport Township.
Four-year-old Dominic Cannon was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gary Cannon, who was driving, is listed in fair condition. Rikki Cannon's condition was not
immediately available.
Police said in a statement alcohol and drugs "are believed to be a factor," but did not elaborate.
Investigators said seat belts and child-restraint seats were being used.
An investigation is ongoing.
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LAKE OF THE WOODS - A rural Hudson man died early Sunday morning when fire swept through a residence near Lake of the Woods.
49-year-old Kirk Perrine was sleeping with his dog in a rear bedroom of the home at 11990 East 650-South Lot #2.
Firfighters believe the fire began in that room.
Three other occupants managed to escape the home without serious injury.
They woke to find the home full of smoke and partly engulfed in fire at 4:20 a.m.
Foul play is not suspected according to LaGrange County Sheriff's Detective Donnie Faust.
Firefighters from Helmer, Stroh, Salem Center, Mongo and Johnson Township put out the blaze.
The LaGrange County Coroner and State Fire Marshal's offices were at the scene along with LaGrange County E-M-S.
Damage was estimated at $50-thousand dollars.
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Rainfall causes Angola sewer overflow
Monday, July 26, 2010 9:38 AM
ANGOLA - Rain early Saturday morning resulted in Angola's fourth combined sewer overflow of the year.
Wastewater Superintendent Craig Williams says close to a half inch of rain fell between 3:30 and 5:15 Saturday morning.
That resulted in 487 gallons of combined wastewater and runoff to leave the city's site at Water & Martha Streets.
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UNDATED - The first of two informational meetings and public hearings on NIPSCO's rate change request for natural gas customers is this evening in Fort Wayne.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor will conduct an informational meeting about the regulatory process and field hearings at 5:30 p-m in the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne.
That's followed at 6 p-m by the formal public hearing to receive oral and written comments about NIPSCO's natural gas rates by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
The process will be repeated Tuesday evening at the Century Center in South Bend.
NIPSCO is seeking new and fixed monthly charges on natural gas bills to help cover operating, maintenance and infrastructure costs.
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ANGOLA - An Angola man was in court Monday after being stopped Saturday with an alleged mobile meth lab.
32-year-old Aaron Brown is charged with manufacturing meth. He could get up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the class B felony.
Magistrate Randy Coffey appointed a public defender for Brown and set his next for September 13th.
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NGOLA - The Angola Board of Zoning Appeals meets this evening to consider a commercial special exception for Larry's Lock & Safe Service.
The company wants to conduct the sales of firearms, accessories and ammunition at its property at 1601 North Wayne Street.
The meeting starts at 6 p-m in the council chambers at Angola City Hall.
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ANGOLA - Angola Economic Development & Planning Director Julie Cole says a consultant will begin an income survey for the city of Angola starting today.
Staff from University Research Consultants will be calling a sample of Angola city residents to obtain general income range and demographic information. They will not request specific personal information.
The wage survey is used to maintain the city's eligibility for various grants. It's conducted once every four years.
If you have questions you can contact Cole at Angola City Hall.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
(FLINT) - The Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District will be hosting a public meeting on Saturday, July 31st to discuss a possible sanitary sewer project for the northeastern corner of the district. District Superintendent Tim Frederick says the hearing will be held in the Ramada Inn's banquet room Saturday morning starting at 9:00am. A meeting last January at the Ramada Inn drew an overflow crowd to a smaller meeting room. It was called after the district was approached by Pokagon State Park as well as some businesses and residents of the area about a possible sewer project. But District Board of Trustees Chair Bill Heckley said at the January meeting the board had no desire to pursue a project if they felt the majority of people were against it. Russell Engineering performed a feasibility study in December of 2007 on such a project but due to its complex nature, it will be years before any actual construction happens. It would have to go through such things as enviromental impact and archaeological studies as well as a review by the Army Corps of Engineers.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
(UNDATED) - The National Weather Service says there will be one more day of hot, sultry and stormy weather before much cooler conditions move in for Sunday. Forecasters have issued a Flash Flood Watch for northern Indiana, southwest Michigan and northwest Ohio until 2:00pm on Saturday afternoon. A slow moving frontal boundary is expected to cause showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain across the area this morning. This combined with heavy rain which fell overnight may lead to flash flooding. Additional rainfall of one to two inches is possible. Over three inches of rain was reported near Granger while some intersections and viaducts in South Bend were closed on Saturday morning due to high water and urban flooding. Friday nights storms knocked down trees and power lines in Coldwater as severe weather moved through Branch County for a second straight night. Heat advisories have also been issued for Noble and DeKalb Counties in Indiana and for Williams and Defiance Counties in Ohio from 2:00pm until 8:00pm. High temperatures in the low 90's combined with high humidity levels will result in heat index readings of close to 100 degrees.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A short period of intense rain on Saturday morning led to a brief combined sewer overflow at the Angola Wastewater Treatment Plant. Wastewater Superintendent Craig Williams says the total flow was less than 500 gallons and lasted for 15 minutes starting at 5:21am. Waters downriver from the plant maybe affected for up to 72 hours after such an event. A full report will be compiled and distributed on Monday.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
(FREMONT) - Head Start for both Steuben and LaGrange Counties are accepting applications for children between the ages of three and five for its centers in Angola, Fremont, Hamilton and LaGrange. Children must be three years old by february 1st to be eligible. The program is four days a week, Monday through Thursday, from September through May. Head Start also has a full day 11 month program in LaGrange which runs Monday through Friday. For an application, call 495-4775 or 1-800-551-9819.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
(HAMILTON LAKE) - One person was taken to Cameron Hospital following a jet ski accident on Hamilton Lake Friday afternoon. The accident was reported just after 3:00pm near Lane 101-B in the area of Clark's Landing. Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the accident.
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
(HAMILTON) - Hamilton Community Schools will be holding a Back to School Event on August 3rd and 4th for parents of children in grades K-12 in the main gymnasium. Two sessions will be held on August 3rd. One will take place from 9:00am until 1:00pm with another session from 4:00 until 8:00pm. In addition, seventh grade orientation will take place on August 4th at 6:30pm. Refreshments will be provided on both days. Organizers say parents will be able to pick up their child’s schedule and drop off school supplies while meeting the new administrative team. There will also be opportunities to prepay for cafeteria expenses, pickup and pay for assorted items. Extra curricular and athletic opportunities can also be explored. For more information about the event, you can call Hamilton Community Schools at 488-2161.
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Friday, July 23, 2010
(AUBURN) - A DeKalb County jury has recommended that a Florida man who was convicted on Thursday for the murder of a flea market merchant be given a life prison sentence without parole. 52-year-old Jeffrey Cain is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kevin Wallace on August 20th. The jury returned guilty verdicts on two charges of murder and a count of armed robbery after deliberating for about two hours. The second murder charge was filed because authorities claimed he intentionally killed Raymond Morrow in May of 2009 while committing or trying to commit a robbery and that Cain was hired to kill Morrow. The verdicts were returned after a four day trial.
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Friday, July 23, 2010
(MONGO) - Most teens look for ways to make money during the summer, but few do what Aleena Sallot did. She opened her own business. The 14-year-old from Mongo has her own line of casual wear which she sells over the internet and at area fairs. The idea of starting a business began during spring break. Aleena's parents, Jeff and Sharon Sallot, provided start-up funding and her mom, who works for a business incubator program in Whitley County connected her with others who could help. Her first week resulted in over $400 in sales at the Whitley County 4-H Fair. After attending Prairie Heights her first eight years of school, Aleena starts her freshman year at East Noble next month. She hopes to keep the business going through high school. You can check out Aleena's clothing at boondock-designs-dot-com.
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Friday, July 23, 2010
(UNDATED) - The National Weather Service and the Branch County Emergency Management Agency have confirmed that a weak EF-Zero tornado took place in Branch County on Thursday evening. Damage was reported along Fenn and Fillmore Roads. Isolated tree damage was reported with large branches near the top of trees torn off. A barn and a chicken coop also sustained some damage. Officials say the damage was consistent with winds of between 65 and 85 miles an hour. Information is still being gathered on the damage path, length and exact locations. A tornado warning was issued for parts of Branch and Hillsdale Counties just before 6:00pm on Thursday night.
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Friday, July 23, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Two records were broken on Thursday during the annual livestock auction which brought the curtain down on the 2010 Steuben County 4-H Fair. The record for started calfs was broken twice. Ashton Seller's grand champion animal sold for $2,500 which broke her 2006 record. The price was topped near the end of the started calf auction when Reed Evans sold his animal for $2,650. Hannah Buell broke the Dairy Steer record set two years ago by $300 when her grand champion animal went for $3,800. The take from Thursday's auction was over $146,000.
As for the other top prices---
* Kory Willibey's grand champion beef steer went for $4,000.
* Trevor Ice's grand champion swine went for $1,450.
* Cody Bachelor's grand champion dairy animal sold for $900.
* Jaycee Bachelor's reserve grand champion dairy animal also sold for $900.
* Rachel Weber's Grand Champion Roaster went for $400.
* Lane Waite's reserve grand champion sheep went for $1,500.
* Kylie Bidlack's grand champion turkey sold for $850.
* Tara Penick's grand champion market duck went for $300.
* April Hart's grand champion roaster sold for $300.
* The grand champion and reserve grand champion market geese from Jodi Selman and Tysen Hunt both sold for $175.
* Hailee Snyder's grand champion pygmy goat sold for $350.
* Elijah Butler's grand champion nubian goat went for $450.
* Madison Wallace's grand champion boar goat sold for $1,000.
* In goat milk and cheese, Logan Burlew's reserve champion animal sold for $650.
