The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), in partnership with Conexus Indiana, announced the second round of awards totaling approximately $3 million to 31 Indiana businesses in Manufacturing Readiness Grants, which Governor Eric J. Holcomb first announced in May. The grants are part of the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program designed to stimulate manufacturing investments that will position Hoosier operations, and the sector overall, for future growth and prosperity. 

“It's truly incredible to see manufacturers across the state of Indiana rise to the unprecedented challenges of this year," said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. "The response we continue to see from the Manufacturing Readiness Grant program is remarkable, and I'm am encouraged by the progress we've seen in getting these businesses back on track." 

The 31 manufacturers receiving grants represent 21 Indiana counties and cover a wide range of specialties, including automotive, aerospace and defense, agriculture, machinery and construction, consumer packaging products, and health care and medical. Together, these businesses plan to invest more than $19.3 million in technology and equipment to position their businesses for future growth by increasing capacity and modernizing operations. Four of the manufacturers – EARL Solutions LLC, Helmer Scientific LLC, Hightech Signs and Trinity Guardion LLC – are accelerating operational investments in health care manufacturing technology to support critical COVID-19 response efforts.

Myers Spring Company Inc. (Cass County; $70,000 grant award), founded in 1946 and based in Logansport, manufactures products made from wire, primarily compression springs, torsion spring and wire forms. The company is investing in new, unique, fully-automated equipment with remote monitoring access to improve quality. The equipment will enable capabilities new to North America.

Standard Integrated Solutions Inc. (Pulaski County; $50,000 grant award). based in Winamac and founded in 2004, offers a full line of industrial equipment, supplies, services and products essential to the industrial environment. The company is investing in cobots to tend Computer Numerical Control (CNC) mill and press brakes.

The IEDC initially made $4 million available for Indiana Manufacturing Readiness Grants and has since been able to expand the awards for Hoosier manufacturers with support of CARES Act funding. The awards are issued in the form of matching grants up to or equal to the amount of the qualified investment in new equipment and machinery (minimum 1:1 investment match).
 
While the allocated program funding has been exceeded, Conexus, with the input of a peer review panel, will continue to assess applications and make funding recommendations to the IEDC, which will fund select applications if and when additional funding becomes available. Eligibility requirements and the grant application are available online.

“Digital transformation is critical for the future of Indiana’s manufacturing base,” said Mitch Landess, vice president of innovation and digital transformation at Conexus Indiana. “Conexus Indiana is pleased to help support so many small- and medium-size manufacturers make investments in smart manufacturing technologies.”

The candidates for Indiana's second congressional district took part in a debate.

Incumbent Representative Jackie Walorski (R) is seeking another term in the U.S. House while attorney Pat Hackett (D) is challenging her on the Democratic ticket. Much of the debate focused on healthcare, specifically the coronavirus pandemic and Obamacare, as well as the American economy.

Walorski called President Trump's leadership through the coronavirus "incredible."

Hackett called the White House's response to the pandemic "appalling" and that Walorski has allowed it to happen. Hackett said Walorski has opposed any effort to give relief to the people of this district and the American people the last six months.

Walorski disagreed, pointing to a bill from the Senate that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is not bringing to the floor.

On healthcare, Hackett said Walorski was wrong to vote in favor of efforts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate saying that it's because of that that insurance premiums on the ACA marketplaces have gone up.

On the economy, Hackett said she would support an effort to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act pushed for by President Trump early in his presidency.

Walorski’s response:

This was the only time the two candidates will debate.

Woodlawn Hospital was recognized today by the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA), in partnership with Governor Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, for their commitment to infant and maternal health at the first annual INspire Hospital of Distinction recognition program.

INspire, funded by the Indiana Department of Health’s Safety PIN grant, was developed to implement the delivery of best practice care for Hoosier moms and babies and recognize hospitals for excellence in addressing key drivers of infant and maternal health.

Woodlawn Hospital earned recognition for the top award available, Hospital of Distinction, based on implementing best practices in five key areas, including infant safe sleep, breastfeeding, tobacco prevention and cessation, perinatal substance use, and obstetric hemorrhage.

“Indiana’s birthing hospitals are critical partners as we work to drive down infant mortality,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Thanks to their efforts, Indiana’s infant mortality rate has fallen to the lowest level in state recorded history. Together we will continue this important work to save even more lives and give every Hoosier newborn the best opportunity ahead.”

“I am inspired by the work and passion our birthing hospitals bring to make sure all babies born in Indiana have the best start at life,” Dr. Box said. “Reducing infant and maternal mortality requires a multi-pronged approach over the course of many years to see impactful change. We’re seeing that change happen, but we can’t stop now. We must continue to adopt best practices so that we can celebrate more first birthdays in Indiana.”

Box noted that among many successes, Indiana has seen a nearly 30 percent drop in Indiana’s black infant mortality rate in just two years.

“Indiana hospitals are grateful for the leadership of Governor Holcomb and Dr. Box and are thrilled to be a partner in Indiana’s successful effort to reduce infant mortality,” said IHA President Brian Tabor. “We look forward to building on the progress we’ve made and achieving Governor Holcomb’s goal for Indiana to have the lowest rate of infant mortality in the Midwest by 2024.”

Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health, and other specialized hospitals in Indiana.

