The Board of Trustees recently approved to add the name Woodlawn Health as part of redefining the Woodlawn organization and describe all that Woodlawn encompasses. 

The new name better defines what the Woodlawn family provides to the community as they are not only a hospital, but several clinics located throughout the county.

“Woodlawn Health allows us to be inclusive of our clinics and the wonderful work our team does each day in Akron, Fulton, Argos, and Rochester,” Alan Fisher, CEO of Woodlawn stated.  

He added, “Although our brand name has transformed as part of modernizing our health system, the care and commitment to the community remains. Woodlawn Health will continue to be an independent organization.”              

A felony OVWI arrest was made following a vehicle crash in Miami County.

Just after 11 p.m.., Thursday an Indiana State Police troopert responded to a vehicle crash near N. Broadway St. and Shields Ave. in Peru. The driver was identified as Timothy See, 52, of Peru.

See displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Further investigation revealed he did not possess a valid driver's license and had a blood alcohol content of .202%.

See was arrested for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated- Prior Conviction, Level 6 Felony and taken to the Miami County Jail.

The Fulton County Public Library will be offering a summer lunch program starting Monday, June 5.

The program will run through July 21.

Between 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., children ages 18 and younger can eat a lunch for free at the library's Rochester branch. Food must be consumed on the premises.

Adults can eat for $2.

The past month, financially, didn’t show out as strong for Woodlawn Hospital in Rochester as the total year has, to this point.

COO Brad Rogers.

Rogers says, however, the calendar year through four months has been a good one.

Rogers further notes that doctor visits and items like wellness checks continue to increase in the post-COVID era.

A cross-country team of bicycle riders that will stop in Rochester next month is pedaling its way across the USA in support of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The team will be in Rochester, on Sunday, June 11.

Cycling enthusiasts are riding along with the team for parts of the 45-day trek from the Pacific Ocean in southern California to the Statue of Liberty. Masonic Lodges and Shriners are hosting receptions along the path, as well.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research, and outstanding medical education. Our healthcare system provides advanced care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. All care and services are provided regardless of the families' ability to pay.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

If you would like to ride along with the team or host any sort of a reception, please contact your local Masonic Lodge or a local Shriner. You can also write directly to the team leader, Dave Romero at USACyclingDave@Gmail.com. Additionally, you can follow the team's journey at https://www.youtube.com/@Dave_Cycling_Across_Americaand the donation link is https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/fundraiser/4530613

An inscription on the memorial stone in front of the Indiana State Police Peru Post reads, “We Will Remember Them”.

That promise was kept when local law enforcement officers, retired state police employees, local government officials, and family members of the fallen joined employees from the Indiana State Police Peru Post as they paid tribute to the 48 Indiana State Police employees who have died in the line of duty since the department’s inception in 1933.

Since the early days of the Indiana State Police, memorial services have been held at all Indiana State Police Post during the month of May The memorial services are a way of paying tribute and remembering the ultimate sacrifice paid by state police employees who died while serving and protecting the citizens and visitors of Indiana. The services are also for the family members of the fallen heroes. The memorial services let the families of the fallen know that the sacrifice made by them, and their departed loved ones will never be forgotten.

Today’s service started with troopers standing at attention as Captain Jeremy Kelly, Area I commander for the Indiana State Police, read a roll call of the fallen employees. Lieutenant T.J. Zeiser, commander of the Indiana State Police Peru Post, provided a brief description of what lead to the fallen employees’ final call. The solemn ceremony ended with the playing of Amazing Grace by a bagpipe and Taps by a bugler.

Four troopers from the Indiana State Police Peru Post have died in the line of duty:

Sergeant Glen R. Hosier died April 26, 1971, of a gunshot wound he received while leading officers up the staircase of a Miami County home. He was attempting to arrest a murder suspect.

Trooper Robert J. Lather II died July 6, 1982, in an automobile crash on U.S. 31 in Miami County. He was assisting the Howard County Sheriff’s Department in pursuit of a traffic violator.