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Friday, July 23, 2010
(EDON, OHIO) - Seven people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a van pulled in front of a tractor trailer just east of the Indiana-Ohio line. The Ohio Highway Patrol says the crash happened at the intersection of U.S. 20 and State Route 49 at about 2:40pm. The driver of the van and five passengers were from Detroit while the semi was driven by a Florida resident. The van driver and one of his passengers were flown to Parkview Hospital. The other four passengers in the van as well as the truck were treated and released from nearby hospitals.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(ANGOLA) - One of two suspects who has been charged in connection with the robbery of the Allegis Credit Union on the east side of Coldwater waived his extradition in Steuben County on Thursday afternoon. 37-year-old Jason Allen Oetting of Fremont was taken to the Branch County Jail to face Michigan charges. The other suspect, 26-year-old Austin Michael Wynn of Ligonier, was arraigned on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to committ robbery and felony firearm on Tuesday. Wynn's bond was set at $500,000 and a preliminary exam was scheduled for August 3rd.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(AUBURN) - Two tour busses belonging to entertainer Bret Michaels were searched by DeKalb County Police late Wednesday night as a traffic stop turned into a drug investigation. Deputy Aaron Long and says he and Corporal Joe McGrade made the traffic stop on northbound I-69 near the 137 mile marker at about 11:30pm. The busses were apparently heading to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for a Thursday night concert. After getting license and registration information from the drivers, Long and McGrade used their K-9's to conduct vehicle scans. Both K-9's alerted for the smell of narcotics coming from the front bus. Steuben County Sheriff's Department Deputy Adam Miller then arrived with his K-9 to search the second bus which contained Michaels. Dogs belonging to Miller and McGrade both alerted to the presence of narcotics. Police say searches on both busses produced marijuana as well as a quantity of Schedule Two controlled substances in the front bus. Long says charges have been forwarded to the DeKalb County Prosecutors Office for review. None of the bus occupants including Michaels were arrested following the search.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Sales of single family homes in Northeast Indiana were a mixed bag in June according to the latest figures from the Indiana Association of Realtors. While the pace was mostly up from a year ago, it was down in some areas from the previous month. In Steuben County 41 homes were sold in June, four more than in May but three fewer than the previous June. The median price of $110,000 was up 11 percent from a year ago and about $16,000 more than in May. In LaGrange County, 20 homes were sold in June, ten fewer than in May, but six more than were sold a year ago. The median sales price of more than $110,000 was down almost 22 percent from the previous year and about the same as this May. 37 homes sold in Noble County. That was one less than the month of May but 16 more than June of 2009. The median sales price in Noble County was $88,000, up eleven percent from a year ago and up about $8,500 from May. Sales across Indiana increased 8.6 percent from a year ago as the federal tax credit continued to stabilize prices and spur activity.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Hailey Hamlin was named the Supreme Showman for the 2010 Steuben County 4-H Fair on Wednesday night at Rensch Hall. Hamlin got the traditional soaking as her fellow contestants threw buckets of water at her when the announcement was made that she had won. Hamlin is a nine year 4-H member and belongs to the Flint Arrows 4-H Club. She was representing the sheep barn in the Supreme Showman contest. The other barn representatives were Danyele Clingan for beef, Haylee Everidge for swine, Skylar Clingan for dairy, Caitlin Mahnke for horse and pony, Derick Shipe for started calf and Colt Ridenour for goats. Meanwhile, Austin Penick from the Flint Arrows showed the Supreme Grand Champion animal during the Dairy Show on Wednesday morning. Penick also showed the grand champion registered holstein while Cody Bachelor had the grand champion registered jersey. In other fair activities on Wednesday, Alexandria Claudy of the Flint Arrows was named the Small Animal Supreme Showmanship winner. She is a seven year 4-H member who showed rabbits at this years fair. Jodi Selman was the runner-up. Five-year-old Gage Spreuer of Angola and six-year-old Gracie Flatt of Crooked Lake were named Steuben County's Little Mister and Little Miss. The fair wraps up on Thursday with the livestock auction starting at 10:00am.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(ORLAND) - The heritage and history of Steuben County's first settlement will be celebrated once again this weekend in Orland during the annual Vermont Settlement Festival. The Orland Lion's Club will host a Pancake Breakfast at the Orland Community Center on Saturday morning starting at 6am. Other Saturday activities include the opening ceremonies at 7:30 at the American Legion, the Fawn River Cruise-In along with a 5K and two mile walk starting at 8:00am. The parade will start at 11:00am. It will feature over 25 units from the Mizpah Shriners. A chicken BBQ will follow the parade at 12:00. Music on the Main Stage with Story and Bonafied starts at 2:00pm. Sunday's activities will include the Mud Volleyball Tournament. There will also be music from the Wasepi Bluegrass Gospel Singers and Cadillac Ranch along kids games and a chinese auction. As always, the festival will include a primitive village to show how life was back when Orland was founded in 1834. The Vermont Settlement Festival is being sponsored by the Orland Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(UNDATED) - The campaign for Republican Congressional candidate Marlin Stutzman is touting a new poll from American Viewpoint out of Alexandria, Virginia that shows Stutzman with a solid lead over Democratice opponent Tom Hayhurst. The poll shows Stutzman leading Hayhurst by 27 points, 56-29 percent. Libertarian Scott Wise has two percent. Stutzman's biggest strength is in Kosciusko and LaGrange Counties where he is favored by 65 percent of poll respondents. Hayhurst's best county is Steuben County he only trails Stutzman by nine points, 46-37 percent. The telephone survey of 400 likely voters was conducted Monday and Tuesday. It was paid for by the Stutzman campaign. The margin of error is plus or minus five percent. The poll results come after recent reports that Hayhurst had a nearly 6-1 edge over Stutzman in fundraising.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Two suspects from Elkhart are in custody after Angola Police say they tried to "short change" a clerk at the Angola Wal-Mart store on Wednesday. Police say 36-year-old Darrius L. Branch and 40-year-old Eugene J. Scott were arrested for theft near the store's entrance. They report the suspects were involved in other incidents that had been reported in LaGrange County earlier in the day. Branch and Scott were booked at the Steuben County Jail. The LaGrange County Sheriff's Department, Fremont Police and the Indiana State Police assisted in the investigation. Short changing takes place when someone usually buys a small item with a large denomination of money. After the transaction, the suspect will then ask to clerk to make some change. The clerk is some cases becomes confused and gives back more money than what is due. Angola Police are asking area businesses to be vigilant at this time of year and to report any suspicious activity to them.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - Indiana State Police at the Fort Wayne Post are cautioning residents about an e-mail scam involving an area credit union. Detective Devon Hostetler says a LaGrange County employee received an email on his personal e-mail account purporting to be from Fort Financial Credit Union. It requested personal account information claiming their was unusual or high risk activity on the account. The credit union does not solicit account information by internet or telephone. If you receive a similar email you should never give out your account or personal information. Instead, call your financial institution before calling police.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Community Open House for the new St. Anthony's Catholic Church at 700 West Maumee in Angola has been scheduled for Sunday, August 8th. Members of the community are invited to attend between 1:00pm and 5:00pm. Guided tours will be offered by the Interior Design Committee. Refreshments will also be served. The church held its first service on Easter Sunday and was officially dedicated by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Fort Wayne/South Bend Diocese on July 10. The church includes vintage items dating back to 1926 from the original church located on East Maumee Street as well as stained glass and other art pieces designed specifically for the new church.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(COLDWATER) - One of the suspects captured in connection with the hold up of the Allegis Credit Union in Coldwater was arraigned late Tuesday afternoon in Branch County District Court. 26-year-old Austin Michael Wynn of Ligonier was arraigned on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to committ robbery and felony firearm. Bond was set at $500,000 and a preliminary exam was scheduled for August 3rd. The other suspect in the case remains lodged in the Steuben County Jail. Officials say 37-year-old Jason Allen Oetting of Little Otter Lake will not have his initial hearing until Thursday afternoon. It will be held at the same time as a previously scheduled hearing in another case. Oetting was booked Monday on a Class D felony for resisting law enforcement after a police chase that started in Branch County ended in the area of 300 West and 600 North.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A two year collective bargaining agreement between the M.S.D. of Steuben County and the Angola Classroom Teachers Association was approved by the district's School Board of Trustees on Tuesday night. The agreement covers 2009-2010 as well as the upcoming school year. The two sides agreed to a salary freeze for both years with teachers getting a one-time stipend of $150 for the 2009-2010 school year. The parties also agreed to restructure the salary schedule that will allow the district to take advantage of fund transfer provisions under state law. No teachers will be laid off as the result of the settlement. Negotiations began last fall but things got complicated last December when the state of Indiana announced a 4.5 percent cut in the school corporation's funding. In other business, the board decided to keep the same officers for the next year with Lee Armey serving as President and Mike Holcomb the Vice-President.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Caitlin Mahnke was named the Showmanship winner as the two day Horse and Pony Show wrapped on Tuesday at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. She will represent the horse barn during Wednesday nights Supreme Showmanship contest. Amanda Sager showed the grand champion horse while the reserve grand champion was shown by Ashton Sellers. Kylie Boswell had the grand champion pony while Janeva Graber showed the reserve grand champion pony. Wednesday is Kids Day at the fair. Afternoon activities include the small animal supreme showmanship contest, the Little Miss and Little Mister contest, a lasagna dinner in the Exhibit Hall basement and the supreme showmanship contest. The fair wraps up on Thursday with the livestock auction which starts at 10:00am at Rensch Hall.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved the final draft of a strategic plan for the county on Tuesday. The plan was put together by Thomas P. Miller and Associates of Indianapolis. It calls for the development of Biomedical Engineering in the county as well as the promotion of entrepreneurship and a diversification of the county’s auto manufacturing base. Miller felt the plan was aggresive and that it should be promoted throughout Indiana. The E.D.C. wanted to put together a strategic plan in hopes of attracting new investment to Steuben County. With hopes of making Steuben County a center for biomedical engineering, the plan cites Trine University's new Bock Center for Biomedical Engineering and the university's graduate degree program as well as Trine working with Grace College and Ivy Tech Community College at Warsaw to establish a School of Professional Studies branch campus. Miller said they interviewed over 100 people during their work on the strategic plan.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(ALBION) - A group studying the possible merger of Noble County's library systems says no current library employees would lose their jobs under the merger. They spent most of a study committee meeting Tuesday developing a staffing structure for the county system. Noble County Public Library Director Sandy Petrie said the reorganization would allow staff members to specialize and do an even better job. She said some employees may receive a raise, while others may see no difference in their pay. No one will receive a pay cut under the proposal. The directors of the Kendallville, Ligonier and Noble County libraries based their recommendations on the assumption that Albion would serve as the main library in a merged system. That would reduce the costs of implementing the merger by reducing changes to signage. That designation of a main library will be a topic when the study committee meets Saturday in Kendallville. They've set up a Facebook page for the public to stay informed on the merger progress. Just search for Libraries of Noble County Merge Study on Facebook.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(ASHLEY) - An Ashley man was injured Tuesday afternoon in an off road vehicle accident in DeKalb County. Indiana Conservation Officers report 23-year-old Adam Fifield was operating the O.R.V. in a mowed grass area behind the Ashley Villas on South Garrison when he lost control of the vehicle just after 4:30pm while cresting a hill. The vehicle went airborne and landed on its front wheels. It then slowly rolled end over end and rolled on top of Fifield. He was treated at the scene by DeKalb County EMS for neck, back, and internal pain and then transported to Cameron Memorial Hospital for further treatment. Indiana Conservation Officer Patrick Heidenreich investigated the accident. He was assisted by the Ashley Fire Rescue and Ashley Police.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
(FREMONT) - If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That's what the town of Fremont is trying to do when it comes to state funding for a proposed downtown revitalization project. Region 3-A officials held a public hearing during Tuesday nights Fremont Town Council meeting as they plan to apply for a $500,000 state grant that would help fund the downtown project which has a pricetag of about $889,000. Fremont lost out last Spring when they applied for state funds. The town finished fourth out of 11 applicants as only two grant applications were approved. Dave Koenig from Region 3-A says the process has gotten very competitive and only one grant will be awarded in the fall. Another public hearing will be held in September before the application is submitted in October. On another matter, Koenig said he was pursuing a $1 million EPA grant that would be used for a study on brownfields in 10 northeast Indiana counties. Town Superintendent Chris Snyder felt a building that has been vacant for eight years on Swager could be eligible for such a study. Representatives from the Steuben County Humane Society made a funding request to the Town Council. Town Council President Steve Brown said they would look at the request come budget time.
