Indiana State News

Indiana Health Industry Forum Welcomes New Board Members

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:12:08 -0700

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana Health Industry Forum (IHIF) announces the election of two new members to its board of directors. Mark S. Deuser, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Techshot, Inc. (Greenville, IN) and Todd G. Vare, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP (Indianapolis, IN) were elected during the organization’s March 11 meeting.

“The Indiana Health Industry Forum stands for supporting innovation across the state”, said Dr. Joerg Schreiber, Chairman IHIF Board of Directors and President of White Arrow Consulting. “Both of these individuals personify Innovation and Commercialization in Indiana. They bring extensive backgrounds and experience in growing life science companies in Indiana and we are pleased to have them among the leadership of the Forum.”

Mr. Mark Deuser serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Techshot, which is a provider of services to develop novel technologies for federal and university clients and high-tech products for private sector clients. He has guided and successfully grown Techshot to prominence, as acknowledged by numerous national awards and regional recognition, including being listed two consecutive years as Inc. Magazine’s 500 fastest growing companies. Under his leadership, Techshot has become Indiana’s leading recipient of SBIR awards with close to 70 awards to date.

Techshot’s business model is to harvest its intellectual property by selling or licensing its technologies to companies that need high-tech profitable products. In some instances, Techshot’s technology has been licensed to its own spin-off companies. For example, Mr. Deuser is the co-founder of and investor in IKOTECH, another Indiana-based small business intent on selling medical devices using novel cell purification techniques for stem cell treatments and other cellular therapeutics to bring cutting-edge therapies from the laboratory bench to the bedside.

Todd Vare is a partner in the Intellectual Property Department of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, where he concentrates his practice in the litigation of patent disputes and counseling on the protection of intellectual property assets. Mr. Vare has litigated patent disputes covering a wide variety of technologies, including gene sequencing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications, software programs and processes, cellular antenna systems, and mechanical devices. Mr. Vare also has litigated a variety of other intellectual property and business disputes in state and federal courts involving trade secrets, copyright, software

performance, software licenses, employee non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, and rights of publicity. He is a frequent speaker on trial and litigation techniques, multi-media trial presentation strategies, and electronic discovery.

Mr. Vare is co-chairman the firm’s Nanotechnology Group and Business and Technology (BTech) Group. He also is an active member of the firm's Life Sciences Group. In these roles, Mr. Vare counsels clients on a variety of matters along the pathway of "concept to commercialization" in the life sciences and technology industries, as well as the application of nanotechnology to these and other industry sectors. His client counseling includes IP protection, computer and software protection, e-commerce processes

For a complete listing of the board of directors of the Indiana Health Industry Forum, please visit http://www.ihif.org/contacts/board

About IHIF

The diverse members of the Indiana Health Industry Forum generate the collective voice of the state’s health and life science industry. The Forum connects key stakeholders to enhance business networks, advocate for member interests, develop workforce skills, and provide strategic vision in the interest of growing the state’s health industry economy and reputation. IHIF is the Indiana affiliate of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. To learn more, please visit www.ihif.org or contact IHIF at 317.278.9970.

Securities Restitution Fund will be first of its kind for Indiana and the nation

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:12:06 -0700

Program designed to help defrauded Hoosier investors is nation’s first

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita praised the Indiana General Assembly for passing into law his office's suggestion for how to creatively leverage fines and settlements collected from law violators. House Bill 1332, an innovative law passed in the final hours of the 2010 session, will establish a Securities Restitution Fund, a pioneering investor protection program believed to be the first of its kind created by any state. The Securities Restitution Fund will tap into the Securities Enforcement Fund, which for years has been used to educate Hoosiers and to finance the operations of the Indiana Securities Division and the Prosecution Assistance Unit.

“Now, in addition to what the enforcement fund already does, we will be able to compensate Hoosiers, when the facts dictate and enough funds are available, for the harm they incurred,” said Secretary Rokita. “Its another example of how the Secretary of State’s office has, for eight years, listened to the people of Indiana and have put them first, by going to the General Assembly with innovative ideas that matter.”

In many investment fraud cases, victims are only able to recover pennies on the dollar. The new law will give the Indiana Securities Commissioner the ability to award victims a portion of their losses up to $15,000 or 25 percent of unrecovered awards (whichever is less). Eligible victims will be required to show proof that restitution was awarded by a court or administrative agency. The fund will be established with an initial $2 million from Securities Division fines collected against violators of the Indiana Securities Act. The Securities Restitution Fund will continue to be derived from the Enforcement Fund, which is funded by fines, and will not depend upon the use of any tax dollars.

“The establishment of a Securities Restitution Fund was among our top legislative initiatives this session,” said Secretary Rokita. “Indiana Securities Commissioner Chris Naylor and the staff of the Indiana Securities Division provided expert information for legislators as they crafted this bill. I applaud our attorneys and the members of the General Assembly – specifically bill authors Representatives Bardon and Burton – for carrying this law to support Hoosier investors.”

House Bill 1332, authored by Representatives Jeb Bardon and Woody Burton, was passed by a 96-0 vote by the Indiana House of Representatives and a 47-2 vote by the Indiana Senate. It includes several other provisions related to the enforcement of the Securities Act, including giving the Securities Commissioner the ability to reward a whistleblower who reports Securities Act violations and requiring new investment adviser representatives to undergo FBI criminal background checks. An additional provision will allow the Securities Division to seek asset freezes against Loan Brokers in cases of fraud. The new consumer protection provisions will assist the Indiana Securities Division and Prosecution Assistance Unit in protecting Hoosiers against white collar crime.

About the Indiana Securities Division:

The Indiana Securities Division oversees Indiana's securities industry as well as the activities of mortgage brokers, collection agencies, franchisors and continuing care retirement centers. The Division is charged with protecting Hoosier investors by bringing enforcement actions against companies and individuals selling securities in violation of Indiana's securities laws and by educating Hoosiers about prudent investing.

