Published: June 06, 2008 01:06 pm         

Area briefs

Friday, June 6, 2008

Ind. 25 restricted through June 25

DELPHI — The Indiana Department of Transportation will restrict traffic on Ind. 25 between U.S. 421 and Ind. 218 to one lane as directed by flag persons during daylight hours through June 25.

The work schedule on the paving project is subject to change in the event of bad weather.

INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when traveling through a construction zone. For the latest news and information about INDOT, visit www.in.gov/indot

Building destroyed by fire is condemned

Logansport Building Commissioner Gary Hostetler has declared the building at 617 N. Cicott St. an unsafe structure.

The declaration was part of Hostetler’s report to the Logansport Board of Public Works and Safety, which approved the recommendation at Wednesday’s meeting.

The building, which housed K&J Upholstery, was destroyed by a fire on Tuesday. Hostetler said he made a visual inspection of the building after the fire and found it to be unsafe.

A portion of the alley behind the building had to be closed late Tuesday because of fears that a chimney left standing after the fire might collapse, said Hostetler.

Hostetler said that business owner John Lundgren had already begun to seal the building and remove any hazardous materials. The owner plans to have the cleanup complete and the structure sealed by this weekend, but Hostetler said no determinations had been made about the future of the business.

The owners had no insurance on the building.

Blood drives honor fallen police officers

WINAMAC — A blood drive in honor of Indiana police officers killed in the line of duty will be held throughout the state from June 8 through June 21.

The first one in the area will be outside the courthouse in Winamac from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 10. The next drive is from noon to 7 p.m. on June 11 at the Knights of Columbus, 122 N. Illinois St., in Monticello. Following that is a blood drive in Carroll County from 4 to 7 p.m. on June 16 at the Wabash & Erie Canal Interpretive Center in Delphi. On June 18, a blood drive is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 701 Spencer St., in Logansport.

There is a steady demand for blood donations. According to the event organizers, 1,000 units of blood are needed daily in Indiana.

The blood drive began in 2001 by the wife of Sgt. Dan R. Starnes of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, who died on July 10, 2001 as a result of gunshot wounds sustained during a gun battle with a burglary suspect four weeks earlier. To keep his legacy alive, Janice Starnes organized a blood drive in Morgan County. Because of its success, she decided to take the blood drive statewide. In 2007, she set a goal of collecting 1,500 units blood and shattered that goal by collecting more than 5,000 units.

Foundation offers matching dollars

Cass County Community Foundation has up to $100,000 available to provide matching funds for the creation of new endowments. The incentive offer is open to individuals, families and organizations looking to establish new scholarship funds, designated or donor-advised endowments, or unrestricted endowments, said Deanna Crispen, executive director for the Cass County Community Foundation.

The program is also available to start a “Family Legacy Fund,” which can be established by one or more members of a family to honor or memorialize their family. The fund can benefit any legitimate charitable purpose and can involve multiple family members in the process.

The minimum required to participate is $2,500, and there is a limit of $20,000 per fund. Funds will be matched, dollar for dollar, on a first-come, first-served basis through Dec. 31, 2008 or until $100,000 of match money has been exhausted.

For more information about creating a new fund, contact the foundation at (574) 722-2200.

State seeking longtime Indiana farming families

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture is seeking families who have been farming for more than 100 years.

The Hoosier Homestead Award Program recognizes those families with farms that have been owned by the same family for 100 years with a Centennial Award, for 150 years with a Sesquicentennial Award and for 200 years or more with a Bicentennial Award.

Participants must complete an application, which can be downloaded from ISDA’s Web site at www.IN.gov/isda or mailed by calling ISDA at (317) 232-8770. All materials must be received by June 27.

Those who qualify for the Hoosier Homestead Award will be recognized at a ceremony held during the state fair. Each family will receive a commemorative certificate signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman. In addition, recipients of the award will be eligible to buy a yard sign designating their property as a Hoosier Homestead Farm.

For more information, contact Ashley Tandy, Hoosier Homestead Program coordinator, at (317) 605-6960 or atandy@isda.in.gov

Auxiliary plans scrapbook sale

WINAMAC — The Pulaski Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is hosting a “Creative Memories” scrapbooking sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 in the hospital front lobby.

Merchandise will include traditional scrap booking supplies and a variety of computer software to create amazing projects with digital predesigned pages and story books.

Cass schedules swim program

WALTON — Sign up for the Lewis Cass summer swim team or swim lessons is taking place at the school.

Team practice is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and lessons are as follows:

A one-week session for $15 is set for June 9-12, and a two-week session for $30 will be June 16-26.

The lesson times are 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Water babies starts at 10 a.m.

For questions or information, call Haley Ramer at (574) 626-2829.

Salvation Army having back-to-school sign up

The Salvation Army in Logansport has announced the following dates for Back to School sign up, which will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11 at 418 S. Fourth St.

To be eligible to sign up for back to school supplies for children, parents must go to the Salvation Army during the times listed with current Indiana state photo I.D. or driver’s license for all adults in the household, Social Security cards for everyone in the household and proof of address, which would be a current bill with name and address on it.

More information will be received at sign up.

For questions, call (574) 722-1979. This will be the only time children will be signed up for school supplies.

Mobile cat clinic visiting Logansport

The Neuterscooter will be available on June 28.

The Neuterscooter is a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats only. The cost is $40, which includes spay/neuter and vaccinations. Make an appointment by visiting the Web site neuterscooter.com.

This clinic is being sponsored by A Cause for Paws.

Athletes to compete in Special Olympics

TERRE HAUTE — Cass County will send 84 athletes to compete at the 2008 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games today through Sunday on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute making it the fourth largest delegation to be represented.

Opening ceremonies kick off at 7 p.m. today at the ISU Hulman Center.

The 2008 Summer Games is the culmination of the spring sports season for Special Olympics athletes in Indiana. Competition events include track and field, aquatics, Bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes and volleyball. Nearly 2,000 coaches and volunteers will assist throughout the weekend, and hundreds of spectators and family members are expected to attend.

Blood drive slated at Logansport Mall

The Cass County Red Cross Blood Drive will be held today at the Logansport Mall in the community room.

All presenting donors will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for Cedar Point tickets, valid for the 2008 season, and a $50 gas card.

Donors may also enter a regional drawing for a grill package worth $1,250.

Those who donate must be at least 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good general health. A picture ID will also need to be presented.

To schedule an appointment, call (800) 448-3543.

Veterans office closing for training

The Veterans Service Office in the Cass County Government Building will be closed the week of June 9-13 to attend the 63rd annual Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs training conference in Indianapolis.

Each county service officer is required by state law to undergo a course of training. As rules and programs change, it is critical that the officers be informed of what is current and what has been changed or eliminated.

Regular hours will resume on June 16.