Master Trooper Detective David E. Rich died July 5, 2007, of a gunshot wound he received when a motorist he stopped to assist opened fired on him as he approached a disabled vehicle on U.S. 24 in Wabash County.

Trooper Daniel R. Barrett died January 27, 2008, while attempting to catch a speeding vehicle on U.S. 31 in northern Fulton County. His police car left the roadway and struck a tree, killing the trooper instantly.

For a complete listing of Indiana State Police employees who died in the line of duty, visit the Indiana State Police website at www.in.gov/isp..

Applications are nowavailable for summer scholarships through the Fulton County Community Foundation. 

Fulton County residents pursuing higher education can apply for the following; 

•    The Ginger Miller Higher Education Scholarship provides scholarships for qualified college graduates pursuing graduate or professional school degrees.

•    The Phillips-Braman Scholarship provides scholarships for Rochester High School graduates who have completed one year of coursework at Purdue University. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and academic achievement.

•    The Back Home Again in Indiana Scholarship supports non-traditional students who wish to pursue higher education and/or training to enhance their skills for employment. Non-traditional students include those who have graduated from high school or obtained a GED and have delayed entrance into college, rather than earning a degree immediately after high school.

•    The Baxter Family Pharmaceutical Scholarship provides scholarships for Caston, Rochester, or Valley graduates, or a resident of Fulton County that has been accepted into a pharmaceutical program at a college or university in Indiana.

•    The Frederick Rakestraw Law Scholarshipprovides scholarships for qualified college graduates pursuing a degree in law. Applicants must have been residents of Fulton County for at least three years during high school and must be accepted into a graduate school program and enrolled in any school of law in the United States.

The following scholarships are for 2023 Rochester graduates planning to

study agriculture or a related field of study:

1. Dale Eizinger and Robert Tobey Agricultural Scholarship
2. George M. and Liale W. Schwenk Memorial Scholarship
3. Simon Deeb Scholarship

Applications and information are available at www.nicf.org/fulton-county/scholarships. The deadline to apply is July 12, 2023.For more information, contact the Northern Indiana Community Foundation Scholarship Coordinator, Shannon Berger, at 574-223-2202 or scholarships@nicf.org.

Rochester Street Department Superintendent Duane Border spent Tuesday afternoon installing the spray nozzles on the splash pad at the Rochester City Park.

Border's work was in preparation for the opening of the splash pad on Saturday. Water at the splash pad will be turned on daily, 10 a.m. -  8 p.m.

Border says the Rochester City Pool will also be opening this Saturday.

Due to short staff, the pool will be open from 1p.m. -  7 p.m.  this Saturday until next Thursday, June 1. The pool will be closed Friday,  June 2, and Saturday, June 3, for graduation.

The following week, however, pool hours will resume as normal.

Rochester City Pool's normal hours are Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

Indiana’s unemployment rate in April stands at 3.0%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

By comparison, the national unemployment rate for April stands at 3.4%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate increased to 63.6% for April, remaining above the national rate of 62.6%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,423,506 - an increase of 7,080 from the previous month.

Fulton County saw a huge improvement in April with a 2.6% unemployment rate, down 1.4% from the March report at 4.0%.  Kosciusko County was down o.7% to 2,5% in April.

Marshall County sets in the 23^rd position of the 92 counties in Indiana with an unemployment rate of 2.8%.  The March unemployment rate for Marshall County was 3.6%.

Pulaski County is the best county in the area with an unemployment rate of 2.3%. That's down 1.2% from the previous month. 

Starke County is down a point-and-a-half with an unemployment rate of 3.3%, a major improvement from the March rate of 4.8%.  

Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 14,200 jobs over the last month, translating to a gain of 76,500 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's April private employment stands at 2,845,100. This is a new private employment peak for the state. Industries that experienced job increases in April included:

·       Private Educational and Health Services (+4,100);

·       Leisure and Hospitality (+3,800);

·       Professional and Business Services (+3,500);

·       Financial Activities (+1,500);

·       Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+1,300); and

·       Manufacturing (+300).

As of May 17, 2023, there were 126,185 open job postings throughout the state. In April, 14,211 unemployment insurance claims were filed in Indiana.