Brian and Jill Houin are stepping off the farm and into the kitchen as the new owners of The Breakroom Pub and Grill at 138 S Michigan St in Argos.

The former Jay’s Pub was a nostalgic place for dairy farmers Brian and Jill, for a date night location prior to buying the pub.

Brian Houin is a fourth generation dairy farmer that still milks on the site where the family farm began in 1945 with nine cows, a few chickens, pigs and a two bedroom home with twelve children.

Jill explained how the family has grown over the generations. 

The couple loves sharing their passion for dairy farming with their customers. Jill plans to eventually have a dairy based specialty drink every weekend as well as serve their own angus beef from the family farm. 

Their farm also makes electricity for residents of Plymouth. 

Along with dairy and the pub, the couple also has a passion for the community. 

Indiana State Police are warning you to check all candy collected by children this Halloween after a trooper in northwest Indiana found bags of “medicated” candy. In a Facebook post, Indiana State Police said bags of medicated Starburst Gummies and medicated Sour Skittles were taken by a trooper.

The package looked like normal candy, but you have to look closely to see the word "Medicated" printed in small font on the package.

The United States Postal Service said people should mail in their ballots on Tuesday, Oct. 27, if they want them to arrive by the deadline of noon on Election Day.

Those mail-in ballots must be physically into clerk’s offices by noon on Election Day, not just postmarked by then. Voters can’t simply drop off ballots at early voting sites, nor would you want to due to extremely long lines seen recently for early voting.

For people mailing in those ballots, as of Monday, almost 73% of the state’s mail-in ballots had been received.  The United States Postal Service said those voters need to get their ballots in the mail on Tuesday a week before Nov. 3, to ensure they make it by noon on Election Day.

Fulton County Treasurer Kathy Easterday would like to remind everyone that Fall Taxes are due November 10.

The treasurer’s office is open to the public but social distancing and masks are required.  If you do not feel comfortable going into the office you can mail your payment, pay online through the county’s website, or make your payments at Lake City Bank or Community State Bank in Kewanna.  You can also drop off your payment in the drop box outside the Annex Building doors facing the parking lot. 

The treasurer’s office will be closed November 3 for Election Day. 

If you have questions you can call the treasurer’s office at 574-223-7705 or email at treasurer@co.fulton.in.us.

The Wabash father who stabbed his 10-year-old son to death has died.

Two and a half weeks ago, on Oct. 8, Wabash police were called to a home at 294 E. Maple St. for a report of domestic abuse. When they got there, they found William Sendelbach, 32, armed and waiting for them. Sendelbach fired a shot into a police officer’s leg, causing police to shoot Sendelbach several times.

When police went inside Sendelbach’s home, they found his son, 10-year-old Kayden Sendelbach, with a 10-inch knife in his head. He died in the hospital on Oct. 10.

Inside the home, investigators also found pentagrams drawn on the floor that Sendelbach called “Devil traps.” Wabash County Prosecutor Bill Hartley says Sendelbach had a “fascination with the Devil.”

During a Monday press conference, Wabash County Prosecutor Bill Hartley Jr. said William Sendelbach died in a Fort Wayne hospital Saturday. He faced one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, as well as the possibility of life without parole.

According to Hartley, Sendelbach was interviewed at the hospital shortly before his death. He acknowledged what he did was wrong but was “not overly remorseful.” He gave no clear reason as to why he killed his son.

The Wabash officers that shot and killed William, Sergeant Nick Brubaker and Officer Daniel Henderson, were cleared in the shooting. It was found they were justified when shooting back at William, so they will face no criminal charges in his death.

An ordinance that will aid the payoff of the new Fulton County Jail is expected to receive a third and final reading.

Commissioner Brian Lewis.

Lewis breaks down how the ordinance will build up funds for debt payment.

Lewis adds that a percentage will go towards maintenance and operations.

He says the new jail construction is currently running under budget.

The next commissioners meeting is Monday, November 2, at 9 am.

There is a chance for severe weather all across Indiana today, according to the National Weather Service.

Nearly the entire state is under a “marginal risk” for severe weather, which is the lowest designation. The only exception is the far northeast part of the state. That part is under a “slight risk”, which is the second-lowest designation.

“Marginal risk is basically saying there is a relatively low risk for some isolated severe storms,” said Tara Dudzik, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. “We have a cold front dropping in later this afternoon, mainly from 3 pm to 6 pm.”

Dudzik said the main threats to watch out for are heavy rain, strong winds, and some hail.

“There’s a 2% tornado chance, which is obviously very low,” said Dudzik.

The chance for a tornado also exists in the northeast part of the state that is under a slight risk.

“A tornado or two can’t be ruled out,” said Chris Morris, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana. “The main window is going to be primarily 1 pm to 8 pm this evening.”

Morris said a “slight risk” implies that well-organized severe thunderstorms are expected but in relatively small numbers/coverage, or a small chance of a more significant severe event.

“There is the possibility of damaging winds and large hail. Anyone who is going to be out this evening for high school football, especially across northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio could be impacted,” said Morris.

Morris said cooler weather returns this weekend and a good portion of northern Indiana will see rain at the beginning of next week. Dudzik said the outlook is similar for central Indiana.

Marshall County has declared a public health emergency because of the coronavirus pandemic.