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Thursday, July 22, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - Pokagon State Park Interpretive Services will host the annual Civilian Conservation Corps Company 556 open house and reunion this Sunday at the park’s nature center. The event honors the work of the “boys who built Pokagon” during the C.C.C. years of 1934 until 1942. The annual reunion has been held for 50 years on the last Sunday in July. Activities will be held throughout the day in the nature center auditorium. Photo albums from the park’s early years and other memorabilia of the C.C.C. will be available for viewing. There will also be a slide presentation of the C.C.C. days followed by a walk through the area where their camp stood. The day’s events are free and open to all but the normal park entrance fee will be charged.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Colt Ridenour of the Conquerors 4-H Club will represent the Goat Barn on Wednesday night during the Supreme Showman contest at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. Ridenour was named the Showman of Showmen during Tuesday morning's goat show. Emily Reynolds of the Otsego Go-Getters showed the Supreme Grand Champion animal. Activities at the fair on Tuesday evening include a chicken and noodles dinner, a talent show in Rensch Hall and a free community christian concert. Wednesday is Kids Day at the Fair. The schedule includes the Dairy Show at 9:00am, the small animal supreme showmanship contest at 3:00pm and the large animal supreme showmanship contest at 7:00pm.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(TOPEKA) - A bicyclist suffered a broken leg after being struck by a car near Topeka early Tuesday morning. LaGrange County sheriff's deputies say Marion Miller of Ligonier was riding his bike east on County Road 800 South west of 900 West at around 4:30 this morning. A westbound B-M-W driven by 45-year-old Darwin Wolfe of Wolcottville attempted to pass another vehicle and went left of center, striking Miller's bicycle. Miller suffered a broken leg and was airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne where he's in serious condition. Police ticketed Wolfe for driving left of center.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An Orland woman pled guilty to a Class B felony of dealing in cocaine on Tuesday morning in Steuben Superior Court as part of a fixed term plea agreement with prosecutors. 24-year-old Vanessa Wall was scheduled to go on trial next Thursday. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will drop a class A felony for dealing in cocaine and a class A misdemeanor for dealing in marijuana. Those charges were filed in June of 2007. The plea agreement also called for a fixed term of ten years with all of the time suspended except for four years. Wall would also have to be on probation for six years and make restitution to the IMAGE Drug Task Force. Judge William Fee took the plea agreement under advisement and scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 27th.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(UNDATED) - Steuben County's unemployment rate for June was the same as the month of May at 11.5% according to figures released Tuesday by Indiana Workforce Development. As for neighboring counties, Noble County had the eighth highest rate in Indiana at 12.1%, LaGrange County was at 11.1% and DeKalb County was at 11%. The figures showed 285 more people in the Steuben County workforce in June when compared to the May numbers with 248 of those people able to find jobs. Almost 500 less members of the Steuben County workforce were unemployed last month compared to June of 2009. Indiana's unemployment rate was virtually the same in June as it went up a tenth of a percent from May to 10.1%. Workforce Development Commissioner Mark Everson says the state's economy added thousands of jobs in retail, manufacturing and finance, but those gains did not overcome a drop in hiring by temporary staffing companies.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Ashton Sellers of the Conquerors 4-H Club and Haley Hamlin of the Flint Arrows showed the grand champion animals during Monday nights Sheep Show at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. Sellers had the grand champion market sheep while Lane Waite had the Reserve Grand Champion. Hamlin had the Grand Champion Ewe while Delcie Stajkowski showed the Reserve Grand Champion. Elizabeth Kurtz of the Creative Kids 4-H Club had the Rate of Gain winning animal. Hamlin also won the Showman of Showman honors so she will represent the Sheep Barn during Wednesday nights Supreme Showman contest.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A total of 190 new jobs will be coming to Angola while another 93 will be retained after the Angola City Council passed three tax abatements on Monday night. The abatements cover a new company which is coming to Angola and expansions at two other businesses. The Council adopted a seven year abatement for Fuel Systems of Angola as they will be moving into the former Dana-Epic building at 1501 Wohlert Street. The abatement is for new manufacturing equipment. Fuel Systems will invest more than $2.5 million to lease and equip an existing 140,000 square-foot facility. They hope to hire 140 employees in the next three years who would have total salaries of just under $4 million. Fuel Systems will manufacture products for the boat, auto and heavy truck industries. The Council also approved an eight year tax abatement for Steffy Wood Products on West Mill Street. The abatement is for property improvements and new manufacturing equipment as Steffy Wood Products is building a 20,000 square foot addition and investing more than $2.3 million. The company plans to add 38 employees. They currently have 34 workers. In addition, the Council approved a six year abatement for General Products Corporation at 1411 Wohlert for new manufacturing equipment that company officials hope will lead to the hiring of 12 additional workers. General Products currently has 59 employees.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(AUBURN) - One of four suspects charged in connection with the murder in May of 2009 of a flea market merchant went on trial on Monday in DeKalb County. Jeffrey Cain of St. Cloud, Florida is facing charges of murder and armed robbery in the slaying of Raymond Morrow of Butler. Authorities say Cain was hired to kill Morrow. One of the co-defendants, Matthu Sanders of Hudson, agreed last February to testify against Cain as part of a plea agreement but he has since changed his mind. A jury was selected on Monday. Court officials expect the trial to last for a week.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County authorities say gang activity was behind a Friday night home break-in on Big Turkey Lake. Two of the suspects were formally charged on Monday after they were arrested. 23-year-old Jonathan Wayne Martin of Cromwell and 17-year-old Lloyd Rowlison of LaGrange are both facing Class D felony charges of Criminal Gang Activity. Martin is also facing a charge of conspiracy to committ burglary while Rowlison is facing a burglary charge. Martin and Rowlison are among four suspects implicated in Steuben County court documents. A juvenile was arrested Friday and taken to the Allen County Juvenile Detension Center. The fourth suspect was still at large as of Monday afternoon. Court documents also stated the home that was broken into on Friday was the scene of another burglary several weeks ago in which a gun was stolen. Bond for both Martin and Rowlison was set at $50,000 during their initial hearings and not guilty pleas were entered on their behalf. The two cases will go through Steuben Circuit Court. Rowlison is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial conference on August 2nd. Martin's pre-trial conference was scheduled for August 16th.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Two men are in custody following a Monday afternoon armed robbery of the Allegis Credit Union on the east side of Coldwater. The Branch County Sheriff's Department says the hold up took place at about 4:45pm when one of the suspects entered the Credit Union with a handgun and demanded money. He got into a waiting S.U.V. which then sped away on Lott Road. A bank customer followed the vehicle and called Branch County 9-1-1 with a description. Branch County Sheriffs deputies and Coldwater Police stopped the vehicle. While one man was arrested, the other managed to get away. A chase went into Steuben County where the Steuben County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Police joined the pursuit. Stop sticks were used and the vehicle crashed. The suspect tried to make a run for it on foot but was captured west of Snow Lake in the area of 300 West and 600 North. The 37-year-old man, who was identified as Jason A. Oetting of Fremont, was booked at the Steuben County Jail on a Class D felony for resisting law enforcement. A 26-year-old, identified as Austin Michael Wynn, was lodged in the Branch County Jail on a armed robbery charge. It's not known if the credit union robbery was related to two other area robberies over the last couple of days. The P.S. Food Mart on East Chicago near I-69 in Coldwater was robbed of an unknown amount of money at about 3:30am on Monday morning while a robber got away with an unknown amount of oxycotin from the Angola CVS store on Sunday.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(CENTREVILLE, MICH.) – A not guilty plea has been entered for a man charged with killing his estranged wife. Twenty-nine year old Douglas Stewart was arraigned in St. Joseph County Circuit Court Monday afternoon. He is charged with Open Murder and Conspiracy To Commit First Degree Murder in the April 26 disappearance of his wife, 32 year old Venus Stewart. A Status Conference was held in chambers between Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough and Stewart’s attorneys David Schroder and Kimberly Vogel. Jury selection is scheduled for October 29 with the trial set to start on November 1. To date, authorities have not been able to find the body of Venus Stewart. McDonough says finding Mrs. Stewart would be a positive for his case, but he believes he has enough evidence to convict Douglas Stewart.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - 10-year 4-H member Derick Shipe will get a chance Wednesday night to compete in the Supreme Showmanship contest after he won the showman of showman honor during Monday's started calf show at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. Shipe belongs to the Flint Arrows 4-H Club and he will represent the started calf barn on Wednesday night. The grand champion started calf was presented by Ashton Sellers while Ashley Gaetz presented the reserve grand champion. Sellers also had the champion in the heavyweight class. Other class championships were earned by Hanna Word in lightweight and Brock Hassenzahl in medium weight.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An Ashley man was given a total prison sentence of six years on Monday morning in Steuben Superior Court after he pled guilty on June 21st to a pair of sex-related charges. 24-year-old Scott Allen Muzzillo entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors which called for a Class B felony of sexual misconduct with a minor to be dismissed. Muzzillo got a five year sentence on the same type of charge which was filed as a Class C felony. He got an additional year for being a repeat sex offender and credit for 327 days already served in jail. Steuben County authorities say the incident that brought the charges against Muzzillo took place in an Angola home during July of 2008 and involved a 15-year-old girl. Muzzillo was listed on the Indiana Sexual and Violent Offender registry after being convicted in September of 2005 for sexual misconduct with a minor.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Following a recent inquiry about Carter Cemetery, the Steuben County Commissioners decided on Monday to form a five person Cemetery Board. The board would consist of the three County Commissioners, cemetery owner Larry Griffith and another member who will be named a later date. County Attorney Don Stuckey says the Commissioners have a statutory obligation to maintain the cemetery on 100 East near Bellfountaine Road. Stuckey said the board would set rules and regulations for the cemetery including the cost of buying a burial spot as well as what kind of monuments can be used. Steuben County residents can be buried there free of charge. Commissioner Jim Crowl said the only requirement is that a headstone has to be placed over the grave. Stuckey will prepare a resolution that will officially form the board.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
(ANGOLA) - With the Steuben County Tourism Bureau moving out of the old county jail in a few weeks, a representative from the Steuben County Lakes Council wondered Monday morning during the Steuben County Commissioners meeting about the future of the building. Bill Schmidt from the Lakes Council pointed out they will be the last occupant of the building and they were wondering what would happen if they had to leave. Commissioner Jim Crowl said the Steuben County Community Center is an option. Commission Chair Mayo Sanders said someone maybe moving into the old jail but he could not say who. The roof of the old jail needs to be repaired and Commissioners are expected to accept one of the quotes submitted for the work at their August 2nd meeting. Crowl and Courthouse Maintenance Supervisor Al Knisely both agreed repairs would have to start by the end of October.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
(COLDWATER) - Coldwater Police are investigating an armed robbery which took place on Monday morning at the P.S. Food Mart on East Chicago next to I-69. Police say a suspect demanded money from the store's clerk at gunpoint at about 3:30am. The man fled from the store with an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported. The suspect was described as a 5-foot-10 white male with short brown hair. He was wearing a red knit hat along with a red sweatshirt, khaki shorts and black tennis shoes. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Coldwater Police at 517-278-4525.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Angola city officials and a local couple reached a mediated settlement agreement late last week concerning the couples property near 200 North. According to the agreement which was filed in Steuben Circuit Court last Thursday, Donald and Margie Burrell will have until October 1st to clean up the outside of the premises to the satisfaction of the city. The Burrells will also not be allowed to store items in the front yard except for currently plated vehicles and trailers. Items that are in operating condition maybe stored in the back yard of the property. The agreement was worked out after a three hour mediation session.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - For the fifth time in her nine year 4-H career, Danyele Clingan will be competing in the Supreme Showmanship contest at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. Clingan was named the Champion of Champion showman on Sunday night during the Beef Show at Rensch Hall. Clingan is a member of the Creative Kids 4-H Club and will represent the Beef Barn during Wednesday nights Supreme Showman contest. Hannah Buell of the Otsego Go-Getters showed the grand champion Heavyweight Steer on Sunday night. Her animal, which is named "Paisley", tipped the scales at 1,305 pounds. Christopher Shough of the Creative Kids had the reserve grand champion Heavyweight Steer which weighed in at 1,560 pounds. Andrew Offet of the Fremont Ready, Willing and Able Club showed the Grand Champion Heifer while Madison Funk had the reserve grand champion. Kory Willibey of the Conquerors 4-H Club showed the Grand Champion Market Beef Steer while Haylee Everidge had the reserve grand champion.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
(ORANGE TOWNSHIP) - A Rome City man was seriously injured when he lost control of his motorcycle near Rome City on Sunday. Christopher Wallen was flown to Parkview Hospital where he was in serious condition this morning according to a hospital spokeswoman. Noble County deputies say Wallen was headed south on County Road 175 East just north of 800-North when he lost control and crashed. Neighbors heard the crash and found Wallen lying on the ground unconscious. Police say he was not wearing a helmet and suffered head injuries. The Orange Township Fire Department assisted police and medics at the scene.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
(UNDATED) - Saturday's 4-H livestock auction at the LaGrange County 4-H Fair took in more than $222,000, that was up about $10,000 from last year. Auction officials attributed the increase to higher support prices for livestock this year. Meanwhile, a Central Noble High School graduate won the title of Miss Noble County Community Fair queen on Saturday. Samantha Pranger is the daughter of Michael and Jennifer Pranger of Kendallville. She's a sophomore at Purdue.
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Monday, July 19, 2010
(TEXAS TOWNSHIP) – A Howe woman and three of her children were among five people injured on Saturday afternoon when a boat exploded on Eagle Lake in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Kalamazoo County authorities say Heather Frost and two of her children were treated and released from a nearby hospital. Her other child remains hospitalized with burns. Meanwhile, Pam Collins of Kalamazoo was reported in fair condition. Police think a build up of gas fumes was the reason the 21 foot Cris Craft exploded. They say the pilot hit the ignition and the boat exploded, sending all of the passengers into the water. Witnesses say the explosion shook homes along the lake. The boat is considered a total loss.
