Posted: Friday, October 23, 2009 5:45 pm | Updated: 7:03 pm, Fri Oct 23, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- Maconaquah School Corp. is helping out "Extreme Makeover" any way it can, from food to buses.
On Friday, a busload of students from the district arrived at the "Extreme Makeover" site to donate nearly 5,000 pounds of cans of food to help Miami County food banks.
Originally, the cans were for United Way's "Make a Difference Day," but when "Extreme Makeover" came the district chose to give to the Miami County food banks through "Extreme Makeover," said Debra Jones, superintendent of Maconaquah School Corp.
The cans donated will benefit the Salvation Army and Helping Hands food banks.
Also on Friday, the district was called to assist the volunteers and spectators in getting to the build site, because the nearly 2 inches of rain last night turned the field parking area into a muddy mess.
On Monday, Patrick Thompson of "Extreme Makeover" met with Maconaquah Schools and asked if the school could help by transporting in volunteers and spectators in case it would rain, said James Callane, assistant superintendent.
"We had a bus driver meeting and about all of them volunteered to help," he said. "So we've got a shift running three buses, one 24-7, and two of them 8 to 8. We started today and we are going to run through the weekend and see what happens. It's been pretty cool."
The buses are picking up the volunteers and spectators at 2075 Hoosier Boulevard within the Grissom Aeroplex, near the main gate.
On Saturday, the charity auction will also be near the parking area located in Hanger 200 at 2 p.m.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_858af8b6-c01d-11de-833c-001cc4c002e0.html
Thursday, June 10, 2010
'Extreme Makeover' charity auction moves to Grissom Aeroplex Saturday
Posted: Friday, October 23, 2009 3:45 pm | Updated: 7:35 pm, Fri Oct 23, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- With nearly two inches of rain Thursday night into Friday morning with the possibility of more, Hallmark Homes has planned to move the charity auction from the "Extreme Makeover" site.
Instead of being in the field across from the home, the auction will be held at Hanger 200 in the Grissom Aeroplex at 2075 Hoosier Boulevard, which is near the main gate.
Check-in to register for bidding will be at 1 p.m., said Paul Schwinghammer, Hallmark Homes president. The auction is planned to begin at 2 p.m., or a little later, he said.
"We are looking for new products of any kind or any antiques," he said. "Anything that would sell good at an auction."
The design team is also participating in the auction to benefit the Cowan-Brown family.
"There will be autographed items signed by the design team, hard hats and t-shirts signed by the design team," he said. "We will also have some special products that the design team has been working on for Kori (Brown)'s fundraising efforts. It's going be a team effort between everybody including the design team to try to raise money for both Kori's fund and for the family."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_c5683568-c00c-11de-93e3-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- With nearly two inches of rain Thursday night into Friday morning with the possibility of more, Hallmark Homes has planned to move the charity auction from the "Extreme Makeover" site.
Instead of being in the field across from the home, the auction will be held at Hanger 200 in the Grissom Aeroplex at 2075 Hoosier Boulevard, which is near the main gate.
Check-in to register for bidding will be at 1 p.m., said Paul Schwinghammer, Hallmark Homes president. The auction is planned to begin at 2 p.m., or a little later, he said.
"We are looking for new products of any kind or any antiques," he said. "Anything that would sell good at an auction."
The design team is also participating in the auction to benefit the Cowan-Brown family.
"There will be autographed items signed by the design team, hard hats and t-shirts signed by the design team," he said. "We will also have some special products that the design team has been working on for Kori (Brown)'s fundraising efforts. It's going be a team effort between everybody including the design team to try to raise money for both Kori's fund and for the family."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_c5683568-c00c-11de-93e3-001cc4c002e0.html
Family, neighbors had idea that 'Extreme Makeover' may come
Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2009 8:40 pm | Updated: 10:07 am, Fri Oct 23, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 1 comment
BUNKER HILL - Relatives and neighbors of the Cowan-Brown family had some idea that their country road was about to change.
Twelve-year-old Kori Brown did her part by raising thousands of dollars to the American Cancer Society, but the home she lived in was over-run by mold and it was making her sick, not to mention, the rest of her family.
Thursday marked the end of a barn-turned-home decades ago.
"Hopefully, it's a whole lot healthier for them," said Phil Cowan, the father of homeowner Andy Cowan. "They bought the house about seven years ago. In the next year, or so, they discovered mold in it."
The mold got Kori sicker and sicker, he said.
"We began taking walls out, taking flooring out, rebuilding putting all new studs in and new sub-floor in and a couple years later the mold would be back," he said. "We worked on the outside of it and took the siding and stone off of it and put in all new siding, and still a couple years after we'd repaired it, mold would come back."
Phil Cowan said the family built a new south addition onto the house about three years ago and it included a kitchen and two bedrooms.
"That's basically where they lived because of the mold in the rest of the house," he said.
For a house that had so much mold, it was not likely that the family could have sold it, he said.
Then yesterday came with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" arriving.
"At 2:00, I came down and I was able to say 15 words to (Andy) before they wisked him off to do interviews and I wont see or hear from him until Tuesday," he said.
Andy Cowan's brother is also watching the construction of the custom-built home from Hallmark Homes.
"This is absolutely incredible," Todd Cowan said. "This proves that there are still good people out there who want to help."
Linda Hall is a neighbor who lives just down the road.
"They kind of told us it was in the works, but they really couldn't tell us much," she said. "We knew yesterday was to be the big day. I got up a little before 8 and I saw some cop cars running down here and I saw a guy down the road just a little ways with a camera. And, I thought, 'oh, it is going to this house then.'"
Last summer Hall was involved in an accident and the Cowan-Brown family cheered her up by fixing her food, she said. Mason also made her a card and put all the family members on it and brought it down, she said.
"I just think it's all great," she said. "I think it's wonderful what they are getting done for them and they are deserving of it. I don't even mind the noise at all. It's just going to be awful boring after they all leave."
Danny Feller lives directly next door to the Cowan-Brown family, so he is right in the middle of it all.
"I thought (the noise) may have bothered me last night, but it wasn't bad," he said. "I usually run a fan anyway."
Feller's grandchildren came to watch the demolition of the home Thursday.
"They were really excited when the house came down, of course," he said. "And now, they're bored."
Feller said that the Cowan-Brown family parked a travel trailer in their back yard this summer because the mold had gotten so bad in the house.
"They slept in the camper so they could have the air on, because they couldn't run the heating and cooling in the house because it was full of mold."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_0c7285f8-bf6d-11de-93d9-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 1 comment
BUNKER HILL - Relatives and neighbors of the Cowan-Brown family had some idea that their country road was about to change.
Twelve-year-old Kori Brown did her part by raising thousands of dollars to the American Cancer Society, but the home she lived in was over-run by mold and it was making her sick, not to mention, the rest of her family.
Thursday marked the end of a barn-turned-home decades ago.
"Hopefully, it's a whole lot healthier for them," said Phil Cowan, the father of homeowner Andy Cowan. "They bought the house about seven years ago. In the next year, or so, they discovered mold in it."
The mold got Kori sicker and sicker, he said.
"We began taking walls out, taking flooring out, rebuilding putting all new studs in and new sub-floor in and a couple years later the mold would be back," he said. "We worked on the outside of it and took the siding and stone off of it and put in all new siding, and still a couple years after we'd repaired it, mold would come back."
Phil Cowan said the family built a new south addition onto the house about three years ago and it included a kitchen and two bedrooms.
"That's basically where they lived because of the mold in the rest of the house," he said.
For a house that had so much mold, it was not likely that the family could have sold it, he said.
Then yesterday came with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" arriving.
"At 2:00, I came down and I was able to say 15 words to (Andy) before they wisked him off to do interviews and I wont see or hear from him until Tuesday," he said.
Andy Cowan's brother is also watching the construction of the custom-built home from Hallmark Homes.
"This is absolutely incredible," Todd Cowan said. "This proves that there are still good people out there who want to help."
Linda Hall is a neighbor who lives just down the road.
"They kind of told us it was in the works, but they really couldn't tell us much," she said. "We knew yesterday was to be the big day. I got up a little before 8 and I saw some cop cars running down here and I saw a guy down the road just a little ways with a camera. And, I thought, 'oh, it is going to this house then.'"
Last summer Hall was involved in an accident and the Cowan-Brown family cheered her up by fixing her food, she said. Mason also made her a card and put all the family members on it and brought it down, she said.
"I just think it's all great," she said. "I think it's wonderful what they are getting done for them and they are deserving of it. I don't even mind the noise at all. It's just going to be awful boring after they all leave."
Danny Feller lives directly next door to the Cowan-Brown family, so he is right in the middle of it all.
"I thought (the noise) may have bothered me last night, but it wasn't bad," he said. "I usually run a fan anyway."
Feller's grandchildren came to watch the demolition of the home Thursday.
"They were really excited when the house came down, of course," he said. "And now, they're bored."
Feller said that the Cowan-Brown family parked a travel trailer in their back yard this summer because the mold had gotten so bad in the house.
"They slept in the camper so they could have the air on, because they couldn't run the heating and cooling in the house because it was full of mold."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_0c7285f8-bf6d-11de-93d9-001cc4c002e0.html
'Extreme Makeover' demolishes home, Hallmark Homes begins 106-hour countdown
Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:55 pm | Updated: 9:45 pm, Thu Oct 22, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- Just after 11:00 a.m. Thursday, a home that has stood its ground for decades was only a cloud of dust with tons of debris. It was a site one may see after a direct hit from a tornado, but it was not.
Thursday marked an end to an era for the current Cowan-Brown family home. It was demolition day for ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and the custom builder, Hallmark Homes.
The crowd of hundreds of volunteers stood in front of the home and cheered as two excavators destroyed the home in a matter of minutes.
Now that the home is gone, the 106-hour clock is officially ticking. As for what the home will look like, that is still uncertain at this time. But, Hallmark Homes president Paul Schwinghammer says the family only wants a house where they can live.
"Their main focus was they wanted a nice house that they can breathe in and live in," Schwinghammer said. "They really weren't concerned about any special amenities other than a nice, basic house."
After weeks of planning, he says the hard part of preparing is over and it is just a matter of execution.
One thing that makes this project very different from previous ones is that this time there is a camera.
"A lot of it is hurry up and wait, because we are having to wait on cameras and we're having to wait on personalities to take and re-take and shoot different scenes," he said. "We have been warned of the process. They'll come and stop us when we need to stop. They'll let us go when we need to go."
Even with the camera on them, he says the time should not be of any issue.
"It's all built in, so there shouldn't be too many difficulties," he said.
As for the goals for Thursday night, Hallmark Homes CEO Derek Wilder said they are trying to get the footer dug.
"The main goal, depending on the rain, is to be framing on it tomorrow," he said. "Sometime tomorrow if we can start framing, I think we would be on track."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_2e7d4e2c-bf67-11de-9ad5-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- Just after 11:00 a.m. Thursday, a home that has stood its ground for decades was only a cloud of dust with tons of debris. It was a site one may see after a direct hit from a tornado, but it was not.
Thursday marked an end to an era for the current Cowan-Brown family home. It was demolition day for ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and the custom builder, Hallmark Homes.
The crowd of hundreds of volunteers stood in front of the home and cheered as two excavators destroyed the home in a matter of minutes.
Now that the home is gone, the 106-hour clock is officially ticking. As for what the home will look like, that is still uncertain at this time. But, Hallmark Homes president Paul Schwinghammer says the family only wants a house where they can live.
"Their main focus was they wanted a nice house that they can breathe in and live in," Schwinghammer said. "They really weren't concerned about any special amenities other than a nice, basic house."
After weeks of planning, he says the hard part of preparing is over and it is just a matter of execution.
One thing that makes this project very different from previous ones is that this time there is a camera.
"A lot of it is hurry up and wait, because we are having to wait on cameras and we're having to wait on personalities to take and re-take and shoot different scenes," he said. "We have been warned of the process. They'll come and stop us when we need to stop. They'll let us go when we need to go."
Even with the camera on them, he says the time should not be of any issue.
"It's all built in, so there shouldn't be too many difficulties," he said.
As for the goals for Thursday night, Hallmark Homes CEO Derek Wilder said they are trying to get the footer dug.
"The main goal, depending on the rain, is to be framing on it tomorrow," he said. "Sometime tomorrow if we can start framing, I think we would be on track."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_2e7d4e2c-bf67-11de-9ad5-001cc4c002e0.html
'Extreme' family to be complete again after 'makeover'
Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:00 pm | Updated: 9:31 pm, Wed Oct 21, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- The guessing is over. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has chosen a family who are truly deserving of a gift.
Just after 8 a.m., the famous bus arrived via heavy police escort from many area agencies at the home of the Cowan-Brown family, near Bunker Hill.
The show's host Ty Pennington then came to the front door for the door knock and his loud welcome with his megaphone.
"There was falling down the stairs," said Heather Cowan, the mother, at the press conference. "It was probably not the most graceful exit our family has ever had, but again it was very unreal. It still has not sunk in. It's like a dream."
The family also includes her husband, Andy, and children who are Mason Cowan, 8; Kori Brown, 12; Trevor Brown, 13; and Ryan Brown, 16.
"Extreme Makover: Home Edition" looks for heroes, people who give back, inspire their community and make a difference, said executive producer Conrad Rickets last week. This episode's hero is Kori Brown.
Brown was diagnosed with a blood disease six years ago and while she was receiving treatment she became friends with Alyssa Lewandowski, a Noblesville girl who was being treated for leukemia. Brown later heard an advertisement for American Cancer Society's Relay for Life about helping to find a cure for cancer. She then decided that she was going to help.
"I have raised over $38,000 for the American Cancer Society by basically just going door-to-door selling things and we had auctions before," Brown said. "We did the work because of my friend Alyssa, she has cancer, but she is in remission now."
This young girl is out helping people who she has never met by supporting this cause. The problem is that the house she lives in that was originally a barn is over-run by mold. Kori is allergic to mold. The family first found the mold five years ago, they said, and it has gotten so bad in the past two years that not all the members of the family were able to stay together.
"My children have been farmed out to other places to live because it's too bad of a house," Heather Cowan said. "You're literally going to put our family back together again."
The arrival of the show brought the first day of filming. Volunteers walked over and over again to get the "Braveheart march" just right. And, the family left and returned, and left again multiple times in a white Ford Excursion limousine.
The family is now on their way to Disneyland for a week, with all expenses paid. As for missing a week of school, she says Macanoquah is a great school.
"It's just very overwhelming and I know it hasn't hit yet," she said. "I'm kind of numb right now, but I just hope that you understand that you guys have saved our family. It's not just about the house. This is a lot bigger than the house. I am a little jealous because I think it would be very fun to stay here and watch it."
Demolition of the family's home will be at about 10 a.m. Thursday. When the house is destroyed the 106-hour clock to complete the project will begin. The thousands of volunteers will work non-stop until it is finished.
During this season, the show will also feature a celebrity. Rapper Xzibit, and host of MTV's "Pimp My Ride," will be helping out during the week at the site.
The first day of taping also drew Peru's mayor to the event.
"I think what this shows for the people who will be watching what kind of a community we have here," Mayor Jim Walker said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_6a0888ec-bea1-11de-910a-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
BUNKER HILL -- The guessing is over. ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has chosen a family who are truly deserving of a gift.
Just after 8 a.m., the famous bus arrived via heavy police escort from many area agencies at the home of the Cowan-Brown family, near Bunker Hill.
The show's host Ty Pennington then came to the front door for the door knock and his loud welcome with his megaphone.
"There was falling down the stairs," said Heather Cowan, the mother, at the press conference. "It was probably not the most graceful exit our family has ever had, but again it was very unreal. It still has not sunk in. It's like a dream."
The family also includes her husband, Andy, and children who are Mason Cowan, 8; Kori Brown, 12; Trevor Brown, 13; and Ryan Brown, 16.
"Extreme Makover: Home Edition" looks for heroes, people who give back, inspire their community and make a difference, said executive producer Conrad Rickets last week. This episode's hero is Kori Brown.
Brown was diagnosed with a blood disease six years ago and while she was receiving treatment she became friends with Alyssa Lewandowski, a Noblesville girl who was being treated for leukemia. Brown later heard an advertisement for American Cancer Society's Relay for Life about helping to find a cure for cancer. She then decided that she was going to help.
"I have raised over $38,000 for the American Cancer Society by basically just going door-to-door selling things and we had auctions before," Brown said. "We did the work because of my friend Alyssa, she has cancer, but she is in remission now."
This young girl is out helping people who she has never met by supporting this cause. The problem is that the house she lives in that was originally a barn is over-run by mold. Kori is allergic to mold. The family first found the mold five years ago, they said, and it has gotten so bad in the past two years that not all the members of the family were able to stay together.
"My children have been farmed out to other places to live because it's too bad of a house," Heather Cowan said. "You're literally going to put our family back together again."
The arrival of the show brought the first day of filming. Volunteers walked over and over again to get the "Braveheart march" just right. And, the family left and returned, and left again multiple times in a white Ford Excursion limousine.
The family is now on their way to Disneyland for a week, with all expenses paid. As for missing a week of school, she says Macanoquah is a great school.
"It's just very overwhelming and I know it hasn't hit yet," she said. "I'm kind of numb right now, but I just hope that you understand that you guys have saved our family. It's not just about the house. This is a lot bigger than the house. I am a little jealous because I think it would be very fun to stay here and watch it."
