Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) announced the following dates, times, and locations that his office will be holding mobile staff office hours in February throughout Indiana’s Second District.

Mobile office hours will allow for Congressman Yakym’s staff to assist constituents with casework questions: 

Cass County

Thursday, February 15, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET

Walton Tipton Public Library

110 N Main St.

Elkhart County

Thursday, February 8, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

Goshen Chamber of Commerce

232 S Main Street

Wednesday, February 21, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

Nappanee City Hall

300 W Lincoln Street

Fulton County

Rochester District Office – Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET

709 Main Street

Thursday, February 8, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Akron Clerk’s Office

206 W Rochester Street

Kosciusko County

Thursday, February 8, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET

Etna Green Town Hall

106 S Walnut Street

Tuesday, February 27, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

Warsaw City Hall

102 S Buffalo Street

La Porte County

Monday, February 12, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET)

La Porte Parks and Recreation Department

250 Pine Lake Ave.

Tuesday, February 13, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET)

Kingsford Heights Public Library

436 Evanston Road

Marshall County

Monday, February 26, 10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET

Bunker Hill Town Hall

101 W Broadway

Tuesday, February 27, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET

Plymouth City Town Hall (Mayor’s Office on the Second Floor)

124 N Michigan Street

Miami County

Friday, February 2, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

Peru City Hall (Conference Room on the Second Floor)

35 S Broadway

Thursday, February 15, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET

Converse Library

108 S Jefferson Street

Pulaski County

Monday, February 12, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET

Pulaski County CDC/Economic Development (Board Room)

623 W Eleventh Street

Winamac

Tuesday, February 13, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Medaryville Town Hall

409 E Main Street

Starke County

Monday, February 12, 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT (12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET)

Starke County Courthouse

53 E Washington St

Knox

Tuesday, February 13, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)

Hamlet Town Hall

10 S Starke Street

St. Joseph County

Mishawaka District Office - Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET

2410 Grape Road, Suite 2A

Wednesday, February 21, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

Walkerton Town Hall

301 Michigan Street

Wabash County

Friday, February 2, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET

North Manchester Public Library

405 N Market Street

Thursday, February 15, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. ET

Wabash City Hall

202 S Wabash St.

…

As the 2024 election season begins, and with the nation facing a continued shortage of election workers, Help America Vote Day is recognized on January 30. Help America Vote Day aims to address the nationwide shortage of poll workers, inspire greater civic engagement and volunteerism, and help ensure safe, secure, accessible, and transparent elections in 2024 and beyond.

While the specific duties and compensation for poll workers vary depending on location, most jurisdictions task election workers with setting up and preparing the polling location, welcoming voters, verifying voter registrations, and issuing ballots. Poll workers also help ensure voters understand the voting process by demonstrating how to use voting equipment and explaining voting procedures. Election staff and poll workers are overseen by local election authorities, which also provide training in advance of Election Day. 

An aging population of election workers and concerns around health and safety have resulted in recurring shortages of poll workers.  There are millions of Americans, including many voters with disabilities, who intend to cast a ballot during early voting or on Election Day. Having an adequate number of poll workers to staff our vote centers on and before Election Day will ensure voters receive the assistance they need at the polls, reduce the potential for long lines or congestion, and help provide a positive and smooth voting experience for all voters.

For more information on Help America Vote Day and how to become an election worker visit HelpAmericaVote.gov. 

Friday is the 23^rd annual National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about heart disease.

Wear Red Day is always the first Friday in February, which is American Heart Month.

By wearing red, we raise awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for 1 in 3 deaths. We also raise awareness that a majority of cardiac events may be prevented with healthy lifestyle choices.

Millions of people, including celebrities and media personalities across the country, will wear red in celebration of National Wear Red Day.

People can participate in Wear Red Day by:

• Wearing something red
• Taking two minutes to learn Hands-Only CPR at www.heart.org/handsonlycpr
• Sharing the message on social media with #IndyGoesRed and #WearRedDay
• Donating to life-saving research and education efforts at www.heart.org/WearRedDay

Key Facts:

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and in Indiana
• 1 in 3 deaths are due to heart disease
• Mortality rates have dropped more than 50 percent in the last 30 years thanks to research, medical developments and education.
• A majority of cardiac events can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices.