Indiana will lift its ban on throwing stars this summer.

Effective July 1, Senate Enrolled Act 77 will regulate throwing stars the same way as other knife-like weapons.  A ban from school property is included.

At first, legislation was to limit throwing stars to recreational businesses until Indiana House lawmakers broadened the bill.

Under Senate Enrolled Act 77, Indiana will regulate throwing stars the same way as any other knife-like weapon, which includes a ban on school property.

State Senator Linda Rogers (R-Granger), pushed for the legislation, and approved of the final version.

Due to road construction in Fulton County, State Road 114 between County Road 200 W. and County Road 300 W. will be closed from May 23 through June 16.

A detour will be in place.

Also, there are two upcoming US 35 closures in Pualski County. Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction Co will close US 35 between SR 119 and SR 16 for two culvert replacements on or after Tuesday, May 30.

The first closure for US 35 will be between CR E. 600 S. and CR E. 675 S. at Mud Creek. Once that culvert replacement is complete, the closure will be between CR E. 900 S. and CR S. 400 E. at Wilson Wiseley Ditch.

All work will be completed by mid-July.

The official detour will follow SR 119 and SR 16.

Fair weather with high temperatures warming into the 80s into mid-week is leading to the possibility of a flash drought.

A strong area of high pressure is building over the upper Midwest is amplifying the dry conditions and low humidity. A flash drought is simply the rapid onset or intensification of drought. It is set in motion by lower-than-normal rates of precipitation, accompanied by abnormally high temperatures, winds, and radiation. Together, these changes in weather can rapidly alter the local climate.

Another feature of the week’s weather is smoke from wildfires in Canada.  It’s been impacting parts of the west and now is moving into parts of the central U.S. In some areas, it’s prompted air quality alerts or special weather statements about air quality.

Today’s forecast calls for sunny, but hazy skies due to western Canada wildfire smoke. Smoke is not expected to reach the surface, but it is expected to lead to a milky tint in the sky.

The Monterey and Tippecanoe Fire Department and Kewanna Union Township Fire Department ended their Saturday evening putting out the blaze of a semi fire parked in the yard at 6250 E 250 N, outside of Monterey.

The owner of the semi, Brian Lewis, said they are still unsure what exactly caused the fire and it is still under investigation. Watching television with his wife, Lewis noticed the flames on the parked semi through his living room window before he called authorities.

There were no injuries.  Lewis said the damage resulted in a total loss. 

Indiana health officials are urging Hoosiers to protect themselves from tick bites during and after spending time outdoors to protect themselves from tick-borne diseases.

“Even though we’ve had a cool, wet spring, ticks are already out and looking for their next meal,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Jen Brown, D.V.M., M.P.H. “The risk for tick-borne disease is at its highest for the next few months, so we want Hoosiers to protect themselves by taking precautions against tick bites.”

While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Indiana, Hoosiers are also at risk for other tick-borne diseases, including ehrlichiosis and spotted fever group rickettsiosis (a group of diseases that includes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever). While the risk for Lyme disease is highest in northwest Indiana and the risk for ehrlichiosis is highest in southern Indiana, ticks that carry these diseases have been found throughout the state. All Hoosiers should take precautions to prevent tick bites from early spring through late fall, when ticks are most active.

Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases. Hoosiers can take the following precautions to prevent tick bites:

• Know where ticks are likely to be present (close to the ground in grassy, brushy or wooded areas);
• Treat boots, clothing and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin (NOTE: permethrin should NOT be used on bare skin);
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents with active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone;
• Treat your pets for ticks in consultation with a veterinarian.

Once indoors, people should thoroughly check for ticks on clothing, gear, pets and skin. Tumbling clothes in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes will kill ticks, and showering can help remove any unattached ticks.

“Tick checks are an essential part of preventing tick-borne diseases. Promptly removing an attached tick can prevent you from becoming sick in some cases,” Brown said.

Ticks may be safely removed by using tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and then pulling outward with steady and even pressure. After the tick is removed, the area should be washed thoroughly. Ticks should never be crushed with the fingernails.