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A reward is being offered in connection with the Sunday morning robbery of the Angola CVS store. Police are looking for a man in his early 20's who they say robbed the store of oxycotin. Angola Police Detective Tim Crooks says the suspect covered his face and wore a maroon colored stocking cap as he displayed a silver handgun in the waistband of his pants at about 11:30am. He demanded employees in the pharmacy fill a bag with oxycotin. Crooks says he did not ask for money but he told employees not to call police. There were about a half dozen people in the store at the time of the robbery. No one was injured. It's thought the suspect was last seen on Stocker Street. He was described as being five feet, nine inches tall with a slim to medium build and redish hair. The suspect was wearing a maroon colored hat with the letters FUCT along with a blue shirt and blue jeans with a hole on the right side. Anyone who has information on the robbery are being asked to call Angola Police at 665-2121 or Steuben County Crime Stoppers at 668-STOP, 1-800-600-HALT or go to steubencountycrimestoppers.org. You don't have to give your name and your tip coule lead at a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Angola Motor Speedway owner Dick Poe died on Saturday after an extended illness. Poe also owned EMF Incorporated in Angola. The 74-year-old Poe and his wife Jackie have owned the speedway since 1993 when it was purchased at a sheriff's sale. The track underwent major renovations several years ago. The speedway plans to honor Poe and his family during this Saturday nights program. Visitation for Dick Poe will be Tuesday from 2:00 until 4:00pm and from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at the Weicht Funeral Home in Angola. Services will be at the funeral home on Wednesday morning at 11:00am with burial in the Circle Hill Cemetery. Memorials maybe made by the donor's choice.
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - The question of "Where's the beef?" will be answered tonight at the Steuben County 4-H Fair as the beef show will be held at Rensch Hall starting at 5:00pm. In addition, there will be truck and tractor pulls stating at 6:00pm. Other activities during Ag/Senior Day include a senior dance, an agricultural driving contest, chainsaw carvings by Scott Lepley and a chicken BBQ dinner in the Exhibit Hall basement.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Haylee Everidge was named the Swine Barn Showman Champion of Champions on Saturday morning during the Swine Show at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. Everidge will represent the swine barn on Wednesday night during the Supreme Showman competition. Everidge will be a junior this fall at Prairie Heights High School. She also named the senior showman winner while Cameron Penick was named the junior showman and Austin Penick was the intermediate showman. The Grand Champion winners were Trevor Ice for Market Barrow and Market Hog, Brook Ice for Market Gilt and Austin Penick for Breeding Gilt.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
(COLDWATER LAKE) - The body of a Fort Wayne man was found on Friday afternoon in Coldwater Lake near Iyopawa Island. The victim was identified as 45-year-old Robert Stalf. His body was found in about 25 feet of water near the south shore line of the Iyopawa Island basin. The Branch County Sheriff's Department says the Steuben County Underwater Rescue Team's side scan sonar located the body which was pulled from the water just before 3:00pm. Stalf had been reported missing late Thursday morning after an empty pontoon boat was found in some weeds. Dive teams from Branch and Steuben County took part in the search. Cadaver dogs from Indiana Search and Response were also brought in and Jack Shaw used his private helicopter for a fly over search. Iyopawa Island residents allowed divers and support personel to take over lawns and driveways during the search for the missing man. Several stores and restaurants also provided food and drinks for the police and firefighters.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Nine-year Steuben County 4-H member Felicia Davis was named the 2010 Achievement Winner on Friday night during opening night ceremonies at the Steuben County 4-H Fair. Davis is the daughter of Jeff and Dee Davis and is a member of the Fremont Ready, Willing and Able Club. She will be a senior at Fremont High School this fall. By winning the top honor, Davis will get $500 along with a trophy, medallion and ribbons. The runner-ups were Danyele Clingan, Matt Somerlott, Rebecca Kain and Tyson Opdycke. They will all get $250 payable to a higher institution of learning. Nine 4-H'ers applied for the honor which is determined by four criteria. All of the displays from the 4-H'ers who entered can be viewed in the exhibit hall. Saturday's schedule at the fair includes the swine show at 8:00am, a rabbit show at 10:00am, the FIST Helpstock Concert at 2:00pm, a pulled pork dinner in the exhibit hall basement at 4:30 and IPRA Rodeo at 8:00pm.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Stueben Circuit Court civil trial that was expected to last through all of next week ended on Friday when lawyers for the two sides reached a settlement. The Herald-Republican reports the jurors in the case involving Fremont Plastics owner Lyndon Tucker and American Heritage Collectors were sent home at about 5:00pm. The suit came about after the downfall of former First National Bank of Fremont owner Earl Ford McNaughton. Tucker thought he was maliciously prosecuted in the original A.H.C. suit against McNaughton. Tucker was dropped as a defendant in November of 2008. He testified on Thursday that he took the legal action to clear his name and to clear things off of the books. Details of the settlement were not revealed but A.H.C. stated in a news release that they "no longer allege that Tucker was a knowing participant in any wrongful conduct in connection with the transactions involved." There were so much evidence collected for the trial that documents took up the first three rows of seating for audience members in the courtroom. The trial was originally scheduled to end next Friday.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - There were repeat winners in this year's all-around showmanship competition at the LaGrange County 4-H Fair yesterday. 12-year-old Victoria Miramonti won the small animal showmanship award for the second straight year, while Prairie Heights High School senior Brennen North won his second straight large animal showmanship title. Zoe Lehmer won grand champion of the first-ever llama show at the fair which wraps up today with the 4-H livestock auction starting at 9:00am.
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The City of Angola has contracted with Wessler Engineering to do smoke testing on select portions of the sanitary sewers in the city starting on Monday and continuing through next week. City officials say the testing is an ongoing effort to reduce the amount of rainfall and groundwater entering the sanitary sewer system. The testing involves the blowing of harmless smoke into parts of the sanitary sewer system to determine the location of leaks. If your plumbing is working properly, the smoke used to conduct this test should not enter your house. You may see smoke coming from the vents on the roof of your home. This is normal and indicates a properly working sewer vent. If it gets into your home, it should be clear in a few minutes if you open the doors and windows. The smoke is non-toxic and non-staining. It has an oily odor, but is clean and harmless to pets, food and material goods. Notices will be placed door to door on the homes that may be affected by the testing.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
(COLON TOWNSHIP, MICH.) – Authorities from several different departments searched Thursday for a missing Colon Township woman. Officers from several different departments in St. Joseph County along with the F.B.I., spent most of Thursday searching for the body of Venus Stewart. The 32 year old went missing on April 26 from her parent's home in Colon Township. Officers searched an area Thursday near the home of her estranged husband Douglas Stewart's parents. Douglas Stewart has been charged with her murder. According to State Police officials, the area that was searched included farm fields and wooded areas with some think growth. While the search for Venus Stewart has so far revealed nothing, investigators say they will continue to look for her body.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
(UNDATED) - While national commentators and pundits are predicting a tough election year for Democrats, party officials in northeast Indiana think they have a real chance to win the districts Congressional seat this November for the first time since 1994. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reports Democratic candidate Tom Hayhurst has an almost 6-1 edge in fundraising over his Republican opponent Marlin Stutzman according to reports filed by both candidates on Thursday. Hayhurst has $279,000 on hand while Stutzman only has about $42,000. Hayhurst got a head start on fundraising as he only faced a token challenge in the May 4th primary election while Stutzman got into the congressional race only after Mark Souder resigned from Congress following an affair with a staff member.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
(ANGOLA) - There could be some good economic news for the City of Angola early next week. Sources say state economic officials are expected to release information concerning a business expansion as well as a new company locating to Angola perhaps as early as Monday. The expansion is expected to involve Steffy Wood Products on West Mill Street after the Angola Plan Commission approved a development plan for a 20,000 square foot extension of the business during their June 14th meeting. Ken Wilson from Jim Ingledue Construction said last month the plans were finished just before the meeting and that the expansion was on a fast track. The property is already zoned for low intensity industrial. In addition, the City Council on Monday will be asked to approve a tax abatement for new manufacturing equipment at General Products on Wohlert Street.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
(CLAY TOWNSHIP) - A pair of Topeka residents were injured Thursday morning when their vehicle was T-boned by a car that allegedly failed to stop for a stop sign. 75-year-old Sandra Kerczman and 76-year-old James Kerczman were transported to Parkview-LaGrange Hospital following the crash that happened just before 9:00am. Sandra suffered chest pain while James had lacerations to both arms. LaGrange County Sheriff's deputies say the Kerczman vehicle was heading east on 100-South when a car driven south on 375-West by 18-year-old Evan Kovach of Wolcottville failed to stop for a stop sign and struck the Kerczman vehicle. Police ticketed Kovach for disregarding the stop sign. LaGrange firefighters assisted police at the scene.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
(BRONSON) - The 41st annual Bronson Polish Festival is off and running. Opening ceremonies were held last night at St. Mary's Church. Mark Lozinski and Janet Yesh were named the Polish Festival King and Queen. There's a full agenda for Friday including a men's softball tournament at Greenwald Park and a talent show at 7:00pm in the Bronson Community Center.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
(KENDALLVILLE) - A plastics recycler plans to move its operations from New Haven to Kendallville. Arrotin Plastic Materials will bring 55 jobs to the former Drive-Sol building on West Ohio Street and plans to start operations there in January according to the News Sun of Kendallville. A recommendation for tax abatement goes before Kendalville City Council Tuesday night.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The contentious nature of a civil case filed by a local businessman following the downfall of former First National Bank of Fremont owner Earl Ford McNaughton was evident on Thursday morning in Steuben Circuit Court. Fremont Plastics owner Lyndon Tucker has taken American Heritage Collectors to court because Tucker thinks the company was improperly sued by A.H.C. in the original case against McNaughton who is accused of embezzeling money from the bank as part of a loan scheme. Fremont Plastics was eventually dropped as a defendant in November of 2008. Tucker testified on Thursday that he filed suit because he wanted his name cleared and to take care of anything that might still be on the books. Lawyers for the two sides clashed on Thursday morning when Tucker was on the witness stand. One of his lawyers tried to ask him how much he has paid in attorney fees since the litagation began almost four years ago. When a lawyer for A.H.C. objected over the questions relevance, the jury was taken out of the room. At one point, the A.H.C. lawyer accused Tucker's legal team of withholding documents on the matter saying it was "trial by ambush." A lawyer for Tucker countered by saying the other side has known about this matter for three years. Judge Allen Wheat asked the Tucker lawyers to produce a detailed affadavit of the work they have done in the case and to deliver it to the court by the weekend in order to give attornies for A.H.C. time to review it. He also told them to withhold questions about legal fees until later in the trial. The trial has been docketed by court officials to last through the end of next week.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(GILEAD TOWNSHIP) - A Quincy man was injured Wednesday night when his motorcycle crashed in Branch County's Gilead Township. Michigan State Police at Coldwater say 20-year-old Jonathon Schmidt of Quincy lost control of his motorcycle at about 8:30pm on Booth Road near Steffey Road. Schmidt was first taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County before he was airlifted to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. A hospital spokesperson says as of Thursday morning he was still in the hospital's intensive care unit. Michigan State Police are still investigating the accident.