There are more than 1,300 cases of coronavirus in the county, according to the Marshall Co. Health Department.  In the past few weeks, 263 people have tested positive for the virus, County Commission President Kevin Overmyer told ABC 57.

The recent spike in coronavirus cases led county leaders to declare a seven-day public health emergency on Thursday.

“It’s a real health concern, but it’s also a mental concern. I know we all want this to be over with, but it’s not looking that way right now,” Overmyer told ABC57. “What this emergency does is just bring people back to awareness that there are problems out there.”

The public health emergency may be extended if coronavirus cases continue to rise, Overmyer said.

Two people were injured in a Fulton County crash Thursday.

Indiana State Police and the Fulton County Sheriff’s office responded to the accident involving three vehicles  on State Road 14 at 500 West.

Indiana State Police report Lisa White, 46, of Winamac, was driving a 2010 Ford Ranger westbound on SR 14.  For an undetermined reason,  the Ford crossed the center line and hit an eastbound 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by Abigail Pfaffenbach, 20, of Roann.  A third vehicle, an eastbound 2016 Dodge Journey, struck the Corolla while trying to avoid the crash.  The Dodge was driven by Laura Hendryx, 56, of Winamac.

Pfaffenbach and White were flown via medical helicopter to IU – Methodist in Indianapolis.  Pfaffenbach suffered chest and head injuries.  White had a leg injury.

Hendryx was uninjured.

Fulton County EMS, Kewanna Fire Department, Rochester Fire Department, Lutheran Air Medical Helicopter, and Samaritan Air Helicopter also responded.

More than 1 million Hoosiers have requested an absentee ballot or voted early in the 2020 General Election, according to Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson.

With 12 days remaining before the November 3rd election, 553,270 absentee by-mail ballots have been requested across the state, and 477,217 voters have voted at an early voting location, with a total of 1,042,319 ballots requested or submitted. In the 2020 Primary Election, a total of 640,225 Hoosiers voted absentee in-person or by-mail.  In 2016, during the entire period of absentee voting for both in-person and by-mail, 977,239 ballots were submitted.

“Hoosiers are eager to vote and are voting early in record numbers to make sure their voice is heard,” said Secretary Lawson. “Election officials across Indiana have worked tirelessly to make sure each voter is safe and secure, and I’m pleased to see this level of turnout heading into Election Day.”

The increased volume of absentee ballots means that final election results may not be immediately available on Election Night. Voters wishing to work in their county as absentee ballot counters are encouraged to contact their county clerk’s office as soon as possible.

Hoosier voters can track their absentee ballot, look up early voting sites, and contact their county clerk using www.IndianaVoters.com. 

When three young children were hit by a truck passing a school bus near Rochester in 2018, the Indiana general assembly worked to make tougher penalties for people who pass school buses unlawfully. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), says she wants to help make those kinds of laws possible across the country.

Walorski is working with Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), on the Stop for School Buses Act.  While the bill would not set any new federal penalties itself, it would be a step in the direction of helping states strengthen their illegal passing laws.

It would give the U.S. Dept. of Transportation the power to review all of the laws around the country, compile and evaluate them. It would also require some best practices from the USDOT.

Research would also be done to determine what technologies (like stop arm cams, alarms, etc.), would be best to help cut down on the number of people, kids included, who are killed because of people illegally passing school buses.

“The tragic loss of young Hoosiers in bus-related crashes last year, including in Fulton County, was a reminder that life is precious and that we all need to work together to keep children safe,” said Walorski. “Every driver has a responsibility to exercise caution when students are present, and that includes never passing a school bus that is stopped with red lights flashing or its stop arm extended."

Walorski announced the bill Tat the Rochester School Corporation following a demonstration of recently installed school bus cameras, which engage when the stop arm is extended so authorities can hold drivers accountable for illegal passing.

Walorski also met with the parents of the three siblings who tragically lost their lives last year walking to their bus in Fulton County. 

A Kewanna woman was injured in an accidental shooting at the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department gun range.

The Indiana State Police were called by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to investigate.  Master Trooper Mike Meiser arrived on scene and found Denise Baker, 66, with a gunshot wound to her left calf.  During the investigation he discovered that Bruce Baker, 75, of rural Kewanna, and his wife were at the gun range along with other Fulton County deputies for target practice. 

Baker is a former Fulton County sheriff.

Baker and his wife had returned to their vehicle, when Bruce Baker dropped a magazine to his Glock 9 mm.  Baker bent over to retrieve the magazine and that is when the gun accidentally discharged.  The bullet ricocheted off the bumper and struck Denise Baker in the left calf. 

A Fulton County Deputy applied a tourniquet to her leg before EMS arrived.  Baker was flown to a Ft. Wayne hospital with a non-life threatening injury. 

The following release about changing instruction at TVHS.  The change to virtual learing begins Thursday.

Tippecanoe Valley High School Parents and Students,

Due to contact tracing and a limited amount of substitutes available, TVHS will revert to virtual instruction (remote learning) for Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23.

This affects Tippecanoe Valley High School only. All other schools (Akron Elementary, Mentone Elementary, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, and Burket Education Center) will continue in-person instruction.

TVHS students will return on Monday, October 26. Thank you for your compassionate understanding.

Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation

After discussion with the Pulaski County Health Department last week, Eastern Pulaski Elementary School in Winamac currently has one fourth grade classroom that is participating in e-Learning through the remainder of this week, after one person tested postive in the class the previous week. 

They plan to return to in person learning on Monday, October 26. 

Eastern Pulaski School Corporation Superintendent Dana Chezem thanks parents for their efforts and continues to encourage them to screen their children each morning for symptoms and keep kids home that show any signs of being sick, as the number of positive COVID cases in Pulaski County are on the rise.

Rochester schools and Athletic Director Ryan Johnson have tweeted the following information regarding Friday's high school football sectional quarterfinal to be played at Rochester:

Due to a resurgence of positive COVID cases in our community, spectators for Friday's FB game will be limited to parents, step-parents, siblings, and grandparents. Tickets can be purchased Wed-Fri at the RHS attendance office from 7:45 am - 3 pm. Masks are mandatory at all times.

Barnes & Noble's computer systems were hacked.

The hack happened on Oct. 10.

They said customer's personal information may have been stolen in the process. In an email sent to customers they said hackers could have had access to email addresses, names, phone numbers, and home addresses.

However, the company said the hackers could not access credit card numbers and other payment information because that information is encrypted.

Barnes & Noble did not say how many customers were affected by the hack.

Almost the entire state of Indiana will be under a freeze warning from 2 am to 10 am Friday morning. The far southeast part of Indiana will be under a frost advisory.

"We do that to give people a heads up if they still have plants that are out there that they want to protect. We issue the freeze warnings to alert them, mainly to protect the plants and things like that they may still be growing," says Joe Skowronek, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. "Tonight, a lot of our areas will get into the 20s. Temperatures that low would definitely cause problems for any plants that are still growing."

He says if you park your car outside, you may have some frost on your windshield that you may have to scrape off. 

"We are expecting another front to come in early next week. It looks like there is a better chance for widespread heavier rain at that time (Monday-Wednesday)," says Skowronek.

Much of the state is either abnormally dry or under moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Skowronek believes that will change soon.

"We are getting into a pattern now where we are expecting rain more than we have had in the past. So we should see the drought conditions slowly improve over the next few weeks," says Skowronek.

Governor Holcomb has announced he is extending Stage 5 of the state's re-opening plan during the coronavirus pandemic.

Holcomb said he will revisit the decision in a week. He also extended the mask mandate until at least Nov. 14.

When Irene Ray moved her family to Rochester in 1932 the community was far from thrilled. Amid desperate times, after applying for relief and welfare support, her husband Charles, daughter Iloe and cat Fuzzy, were placed in a large but shabby home on Audubon Ave. 

As the Great Depression gripped the nation, most families in Fulton County were struggling too. Neighbors found great resentment in the outsiders collecting welfare from their county. 

The family were well aware that they were not welcome.The outcast’s reputation went from bad to worse over the next six years after multiple altercations with various townspeople. Citizen’s soon started accusing Irene of witchcraft, blaming her for misfortunes happening within the community.

After 25 year old Georgia Knight Conrad suddenly became ill, gossip and murmurs turned into shouts and harassment for the Ray family.

The Knight family claimed Mrs. Ray caused their daughter to have leakage of the heart by stealing hair from her hairbrush, combining it with cat hair and vinegar and burying it in a bottle for a spell. 

After Rochester’s Chief of Police Clay Sheets died suddenly of what appeared to be a heart attack, Irene was again blamed by the enraged townspeople. Chief Sheets had previously overseen the removal of the Ray’s six year old granddaughter with charges of ‘morals of the household.’ Newspapers reported that Irene exploded in anger and accused Chief Sheets of being a tool of the Knight Woman, warning he would be sorry too. 

Other accusations Mrs.Ray was blamed for included hexes that induced insomnia, nervous indigestion, floods, and fires. 

A neighboring farmer claimed Irene had cursed his potato field after he confronted her about stopping her habit of using his property as a shortcut. 

As the allegations against Mrs.Ray mounted, concerns were brought to States Attorney Murray McCarty who only laughed, as witchcraft was something that was not illegal or a chargeable offense in 1938 Indiana. Police began being pressured by citizens to arrest Irene regardless, threatening bodily harm to her if they did not take action. 

There were eight alleged victims of hexes from Irene in Rochester by the time she was arrested May 11, 1938 with charges of vagrancy. She was released the next day and her charges were dropped after promising the new Police Chief she would leave town. 

Mrs.Ray denied all accusations. “If my accusers got right with God they won’t need to put such things on me, as I am living for the Lord and I intend to until I die." she was qouted to say in an article out of a Columbus, Indiana newspaper The Republic. 

Irene was often noted as a heavily black haired woman in serveral newspaper articles and was rumored to have been Native American. Mrs. Ray would later claim she was unsure of having any Native American descent. 

To appease the community, Irene and Charles moved to a house outside of town north of Lake Manitou. After the banishment, Georgia Conrad’s mother claimed her daughter's condition immediately began to improve, however Georgia died two years later from her condition in 1940. 

Six months after being cast out of Rochester on November 4, 1938, Irene and her husband were hit by a car while walking on what is now St Rd 14. The driver, May Kern of Athens, was on her way home from work and hit the couple as she tried to avoid a child on a bicycle. 