About the Prosecution Assistance Unit:

In 2004, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita created the Prosecution Assistance Unit within the Securities Division of the Secretary of State’s Office. Its sole purpose is to assist police and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting criminal violations of the Indiana Securities Act and the Indiana Loan Brokers Act. The investigators and attorneys in the unit collectively have over 72 years of experience in investigating and prosecuting criminals. Since its inception, the Unit has helped to convict 48 criminals in state and federal courts across Indiana. In addition, courts have handed down over 300 years in sentences, and have ordered over $29.9 million in restitution for crime victims. The Unit operates under the direction and supervision of the Securities Commissioner and the Senior Investigator.

State winners announced for Farm Bureau essay contest

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:12:07 -0700

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Layne Sanders of Greensburg and Jordan Cadle of Orleans are the state winners of the 2010 youth essay contest sponsored by Sen. Richard Lugar, Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. and Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.

A total of 632 eighth graders from 42 counties participated in this year’s contest. Sanders attends Greensburg Junior High and is daughter of Scott and Beth Sanders. Cadle attends Paoli Jr./Sr. High and is the son of Danny and Katie Cadle.

As state winners, both students will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

“Farmers Looking at a Bright Future” was the theme, according to IFB 2nd Vice President Isabella Chism. Chism chairs the Women’s Leadership Committee, which is in charge of the annual contest. The contest began in 1985 and is designed to increase young Hoosiers’ awareness of the significance of Indiana agriculture, how it relates to the supply of food and fuel and to their health.

The winners were announced at IFB's annual Spring Conference, held March 12 and 13 in Indianapolis.

One boy and girl were chosen as finalists from each of Indiana Farm Bureau’s 10 districts, and the state winners were chosen from that pool of 20 finalists. Each of the finalists wins a $50 U.S. Savings Bond. The other finalists are:

District 1: Luke Kepler of Argos, who attends Argos Jr. High School and is the son of Mark and Roberta Kepler; Alexandra Magallon of Highland, who attends Our Lady of Grace and is the daughter of Melecio and Sonia Magallon.
District 2: Ashley Kain of Orland, Prairie Heights Community, daughter of Dan and Tabby Kain; Curtis Mourey of Fort Wayne, St. Joseph Hessen Cassel School, son of Greg and Michelle Mourey.
District 3: Pamela Kuechenmeister of Lake Village, North Newton Jr./Sr. High, daughter of Jan and Ken Honkisz; Colton Underwood of West Lafayette, Battle Ground Middle School, son of Kevin and Sherry Underwood.
District 4: Collin Saxman of Portland, East Jay Middle School, son of Misty and Bill Saxman; Kathleen Jacobs of Huntington, Riverview Middle School, daughter of Paul and Heidi Jacobs.
District 5: Deena Hesselgrave of Gosport, Cloverdale Middle School, daughter of Tina Lundsford; Joe Littiken of Quincy, also of Cloverdale Middle School, son of Jim and Jane Littiken.
District 6: Carson Bailey of Richmond, Seton Catholic School, son of Paul and Diane Bailey; Annie Chalfant of Parker City, Twelve-Seven Learning Center, daughter of Tom and Mollie Chalfant.
District 7: Hannah Kocher of Linton, Linton Stockton Junior High, daughter of Jamie and Marti Kocher; Seth Black of Terre Haute, Honey Creek Middle School, son of Steven and Angela Black.
District 8: The other winner from this district, in addition to Sanders, was Tyler Combs of Columbus, Central Middle School, son of Brian and Sandy Combs.
District 9: Jennifer Riedford of Owensville, Fort Branch Community, daughter of Mark and Maria Riedford. The other winner from this district was Cadle.
District 10: Tess Stoops of Vevay, Switzerland County Middle School, daughter of Beverly and Anthony Stoops; Trey Embrey of New Albany, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, son of Allison and William Embrey.

Celebrating the P-51 Mustang at the Indianapolis Airshow

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:12:06 -0700

Kick off your summer June 11th-13th with one of Indiana’s best family entertainment values—The Indianapolis Air Show

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indianapolis Air Show officials announced today that the World’s only P-51 Horsemen Aerobatic Team will headline this year’s show. These 3 authentic P-51 Mustangs served in WWII and their aerobatic routines remind us of how these powerful machines influenced the outcome of WWII.

The show will be held on June 12th & 13th with Friday the 11th serving as Practice and Media. The Military class will also be represented by the USAF A-10 (Thunderbolt II) East Demo Team, US Navy F/A-18 E/F (Super Hornets), and a USAF Heritage flight coupled with a P-51.

Red Bull Air Race champion, Michael Goulian and his Extra300SHP is just one of the exciting civilian performances scheduled this year. Also taking off from the Indy Air Show in 2010: Franklin’s Flying Circus & Air Shows presents Sons of Legends, the E Team Skydivers--jumping with the world’s largest flag, John Klatt is fast & furious in his Staudacher S-300D, Red Eagle Air Sports with Magic in the Air, Bill Braack’s Smoke N Thunder Jet Truck, Billy Werth and the Pitts S2C presented by Grayout Aerosports, and Kent Pietsch sponsored by Jelly Belly.

Meet real-life heroes, local authors and hear their stories by visiting the Military Veteran’s tent featuring USS Indianapolis Survivors area. Plan to spend the entire day! There is plenty of great summer food and fun for the entire family! Wander through acres of event attractions including: Warbirds, hot air balloons, car show, kid’s zone, military history encampment, and more. By the time the aerial portion of the show begins around noon, you’ll be settled in along the flight line eating a pulled pork sandwich, corn on the cob and strawberry shortcake with the kids and marveling at a show of raw power and aerobatic brilliance!