Several spam calls were made Tuesday claiming to be a deputy from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office stated in a social media post that you should feel free to stop the call and call the dispatch center at 574-946-6655 and verify the officer to be real.

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office would never ask for payment or account information.

Attorney General Todd Rokita is asking Hoosiers to stay alert for signs of human trafficking in communities across Indiana and to report any suspicious activities to authorities.  

“Human trafficking may seem like an issue that doesn’t affect your specific community, but it’s sometimes brushed under the rug because victims are either scared to admit the truth or are groomed at a young age,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Online recruitment has played a major role in this crime. Our kids are extremely vulnerable to sex trafficking and exploitation due to their excessive online presence. I encourage all parents to monitor their child’s online interactions to keep them safe.” 

Human trafficking is a billion-dollar criminal enterprise. It occurs anytime someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to make another individual provide labor, services, or commercial sex acts. 

People in certain job roles — such as medical professionals, restaurant workers, teachers, and truck drivers — are particularly likely to encounter trafficking victims. 

With January being National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, it is a fitting time to remind Hoosiers to stay watchful and look out for signs of a potential trafficking victim. 

“Human trafficking is a rapidly growing crime in Indiana and across our country,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Increasing awareness and education on the topic is the first step in helping these victims. Hoosiers value justice, and these callous enslavers should pay for their despicable crimes.”  

According to the U.S. State Department, signs of human trafficking include observations that someone: 

·         lives with their employer. 

·         lives with multiple people in a cramped space. 

·         otherwise experiences poor living conditions. 

·         is prohibited from speaking alone to strangers. 

·         gives answers that appear to be scripted and rehearsed. 

·         has an employer holding their identity documents. 

·         shows signs of physical abuse. 

·         is submissive or fearful. 

·         is unpaid or paid very little. 

·         is under 18 and working in the commercial sex industry. 

If you have suspicions that someone is being trafficked, you should immediately call local law enforcement. You may also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

The Office of the Attorney General operates the Address Confidentiality Program, which helps protect victims of certain crimes — including those who have been trafficked — by concealing their residential address from the public and thereby their victimizers.

Learn more about the program at the Attorney General’s website.

The statewide annual count of individuals experiencing homelessness will take place on Wednesday.

Service providers and volunteers in local communities across Indiana will be conducting the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count for the Indiana Balance of State (BOS) Continuum of Care (CoC) in 91 of the 92 counties in the state. Marion County (Indianapolis) conducts its own PIT Count.

The purpose of this annual count of people experiencing unsheltered or sheltered homelessness is to provide an easy-to understand data point that helps state and local leaders measure progress toward ending homelessness and helps plan services and programs to appropriately address local needs. The sheltered count is conducted at emergency shelters, transitional housing and safe haven projects across 16 regions that make up the Indiana BOS.

"It is essential to have an accurate Point-in-Time Count so that Indiana policymakers understand what needs to be done and what progress is being made," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "It also ensures Indiana receives the resources we need to address the critical issue of homelessness and help some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers around the state."

It is critical that every county is engaged in the PIT Count so that IN BoS CoC can get the most accurate count possible. To make this PIT Count happen, hundreds of service providers and volunteers throughout the state work together to canvass their communities to find individuals experiencing homelessness. They are trained in the use of the PIT survey, best practices for approaching and interviewing those experiencing homelessness, exercising trauma-informed approaches and other necessary information that prepares participants for a successful experience. 

"Understanding the homeless population within our state is an essential step toward building a community where no one is left behind," said Jake Sipe, Executive Director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). "Recognizing the faces and stories of those experiencing homelessness allows us to confront the systemic issues that perpetuate this crisis."

More information about the PIT Count can be found here. Those interested in volunteering can reach out to their regional PIT Coordinators prior to participating in the count.

For past PIT Count results, please visit our website here. 

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) will start accepting filings for the 2024 Individual income tax season on Monday, Jan. 29, along with the Internal Revenue Service.