Demolition of the family's home will be at about 10 a.m. Thursday. When the house is destroyed the 106-hour clock to complete the project will begin. The thousands of volunteers will work non-stop until it is finished.
During this season, the show will also feature a celebrity. Rapper Xzibit, and host of MTV's "Pimp My Ride," will be helping out during the week at the site.
The first day of taping also drew Peru's mayor to the event.
"I think what this shows for the people who will be watching what kind of a community we have here," Mayor Jim Walker said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_6a0888ec-bea1-11de-910a-001cc4c03286.html
Local organizations urge people to prepare in case of a fire
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 4:00 pm | Updated: 4:12 pm, Fri Oct 16, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
With winter on its way, many people will be using more electricity and gas in their homes. October is the perfect time for people to become more aware of how to prevent a fire, especially when fire causes more deaths than any other disaster, according to the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross North Central Indiana Chapter, Fire & Flood Recovery and the Kokomo Fire Department participated in a fire prevention month event Friday afternoon in front of Wal-Mart.
"I don't think there are enough people out there who really understand that the month of October is fire prevention month and so what people can do to make precautions and so basically that is our main goal," said Hattie Grimes, marketing director for Fire & Flood Recovery.
In preparation for the cold, winter months where there is more electricity going through the home, as well as furnaces are beginning to be turned on for the first time, the three groups are trying to inform people on how to prepare in case of a fire.
"We had some people asking us, 'Why would you want to have the fire department, the Red Cross and the Fire & Flood Prevention, what are you all doing here?'" said Aimee Macaluso, Fire & Flood Recovery customer service representative product manager. "We're like, 'Well, you know we want to educate people so that there aren't fires. We don't want fires. Yes, it makes our business profitable, but if we educate people on not to have fires then if something does happen, they might remember our name."
Representatives from the three groups informed people by handing out pamphlets and answering questions about fire prevention.
The American Red Cross suggests ways on how to prepare for a fire:
-Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
-Test the smoke alarm once a month and replace all batteries at least once a year.
-Replace smoke alarms every ten years.
-Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department on how to use them.
-Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
-Select a location outside where everyone would meet after escaping.
-Once out of the home, stay out. Call the fire department.
-If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window. If there is a phone, call the fire department and tell them where you are.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_200e26cc-ba8f-11de-a1f0-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
With winter on its way, many people will be using more electricity and gas in their homes. October is the perfect time for people to become more aware of how to prevent a fire, especially when fire causes more deaths than any other disaster, according to the American Red Cross.
The American Red Cross North Central Indiana Chapter, Fire & Flood Recovery and the Kokomo Fire Department participated in a fire prevention month event Friday afternoon in front of Wal-Mart.
"I don't think there are enough people out there who really understand that the month of October is fire prevention month and so what people can do to make precautions and so basically that is our main goal," said Hattie Grimes, marketing director for Fire & Flood Recovery.
In preparation for the cold, winter months where there is more electricity going through the home, as well as furnaces are beginning to be turned on for the first time, the three groups are trying to inform people on how to prepare in case of a fire.
"We had some people asking us, 'Why would you want to have the fire department, the Red Cross and the Fire & Flood Prevention, what are you all doing here?'" said Aimee Macaluso, Fire & Flood Recovery customer service representative product manager. "We're like, 'Well, you know we want to educate people so that there aren't fires. We don't want fires. Yes, it makes our business profitable, but if we educate people on not to have fires then if something does happen, they might remember our name."
Representatives from the three groups informed people by handing out pamphlets and answering questions about fire prevention.
The American Red Cross suggests ways on how to prepare for a fire:
-Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
-Test the smoke alarm once a month and replace all batteries at least once a year.
-Replace smoke alarms every ten years.
-Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department on how to use them.
-Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
-Select a location outside where everyone would meet after escaping.
-Once out of the home, stay out. Call the fire department.
-If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window. If there is a phone, call the fire department and tell them where you are.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_200e26cc-ba8f-11de-a1f0-001cc4c03286.html
Volunteers fill Oakbrook Church for 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' pep rally
Posted: Friday, October 16, 2009 12:20 pm | Updated: 11:29 am, Wed Oct 21, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The clock is ticking closer to ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" fulfilling a deserving Kokomo-area family's dream of a new home.
Nearly a thousand people packed the auditorium at Oakbrook Community Church Friday morning for a pep rally to motivate the volunteers prior to the television show arriving on Wednesday.
Along with Hallmark Homes, the custom-home builders for the project, contractors and various volunteers was the television show's executive producer Conrad Rickets who came to the event.
"I think this was great," said Paul Schwinghammer, the president of Hallmark Homes. "I thought it was good for Conrad flying in just for this event. We were honored to have him here and I thought it was a great turnout for a Friday work day for people and everybody is excited and some people are coming in from out of state."
Rickets has been involved with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" since its beginning seven years ago.
"What we are looking for are heroes," Rickets said. "People, who give back, inspire their community and make a difference."
Since the show's start to now, the community involvement has gotten so large, he said.
"It started off with a couple hundred people coming out to help," he said. "Now it's somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 people that are coming out to help. I think what this show does is it reminds everyone the greatness of our nation."
In good times and not-so-good times people continue to volunteer their time helping a deserving family, he said.
"We find ourselves especially in these economic times that things are out of control and that we have no control of our life anymore," he said. "I think the reason why we have so many people show up is in that moment they realize that they do have control, they can make a difference and those are powerful, powerful things for us as a nation and for us as individuals."
Even with the outpouring of volunteers for next week's event, there are still some holes that need to be filled. The home is in need for interior furnishings, some electrical supplies and some more sod, Schwinghammer said.
With Friday's pep rally over, the next step in the process will be arrival of the show's host Ty Pennington to the lucky family's home on Wednesday.
"We have a countdown clock on our Web site that's making me a little nervous," he said. "Now we are four and a half days away until the door knock and then it starts the next day."
Hundreds of people have already signed-up as a volunteer, but if anyone wants to still volunteer they can go online to hallmarkextreme.com, Hallmark Homes CEO Derek Wilder said.
Events coming up at the chosen home site are:
On Wednesday, the actual address and map to the house will be present on the Web site, hallmarkextreme.com.
During the week of the build, there will be a food bank drive at the build site to benefit local food pantries.
At 2 p.m. on Oct. 24, there will be a charity auction and all of the proceeds will benefit the family.
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 25, will be Family Day. There will be a live circus, with food and activities for all ages.
Also on Oct. 25, there will be a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the site. All who donate blood will receive a free Mike's Express Car Wash (first 500) and a commemorative T-shirt.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_ba1ba268-ba70-11de-a007-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The clock is ticking closer to ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" fulfilling a deserving Kokomo-area family's dream of a new home.
Nearly a thousand people packed the auditorium at Oakbrook Community Church Friday morning for a pep rally to motivate the volunteers prior to the television show arriving on Wednesday.
Along with Hallmark Homes, the custom-home builders for the project, contractors and various volunteers was the television show's executive producer Conrad Rickets who came to the event.
"I think this was great," said Paul Schwinghammer, the president of Hallmark Homes. "I thought it was good for Conrad flying in just for this event. We were honored to have him here and I thought it was a great turnout for a Friday work day for people and everybody is excited and some people are coming in from out of state."
Rickets has been involved with "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" since its beginning seven years ago.
"What we are looking for are heroes," Rickets said. "People, who give back, inspire their community and make a difference."
Since the show's start to now, the community involvement has gotten so large, he said.
"It started off with a couple hundred people coming out to help," he said. "Now it's somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 people that are coming out to help. I think what this show does is it reminds everyone the greatness of our nation."
In good times and not-so-good times people continue to volunteer their time helping a deserving family, he said.
"We find ourselves especially in these economic times that things are out of control and that we have no control of our life anymore," he said. "I think the reason why we have so many people show up is in that moment they realize that they do have control, they can make a difference and those are powerful, powerful things for us as a nation and for us as individuals."
Even with the outpouring of volunteers for next week's event, there are still some holes that need to be filled. The home is in need for interior furnishings, some electrical supplies and some more sod, Schwinghammer said.
With Friday's pep rally over, the next step in the process will be arrival of the show's host Ty Pennington to the lucky family's home on Wednesday.
"We have a countdown clock on our Web site that's making me a little nervous," he said. "Now we are four and a half days away until the door knock and then it starts the next day."
Hundreds of people have already signed-up as a volunteer, but if anyone wants to still volunteer they can go online to hallmarkextreme.com, Hallmark Homes CEO Derek Wilder said.
Events coming up at the chosen home site are:
On Wednesday, the actual address and map to the house will be present on the Web site, hallmarkextreme.com.
During the week of the build, there will be a food bank drive at the build site to benefit local food pantries.
At 2 p.m. on Oct. 24, there will be a charity auction and all of the proceeds will benefit the family.
From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 25, will be Family Day. There will be a live circus, with food and activities for all ages.
Also on Oct. 25, there will be a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the site. All who donate blood will receive a free Mike's Express Car Wash (first 500) and a commemorative T-shirt.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_ba1ba268-ba70-11de-a007-001cc4c03286.html
Ghost-tracking becomes part of Ivy Tech curriculum
Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:00 am | Updated: 4:41 pm, Wed Oct 14, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Most people at one time or another have thought about ghosts. It is natural to think about the "what if," and with movie hits such as "Ghostbusters" people wonder. For 30 people, they are taking it a step further by enrolling in a paranormal investigation class that began Thursday.
Ivy Tech Community College began the class last year after Al Taylor, the public relations director of the Kokomo Chapter of Indiana Ghost Trackers, came to the college with the idea. Admittedly, he said, the idea came from his wife.
"We are always looking for ways to raise money for our club and since we are a non-profit, we don't have any money, we are usually broke all the time," Taylor said. "I approached Ivy Tech to see if I could have a class here. It seems like a winner. For the first class, we had over 50 people. We filled two classrooms for the very first time."
With television shows like "Ghost Hunters" on SyFy Channel, the idea of the paranormal has become more popular. More people are interested in the idea of ghosts than possibly ever before without being ashamed of it.
"In my opinion, I think a lot of people have always been interested in this and they didn't want to think that they were going crazy," he said.
Now each time the Indiana Ghost Trackers work on an investigation, the odds are that nothing paranormal is actually happening, but a few times there poses a question on what is really happening.
"Eight out of ten times, people just want to make sure that they are not going crazy," said Jerry Smith, investigation coordinator. "We basically try to debunk. All of us in our group are usually more skeptics than anything. We go in to try to disprove. We probably debunk 90 to 95 percent of everything we find. But there are those few percent of times where you can't sway what it was."
The investigations the club does and the one the class will do are very similar to what shows like "Ghost Hunters" does. The equipment that is seen on TV is the same equipment that the club uses. But, there are some differences.
"The TV has it so glamorized," Smith said. "When we do an investigation, it is one of the most boring things as far as to watch a hallway for seven hours and hope a door opens."
Taylor agreed with Smith saying a one-hour show that did six to eight hours of investigation doesn't really do it justice.
During the four-week class, the attendees will learn about the equipment, the protocol and how to conduct themselves when investigating.
The class learns about what they could encounter, such as interactive spirits, residual hauntings, earth elementals, poltergeists and demons. Also, they learn about documenting the conditions of the site, such as weather and its history. And, as time goes on, they will learn about actually performing an investigation, including setting up the equipment, a preliminary walk through of the location, working in the dark, working with the equipment and then sitting and listening for something to show up.
For their final class on Oct. 29, the group will be investigating The Warehouse on south Union Street, the four-story building has been known to have paranormal activity, they said.
One thing Indiana Ghost Trackers does is to always ask for permission when going to a site. They call the caretaker of the property and the Sheriff's department to make sure the proper authorities know of the investigation, Smith said.
As far as how this chapter compares to other chapters in Indiana, Taylor says the local chapter is blowing away other chapters when it comes to investigations.
"It's not that there is more activity here," he said. "We are just more active in the area."
Taylor said they may offer an advanced paranormal investigation class in the spring at Ivy Tech.
For the weekends of Oct. 17 and 18, and Oct. 23 and 24, the Kokomo chapter will be having its third annual overnight at The Warehouse. It is open to the public and it costs $25 to pre-register at kokomoghosts.org. The event runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and food and drinks will be served all night.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_2c4faff4-b900-11de-815f-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Most people at one time or another have thought about ghosts. It is natural to think about the "what if," and with movie hits such as "Ghostbusters" people wonder. For 30 people, they are taking it a step further by enrolling in a paranormal investigation class that began Thursday.
Ivy Tech Community College began the class last year after Al Taylor, the public relations director of the Kokomo Chapter of Indiana Ghost Trackers, came to the college with the idea. Admittedly, he said, the idea came from his wife.
"We are always looking for ways to raise money for our club and since we are a non-profit, we don't have any money, we are usually broke all the time," Taylor said. "I approached Ivy Tech to see if I could have a class here. It seems like a winner. For the first class, we had over 50 people. We filled two classrooms for the very first time."
With television shows like "Ghost Hunters" on SyFy Channel, the idea of the paranormal has become more popular. More people are interested in the idea of ghosts than possibly ever before without being ashamed of it.
"In my opinion, I think a lot of people have always been interested in this and they didn't want to think that they were going crazy," he said.
Now each time the Indiana Ghost Trackers work on an investigation, the odds are that nothing paranormal is actually happening, but a few times there poses a question on what is really happening.
"Eight out of ten times, people just want to make sure that they are not going crazy," said Jerry Smith, investigation coordinator. "We basically try to debunk. All of us in our group are usually more skeptics than anything. We go in to try to disprove. We probably debunk 90 to 95 percent of everything we find. But there are those few percent of times where you can't sway what it was."
The investigations the club does and the one the class will do are very similar to what shows like "Ghost Hunters" does. The equipment that is seen on TV is the same equipment that the club uses. But, there are some differences.
"The TV has it so glamorized," Smith said. "When we do an investigation, it is one of the most boring things as far as to watch a hallway for seven hours and hope a door opens."
Taylor agreed with Smith saying a one-hour show that did six to eight hours of investigation doesn't really do it justice.
During the four-week class, the attendees will learn about the equipment, the protocol and how to conduct themselves when investigating.
The class learns about what they could encounter, such as interactive spirits, residual hauntings, earth elementals, poltergeists and demons. Also, they learn about documenting the conditions of the site, such as weather and its history. And, as time goes on, they will learn about actually performing an investigation, including setting up the equipment, a preliminary walk through of the location, working in the dark, working with the equipment and then sitting and listening for something to show up.
For their final class on Oct. 29, the group will be investigating The Warehouse on south Union Street, the four-story building has been known to have paranormal activity, they said.
One thing Indiana Ghost Trackers does is to always ask for permission when going to a site. They call the caretaker of the property and the Sheriff's department to make sure the proper authorities know of the investigation, Smith said.
As far as how this chapter compares to other chapters in Indiana, Taylor says the local chapter is blowing away other chapters when it comes to investigations.
"It's not that there is more activity here," he said. "We are just more active in the area."
Taylor said they may offer an advanced paranormal investigation class in the spring at Ivy Tech.
For the weekends of Oct. 17 and 18, and Oct. 23 and 24, the Kokomo chapter will be having its third annual overnight at The Warehouse. It is open to the public and it costs $25 to pre-register at kokomoghosts.org. The event runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and food and drinks will be served all night.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_2c4faff4-b900-11de-815f-001cc4c002e0.html
Extreme Makeover coming to Kokomo
Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:00 am | Updated: 11:29 am, Wed Oct 21, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
A lucky Kokomo area family in need has been chosen as a future home featured on "ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
On Tuesday, Hallmark Homes, based out of Anderson, announced at the Inventrek building that they will build a brand new custom-built home for the family.
Five area families within a 30-mile radius of Kokomo are being considered by the television show and the announcement of the actual home will be on Oct. 21, the day Ty Pennington, the host of the show, arrives on their doorstep. The moving van will soon arrive and the home will be demolished the next day. A new home will then be completed in 106 hours, said Paul Schwinghammer, president of Hallmark Homes.
The size and other specifications are not yet determined, but the home will be larger than a bread box and smaller than the Empire State Building, Schwinghammer said.
For the design of the home, the needs of the family are considered, he said.
"A lot of the times that happens right on site," he said. "So we work with the designers in discussing the overall needs of the family being considered and the actual final touches will happen once the family is chosen and that is revealed."
The home will be built completely on donations from companies and volunteers, he said.
"Everything is donated," he said. "We need people on the roof and on the ground and everywhere in between. We're going to be serving food, serving coffee, serving drinks and snacks 24 hours a day to hundreds of people. We have holes that need to be filled. We've been working on this for two weeks trying to find subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers for the project to donate the materials. We don't make a nickel on this. None of the trades are making a dime."
People who would like to volunteer from skilled to unskilled can sign-up by going to hallmarkextreme.com.
One such hole currently for the project is for drywall, he said.
For each project that "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is a part of, there are special activities that go on.
"We have a charity auction planned, family day planned, blood drive, and a food bank drive planned," he said. "The show is known to fill up three food pantries every time they come into a town. We expect to do at least that, if not more for this one. We're going to give lots of blood, and we're going to get lots of people involved even if it is in those ways."
Recently, Schwinghammer attended an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" taping in St. Paul, Minn., where he witnessed a home being demolished.