Stay in the know on all things Indianapolis Air Show by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Indianapolis Air Show is held at Mount Comfort Airport just east of Indianapolis (one mile north of the I-70 Mount Comfort exit). On both June 12th & 13th, gates are open from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m., and the aerial show runs from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Friday is Practice and Media Day and the gates are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Acres of free parking with shuttles to the action. The Indianapolis Air Show Golf Classic kicks off the festivities as usual on Thursday, June 10th at Winding Ridge Golf Club. Foursomes are still available—see details at IndyAirShow.com.

Admission at the Gate is $20 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, and children 5 and under free. Find reserved seats, great values, and hospitality packages available online--right now at www.IndyAirShow.com . Discount General Admission tickets on sale at Marsh Supermarkets and United Package Liquor beginning in April. Indianapolis Air Show salutes our men and women in the Armed Forces. As a thank you, active duty members of the U.S. military may attend for free by showing their military ID.

Miracle Ride Foundation II, Inc. d/b/a The Indianapolis Air Show is a 501(c)(3) charitable entity and net proceeds are distributed to Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) to support children’s charities. For more information about the Air Show, online ticketing, the performers and attractions, golf tournament or car show, call 317.335.7252 or visit www.indyairshow.com. For information about Central Indiana Community Foundation, visit www.CICF.org.

Body Found in North Eastern Vigo County Identified

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:12:09 -0700

VIGO COUNTY, IN - Late this afternoon, Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr officially identified the body found in northeastern Vigo County on Sunday, March 14, as that of missing person Charles Raymond Chumley Jr., age 30, of Brazil, IN.

The body of Charles Raymond Chumley Jr. was partially decomposed and had to be identified through dental records.

There is still no cause of death determined and investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests, which could take up to two weeks.

The investigation by Indiana State Police detectives is ongoing and no other information is available.

Family has been notified.

Charles Raymond Chumley Jr. was last seen on December 8, 2009, 11:45p.m. near 11300 East Davis Ave., Terre Haute. He reportedly left his wife in a vehicle in the driveway and walked into a nearby wooded area. He allegedly told his wife he would return in 15 minutes. Chumley never returned nor was he seen again. The Davis Ave location is nearly one mile north of where his remains were located.

Anyone with information concerning this case is urged to contact Indiana State Police detective Sam Stearley at 812-299-1151.

Direct any questions concerning the investigation to Sergeant Joe Watts.

Questions concerning the autopsy should be directed to Vigo County Coroner Dr. Roland Kohr.

Kokomo Mayor Goodnight to Speak at Job Creation and Retention Conference

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:12:11 -0700

KOKOMO, IN - On Thursday, March 18th, Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight will be one of the featured speakers at the “Job Creation and Retention: Strategies that are working in Indiana today” conference in Indianapolis.

Mayor Goodnight will be joined by Mayor Greg Ballard, Indianapolis; Mayor James Fleck, Columbia City and Kevin Brinegar, President, Indiana Chamber of Commerce as well as other economic development leaders as they relate best practices strategies and learn and network with national, economic development experts.

In the audience will be Indiana economic development leaders including elected officials, chamber representatives and regional economic leaders.

The keynote speaker will be C. Robert Sawyer, who directs the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) six-state Chicago regional office which is responsible for annually awarding grants totaling approximately $34 million.

The one-day conference is conducted by the High Performance Government Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to designing, developing and deploying high performance accountable public services. The Network assists local government chief elected officials develop quality improvements by using data to identify service delivery weaknesses and to establish working models for immediate and on-going improvements.

Governor asks Indiana House members to reject health care reform legislation

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:12:09 -0700

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to vote later this week on health reform legislation. Although a few modifications have been made by President Obama, the enormous costs and impact to Hoosier taxpayers have not changed. Governor Daniels has sent a letter to Indiana members of Congress to urge them to reject the bill. The letter reads:

“A few months ago I expressed the view that the health care bills then pending before Congress were hopelessly misguided, unaffordable, and dangerously adverse to the interests of Hoosiers today and tomorrow. I have hoped that these schemes would be modified and improved given their clear defects and the public’s quite sensible rejection of them. Instead, they have become, if anything, even worse.

Again I ask your leadership in preventing this disastrous national mistake. You will soon be presented with the most anti-jobs, anti-taxpayer, anti-Indiana measure you may ever see in your Congressional career, and I hope you will represent us well by voting against it.”

The governor also shared an Indiana impact statement with the House members. Here is a copy:

Through a massive expansion of Medicaid, half a million (500,000) new Hoosiers would become eligible, costing Hoosier taxpayers billions more in state taxes. One in four Hoosiers would be on public assistance.

Without a costly increase in the Medicaid provider reimbursement rates, there will not be enough health care professionals to care for this huge new influx of Medicaid patients.

The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) would be eliminated as the new federal rules would force the 45,000 families who are currently covered into the Medicaid fee-for-service delivery model, losing the cost saving and quality advantages of consumer-driven health care.

Many Hoosiers who currently have health insurance will pay higher premiums – the Congressional Budget Office estimates an average increase nationally of $2,100 for some families, and a study of the effects in Indiana showed premium increases ranging up to 78 percent. Premiums will continue to rise because the drivers of rising costs in the health care system are exacerbated rather than controlled by the legislation.

A growing and job-creating life sciences sector in Indiana will be hit with huge new tax increases: at least $20 billion for the device manufacturers and $90 billion for pharmaceutical companies. These costs will be passed to consumers and will result in job losses in Indiana.

A job killing tax of $2,000 per employee will be levied on many companies which cannot afford or choose not to provide coverage to their employees, including Indiana.

The costs for this massive entitlement expansion are vastly and misleadingly understated: An honest estimate would show an addition of more than a trillion dollars to the national debt.

A copy of the letter sent to all members of House may be found at this link:

http://www.in.gov/gov/files/Press/031610_Letter.pdf

Governor Daniels’ statement about 2010 legislative session:

kpaul.mallasch — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:12:06 -0700

Governor Daniels’ statement about 2010 legislative session:

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - “In all honesty, this was an essentially defensive, Hippocratic session. We protected taxpayers against those who want to spend money we will not have, protected our business climate against an untimely increase in UI premiums, protected schools by enhancing their flexibility to use unspent funds they have in reserve, and protected everyone against attempted raids by gaming, labor unions, and other narrow special interests.

