IRS Reports New Charity Scam in Wake of Typhoon Haiyan

  
 
A new scam has been reported by the Internal Revenue Service in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan that devastated the Philippines on Nov. 8. A press release from the IRS said that following major disasters, it is common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Such fraudulent schemes may involve contact by telephone, social media, email or in-person solicitations.

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Johnson Wins Sixth Championship, Hamlin Wins Last Race of NASCAR Sprint Cup Season

From the drop of the flag at the Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports crew set the tone as Johnson won the first race of the 2013 Sprint Cup season and set a goal of capturing a sixth championship. He made that goal a reality Sunday night when he lifted his sixth championship trophy at the end of the Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnson didn’t win the race, but he was able to keep track position and escape danger throughout the race to end the season as the champion – 19 points ahead of rival Matt Kenseth.

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Dillon Crowned Champion, Keselowski Wins Final Nationwide Race at Homestead

It was quite a championship battle between Austin Dillon and Sam Hornish, Jr. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series 200-lap Ford Ecoboost 300 Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was also the closest title match in all of NASCAR’s top series.

Hornish, Jr., who drove the No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Ford for Penske Racing, started on the pole and led the first part of the race and became the points leader and held that points lead for nearly the entire race. Dillon and Hornish switched places in the points after a late race caution (and rather lengthy caution) where Dillon would stay ahead of Hornish to claim the championship.

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Woman Revived After Life-Threatening Heroin Overdose

 
 
The presence of heroin in the area has resulted in a near-death experience for a LaPorte woman, as LaPorte police responded to a home in the 100 block of Stanton Street on Thursday for a possible drug overdose. Inside the home, police found a 30 year-old woman in the bathroom, lying against the tub, unconscious and turning blue. EMS arrived and were able to revive the woman.

Friends of the woman told police she had used heroin earlier and that they found her lying unconscious in the bathroom. They then called EMS and another friend.

The woman confirmed to EMS personnel that she had used heroin that night. She refused further medical treatment at the scene.

Beer Burglar Sought by LaPorte Police

 
 
A desperate man in need of liquid motivation reportedly stole a case of beer from the LaPorte Pantry after his SNAP card was denied for the purchase – not surprising, since SNAP benefits are not eligible to be used to purchase alcohol. According to the report, on Thursday, Nov. 14, at approximately 4:03 p.m., police responded to the store for the theft that had just occurred.

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House Fire Remains Under Investigation in LaPorte

 
 
LaPorte fire officials are investigating a house fire at 206 Washington St.

The fire occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Police and firefighters responded to the scene where a vacant home was found to be fully engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported at the scene and the fire remains under investigation.

If you know anything about this incident, or have any criminal or suspicious activity to report, call the LaPorte City Police Department at (219) 362-9446. You may also submit an anonymous crime tip online at www.lpcitypd.com.

Knox City Street Department Receives Grant

Knox City Council
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council learned this week that the city will be receiving new railroad signs and equipment.

Street Department Superintendent Jeff Borg applied for a grant for the signs in the amount of $2,681.20. Most of the signs are outdated and have lost their luster.

With this grant, the city will receive all new highly reflective signs that alert drivers of a railroad crossing. The grant will cover all new signs and poles for installation.

Pulaski Council Approves Transfer for Bridge 268

 
 
One bridge undergoing some work in Pulaski County will soon be complete, according to Highway Superintendent Mark Fox. Fox approached the county council this week to request a $10,462.68 transfer from the bridge repair fund to the fund specifically for bridge 268, and explained that more partial-depth patch work needed done than had been expected.

The county commissioners awarded a bid for the bridge’s inspection to JCI Bridge Group out of LaPorte, authorizing the company to inspect the bridge and shoreline to ensure there is no runoff or loose dirt that could develop problems. The original bid was in the amount of $176,527.32, and this additional expense was not foreseen.

Fox also informed the council that the decks are now on the bridge and the company is working on expansion joints and guardrails.

Eastern Pulaski School Board Approves Sound System Replacement

 
 

The Eastern Pulaski School Board approved a motion to replace the sound system in the middle school gym.

