Published: May 17, 2008 09:42 pm         

Business briefs — May 18, 2008

Indiana State Police employees honored

Four Indiana State Police troopers from the Peru Post and two from the Lafayette Post were among 80 individuals recognized for their service at the Indiana State Police Department second annual awards and recognition ceremony May 5 in Indianapolis.

The Trooper of the District Award was presented to 29-year veteran Master Trooper Robert Good, who patrols Tipton County.

Five-year veteran Trooper Bart Stouffer earned the Life Award for his commitment to DUI enforcement. He arrested 58 impaired drivers in 2007 — the highest total at the Indiana State Police Post in Peru. Trooper Stouffer patrols Miami County.

Two civilian employees working at the Peru Post received the Meritorious Service Award for consistent attention to duty, diligence, good judgment and responsibility during the performance of their duties. Investigative Secretary Cathy Shuler, of Miami County, is a 21-year member of the department and Post Secretary Jodie Miller, of Cass County, an eight-year member of the department.

Also, Master Trooper Bill Brooks was named Trooper of the Year Award for the Lafayette District. Brooks is a 29-year member of the Indiana State Police and patrols in White and Carroll counties.

The 2007 Life Award for the top DUI enforcement officer of the district went to Trooper J. R. Winters. While working Montgomery and Fountain counties, he took 40 drunk drivers off the road.



Marocco earns 50-year service award

Louis R. Marocco, of Logansport, was recipient of a 50-year service pin at the 128th annual Convention of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association on May 7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

A 1956 graduate of Logansport High School, he graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1958 and spent the next nine years employed with Conkle Funeral Homes Inc., in Indianapolis. He joined the Kroeger Funeral Home as vice president and shareholder before he founded Marocco Funeral Chapel in Logansport in 1971.

Marocco was elected Cass County Coroner in 1972 and again in 1976. He served as deputy coroner from 1980 to 1984 when he was appointed coroner and served a total of 24 years.

The former owner and chairman of the board of directors of Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Cass County, Marocco sold his business in October 2007 but he and his wife, Margo, continue to reside in the funeral home.



Local Ag department employees honored

INDIANAPOLIS — Two local members of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture recently received the Governor’s Public Service Achievement Awards.

Celia Tharp, of Delphi, and Chris Gardner, of Rochester, were recognized along with 62 other state employees working for 12 different agencies.

Together with Jerod Chew, of Bloomington, Tharp and Gardner helped to implement the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which enhances the financial incentives and support for landowners. The program also allows conservationists to implement practices to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment, wildlife, water and soil.



Four residents earn electrician licenses

Four Logansport residents have earned licenses as certified electricians.

Kevin Kranz, Charles Michael Myers, Michael Ross and Anthony Carmichael passed the exam given by the City of Logansport.



Workshop available to business owners

The North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center is offering a workshop, “Launching Your Business,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday in LEDF Office, 310 S. Pearl St., Logansport.

The workshop is $35 per business and covers all materials including a copy of the Wayfinder Business Feasibility Software.

To register, log on to www.conf.purdue.edu/sbdc or call toll free at (800) 359-2968 at least 24 hours in advance.



REACH celebrates second location

KOKOMO — The Regional Employment Assessment Center for Hiring will hold a public open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28, in Suite 101 at Inventrek Technology Park, Kokomo, to celebrate the opening of its second center opening will take place The original center opened in May 2007 in Lafayette.

Each center is designed to meet the needs of businesses in finding and hiring quality employees for high skill career fields.

The REACH Centers extend their resources to all 14 counties in the WIRED area including Carroll, Cass, Fulton and White counties.

To learn more about services and products available, call the REACH Center in Kokomo (765) 854-1401 or in Lafayette at (765) 477-1906.



MCF names two Employee of the Year

BUNKER HILL — The Miami Correctional Facility named Capt. Michael Biddle and Unit Team Manager Jodi Mann employees of the year for their service to the facility and the Indiana Department of Correction.

Biddle began working for the Indiana Department of Correction in February 1997 as an officer at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. He transferred to Miami Correctional Facility as an officer in April 1999. He received several promotions, including one to the rank of captain in August 2006.

Mann began her employment with the Indiana Department of Correction as a casework manager in February 2000. She was promoted to unit team manager in March 2003.



National City Bank promotes employee

National City Bank promoted Erin Campbell to private client registered associate for its Private Client Group based out of Logansport.

The PCG serves the needs of high-net-worth individuals and families by providing customized wealth management solutions and investment guidance delivered through a team of local financial experts. Campbell will be responsible for assisting financial advisors with support for brokerage and investment services.

Most recently, Campbell served as a private client associate of the PCG where she was responsible for assisting financial advisors with support for account maintenance and other processing details.