Here's a story to make you smile... according to La Porte Police, a citizen went to the department to turn in a wallet she found while picking up trash along Highway 35 over the weekend. There was some cash inside, and personal ID and papers, and when the owner was notified, he said it must have fallen off his vehicle while visiting a local convenience store. La Porte Police said “Another great citizen caught doing the right thing! Not only cleaning up litter to help beautify her community,” but also ensuring “someone's lost property got back to them. Terrific example setting!”
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Using the state’s new public accountability law, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office Tuesday took legal action against the former business manager of Lake Ridge Schools who is accused of misappropriating more than 133-thousand dollars in school funds. In Jasper County Superior Court, Zoeller’s office got a temporary restraining order freezing the financial assets – including bank accounts and vehicles –of James W. Huddleston of Wheatfield until a full audit can be completed. Huddleston resigned in April.
Here is the news release from the Indiana Attorney General's office:
RENSSELAER, Ind. – Using the state’s new public accountability law, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office today took legal action against the former business manager of Lake Ridge Schools who is accused of misappropriating more than $133,000 in school funds.
In Jasper County Superior Court today, Zoeller’s office sought and obtained a temporary restraining order freezing the financial assets – including bank accounts and vehicles – of James W. Huddleston of Wheatfield, Ind., until a full audit can be completed. Until resigning in April, Huddleston had been the business manager of Lake Ridge Schools in Gary, Ind.
The Attorney General’s motions for a temporary restraining order and prejudgment attachment were filed under a state law the Legislature passed in 2009 at Zoeller’s urging:  House Enrolled Act 1514-2009, the public accountability law.
“This new legal tool allows the State Board of Accounts to notify the Attorney General’s Office through a preliminary audit of potential fraud on public funds much earlier, and allows us to intervene in court to prevent defendants from transferring or concealing assets – preserving them to recover later to reimburse the public treasury,” Zoeller said.
The investigation began in April when the Lake Ridge School Corporation in Gary requested a special audit by the State Board of Accounts or SBoA after the school’s credit union reported suspicious transactions within a school savings account that Huddleston, the business manager, had opened without the knowledge of the superintendent or school board knowledge. Huddleston was the only authorized signature on that account.
A preliminary audit by SBoA examiners found that more than $150,000 – primarily refunds from employee healthcare and prescription drug benefit programs intended for the school’s self-insurance fund – had instead been deposited into Lake Ridge’s savings account. Huddleston had withdrawn $133,624.21 in cash and checks from the account between July 2011 and April 2013, causing the school to incur $525.85 in credit union fees. Huddleston spent the school funds on personal expenses such as credit card payments, electric and gas utility bills, medical, dental and orthodontist bills and payments to auto dealerships and wholesale stores, the preliminary audit found. State law prohibits using public funds to pay for personal items or expenses not related to government business. When school officials became aware of it, Huddleston resigned, the audit said.
In addition to the more than $133,000 misappropriated, the SBoA incurred nearly $7,000 in auditing costs. The total amount of restitution SBoA seeks from Huddleston is $141,149.15.
The State Board of Accounts conducts regularly scheduled audits of government units and, when completed, routinely certifies them to the Attorney General’s Office for collection if audits discover misappropriation of public funds. The 2009 state law allows the SBoA and Attorney General to take action earlier in the process based on a preliminary audit, when public funds would be at risk if the State waited for the regularly scheduled final audit to be completed.
In the motions filed today, the Attorney General’s Office asked the Jasper County Superior Court to freeze Huddleston’s assets, including real estate located in Wheatfield, four vehicles and any bank or retirement accounts. The Attorney General’s Office asked the court to order that Huddleston’s assets not be transferred, concealed or distributed, so that funds would be available to reimburse the school district if the court were to enter a judgment later. Garnishment of any contributions to or benefits from retirement accounts also is sought.
Based on the eventual final audit report, the Attorney General’s Office could file a complaint to recover public funds at a later date, to seek civil collection of the final amount from Huddleston in order to reimburse the school treasury.
Although the misappropriation occurred in Lake County, the State’s motions were filed today in Jasper County because Huddleston resides there. Jasper County Superior Court Judge James R. Ahler granted the temporary restraining order today against Huddleston and set the hearing on the motion for prejudgment attachment and garnishment for May 16.
There was no requirement that the school carry a surety bond or insurance coverage on its former business manager, so any judgment against Huddleston would be his personal responsibility to repay, Zoeller said.