“Meanwhile, we ended social promotion of children who cannot yet read, gained the new tools we sought to help single parents collect child support, and won taxpayers the right to vote on making our property tax reductions permanent. I prefer playing offense on behalf of change for Indiana's future, but in this economy and political environment, this was not a bad outcome.”

Hoosiers Receive Sine Die Victory

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:12:07 -0800

STATEHOUSE - Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland) worked up to the final minute today to pull out a victory for Hoosiers. Before session ended, also known as Sine Die, House members voted in favor of a tax delay for employers on their unemployment insurance premiums and school funding flexibility. The bills passed by a vote of 85 to 12 and 98 to 0, respectively. The legislation now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

“Jobs have been my top priority throughout this session, and today, we saved Hoosier jobs,” Rep. Davis said. “We couldn’t have done anything more important than making sure this tax increase on Hoosier employers was delayed. This victory ensures the business environment in our state is not severely damaged by one of the biggest tax increases in state history on employers.”

During the 2009 legislative session, House Democrats passed legislation to increase unemployment premiums on employers ranging from $9-748 per employee. This legislation passed without one House Republican vote.

The delay on unemployment insurance tax premiums will save businesses $640 million over the next two years.

Several poison pills were added to the bill last week. These poison pills divided the House and nearly kept legislators from reaching an agreement.

“It would have been a shame if politics would have interfered with Hoosier jobs, but we worked across the aisle to make sure that wouldn’t have happened,” Rep. Davis said.

Legislators were also able to pass a measure to give schools the funding flexibility they need to shore up negative funds.

For over a year state revenues have fallen below the forecasts thus prompting a $300 million reduction in school funding. In an effort to keep teachers in the classroom, we offered legislation to give schools the ability to reallocate money to fill holes in depleted funds.

“From day one we made education a top priority and tonight schools received the funding flexibility they need,” Rep. Davis said. “Schools have been battling mandatory cuts and we wanted to ensure that they have every opportunity to shore up any negative funds. Our children deserve the best education they can get and tonight was a victory for them.”

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives also passed one bill allowing the Illiana Expressway to be built without legislative approval.

House Joint Resolution 1, one of the most important accomplishments of the session, was passed early on. It would graft property tax caps into the state constitution after being approved by voters on the November ballot.

The act of giving homeowners, farmers and business owners the chance to cap their own taxes was the most sweeping tax reform Indiana has seen in several decades. The vast majority of Hoosiers want the opportunity to vote on this critical issue.

Source: Indiana House Republican Caucus

Indiana State Police and Huntington Police Department Arrest 28 in Operation Huntington Cocktail Party

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:12:05 -0800

HUNTINGTON, IN -This morning, a nearly year-long investigation, dubbed “Operation Huntington Cocktail Party” by the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section and the Huntington Police Department came to an end with the arrest of 28 people on 63 charges ranging from Class A Misdemeanors to Class A Felonies.

According to Huntington Police Chief S. Tom Emely, his agency had responded to several deaths over the last two years that involved people who have overdosed on illegally obtained prescription medication. “Youth and young adults are self-medicating themselves with deadly mixtures of prescription drugs and alcohol”, said Emely. He went on to say that “the drug trade is like the spokes of a wheel with the hub of that wheel being the drug trade and the spokes being the crimes that are committed to support that trade”. As a result, investigators from the Huntington Police Department with the direct involvement from the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section began a joint investigation.

At approximately 6:00 am, and with the assistance of the Huntington County Prosecutor’s Office, numerous arrest teams comprising of officers from the Indiana State Police, Huntington Police, Huntington County Sheriff, Warren Police, Roanoke Police and Markle Police Departments took to the streets of Huntington, with arrest warrants in hand, and began to look for a total of 31 defendants, wanted on a total of 73 charges. All 28 of the defendants arrested were taken to and incarcerated in the Huntington County Jail.

This investigation goes to the heart of the Indiana State Police’s mission which is to address crimes and criminals with proactive initiatives and to also assist local law enforcement agencies at any time and in any manner possible.

State Police to Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint In Allen County

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:12:05 -0800

ALLEN COUNTY, IN - The Fort Wayne District of the Indiana State Police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint during the late night hours of Saturday, March 13, 2010 and into the early morning hours of Sunday, March 14, 2010 in Allen County. In an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related automobile crashes, the sobriety checkpoint will target the impaired driver and will be utilized in an area identified as having a high number of alcohol related crashes.

Sergeant Tom Matheny is reminding motorists to have their driver’s license and vehicle registrations readily available when entering the checkpoint, so as to minimize the amount of time that they are delayed.

A FEW PRECAUTIONS:

Plan ahead and always designate someone as a designated driver.
Don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve been consuming alcoholic beverages.
If you are impaired, please call a taxi or call a sober friend or family member to come and get you.
If you are hosting a party, always offer alcohol-free beverages, and make sure that all of your guests leave with a sober driver.
Remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk. Take the keys and never let a friend leave your sight if you think that they are about to drive while impaired.

Howe Man Arrested For Manufacturing Meth

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:12:07 -0800

HOWE COUNTY, IN - -The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division from the Fort Wayne Post arrested a Howe man yesterday afternoon on meth related charges after receiving information from the St. Joseph County (MI) Area Narcotics (SCAN) Team.

According to Detective Jeff Boyd, the SCAN Team notified the IMAGE Drug Task Force that 48 year old Joseph Allen Trushel was involved in the manufacturing of meth and was at a residence in the 6900 north block of County Road 310 E in rural Howe. At approximately 3:30 pm, Boyd and LaGrange County Sheriff Deputies Hibbs and Houser went to that residence to conduct a knock and talk. Trushel allegedly ran out the back door of the residence, but was chased down and detained in the 400 east block of County Road 700 N.