During the construction of the home, the television show will have its traveling security with them along with local police, he said. The television crew will have production equipment on the property and possibly surrounding properties as well.
"There will be tents and other things sitting on other people's yards and they get compensated for it," he said. "For the neighbors who are really close, they offer to put them up in a hotel if it's going to be inconvenient. Some of the neighbors that we talked to said, 'Heck no, I don't want to be in a hotel. I want to sit on my porch and watch the action.'"
During the show, a variety of sponsorships will be offered and the proceeds will benefit the cause and the family.
On Oct. 16, there will be a pep rally for the show. The show's producer Conrad Rickets will be attending. The time and place are yet to be determined and will be on hallmarkextreme.com when it becomes available.
When Schwinghammer first found out about the possibility of the show coming, he thought it was some sort of a joke.
"I thought about it and I talked to my wife and Derek Wilder (the CEO) about it and we discussed and thought, 'You know, this isn't about Hallmark; this is really about what Hallmark can do along with this community to help a deserving family. This is quite an honor for us."
Some businesses and community partners have already signed up to be a part of the project. Partners include: Anderson University, Carter Lumber, Bilt Best Windows, Reese Wholesale, Climate Master, JN Stone, Modern Trailer Sales, Blakely's Flooring, Madison Millwork, Schneider Electric, and Ball State University.
The event from the Kokomo area will be the 164th build on the show and will be the 14th episode this season.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_add04210-b8ff-11de-bb5e-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
A lucky Kokomo area family in need has been chosen as a future home featured on "ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
On Tuesday, Hallmark Homes, based out of Anderson, announced at the Inventrek building that they will build a brand new custom-built home for the family.
Five area families within a 30-mile radius of Kokomo are being considered by the television show and the announcement of the actual home will be on Oct. 21, the day Ty Pennington, the host of the show, arrives on their doorstep. The moving van will soon arrive and the home will be demolished the next day. A new home will then be completed in 106 hours, said Paul Schwinghammer, president of Hallmark Homes.
The size and other specifications are not yet determined, but the home will be larger than a bread box and smaller than the Empire State Building, Schwinghammer said.
For the design of the home, the needs of the family are considered, he said.
"A lot of the times that happens right on site," he said. "So we work with the designers in discussing the overall needs of the family being considered and the actual final touches will happen once the family is chosen and that is revealed."
The home will be built completely on donations from companies and volunteers, he said.
"Everything is donated," he said. "We need people on the roof and on the ground and everywhere in between. We're going to be serving food, serving coffee, serving drinks and snacks 24 hours a day to hundreds of people. We have holes that need to be filled. We've been working on this for two weeks trying to find subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers for the project to donate the materials. We don't make a nickel on this. None of the trades are making a dime."
People who would like to volunteer from skilled to unskilled can sign-up by going to hallmarkextreme.com.
One such hole currently for the project is for drywall, he said.
For each project that "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is a part of, there are special activities that go on.
"We have a charity auction planned, family day planned, blood drive, and a food bank drive planned," he said. "The show is known to fill up three food pantries every time they come into a town. We expect to do at least that, if not more for this one. We're going to give lots of blood, and we're going to get lots of people involved even if it is in those ways."
Recently, Schwinghammer attended an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" taping in St. Paul, Minn., where he witnessed a home being demolished.
During the construction of the home, the television show will have its traveling security with them along with local police, he said. The television crew will have production equipment on the property and possibly surrounding properties as well.
"There will be tents and other things sitting on other people's yards and they get compensated for it," he said. "For the neighbors who are really close, they offer to put them up in a hotel if it's going to be inconvenient. Some of the neighbors that we talked to said, 'Heck no, I don't want to be in a hotel. I want to sit on my porch and watch the action.'"
During the show, a variety of sponsorships will be offered and the proceeds will benefit the cause and the family.
On Oct. 16, there will be a pep rally for the show. The show's producer Conrad Rickets will be attending. The time and place are yet to be determined and will be on hallmarkextreme.com when it becomes available.
When Schwinghammer first found out about the possibility of the show coming, he thought it was some sort of a joke.
"I thought about it and I talked to my wife and Derek Wilder (the CEO) about it and we discussed and thought, 'You know, this isn't about Hallmark; this is really about what Hallmark can do along with this community to help a deserving family. This is quite an honor for us."
Some businesses and community partners have already signed up to be a part of the project. Partners include: Anderson University, Carter Lumber, Bilt Best Windows, Reese Wholesale, Climate Master, JN Stone, Modern Trailer Sales, Blakely's Flooring, Madison Millwork, Schneider Electric, and Ball State University.
The event from the Kokomo area will be the 164th build on the show and will be the 14th episode this season.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_add04210-b8ff-11de-bb5e-001cc4c002e0.html
Howard County receives more H1N1 flu vaccines; announces free clinic for kids at IU Kokomo for Nov.
Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:50 pm | Updated: 7:48 pm, Wed Oct 14, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The Howard County Health Department received an additional 1,900 H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines Tuesday to combat the virus.
"This is a drop in the bucket to what our community needs," said Karen Lopke, H1N1 coordinator for the Howard County Health Department. "So we have to be very selective on who will be getting the vaccine."
The vaccines received were nasal mist, multi-dose and single-dose syringe and will be going to Howard Regional Health System and St. Joseph Hospital, as well as to obstetrics, pediatric and general practitioners, she said.
Lopke said the health department is expecting weekly deliveries of the vaccine. Last week, the department received 800 vaccines.
"I have a good feeling that we will be getting doses that will be increasing each and every week," she said.
She said that the H1N1 flu is much different in terms of who comes down with it than the seasonal flu.
"The seasonal flu usually only affects the older population," she said. "With this flu virus, we are seeing it more prevalent in the younger kids and the pregnant women."
Lopke says the vaccine is safe and she recommends that the vaccine be taken.
Each of the school corporations will be offering a day or two for sixth graders through high school to be vaccinated. She said the parents of the students will receive information about the vaccine, describing when it will take place and a parent consent form.
"Parents should look for that and ask their children for the consent form when it comes home so it just doesn't just lie around," she said.
For younger children between the ages of six months to fifth grade (about 10 years old), Indiana University Kokomo will have a free open clinic for the vaccine. There is no pre-registration and will not be taking names or times. The clinics will be Nov. 8, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, she said.
Young children may need a second dose of the vaccine because they have not been exposed to the flu virus in their life experiences, she said. A second date may be in early January, she said. The time span between the first dose and the second dose has to be a minimum of 21 days apart, she said.
Lopke says there should be no concern about the vaccine.
"There has been a lot of controversy and rumor," she said. "The vaccine has been made, tested, manufactured by the same companies that have manufactured seasonal flu vaccines for years. So the quality control and the methods of manufacture have been the same and the seasonal flu vaccine has been safe for years."
She said the side-effects from the vaccine are mild and are similar to the seasonal flu vaccine. Some side-effects are soreness in the arm from the shot and flu-like symptoms.
Lopke said that about 90 percent of the flu in the area is H1N1 and they are not getting confirmed unless they have been hospitalized. And for some in hospitals, she said they are not confirming them by test because it is so prevalent. Fortunately the cases in the area have been mild, she said.
"It is a concern because viruses do change and this is going to be a situation where it will come in waves," she said. "We will be going through peaks and valleys in the numbers of people that we see being affected by the flu."
She admits that the medical industry is more prepared now than it was during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, but people still need to take precautions.
"This doesn't mean to say that people should take it lightly, they should be vaccinated, especially the pregnant ladies and children," she said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_905386d2-b8f2-11de-8943-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The Howard County Health Department received an additional 1,900 H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines Tuesday to combat the virus.
"This is a drop in the bucket to what our community needs," said Karen Lopke, H1N1 coordinator for the Howard County Health Department. "So we have to be very selective on who will be getting the vaccine."
The vaccines received were nasal mist, multi-dose and single-dose syringe and will be going to Howard Regional Health System and St. Joseph Hospital, as well as to obstetrics, pediatric and general practitioners, she said.
Lopke said the health department is expecting weekly deliveries of the vaccine. Last week, the department received 800 vaccines.
"I have a good feeling that we will be getting doses that will be increasing each and every week," she said.
She said that the H1N1 flu is much different in terms of who comes down with it than the seasonal flu.
"The seasonal flu usually only affects the older population," she said. "With this flu virus, we are seeing it more prevalent in the younger kids and the pregnant women."
Lopke says the vaccine is safe and she recommends that the vaccine be taken.
Each of the school corporations will be offering a day or two for sixth graders through high school to be vaccinated. She said the parents of the students will receive information about the vaccine, describing when it will take place and a parent consent form.
"Parents should look for that and ask their children for the consent form when it comes home so it just doesn't just lie around," she said.
For younger children between the ages of six months to fifth grade (about 10 years old), Indiana University Kokomo will have a free open clinic for the vaccine. There is no pre-registration and will not be taking names or times. The clinics will be Nov. 8, Nov. 15 and Nov. 22, she said.
Young children may need a second dose of the vaccine because they have not been exposed to the flu virus in their life experiences, she said. A second date may be in early January, she said. The time span between the first dose and the second dose has to be a minimum of 21 days apart, she said.
Lopke says there should be no concern about the vaccine.
"There has been a lot of controversy and rumor," she said. "The vaccine has been made, tested, manufactured by the same companies that have manufactured seasonal flu vaccines for years. So the quality control and the methods of manufacture have been the same and the seasonal flu vaccine has been safe for years."
She said the side-effects from the vaccine are mild and are similar to the seasonal flu vaccine. Some side-effects are soreness in the arm from the shot and flu-like symptoms.
Lopke said that about 90 percent of the flu in the area is H1N1 and they are not getting confirmed unless they have been hospitalized. And for some in hospitals, she said they are not confirming them by test because it is so prevalent. Fortunately the cases in the area have been mild, she said.
"It is a concern because viruses do change and this is going to be a situation where it will come in waves," she said. "We will be going through peaks and valleys in the numbers of people that we see being affected by the flu."
She admits that the medical industry is more prepared now than it was during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, but people still need to take precautions.
"This doesn't mean to say that people should take it lightly, they should be vaccinated, especially the pregnant ladies and children," she said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_905386d2-b8f2-11de-8943-001cc4c002e0.html
Ind. GOP leader Bosma continues effort to cap property taxes
Posted: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 12:30 am | Updated: 9:23 am, Wed Oct 14, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Indiana House Republicans want to fulfill their promise on capping property taxes permanently that they proposed.
In 2008, the General Assembly cut the average property tax by almost 35 percent.
This upcoming session, the Republicans want the focus to be on property taxes again.
"The Democrats all voted against considering them in the last legislative session, Republican Leader Brian Bosma said. "The speaker (Bauer) continually indicates he's prepared to kill those measures. We will concentrate on passing the property tax caps notwithstanding Democrat opposition to it protecting Indiana taxpayers."
Bosma also said the party would like more liberty in each person's business, home and school.
For the 2010 election, Bosma, like any other politician, would like his party in control of the General Assembly because the districts will be redrawn in 2011. The Democrats have been in control of redistricting for the past 30 years.
"If Republicans have the opportunity to draw maps we'll draw fair, compact continuous maps that respect communities of interest and allow those who win the most votes to have the most representatives," Bosma said. "That's not the current situation with Republicans winning as much as 56 percent of the popular vote in some years and still having the minority because of the maps drawn in 2001. It wont be tough to draw fair maps that look good and accurately reflect the desires of local communities and if we have a Republican majority that is going to happen."
Bosma was a featured speaker at the Mike Karickhoff fundraiser for the District 30 seat Tuesday at the Kokomo Country Club.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_d00557f4-b877-11de-bdd3-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Indiana House Republicans want to fulfill their promise on capping property taxes permanently that they proposed.
In 2008, the General Assembly cut the average property tax by almost 35 percent.
This upcoming session, the Republicans want the focus to be on property taxes again.
"The Democrats all voted against considering them in the last legislative session, Republican Leader Brian Bosma said. "The speaker (Bauer) continually indicates he's prepared to kill those measures. We will concentrate on passing the property tax caps notwithstanding Democrat opposition to it protecting Indiana taxpayers."
Bosma also said the party would like more liberty in each person's business, home and school.
For the 2010 election, Bosma, like any other politician, would like his party in control of the General Assembly because the districts will be redrawn in 2011. The Democrats have been in control of redistricting for the past 30 years.
"If Republicans have the opportunity to draw maps we'll draw fair, compact continuous maps that respect communities of interest and allow those who win the most votes to have the most representatives," Bosma said. "That's not the current situation with Republicans winning as much as 56 percent of the popular vote in some years and still having the minority because of the maps drawn in 2001. It wont be tough to draw fair maps that look good and accurately reflect the desires of local communities and if we have a Republican majority that is going to happen."
Bosma was a featured speaker at the Mike Karickhoff fundraiser for the District 30 seat Tuesday at the Kokomo Country Club.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_d00557f4-b877-11de-bdd3-001cc4c002e0.html
All you need to know about Kokomo online
Posted: Thursday, October 8, 2009 1:00 am | Updated: 8:06 am, Thu Oct 8, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
For people in the Kokomo area who are looking for something to do locally, there is a Web site where they can find that for which they are looking. For businesses looking for another way to market themselves, there is a place for them, too. That place is AllKokomo.com.
This Web site is completely local, even down to its founder, Brandon Driscoll. Driscoll grew up in Peru and has lived in Kokomo for the past eight years. He received finance, economics and business management degrees from Indiana University Kokomo and is also a disabled Air Force veteran. On March 1, he launched Profit Web Systems, a premium Web site development company. A few months later, he launched AllKokomo.com as a way for locals to find out about local activities, businesses, and government easier.
Driscoll wants the feel of the Web site to be like a community page; everything from the background of the page to the logo of the site. Everything on the Web site incorporates the Kokomo area, he said.
"My idea behind it was most of us younger people are more into going on the internet," he said. "I have an iPhone, and that's how I find businesses. I don't pick up phone books anymore, and most people don't."
From that, Driscoll created a small business.
"The biggest problem with a lot of businesses is advertisements are so expensive, and so I created my own advertisement. That's where AllKokomo came about. It has my name all over it with Profit Web Systems. I'm not trying to make an arm and a leg off of this, so what I'm doing is people pay a simple $150 a year to be listed on our site. It has direct links to your Web site, coupons, employment, and all kinds of things. Everything on the site is very, very cheap. My philosophy behind this is I'm looking for a low price for maximum numbers versus a higher price for a select few."
The Web site is more than where to find a business. It is also a community site.
"Instead of remembering all of the local Web sites, people can just bring up AllKokomo.com," he said. "It's kind of like a 'Kokomo Google' in a way."
In a time when people are not as together as they once were, the site is tying to get a sense of community.
"AllKokomo.com is just a way to bring the community together," he said. "It's linked up through Twitter and Facebook so people can become fans, and they can post their comments and suggestions there. I do read the feedback from the community because it is for the community."
The site also features a business industry listing, advertisements, school delays and closings, a resources page with direct links, and 'deals of the week.'
"We are incorporating a lot of things that are already out there, but all we are doing is generating another avenue for people to find it," he said.
Driscoll said that AllKokomo.com cares to know about how each of the businesses that advertises is doing.
"I actually want to learn about everybody's businesses," said Driscoll. "We do things by bringing in numbers, saying 'We had 10,000 hits on our Web site. Are you interested in doing any more marketing, or is there anything we can do for you?'"
AllKokomo.com is continuing to add more features in the next weeks and months, he said. Recent additions have been a business spotlight and a photo gallery with scenic pictures from the area. Another addition will be an RSS feed to the Kokomo Perspective's Web site.
Also by Jan. 1, AllKokomo.com plans on having an application available for the iPhone and Blackberry.
"Very few people have phone books in their car," he said. "What if you need to call ahead for a reservation? What if you can't figure out where you want to go, or if it is still open? Now you can get on your phone and get straight to it. There are so many things you can do at the touch of your phone, and they are available soon."
If a business would like to be a part of AllKokomo.com, they can contact Driscoll through the Web site, he said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_5a209ed2-b394-11de-878f-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
For people in the Kokomo area who are looking for something to do locally, there is a Web site where they can find that for which they are looking. For businesses looking for another way to market themselves, there is a place for them, too. That place is AllKokomo.com.
This Web site is completely local, even down to its founder, Brandon Driscoll. Driscoll grew up in Peru and has lived in Kokomo for the past eight years. He received finance, economics and business management degrees from Indiana University Kokomo and is also a disabled Air Force veteran. On March 1, he launched Profit Web Systems, a premium Web site development company. A few months later, he launched AllKokomo.com as a way for locals to find out about local activities, businesses, and government easier.
Driscoll wants the feel of the Web site to be like a community page; everything from the background of the page to the logo of the site. Everything on the Web site incorporates the Kokomo area, he said.
"My idea behind it was most of us younger people are more into going on the internet," he said. "I have an iPhone, and that's how I find businesses. I don't pick up phone books anymore, and most people don't."
From that, Driscoll created a small business.
"The biggest problem with a lot of businesses is advertisements are so expensive, and so I created my own advertisement. That's where AllKokomo came about. It has my name all over it with Profit Web Systems. I'm not trying to make an arm and a leg off of this, so what I'm doing is people pay a simple $150 a year to be listed on our site. It has direct links to your Web site, coupons, employment, and all kinds of things. Everything on the site is very, very cheap. My philosophy behind this is I'm looking for a low price for maximum numbers versus a higher price for a select few."