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Friday, July 15, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - No one was injured Wednesday evening as fire destroyed a ranch home east of LaGrange. The fire at the home of Tim and Angie Stickler on County Road 100 North started in the garage area but the cause is not known yet. The couple's son was home and heard a popping sound. He found the garage fully involved when he went to investigate. LaGrange firefighters managed to rescue the family's black lab which had retreated to the basement. LaGrange Fire Chief Matt Huffman says so far they've found nothing suspicious about the cause but the investigation is continuing. Firefighters from Howe and Mongo assisted LaGrange units at the scene along with E-M-S and the LaGrange County Sheriff's Department.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(CROOKED LAKE) - Hundreds of youngsters will be showing off their projects as the Steuben County 4-H Fair gets underway on Friday. The Steuben County 4-H program has nearly 400 members in grades three through 12 while there are another 33 Mini 4-H members in the first and second grades. Organizers say there will be about 50 exhibit hall projects while 4-H'ers will also be showing animals in a dozen categories. Opening ceremonies will take place at 6:30pm Friday evening in Rensch Hall followed by a demolition derby at 8:00pm. Saturday's activities include the Swine Show at 8:00am and a rodeo at 8:00pm that night. The beef show is scheduled for 5:00pm on Sunday afternoon.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Detectives for the Steuben County Sheriff's Department say numerous items of stolen property that were taken from unlocked vehicles around various lakes have been recovered. The names of suspects have not been released as detectives say the investigation is continuing. The thefts took place over three months. Items recovered include GPS's, radar detectors, lap top computers, tools, alcohol, stereos and MP3 players. Anyone who had a weapon taken from a vehicle is asked to call the Sheriff's Department as soon as possible at 668-1000, extension 5000. In addition, anyone who had property stolen is asked to call the Sheriff's Department to set up an appointment to identify property.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(AUBURN) - One of the suspects charged in connection with the murder in May of 2009 of a flea market merchant near Waterloo has decided not to testify against one of his co-defendants. The DeKalb Star reports 30-year-old Matthu Ryan Sanders of Hudson has filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea to a charge of aiding in robbery resulting in serious bodily injury because he felt intimidated by lawyers on both sides. Part of the plea agreement called for Sanders to testify against Jeffrey Cain whose murder trial in DeKalb County is scheduled to start on Monday. Sanders was formally charged in Steuben County on Monday for dealing in methamphetamine. A hearing to withdraw Sanders plea agreement in the DeKalb County case has been scheduled for September 27th.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(GARRETT) - A three vehicle collision south of Garrett killed a Fort Wayne man and injured three others on Wednesday morning. Indiana State Police say a car driven by 57-year-old Victor Wise crossed the center line of State Road 327 and sideswiped a van driven by 29-year-old Dustin Coffing of Fort Wayne. Wise then struck a pickup truck driven by 49-year-old Barry Scherer of Monroeville head on. Wise was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured persons were transported to Parkview Hospital. Coffing was treated and released. Scherer and a passenger, 63-year-old John Johnson of North Judson, suffered broken bones. The collision happened at 10:40am closed the highway for about three hours.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Steuben County authorities say a burglary investigation by police led to the discovery of an alleged methamphetamine lab on Tuesday night at a home in the 700 block of Mohawk Drive. 31-year-old Jordan Lee Skalland was formally charged on Wednesday with a Class B felony for manufacturing meth and a Class D felony for receiving stolen property. Bond was set at $55,000 with ten percent allowed and a not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Skalland during Wednesday's initial hearing. The case will go through Steuben Circuit Court where a pre-trial conference was scheduled for September 13th.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Go Angola Downtown Alliance will be hosting two Outdoor Movie Nights this month in the Courthouse Park next to the Steuben County Courthouse. Friday night's show will feature a Popeye Festival and the Three Stooges. Jack and the Beanstalk will be shown on July 30th. Show times are will be at about 9:30pm each night. In case of rain, the movies will be shown at Cahoots Coffee Cafe.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
(GOSHEN) - Tremendous fan interest in the Lady Antebellum concert July 26th at the Elkhart County Fair is causing fair officials to make special arrangements. Organizers are expecting the 8:00pm concert to be one of the biggest shows in fair history. Those hoping to claim one of the 6,000 free seats for the show will NOT be allowed to camp out prior to the concert date. Seating in the grandstand will open at 9:00am until it's filled and each person will get a wristband. Only those in line will get wristbands, and only those with wristbands will be allowed in the grandstand. Two large video screens flanking the stage will help those standing see the concert. The fair will increase security and the number of volunteers that day. Organizers say the goal is to keep everyone safe and the fair enjoyable for everyone. The fair sold out 2,000 track side tickets when they went on sale in May.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Hudson man was formally charged on Tuesday with a Class B felony of dealing methamphetamine following an I.M.A.G.E. Drug Task Force undercover investigation. 30-year-old Matthu Ryan Sanders was arrested on a warrant Tuesday for allegedly selling an undercover officer one gram of purported meth in May of 2009 at a price of $100. Sanders has been lodged in the DeKalb County Jail for the past year for his alleged involvment in the murder of flea market owner Raymond Morrow. According to court documents, the undercover drug buy took place three days after the Morrow killing. Bond for Sanders in the Steuben County case was set at $30,000 during his initial hearing on Tuesday with no ten percent allowed and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. The case will go through Steuben Superior Court where a pre-trial conference was scheduled for August 16th and a jury trial was docketed for September 30th.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Another Prairie Heights High School senior has earned a trip to the Indiana State Fair by winning a county queen title. After Cierra Domer was named the LaGrange County Queen last Saturday night, 17-year-old Sicily Boyce was named the 2010 Steuben County Queen during Tuesday nights pageant in the Dale Hughes Memorial Auditorium. She will reign over the Steuben County 4-H Fair which starts on Friday. Boyce will also represent Steuben County at the Indiana State Fair Pageant next month. Boyce is the daughter of Darrell and Cindy Boyce. She plans to attend college to play basketball and pursue a degree in business administration. Boyce has been an all Northeast Corner Conference basketball player for the past two years and has also been involved in volleyball and 4-H. Besides her queen duties, Boyce will be taking two horses and two started calves to the fair. Sara Wagner was the first runner-up while Rebecca Kain was the second runner-up. Wagner also won the People's Choice Award while Torrie Bailey was named Miss Congeniality and Danyele Clingan won the Director's Choice Award.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Builders Association of Northeast Indiana announced plans on Wednesday for the 19th annual Parade of Homes. This year's parade will take place August 12th through the 15th and from August 19th to the 22nd. Organizers say changes include expanded parade hours, different judging criteria, and prize incentives when visiting each home. Eight builders have signed on to showcase their work this year. Lake homes account for five of the projects while seven of the projects are in Steuben County. New construction will be featured along with new additions. Show times will be from 10:00am until 5:00pm on Thursdays and the weekends and from 1:00pm until 7:00pm on Fridays. For additional information, call 665-8921.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola Board of Public Works and Safety established a $10,000 bond on Wednesday morning for the Cameron Hospital demolition project. City Engineer Bill Boyer says 17 houses and a garage are scheduled be demolished as the hospital clears land for its new facility. Boyer says the number of houses to be knocked down could change depending on the contract language. He added site improvement and excavation permits have to be obtained as part of the demolition project. The excavation permit is needed to shut off the water. In other business, the B.P.W. approved a local public agency-consulting contract with V3 Companies of Indiana for the U.S. 20 Streetscape Improvement project at a cost of just over $69,000. Boyer said the contract needed to get to the Indiana Department of Transportation as soon as possible since the bid letting is scheduled to start on August 4th.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(FORT WAYNE) - (AP) - State wildlife officials plan to install a mesh fence across a northeastern Indiana marsh aimed at preventing Asian carp from being able to reach waterways that lead to the Great Lakes. The Indiana D.N.R. announced Wednesday it planned to put up the fence this summer in the restored wetland called Eagle Marsh southwest of Fort Wayne. Environmentalists have raised concerns that flooding in that area could allow the invasive fish to jump from the Wabash River system into the Maumee River, which drains into Lake Erie. Officials say Asian carp have been present in the Wabash River for close to 15 years and they've been found within about 20 miles of Eagle Marsh.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County United Way got a financial boost for its fall campaign on Wednesday during their 32nd annual golf outing was held. Glendarin Golf Club hosted the outing for the first time. A total of 26 teams took part in the scramble golf event compared to 18 last year. The annual fall campaign is scheduled to get underway on September 12th during the United Way's cardboard boat race at Pokagon State Park.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - After being divided on the issue two months ago, the Steuben County Council on Tuesday morning voted unaminously to seek a short term bond of just over $1.9 million to help cover the costs for various building and equipment needs. The vote came after the Council talked things over with consultant Jeff Peters. He told Council Member Paul Sparks the timing of the bond should not affect tax rates. Peters also felt the county's circuit breaker situation would not change all that much. Original plans called for the bond to pay for such items as repairing the roof over the old jail, Sheriffs Department vehicles, capital outlays for the County E.M.S. which would include new ambulances and computer needs for county offices. In other business, the Council tabled a request from Circuit Judge Allen Wheat for $10,000 to help pay for pauper council transcripts so that the possibility of court employees working as independent contractors could be explored.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Despite a rough economy during the past couple of years, a consultant told the Steuben County Council on Tuesday that the county's financial condition is a lot better than it has been. Jeff Peters went over a financial plan that projects revenues and expenditures over the next several years with the Council during a conference call. He said one challenge facing the county over the next three years will be a shrinking cash balance. Peters also said a wheel tax maybe needed to help offset a loss of money for the motor vehicle highway fund which he considered to be his biggest concern. Peters has worked as a financial consultant for the County Council over the last five years.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola Plan Commission granted primary plat approval on Monday evening for the first phase of the Center Lakes Preserves residential subdivision. The first phase would include 49 lots north of Center Lake near County Road 100 North. The property, which is being developed by J.R. Parent, is zoned medium density single family residential. Before the Plan Commission gave its approval, there was nearly a hour long discussion that centered around the installation of sidewalks in the development with hopes of connecting with nearby Cameron Woods. A condition of the unaminous approval was that Parent would submit to the city sidewalk plans to the eastern boundary of the property. The Plan Commission also approved a primary plat for a two lot commercial subdivision that would be called Bo's Addition near Smorgie's Restaurant at 310 West Wendall Jacob Avenue.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A suspect wanted on numerous charges was arrested Monday night after Angola Police say a police dog found him hiding in an attic. Angola Police Chief Stu Hamblen says officers went to building five at Village Green Apartments at about 9:15pm to serve 21-year-old Brian Maurer with a warrant. He was found just over an hour later by a Steuben County K-9 and handler. Maurer was taken to the Steuben County Jail where he was booked on two charges of invasion of privacy, two battery charges including one count which involved an injury and purchasing more than three grams of precursors. Maurer is being held without bond pending an initial hearing. Angola Police were assisted by the Steuben County Sheriffs Department and Indiana State Police.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(AUBURN) - A Fremont man was given a 20 year prison sentence on Monday in DeKalb Superior Court One after he pled guilty last month to a Class A felony of child molesting. 41-year-old Erick Johnstone was arrested last February and entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors on June 4th. As part of the plea agreement, his prison sentence was capped at 20 years. The Auburn Star reports the victim in the case was a 13-year-old girl. Court records indicate the offense took place on October 26th of last year.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - A semi lost its load of coiled aluminum in downtown LaGrange over the lunch hour on Tuesday. The semi was eastbound on U.S. 20 at the intersection of State Road 9 when the coiled aluminum shifted and crashed through the side of the trailer onto the highway and curb. Traffic continued to move past the accident thanks to the left hand turn lane at that spot. State Road 9 traffic was not impacted. State highway officials were called in to assess the damage to the highway.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(ANGOLA) - After numerous concerns were brought up by upset neighbors about back taxes and questions were raised about who exactly owns the property, the Steuben County Board of Zoning Appeals on a 5-0 vote turned down a special exception request for a proposed marina in a lake residential zoning district on Monday night. The vote came after a motion to table the request was voted down 3-2. The petitioners were seeking the special exception for the property at 3108 North Bay View Road which used to be the site of Docksiders Restaurant before it was torn down almost five years ago. The petitioners included "The Coast LLC" which according to County Attorney Don Stuckey has been administratively dissolved. The vote came after a lengthy hearing that did not end until just after 10:00pm. Property caretaker Tom Clausen said they wanted to clean up the property, put in additional boat slips and keep people out who should not be on the property. While Clausen and his wife were praised for the work they have done, neighbors expressed several concerns including who the property owner is, traffic, garbage and boat access. The request had been given a favorable recommendation by the Steuben County Plan Commission last Wednesday. In other business, the B.Z.A. approved a pair of variances for a new sign at Stoops Freightliner on North Baker Road. The variances were for a height of 20 feet rather than the six feet allowed and for a size of 282 square feet per side rather than the 30 square feet per side allowed.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(HAMILTON) - The interim Superintendent of the Hamilton School District wants to see non-teaching staff members get a two percent pay raise. Bruce Hippensteel made the suggestion Monday night during the Hamilton School Board meeting in anticipation of rising insurance costs. The matter was tabled by the board until their special meeting next Monday. Even though he has been on the job since June 21st, Hippensteel was formally hired as interim Superintendent Monday night by the board. Hamilton school officials hope to name a permanent superintendent by December. The School Board plans to interview a search team committee made up of representatives from Indiana universities on Monday night during an executive session.