Officers checked the path that Trushel ran down and found meth making supplies as well as two one-pot meth labs. Trushel was taken into custody and incarcerated in the LaGrange County Jail pursuant to a search of his person where meth and other paraphernalia were located. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Laboratory Team was called in to render the scene safe as well as to identify, preserve and collect items of an evidentiary nature.

Assisting with the investigation were the St. Joseph County (MI) Area Narcotics (SCAN) Team, the LaGrange County Sheriff, the LaGrange Police Departments, the IMAGE Drug Task Force and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

ARRESTED AND CHARGED:

Joseph Allen Trushel, 48, Howe, Indiana
•Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Class B Felony
•Possession of Methamphetamine, Class D Felony
•Possession of Precursors, Class D Felony

Be Aware of People Seeking Donations by Phone and in Person

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:12:05 -0800

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana State Police wants to remind all Hoosiers to ensure they verify phone and door to door solicitors of donations purporting to be collecting funds for charitable organizations.

Recently the Indiana State Police and many other police agencies across Indiana have received complaints from residents and businesses concerning solicitors who implied they have an association with the Indiana State Police or other police agencies. These complaints have resulted in the initiation of an investigation.

Complainants have reported they were asked to tape the donation to the door of their home or business for collection later in the day. On some occasions, the solicitors have told donors the funds would be used to send a local child to a law enforcement summer camp.

The Indiana State Police offers these tips related to phone and in person solicitations for charitable donations:

Whether in person or by phone be aware of solicitors using high pressure tactics or solicitors who prey upon your sympathies to get an immediate donation
Never make arrangements to have someone pick up money from your home
If a person claims to be with a specific law enforcement agency, request a name and number of an official within that agency who can verify the solicitor’s status
Be aware that while your caller ID may show a local number many phone solicitors are actually calling from across the state or even out-of-state
Be suspicious when asked for ‘cash’ only donations
Always verify the name of the organization to include their address, phone number and the identity of the caller or the person at your door step
At your convenience research the charity online before you make a decision to donate
Never assume that a friendly voice belongs to a trustworthy caller

Whenever there is doubt or suspicion about the legitimacy or tactics of a phone or in-person solicitor, just say ‘no’ to the request and call the state police or your local police department to report your suspicions.

Indiana Weekly Gas Price Update

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:12:09 -0800

INDIANA - Average retail gasoline prices in Indiana have risen 5.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.67/g today. This compares with the national average that has increased 4.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.74/g, according to gasoline price website IndianaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Indiana during the past week, prices today are 68.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 8.0 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 9.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 80.7 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.

GasBuddy.com operates over 200 live gasoline price-tracking websites, including IndianaGasPrices.com. GasBuddy.com was named one of Time magazine's 50 best websites and to PC World's 100 most useful websites of 2008.

Maria Tsakova To Speak As Part of Women’s History Month at Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:12:07 -0800

FORT WAYNE, IN - Maria Tsakova, assistant professor of writing at Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast, will speak about her life in communist Bulgaria as part of Women’s History Month. Her presentation will be on Thursday, March 18 in the Student Life Center Conference Center from 5-7 p.m. (including a question and answer session).

Tsakova will present information about her life in communist Bulgaria. She will read from her upcoming book, History and I Have Never Been Good Friends: Breaking the Iron Curtain, and talk about how the dictatorial regime affected her life and the lives of others.

Tsakova is an ethnic Macedonian from Bulgaria, where she and her family were opponents to the communist government. She managed to get out of Bulgaria and came to Fort Wayne in 1989, before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and she has worked as a writer, editor, and instructor ever since.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 130,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

Three Men Arrested in Mobile Miami County Meth Lab

kpaul.mallasch — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:12:06 -0800

MIAMI COUNTY, IN - On Thursday, an investigation into illegal methamphetamine activity by the Indiana State Police, the Peru Police Department., the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, and the Converse Police Department led to the traffic stop of a Buick passenger car near County Road 950 South and State Road 19. A subsequent search of the Buick, led officers to discover an active methamphetamine lab and items commonly associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

The vehicle occupants, Travis Hann,31, James Hann Jr.,40, both of Peru, IN, and Jonah L. Sands, 37, Kokomo, IN, were all incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face class B felony charges for manufacturing methamphetamine. They also face class D felony charges for possession of precursors and theft. All three have a surety bond of $33,000.

Further investigation, led officers to obtain a Miami Circuit Court search warrant for the Hann’s residence at 364 Jefferson St., Peru, IN. Officers allegedly found more precursors associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

This is an ongoing investigation and more arrests are expected.

Travis Hann

Jonah Sands

James Hann Jr

More than $6,800 raised for youth recreation from auction of Saints flag

kpaul.mallasch — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:12:06 -0800

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The New Orleans Saints flag is going back to Louisiana. An Alexandria, Louisiana, man outbid 26 others today to buy the flag Governor Mitch Daniels displayed outside his office as a part of a Super Bowl wager. Daniels will donate the $6,852 raised in the online auction to TAB Recreation, an inner city youth sports program run by Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, where Daniels has been a member for nearly 50 years.

“Year in year out “Tab” Recreation teaches fitness, faith and character to some 2,000 inner city young people,” said Daniels. “I hope Saints fans will like learning that their world-famous enthusiasm for their team has translated into a boost for some deserving kids here in Colts country.”

Last month, Daniels agreed to a wager with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on the outcome of Super Bowl XLIV. Per the terms of the wager, Jindal sent Daniels a New Orleans Saints flag which Daniels displayed outside his office for one week. After fulfilling his end of the wager, Daniels chose to auction off the flag and donate the proceeds to charity. The flag was listed on the online auction site eBay.com for one week.

The bidding started at $100. In the last 30 seconds of bidding, the price of the flag jumped from $4,444.44 to the final price of $6,852. Daniels will autograph the flag before sending it to the winning bidder, Bryan L. Bossier, Sr.