If desired, an attached tick that has been removed may be saved in a sealed bag or container of alcohol for later inspection in case the person or pet becomes ill. Alternatively, ticks may be flushed down the toilet or wrapped tightly in tape and thrown in the trash. Testing ticks to see if they are carrying diseases is not generally recommended, as the information cannot reliably be used to predict whether disease transmission occurred.

Anyone who becomes ill after finding an attached tick should see a healthcare provider immediately and alert the provider to the exposure. Most tick-borne diseases can be treated with antibiotics, and prompt diagnosis can help prevent complications.

For more information about ticks and how to prevent the diseases they carry, see the IDOH website at http://www.in.gov/isdh/20491.htm. 

A motorcyclist was killed near State Road 15 and Anchorage Road Thursday afternoon.

About 3 p.m., Warsaw Police say that the motorcycle was headed north on SR 15.  It collided with a car making a left turn.

The operator of the motorcycle, age 30, was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car was injured and transported to the hospital.

No name has been released as of this report.

Lake Bruce Creamery and Greenery has opened their farm up a little more this year with a roadside stand at their goat farm at 655 North 1100 West, Kewanna, outside of Lake Bruce.

Providing everything from flowers, folliage, and a wide variety of herbs and veggies, all produce is hand raised by owner Justin Williams. 

Since the stands soft opening April 14, Williams said he has had nothing but good feedback from the community. With no set hours, the farm stand is always open and goes by an honor system for payment. 

With more than 18 varieties of peppers, both hot and sweet, and many different herbs including five different varieties of basil, the small stand also has small prices. All veggies and herbs are only $2 each or 10 for $18.

Among the other vegetables, Williams also has stems for red and green cabbage, brussel sprouts, asparagus, celery, cucamelons and a few climbing spinach. 

U.S. 24 will have alternating lane closures over State Road 25 / Burlington Avenue for a bridge deck overlay project beginning on or after Tuesday, May 23.

One lane will remain open in each direction through the duration of the project, which will be ongoing through late June.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is looking to return a lost pig to its rightful owner.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, police say they found a pig in the area of 450 East and 200 South. They say the pig is “currently making new friends” at the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.

If this pig belongs to you, or if you know who it belongs to, please reach out to the Animal Welfare League at 574-267-3008 or email infor@awlwarsaw.com.

With only 61 inmates at the last count submitted to Fulton County Commissioners Sheriff Travis Heishman has room for more.  

That could mean housing federal prisoners.  It's a move that could also help to pay for the recently opened facility.

Fulton County Commissioner Bryan Lewis.

Lewis says the money received from housing such prisoners will be key to paying down the bond. The jail's design allows for housing more prisoners without having to increase staff.

A Rochester woman has been sentenced after entering a guilty plea in the bathtub drowning of her daughter.

Shawna Glosser, 27, will serve six years in prison with three years suspended.  The plea too child neglect resulting in serious bodily injury involves the incident in August of last year when first responders were called to Glosser’s Rochester apartment where her eight-month-old daughter was reported to not be breathing.

Glosser said she left the child alone in a baby seat and came back to find the child face down in the water.

A Pulaski County man was sentenced to time in federal prison on gun and drug charges.

Michael Snyder, 35, of Francesville, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. after pleading guilty in two cases, one for  distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Snyder was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

According to documents in these cases, in November 2021, Snyder, who was driving a stolen vehicle in Mishawaka, was stopped by law enforcement officers.  A loaded, stolen handgun was recovered from under his seat.  Snyder had a prior felony conviction, and as such, was prohibited from possessing the firearm.  In April 2022, an investigation revealed that Snyder was the source of a pound of methamphetamine that was sold in Winamac.

These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Porter County Multi-Enforcement Group, and the Mishawaka Police Department. 

Dr. Kristina Box has notified Governor Eric J. Holcomb that she will retire as state health commissioner of the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) effective May 31.

Gov. Holcomb has appointed IDOH’s chief medical officer, Dr. Lindsay Weaver, as the state health commissioner.