Irene died at the scene and her husband was critically injured with a skull fracture. She was buried in Bremen.

Locally, other than newspaper articles, little history remains of the outsider that was rejected from our town so long ago. Although never convicted, she was never able to wash off the label of being a witch, even after death. 

Outside of Fulton County, the unusual story caught national attention from coast to coast, with newspapers and books around the country writing about the ‘modern-day’ banished Witch from Rochester, Indiana, as the allegations continue to outlive her 82 years later. 

Last Thursday, detectives working from the Indiana State Police Peru Post initiated an investigation into a police officer involved shooting and an alleged stabbing of 10-year-old Kayden Sendelbach. The purported stabbing has now turned into a murder investigation as Kayden died Saturday at 6:28 a.m. An autopsy is pending.

The suspect in the police shooting, William Sendelbach, 32, is expected to survive his injuries. William Sendelbach was hit by multiple bullets when Wabash police officers returned fire because he was allegedly shooting a shotgun at them. Wabash Police Sergeant Nick Brubaker was hit in the leg with a round allegedly fired by Sendelbach. Brubaker is expected to make a full recovery.

No further information will be released at this time.

ORIGINAL RELEASE FROM 10/08/2020:

Wabash – The Indiana State Police, at the request of the Wabash Police Department, is investigating a police officer involved shooting in which a Wabash Police Department sergeant was injured.

The preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police detectives revealed that today at approximately 7:02 a.m., officers from the Wabash Police Department were dispatched to a family disturbance at a home on 294 East Maple Street, Wabash, IN. When officers arrived, they were met with gunfire from a shotgun that William Sendelbach, 32, was purportedly shooting. Wabash Police Department Sergeant Nick Brubaker was shot in the leg. Officers shot back with their issued Sig Sauer 9mm handguns. Sendelbach was struck by multiple bullets. 

Sgt. Brubaker was transported to a local hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery. Sendelbach was flown, via medical helicopter, to a Ft. Wayne hospital. His condition is unknown.

Evidence revealed, prior to officers arriving at the Maple Street home, Sendelbach had allegedly shot at an occupied garbage truck that was making morning rounds. The driver was not injured.

Further investigation revealed that during the family disturbance, 10-year-old Kayden Sendelbach was stabbed with a knife. Kayden was flown to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis with life threatening injuries. William Sendelbach is suspected of injuring Kayden. William is Kayden’s father. He has not been charged at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation. No further information will be released at this time.

Upon completion of the investigation, information will be forwarded to the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

The dumping of a dead Warsaw man's body has resulted in charges against an Anderson woman.

Tausha Avery, 41, is charged in Madison County with altering the scene of death and failure to notify authorities of the discovery of a dead body. According to police, Jonathan Mauk, 47, of Warsaw, was visiting Avery in Anderson last December when he died in a pickup truck.

Avery is accused of driving the truck to Delaware County and abandoning it, with Mauk's body inside, along the side of County Road 950 West.

Court papers say Mauk and Avery consumed heroin before Mauk's death.  The charges against Avery were filed in June, but The Star Press reports Avery was not arrested until last week.

A man from Kosciusko County was killed, and three others were injured, after a crash in Minnesota Saturday morning.

According to a Minnesota State Police crash report, Brian Smoker, 61, of Leesburg was westbound on Interstate 94 in Clay County, Minnesota, near the town of Barnesville, when for an unknown reason, the pick-up truck he was driving went off the road into the median and struck the bridge piers head-on.

One of the passengers in the pick-up truck, David Smoker, 59, of Leesburg was killed in the crash.

Brian Smoker, along with two other passengers in the truck, Mitchell Garrison and George Tubbs, were injured in the crash. All three were taken to Sandford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the crash, which remains under investigation.

A Silver Lake man was killed in a Saturday night crash.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office received the 911 call just before 7:30 pm and responded  to 550 North near County Road 600 East.  The crash involved a dirt bike operated by Nathan Baldridge, 26.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that, for an unknown reason, Baldridge appears to have lost control and was ejected.

Baldridge was pronounced dead at the scene after life saving measures proved unsuccessful.

Baldridge was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash is still under investigation and the Sheriff’s Office says it’s believed at this time that alcohol may be a contributing factor.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash with the assistance of the Fulton County Coroner Jerri Good. Other agencies that assisted at the scene were Lutheran EMS, and Mentone Fire/EMS.

Rochester Moose Lodge 1107 has a new partnership in their kitchen. 

Chris Brown of the Moose Lodge.

Jenny Kasten of One Eyed Jacks says they are going to try and be as consistent as possible with their Winamac menu at the Moose.

One Eyed Jacks will open in the Moose Lodge this coming weekend. Jenny already has the specials picked out.

They will be serving food Tuesday thru Saturday, 4-9pm

For the complete interview with Chris and Jenny download our new Giant FM app and look in the podcast section.

The Indiana State Police, at the request of the Wabash Police Department, is investigating a police officer involved shooting in which a Wabash Police Department sergeant was injured.

The preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police detectives revealed that today at approximately 7:02 a.m., officers from the Wabash Police Department were dispatched to a family disturbance at a home on 294 East Maple Street, Wabash, IN. When officers arrived, they were met with gunfire from a shotgun that William Sendelbach, 32, was purportedly shooting.

