NO. 4 GARRETT GIRLS hold off Norwell Saturday, MORE ON PAGE 8
The Garrett Clipper An edition of The
MONDAY DECEMBER 30, 2013
VOL. 127 ISSUE #103 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Garrett, Indiana Established in 1885
Fed sues bank for Miller’s employees Claims PBI overcharged employee stock ownership funds WARSAW — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit over what it says is a bank’s improper handling of employee funds for a northeast Indiana health care chain. The lawsuit announced Thursday was filed in U.S. District Court to recover losses to the Miller’s Health Systems Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Miller’s Health is a Warsawbased company that manages
long-term care and assisted-living facilities, including Miller’s Merry Manor facilities in LaGrange and Garrett. The suit alleges that PBI Bank Inc., trustee of the plan, authorized the purchase of company stock for $40 million, an amount far in excess of the fair market value of the stock. The suit also alleges that PBI Bank approved financing for the transaction at an excessive interest rate.
NEWS IN BRIEF
“Fiduciaries must act with undivided loyalty to plan participants. When it comes to (employee stock ownership plan) purchases, they must ensure that the plan receives full value for its money,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security Phyllis C. Borzi. The suit alleges that PBI violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by imprudently and disloyally approving the purchase of stock by the plan. The suit seeks to require PBI to restore all losses suffered by the plan, plus interest. The Chicago Regional Office
of the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration investigated a September 2007 stock purchase. The department concluded that, as a result of the design of the transaction and the fiduciary breaches of PBI, the stock purchase was not for the primary benefit of participants and did not promote employee ownership in Miller’s Health. It alleges PBI was responsible and liable for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The lawsuit also seeks to remove PBI as a fiduciary and service provider of the plan and to
High school dedication kicks off 2013
HEADING FOR SOLDIER FIELD
JAM Center offering January specials GARRETT — The Judy A. Morrill Recreation Center in Garrett is offering January Jubilee specials starting today. A free trial week is offered for all classes and the entire facility today through Saturday for any non-member. The $30 enrollment fee will be waived for all new members signing up in January. Post a photo of yourself at the JAM Center Facebook or Twitter and tag you were at the JAM Center to be entered into a drawing for a choice of three free yoga classes or a JAM T-shirt. All new memberships will be entered into a drawing for a $100 JAM gift certificate. College memberships will now be offered for full-time students up to age 23 years for $18 monthly or $180 per year. New monthly memberships will be entered int o a drawing for a private volleyball party. For more information phone 357-1917 or stop by the center at 1200 E. Houston St., Garrett.
Red Cross plans local blood drives The American Red Cross is encouraging people to make new year’s resolutions to help patients in need through regular blood donations. The Red Cross will provide these blood donation opportunities in DeKalb County: • Thursday, Jan. 2, from 26 p.m. at Dayspring Church, 2305 N. Indiana Ave., Auburn; • Tuesday, Jan. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1203 E. Seventh St., Auburn; • Tuesday, Jan. 14, from 1-5:30 p.m. at the American Legion post, 515 W. Fifth Ave., Garrett, where donors may enjoy Girl Scout cookies in the refreshment area; and People who are at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent in Indiana), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements. A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.
The Garrett Clipper P.O. Box 59 Garrett, IN 46738 Phone: 925-2611 ext. 45 Fax: 925-2625 attn: Garrett Clipper
permanently bar it from serving as a fiduciary or service provider to ERISA-covered plans in the future. At the time of the stock purchase, Miller’s Health managed 31 long-term care facilities under the name of Miller’s Merry Manor and 10 assisted living facilities under the name Miller’s Senior Living. Miller’s Health also operated Theracare Inc., an Indiana corporation, which primarily provided physical and occupational therapy and speech-language pathology to residents in Miller’s Health facilities. As of Sept. 30, 2012, the stock ownership plan had 2,939 participants and assets of $12.8 million.
January
Sue Carpenter
Steve and Jane Sprague wave to family and friends before they climb into a stretch limousine that took them to Sunday’s Bears vs. Packers game in Chicago.