The only condition Daniels attached to the donation is that every youth football participant must be taught how to recover an onside kick.

ISP Peru Post to Participate in Operation Pullover Blitz 62

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:12:12 -0800

PERU, IN - Starting tomorrow, through March 21st, troopers working from the Indiana State Police Peru Post will join 250 other Indiana law enforcement agencies in Operation Pullover Blitz 62. Operation Pullover Blitz 62 is a statewide enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated from the Traffic Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). The funds pay for officers to work overtime and provide extra patrols searching for dangerous drivers.

Officers will focus their enforcement efforts on impaired and dangerous drivers. They will utilize saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to identify and arrest impaired motorists. Officers will also target aggressive driving behavior which often leads to crashes. Troopers will have zero tolerance for passenger restraint violations.

This enforcement blitz is scheduled to coincide with Hoosier basketball tournaments and the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. During March of 2009, there were 41 fatalities in vehicle crashes on Indiana roadways. Twenty-four percent of those deaths involved a driver that was intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, there were 134 traffic-related fatalities nationwide on St. Patrick’s Day.

The Indiana State Police offer the following tips:

Make plans for safe and sober transportation before consuming alcohol.
Call 911 if you observe a suspected impaired or dangerous driver.
Never let a friend or family member drive impaired.
Make sure every occupant in your vehicle is secured with a seat belt or child safety seat.
Obey all traffic laws.

Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast To Host Interfaith Forum

kpaul.mallasch — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:12:08 -0800

FORT WAYNE, IN - Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast will host an Interfaith Forum on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in room 513 of the Student Life Center on the college’s North Campus off of St. Joe Rd.

The Interfaith Forum is sponsored by this semester’s Philosophy of Religion course instructed by Rick Pulling. It features three prominent religious leaders from three major religious groups in the Fort Wayne area - Imam J. Tamir Resheed of the Islamic Center of Fort Wayne, Rabbi Marla Joy Subeck Spanjer of the Jewish Congregation Achduth Vesholm (Unity and Peace), and Rev. Dr. Terry Anderson, Christian pastor and counselor and Executive Director of the Interfaith Hospitality Network and the 2008 recipient of the prestigious “Gandhi King Ikeda Award.”

The forum will include presentations by the panel and questions from the students and audience about the desire for inclusiveness in our society amidst the exclusivistic claims of segments from each religious group. This forum will highlight the fact that many see this as one of the most important issues facing us in the 21st Century.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the event, contact Rick Pulling at 260-481-2237 or rpulling@ivytech.edu.

Indiana Commission for Women , 2010 Torchbearers Awards

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:12:07 -0800

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana Commission for Women (ICW) will announce the recipients of the prestigious 2010 Torchbearer Awards on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. in the Statehouse. This award honors women from around the state who have overcome obstacles and made Indiana a better place to live, work and raise a family.

“Indiana Torchbearers are those women who have been pioneers throughout their lives and have stepped forward as leaders by breaking down barriers to women’s full participation,” says Chair of ICW Board of Commissioners, Betsy Corridan. “These women have become true beacons of light and their stories of courage, perseverance and compassion create a lasting legacy of inspiration for us all.”

For this year’s Awards Ceremony, the Indiana Commission for Women received forty-four nominees, which include:

Margaret S. Washburn - First female Brigadier General in the Indiana National Guard
Sally Brown Bassett – Former CEO of ATA Airlines and Founder of Ambassadors for Children
Aida McCammon – CEO of Indiana Latino Institute, links Hoosier values with Hispanic culture
Myra J. Borshoff – Media/communications crisis executive and publicist for Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay
Blanca Bianchi de la Torre - Cuban refugee turned Administrative Law Judge who successfully argued a First Amendment case before the full U.S. Supreme Court.
Tanya Bell– President Indiana Black Expo, largest African-American exposition in the United States.
Joan Uebelhoer – Legendary Feminist leader and advocate for pregnant drug abusers & their babies
Janie Craig Chenault -- First female elected County Commissioner and advocate for Cerebral Palsy
Vita Harley Bridges – From teen parenthood and community activist to candidate for Lt Governor.
Barbara Holder – NAACP Chair, Project Manager for Lucas Oil Stadium and “Coats for Cold” initiative

Sharon McShurley – First female elected mayor of Muncie, Indiana.

For a complete listing of the 2010 nominees, go to www.in.gov/icw/2334.htm

The awards will be presented at the sixth annual Salute to Women in the Statehouse Rotunda on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.

ChaCha Questions Provide Insights Into Teen and Young Adult Brand Behavior and Preferences

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:12:04 -0800

Frost & Sullivan Mines ChaCha Questions & Answers; Nike Tops Questions in Shoe Category; True Religion in Jeans and Hollister in Retail

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - ChaCha, the popular free service that has provided quick, accurate answers to hundreds of millions of questions, today released a study by Frost & Sullivan that analyzed millions of queries from the youth segment during a three month period to provide insights into the popularity, penetration and perception of different brands. ChaCha allows users to text questions to ChaCha (242-242™) on mobile phones, or use ChaCha's iPhone app, to receive answers within minutes. The company also provides answers at ChaCha.com, and via social platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

"ChaCha's vast data base of questions and answers is a powerful research tool that marketers can leverage to get a near real-time pulse on the thoughts and desires of teens and young adults," says Todd Day, Industry Analyst with Frost & Sullivan. "There is no single source that provides a more granular understanding of what's happening during the conversation -- what users care about and what they think, particularly as it relates to specific brands and products. ChaCha is in a unique position to provide that data to the industry and potential advertisers. Capturing the consumer's 'intent' is always a priority for successful marketers, and ChaCha's extensive database of questions and associated information about the subscriber can be mined."