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(ORLAND) - The annual Vermont Settlement Festival in Orland on July 24th and 25th is expected to be held without any sort of road work going on in the downtown area. Orland Clerk-Treasurer Rhonda Engle says work on the Indiana Department of Transportation portion of the downtown improvement project is expected to begin during the last week of July after the festival is overwith. The work on State Roads 120 and 327 is expected to continue until sometime next spring. The downtown Orland revitalization work is all but finished. It included the installation of new sidewalks. The work was made possible thanks to a Community Focus Fund grant from the state.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Carnegie Public Library has gotten two appraisals for property on South Elizabeth Street that could be used to expand the library's parking lot in the future. But Library Director Sonya Dintaman told the Carnegie Board of Trustees on Monday that the appraisals were far apart. The library's appraisal for the property came in at $27,000 while the appraisal for property owner Ted Dolan came in at $105,000. After a half hour discussion, the board decided that the library should ask the Dolan family if they wanted to make an offer. The library wants to expand the parking lot to ease a parking crunch when special events are held.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A man convicted of three crimes in connection with a violent domestic dispute at his Angola home just over a year ago was given a 23 year prison sentence Monday morning by an agitated Superior Court Judge William Fee. 51-year-old Terry Lee Krzeminski was given the maximum 20 year sentence on a Class B felony for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. He also got three years for a Class D felony for stragulation and a concurrent one year sentence on a Class A misdemeanor for Domestic Battery. The victim and Krzeminski both made statements during the sentencing hearing. Krzeminski was threatened with contempt of court on Monday when he interupted Fee as the judge was handing down the sentence. Fee became upset with Krzeminski again when he turned away to look at someone in the audience. The judge ordered the defendant, "You look at me sir!" Fee said the sentence Krzeminski received on the Class B felony is justice and that he earned the maximum. Krezminski was found to be indigent. A civil judgement was granted for the victim covering over $2,000 in medical bills. Krzeminski told spectators as police escorted him out of the courtroom, "talk to you all later." The domestic dispute led to a four hour armed standoff with police in June of 2009.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - During a brief 30 minute meeting on Monday, the LaGrange County Council appropriated close to $1 million for the final phase of the County Road 250 North project. County Highway Engineer John Crist said they received bids on the project last week. Council appropriated $597,000 from Major Moves for the county's share of the construction and $340,000 the cumulative bridge fund for the construction engineer supervision. Crist says he doesn't expect work to begin until sometime in August. About $100,000 is left over from the second phase of the project that Crist says can be applied to this third phase. Elkhart County has taken bids on its portion of the road east of Middlebury but Crist is unsure when their construction will begin. In other business, council members indicated support for using up to $345,000 in Economic Development Income Tax funds to pay for the county's share of the Townline Road Project in Lagrange. They also indicated support for using up to $100,000 in EDIT funds for an incentive package to get sewer users at Fawn River Crossing to connect to the water system at the same time.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An Angola resident was formally charged on Monday in connection with the theft of items from a business in the 600 block of West Maumee. 19-year-old Logan Antonio Gaona is facing a Class C felony charge of burglary following an investigation by Angola Police. Steuben County prosecutors say he was involved in the June 28th burglary at Total P.C. in which two guitars, stereos and speakers were among the items taken. Bond was set at $25,000 with ten percent allowed during his initial hearing and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. The case will go through Steuben Superior Court. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for August 16th and a jury trial was set for September 30th.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
(HAMILTON) - Five occupants of a buggy were injured Sunday afternoon when it was hit by a vehicle on 550 East north of 500 South near Hamilton. The Steuben County Sheriff's Department says 69-year-old Allen Presley of Butler told them he was looking east into a field and did not see a horse and buggy driven by 25-year-old Levi Bontrager of Hamilton. Bontrager along with 26-year-old Barbara Bontrager and four children between the ages of one and six were ejected from the buggy which came to rest on its side in a ditch. The Sheriff's Department said in a news release that three of the youngsters suffered head injuries. Bontrager and all of his passengers were taken to Cameron Hospital where a nursing supervisor says all of the injured persons were treated and released.
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Monday, July 12, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - A Prairie Heights High School senior took home the crown Saturday night as Miss LaGrange County during the LaGrange County 4-H Fair. Cierra Domer competed with 12 other contestants to win the title. She said her victory came as a shock to her. Cierra is the daughter of Roger and Tonya Domer. She hopes to pursue a career in nursing. She'll represent LaGrange County in the State Fair Queen Pageant next month. Also winning honors on Saturday were two of Domer's senior classmates at Prairie Heights. Brennen North and Elizabeth Engleking were named the 4-H Master Achievers. Thirteen others were named Tops in 4-H for 2010. Monday's schedule at the fair includes finals of the Thunder Country Idol competition at 7:00pm on the portable stage and trottingbred racing in the grandstand at 7:30.
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Sunday, July 11, 2010
(NETTLE LAKE) - There were some anxious moments on Saturday night at Nettle Lake in Williams County after some youngsters found a live hand grenade in the lake. After the discovery was reported at about 5:20pm, police and firefighters secured the area on Lake Shore Drive when they determined it was indeed a live grenade. The Toledo Police Department's Bomb Squad and the U.S. Military were contacted for assistance. It was determined it was an explosive or a chemical grenade from the Vietnam War era. Bomb technicians built a hole and lined it with cement. They moved the grenade into the hole at about 11:00pm and detonated it. A piece of concrete hit a nearby lake cottage and caused some minor damage. No injuries were reported. Williams County Sheriff Kevin Beck said it was very fortunate the youngster who made the discovery did not pull the pin on the grenade. Northwest Township firefighters and Williams County E.M.S. assisted at the scene.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese helped dedicate the new St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Angola on Saturday evening. The two hour dedication mass included the handing over of the church to the Bishop by Bill Kinder of Kinder and Sons Construction, architects Ron Dick and Jeremy Hatfield along with Building Steering Committee Chair Dan Lepley. The church was also blessed with holy water while its altar and walls were annointed by the Bishop. The Catholic Church has been in Angola since 1924. During its humble beginnings, services were held in the high school gym, Tri State University and in rented rooms over the Elston Shoe Store. Churches were built in 1926 and 1941 before what was called a temporary church was constructed in 1959. That building served as the parrish's church until the new church opened this past Spring.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
(ALBION) - A suspect who twice eluded police during high speed pursuits early Saturday morning in Noble and Whitley Counties at last report is still at large. The Noble County Sheriff's Department is looking for Clinton Pleasant of Pierceton. His vehicle was abandoned after hitting stop sticks and the driver fled into a corn field. The incident began shortly before 2:00am with a report of reckless driving at the Gas America station in Ligonier. A Noble County Sheriff's deputy got behind the vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 6 and State Road 9, but it accelerated and refused to stop. The pursuit went through Albion at speeds of 110 miles per hour. Officers lost site of the vehicle in the vicinity of State Road 9 and U.S. 33. A short time later another deputy spotted the vehicle turning onto State Road 9 near Tri Lakes and the chase was on again and headed into Whitley County. The suspect's 2001 Honda struck the stop sticks and lost a tire before he fled into the corn field. A 45 minute search with dogs failed to locate him. Officers from Noble County, Whitley County, indiana State Police, Ligonier, Albion, Avilla, and Columbia City participated in the search. Police plan to seek numerous charges in connection with the incident.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
(HILLSDALE) - (AP) - Federal authorities have charged a Hillsdale County man with illegally possessing ammunition, a few weeks after interviewing him to determine if he posed a threat to President Barack Obama. John Stephenson was arrested Wednesday and remains in custody. His attorney, David Kaczor, says a federal judge in Grand Rapids agreed to order a psychiatric exam. Stephenson is charged with illegally possessing ammunition because he is an ex-convict. Agents interviewed him in April at a Hillsdale McDonald's and visited him again at home three days before Obama's June 7th visit to Kalamazoo. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized June 18th. Stephenson's attorney noted that he is not charged with threatening Obama.
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
(UNDATED) - Judging by the big crowds that turned out last night for Angola Balloons Aloft and Fremont Music Fest, not a whole of people spent Friday night at home. The first ever event at the Tri-State Steuben County Airport was witnessed by a crowd that filled up just about all of the parking spaces. The winds died down to allow for the 15 balloonists to take part in a competition and in a balloon illumination. Activities will continue through the day at the airport leading up to another scheduled balloon launch this evening. More information can be found at angolaballoonsaloft.com. It was also standing room only at Fremont Music Fest as the popular band Spike and the Bulldogs performed once again. Saturday's activities include a parade at 11:00am and fireworks tonight at dusk at the Fremont Moose Lodge.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(BRYAN) - Eight people were injured early Friday afternoon when two vehicles collided at the intersection of U.S. 6 and U.S. 127 south of Bryan. The Ohio Highway Patrol reports a 1998 Chrysler Grand Caravan driven by 36-year-old Staci MacGregor of Napolean struck another vehicle driven by 61-year-old Barbara J. Taylor of Bryan broadside at about 12:40pm. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage. MacGregor and five passengers between the ages of six and 33 all suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Bryan Community Hospital. The injured included a pregnant woman, 33-year-old Carrie Kaufman of Napolean. Because of her condition, Kaufman was flown by air ambulance to St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo. Taylor was life flighted to the University of Toledo Medical Center where at last report she was in serious condition. A passenger, 34-year-old William Taylor of Bryan, was taken to Bryan Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Williams County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene along with the Bryan and Edgerton Fire Departments, Williams County E.M.S. and Lifesquad along with medics from Stryker and Edgerton.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A man from Allen, Michigan who had been wanted on a warrant since last December was formally charged on Thursday with a Class B felony of Dealing in Methamphetamine. 24-year-old Andrew Lee Fitch was charged for allegedly making meth last July. According to Steuben County Court documents, the investigation started after a high speed police chase that ended on 600 North near State Road 120. Police say a check of Fitch's registration found that it was expired. His vehicle was then impounded and during a subsequent search, police say they found ingredients to make meth. A black duffle bag was also found by a motorist following the chase at 200 North and 300 East which, according to court documents, contained a one pot meth lab. Fitch's bond was set at $50,000 with no ten percent allowed during his initial hearing and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. His case will go through Steuben Circuit Court where a pre-trial conference was scheduled for August 16th.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(FLINT) - With the project covering the town of Orland along with Wall and Brown Lake finished, the Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District is looking at possibly expanding into the northeast part of the district. District Superintendent Tim Frederick said near the end of Thursday nights Regional Waste District Board of Trustees meeting that they will be holding another hearing in the Ramada Inn's banquet room at 9:00am on July 31st. Board member Jim VanVlerah said those in favor of a possible expansion have been quiet so far. Frederick ecohed those thoughts after recent meetings with Big and Little Otter Lake residents. A meeting last January at the Ramada Inn drew an overflow crowd to a smaller meeting room. It was called after the district was approached by Pokagon State Park as well as some businesses and residents. Board Chair Bill Heckley said at the January meeting the board had no desire to pursue this if they felt the majority of people were against it. Meanwhile, the board will host an open house at the recently renovated office building in Flint next Saturday morning starting at 8:00am. The board will then hold a "Town Hall" meeting at 11:00am.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help with the deconstruction of a home at on Saturday at 309 East South Street in Angola. The home will eventually be moved to the 300 block of West Garfield in Ashley as a Habitat for Humanity home for Tabitha Dempsey and her 18 month old son Jayden. It is expected to be ready for occupancy in September. The home is being donated by Cameron Hospital after it bought the property for its new hospital. If you want to volunteer, call Lilli Hand at 357-5595 or at 226-1319.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - The 57th annual LaGrange County 4-H Fair kicks off Saturday with a queen contest, 4-H recognition ceremonies, fireworks and bull riding. Twelve young ladies will compete for the title of Miss LaGrange County. They are Carlie Oesch, Mataya Lortnz, Kayle Keifer, Tara Fritz, Molly Gropp, Emmy Kratz, Olivia Fought, Katie Kratz, Taylor Miller, Cierra Domer, Danica Forbes and Sage Howe. The queen contest starts at 7:00pm in the pavilion. 4-H members are honored for their achievements during the recognition ceremony at 5:30pm. Circle A Ranch and Rodeo presents the bull riding contest in the grandstand at 8:00pm. Fireworks will light the sky over the fairgrounds at 10:00pm. Among the new attractions at this year's fair are the autocross racing on Wednesday evening and the Elephant and Tiger Encounter with four shows nightly. More than 600 youth participate, making 4-H the largest youth organization in LaGrange County. Admission is $3 for walk-ins, $5 per car load or $15 for a week long pass. Those week long passes can still be purchased for $10 today.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(ANGOLA) - It's a first for the Tri-State Steuben County Airport. Angola Balloons Aloft will be held at the airport on Friday and Saturday. Opening ceremonies will take place on Friday evening leading up to Hot Air Balloon Competition flight at 6:00pm and a Balloon Illumination at around 9:00pm. Saturday's activities start with another competition flight early in the morning. Helicopter and airplane rides are scheduled to take place throughout the day along with skydivers, static displays and a military fly-by. All proceeds from the event will benefit Project Help. There will be food vendors and free admission. For more information, go to angolaballoonsaloft.com.