Wabash Police Department Sergeant Nick Brubaker was shot in the leg. Officers shot back with their issued Sig Sauer 9mm handguns. Sendelbach was struck by multiple bullets.  

Sgt. Brubaker was transported to a local hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery.

Sendelbach was flown, via medical helicopter, to a Ft. Wayne hospital. His condition is unknown.

Evidence revealed, prior to officers arriving at the Maple Street home, Sendelbach had allegedly shot at an occupied garbage truck that was making morning rounds. The driver was not injured.

Further investigation revealed that during the family disturbance, Kayden Sendelbach, 10, was stabbed with a knife. Kayden was flown to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis with life threatening injuries.

William Sendelbach is suspected of injuring Kayden. William is Kayden’s father. He has not been charged at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation. 

Upon completion of the investigation, information will be forwarded to the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Three hurt in three-car Miami County crash.

Friday morning at approximately 10:15 a.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Miami County Sheriff’s Department responded to a crash on U.S 31 and Business 31. The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Jon Cole revealed that Michael Bozell, 41, Indianapolis, was driving a 2010 Ford F-150 northbound on U.S 31. Bradford Shelly, 37, also from Indianapolis, was driving a 2015 GMC Acadia northbound on U.S. 31. The GMC was behind the Ford. Both vehicles were stopped for a red light at Business 31.

Pamela Langenkamp, 52, Celine, OH was driving a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on U.S. 31 approaching the red light at Business 31. The Jeep did not slow down for stopped traffic and rear-ended the GMC.  The crash impact caused the GMC to rear-end the Ford. After the Jeep hit the GMC, it traveled off the east side of the road and came to rest after hitting a metal utility pole.

Langenkamp was flown from the crash scene, via Lutheran medical helicopter, to a Ft. Wayne hospital.  She suffered from life threatening injuries.

Bradford Shelly, and his passenger, Robyn Shelley, 39, Indianapolis, were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Trooper Cole was assisted at the crash scene by Senior Todd Trottier, Senior Trooper A.J. Coffee, Master Trooper Bart Stouffer, Senior Trooper Mike Meiser, the Pipe Creek Fire Department, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, Lutheran EMS, Lutheran medical helicopter, and the Peru Fire Department,

Hurricane Delta is bringing lots of rain and wind to the Gulf Coast. So will any of the remnants bring rain to Indiana?

Barely, if any, says WISH-TV Meteorologist Marcus Bailey.

"Maybe the southern half of the state could see a little bit," he said. "But at this point, it looks like the heaviest of the rain is probably going to stay well south of the Ohio River."

Bailey says counties along the river could get a few tenths-of-an-inch of rain. But, the majority of the state could get "spits" of rain, meaning the drought will continue in most areas of Indiana.

"Unfortunately, for us, it just wasn't in the cards for Delta to come far enough north to provide us with any decent amount of rainfall."

He adds that temperatures this weekend will stay well above average for this time of the year, with highs on Saturday around 80 degrees, and in the 70s for Sunday.

"This part of October, we should be averaging in that upper-60 range," Bailey said.

A cool down is expected late next week, where highs will be in the 50s and 60s, with lows in the 30s and 40s.

Flames engulfed an abandoned home in the 2000 block of W 500 South outside of Fulton Thursday night around 9 pm.

The Fulton-Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department, Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department and Rochester Fire Department responded to put out the blaze. 

There was a report of a black Chevy SUV seen pulling out of the driveway without any headlights on at that location around 8 pm. Lights in the garage were also reported to have been seen even though the electricity was thought to have been shut off due to the home owner being currently incarcerated. 

A Rochester man was severely injured in a car – motorcycle accident Thursday.

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office reports emergency personnel were called to the scene just after 5: 00 pm to SR 14 and 850 West.  Initial investigation shows a 2006 Ford Freestyle driven by Lisa Hammock, 54, of Kewanna, was traveling westbound on SR 14.  Hammock turned south on 850 West and into the path of an eastbound 2001 Harley motorcycle driven by Joshua Samuels, 35, of Rochester.

Samuels was flown for medical treatment by Lutheran Air.  There’s no further word on his condition at this time.

Hammock was not injured.

Kewanna Fire assisted at the scene with Lutheran EMS and Lutheran Air.

Cantaloupe sold at Meijer stores in Indiana is being recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination.

The recall includes whole cantaloupe and certain cut cantaloupe fruit trays and bowls in various weights ranging from six to 40 ounces sold between Sept. 26 and Oct. 5 at Meijer stores in Indiana and five other states.

The recalled whole cantaloupe will have a sticker label stating Kandy Brand from Eagle Produce, LLC. If it does not have a sticker label to identify it, it should be considered part of the recall, according to the FDA.