Superintendent Dan Foster stressed that the system has been very useful for the facility but it’s outdated.

“Dave DeLorenzo and the maintenance staff have had a lot of trouble with the sound system and it’s just an old system that needs some updating. We’re going to have that replaced,” explained Foster.

The system will be replaced in the next few months.

Knox Elementary School Students Participate in Carnival

 
 

The Knox Community Elementary School students participated in a carnival night Thursday night.

Guidance Counselor Connie Arndt said this was a great event to get the students and parents together and have some fun together on a school night. Dennis Fornelli helps coordinate the event and plans most of the activities throughout the night.

Arndt explained that it’s also a fundraiser for a school group.

“The student council earns money to help out the school and we buy different things for the school,” explained Arndt. “They get a lot of prizes. Hopefully, what we go for, is that they just have a fun time with their parents.”

This is an annual event and has been a successful fundraiser for the student council since its inception.

Greening of the Statehouse Gathering Today in Indianapolis

The state's largest gathering of environmental advocates will be held at the statehouse with the focus on agriculture and the impact on the environment and public health.
The state’s largest gathering of environmental advocates will be held at the statehouse with the focus on agriculture and the impact on the environment and public health.
The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Campus Center will be overtaken by environmentalists today for “Greening of the Statehouse,” a day of learning and engagement about Indiana’s most pressing environmental issues. The focus of this year’s event is on agriculture and safeguarding the state’s air, water and quality of life.

Kim Ferraro with the Hoosier Environmental Council said it’s an important issue this year because of several proposed policy measures aimed at significantly weakening protections from polluting industrial livestock operations.

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Matt Crafton Wins NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship

All he had to do was start the Ford Ecoboost 250 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway Friday night and he would clinch the championship. When the command to start engines was made, Crafton did just that and won his first NCWTS championship in his 13-year career.

The race wasn’t as easy as getting the championship for Crafton. He was involved in an accident on lap 137 that caused a lot of damage to his truck. The pit crew worked hard to get him back out on the racetrack to make sure his truck remained in contention for the owner’s championship. A piece of metal was hanging under the front bumper of the truck and Crafton kept going to ensure that track position was not lost. He drove his truck into the champion circle a little battered, but the crunched metal didn’t photobomb his winning smile as he held onto the NCWTS trophy.

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Kyle Busch Wins Nail Biter at Homestead

There wasn’t one green-white-checkered finish in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race, but three and Kyle Busch led all three to win the Ford Ecoboost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Jeb Burton was the cause of the first G-W-C when he got into the wall and cut a right front tire. Kyle Busch was able to keep the lead as Johnny Sauter spun to cause a second G-W-C and a great restart for Busch earned him the win on the final G-W-C.

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship Contender on the Pole for Sunday’s Race

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt Kenseth proved that he’s still a viable contender in the chase for the Sprint Cup trophy when he qualified his yellow No. 20 Dollar General Toyota on the pole for Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Kenseth had the top speed of 177.677 mph.

Kenseth trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 28 and leads Kevin Harvick by six points as they head into Sunday’s race where a new champion will be crowned.

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Three Arrested after Standoff with Police in Pulaski County

 Three people were arrested after a stand off with several members of law enforcement in Pulaski County Thursday night.

James Anthony Miller, 48, failed to return to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department after working at a local business as part of work release. The sheriff’s department was notified of Miller’s whereabouts at a residence north of Medaryville on U.S. 421. Two officers approached the house on foot in the dark and they could clearly see Miller, and two other people wanted on warrants inside the home.

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Knox City Police Department Investigating Infant Death

 
 
The Knox City Police Department is investigating the death of an infant.

Officers were called to the Woods Apartment complex at 701 E. Danker St. after dispatchers received a report of an infant who was not breathing. Medics from Starke County EMS arrived at the scene and were assisted by officers in the care of the infant. The child was transported to IU Health Starke Hospital and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

This incident remains under investigation with the Knox City Police Department. Foul play is not suspected, however an autopsy is scheduled for today. The child’s name is currently being withheld pending the outcome of the investigation.