Anonymous donor provides tickets for local cancer patient By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com GARRETT — A Garrett man who is battling cancer had his wish fulfilled when he attended Sunday’s football game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago. An anonymous donor gave four tickets to Steve Sprague and provided a limousine to take Sprague and three guests to the game. Sprague, 65, has been a Bears fan forever, according to his wife, Jane. But he has never seen a game at the Bears’ home stadium at Soldier Field. Jane Sprague’s daughter, Stephanie, posted on Facebook that Steve would like to attend Sunday’s Bears-Packers game
about two weeks before Christmas. “I was just trying to spread the word and someone came forward,” according to Stephanie. “We were trying to raise money for tickets.” “Santa Claus — a big hearted, wonderful man,” paid for the tickets, and threw in the limo ride and a suite to keep Steve Sprague out of the cold, Jane Sprague said. Last week, Steve Sprague was surprised by the tickets at a Christmas party. “This doesn’t happen everyday to normal people like us,” Jane Sprague said Sunday. Under a cloudless sky at noon Sunday, a Lincoln stretch limousine pulled up to the side door of the Sprague home on South Franklin Street. Family and friends lined the street to cheer and take photos as the foursome
climbed into the car and took off for the nearly three-hour drive to Chicago. Jane Sprague joined her husband on the trip, along with Steve Sprague’s brother, Jim Sprague and sister-in-law, Jan. Steve Sprague, dressed in his Chicago Bears jacket and orange knit hat waved as the car pulled away from the curb to attend the sold-out game. Sprague postponed the start of another round of chemotherapy set to begin last week to be sure he felt well enough to attend the game, according to family. “Seeing those teams play was on his bucket list,” according to his wife. Football, Page 7
Hundreds from the community celebrated the official opening of a new, high-tech Garrett High School in January. The open house included music by the school choir and bands, and comments from school leaders, students, contractors and legislators. A groundbreaking ceremony for the 196,000 square-foot brick building was held in March 2011, with students beginning classes in the fall of 2012. Band and choir rooms and a media studio were completed at the end of 2012. The original school was built in 1922. A re-dedication program was held for the Paul Bateman Gymnasium more than 44 years since the first game was played in the facility in January 1969, A showcase in which Bateman’s handwritten log of student athletes from 1941-1971, and other memorabilia from the former school athletic director is displayed was unveiled by his daughter, Paula Bateman, during a half-time program. Wayne Funk was elected president of the Garrett-KeyserButler school board, replacing longtime member Jerry Weller who chose not to seek reelection. Two new board members were also sworn in to office, Dan Weimer and Terry Yarde. Efforts to create a fire protection territory between the City of Garrett and Keyser Township advanced early in the year. Boundaries under the proposed ordinance included the city of Garrett and Keyser Township, excluding the Town of Altona. The benefits of the measure would help purchase fire protection equipment to be funded through High school, Page 7
77th annual First Baby contest underway GARRETT — The 77th Annual First Baby of the Year Contest, sponsored by local businesses and The Garrett Clipper is now underway. The contest has run consecutively since 1935. The parents of the first born in the new year will receive gifts from several local merchants. Those participating this year include: Bill’s Liquor Store, Hair Shed, Peoples Federal Savings Bank, Garrett State Bank, MJS Apparel, Judy’s Lucky Day and Garrett Bowl. Also Garrett New Market, Garrett Hardware, Auburn-Garrett Drive-In, Shorty’s Steakhouse, The Flower Pot and The Garrett Clipper. The prizes must be redeemed within 60 days of the birth of the baby, or by special arrangement with the
individual merchants. The contest is open to all expectant mothers in Butler and Keyser townships. Additional rules of the contest are: Child must not be born later than Feb. 28, 2014. Enter the contest by completing “The First Baby” entry form published in the Dec. 30 Garrett Clipper not more than 10 days after the birth of the child. Drop off the form at 118 W. 9th St., Auburn, or mail to The Garrett Clipper, P.O. Box 59, Garrett, IN 46738. Residence, mailing address and parental identification, attending physician, midwife or hospital records must be furnished upon request to verify birth date and time and parent qualifications. Acceptance of prizes by the parents constitutes
consent to publication of their names, the child’s name and a photograph of “The First Baby” to be published in connection with the contest currently, or in future years, at the complete discretion of The Garrett Clipper. All prizes must be claimed within 60 days of winning. Some merchants may agree to arrangements for an extension of time, provided they are made within 60 days. Past winners: • 2012 —Ivy Danielle Brewer, daughter of Monica Collison and Korey Brewer; • 2011 - Audrea Marie Newman, daughter of Josh and Tabitha Newman; • 2010 - Wrigley Maddux Smith, son of Todd and Melissa Smith; • 2009 -Emma Renee First Baby, Page 2
File photos
Ivy Danielle Brewer, daughter of Monica Collison and Korey Brewer, was the first baby of 2013.