Among the Frost & Sullivan findings of interest to clothing marketers targeting teens and young adults:

Jeans

Unlike many other industries, apparel, specifically, designer jean brands, attract questions from predominantly females (83% female, 17% male). True Religion Jeans are the leading brand among 18-24 year olds (62% True Religion; 20% Lucky Brand; 11% 7 for all mankind; 7% Citizens for Humanity). 7 for all Mankind is gaining traction with 13-17 year olds although True Religion has highest awareness (55%) vs. 22% Lucky Brand; 17% 7 for all mankind; 4% Citizens for Humanity; 2% Chip and Pepper.

Most of the teens and young adults want to buy or own True Religion jeans, but many can't afford them or think they are too expensive. In fact, 62% don't know where to shop for them. It appears that while awareness is high, Brand Affinity may be low because the jeans are priced out of their range and unattainable.

"This is an interesting case where a brand's reputation has extended beyond its distribution and might want to seize the moment to capitalize on teen interest, which we all know can change faster than the weather on Lake Erie," says Steven Goldstein ChaCha's newly appointed Chief Revenue Officer.

Shoes

During the test period, 3,400 total questions were asked regarding the top four brands of shoes, with Nike mentioned most often by 13-17 year olds and young adults 18-24,: Nike: 77%; Adidas: 17%; Reebok: 4% and New Balance: 2%.

Nike, the company, is extremely interesting to this demographic, and ChaCha users want to know as much as possible about its products and the brand. Some of the most popular questions were, "Who invented Nike?" and "What does Nike mean?" From a product perspective, the majority of the questions are about the Nike SB -- or Skateboarding line. They wanted to know, "What is the coolest Nike SB?" and "How much are Raygun Nike SBs?" and "Where can I get a Nike SB Dunk?" Brand awareness is extremely high, and affinity is strong. Price does not appear to be an issue, although the "coolness" factor of a particular type of shoe, even within the Skateboarding line is paramount.

Interestingly, many of the questions regarding shoes came from the lifestyle and fashion categories where questions were asked regarding the shoes and dress of professional athletes, sports teams and celebrities including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Megan Fox.

RETAIL CLOTHING

Hollister had the highest number of questions (1,336), making up 36% of all questions relating to retail clothing lines. Abercrombie & Fitch had the second highest total with 1,039 or 28.0%, and Urban Outfitters was third with 484 or 13.1%. Unlike shoes, young girls (under 18) asked most of the retail clothing questions. Hollister had the highest number of questions, although the majority of the girls asked questions like, "What is Hollister?"

It appears that many of the young girls have heard of the retailer, but they aren't sure who they are or what they sell. On the other hand, affinity and product awareness is much higher for Abercrombie and Fitch and Urban Outfitters. About 65% of the girls and boys ask where they can find a store and how much specific products cost. About 20% are asking the meaning behind the logo, the company and the founders. About 10% want to know why products cost what they do.

Juicy Couture received fewer questions than the top three retailers, but most were related to specific products. Sample questions include, "How much is Juicy Couture perfume?" "What is the cheapest jewelry at Juicy Couture?" and "Do you wear Juicy Couture?" This young audience appears to be very familiar with the brand and what they offer. Price is a concern, but not as much as other brands on the list.

Billabong, Dickies, and Diesel brands, were primarily dominated by questions from male users ages 14-19.

"Teens rely on their mobile devices as their primary media and they ask ChaCha over a million questions each day providing insights on their brand attitudes and actions," says Scott Jones, CEO of ChaCha. "Along with the search query and answer string, ChaCha also has insights into other metrics related to the end user-including demographics, location, and device type.

"An in-depth analysis of ChaCha's data can provide actionable insights into the consumers 'preferences' on a national or local level. For example, traffic patterns can be analyzed to determine the impact of a particular ad campaign, ascertain the popularity of different TV shows among the youth segment, and even to determine regional interest levels for a particular product," adds Mr. Jones

The complete ChaCha/Frost & Sullivan report can be downloaded here: http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=188632147

Frost & Sullivan (http://www.frost.com) the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages 49 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 40 offices on six continents.

ChaCha (www.chacha.com) has emerged as the #1 way for advertisers and marketers to engage teens and young adults. Through its unique "smart friend" platform, ChaCha has answered over 400 million questions since launch from over 12 million unique users per month via SMS text (242-242™), online (http://www.chacha.com), Twitter (@chacha), Facebook app, iPhone app, and voice (1-800-2-ChaCha™). Working with major brands such as Paramount, AT&T, Palm, Johnson&Johnson, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Presidential political campaigns, ChaCha.com is one of the fastest growing mobile and online publishers according to Nielsen and Quantcast.

ChaCha was founded by proven innovator and entrepreneur, Scott Jones, and is funded by Bezos Expeditions, Morton Meyerson, former President and Vice Chairman of EDS as well as Chairman and CEO of Perot Systems; Rod Canion, founding CEO of Compaq Computer; the Simon family; and Jack Gill, Silicon Valley venture capitalist.

Indiana State Police to Participate in Operation Pullover Blitz 62

kpaul.mallasch — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:12:06 -0800

FORT WAYNE, IN - Lieutenant Rob Townsend, Fort Wayne District Commander, recently announced that troopers from the Fort Wayne Post will be participating in Operation Pullover Blitz 62. The Indiana State Police along with over 250 other law enforcement agencies from around Indiana will focus their enforcement efforts on impaired and dangerous driving. The blitz begins Friday, March 5th and will continue through Sunday March 21st.

Operation Pullover Blitz 62 is a statewide enforcement effort supported by federal funding allocated from the Traffic Safety Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) which will allow troopers to work overtime to provide extra patrols during this dangerous time of year.

Saturation patrols, sobriety check points, and other high visibility enforcement activities will be utilized to identify impaired and dangerous motorists. These patrols will also focus on aggressive driving behavior which leads to crashes as well as strict enforcement on passenger restraint violations.

This enforcement blitz is scheduled to coincide with Hoosier basketball tournaments and the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. During March of 2009, there were 41 fatalities on Indiana roadways and 24 percent of these deaths involved a driver that was legally intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, there were 134 traffic-related fatalities nationwide on St. Patrick’s Day alone.