DOR encourages customers to use electronic filing, online payment and direct deposit to significantly improve the accuracy and speed of the return and refund processes. Customers must file both their state and federal tax returns and pay any taxes owed for 2023 by Monday, April 15.

DOR reminds Hoosiers they should wait to file their tax returns until they receive all their official tax documents and statements. Employers have until Jan. 31, 2024, to deliver Form W-2s to employees. Attempting to file without all required information can postpone a customer’s refund if one is due.

Please take note of these tax-related updates to Indiana Code:

• The dependent exemption has increased from $1,500 to $3,000 for the first taxable year in which a particular exemption is allowed under Section 151(c)(1)(B) Internal Revenue Code (as effective January 1, 2004). IC 6-3-1-3.5
• All military pay for reserve members of the United States armed forces and National Guard is exempt from income tax for taxable years 2023 forward. IC 6-3-1-34
• Investors can provide qualified investment capital to veteran-owned businesses and women-owned enterprises and qualify for the higher maximum amount of venture capital investment credit. IC 6-3.1-24-8
• The College Choice 529 Plan Credit has increased from a maximum of $1,000 to $1,500 for a married couple filing jointly or an unmarried individual, and it increased from $500 to $750 for those married filing separately. IC 6-3-2-2.6
• The Indiana Earned Income Tax Credit is now 10% of the federal credit, with a prorated credit available for nonresident individuals. IC 6-3.1-21-6
• The Career Scholarship Account program has a new income tax deduction for grants received and used towards qualified expenses under IC 20-51.4. IC 6-3-1-3.5

More credits and exemptions and answers to most questions for Indiana Individual tax returns can be found on DOR’s website.

Customers who wish to contact DOR directly can use INTIME’s secure messaging for the most efficient service.

Hoosier poets everywhere are being invited to submit an original poem inspired by this unique event.

The poet who submits a poem that best reflects the significance of the eclipse will receive a cash prize of $500, the opportunity to read the poem during an eclipse watch party in Indianapolis, and have their work featured on Indiana Humanities’ website and social media. A second-place prize of $200 and third-place prize of $100 will be awarded, also with the opportunity to read at the April 8 event. 

Submissions are due Feb. 9. A panel of judges will choose the winner and runners-up. Winners will be notified by March 1, so that the poem and poet can be incorporated into the many special festivities surrounding the eclipse programming. 

Guidelines 

• Any Indiana resident may submit a poem. Please limit one submission per person. 
• Poems must not exceed 35 lines or 350 words. 
• If selected, the poet retains all copyright in the work and shall receive authorship credit in connection with the work. Although the poet retains all copyrights, Indiana Humanities shall be given temporary, limited-use rights for the poem to promote and connect audiences to the 2024 eclipse. 

How to Submit 

Send an email with your poem as a PDF attachment to Megan Telligman, director of programs, at mtelligman@indianahumanities.org. Please include “Eclipse Poetry Contest” in the subject line of the email. 

The PDF of your poem should include the title but no identifying information (e.g., your name). 

In the body of the email, include your name, address, phone number, email address, age and a short (one to three sentences) explanation of why you were inspired to write your poem. (This will not be included in the judging process — it’s simply for promotional purposes.) 

The deadline is Feb. 9, 2024, at midnight. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2024. 

Caston Robotics is seeking help to stage an event this weekend.

Caston Robotics is hosting its second competition for the 2023-2024 season on Saturday. This competition will feature VRC teams with at least 60 teams from all over the state in the blended VRC Middle School and High School competition.  

VRC Competitions in general require a lot of volunteers and this one will not be any different. Caston notes that to host a competition this size will require a lot of assistance.  They are in need of over 85 volunteers to ensure the tournament runs smoothly.

You can see more and sign up at the following link:

The towns of Winamac and Medaryville are under a boil water advisory until further notice. 

It is recommended that water be boiled for at least five minutes before used. 

The water line that was broken has been repaired with water pressure to be restored soon.

Fulton County Sheriff Travis W. Heishman has announced that the Indiana Sheriffs' Association will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. There will be approximately 40 - $750 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.

The Indiana Sheriffs' Association Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing, and dispensing of funds to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed to pursuing an education and career the in law enforcement field.

