GIRLS REMAIN PERFECT with Tuesday win over Cougars, MORE ON PAGE 5
The Garrett Clipper An edition of The
NEWS IN BRIEF Parade of Lights planned Saturday GARRETT — Garrett’s seventh annual Christmas Parade of Lights will be Saturday, Nov. 23 in downtown Garrett. Sponsored by the Garrett Chamber of Commerce and the DeKalb County Horsemen’s Association, draft horse teams will pull decorated wagons from Warfield Street to downtown Garrett. Their expected arrival downtown will be at about 6 p.m. Downtown businesses including restaurants will be open during the event. The parade route follows East Warfield to Randolph Street through downtown, then east on King St. and south on Second Street. The event is a week earlier this year instead of the day after Thanksgiving to allow families to gather for the holiday. Santa Claus will arrive by firetruck at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 29 to greet children at the Silver Screen Cinema. The event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, who will be passing out candy for the kids.
By Matt Getts mgetts@kpcmedia.com CONNERSVILLE — A physician who formerly had an office in DeKalb County was one of three men arrested Thursday in southern Indiana for allegedly forging prescriptions for narcotic painkillers at the Fayette Regional Health System. Dr. David N. Ringel, 54, was booked into the Fayette County Jail on four counts of conspiracy to commit dealing in a controlled
substance, a Class B felony, and four counts of conspiracy to commit forgery, a Class C felony. Ringel also faces two Class A felony charges of conspiracy to commit dealing in a controlled Ringel substance, according to Fayette County Prosecuting
Attorney Ken Faw. The case was investigated by the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Ringel opened a family medical practice at 112 N. Randolph St. in Garrett on June 27, 2005. The phone number for that office has been disconnected. A former patient, who asked not to be identified, said he believed the practice had closed within the last six months to one year. Ringel is a native of Hamilton,
High school food drive continues GARRETT — Garrett High School’s annual Christmas food drive will continue through Dec. 11. This year’s theme is Winter Olympics. Each class is divided into boys and girls and each group has a designated drop-off site for their donations, including some classrooms that the teachers have generously offered to use. At the end of the Christmas drive, members of the student council will box the donations and deliver them to the Community Care Food Pantry in Garrett.
The Garrett Clipper P.O. Box 59 Garrett, IN 46738 Phone: 925-2611 ext. 45 Fax: 925-2625 attn: Garrett Clipper
VOL. 127 ISSUE #93 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Garrett, Indiana Established in 1885
Sue Carpenter
Legion Riders escort American Legion National Commander Dan Dellinger to the Garrett Legion Post Tuesday. Dozens of post commanders and district leaders created an avenue of American flags for the entourage.
Legion leader visits Garrett By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com GARRETT — The national leader of American Legion stopped in Garrett Tuesday during a three-day trip throughout Indiana. National Commander Dan Dellinger was escorted to Garrett Post 178 by some 30 American Legion Riders and greeted by dozens of area post commanders and district dignitaries Dellinger under an avenue of American flags. Dellinger shared his vision during remarks to Legion members following a dinner prepared by the Garrett American Legion Auxiliary. He recognized Robert “Bob”Newman of Garrett, one of the national vice commanders. “It’s been a real pleasure to serve with him this year,” Dellinger said. Dellinger said he likes to visit the various Legion posts to thank them for what they
do for the community and for veterans. His motto for this year stems from his background in construction. “I know that you need a strong foundation to build anything that lasts, and the American Legion has that foundation with 95 years of great service to our veterans and to our communities and our nation,” he said. Dellinger is pragmatic about his duties as national commander, citing jobs and education that are needed for the 1.2 million soldiers who will be coming off of active duty in the drawdown and through budget cuts. “We are here to help,” he said. “They are going to need jobs. They are going to need people to assist them with integration back into civilian life. We need to be there for our vets.” Last year, the American Legion cosponsored 295 job fairs and untold others that Dellinger said he was not aware of. “We are responsible for our veterans. That’s where membership comes into play. We have the numbers
Ohio, and was board-certified in family medical practice by Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Also arrested in the case Thursday were: • Dr. Daniel Palmer, 56, on charges including seven Class A felony counts and one Class B felony count of conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug; and• Jeff Ferryman, 50, a Doctor, Page 3
City electric rate hike advances
AVENUE OF FLAGS
GARRETT — The City of Garrett is hosting a Decorate Our City Tree event Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. in the courtyard next to City Hall. Ornaments can be dropped off at City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily or brought to the event. Donated ornaments will be stored for next year.
GARRETT — The Garrett Christmas Bureau will be taking applications this week. Applicants can sign up on the second floor of City Hall, 130 S. Randolph St., today from noon to 6 p.m. A handicap entrance is located on the north side of the building. Required information includes: • Photo identification for applicant; • Proof of residence; • A current lease with applicant’s name and address; • A current billing with applicant’s name and address; • EBT/SNAP Card if applicable; • Income/Employer/Support information; • Identification for each child living with applicant, and a 2013-14 school identification/ record or a birth certificate or social security card for each child. Organizations and individuals interested in adopting a family are asked to phone Sue at 357-3836 or email sue@garrettindiana.us. Volunteers are also needed for the program. Donations can be mailed to the Christmas Bureau at P.O. Box 52, Garrett, IN 46738 or dropped off daily at City Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. or by appointment.
NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Former local physician arrested
Decorate Our City Tree Saturday afternoon
Christmas bureau taking applications
THURSDAY
— 4 million members. It is important to tell them who we are and what we do,” he said. That includes consolidated post reporting, including the number of funerals, programs for youth, children and veterans.
“We are responsible for our veterans... they are going to need our help.” NATIONAL COMMANDER DAN DELLINGER
“Those are things we need to document,” he said. Dellinger said he estimated 220,000 men and women were assisted through various programs such as scholarships, school awards, Boys and Girls State, and many other projects, with $22 million in support. The statistics account for only 57 percent of all posts, Commander, Page 3
By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com GARRETT —The Garrett Common Council Tuesday introduced and passed on first reading an ordinance to increase electric utility rates for city customers. The rate hike is based on a cost-of-service study presented by consultant Rod Sibery of Spectrum Engineering at the Nov. 5 council meeting where he reported a $1.67 million deficit in the utility’s operating revenue between June 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013 At that meeting, Sibery said the average Garrett resident using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would see an increase of $22.97 per month, or 30 percent. Customers using 500 kilowatt-hours would see a $6.06 per month increase or a 13 percent rate hike. The study listed Garrett as having 2,894 residential users, 161 commercial single-phase users, 128 three-phase commercial users, 27 three-phase small power customers, 70 outside security lighting users and municipal street lights. A public hearing on the measure is planned Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. in City Hall where Sibery and city utility consultant Greg Guerrettaz of Financial Solutions Inc. will be present to field questions. Planner Milton Otero reported two sidewalk projects are in the works yet this fall, concluding the first year of the city’s 50/50 sidewalk replacement project. To date, the city has spent $22,104 on the program, including 11 separate sidewalks measuring 5,785 square feet and 10 ADA ramps. His department continues to work with F & H Associates, Adventure Homes, for a planned development of a 18,110 square foot addition to the current site on Fuller Drive. Otero said he is currently meeting with A & Z Engineering to review the city’s Safe Routes to School grant application that is due Dec. 13. He also reported he is working with council member Brad Stump and city attorney Dan Brinkerhoff to streamline the city’s tax abatement application program and is discussing an update to the permit fees schedule with the plan commission. Otero reported 135 code violations, four property abatements and 119 improvement location permits at Tuesday’s meeting. In other business, police chief Keith Hefner reported the Board of Works earlier in the day approved the purchase of a used 2008 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser with 75,000 miles from the City of Monon for the cost of $8,000. The vehicle will be used as a K-9 car. At its meeting prior to the council meeting, the Board of Works heard new decorative light poles will be installed in Countryside Estates at the developer’s cost the second week of December, replacing wooden poles already in place. The board also rejected two bids opened at the Nov. 5 meeting for a new water well to be installed in Eastside Park, and approved the hiring of Wessler Engineering of Indianapolis to outline new specifications for the project. The earlier bids came in with a $26,000 difference in cost and the city wants to be sure the project is properly defined. Hefner introduced high school senior Becky Molargik who is working as an intern with his department for 18 weeks.
Huntertown seeks to claim DeKalb, Noble water territory By Bob Braley bbraley@kpcmedia.com ALBION — The Noble County Board of Commissioners voted 2-0 Monday to send a letter opposing Huntertown’s efforts to claim water utility service territory in Noble and DeKalb counties. Huntertown has passed an ordinance claiming four miles outside its city limits for its water and sewer utilities, said Commissioner Gary Leatherman. That would extend 0ne-half mile north of LaOtto in Noble County, he
said. Because Huntertown is near the DeKalb County line, the proposed territory also would extend into DeKalb County. Noble County attorney Dennis Graft said the Huntertown ordinance extends the sewer utility only to the border of Allen County, in which the city is located. But the ordinance extends the full four miles into Noble and DeKalb counties for the water utility, he said. State Rep. David Ober,
R-Albion, who attended Monday’s commissioners meeting, said Huntertown is making a move in a long-running utility struggle with Fort Wayne. While Ober said he wouldn’t recommend getting into the Huntertown-Fort Wayne situation, he said Huntertown’s move encroaches into Noble County. He said the commissioners could find the move to be improper. The commissioners voted 2-0 to send a letter to the Indiana Utility
Regulatory Commission opposing Huntertown’s move. “It’s hard for me to get around the idea that Huntertown would enact an ordinance that encompasses part of Noble County, let alone DeKalb County,” Leatherman said. Ober said Huntertown cannot pass an ordinance that is binding beyond its jurisdictional boundaries. Courts struck down a similar ordinance Chandler, Ind., sought to impose, he said.