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Friday, July 9, 2010
(FREMONT) - It will be a sweet 16 celebration in Fremont this weekend. Fremont's Music Fest has evolved from just a handful of music acts to a two day celebration that includes a parade and fireworks. Activities will start on Friday with the Fremont Community Church Hog Roast at 5:00pm followed by the Fremont High School Choir at 6:00pm and Spike and the Bulldogs at 7:00pm. Saturday's activites start bright and early at 6:00am with a pancake and sausage breakfast at the Fremont Fire Department. The Music Fest parade starts at 11:00am from Fremont Elementary School. June and Kenny Crandall are this years Grand Marshalls. The music starts up again at 12:00noon. Other Saturday activities include a petting zoo, a kid's playland, hula hoop and watermelon eating contests along with a mud volleyball tournament at the Zion Missionary Church. Fireworks will take place Saturday night at dusk at the Fremont Moose Lodge.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Friday morning Angola Hearing Authority hearing into the condition of a trailer park at the corner of Randolph and Victoria in Angola has been cancelled after new owners have been found for the property. Angola City Building Commissioner Dean Twitchell says a father and son business out of Auburn is buying the property which had previously been owned by Prospect Properties. Twitchell issued a Notice of Violation under the citys unsafe building law and ordinance in April after neighbors complained about what they felt was the parks rundown condition and how it has affected their property values. Twitchell says the new owners have vowed to clean up the property. He says they have promised to renovate the 11 units in the park. The ones that can not be renovated will be removed. Other improvements include the outside of the units being cleaned and painted. A fence will also be built on the Victoria street side of the property. The new owners will have five months from Friday to bring the units into compliance with safety standards or else another Angola Hearing Authority hearing will be scheduled.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Steuben Circuit Court Judge Allen Wheat was not among the nine semifinalists that were selected by a commission seeking the first new Indiana Supreme Court justice since 1999. Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull also did not make the list. The nine semifinalists include Republican State Senator Brent Steele of Bedford and Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher. Steele at 62 is the oldest candidate while Fisher is the youngest at 41. Four women are also on the list approved Wednesday by the Judicial Nominating Commission. The panel will announce the three finalists on July 30. The finalists will be forwarded to Governor Mitch Daniels who will make the appointment. The 34 applicants were interviewed this week for the seat being vacated by Justice Theodore Boehm, who plans to retire in September after 14 years of service.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A special exception request for a proposed marina at the former Docksiders location on North Bay View Road cleared the Steuben County Plan Commission hurdle on Wednesday night. On a 7-0 vote, the Plan Commission felt the special exception would not adversly affect the county's comprehensive plan. The marina would be in a lake residential zoning district. The lot has been empty since Docksiders was torn down and plans for a lodge fell through about five years ago. Petition Tom Clausen said they wanted to clean up and maintain the property. In addition, they wanted to keep people out who are not supposed to be there. The matter will be taken up by the Steuben County B.Z.A. on Monday night. In other business, the Plan Commission approved the rezoning of 36 lots at the Crooked Lake Beach Club from agricultural to residence one and two in what was called a housekeeping matter. The Plan Commission also discussed with County Commissioners various issues concerning planning and zoning. Commissioner Jim Crowl said he has gotten complaints about how long it takes to get permits. Fellow Commissioner Ron Smith said DeKalb County was ten times faster than Steuben County right now. Plan Director Zach Michels hopes the process will get faster in the near future when permit applications will be available on line. A proposed sign compliance and integrated sign program was also discussed by the Plan Commission but no action was taken.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
(NEVADA MILLS) - An outage at a Steuben County R.E.M.C. substation at Nevada Mills left many residents in the northern part of Steuben County without power for over an hour on Thursday morning. The power outage was reported at about 6:30am. All of the affected customers were back on line by 8:00am. The outage took in an area from Lake Pleasant to Fremont. Snow and Jimmerson Lake along with Lake James were also among the areas affected. Kevin Keiser from Steuben County R.E.M.C. blamed the outage on a regulator which knocked the substation off line. He does not think power usage during the last few days of hot, sultry weather led to the outage. It's estimated nearly 3,500 customer were affected by the outage. Keiser added crews will do some further work at the substation over the next several days but more power outages are not expected.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
(JONES) – A crash in Jones, Michigan claimed the lives of two Hillsdale County men Wednesday afternoon. Cass County Sheriff Joseph Underwood says 60 year old Howard Hawkins of Addison was driving south on M-40 just after 5:00pm and failed to stop at the intersection of M-60. Hawkins vehicle was struck by a westbound truck driven by 22 year old Christopher Korp of Niles. Authorities say Hawkins and a backseat passenger, 66 year old Kenneth Fisher of North Adams, were pronounced dead at the scene from injuries suffered in the crash. All parties were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, which is still under investigation.
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
(MONGO) - Police arrested three men early this morning following an incident near Mongo. Officers from the LaGrange and Steuben County Sheriff's Departments responded to a residence at 2155 North State Road 3 on a report of a subject lying in the roadway. According to police Joseph Rambadt and Douglas Wilson of Sturgis were at the home of 37-year-old Philip Farrington where the three were consuming alcohol. Farrington allegedly assaulted Rambadt and was charged with battery. Police say both Rambadt and Wilson were under age and were detained for consumption of alcohol by a minor. All three men were lodged in the LaGrange County Jail.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An Angola man was formally charged on Wednesday with a Class B felony for Dealing in a Narcotic Drug after Steuben County authorities accused him of manufacturing methamphetamine in a garage at a home on 200 North. 47-year-old Casey DeWitt Walker was arrested on Tuesday after the Steuben County Sheriff's Department were called to the home on a disorderly complaint. According to Steuben County court documents, the residence had been the subject of an ongoing narcotics investigation by the Sheriff's Department after information had been received from various sources about the alleged manufacture of meth. After getting permission to search the property, investigators stated in court documents that numerous items associated with the manufacture of meth were found. A dozen items were seized as evidence. A 13-year-old girl who lives at the home was taken to Cameron Hospital for an examination. Bond for Walker was set at $50,000 with ten percent allowed during his initial hearing and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Walker is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial conference in Steuben Superior Court on August 2nd.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(HUDSON) - A teenager who was rescued after nearly drowning in Hog Back Lake on June 27th died on Monday at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. 17-year-old Kody T. Clark was an honor student at Prairie Heights High School. Indiana Conservation Officer Rodney Clear says the youngster was swimming towards a water trampoline with some friends when he went under for about three minutes on the afternoon of the incident. Clark was revived by rescue crews before being taken to Parkview Hospital. He was later taken to U of M Hospital where he past away eight days later. The Johnson Funeral Home in Hudson is handling the funeral arrangements.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Tourism Bureau is leaving its location in the former Steuben County Jail, effective August 15th. A letter stating their intentions was submitted to Steuben County Commissioners on Tuesday. The decision to move to a new location came about as a drop in hotel revenue made tourism promotion more important. The Steuben County Innkeepers Tax Commission directed the Tourism Bureau nearly a year ago to research more cost effective locations for doing business. Randy White from the Tourism Bureau said they plan to move their offices to Mill and North Wayne after it was felt cost-effectiveness was more important than location. Commissioner Ron Smith said it was a good news, bad news situation but he felt the move will benefit the Tourism Bureau. The Tourism Bureau has been operating out of the old jail since the early 90's. A new tenant has not been found.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Five more Democrats including Steuben County Party Chair Judy Rowe have filed at the County Clerks office to get on the November general election ballot. Rowe will be running for the District Two seat on the Steuben County Council which is currently occupied by Republican Sara Tubergan. Meanwhile, fellow Democrat Bob Osterholt will run for the County Council's District Three seat against Republican incumbent John Hughes. The Steuben County Clerk race will be contested as well with Democrat Mahlon Lautzenhiser running against Republican Michelle Herbert. Current County Clerk Diana Penick can not run again due to term limits. Other Democrats who have filed are Dan Ernsberger for the Millgrove Township Board and Jeffrey Klink for the Salem Township Board.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Wednesday from 12:00noon until 9:00pm. Afternoon highs are expected to get into the low to mid 90's with heat index readings of 95 to 100 for a period of several hours. The combination of heat and humidity will pose a risk for heat stress for those with outdoor activities this afternoon. You are being urged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - The Angola City Council got an earful from an unhappy theatre owner on Tuesday night over the recently completed downtown renovation project. A number of planters were put in throughout the downtown area including one in front of the Strand Theatre which has theatre owner Dana Thompson hopping mad. He said it's unsafe now to work on his movie marquee because he has to put his ladder in the planter. Thompson said the problem was pointed out three months ago but nobody either wanted to do anything about it or cared to. Mayor Dick Hickman said the city will see what they can about it but he also told Thompson that he should have attended planning sessions with other downtown merchants before work on the project got underway. In other business, the Council approved a contract with Wessler Engineering to provide professional services for the smoke testing of sanitary sewers in the city. Wastewater Department Superintendent Craig Williams says the work is needed because stormwater flowing to the wastewater plant is being treated but it is not being billed resulting in a loss of revenue. The Council also decided to give the Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer a $1,000 raise for 2011 but keep the salaries for Council Members the same for the eighth straight year.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A controversial conservative national commentator is scheduled to be in Angola on September 18th as part of an event being put on by a group called the Michiana 9/12 Project. According to groups web site jointhepursuit.org, Glenn Beck is scheduled to be the key note speaker during the day long event at Hershey Hall on the Trine University campus. Beck has his own nationally syndicated radio show and can be seen nightly on the Fox News Network. Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock and entrepreneur Matthew Cook are also scheduled to appear that day. Organizers say other speakers will be announced later. Tickets are priced between $15 and $400 for the event. They are now available on line.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A former officer with Steuben County Community Corrections was sentenced Tuesday in Steuben Superior Court to a pair of Class D felonies for official misconduct after she was accused last September of having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate. 37-year-old Jennifer Getts of Kendallville pled guilty to the two charges as part of a plea agreement. She was given two year consecutive sentences on both counts. All of the jail time was suspended except for 90 days which will be served on home detention through Noble County Community Corrections. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the three original Class C felony charges of sexual misconduct by a service provider were dismissed by the state. Getts was arrested and terminated from her job following an investigation by the Indiana State Police and the Steuben County Sheriffs Department. She was assigned to monitor Ryan J. Wildermuth who was serving the balance of his sentence on home detention from a previous DeKalb County felony conviction. The probe began after an Indiana Conservation Officer stopped Wildermuth and Getts on August 14th while they were in a boat on Hamilton Lake.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(BRUSHY PRAIRIE) - While there were no officer changes made by the Prairie Heights School Board Tuesday night during their annual reorganization, they decided to change the monthly meeting date. Mike Howe will serve once again as the Board President for the next year while Todd Perkins will be the Vice-President and Janet Grabill will be the Secretary. The board accepted a proposal to move regular meetings to the third Monday of the month starting on July 19th.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(GOSHEN) - A Shipshewana man is dead after his motorcycle struck a horse east of Goshen early Tuesday morning. 28-year-old Jason Mast was killed when he fell from the motorcycle in the collision. Elkhart County deputies say Mast was heading east on County Road 36 about 7 miles east of Goshen when he encountered the horse in the roadway. The accident happened at 1:34am.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(ANGOLA) - An American Red Cross blood drive will be held in Angola this Monday for a local four year old girl who is fighting leukemia. The blood drive in honor of Dixie Bireley will be held from 10:00am until 4:00pm at the Fairview Missionary Church on 200 North. The youngster found out she had leukemia last October. During June alone, Dixie received three platelet transfusions and two red blood cell transfusions. Most chemotherapies and radiation used to treat cancer can lower blood counts for red cells, white cells and platelets. Some patients receive red cells and platelets while undergoing these procedures.