To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant must be an Indiana resident, be a current member of the association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in law enforcement field and enroll as a full-time student (12 hours).

Applications needed to apply for the scholarships are available from your high school counselor. The scholarship application can also be down loaded from the Indiana Sheriffs' Association website: www.indianasheriffs.org. The applications must be completed and received by the Indiana Sheriffs' Association on or before April 1.

Ivy Tech Community College is offering a one-day instructor-led training course to prepare leaders for supervisory positions in the workplace.

The course, Essential Skills for Managers, will be offered on Thursday, January 25, at Ivy Tech’s Logansport campus at 1 Ivy Tech Drive.

The focus of this class is to provide a foundational base of skills for all managers using research-based best practices. Essential Skills for Managers exposes and trains supervisors to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully manage others.

The class objectives intend to help supervisors utilize tools and skills to effectively manage their teams and develop trusting and respectful relationships with their staff. In-class work will include identifying ways to decrease the escalation of problems or issues supervisors may have while providing tools to better utilize a Strengths Based Leadership Approach to understand preferences in communication and conflict management. Supervisors will learn to diagnose situations and identify appropriate leadership styles and strategies using the Situational Leadership model.

The class is set to go from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The $155 fee includes class materials and a 45-minute working lunch is provided.

To register for the Essential Skills for Managers class or for more information, contact Bonnie Devers, program manager for Ivy+ Career Link at Ivy Tech Kokomo, at bdevers3@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5497.

The Fulton County Community Foundation scholarship application for graduating seniors is due Tuesday, February 6,  by 3:00 p.m. ET.

Theapplication is entirely online and can be found at www.nicf.org under the Fulton County tab.

For more information about community foundation scholarships, contact Shannon Berger, Scholarship Coordinator for the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, at 574-223-2202 or email scholarships@nicf.org.

Students may also contact their school guidance department for more information.

State Representatives Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) invites Hoosier students to sign up and experience a day serving as a House page at the Indiana Statehouse during the 2024 legislative session.

According to Jordan, Hoosier students ages 13 to 18 can sign up to be a House page and assist state lawmakers and Statehouse staff with daily duties while having the opportunity to tour the governor's office, the Supreme Court, and House and Senate chambers.

"I encourage young Hoosiers from our area to participate in the page program," Jordan said. "Students get a hands-on experience and can expand on what they are learning in school.

Student pages will receive an excused absence from school and that groups of students may participate together.

Interested Hoosier students or parents can visit indianahouserepublicans.com/pageprogram to fill out the online application and select a day to participate during the 2024 legislative session, which began Jan. 8 and must conclude by March 14. Individual page opportunities will be on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. To schedule a large group, please reach out to the page program by calling 317-232-9410 or emailing pageprogram@iga.in.gov. Large groups will be scheduled for Wednesdays only.

Students will be responsible for their lunch along with transportation to and from the Statehouse located in downtown Indianapolis.

Wednesday is the first day of candidate filing for Indiana 2024 Primary Election in May.

Candidates wishing to be on the Democrat or Republican primary ballot can begin filing declaration of candidacy paperwork on Wednesday, January 10. Minor Party, Independent, and Write-In candidates will file declarations of candidacy for the November General Election later in the year, after the May Primary Election is held.

“We know 2024 is going to be a big election year and today is the official start of filing.  As Indiana’s Chief Election Officer, I’m excited to welcome candidates into the Secretary of State’s Office so they can officially file their candidacy,” said Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales. 

Candidates for federal, statewide, state legislative, and judicial offices including county prosecuting attorneys, file declaration of candidacy with the Indiana Secretary of State or the Indiana Election Division. The Secretary of State’s Office and the Indiana Election Division will be accepting filings 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays starting January 10th through February 9th at noon.

As a reminder, candidates for non-judicial county offices, township offices, town offices, school board offices, precinct committeeman or state convention delegate, file their declaration of candidacy at the office of the County Clerk in which they reside.

The deadline to file a declaration of candidacy is Friday, February 9, at noon. Under Indiana law, election officials are prohibited from accepting filings after the deadline. 