No illnesses have been reported so far. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

The following packaged products in clear plastic containers under the Meijer brand label include:

- 9450 – Gas Station Mixed Melon Chunk Cup

- 9505 – Gas Station Mixed Fruit Cup

- 9644 – Gas Station Cantaloupe 6 oz

- 21921000000 – Fruit Frenzy Bowl 40 oz

- 21921400000 – Fruit Tray

- 21924800000 – Fruit Tray with Dip

- 21932300000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Large PLU 4960

- 21933400000 – Mixed Melon Chunks Large Bowl

- 21933700000 – Mixed Melon Chunks Small Bowl

- 21960100000 – Fruit Frenzy 16 oz Bowl PLU

- 21971100000 – Strawberry/Pineapple Cup 6 oz

- 21971200000 – Mixed Fruit Cup 6 oz

- 21971700000 – Berry Explosion Cup 6 oz

- 21971800000 – Mixed Melon Chunk Cup 6 oz

- 21984400000 – Mixed Melon Cup

- 22012400000 – Mixed Fruit Cup

- 22019600000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Small Bowl

- 22020000000 – Fruit Frenzy 32 oz Bowl PLU 1

- 22021900000 – Cantaloupe and Honeydew Slices

- 22022000000 – Mixed Melon Slices

- 22045000000 – Fruit Palooza

- 22045200000 – Melons & Berries

- 22045300000 – Triple Treat & Melon

- 22061600000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Large Kosher

- 22061700000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Large Kosher

- 28873400000 – Fruit Salad

If you have any of the recalled fruit, throw it away or return it to Meijer for a full refund.

An officer was shot and a boy was stabbed in Wabash Thursday morning.

At around 7 a.m., police were called to a home at 294 E. Maple St. on a report of a domestic dispute. When police got there, they found William Sendelbach, 32, outside with a gun.

As police got closer, Sendelbach fired a shotgun blast and hit officer Nick Brubaker in the leg. Brubaker’s injuries are not life-threatening.

Officers began shooting back and hit Sendelbach a few times. He was then taken to a hospital in Fort Wayne.

When police went inside the house, they found Sendelbach’s 10-year-old son with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Rochester Community School Board dealt with a personnel matter at its Wednesday meeting on a previous vote impacting a teacher / coach.

On the agenda for the meeting was the personnel report, specifically to talk about RHS wrestling Coach Clint Gard and his future as a coach. 

Tom Schwenk is the president of the school board.

Schwenk went on to how the vote went Wednesday night.

There were about 70 plus people in attendance via Zoom plus the ones that were able to get inside for the limited seating available due to COVID-19.

Fulton County received money from the CARES Act and officials were waiting on clarification on what it could be used for. 

Commissioner Rick Ranstead.

Are you interested in being on a local board or committee?  Commissioner Steve Metzger says they are always looking for people and they now have some questions that you will be asked before they appoint you. 

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday at the age of 65.

In a tweet, his son said Van Halen lost his long battle with cancer this morning.

He's considered one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time. He founded the group Van Halen with his brother Alex, bassist Mark Stone and singer David Lee Roth.

Pre-cut fresh fruit sold at Walmart is being recalled over possible listeria contamination.

The recall includes various plastic containers of “Freshness Guaranteed” cut and / or sliced apples, grapes, mangoes, pineapples, and cantaloupe sold at Walmart stores in Indiana and other states.

The “best if used by” dates on the packages are between Oct. 3 and Oct. 11, 2020.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Full information about the recall is available at www.fda.gov.

Hoosiers impacted by the 2017 Equifax data breach can now file a claim online to receive compensation.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill on Monday announced the launch of IndianaEquifaxClaims.com , a website where Hoosiers can securely file a claim for a restitution payment. Hoosiers have until Dec. 16 to file a claim.

Hill’s office said many Hoosiers will receive an email from Do-Not-Reply@IndianaEquifaxClaims.com that says they are eligible for a payment under the terms of the settlement.

Hill’s office sued Equifax following the massive data breach, which compromised the Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and credit card information of 147 million Americans, including nearly four million Hoosiers.

“Millions of Indiana residents were endangered financially due to Equifax’s failure to protect the personal information it was entrusted to keep private,” Attorney General Hill said. “We encourage these consumers to visit this website and claim the money they deserve. We hope this money lessens any burdens the data breach may have caused.”

Indiana was one of two states that opted not to participate in a multistate settlement with Equifax in July 2019. Instead, Hill’s office chose to file its own lawsuit against the company.

As part of Indiana’s settlement, Equifax agreed to pay the state $19.5 million. Nearly all of Indiana’s settlement has been directed toward restitution payments to affected consumers. A portion of the settlement will go toward administering the payments.

A new Indiana-developed app will track how many people are wearing masks and how many aren't.

The Regenstrief Institute launched maskcount.com last week, as a sort of public-health hybrid of Waze's crowdsourced traffic info and the functionality of Tinder. After logging in to the site, you swipe right when you see someone wearing a mask, or swipe left if they're not.

Regenstrief CEO Peter Embi says data about who's masking up has all been anecdotal. Instead of the decades-old practice of sending researchers out with a pad and pencil to count mask wearers, the institute realized it could use modern technology to bring more pairs of eyes to the question.

Embi says the data can help researchers assess whether mask orders actually change people's behavio, and how mask use correlates with rising or falling spread of the coronavirus. He says while the data are extremely preliminary so far, there's already one potentially intriguing finding: people appear more likely to wear their masks during the day than at night, perhaps because they let their guard down while socializing.

Embi says the app won't identify you or the people you pass, but it will log your location. You can see what percent of people are reported wearing masks within a two-block radius.