The Web site is more than where to find a business. It is also a community site.
"Instead of remembering all of the local Web sites, people can just bring up AllKokomo.com," he said. "It's kind of like a 'Kokomo Google' in a way."
In a time when people are not as together as they once were, the site is tying to get a sense of community.
"AllKokomo.com is just a way to bring the community together," he said. "It's linked up through Twitter and Facebook so people can become fans, and they can post their comments and suggestions there. I do read the feedback from the community because it is for the community."
The site also features a business industry listing, advertisements, school delays and closings, a resources page with direct links, and 'deals of the week.'
"We are incorporating a lot of things that are already out there, but all we are doing is generating another avenue for people to find it," he said.
Driscoll said that AllKokomo.com cares to know about how each of the businesses that advertises is doing.
"I actually want to learn about everybody's businesses," said Driscoll. "We do things by bringing in numbers, saying 'We had 10,000 hits on our Web site. Are you interested in doing any more marketing, or is there anything we can do for you?'"
AllKokomo.com is continuing to add more features in the next weeks and months, he said. Recent additions have been a business spotlight and a photo gallery with scenic pictures from the area. Another addition will be an RSS feed to the Kokomo Perspective's Web site.
Also by Jan. 1, AllKokomo.com plans on having an application available for the iPhone and Blackberry.
"Very few people have phone books in their car," he said. "What if you need to call ahead for a reservation? What if you can't figure out where you want to go, or if it is still open? Now you can get on your phone and get straight to it. There are so many things you can do at the touch of your phone, and they are available soon."
If a business would like to be a part of AllKokomo.com, they can contact Driscoll through the Web site, he said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_5a209ed2-b394-11de-878f-001cc4c002e0.html
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition coming to build a Kokomo-area family's wish
Posted: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 7:00 pm | Updated: 11:30 am, Wed Oct 21, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
A lucky Kokomo area family in need will be chosen as a future home featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
On Tuesday, Hallmark Homes, based out of Anderson, announced at the Inventrek building that they will build a brand new custom-built home for the family.
Five area families within a 30-mile radius of Kokomo are being considered by the television show. The announcement of the actual home will be on Oct. 21, the day Ty Pennington, the host of the show, arrives on their doorstep. The moving van will soon arrive and the home will be demolished the next day. A new home will then be completed in 106 hours, said Paul Schwinghammer, president of Hallmark Homes.
The size and other specifications are not yet determined, but the home will be larger than a bread box and smaller than the Empire State Building, Schwinghammer said.
For the design of the home, the needs of the family are considered, he said.
"A lot of the times that happens right on site," he said. "So we work with the designers in discussing the overall needs of the family being considered and the actual final touches will happen once the family is chosen and that is revealed."
The home will be built completely on donations from companies and volunteers, he said.
"Everything is donated," he said. "We need people on the roof and on the ground and everywhere in between. We're going to be serving food, serving coffee, serving drinks and snacks 24 hours a day to hundreds of people. We have holes that need to be filled. We've been working on this for two weeks trying to find subcontractors, vendors and suppliers for the project to donate the materials. We don't make a nickel on this. None of the trades are making a dime."
People who would like to volunteer from skilled to unskilled can sign-up by going to hallmarkextreme.com.
One such hole currently for the project is for drywall, he said.
For each project that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a part of, there are special activities that go on.
"We have a charity auction planned, family day planned, blood drive and a food bank drive planned," he said. "The show is known to fill up three food pantries every time they come into a town. We expect to do at least that, if not more for this one. We're going to give lots of blood and we're going to get lots of people involved even if it is in those ways."
Recently, Schwinghammer attended an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition taping in St. Paul, Minn., where he witnessed a home being demolished.
During the construction of the home, the television show will have its traveling security with them along with local police, he said. The television crew will have production equipment on the property and possibly surrounding properties as well.
"There will be tents and other things sitting on other people's yards and they get compensated for it," he said. "For the neighbors who are really close they offer to put them up in a hotel if it's going to be inconvenient. Some of the neighbors that we talked to said, 'Heck no, I don't want to be in a hotel. I want to sit on my porch and watch the action.'"
During the show, a variety of sponsorships will be offered and the proceeds will benefit the cause and the family.
On Oct. 16, there will be a pep rally for the show. The show's producer Conrad Rickets will be attending. The time and place are yet to be determined and will be on hallmarkextreme.com when it becomes available.
When Schwinghammer first found out about the possibility of the show coming, he thought it was some sort of a joke.
"I thought about it and I talked to my wife and Derek Wilder (the CEO) about it and we discussed and thought, 'you know this isn't about Hallmark, this is really about what Hallmark can do along with this community to help a deserving family. This is quite an honor for us."
Some businesses and community partners have already signed up to be a part of the project. Partners include: Anderson University, Carter Lumber, Bilt Best Windows, Reese Wholesale, Climate Master, JN Stone, Modern Trailer Sales, Blakely's Flooring, Madison Millwork, Schneider Electric and Ball State University.
The event from the Kokomo area will be the 164th build on the show and will be the 14th episode this season. The show airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_3a2e6900-b390-11de-8b17-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
A lucky Kokomo area family in need will be chosen as a future home featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
On Tuesday, Hallmark Homes, based out of Anderson, announced at the Inventrek building that they will build a brand new custom-built home for the family.
Five area families within a 30-mile radius of Kokomo are being considered by the television show. The announcement of the actual home will be on Oct. 21, the day Ty Pennington, the host of the show, arrives on their doorstep. The moving van will soon arrive and the home will be demolished the next day. A new home will then be completed in 106 hours, said Paul Schwinghammer, president of Hallmark Homes.
The size and other specifications are not yet determined, but the home will be larger than a bread box and smaller than the Empire State Building, Schwinghammer said.
For the design of the home, the needs of the family are considered, he said.
"A lot of the times that happens right on site," he said. "So we work with the designers in discussing the overall needs of the family being considered and the actual final touches will happen once the family is chosen and that is revealed."
The home will be built completely on donations from companies and volunteers, he said.
"Everything is donated," he said. "We need people on the roof and on the ground and everywhere in between. We're going to be serving food, serving coffee, serving drinks and snacks 24 hours a day to hundreds of people. We have holes that need to be filled. We've been working on this for two weeks trying to find subcontractors, vendors and suppliers for the project to donate the materials. We don't make a nickel on this. None of the trades are making a dime."
People who would like to volunteer from skilled to unskilled can sign-up by going to hallmarkextreme.com.
One such hole currently for the project is for drywall, he said.
For each project that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a part of, there are special activities that go on.
"We have a charity auction planned, family day planned, blood drive and a food bank drive planned," he said. "The show is known to fill up three food pantries every time they come into a town. We expect to do at least that, if not more for this one. We're going to give lots of blood and we're going to get lots of people involved even if it is in those ways."
Recently, Schwinghammer attended an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition taping in St. Paul, Minn., where he witnessed a home being demolished.
During the construction of the home, the television show will have its traveling security with them along with local police, he said. The television crew will have production equipment on the property and possibly surrounding properties as well.
"There will be tents and other things sitting on other people's yards and they get compensated for it," he said. "For the neighbors who are really close they offer to put them up in a hotel if it's going to be inconvenient. Some of the neighbors that we talked to said, 'Heck no, I don't want to be in a hotel. I want to sit on my porch and watch the action.'"
During the show, a variety of sponsorships will be offered and the proceeds will benefit the cause and the family.
On Oct. 16, there will be a pep rally for the show. The show's producer Conrad Rickets will be attending. The time and place are yet to be determined and will be on hallmarkextreme.com when it becomes available.
When Schwinghammer first found out about the possibility of the show coming, he thought it was some sort of a joke.
"I thought about it and I talked to my wife and Derek Wilder (the CEO) about it and we discussed and thought, 'you know this isn't about Hallmark, this is really about what Hallmark can do along with this community to help a deserving family. This is quite an honor for us."
Some businesses and community partners have already signed up to be a part of the project. Partners include: Anderson University, Carter Lumber, Bilt Best Windows, Reese Wholesale, Climate Master, JN Stone, Modern Trailer Sales, Blakely's Flooring, Madison Millwork, Schneider Electric and Ball State University.
The event from the Kokomo area will be the 164th build on the show and will be the 14th episode this season. The show airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_3a2e6900-b390-11de-8b17-001cc4c002e0.html
KCS looks to make sure Kautz Field is safe for future, announces Head Start expansion grant
Posted: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 1:20 am | Updated: 1:28 am, Tue Oct 6, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
To make sure Kautz Field is safe for current and future use, the Kokomo-Center Schools' board of trustees has decided to continue with a further study because of the possible arsenic contamination.
Superintendent Chris Himsel asked the board for the approval of hiring Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, an Indianapolis-based law firm that specializes in Indiana environmental issues.
As of now, Kautz Field is safe for current and future use.
Himsel also announced that the school district received the Head Start expansion grant in an amount more than $570,000. This grant would get 100 students off the Head Start waiting list, he said. This grant would be used for Howard, Tipton and Miami counties, he said.
In the future, more students may be added to the program, he said.
In other news
The school board approved the adoption of the budget plan for 2010.
The board approved the reallocating of extra-curricular funds that currently exist for Columbian Elementary and Darrough Chapel Elementary schools to the schools the students are now attending. In doing so, the board also eliminated the extra-curricular treasurer positions at the former schools.
Also approved was permission to apply and accept once awarded the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title II, Part A Grant of $495,675 that would increase student academic achievement.
The board also approved to accept if awarded the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant in the amount of $8,000 each to Jenny Marshall (Elementary Art) and Abbie Barnes (Elementary Music). The purpose of the fellowship is to support creative projects that are personally renewing and intellectually revitalizing to Indiana teachers. The two teachers will use the grant to travel to Italy and take part in a Smithsonian Art tour.
The board recognized Allison Schten as a semifinalist in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Competition, Melissa Wheeler for the IASC 2009 Middle Level Advisior of the Year and Sycamore Elementary School for being awarded the High Performing Grant Award, Title I. Sycamore School received $25,000 from the grant and has also earned the Four Star School Award for four consecutive years.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_45fab29c-b238-11de-bdb7-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
To make sure Kautz Field is safe for current and future use, the Kokomo-Center Schools' board of trustees has decided to continue with a further study because of the possible arsenic contamination.
Superintendent Chris Himsel asked the board for the approval of hiring Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, an Indianapolis-based law firm that specializes in Indiana environmental issues.
As of now, Kautz Field is safe for current and future use.
Himsel also announced that the school district received the Head Start expansion grant in an amount more than $570,000. This grant would get 100 students off the Head Start waiting list, he said. This grant would be used for Howard, Tipton and Miami counties, he said.
In the future, more students may be added to the program, he said.
In other news
The school board approved the adoption of the budget plan for 2010.
The board approved the reallocating of extra-curricular funds that currently exist for Columbian Elementary and Darrough Chapel Elementary schools to the schools the students are now attending. In doing so, the board also eliminated the extra-curricular treasurer positions at the former schools.
Also approved was permission to apply and accept once awarded the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title II, Part A Grant of $495,675 that would increase student academic achievement.
The board also approved to accept if awarded the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant in the amount of $8,000 each to Jenny Marshall (Elementary Art) and Abbie Barnes (Elementary Music). The purpose of the fellowship is to support creative projects that are personally renewing and intellectually revitalizing to Indiana teachers. The two teachers will use the grant to travel to Italy and take part in a Smithsonian Art tour.
The board recognized Allison Schten as a semifinalist in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Competition, Melissa Wheeler for the IASC 2009 Middle Level Advisior of the Year and Sycamore Elementary School for being awarded the High Performing Grant Award, Title I. Sycamore School received $25,000 from the grant and has also earned the Four Star School Award for four consecutive years.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_45fab29c-b238-11de-bdb7-001cc4c002e0.html
Ladd Dental Group offering free day of dentistry Friday
Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:00 pm | Updated: 10:06 am, Wed Sep 30, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
As many people find it difficult to afford dental insurance, many dentists across the county are offering free dental care for a day through Dentistry From The Heart.
One such dental group is Kokomo's Ladd Dental Group, Inc. at 2333 West Lincoln Rd.
The dental group will be hosting its 4th annual Dentistry From The Heart on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"It's free," said Mandy Kenner of Ladd Dental Group. "There is no cost whatsoever."
In the past, the office has seen about 200 patients per year through this event. Since its first event in 2005, the dental group has seen more than 1,000 patients with more than 150 volunteers.
"I believe in the heart of Kokomo," said John Ladd. "That is people working together to meet the needs of other people. Ladd Dental Group wants to be a part of that effort through Dentistry From The Heart."
The Ladd Dental Group dentists, hygienists and staff will provide fillings, extractions and cleanings to as many people as they can see on the day. The patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis.
The goal of the event is to help relieve pain and take care of the patient's problems. If a patient needs ongoing treatment, he or she will be referred to income-based programs that will assist them in receiving more extensive dental work.
Many businesses and organizations have donated to this year's event, including Harvey Hinkelmeyers restaurant that will provide food to the staff and patients, Kenner said.
Other businesses donating are Midway Dental Supply, Howard Print Shop, On-Site Services, Merrell Owens, Sign pro, Colgate, Henry Shein Dental Supply, Patterson Dental Supply, 3M/ESPE, Bible Baptist Church, Dr. Sigrid Schwartz, McDonald's, Smile Makers, Micro-flex, American Tool and Party Rental, Coca-Cola and Dan's Variety Bakery.
Dentistry From The Heart originated in New Port Richey, Fla., in 2001 with Vincent Monticciolo's practice. This was Monticcilo's way of giving back to his community and providing aid to the increasing number of people without dental insurance. In 2008, Dentistry From The Heart events helped 5,500 patients and provided more than $1.5 million in free dentistry, according to its Web site. The events were held at more than 60 host locations in 29 states across the country.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_1a04a05a-ad36-11de-af36-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
As many people find it difficult to afford dental insurance, many dentists across the county are offering free dental care for a day through Dentistry From The Heart.
One such dental group is Kokomo's Ladd Dental Group, Inc. at 2333 West Lincoln Rd.
The dental group will be hosting its 4th annual Dentistry From The Heart on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"It's free," said Mandy Kenner of Ladd Dental Group. "There is no cost whatsoever."
In the past, the office has seen about 200 patients per year through this event. Since its first event in 2005, the dental group has seen more than 1,000 patients with more than 150 volunteers.
"I believe in the heart of Kokomo," said John Ladd. "That is people working together to meet the needs of other people. Ladd Dental Group wants to be a part of that effort through Dentistry From The Heart."
The Ladd Dental Group dentists, hygienists and staff will provide fillings, extractions and cleanings to as many people as they can see on the day. The patients will be seen on a first come, first serve basis.
The goal of the event is to help relieve pain and take care of the patient's problems. If a patient needs ongoing treatment, he or she will be referred to income-based programs that will assist them in receiving more extensive dental work.
Many businesses and organizations have donated to this year's event, including Harvey Hinkelmeyers restaurant that will provide food to the staff and patients, Kenner said.
Other businesses donating are Midway Dental Supply, Howard Print Shop, On-Site Services, Merrell Owens, Sign pro, Colgate, Henry Shein Dental Supply, Patterson Dental Supply, 3M/ESPE, Bible Baptist Church, Dr. Sigrid Schwartz, McDonald's, Smile Makers, Micro-flex, American Tool and Party Rental, Coca-Cola and Dan's Variety Bakery.
Dentistry From The Heart originated in New Port Richey, Fla., in 2001 with Vincent Monticciolo's practice. This was Monticcilo's way of giving back to his community and providing aid to the increasing number of people without dental insurance. In 2008, Dentistry From The Heart events helped 5,500 patients and provided more than $1.5 million in free dentistry, according to its Web site. The events were held at more than 60 host locations in 29 states across the country.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_1a04a05a-ad36-11de-af36-001cc4c002e0.html
850 jobs could be coming to Tipton County
Posted: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 1:30 pm | Updated: 2:30 pm, Tue Sep 29, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Jobs could be finally coming to the vacant Getrag Transmission plant in Tipton County.
A solar company that wishes to be unnamed has expressed an interest in the property at the corner of US 31 and Ind. 28.
On Monday, the Tipton County commissioners, the Tipton County council and the Tipton County Redevelopment Commission approved a set of incentives to assist the trust's efforts to keep the county in the running for the unnamed company using the code name "Apex."
Rick Hall, an attorney with Barnes and Thornburg, spoke to the crowded room that spilled out into the hallway about the details on what the county is willing to offer to the unnamed company.
Currently, a claimants trust owns the property and if the it is sold to "Apex," the company intentends to invest approximately $450 million in real estate developments and equipment to be used at the site and to employ approximately 850 employees at the site, Hall said.
"These are incentives that they believe are necessary for a deal to be reached with 'Apex,'" Hall said. "There are other sites that are being considered. This is not a done deal by any means."
Right now, the county has two series of Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, bonds outstanding, he said. The TIF was used for the construction of the Getrag plant. Harris Bank holds the senior bonds in the amount of $3.1 million. Chrysler holds the junior bonds in the amount of $5.5 million. The Chrysler bonds are currently under investigation by the Indiana secretary of state for securities fraud, he said.