The Fulton County Tourism Commission and Fulton County Chamber of Commerce are thrilled to announce the formation of the Fulton County Marketing Committee, a collaborative effort of marketing professionals dedicated to welcoming residents and professionals to our vibrant community.

Comprised of individuals representing various corners of Fulton County, our mission is to bolster our county’s workforce population while extending a warm embrace to newcomers and returning residents.

With a focus on promoting a welcoming environment, the Committee’s inaugural project is the creation of welcome bags designed to be presented to new residents and available for employers to provide to prospective professionals considering Fulton County as their home. These welcome bags will include an assortment of local business "swag," personalized welcome letters from community leaders, and a newly created digital relocation guide.

The Fulton County Marketing Committee is currently seeking businesses and organizations who are interested in providing promotional items and contributing to the welcome bags.

If you are interested in contributing to the welcome bags, please complete the Welcome Bag Participation Form online at https://business.fultoncountychamber.com/form/view/31825. Alternatively, you may contact the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce at (574) 224-2666 or send an email to marketing@fultoncountychamber.com by Friday, March 1.

The American Red Cross is experiencingan emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood donors are urged tomake a donation appointmentto help alleviate the shortageand help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.

Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%.When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.

“One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty blood bank without any blood on the shelves. Doctors often can’t operate without blood available to make surgeries, medical procedures and treatments possible,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”

Don’t wait – to make an appointment,download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.

The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce invites all interested women to attend a Women in Business event at Wynnfield Crossing on Friday, February 2.

After lunch sponsored by Woodlawn Health, guests will enjoy a program with Keynote Speaker Ang Barnard.

During this engaging keynote presentation, we will explore real-world examples that provide valuable insights into how the words we choose and the energy behind our communication directly impact our outcomes. You'll discover practical strategies for reducing catabolic (destructive) energy, resulting from negative colleagues or customers. You'll learn communication secrets to cultivate anabolic energy – the uplifting, joy-filled productive energy that fosters an environment where people thrive and customers keep coming back.

Key takeaways:

• Adapting your communication style to different situations and personalities for better outcomes
• Discovering how to inspire action and convey your ideas and vision in compelling and persuasive manner
• Learning practical strategies to manage your own energy and create a positive presence in your interactions

Fulton County women who plan to attend this special program can register with Kellie Scobie at (574) 224-2666 or kellie@fultoncountychamber.com, or online at www.fultoncountychamber.com by January 29.

All attendees are encouraged to wear red in support of women's heart health.

Any questions can be directed to Kellie Scobie, Executive Assistant of the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce, at (574) 224-2666 or kellie@fultoncountychamber.com.

About the Speaker

Ang Barnard is the real deal in the world of communication and career coaching. She's been helping ambitious professionals make major career strides and master influential communication for over a decade.

But Ang isn't your average consultant. She's worked with everyone from the military to the FBI and has coached leaders in universities, school districts, and corporations worldwide. She's got a Master's Degree in Public Administration, is a U.S. Army Veteran, and a Certified Professional Coach.

On top of all that, Ang coaches thought-leaders on how to land, write and deliver their TEDx talks. She also hosts The Intentional Mind Podcast, ranking in the top 1% globally. In the podcast, she delves into intentional living and communication.

In her free time, Ang enjoys hiking, globetrotting with her family, and relaxing at her lakeside home in Indiana. So, that's Ang Barnard – a pro in career design and communication, with a knack for making the most of life outside of work.

The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce invites all members to attend Coffee & Conversation on Thursday, January 11, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Jarrety’s Place, 701 Main Street in Rochester.

At Coffee & Conversation with the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce, members will connect with like-minded individuals in a casual, welcoming setting.

What you can expect:

• Network with fellow chamber members
• Coffee to jumpstart your day
• Learn how The Outlet Youth Center is meeting the emotional, physical, and mental needs for Fulton County youth
• Hear about services The Outlet offers to community members

Registration and coffee are complimentary, included with chamber membership. Breakfast will be available for purchase.

Register online at www.fultoncountychamber.com/events or with Kellie at (574) 224-2666 or kellie@fultoncountychamber.com.