The Indiana State Police offers the following tips:

Designate a sober driver and give that person your keys before the festivities begin;
If you become impaired, use a taxi, call a friend or use public transportation to get home safely;
Call 911 immediately if you see an impaired driver on the road;
If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make arrangements to get home safely.

The Indiana State Police Post in Fort Wayne proudly serves the citizens of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley Counties.

Lutz Congratulates Sachem Award Recipient

kpaul.mallasch — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:12:11 -0800

STATEHOUSE - Rep. Jack Lutz (R-East Central Indiana) attended a ceremony today to honor civic leader and legendary baseball player Carl D. Erskine of Anderson with the 2010 Sachem Award, the state's highest honor.

The Sachem is given annually to recognize a lifetime of excellence and moral virtue that has brought credit and honor to Indiana.

“Erskine is more than deserving of the Sachem Award,” said Rep. Lutz. “His list of accomplishments is incredible and gives all civic and community leaders something to stride for. He truly is a role model to anyone interested in serving and helping their community.”

Erskine, 83, was a pitcher for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Born and raised in Anderson, Erskine learned to play the game he loved in local park baseball programs and with his father and older brothers.

After graduation from Anderson High School in 1945, Erskine was drafted and served in the U.S. Navy during the closing months of World War II. While in the Navy, he was scouted by the Dodgers and, upon his discharge, spent a year and a half in the minor leagues before making his major league debut in 1948.

During his career he accumulated 122 wins, pitched in five World Series, made the National League All-Star team and threw two no-hitters.

After retiring from baseball at the age of 32, Erskine returned to his hometown of Anderson where he started a business and began a career in banking.

Today, Erskine is most known for his community involvement, advocacy and civic leadership.

Outside the office, he spent 12 years coaching the Anderson University baseball team, winning four conference championships. He also has served as a member of the board of trustees of Anderson University, St. John's Medical Center, Fellowship of Christian Athletes among other civic organizations.

His greatest contributions have been through his more than 40 years of service as a volunteer with the Special Olympics and as a supporter of the Hopewell Center, a not-for-profit agency that serves persons with developmental difficulties.

“Erskine's contributions to the Anderson community are evident throughout the city,” said Rep. Lutz. “He has done some remarkable work with and for our community.

In 1979, Erskine was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. He shares the Sachem with his wife Betty, to whom he has been married since 1947, and to whom he credits with all of his success. They have four children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Previous recipients include college basketball coaching legend John Wooden, the Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame and world statesman, philanthropist Jane Blaffer Owen, gospel music singing and songwriting pioneers Bill and Gloria Gaither and businessman and civic leader Danny Danielson.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller announces Toyota’s pledge to Hoosiers

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:12:05 -0800

Special accommodations made for owners of recalled vehicles including rental cars and expedited service

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Attorney General Greg Zoeller today announced Toyota has pledged to make special accommodations available for owners of recalled vehicles in Indiana. These accommodations will be provided at no charge to Toyota customers and include:

· Expedited scheduling

· Pickup and return of the vehicle by a dealership representative or by flatbed truck

· Driving the customer to the dealership and/or to his or her place of work

· Providing other alternate transportation, such as a rental car, a loaner vehicle, or taxi reimbursement, for the reasonable period that the customer is unable or unwilling to use his or her car

According to a letter released to 49 Attorneys General, consumers with questions may contact a Toyota dealership, call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, or call the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987. The hours of operation for the toll-free numbers are Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. CST to 8:00 p.m. CST and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST on Saturdays and Sundays.

“My office worked with a number of other attorneys general across the country to ensure that owners of recalled vehicles in all states are treated fairly and equally by Toyota,” Zoeller said. “My other concern is for consumers to be aware of potential scams that may emerge as a result of the uncertainty surrounding this recall. Scammers often take advantage of these types of unique situations to dream up creative new ways to steal money or identities.”

Shortly after Toyota announced the recall in January, a phone number was circulated by scammers that was one digit different than Toyota’s customer service hotline. Callers into the fake line were prompted to disclose personal information, potentially leading to their identities being stolen.

“Toyota is committed to making the recall campaigns proceed in a way that helps ensure the customers’ safety and satisfaction,” said Christopher Reynolds, Toyota’s Group Vice President and General Counsel, in the letter. “Toyota will accommodate customers subject to these recalls, who have a concern about driving their car to the dealerships or using the vehicle until the repair has been completed. Toyota will advise its dealers to address each customer’s concerns on a case-by-case basis.”

Toyota is sending letters to dealerships across the country this week explaining how the accommodations should be handled.

Click here to view Toyota's letter to Attorneys General pledging accomodations for customers

Contracted Prison Worker Arrested for Trafficking

kpaul.mallasch — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:12:08 -0800

MIAMI COUNTY, IN - Saturday morning, a joint drug investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Mike Tarrh and Indiana Department of Correction Internal Affairs Officer Lorna Harbaugh has resulted in the arrest of Michael J. Newman, 22, Peru, IN. Newman, a contracted food service employee at the Miami Correctional Facility, was charged with two counts of trafficking with an inmate and an additional charge of conspiracy to traffic with an inmate, all class C felonies. He was also charged with a class D felony count for possession of marijuana over 30 grams.

During the course of the investigation, officers obtained information that Newman would be attempting to deliver marijuana to an inmate inside the Miami Correctional Facility. Saturday morning, near U.S. 31 and State Road 218 (south junction), troopers from the Indiana State Police initiated a traffic stop on an Oldsmobile Bravada, which Newman was driving. A subsequent search of the Oldsmobile revealed Newman was allegedly in possession of approximately a half pound of suspected marijuana. He was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail. He has since posted bond.

This is an ongoing criminal investigation with more arrests expected. No further information will be released at this time.

Detective Tarrh was assisted in this investigation by Indiana State Police Detective Tony Frawley and officers from the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section.