One blood donation has the potential to help save up to three lives because blood may be broken down into three separate components.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(COLDWATER) - Coldwater Police and the Branch County Sheriff's Department were successfull in talking a 29-year-old man out of committing suicide on Monday. Police say the man had a hangun with him in his Williams Street home and he told officers not to come into his room or else he would harm himself. Two friends called him on his cell phone in an attempt to get him to come out. Police also talked with him for two hours before he came out of his room. The man was placed into protective custody and taken to the Community Health Center of Branch County for evaluation. There were no injuries during Monday's incident. It is not known why the man wanted to harm himself in the first place.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(STURGIS) – An e-mail scam has been reported in Sturgis. The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce says one of their members was the victim of this recent scam involving Hotmail accounts. The intended victim receives an e-mail from someone claiming to be an employee of Hotmail, asking for information to update your account. If you receive an e-mail like this, do not reply. The sender will use that information to hack into your account and then send an e-mail to everyone in your address book, claiming to be you and saying that you are stuck in England and need money sent right away to get home. It’s possible they may be able to hack into your computer and get more personal information. Chamber officials say you should contact the police if you do receive an e-mail like this.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - For the second consecutive year, Wells Fargo LaGrange and the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation provided both financial and volunteer support for LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity. Wells Fargo committed $10,000 toward construction of the new home for Rusty and Amy Niccum and their four children in Wolcottville. Wells Fargo LaGrange team members also volunteered their time to work on the home, helping with painting and cleaning. Construction of the house was completed on June 30, and the Niccums moved into their new home. The Wells Fargo Housing Foundation was created to provide permanent solutions to homeownership needs in Wells Fargo communities nationwide.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(UNDATED) - Steuben County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward in connection with the theft of numerous items from unlocked vehicles during the holiday weekend. Crime Stoppers Coordinator Shari Dean says items taken on Friday morning included a lap top, a 42 inch flat screen TV and numerous GPS devices. Items taken from vehicles around Lake James during the early morning hours on Saturday included a digital camera, radar detectors, a BB gun rifle and a MP3 player. Items were also taken from around Clear Lake between 4:00am and 7:45am on Monday. Those items included GPS devices, cameras, and IPod and a CD player. Anyone with information on these crimes or any other crime can call Crime Stoppers at 668-STOP or 1-800-600-HALT. You can also go to their web site which is steubencountycrimestoppers.org. You do not have to give your name and a reward of up to $1,000 could be paid for information that leads to a conviction.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(COLDWATER) - A man who is facing six charges for allegedly using a computer to communicate sex with an underage child waived his Branch County District Court preliminary examination on Tuesday. The case against 31-year-old Phillip Knowlan was bound over to Branch County Circuit Court where an arraignment was scheduled for July 26th. Knowlan is free after posting 10 percent of a $250,000 bond. He was arrested in late May following an undercover investigation. Knowlan claims someone else was using his computer and that he is innocent of the charges. Authorities say the alleged incidents took place in August of last year.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(ANGOLA) - A Fremont teen was arrested over the holiday weekend for manufacturing methamphetamine. 18-year-old Sean Daniel Geiger was formally charged with a Class B felony on Tuesday with bond set at $50,000. According to court documents, Geiger was arrested on Saturday after the Steuben County Sheriff's Department was called to a family dispute at a home on 700 East. According to court documents, police found an alleged meth lab in a 20 ounce drink bottle with a white residue inside that had been put in the trash. A not guilty plea was entered on Geiger's behalf during Tuesday's initial hearing and Linda Wagoner was appointed as his attorney.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Two appraisals have been submitted to Steuben County Commissioners for the possible purchase of land as part of an expansion of the Steuben County Park. The County has been looking at land near the 4-H Fairgrounds that is owned by George Pifer over the last couple of years. The land which used to occupy the former Fun Spot Amusement Park came into the picture earlier this year. Commissioner Ron Smith says the latest appraisals are considerably different from previous figures thus making the old ones outdated. Commissioners on Tuesday decided to discuss the appraisals and the possible purchase of property during an executive session that was tentatively scheduled for July 28th.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(HUDSON) - The Hudson Volunteer Fire Department has used a $1,000 grant from the Steuben County Community Foundation to buy a pair of automatic external defibrillators. Chief Bill Ebert says the two AED's have been placed in two of their vehicles. The department can now get the vehicles state certified as medical rescue units. Hudson now has five defibrillators in emergency response vehicles and a stationary one at the Hudson Town Hall. The units are in operation and state certification is expected within the next two months.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(LaOTTO) - A Garrett man was killed on Monday afternoon when two vehicles collided at the intersection of State Road 205 and County Road 3 near LaOtto. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department says a car driven by 97-year-old Floyd Pfierman entered the path of travel of another vehicle driven by 49-year-old Robert Rittermeyer of LaOtto at the intersection at about 4:20pm. Pfierman was flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne by the Samaritan Helicopter where he was pronounced dead upon arrival due to multiple injuries. Rittermeyer was treated and released from Parkview North. Indiana State Police, DeKalb E.M.S. and LaOtto firefighters also assisted at the scene of the crash.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(LAGRANGE) - LaGrange County Commissioners approved the turning over of the sewer and water utilities at Fawn River Crossing to the LaGrange County Regional Utility District on Tuesday morning. That was followed by a split vote to approve an agreement for an incentive program to get sewer users in that area to hook up to the water service as well. Property owners are mandated by law to hook up to the sewer service. The incentive to take the water service too would be for the county to pay for the sewer and water lines to property owner's building. The cost of doing so would be less than the cost of maintaining an under utilized water system according to Commissioner George Bachman. Commissioner Phil Curtis opposed the incentive, saying in the cases of the Best Western Hotel and the Toll Road toll plaza that expense will be great. County Attorney Kurt Bachman said the incentive program is an application process, not a guarantee of approval. The program is subject to funding by the County Council, which is expected to consider the issue next week.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010
(BRONSON) – Work will begin today on a Branch County road project. The Michigan Department of Transportation will be rebuilding a quarter mile of M-86 from Farrand Road to west of Babcock Road. In addition, crews will be replacing the bridge over Matteson Creek. The $2.6 million project will also include some detour route upgrades. Officials say M-86 traffic will be detoured on Farrand Road, Division Road and Babcock Road. The project is expected to be finished on October 29.
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Monday, July 5, 2010
(ANGOLA) - Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Fort Wayne and South Bend Diocese is scheduled to be on hand this Saturday evening when a dedication mass is held for the new St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Angola. The mass starts at 5:00pm followed by a reception in the old church. Those who will attend are being told the mass will last at least two hours and that they should arrive early for a seat as a large turnout is expected. In addition, those attending are being asked to wear their Sunday best. The new church cost just under $4 million. It opened during the Easter weekend after just under a year of construction and five years of fund raising.
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Monday, July 5, 2010
(DEKALB COUNTY) - Five people were injured Sunday night when an S.U.V. crashed on County Road 45 near County Road 42 in DeKalb County. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Department says 19-year-old Heath Harris of Hamilton lost control of the vehicle at about 10:40pm. It then went through a 90 degree curve and crashed into a large tree. The impact sent the vehicle onto its top and it slid for over 60 feet before coming to a stop. Harris managed to get out and assisted the four passengers out of the S.U.V.. The most seriously injured was 19-year-old Jason Steckley of LaGrange. He was flown by the Samaritan Helicopter to Parkview Hospital with multiple fractures. Harris and three other passengers were treated and released from DeKalb Memorial Hospital. The Auburn and Butler fire departments assisted the Sheriffs Department at the scene.
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Sunday, July 4, 2010
(ALBION) - The Noble County Sheriff's Department says an argument led to a stabbing early Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Hill Top Bar near Albion. The Sheriff's Department says the incident happened at about 1:30am when Randall Smith was stabbed in the chest by an unknown suspect who at last report was still at large. Smith was first taken by private vehicle to Parkview Whitley Hospital before he was transferred to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. At last report, he was in stable condition. The suspect is described as a white male about six feet tall who weighs about 190 pounds. He has sandy blonde hair with tattoos on his left arm and upper chest. He is said to be driving a white Chevy Impala. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Noble County Sheriff's Department.
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Saturday, July 3, 2010
(BLUFFTON) - (AP) - The bodies of two Bluffton boys were recovered from the Wabash River on Friday night. Indiana Conservation Officer Kenny Wireman identified the victims as 16-year-old Christopher A. Mohan and 6-year-old Huntre K. Nelson. He says the victims were with two girls at Ouabache State Park on Friday when one of the girls slipped into the water. Wireman says the boys went into the water to help. The remaining girl on the bank reached out to the girl in the water with a stick and helped her to the shore. The boys' bodies were recovered by Wireman and members of the Bluffton fire department just after 7:00pm, less than 90 minutes after they went into the water. The incident is being investigated as a possible drowning.
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Saturday, July 3, 2010
(FREMONT) - The Democratic candidate for the 51st District State House seat lashed out against higher fares on the Indiana Toll Road on Friday. Codie Ross issued a statement at the Fremont Outlet Shoppes saying the increase from $4.65 to $8.80 to travel the length of the Toll Road over the last couple of years is detrimental to the areas way of life and to economic development. He also feels it has had a negative impact on the Angola area. Ross took Republican State Representative Dick Dodge to task for supporting the Toll Road lease. Ross feels Dodge did not listen to the people back home and instead "did what Indianapolis told him to do." Thursday's price increase will not be the last as the lease between the state and a private company allows the tolls to go up every July after next year. Drivers who use the electronic toll devices are protected from price increases until 2016.
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Saturday, July 3, 2010
(LAKE JAMES) - The Lake James Association 4th of July Flotilla Parade will be held on Saturday afternoon starting at 3:00pm. It will begin and end at the Potawatomi Inn Bay. Registration will take place at 2:30pm. This years Grand Marshalls are Don and Rene Scheimann. She is the current Lake James Association President and is past president of the Lake James Ski Club. Prizes will be awarded for best decorated boat, best classic boat and best decorated business boat. There will be first, second and third place prizes as well as a Grand Prize.
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