If the junior bonds are no longer outstanding at the time of the sale, the county would pay to the trust $13 million in tax increment revenues, rather than $10 million, after taking into account scheduled payments on the senior bonds, he said.
The funds would allow the trust to lower its price on the property, he said.
Even if the county is not able to make a sale with "Apex," the county will abate one-half of the real and personal property taxes due on the site in 2010. He also said that the trust agrees not to appeal the assessed value for 2009 and pay 2010, in the current or any future year.
He said if the county is able to make a deal with "Apex" in the incentive package, there would be a number of public hearings with further details provided.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_16484300-acb3-11de-9a04-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Jobs could be finally coming to the vacant Getrag Transmission plant in Tipton County.
A solar company that wishes to be unnamed has expressed an interest in the property at the corner of US 31 and Ind. 28.
On Monday, the Tipton County commissioners, the Tipton County council and the Tipton County Redevelopment Commission approved a set of incentives to assist the trust's efforts to keep the county in the running for the unnamed company using the code name "Apex."
Rick Hall, an attorney with Barnes and Thornburg, spoke to the crowded room that spilled out into the hallway about the details on what the county is willing to offer to the unnamed company.
Currently, a claimants trust owns the property and if the it is sold to "Apex," the company intentends to invest approximately $450 million in real estate developments and equipment to be used at the site and to employ approximately 850 employees at the site, Hall said.
"These are incentives that they believe are necessary for a deal to be reached with 'Apex,'" Hall said. "There are other sites that are being considered. This is not a done deal by any means."
Right now, the county has two series of Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, bonds outstanding, he said. The TIF was used for the construction of the Getrag plant. Harris Bank holds the senior bonds in the amount of $3.1 million. Chrysler holds the junior bonds in the amount of $5.5 million. The Chrysler bonds are currently under investigation by the Indiana secretary of state for securities fraud, he said.
If the junior bonds are no longer outstanding at the time of the sale, the county would pay to the trust $13 million in tax increment revenues, rather than $10 million, after taking into account scheduled payments on the senior bonds, he said.
The funds would allow the trust to lower its price on the property, he said.
Even if the county is not able to make a sale with "Apex," the county will abate one-half of the real and personal property taxes due on the site in 2010. He also said that the trust agrees not to appeal the assessed value for 2009 and pay 2010, in the current or any future year.
He said if the county is able to make a deal with "Apex" in the incentive package, there would be a number of public hearings with further details provided.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_16484300-acb3-11de-9a04-001cc4c03286.html
Ivy Tech elevates interest on workforce and economic development to meet needs
Posted: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 2:05 am
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Ivy Tech Community College has a new vision. Tom Snyder, president of the college, came to Kokomo on Monday to talk about the college's new vision.
After being inspired by the book titled "Good to Great and the Social Sectors," Ivy Tech has changed its motto from "Changing Lives" to "Changing Lives, Making Indiana Great."
The college is now elevating its interest on workforce and economic development to meet the needs of employers in business and industry in training employees and dislocated workers. The three targets are employers and their employees, existing workers, dislocated workers and workers soon to be dislocated, he said.
"The key part that we have is that we have a role to communicate to businesses, to communicate to the workers within those businesses and to communicate with dislocated workers," Snyder said.
The school wants to help every student no matter his or her age with their skills.
"We want that traditional student that's right out of high school and we want to help the nontraditional student," he said. "We want to help him in his workplace if he has a job and it is going to be there a long time by helping him and his employer get more training. We want to help him if he his dislocated, or we want to help him if he is employed but he wants to change his skill on his own."
According to Snyder, Ivy Tech is the largest training facility in the state with more than 25,000 people. He also said that the college is the largest testing agency in the state with more than 20,000 people.
"If you are required to be tested at a certification center, we do that," he said.
Ivy Tech offers more than 2,000 certifications through the Department of Workforce and Economic Development, executive director Jan Bailey said.
Snyder said that the college is there to provide continuing education and their intent is not to compete with other the larger schools when that activity is offered there.
"We think that this is important because it gives people some exposure to the campus, to some of the faculty and they get comfortable with it," he said. "People can reengineer their lives."
The college works with WorkOne to help students afford the schooling.
Snyder said that many people may not know that Ivy Tech a leader in the state in nurses and IT grads.
"We are graduating the bulk of the nurses of the state, about 1,200 nurses a year," he said. "It's also pretty common now that we are the leader in providing IT grads. We have 3,500 enrolled and graduating 500 to 600 a year as the largest IT school in the state."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_08c4f15e-acbf-11de-9ba0-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Ivy Tech Community College has a new vision. Tom Snyder, president of the college, came to Kokomo on Monday to talk about the college's new vision.
After being inspired by the book titled "Good to Great and the Social Sectors," Ivy Tech has changed its motto from "Changing Lives" to "Changing Lives, Making Indiana Great."
The college is now elevating its interest on workforce and economic development to meet the needs of employers in business and industry in training employees and dislocated workers. The three targets are employers and their employees, existing workers, dislocated workers and workers soon to be dislocated, he said.
"The key part that we have is that we have a role to communicate to businesses, to communicate to the workers within those businesses and to communicate with dislocated workers," Snyder said.
The school wants to help every student no matter his or her age with their skills.
"We want that traditional student that's right out of high school and we want to help the nontraditional student," he said. "We want to help him in his workplace if he has a job and it is going to be there a long time by helping him and his employer get more training. We want to help him if he his dislocated, or we want to help him if he is employed but he wants to change his skill on his own."
According to Snyder, Ivy Tech is the largest training facility in the state with more than 25,000 people. He also said that the college is the largest testing agency in the state with more than 20,000 people.
"If you are required to be tested at a certification center, we do that," he said.
Ivy Tech offers more than 2,000 certifications through the Department of Workforce and Economic Development, executive director Jan Bailey said.
Snyder said that the college is there to provide continuing education and their intent is not to compete with other the larger schools when that activity is offered there.
"We think that this is important because it gives people some exposure to the campus, to some of the faculty and they get comfortable with it," he said. "People can reengineer their lives."
The college works with WorkOne to help students afford the schooling.
Snyder said that many people may not know that Ivy Tech a leader in the state in nurses and IT grads.
"We are graduating the bulk of the nurses of the state, about 1,200 nurses a year," he said. "It's also pretty common now that we are the leader in providing IT grads. We have 3,500 enrolled and graduating 500 to 600 a year as the largest IT school in the state."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_08c4f15e-acbf-11de-9ba0-001cc4c03286.html
Main library closing Monday; internet servers will be down Oct. 2 through Oct. 7 during move
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 4:55 pm | Updated: 6:20 pm, Wed Sep 23, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The final day for patrons to visit the main branch of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library before its $3.6 million renovation is Sunday.
The library will begin the move of its collections, equipment and furniture to Columbian School, 1234 W. Courtland Ave., on Monday, library director Charles Joray said. The main library's 40 staff members will be helping with the move, along with inmates from the Howard County Jail who will move furniture, desks and tables, he said.
Guyer the Mover will be moving the collections to Columbian School, he said. The estimated cost of the move is around $26,000, he said, but it will not be for certain until the actual move. The costs will be paid from the Library Improvement Reserve Fund, or LIRF.
Joray said it would take about three weeks until the temporary location at Columbian School would be open for patrons.
For the duration of the library's lease at the school, the library will pay $1 a month for the property to Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corp., and would be responsible for the building's utilities, custodial costs and general maintenance.
In the mean time, the library will have the former "Adventure" bookmobile at the main library parking lot, he said. The bookmobile will be able to pick up holds, interlibrary loans and return materials. It will also have a small collection of about 1,500 children and adult books and audio-visual items to be checked out, he said.
"This is our oldest bookmobile and it will be doing its last service," he said.
On Oct. 2, the library will be moving the online servers from the main library to Columbian School, he said. During this time, there will be no computer access at any of the libraries.
"The patrons will be only able to check out materials at the branches and that will be the only thing they can do," he said. "There will be no access to the internet and online catalogs. The only way to browse is by going to the branches. That's all they can do."
During this time, the library will not be able to collect fines or fees and will not be able to process interlibrary loan requests.
Joray says the library plans on having the server up and running by Oct. 7.
While the main library is at its temporary location, the Russiaville and South branches and the Genealogy Department at 4053 S. Webster St. will remain at their regular schedules. The bookmobiles will also not be affected.
On Oct. 31, the main library will be auctioning off what it will not need for the renovated library at 10:00 a.m. at 220 N. Union St., he said. Some of the items include: cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, ceiling fans, doors, metal shelving and chairs. A preview of the items will be on Oct. 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. The money the library receives will go into the operating fund, he said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_6df1232a-a884-11de-a5a7-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
The final day for patrons to visit the main branch of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library before its $3.6 million renovation is Sunday.
The library will begin the move of its collections, equipment and furniture to Columbian School, 1234 W. Courtland Ave., on Monday, library director Charles Joray said. The main library's 40 staff members will be helping with the move, along with inmates from the Howard County Jail who will move furniture, desks and tables, he said.
Guyer the Mover will be moving the collections to Columbian School, he said. The estimated cost of the move is around $26,000, he said, but it will not be for certain until the actual move. The costs will be paid from the Library Improvement Reserve Fund, or LIRF.
Joray said it would take about three weeks until the temporary location at Columbian School would be open for patrons.
For the duration of the library's lease at the school, the library will pay $1 a month for the property to Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corp., and would be responsible for the building's utilities, custodial costs and general maintenance.
In the mean time, the library will have the former "Adventure" bookmobile at the main library parking lot, he said. The bookmobile will be able to pick up holds, interlibrary loans and return materials. It will also have a small collection of about 1,500 children and adult books and audio-visual items to be checked out, he said.
"This is our oldest bookmobile and it will be doing its last service," he said.
On Oct. 2, the library will be moving the online servers from the main library to Columbian School, he said. During this time, there will be no computer access at any of the libraries.
"The patrons will be only able to check out materials at the branches and that will be the only thing they can do," he said. "There will be no access to the internet and online catalogs. The only way to browse is by going to the branches. That's all they can do."
During this time, the library will not be able to collect fines or fees and will not be able to process interlibrary loan requests.
Joray says the library plans on having the server up and running by Oct. 7.
While the main library is at its temporary location, the Russiaville and South branches and the Genealogy Department at 4053 S. Webster St. will remain at their regular schedules. The bookmobiles will also not be affected.
On Oct. 31, the main library will be auctioning off what it will not need for the renovated library at 10:00 a.m. at 220 N. Union St., he said. Some of the items include: cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, ceiling fans, doors, metal shelving and chairs. A preview of the items will be on Oct. 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 8 a.m. The money the library receives will go into the operating fund, he said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_6df1232a-a884-11de-a5a7-001cc4c03286.html
Lucky draw brings music group to Turkey
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:00 am | Updated: 9:59 am, Fri Sep 25, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
A music group with one member from Kokomo is about to embark on its international tour next week, so to speak. Although "Branches Breath" has only been playing Native American flutes for three years, it was picked to perform on Sept. 25 as the first American group at the sixth annual Mystic Music Festival that runs from Sept. 23 to Sept. 30 in Konya, Turkey.
"It was pure luck," said Jeff Gegner, a group member who works for IU Kokomo.
The group of Gegner, Jason Chaplin of Avon, and Richard Brooner of Jeffersonville played for the Native American Center of Indiana in Indianapolis a few times, he said. Ironically, a professor at the Ohio State University who is from Turkey was contacted by the Minister of Culture in Turkey about finding a group from the United States to play at the festival. The professor did a general broadcast to all the Native American groups and anything else that was "mystic music," he said.
"They sent them our name," he said. "(The festival) contacted us and we sent them our CDs and our biographies. They picked us."
At first, the group was a bit skeptical about this festival, he said.
"Honestly at first, we thought this was some sort of a scam," he said. "We really did. We thought they were going to book this and then all of a sudden we were going to owe $10,000 or something. Who would have figured that three guys from Indiana would be traveling to Turkey to play Native American flutes?"
Instead, it was true and it was an all-expenses paid trip, he said. The Turkish government is paying for everything including housing, food, and transportation, he said.
"That's the biggest reward that we have ever gotten," he said. "Obviously, we wouldn't afford to go if it wasn't all-expenses paid."
The group normally plays for free, he said.
One thing that sets this group apart from others who play Native American flute is that this group is not Native American so they play more freely.
"We don't claim to be Native players, we are just players of Native American flutes," he said. "We all three play percussion. We don't play quote 'Native American' music. We do traditional styles to jam to jazz to blues to whatever we decide fits."
Gegner said the group will be playing a more traditional style at the festival with a mixture of jazz-style pieces.
"Traditionally, you would never have more than one flute playing at a time because they weren't digitally tuned," he said. "Ours are tuned together so we can play together. We don't play what we consider traditional music. And it wouldn't be fitting because we aren't Native American."
The group plays freestyle music so every song they play is unique, he said.
"All we do is pick out keys and the styles of songs to spread out throughout the piece," he said. "It is planned, but it is still freestyle."
As a part of their performance, Branches Breath will be presenting a slide show that will be shown behind them while they play about the Native American flute, he said.
Not too long ago, Branches Breath did not exist and may not even exist today if Gegner had not found out about these flutes through an online forum, he said.
"I canoe and I'm on a forum called paddling.net," he said. "There is a guy on there who said he was getting a Native American flute and suggested to me to look into them and I ordered one. As soon as it came in, I could play. The learning curve was very short for me."
Soon after, he began going to a flute circle in Indianapolis for Native American flutes, he said. After going there for a few months, he said, another group called "Shilombish" was invited to play at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and group invited what would become Branches Breath to join them for the event, he said.
"We got done and Jason says 'well, will you guys be interested in forming a group if we wanted to start playing around?' he said. "And Richard and I said 'sure, why not.' We didn't know what it would turn out to be."
Since that time, the group has worked two to three events a month, he said.
"We have a lot of fun," he said. "Our whole goal is enjoyment and trying to pass the enjoyment on to our listeners. That's our really only goal is to make sure people enjoy what we do. It makes us happy."
For people who would like to purchase a CD from the group, these people can do so by visiting the group's Web site at http://branchesbreath.ning.com.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_5b7733ca-a7bb-11de-972c-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
A music group with one member from Kokomo is about to embark on its international tour next week, so to speak. Although "Branches Breath" has only been playing Native American flutes for three years, it was picked to perform on Sept. 25 as the first American group at the sixth annual Mystic Music Festival that runs from Sept. 23 to Sept. 30 in Konya, Turkey.
"It was pure luck," said Jeff Gegner, a group member who works for IU Kokomo.
The group of Gegner, Jason Chaplin of Avon, and Richard Brooner of Jeffersonville played for the Native American Center of Indiana in Indianapolis a few times, he said. Ironically, a professor at the Ohio State University who is from Turkey was contacted by the Minister of Culture in Turkey about finding a group from the United States to play at the festival. The professor did a general broadcast to all the Native American groups and anything else that was "mystic music," he said.
"They sent them our name," he said. "(The festival) contacted us and we sent them our CDs and our biographies. They picked us."
At first, the group was a bit skeptical about this festival, he said.
"Honestly at first, we thought this was some sort of a scam," he said. "We really did. We thought they were going to book this and then all of a sudden we were going to owe $10,000 or something. Who would have figured that three guys from Indiana would be traveling to Turkey to play Native American flutes?"
Instead, it was true and it was an all-expenses paid trip, he said. The Turkish government is paying for everything including housing, food, and transportation, he said.
"That's the biggest reward that we have ever gotten," he said. "Obviously, we wouldn't afford to go if it wasn't all-expenses paid."
The group normally plays for free, he said.
One thing that sets this group apart from others who play Native American flute is that this group is not Native American so they play more freely.
"We don't claim to be Native players, we are just players of Native American flutes," he said. "We all three play percussion. We don't play quote 'Native American' music. We do traditional styles to jam to jazz to blues to whatever we decide fits."
Gegner said the group will be playing a more traditional style at the festival with a mixture of jazz-style pieces.
"Traditionally, you would never have more than one flute playing at a time because they weren't digitally tuned," he said. "Ours are tuned together so we can play together. We don't play what we consider traditional music. And it wouldn't be fitting because we aren't Native American."
The group plays freestyle music so every song they play is unique, he said.
"All we do is pick out keys and the styles of songs to spread out throughout the piece," he said. "It is planned, but it is still freestyle."
As a part of their performance, Branches Breath will be presenting a slide show that will be shown behind them while they play about the Native American flute, he said.
Not too long ago, Branches Breath did not exist and may not even exist today if Gegner had not found out about these flutes through an online forum, he said.
"I canoe and I'm on a forum called paddling.net," he said. "There is a guy on there who said he was getting a Native American flute and suggested to me to look into them and I ordered one. As soon as it came in, I could play. The learning curve was very short for me."
Soon after, he began going to a flute circle in Indianapolis for Native American flutes, he said. After going there for a few months, he said, another group called "Shilombish" was invited to play at the Hilbert Circle Theatre and group invited what would become Branches Breath to join them for the event, he said.
"We got done and Jason says 'well, will you guys be interested in forming a group if we wanted to start playing around?' he said. "And Richard and I said 'sure, why not.' We didn't know what it would turn out to be."
Since that time, the group has worked two to three events a month, he said.