“Dr. Box and I began discussing this inevitability nearly a year ago, and I’m so grateful she agreed to stay on to shepherd the state Department of Health’s most ambitious legislative agenda yet. I respect no one more and am so pleased she’ll get to enjoy her next chapter, which is focusing on her family.  I could not have had a better partner in this role, especially in this time. She genuinely cares about the health and well-being of every single Hoosier, and because of her dedication to the betterment of our overall public health system, the state is at the forefront of transformational change that will result in a healthier Indiana,” Gov. Holcomb said.

"I also appreciate how she’s been working on a succession plan with Dr. Weaver, another national all-star, to ensure the successful implementation of our new public health plan. Dr. Box’s dedication to seeing the public health commission plan from ideas to action is a remarkable feat in and of itself. Her competitive refusal to lose is a key reason why our state will win for years to come,” Gov. Holcomb said.

Dr. Box, M.D., FACOG, was appointed state health commissioner by Gov. Holcomb in October 2017. Under her leadership, IDOH has:

• Launched the Governor’s Public Health Commission, charged with taking a critical look at Indiana’s public health system and making recommendations for improvements.
• Advocated for a modernized public health system in Indiana through a sustainable funding mechanism that will have a generational impact on Hoosiers.
• Implemented My Healthy Baby statewide to build a network of services and support to create healthier outcomes for mothers and babies.
• Conducted the state’s initiative in preventing lead poisoning in children six-years-old and younger through accessible screenings.
• Led the state’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the most significant public health event in a century, and through coordination efforts with local, state and federal agencies and health partners, countless lives were saved.

“It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to serve this administration, the Indiana Department of Health and Hoosiers across the state,” Dr. Box said. “The past five and a half years have been filled with challenges and opportunities unlike any that public health has ever encountered, and the public health workforce across the state has met those challenges with a heart and determination that have inspired me every day. I am incredibly proud of the work being done and will forever be grateful to those who continue to make improving the health and wellbeing of Hoosiers a priority.”

Dr. Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP, serves as the chief medical officer for IDOH and has led planning efforts to implement the legislation approved by the General Assembly.

Dr. Weaver spearheaded the development of the statewide lab testing network and the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and ensured that testing and vaccines were accessible to all Hoosiers.

“Having worked closely with Dr. Weaver over the years, I know she too is committed to continuing our important work of assuring Hoosiers have awareness and access to public health services,” Gov. Holcomb said. “As the chief medical officer, she has shown the prerequisite character, patience and leadership skills needed as she helped manage our state through the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, collaborate with local health partners, community leaders and legislators to begin the implementation phase of our massively upgraded public health plan. This transfer of authority will truly be a seamless transition.”  

Dr. Weaver is an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and she continues to practice medicine at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. She chairs the Indiana Commission for Women.

Dr. Weaver earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Kentucky and graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She received her residency training in emergency medicine and fellowship training in hospice and palliative medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.

“Taking over the position of state health commissioner from Dr. Box is an enormous responsibility, and it is an honor to follow in her footsteps,” Dr. Weaver said. “Dr. Box has provided exceptional leadership during the past six years and her commitment to public health has been an inspiration to many. I look forward to building on her legacy, implementing the recommendations of the Governor’s Public Health Commission, and continuing to work toward a healthier Indiana.

She will begin her role as commissioner June 1.

A man who was the focus of a Silver Alert has been found.

John Day, 89, was initially reported missing from Wabash.  Authorities were told that Day was driving a pickup with tree limbs in the bed. At the time, his truck had been last seen by a traffic camera in Warsaw.

Day was found by law enforcement in Marshall County.  As the Silver Alert was canceled, it was noted that officers and medics were aiding Day.

Several fire departments responded to a  junkyard in Marshall County on Saturday.

Just after 4 p.m., some eployees were working on a vehicle when it caught at Hundt’s Auto Salvage in the 13000 block of 5C Road. When they arrived, a garage was fully engulfed.

The garage was a complete loss.

Plymouth, Bremen, Koontz Lake and Polk Township Fire Departments responded to the scene.