About 400 people in eight countries have signed up so far -- Embi says it'll be more effective the more people sign up.

Are you registered to vote? If you want to have your say in the November 3 General Election, you need to register today.

Voters registering in the county clerk’s office must do so by close of business, and voters registering online have until midnight.

Hoosiers can register to vote online by visiting www.IndianaVoters.com. Citizens can also submit an application to register in person at their local county clerk's office.

In addition to registration, IndianaVoters.com allows Hoosiers to look up their polling place, get directions to their polling location, find out who's on their ballot, request an absentee ballot, track their absentee ballot application, and contact local election officials.

In order to be eligible to register to vote, you must:

• be a citizen of the United States,

• be at least 18 years old by Election Day,

• have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the election; and

• not currently be imprisoned after being convicted of a crime.

“I urge all Hoosiers to exercise their right to vote,” said Secretary Lawson. “It only takes a few minutes to register and can be done online at any time.”

Voters with questions can call the Hoosier Voter Hotline at 866-IN-1-VOTE. 

Rochester's Acument Global Technologies is scheduled to permanently close later this month.

The closing of the manufacturer of value-added screws, bolts, nuts and cold formed components, will impact 59 employees.

Friday afternoon a South Bend man was arrested on several charges after leading police on a chase in Marshall County.

Around 2:50 p.m., Sgt. Ryan Lebo was in the area of US 30 and King Road when he saw a vehicle matching the description of a vehicle alleged to have been involved in an armed robbery of a business in Bourbon. When Lebo and a Marshall County deputy got behind the vehicle, a 2013 Chevrolet SUV, the vehicle fled north on King Road.

The Chevrolet turned eastbound in the area of Lake Of The Woods, eventually hitting stop sticks placed by Bremen Police Department, in the area of 3A Road and East Shore Drive, successfully deflating the front right tire of the Chevrolet. The disabled Chevrolet continued northbound on Plymouth Goshen Trail to SR 106, where it drove into a bean field.

The driver, identified as Tyler Davis, 29, of South Bend, attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody. After being cleared at a local hospital Davis was taken to the Marshall County Jail on preliminary charges of armed robbery, possession of stolen property, and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle.

Further investigation revealed the Chevrolet was reported stolen out of Chicago. Troopers also located items in the Chevrolet suspected to be from the alleged robbery.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Marshal County Sheriff’s Department, Bourbon Police Department, and Bremen Police Department.

The Bourbon Police Department is investigating the alleged robbery of the business in Bourbon.

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the disappearance of Morton Goble, a 70 year old white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 180 pounds, brown hair with brown eyes, last seen wearing a long sleeve black shirt, blue jeans, and tan work boots, and driving a gray 2005 Cadillac Deville with Indiana plate 987LJJ.

Morton is missing from Winamac and was last seen on, Thursday, October 1, at 9:30 am.  He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. 

If you have any information on Morton Goble, contact the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department at 574-946-6655 or 911.

A standoff with law enforcement ended with the arrest of an Elkhart man.

Shortly before 11 o’clock Thursday morning in the area of CR 700 S near CR 425 W in Kosciusko County, crews were directing traffic for an electrical pole project. 

Witnesses state that a man entered several vehicles and then took off running towards a neighboring home, removing clothing as he was running.  Members of the utility crew notified the occupant of the home; stopping her from answering the door.  The suspect again tried to enter another vehicle and then ran to another residence; where he forced entry through a back window. 

Officers from the Mentone and Claypool Police Departments arrived within minutes of the initial call and confirmed the suspect was inside.  The suspect was identified as Quincy Jenkins, 27, from Elkhart.  Dispatchers made contact with the homeowner, who told police there was no one else inside the residence.  The homeowner responded to the scene and was instrumental in relaying vital information to deputies. 

Multiple attempts were made to communicate with Jenkins; who refused to answer.  Kosciusko County SWAT was activated and a plan was established to enter the residence.  Officers placed a robot inside the back door of the home and were able to observe the interior.  Jenkins finally surrendered after speaking with officers through the robot’s communication system.  He was taken into custody without further incident and transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation. 

Formal charges are pending.

A standoff with law enforcement ended with the arrest of an Elkhart man.

Shortly before 11:00 am Thursday in the area of CR 700 S near CR 425 W in Kosciusko County, crews were directing traffic for an electrical pole project.   Witnesses state that a man entered several vehicles and then took off running towards a neighboring home, removing clothing as he was running.  Members of the utility crew notified the occupant of the home; stopping her from answering the door.  The suspect again tried to enter another vehicle and then ran to another residence; where he forced entry through a back window. 

Officers from the Mentone and Claypool Police Departments arrived within minutes of the initial call and confirmed the suspect was inside.  The suspect was identified as Quincy Jenkins, 27, of Elkhart.  Dispatchers made contact with the homeowner, who told police there was no one else inside the residence.  The homeowner responded to the scene and was instrumental in relaying vital information to deputies. 

Multiple attempts were made to communicate with Jenkins; who refused to answer.  Kosciusko County SWAT was activated and a plan was established to enter the residence.  Officers placed a robot inside the back door of the home and were able to observe the interior.  Jenkins finally surrendered after speaking with officers through the robot’s communication system.  He was taken into custody without further incident and transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation. 

Formal charges are pending.