"We have a lot of fun," he said. "Our whole goal is enjoyment and trying to pass the enjoyment on to our listeners. That's our really only goal is to make sure people enjoy what we do. It makes us happy."
For people who would like to purchase a CD from the group, these people can do so by visiting the group's Web site at http://branchesbreath.ning.com.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_5b7733ca-a7bb-11de-972c-001cc4c03286.html
Burton discusses thoughts on reforming student loans, healthcare; calls for investigation of ACORN
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 12:00 am | Updated: 4:52 pm, Tue Sep 22, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
So far this year, Washington has been moving fast for change. Congressman Dan Burton, R-5th District, said he is a little weary about how fast and to the lengths the Democrat-led Congress is pushing for reform in the student loan industry and health care. He is also pursuing an investigation of ACORN, an organization that has come under some heat in the past months.
STUDENT LOANS
The student loan industry may need some reform, but the reform Congressman George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, has already been done in the 1990's and it failed, Burton said. It also would have a strong negative affect on Indiana with Sallie Mae offices in Fishers and Muncie.
"What Miller wants to do is to take over completely the student loan program across the country, in other words, he wants the government to run it completely," he said. "What it will end up doing is like back in the 1990's the Clinton administration tried to do that and they got it passed, and as I recall, it was so inefficient that it was ultimately repealed and we went to the current program that we have now."
Burton says there will be an awful lot of dissatisfaction if the government takes control of the student loan industry.
"The private sector needs to be involved in student loans. There is no question. We've got Sallie Mae over there that's doing a really good job. Plus, we're talking about 3,000 jobs in Indiana. We certainly don't need with the unemployment problems we have to see an increase in unemployment."
Burton admits that he believes that the Democrats in the U.S. House are pursuing control in student loans because they believe the government can run things better than the private sector.
"I think it is just a mindset they have. The president, I believe, is a European-type socialist. I believe he believes that the government can run the auto industry better, the banking industry better, Wall Street better, energy better, hospitals and health care better, and student loans better. I mean, they just believe government should run everything."
As the House has pushed taking control over student loans, Burton with Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., introduced an amendment that would remove the takeover language from the bill to save companies such as Sallie Mae. However, he said the amendment was not allowed to get a vote.
"I mean if Sallie Mae and the others were not doing a good job that would be one thing, but they have done a good job. About 70 to 75 percent of the loans around the country are through private groups like Sallie Mae. So why would people be getting loans through them if it wasn't a better choice. Plus you're doing it through the private sector with government guarantees whereas if you go to the government loan program they are estimating it's going to cost $50 billion over a decade of government money so it's going to be another drain on taxpayers whereas right now it's not."
HEALTH CARE
Burton has been actively against the Democrats' health care plan. He has proposed the Empowering Patients First Act (H.R. 3400), which would not increase taxes or increase government spending. Instead it would use the money the government receives more effectively. His plan would: protect the doctor-patient relationship, lower health-care costs, expand access to quality care and coverage and invest in prevention and wellness programs.
Burton said he does not know where the health care reform bill may be heading, but he has some ideas.
"There's a big difference of opinion between liberals and moderates in the Democrat party. The Republicans are just deaf on these bills that they've come up with in both the House and Senate. But there's a big fight between liberals and moderates, if you want to call them that, in the Democrat majority in the House and Senate. So I don't know what they are going to end up with, but it does look like the government option as they initially planned it doesn't look like it's got legs so they'll probably try to go with some kind of a co-op, which is a veiled government option."
On Sunday, President Barack Obama was seen on five television networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision, to push health care reform. On Monday, the president also appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Burton says as time goes by, the president is very concerned on if he is going to get a health care reform bill.
"This is his keystone. If he doesn't get this through, he's got a problem. He has to settle for something before it's over with, politically, in my opinion."
INVESTIGATING ACORN
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, commonly known as ACORN, has been under scrutiny by many since the months going into the 2008 general election for its voter registering practices. In the past couple weeks, this organization has come under more scrutiny because of an undercover video shot at an ACORN office in Baltimore, Md. where ACORN employees offered unethical advice to a prostitute and a pimp in order to evade tax evasion and traffic in children from El Salvador to work as prostitutes. Other similar undercover videos from offices elsewhere around the country were later released.
Burton is now trying to get Congress to investigate ACORN.
"ACORN should be defunded number one, it should be investigated number two, and it's a political organization number three. ACORN is supposed to be an organization that helps the under privileged in housing and all that other stuff and I think there is some of that. From what I've seen so far in the past week, it looks like it's a large part of criminal entity."
Burton says that Congress does its best to make sure they give the taxpayers' money to credible organizations. He says that people like Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., and others are very supportive of government intervention.
"(ACORN) used to get $150 some million then (the House) pushed through $8.5 billion that they can have access to. Then they pushed through another $1.5 billion that they can have access to. That's $10 billion. And they spent most of their time with fraudulent voting and fraudulent registering and helping prostitution."
Burton also said that the Obama administration will do whatever they can to make sure ACORN survives because of the president's close ties from when he was one of the organization's lawyers.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_8564c74a-a7b8-11de-845a-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
So far this year, Washington has been moving fast for change. Congressman Dan Burton, R-5th District, said he is a little weary about how fast and to the lengths the Democrat-led Congress is pushing for reform in the student loan industry and health care. He is also pursuing an investigation of ACORN, an organization that has come under some heat in the past months.
STUDENT LOANS
The student loan industry may need some reform, but the reform Congressman George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, has already been done in the 1990's and it failed, Burton said. It also would have a strong negative affect on Indiana with Sallie Mae offices in Fishers and Muncie.
"What Miller wants to do is to take over completely the student loan program across the country, in other words, he wants the government to run it completely," he said. "What it will end up doing is like back in the 1990's the Clinton administration tried to do that and they got it passed, and as I recall, it was so inefficient that it was ultimately repealed and we went to the current program that we have now."
Burton says there will be an awful lot of dissatisfaction if the government takes control of the student loan industry.
"The private sector needs to be involved in student loans. There is no question. We've got Sallie Mae over there that's doing a really good job. Plus, we're talking about 3,000 jobs in Indiana. We certainly don't need with the unemployment problems we have to see an increase in unemployment."
Burton admits that he believes that the Democrats in the U.S. House are pursuing control in student loans because they believe the government can run things better than the private sector.
"I think it is just a mindset they have. The president, I believe, is a European-type socialist. I believe he believes that the government can run the auto industry better, the banking industry better, Wall Street better, energy better, hospitals and health care better, and student loans better. I mean, they just believe government should run everything."
As the House has pushed taking control over student loans, Burton with Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., introduced an amendment that would remove the takeover language from the bill to save companies such as Sallie Mae. However, he said the amendment was not allowed to get a vote.
"I mean if Sallie Mae and the others were not doing a good job that would be one thing, but they have done a good job. About 70 to 75 percent of the loans around the country are through private groups like Sallie Mae. So why would people be getting loans through them if it wasn't a better choice. Plus you're doing it through the private sector with government guarantees whereas if you go to the government loan program they are estimating it's going to cost $50 billion over a decade of government money so it's going to be another drain on taxpayers whereas right now it's not."
HEALTH CARE
Burton has been actively against the Democrats' health care plan. He has proposed the Empowering Patients First Act (H.R. 3400), which would not increase taxes or increase government spending. Instead it would use the money the government receives more effectively. His plan would: protect the doctor-patient relationship, lower health-care costs, expand access to quality care and coverage and invest in prevention and wellness programs.
Burton said he does not know where the health care reform bill may be heading, but he has some ideas.
"There's a big difference of opinion between liberals and moderates in the Democrat party. The Republicans are just deaf on these bills that they've come up with in both the House and Senate. But there's a big fight between liberals and moderates, if you want to call them that, in the Democrat majority in the House and Senate. So I don't know what they are going to end up with, but it does look like the government option as they initially planned it doesn't look like it's got legs so they'll probably try to go with some kind of a co-op, which is a veiled government option."
On Sunday, President Barack Obama was seen on five television networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision, to push health care reform. On Monday, the president also appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Burton says as time goes by, the president is very concerned on if he is going to get a health care reform bill.
"This is his keystone. If he doesn't get this through, he's got a problem. He has to settle for something before it's over with, politically, in my opinion."
INVESTIGATING ACORN
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, commonly known as ACORN, has been under scrutiny by many since the months going into the 2008 general election for its voter registering practices. In the past couple weeks, this organization has come under more scrutiny because of an undercover video shot at an ACORN office in Baltimore, Md. where ACORN employees offered unethical advice to a prostitute and a pimp in order to evade tax evasion and traffic in children from El Salvador to work as prostitutes. Other similar undercover videos from offices elsewhere around the country were later released.
Burton is now trying to get Congress to investigate ACORN.
"ACORN should be defunded number one, it should be investigated number two, and it's a political organization number three. ACORN is supposed to be an organization that helps the under privileged in housing and all that other stuff and I think there is some of that. From what I've seen so far in the past week, it looks like it's a large part of criminal entity."
Burton says that Congress does its best to make sure they give the taxpayers' money to credible organizations. He says that people like Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., and others are very supportive of government intervention.
"(ACORN) used to get $150 some million then (the House) pushed through $8.5 billion that they can have access to. Then they pushed through another $1.5 billion that they can have access to. That's $10 billion. And they spent most of their time with fraudulent voting and fraudulent registering and helping prostitution."
Burton also said that the Obama administration will do whatever they can to make sure ACORN survives because of the president's close ties from when he was one of the organization's lawyers.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_8564c74a-a7b8-11de-845a-001cc4c03286.html
Old Sycamore Farm opens for family fun
Posted: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 4:30 pm | Updated: 4:31 pm, Tue Sep 22, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 22, 2009
* padelsen
by Peter Adelsen
There is a place for a fright or just for a good time in western Howard County. The Old Sycamore Farm, 6702 W. 00 NS, opened Sunday and runs through Oct. 31.
Five years ago, the Old Sycamore Farm began with its haunted barn. Three years ago, it began its pumpkin patch. Today it has much more to offer with all kinds of fun and game activities, owner Jake Lipinski said.
"Last year we had about 6,000 people come out," he said. "We will do 25 school field trips this year. We try to make it as affordable as possible for everyone and we let people spend as much time as they want on the farm."
The farm is now open, but some activities begin at a later date. The pumpkin patch opens Friday and the haunted barn opens Oct. 3 and is only available on Friday and Saturday evenings in October. For those who have not been to the farm, or have been there, much is new this year.
"We now have a pumpkin catapult," he said. "The large trebuchet swings pumpkins 70 yards into the air."
The trebuchet is only available on Saturdays, he said.
Also new this year is "The Old Sycamore Mining Company" gem sluice, a process of sifting the sand away from the gems in water.
"I ordered real polished gemstones and 24-karat gold flakes and mixed them into one pound bags of sand," he said. "Every kid is guaranteed at least 10 gems. The kids will also learn the history of gold prospecting and gold panning in American history."
Because Lipinski is a Kokomo firefighter, he is also offering something new this year for kids. On select Saturdays, he is offering fire safety education for children. He said for information on when this is held to check out the Old Sycamore Farm Web site at OldSycamoreFarm.com.
Lipinski said there are also pig races that only occur on Saturdays. The pigs race down and back for an Oreo cookie, he said.
Other activities include hay rides every hour, a cow milking station, hay bale maze, pony rides, candle dipping, petting zoo, rubber duck races and many others.
The Old Sycamore Farm also has a country store with crafts and home made candles, as well as hot apple cider, hot chocolate, fudge and popcorn is available.
There are many photo opportunities around the farm, he said. One such place is the framed house made of real pumpkins.
On Friday and Saturday evenings in October, the haunted barn is open for those who want a fright. Before going into the barn, the group sits around a campfire to hear a ghost story about why it is haunted, he said.
The farm hours are Monday through Friday noon to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. The haunted barn hours are Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Prices at the farm range from $1 to $5 and the haunted barn admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children 12 years old and younger.
For more information about the farm check out the Old Sycamore Farm Web site at OldSycamoreFarm.com.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_c9e5b736-a7b2-11de-8296-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 22, 2009
* padelsen
by Peter Adelsen
There is a place for a fright or just for a good time in western Howard County. The Old Sycamore Farm, 6702 W. 00 NS, opened Sunday and runs through Oct. 31.
Five years ago, the Old Sycamore Farm began with its haunted barn. Three years ago, it began its pumpkin patch. Today it has much more to offer with all kinds of fun and game activities, owner Jake Lipinski said.
"Last year we had about 6,000 people come out," he said. "We will do 25 school field trips this year. We try to make it as affordable as possible for everyone and we let people spend as much time as they want on the farm."
The farm is now open, but some activities begin at a later date. The pumpkin patch opens Friday and the haunted barn opens Oct. 3 and is only available on Friday and Saturday evenings in October. For those who have not been to the farm, or have been there, much is new this year.
"We now have a pumpkin catapult," he said. "The large trebuchet swings pumpkins 70 yards into the air."
The trebuchet is only available on Saturdays, he said.
Also new this year is "The Old Sycamore Mining Company" gem sluice, a process of sifting the sand away from the gems in water.
"I ordered real polished gemstones and 24-karat gold flakes and mixed them into one pound bags of sand," he said. "Every kid is guaranteed at least 10 gems. The kids will also learn the history of gold prospecting and gold panning in American history."
Because Lipinski is a Kokomo firefighter, he is also offering something new this year for kids. On select Saturdays, he is offering fire safety education for children. He said for information on when this is held to check out the Old Sycamore Farm Web site at OldSycamoreFarm.com.
Lipinski said there are also pig races that only occur on Saturdays. The pigs race down and back for an Oreo cookie, he said.
Other activities include hay rides every hour, a cow milking station, hay bale maze, pony rides, candle dipping, petting zoo, rubber duck races and many others.
The Old Sycamore Farm also has a country store with crafts and home made candles, as well as hot apple cider, hot chocolate, fudge and popcorn is available.
There are many photo opportunities around the farm, he said. One such place is the framed house made of real pumpkins.
On Friday and Saturday evenings in October, the haunted barn is open for those who want a fright. Before going into the barn, the group sits around a campfire to hear a ghost story about why it is haunted, he said.
The farm hours are Monday through Friday noon to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. The haunted barn hours are Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Prices at the farm range from $1 to $5 and the haunted barn admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children 12 years old and younger.
For more information about the farm check out the Old Sycamore Farm Web site at OldSycamoreFarm.com.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_c9e5b736-a7b2-11de-8296-001cc4c002e0.html
McConnell's property being cleaned up again
Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009 4:15 pm | Updated: 4:38 pm, Mon Sep 21, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 21, 2009
* padelsen
by Peter Adelsen
For the second time this year and the countless times before, the city of Kokomo is cleaning up Roger McConnell's property at the corner of LaFountain Street and Boulevard because of its violation of the nuisance ordinance.
The city began working at the property at 8 a.m. Monday and plans on completing the task of moving everything off the property that is not a structure in the next few days, said Steve Barnett, Kokomo building inspector. The city is also saving the walnut and other non-trash trees, everything else is going to a landfill.
Barnett said McConnell was notified of the city's clean up.
"He was aware of it and he had been notified by all the legal procedures," he said. "He requested a hearing with the Board of Public Works and he appeared to the board and presented his case to the board."
During the hearing, the board gave the order to proceed with the clean up, he said. Barnett then coordinated the project with Joe Ewing, city street and refuse director, for the man power.
"It's our job to make sure that people keep their properties in a safe condition and if it means going back whenever he gets in violation again, we'll be doing that," he said.
As of 2:00 p.m. Monday, Barnett estimates that 20 tons of trash had been removed from the property.
The city was not alone at the property on Monday, McConnell was there as well.
"The city told me that if we'd put up a fence, they would leave us alone," McConnell said. "They also said to keep everything within the confines of the fence. I put up a fence and the city came and took down the fence. That's why they came back because the fence was down."
The fence was up from 1996 to 2004, he said.
McConnell said he has been at odds with the city since 1972. He said this time the city has accused him of planting rank vegetation.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_fa545a48-a6eb-11de-bf45-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 21, 2009
* padelsen
by Peter Adelsen
For the second time this year and the countless times before, the city of Kokomo is cleaning up Roger McConnell's property at the corner of LaFountain Street and Boulevard because of its violation of the nuisance ordinance.
The city began working at the property at 8 a.m. Monday and plans on completing the task of moving everything off the property that is not a structure in the next few days, said Steve Barnett, Kokomo building inspector. The city is also saving the walnut and other non-trash trees, everything else is going to a landfill.
Barnett said McConnell was notified of the city's clean up.
"He was aware of it and he had been notified by all the legal procedures," he said. "He requested a hearing with the Board of Public Works and he appeared to the board and presented his case to the board."
During the hearing, the board gave the order to proceed with the clean up, he said. Barnett then coordinated the project with Joe Ewing, city street and refuse director, for the man power.
"It's our job to make sure that people keep their properties in a safe condition and if it means going back whenever he gets in violation again, we'll be doing that," he said.
As of 2:00 p.m. Monday, Barnett estimates that 20 tons of trash had been removed from the property.
The city was not alone at the property on Monday, McConnell was there as well.
"The city told me that if we'd put up a fence, they would leave us alone," McConnell said. "They also said to keep everything within the confines of the fence. I put up a fence and the city came and took down the fence. That's why they came back because the fence was down."
The fence was up from 1996 to 2004, he said.