“When a school official is accused of paying personal bills with school funds it is an egregious violation of the public trust, and my office will use all means at our disposal to claw back taxpayers’ money and reimburse the school treasury,” Zoeller said.
The Attorney General’s jurisdiction is civil only, to collect misappropriated public funds that have been misappropriated. Criminal charges, if any, would be the jurisdiction of the county prosecutor and police.
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Lowell State Police standing formation
The Indiana State Police Lowell Post held its annual memorial service Tuesday to remember those ISP employees who have given their lives in the line of duty.  Troopers were brought to attention and the Indiana State Police Honor Guard presented the colors. Roll call of the fallen was read by Assistant District Commander, First Sergeant Terrance Weems and Area 1 Captain Ed Schroder.   Guests at the service included the family of fallen Indiana State Trooper Scott Patrick who was killed in the line of duty in December 22, 2003.

First Sgt. Weems presenting proclamation to Patrick family
The Patrick Family was presented by First Sergeant Weems a copy of the Indiana General Assembly House Resolution No. 10 Section 2 introduced by Representative Vernon G. Smith which urges INDOT to erect a memorial to Trooper Patrick at the I-80 EB to Grant Street exit in Gary.
A total of 46 Indiana State Police employees have lost their lives in the line of duty since the Department was formed in 1933.
Since the early days of the Indiana State Police, memorial services have been held each May at all Indiana State Police districts to perpetuate the memory of those who have died in the line of duty.

Sgt. Brian Schnick playing Taps
For a complete listing of Indiana Troopers killed in the line of duty and a summary of their deaths, visit the Indiana State Police website at www.in.gov/isp  and click on the “In Memoriam” link on the left side of the page.
[All photos courtesy Indiana State Police Lowell]
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IndianaGovernor Mike Pence is encouraging Hoosiers from around the state to pay tribute to former Governor Otis R. Bowen by signing condolence books at a Statehouse memorial today and Thursday. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view former Governor Bowen's portrait and bust and learn more about his career and extensive background in public service.  "A dynamic leader, Governor Otis R. Bowen made innumerable contributions to the state in the areas of taxes, healthcare and government administration," said Governor Pence. "I invite Hoosiers from all corners of Indiana to visit his public memorial to pay tribute to this tremendous Hoosier and public servant."
Governor Pence will lay a wreath at the memorial today at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The memorial will be open to the public during Statehouse hours, 8:00 a.m. EDT to 5:00 p.m. EDT, today and Thursday, May 9. Doors open to the Statehouse at 7:30 a.m. EDT.   Former Governor Bowen's wake will take place in Bremen at St. Paul's Lutheran Church from 11:00 to 3:00 today and from 4:00 to 8:00 on Thursday, May 9.
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Big job news on the horizon? Indiana Governor Mike Pence is scheduled to join executives from Subaru of Indiana Automotive this morning [at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday May 08 2013] for what state officials are calling “a major economic development announcement in Lafayette.” No other details were being released until the announcement.
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Based on preliminary, unofficial tallies, residents of the Munster and Wheeler/Union Township school districts voted yes yesterday in special elections to raise property taxes for school funding. In Munster, the votes were about 65-percent in favor.  In Munster, about 5,400 people cast ballots on Tuesday.  In Union Township, the turnout was a little over 1,800. A similar referendum appears to have failed by a margin of just four votes in Boone Township/Hebron, where about 11-hundred people went to the polls for the special election... and in Knox, where school officials were seeking approval for a project costing up to 16-million dollars to renovate a 60-year-old wing of their elementary school, various reports say voters said no, the construction referendum failing by about 100 votes with just over a-thousand votes cast.  You can hear each of the school superintendents discussing the referendums here online at News Audio on Demand.
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Tentative results of the Knox Community School Schools Special Election show that voters were apparently not in favor of a construction rehab project at the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School.  According to WKVI, of the 1,014 votes cast, 556 were against with 458 in favor of the referendum.
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Tentative results, from the Munster Schools Facebook page reports 3689 voted in favor of the referendum and 1991 voted against, or 64.9% yes votes to 35.1% no votes.
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Tentative Referendum results for Metropolitan School District of Boone Township (Hebron) show 543 voting in favor with 547 voting against, defeating the referendum by just four votes.  Sundae Schoon, Republican Director at the Porter County Government Center reports that 1090 voters went to the polls today.
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Sundae Schoon,  Republican Director at the Porter County voter registration office reports that 1,816 voters turned out at the polls today of which 1,057 approved the Union township Schools Referendum with 759 against.  The tentative results show 58% were in favor with 42% not in favor.
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