McConnell said he has been at odds with the city since 1972. He said this time the city has accused him of planting rank vegetation.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_fa545a48-a6eb-11de-bf45-001cc4c002e0.html
Burton announces job fair in Kokomo
Posted: Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:00 am | Updated: 7:20 pm, Fri Sep 18, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Congressman Dan Burton, R-5th District, announced a job fair Friday to be held Nov. 14 at Indiana University Kokomo.
Burton, along with city councilman Mike Karickhoff, former state congressman Heath VanNatter is sponsoring the event.
Burton said 40 to 45 companies will be at the H.I.R.E. (Help Indiana Regain Employment) Job Fair.
In the earlier job fair in Marion, some of the types of jobs offered have been accounting, banking, education, health care, marketing and sales.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_55fe47c2-a4a9-11de-b830-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Congressman Dan Burton, R-5th District, announced a job fair Friday to be held Nov. 14 at Indiana University Kokomo.
Burton, along with city councilman Mike Karickhoff, former state congressman Heath VanNatter is sponsoring the event.
Burton said 40 to 45 companies will be at the H.I.R.E. (Help Indiana Regain Employment) Job Fair.
In the earlier job fair in Marion, some of the types of jobs offered have been accounting, banking, education, health care, marketing and sales.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_55fe47c2-a4a9-11de-b830-001cc4c03286.html
Seniors, baby boomers informed at Burton healthcare forum
Posted: Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:00 am | Updated: 7:45 pm, Fri Sep 18, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Many turned out to Congressman Dan Burton's seniors and baby boomers healthcare forum on Friday at Kresge Auditorium on the Indiana University Kokomo campus.
The issue was healthcare focusing on Medicare, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) and Social Security. Burton, R-5th District, also spoke about government-run healthcare that has been a hot topic this summer.
Burton and representatives of the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) informed the audience about healthcare concerns including warning signs of scams and the possible future of healthcare. They later answered the audience's questions.
Burton continued to talk to his constituents about his concerns with HR 3200, the healthcare bill that the Democrats have presented. He said that it would be cheaper for employers to drop their private insurance and go with the government plan.
"They will be encouraged to take their employees off of that private account and put them on the government account, which will be subsidized by the government," Burton said. "They would have to pay an 8 percent tax, which will be less than their current coverage. That's going to push people into the government plan and the plan will be controlled by a government regulator and that's something that we are concerned about."
He also said that the government could come between the patient and the doctor and that there could be rationing of care based upon life expectancy.
"This kind of mindset and thinking among the people who are advising the president on healthcare disturbs me a great deal, not because of my age, but because of what it means for society as a whole," he said. "Healthcare should not be rationed and should not pick people out and saying one person deserves healthcare when another one doesn't. And we shouldn't base it on statistics. I don't know how old Einstein was when he came up with the theory of relativity, but I don't think that he was an infant."
Burton added that the lowest figure of a cost for this plan would be $870 over 10 years. He also said a more realistic figure from the Congressional Budget Office has said a government-run plan would cost between $1 trillion and 3 trillion over the next decade. He also said that about 8 million seniors who have Medicare Advantage would lose it.
Cinthia Michel, an external affairs liaison with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that there are many people who pretend that they are from Medicare to take advantage of senior citizens.
"Medicare will never ever ask you for your bank account numbers over the telephone," Michel said. "It is amazing how often we get individuals who call us and they say they gave their bank account numbers along with their social security numbers to some stranger on the phone because he or she indicated that they were from Medicare or from the Department of Health and Human Services. If you get a call from someone who act like they are from Medicare ask them for their phone number and their name to call back and then call Medicare to ask if that is a legitimate survey."
Michel also said if a person receives a Medicare summary notice to open it so people know how much to pay on the procedure performed on the person. She says to take note of the date on the notice because it tells when the person has the right to appeal the claim that was denied. It will also tell the procedures that were done and the provider, she said.
"When you receive services as a Medicare beneficiary, that provider whether it is a hospital, a doctor, a lab, whoever cannot collect one dime from you until Medicare has made its determination," she said.
Michael Dorris of National Government Services, a Medicare contractor since 1966, said to the audience to make sure that the Social Security Administration has the person's current address in order to collect a live check.
"The biggest reason why is because if we send you a live check, it cannot be forwarded to your new address if it is not updated with Social Security," he said.
Medicare is only available with the United States' borders and in American waters, he said.
If people ever have questions regarding Medicare, they ask them to call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare and press "0" or say "agent" to get a person on the line.
As people grow older and times change, these programs also change, said John Williams, public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration.
"Important programs like Medicare and Social Security do need to change over time because society changes and the economy changes and our needs as individuals do change, so important government programs need to be changed by Congress also to keep pace with all of that," Williams said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_3e2bd97e-a4aa-11de-8b50-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Many turned out to Congressman Dan Burton's seniors and baby boomers healthcare forum on Friday at Kresge Auditorium on the Indiana University Kokomo campus.
The issue was healthcare focusing on Medicare, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) and Social Security. Burton, R-5th District, also spoke about government-run healthcare that has been a hot topic this summer.
Burton and representatives of the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) informed the audience about healthcare concerns including warning signs of scams and the possible future of healthcare. They later answered the audience's questions.
Burton continued to talk to his constituents about his concerns with HR 3200, the healthcare bill that the Democrats have presented. He said that it would be cheaper for employers to drop their private insurance and go with the government plan.
"They will be encouraged to take their employees off of that private account and put them on the government account, which will be subsidized by the government," Burton said. "They would have to pay an 8 percent tax, which will be less than their current coverage. That's going to push people into the government plan and the plan will be controlled by a government regulator and that's something that we are concerned about."
He also said that the government could come between the patient and the doctor and that there could be rationing of care based upon life expectancy.
"This kind of mindset and thinking among the people who are advising the president on healthcare disturbs me a great deal, not because of my age, but because of what it means for society as a whole," he said. "Healthcare should not be rationed and should not pick people out and saying one person deserves healthcare when another one doesn't. And we shouldn't base it on statistics. I don't know how old Einstein was when he came up with the theory of relativity, but I don't think that he was an infant."
Burton added that the lowest figure of a cost for this plan would be $870 over 10 years. He also said a more realistic figure from the Congressional Budget Office has said a government-run plan would cost between $1 trillion and 3 trillion over the next decade. He also said that about 8 million seniors who have Medicare Advantage would lose it.
Cinthia Michel, an external affairs liaison with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that there are many people who pretend that they are from Medicare to take advantage of senior citizens.
"Medicare will never ever ask you for your bank account numbers over the telephone," Michel said. "It is amazing how often we get individuals who call us and they say they gave their bank account numbers along with their social security numbers to some stranger on the phone because he or she indicated that they were from Medicare or from the Department of Health and Human Services. If you get a call from someone who act like they are from Medicare ask them for their phone number and their name to call back and then call Medicare to ask if that is a legitimate survey."
Michel also said if a person receives a Medicare summary notice to open it so people know how much to pay on the procedure performed on the person. She says to take note of the date on the notice because it tells when the person has the right to appeal the claim that was denied. It will also tell the procedures that were done and the provider, she said.
"When you receive services as a Medicare beneficiary, that provider whether it is a hospital, a doctor, a lab, whoever cannot collect one dime from you until Medicare has made its determination," she said.
Michael Dorris of National Government Services, a Medicare contractor since 1966, said to the audience to make sure that the Social Security Administration has the person's current address in order to collect a live check.
"The biggest reason why is because if we send you a live check, it cannot be forwarded to your new address if it is not updated with Social Security," he said.
Medicare is only available with the United States' borders and in American waters, he said.
If people ever have questions regarding Medicare, they ask them to call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare and press "0" or say "agent" to get a person on the line.
As people grow older and times change, these programs also change, said John Williams, public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration.
"Important programs like Medicare and Social Security do need to change over time because society changes and the economy changes and our needs as individuals do change, so important government programs need to be changed by Congress also to keep pace with all of that," Williams said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_3e2bd97e-a4aa-11de-8b50-001cc4c03286.html
KCS, county schools working together on saving money on insurance
Posted: Thursday, September 17, 2009 1:15 am | Updated: 11:52 pm, Wed Sep 16, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen staff reporter padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 17, 2009
Howard County school corporations could save a combined $190,000 with their new property and casualty insurance provider and will receive more coverage. Also taxpayers would pay less to the schools from $1.2 million to $864,000.
The Kokomo-Center Township Schools' Board of Trustees approved a one-year agreement with an automatic second-year renewal with Indiana Insurance Co. on Wednesday to provide its property and casualty insurance. The second year relies on if all the districts can maintain a 40 percent loss ratio.
Three years ago, the five Howard County school corporations began working together to save taxpayer money by requesting quotes through Miles and Finch agency. Hanover Insurance Co. previously held a three-year agreement with the schools before it ran out. Miles and Finch sent proposal packages to 13 different companies.
The five Howard County school corporations recommended that the entire insurance package be placed with Indiana Insurance because it offered the best overall package and the lowest overall cost, said Eric Rody, director of business affairs and treasurer.
"We had in our favor the fact that Indiana Insurance lost us three years ago in the same process," Rody said. "They wanted us back. They wanted the entire county back."
The total cost for the entire package will cost $468,151 effective Oct. 1, he said. For budget purposes in the 2009 budget, the district budgeted $534,000 in the general fund and $38,000 in the transportation fund for a total of $572,000, he said. With the renewal quote and adjustment, Kokomo Center Schools will save $103,849 in the budget, he said.
"Three years ago, we did this same process and we cut the overall Howard County school insurance cost from $1.2 million to $1 million," Mike Miles of Miles and Finch said. "Now three years later, we have now cut that cost from $1 million to about $1,052,000 over the three year period due to additional buildings being built and buses causing a variety of increased risk."
So far by the school districts working as a group, taxpayers have saved nearly $800,000 and by the end of this two-year policy it could be $1 million saved, said Miles.
The board also approved to increase the limit of liability from $5 million to $10 million.
In other news
The board approved the acceptance of the Indiana's Ready to Learn, Ready Schools Initiative Grant 2009 of $11,640 and all Kokomo-Center Schools may be served through the grant.
It also approved permission to advertise on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 the disposal of personal property and auction sale on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. at the former vocational building at Central Middle School, 303 E. Superior St.
The board approved the technology plan for 2010-2013.
The board also approved preschool special education contracts for 2009-2010 with Bona Vista Special Education Preschool Therapy services, Keys for Kids Preschool and First Presbyterian Little School.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_5f080772-a337-11de-b4f3-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen staff reporter padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 17, 2009
Howard County school corporations could save a combined $190,000 with their new property and casualty insurance provider and will receive more coverage. Also taxpayers would pay less to the schools from $1.2 million to $864,000.
The Kokomo-Center Township Schools' Board of Trustees approved a one-year agreement with an automatic second-year renewal with Indiana Insurance Co. on Wednesday to provide its property and casualty insurance. The second year relies on if all the districts can maintain a 40 percent loss ratio.
Three years ago, the five Howard County school corporations began working together to save taxpayer money by requesting quotes through Miles and Finch agency. Hanover Insurance Co. previously held a three-year agreement with the schools before it ran out. Miles and Finch sent proposal packages to 13 different companies.
The five Howard County school corporations recommended that the entire insurance package be placed with Indiana Insurance because it offered the best overall package and the lowest overall cost, said Eric Rody, director of business affairs and treasurer.
"We had in our favor the fact that Indiana Insurance lost us three years ago in the same process," Rody said. "They wanted us back. They wanted the entire county back."
The total cost for the entire package will cost $468,151 effective Oct. 1, he said. For budget purposes in the 2009 budget, the district budgeted $534,000 in the general fund and $38,000 in the transportation fund for a total of $572,000, he said. With the renewal quote and adjustment, Kokomo Center Schools will save $103,849 in the budget, he said.
"Three years ago, we did this same process and we cut the overall Howard County school insurance cost from $1.2 million to $1 million," Mike Miles of Miles and Finch said. "Now three years later, we have now cut that cost from $1 million to about $1,052,000 over the three year period due to additional buildings being built and buses causing a variety of increased risk."
So far by the school districts working as a group, taxpayers have saved nearly $800,000 and by the end of this two-year policy it could be $1 million saved, said Miles.
The board also approved to increase the limit of liability from $5 million to $10 million.
In other news
The board approved the acceptance of the Indiana's Ready to Learn, Ready Schools Initiative Grant 2009 of $11,640 and all Kokomo-Center Schools may be served through the grant.
It also approved permission to advertise on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 the disposal of personal property and auction sale on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. at the former vocational building at Central Middle School, 303 E. Superior St.
The board approved the technology plan for 2010-2013.
The board also approved preschool special education contracts for 2009-2010 with Bona Vista Special Education Preschool Therapy services, Keys for Kids Preschool and First Presbyterian Little School.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_5f080772-a337-11de-b4f3-001cc4c03286.html
'World Famous' Lipizzaners returning to Kokomo
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff reporter padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 16, 2009
Currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the Lipizzaner Stallions are returning to Kokomo.
The "world famous" horses have been seen by more than 23 million people around the world and are making their second trip to Kokomo for a show at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kokomo Event Center.
"This is a very popular show," said Tiffany Bray, Kokomo Event Center event coordinator. "We have been selling tickets right and left. We are excited to have such a big show come."
The Lipizzaner Stallions tour in this area of the country every other year, she said.
The tour features 12 to 14 stallions performing selected maneuvers, according to the show's Web site.
The show will have all new music, choreography and routines with a major emphasis on the historical background and foundation of the Lipizzaner breed. The horses will also do spectacular leaps and maneuvers, and will be performing and equine ballet, according to its Web site.
Regular admission adult tickets are $22.50 each and are $20.50 for seniors 60 and older and children 12 and younger. Group discounts are available by calling 1-877-547-4926, Bray said. All other tickets are available at the Kokomo Event Center and online at tickets.com.
Posted on September 16, 2009
Currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the Lipizzaner Stallions are returning to Kokomo.
The "world famous" horses have been seen by more than 23 million people around the world and are making their second trip to Kokomo for a show at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kokomo Event Center.
"This is a very popular show," said Tiffany Bray, Kokomo Event Center event coordinator. "We have been selling tickets right and left. We are excited to have such a big show come."
The Lipizzaner Stallions tour in this area of the country every other year, she said.
The tour features 12 to 14 stallions performing selected maneuvers, according to the show's Web site.
The show will have all new music, choreography and routines with a major emphasis on the historical background and foundation of the Lipizzaner breed. The horses will also do spectacular leaps and maneuvers, and will be performing and equine ballet, according to its Web site.
Regular admission adult tickets are $22.50 each and are $20.50 for seniors 60 and older and children 12 and younger. Group discounts are available by calling 1-877-547-4926, Bray said. All other tickets are available at the Kokomo Event Center and online at tickets.com.
Goodnight proposes ‘friendly’ downtown infrastructure plan
Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 10:25 am
By Peter Adelsen padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Driving through downtown may be a bit faster in the future if the city council goes along with a proposed plan. Mayor Greg Goodnight is proposing eliminating most traffic signals, one-way streets, and improving the Howard County courthouse square as a part of his infrastructure plan he introduced Friday at the Chamber of Commerce.
After the city looked at downtown traffic studies over the past years, Goodnight has proposed some changes that could help downtown rejuvenate. His plan is to eliminate all internal traffic signals between Washington, Superior, Jefferson streets and Apperson Way. Stop signs will replace the signals at these intersections. The signals along the border streets will not be removed.
"By pulling those traffic lights out and putting in stop signs about a third of those you will have improved time for everyone by not waiting as long for the light to turn," he said. "About a third are about the exact same in time and about a third you may have a second or two where the average time at that intersection may decrease."
The removed posts and signals would be removed to storage near the water treatment facility, he said, so if in the future they may be needed again for other projects, instead of purchasing new posts and signals.
The cost of pulling the polls out and replacing them with stop signs would be about $60,000, he said.
The one-way streets of Sycamore and Walnut streets will become two-way, he said. For signal modification at Washington and Sycamore streets, it would cost about $100,000 since the state is not interested in partnering with the city, he said.
The area around the courthouse square will also see drastic changes with the elimination of parking meters to instead strongly enforce the two-hour parking rule and install enhanced handicap curb ramps. The meters would be removed only around the courthouse. The cost would be around $6,500 for the removal and sign modification for the parking, he said.
The mayor also would like the courthouse square to be more safer and pedestrian friendly.
"Along Sycamore and Walnut, since the courthouse block is inset because of parking these are the longest paths for people to cross the street," Goodnight said. "The idea is to put bump outs, or basically curb extensions for the sidewalks, so the people can get across when they become two-way streets so it is safer for people to walk."
The plan is to extend these bump outs 8 or 10 feet and put a flower bed or something to protect people while they stand on these street corners, he said.
The cost for the bump outs would be about $90,000 because of poll removal and sewer drains, he said.
Along with the cost of all of the changes, there are also cost savings.
Through removing the 11 signals, the city would save $16,500 in annual signal maintenance cost. It would also save $1,000 a year in electricity cost at each signal and would save $15,500 a year in emergency call-outs for when a signal may malfunction.
As it stands now, downtown businesses are in favor of the mayor's plan. The only question by the business owners was how the parking would be enforced.
The city's plan is to chalk the tire of a vehicle when it exceeds the two-hour limit and begin to give tickets at $15 a piece for every violation.
In the future, the city may look into another phase of the project by allowing two-way traffic on Main and Union streets. Currently, these streets would have too many traffic signals to deal with, city engineer Carey Stranahan said.
"This could be the next step once we get the first phase done," Stranahan said. "Right now it would take more resources than what we have to do that right now."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_1d38e6fa-a2cd-11de-83fc-001cc4c002e0.html
By Peter Adelsen padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Driving through downtown may be a bit faster in the future if the city council goes along with a proposed plan. Mayor Greg Goodnight is proposing eliminating most traffic signals, one-way streets, and improving the Howard County courthouse square as a part of his infrastructure plan he introduced Friday at the Chamber of Commerce.
After the city looked at downtown traffic studies over the past years, Goodnight has proposed some changes that could help downtown rejuvenate. His plan is to eliminate all internal traffic signals between Washington, Superior, Jefferson streets and Apperson Way. Stop signs will replace the signals at these intersections. The signals along the border streets will not be removed.
"By pulling those traffic lights out and putting in stop signs about a third of those you will have improved time for everyone by not waiting as long for the light to turn," he said. "About a third are about the exact same in time and about a third you may have a second or two where the average time at that intersection may decrease."
The removed posts and signals would be removed to storage near the water treatment facility, he said, so if in the future they may be needed again for other projects, instead of purchasing new posts and signals.
The cost of pulling the polls out and replacing them with stop signs would be about $60,000, he said.
The one-way streets of Sycamore and Walnut streets will become two-way, he said. For signal modification at Washington and Sycamore streets, it would cost about $100,000 since the state is not interested in partnering with the city, he said.
The area around the courthouse square will also see drastic changes with the elimination of parking meters to instead strongly enforce the two-hour parking rule and install enhanced handicap curb ramps. The meters would be removed only around the courthouse. The cost would be around $6,500 for the removal and sign modification for the parking, he said.
The mayor also would like the courthouse square to be more safer and pedestrian friendly.
"Along Sycamore and Walnut, since the courthouse block is inset because of parking these are the longest paths for people to cross the street," Goodnight said. "The idea is to put bump outs, or basically curb extensions for the sidewalks, so the people can get across when they become two-way streets so it is safer for people to walk."
The plan is to extend these bump outs 8 or 10 feet and put a flower bed or something to protect people while they stand on these street corners, he said.
The cost for the bump outs would be about $90,000 because of poll removal and sewer drains, he said.
Along with the cost of all of the changes, there are also cost savings.
Through removing the 11 signals, the city would save $16,500 in annual signal maintenance cost. It would also save $1,000 a year in electricity cost at each signal and would save $15,500 a year in emergency call-outs for when a signal may malfunction.
As it stands now, downtown businesses are in favor of the mayor's plan. The only question by the business owners was how the parking would be enforced.
The city's plan is to chalk the tire of a vehicle when it exceeds the two-hour limit and begin to give tickets at $15 a piece for every violation.
In the future, the city may look into another phase of the project by allowing two-way traffic on Main and Union streets. Currently, these streets would have too many traffic signals to deal with, city engineer Carey Stranahan said.
"This could be the next step once we get the first phase done," Stranahan said. "Right now it would take more resources than what we have to do that right now."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_1d38e6fa-a2cd-11de-83fc-001cc4c002e0.html
Scouts compete in duck derby
Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:00 am | Updated: 2:30 pm, Wed Sep 16, 2009.
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff reporter padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 16, 2009
Local Cub Scouts may have made history on Tuesday, twice.
Cub Scout packs 3539 and 3540 completed a duck derby for the first time ever in a rain gutter, according to Cub Scout leader Penny Yocum. The packs decorated the ducks and were eager for the duck derby, she said.
The boys blew through their individual PVC pipe into the water to make the ducks move from one end to the other in the rain gutter. Although it was just for fun, the top three in the competition received a flashlight and a certificate with their name and placing.
The first duck derby was at 3:00 p.m. at Bon Air Elementary School with Pack 3539 participating. The second duck derby was at 6:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church with Pack 3540.
"We thought we would try to see what it was like," Yocum said. "We were the first pack to do it. In the past, boats raced through the gutters."
Yocum said that they try to do many extra things than other packs have done and it brings boys into scouting.
The boys are between first and fifth grades and, for many, they are new to scouting, she said.
"They are learning to work as a team," she said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_752029a0-a25f-11de-ac22-001cc4c03286.html
By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff reporter padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Posted on September 16, 2009
Local Cub Scouts may have made history on Tuesday, twice.
Cub Scout packs 3539 and 3540 completed a duck derby for the first time ever in a rain gutter, according to Cub Scout leader Penny Yocum. The packs decorated the ducks and were eager for the duck derby, she said.
The boys blew through their individual PVC pipe into the water to make the ducks move from one end to the other in the rain gutter. Although it was just for fun, the top three in the competition received a flashlight and a certificate with their name and placing.
The first duck derby was at 3:00 p.m. at Bon Air Elementary School with Pack 3539 participating. The second duck derby was at 6:00 p.m. at First Congregational Church with Pack 3540.
"We thought we would try to see what it was like," Yocum said. "We were the first pack to do it. In the past, boats raced through the gutters."
Yocum said that they try to do many extra things than other packs have done and it brings boys into scouting.
The boys are between first and fifth grades and, for many, they are new to scouting, she said.
"They are learning to work as a team," she said.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/local_news/article_752029a0-a25f-11de-ac22-001cc4c03286.html
PHOTO GALLERY: Large crowd at Thursday's Tea Party
Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 am
Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Organizers had expected a large crowd at Thursday's Tea Party at the Kokomo Event Center, but not to this extent.
"The car count was about 590, so if you figure two per car that is about 1,200," said Deb Hearn, who with Kenlyn Watson organized the event. "But there were a lot of people who carpooled since parking was limited."
She said that people may have spilled over from the adjoining businesses, as well.
The previous largest crowd was about 500 people at the two past tea parties, she said.
The tea party focused on several major topics of the day including health care, fair tax, auditing the Fed and cap and trade.
"If we don't stay awake at the wheel, we will lose those very freedoms that we have been taking for granted," she said.
The featured speaker was Peter Heck, who is a conservative radio personality at WIOU-AM and is also a history teacher at Eastern High School.
Hearn said that the next tea party could be in eight to ten weeks.
"Our goal now is to really get the citizens of Kokomo and the surrounding counties very involved and they need to reach out to their friends, family and co-workers and get them off the couch too," she said. "We all need to stay involved. This is our nation. Let's protect the freedom and liberty we so enjoy."
Check out our photo album from Thursday's event.
Click here for a related story about Thursday's tea party.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_8ac43c21-b678-55fd-b49d-0895a5728151.html
Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Organizers had expected a large crowd at Thursday's Tea Party at the Kokomo Event Center, but not to this extent.
"The car count was about 590, so if you figure two per car that is about 1,200," said Deb Hearn, who with Kenlyn Watson organized the event. "But there were a lot of people who carpooled since parking was limited."
She said that people may have spilled over from the adjoining businesses, as well.
The previous largest crowd was about 500 people at the two past tea parties, she said.
The tea party focused on several major topics of the day including health care, fair tax, auditing the Fed and cap and trade.
"If we don't stay awake at the wheel, we will lose those very freedoms that we have been taking for granted," she said.
The featured speaker was Peter Heck, who is a conservative radio personality at WIOU-AM and is also a history teacher at Eastern High School.
Hearn said that the next tea party could be in eight to ten weeks.
"Our goal now is to really get the citizens of Kokomo and the surrounding counties very involved and they need to reach out to their friends, family and co-workers and get them off the couch too," she said. "We all need to stay involved. This is our nation. Let's protect the freedom and liberty we so enjoy."
Check out our photo album from Thursday's event.
Click here for a related story about Thursday's tea party.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_8ac43c21-b678-55fd-b49d-0895a5728151.html
Buddy Bag program provides food for thought
Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2009 12:00 am
Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Instead of coming to school hungry after a weekend, students at a local school arrive on Monday with filled stomachs ready to learn.
The percentage of students on free or reduced lunch at Elwood Haynes Elementary School is approximately 84 percent, Deanna Ancil said, director of Project E.A.T., which means Everyone Ate Today. Many students were coming to school hungry and some weren't able to sleep because of headaches, she said. This is not the case anymore with "Buddy Bags" a product of Kokomo Urban Outreach's Project E.A.T. program.
"We found that many of the students were eating at school on Friday for breakfast and were eating their lunch at school and then many times the kids were not eating over the weekend," Ancil said.
This was adopted from the national program created by America's Second Harvest, now named Feeding America.
"We took pieces of it to make it work with Elwood Haynes," she said. "We worked with the staff and the principal to develop the program."
The program began two years ago at the end of the school year as a pilot program, she said. Last year was the first full year delivering the totes of food to each classroom from September through May, she said.
"The totes go to each classroom and the teacher has the names of the students and then they pass them out to the students," she said. "And since it is at the end of the school day on Friday, we know that they are going directly home with that student."
The Buddy Bag packages contain six meals, she said. The meals include a package of oatmeal for breakfast and other items that rotate for lunch and dinner that include food such as canned soup, ramen noodles, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese and a can of tuna, she said. Each bag is identical for that particular week.
The food is ordered through Food Finders Food Bank and they have groups who come to pack the food for each Friday, she said.
Currently 316 students are receiving the Buddy Bags and that number can fluctuate on students coming in and leaving the school, she said.
This year, Leadership Kokomo's Team One is participating in the program.
"We are putting together a marketing program for (Project E.A.T.)," said Sherry Hayes, a Leadership Kokomo volunteer. "We are going out into the community making presentations and we are trying to get more people knowledgeable about the program to get more volunteers and financial contributions and support from the community."
Every year Leadership Kokomo volunteers adopt a community project and team two's six-member team chose to do this program, she said.
"It's a very big thing if kids don't have anything to eat," she said.
Ancil said she would like the program to be at other schools, as well.
"Currently Elwood Haynes is the biggest need right now," Ancil said. "If we had money to go elsewhere we would go to another school."
The program is free for the students, but it costs Kokomo Urban Outreach $110 a year per child. For those who would like to donate, they can do so by contacting any Community First Bank of Howard County and ask about Leadership Kokomo and the Buddy Bag program, said Alison Brantley of the United Way of Howard County.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_e38142c6-2a3a-5059-8be7-7faab5af8516.html
Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
Instead of coming to school hungry after a weekend, students at a local school arrive on Monday with filled stomachs ready to learn.
The percentage of students on free or reduced lunch at Elwood Haynes Elementary School is approximately 84 percent, Deanna Ancil said, director of Project E.A.T., which means Everyone Ate Today. Many students were coming to school hungry and some weren't able to sleep because of headaches, she said. This is not the case anymore with "Buddy Bags" a product of Kokomo Urban Outreach's Project E.A.T. program.
"We found that many of the students were eating at school on Friday for breakfast and were eating their lunch at school and then many times the kids were not eating over the weekend," Ancil said.
This was adopted from the national program created by America's Second Harvest, now named Feeding America.
"We took pieces of it to make it work with Elwood Haynes," she said. "We worked with the staff and the principal to develop the program."
The program began two years ago at the end of the school year as a pilot program, she said. Last year was the first full year delivering the totes of food to each classroom from September through May, she said.
"The totes go to each classroom and the teacher has the names of the students and then they pass them out to the students," she said. "And since it is at the end of the school day on Friday, we know that they are going directly home with that student."
The Buddy Bag packages contain six meals, she said. The meals include a package of oatmeal for breakfast and other items that rotate for lunch and dinner that include food such as canned soup, ramen noodles, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese and a can of tuna, she said. Each bag is identical for that particular week.
The food is ordered through Food Finders Food Bank and they have groups who come to pack the food for each Friday, she said.
Currently 316 students are receiving the Buddy Bags and that number can fluctuate on students coming in and leaving the school, she said.
This year, Leadership Kokomo's Team One is participating in the program.
"We are putting together a marketing program for (Project E.A.T.)," said Sherry Hayes, a Leadership Kokomo volunteer. "We are going out into the community making presentations and we are trying to get more people knowledgeable about the program to get more volunteers and financial contributions and support from the community."
Every year Leadership Kokomo volunteers adopt a community project and team two's six-member team chose to do this program, she said.
"It's a very big thing if kids don't have anything to eat," she said.
Ancil said she would like the program to be at other schools, as well.
"Currently Elwood Haynes is the biggest need right now," Ancil said. "If we had money to go elsewhere we would go to another school."
The program is free for the students, but it costs Kokomo Urban Outreach $110 a year per child. For those who would like to donate, they can do so by contacting any Community First Bank of Howard County and ask about Leadership Kokomo and the Buddy Bag program, said Alison Brantley of the United Way of Howard County.
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_e38142c6-2a3a-5059-8be7-7faab5af8516.html
NEW: Thursday's tea party to be more interactive than before
Posted: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 12:00 am
Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
After having two successful tea parties earlier this year, a third tea party is planned for Thursday at the southwest parking lot at the Kokomo Event Center, formerly the Johanning Civic Center. The event will start at 6 p.m. and last until 7:15 p.m.
The first couple tea parties had between 300 and 500 attendees, said Deb Hearn who with Kenlyn Watson are organizing the event. At the upcoming tea party, they are expecting much of the same, if not more, to attend. She says to bring chairs and some friends to the event. Like the previous tea parties, there will be patriotic music and speakers.
The featured speaker will be Peter Heck, who is a conservative radio personality at WIOU-AM and is also a history teacher at Eastern High School, she said.
Others involved are Eric Wyatt who may also speak about state sovereignty and Matt Turner who will serve as the emcee. In the past, Turner has spoken on ethics and morality, she said.
This tea party will be a little different than the first two, she said.
"This one is going to be a little more interactive," she said. "We want people to get educated, involved and engaged, so we are going to have booths from the four major areas out there: health care, fair tax, audit the Fed and cap and trade."
Each table will have a letter about the four areas and participants can sign the letters and they will be sent to our area's representatives, she said.
"We aren't trying to tell people how to feel," she said. "Whatever side of the fence they are on, they need to engage."
The people representing the booths will also speak with Heck, but they will have about two minutes each so the attendees can learn in greater detail by talking in person to the experts at their tables, she said.
Also representatives from tea parties held in Miami, Grant and Tipton counties will have tables, as well.
Everyone at the event will have the opportunity to do a video taping. This is in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling tea party protesters "the mob," she said. The point of the video is to say who the tea party protesters really are to the politicians, she said.
Hearn said one example of what to say is: "I don't like what you're doing. I am the mob. We are normal human beings, parents and grand parents, and we are starting to take notice. Nobody is funding us. It's just Kenlyn and I and we are normal."
She said that people should not be afraid to come.
"This is not just a conservative movement; there are a lot of Democrats involved in it too," she said. "We were concerned when President Bush was doing these things. We all wanted change. In some ways we aren't sticking to the foundations of our 'Founding Fathers.' We just want them to start engaging and start taking responsibility for those who are in office and educate."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_bbfd9df2-a0f4-5f7d-8133-6b075793783c.html
Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments
After having two successful tea parties earlier this year, a third tea party is planned for Thursday at the southwest parking lot at the Kokomo Event Center, formerly the Johanning Civic Center. The event will start at 6 p.m. and last until 7:15 p.m.
The first couple tea parties had between 300 and 500 attendees, said Deb Hearn who with Kenlyn Watson are organizing the event. At the upcoming tea party, they are expecting much of the same, if not more, to attend. She says to bring chairs and some friends to the event. Like the previous tea parties, there will be patriotic music and speakers.
The featured speaker will be Peter Heck, who is a conservative radio personality at WIOU-AM and is also a history teacher at Eastern High School, she said.
Others involved are Eric Wyatt who may also speak about state sovereignty and Matt Turner who will serve as the emcee. In the past, Turner has spoken on ethics and morality, she said.
This tea party will be a little different than the first two, she said.
"This one is going to be a little more interactive," she said. "We want people to get educated, involved and engaged, so we are going to have booths from the four major areas out there: health care, fair tax, audit the Fed and cap and trade."
Each table will have a letter about the four areas and participants can sign the letters and they will be sent to our area's representatives, she said.
"We aren't trying to tell people how to feel," she said. "Whatever side of the fence they are on, they need to engage."
The people representing the booths will also speak with Heck, but they will have about two minutes each so the attendees can learn in greater detail by talking in person to the experts at their tables, she said.
Also representatives from tea parties held in Miami, Grant and Tipton counties will have tables, as well.
Everyone at the event will have the opportunity to do a video taping. This is in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling tea party protesters "the mob," she said. The point of the video is to say who the tea party protesters really are to the politicians, she said.
Hearn said one example of what to say is: "I don't like what you're doing. I am the mob. We are normal human beings, parents and grand parents, and we are starting to take notice. Nobody is funding us. It's just Kenlyn and I and we are normal."
She said that people should not be afraid to come.
"This is not just a conservative movement; there are a lot of Democrats involved in it too," she said. "We were concerned when President Bush was doing these things. We all wanted change. In some ways we aren't sticking to the foundations of our 'Founding Fathers.' We just want them to start engaging and start taking responsibility for those who are in office and educate."
http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_bbfd9df2-a0f4-5f7d-8133-6b075793783c.html
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