FRIDAY January 10, 2014
Our View Page B4 Thanks for helping us weather the storm
Hall Of Fame Debate Page B1 Writers would have to change voting
Weather Freezing rain early changing to rain, high 37. Tonight’s low 35. More rain Saturday, high 39. Page A8
GOOD MORNING Gay marriage ban bill gets new title INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Activists on both sides of Indiana’s gay marriage fight may want to print some new campaign material — the proposed marriage ban has a new title for 2014. Republican Rep. Eric Turner filed the proposal Thursday to add Indiana’s gay marriage ban to the state constitution. When Turner filed the measure in 2011 it was numbered House Joint Resolution 6, or HJR 6. But this year it’s HJR 3. Both supporters and opponents have been using HJR 6 as shorthand for the amendment for months. Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said the re-numbering was not a strategic decision. Resolutions and bills are numbered in the order they’re filed. He noted that the proposed amendment was filed just recently and is only the third joint resolution filed this year.
The
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Five put names on election ballots Commissioner, assessor seek re-election AUBURN — Five more people have registered as candidates for the 2014 primary election at the DeKalb County Clerk’s office or the Indiana Secretary of State’s office in Indianapolis. Registration began Wednesday
and continues until the deadline of noon Feb. 7. Republican Michael Philip Gerber of the 6300 block of C.R. 35, Auburn, filed as a candidate for DeKalb County coroner. Republican Randall “Randy”
Deetz of the 2200 block of C.R. 23, Waterloo, registered for re-election as DeKalb County commissioner, West District. Sheila Stonebraker, also a Republican, of the 1900 block of C.R. 13, Corunna, signed up to run for re-election as DeKalb County assessor. Democrat Michael Walter
Governor’s Gift
Jobless bill stalls Extended benefits stuck in Senate
the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures. He then sat with Sherman and her husband, LaGrange County Commissioner Jac Price, LaGrange County Sheriff Terry Martin and outgoing Chamber of Commerce president Rob Myers, CEO of Parkview LaGrange Hospital. After eating a quick meal, Pence made his way to the back of the room to meet with a group of students from Lakeland High School and Wolcott Mills Elementary School before taking the stage to deliver his address.
ASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to resurrect long-term jobless legislation stalled in the Senate on Thursday, triggering angry recriminations from both sides of the political aisle despite earlier expressions of optimism that benefits might soon be restored for more than 1 million victims of the recession. Gridlock asserted itself after majority Democrats offered to pay for a 10-month extension of a scaled-back program of benefits — then refused to permit Republicans even to seek any changes. Instead, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused Republicans of “continually denigrating our economy, our president and frankly, I believe, our country.” Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana, one of a half-dozen Republicans who helped advance the bill over an initial hurdle earlier in the week, said he hadn’t been consulted. Echoing Coats complaints by other members of his party, he said that under Reid’s leadership he has been relegated to the sidelines. He added that Indiana voters “didn’t send me here to be told just to sit down and forget it.” At issue was a struggle over the possible resurrection of a program that expired on Dec. 28, immediately cutting off benefits of roughly $256 weekly for more than 1.3 million hurt by the recession. The measure is the first to come before the Senate in the election year, and since Monday has become ground zero of a competition between the political parties to appeal to hard-hit victims of the longest recession in more than a half-century. While unemployment has receded in recent months, long-term jobless is high by historical standards. At midday Thursday, Reid had expressed optimism about the chances for compromise, and Democratic officials said talks with Republicans were focused on
SEE PENCE, PAGE A8
SEE JOBLESS, PAGE A8
Former school chief hires top defenders INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Indiana Schools Superintendent Tony Bennett has hired a pair of top criminal defense attorneys to fight charges he misused state resources to campaign for office, including the lawyer who helped write some of the ethics laws Bennett is accused of violating. Larry Mackey and Jason Barclay, lawyers with the Indianapolis powerhouse firm Barnes and Thornburg, are representing Bennett before the State Ethics Commission. Barclay helped draft an overhaul of state ethics laws in 2005 while working as a lawyer for former Gov. Mitch Daniels. And Mackey built a national profile prosecuting Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. The ethics commission not only could banish Bennett from future state work in Indiana but also could refer the case to Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry for a criminal investigation. Tasking state employees with doing political work, dubbed “ghost employment” is a minor felony punishable by up to three years in prison.
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Info • The Star 118 W. Ninth St. Auburn, IN 46706 Auburn: (260) 925-2611 Fax: (260) 925-2625 Classifieds: (toll free) (877) 791-7877 Circulation: (toll free) (800) 717-4679
Index
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Classifieds.................................B6-B7 Life..................................................... A5 Obituaries......................................... A4 Opinion .............................................B4 Sports.........................................B1-B3 Weather............................................ A8 TV/Comics .......................................B5 Vol. 102 No. 9
of the 300 block of West 17th Street, Auburn, filed as a candidate for Union 6 precinct committeeman. Republican Sen. Dennis Kruse of rural Auburn filed for re-election to the Indiana State Senate District 14 seat Wednesday with the Indiana Secretary of State.
PATRICK REDMOND
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence shows an autographed basketball he received as a gift in Shipshewana Thursday. It carries signatures of Bobby
Plump of the 1954 state championship Milan team and several of the actors who appeared in “Hoosiers,” a movie based on the Milan story.
Pence says state’s on the ball Praises strong financial condition BY PATRICK REDMOND predmond@kpcmedia.com
SHIPSHEWANA — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence walked away from LaGrange County Thursday afternoon with an unexpected new trophy for his office. Pence was presented with a basketball autographed by Indiana high school basketball legend Bobby Plump of the 1954 state championship Milan team as well as several of the actors who appeared in the movie “Hoosiers,” based on the Milan story. The ball came as a gift from LaGrange Realtor and former LaGrange County commissioner Joy Sharp, who like Pence is a Republican. Pence, a Columbus native and admittedly a huge fan of both basketball and the movie “Hoosiers,” seemed delighted with his gift, pulling it from its box and giving the ball a quick spin atop his finger. He then told Sharp he had the perfect spot picked out to display the ball in his Statehouse office. Sharp later said she got the basketball a few years ago at a
fundraising auction for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The ball was a prized possession, but Sharp said she knew the governor would give it a good home. Pence visited Shipshewana Thursday as a guest of the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce. The local business organization held its annual members meeting and showcase at the Shipshewana Events Center in Shipshewana. Pence was the event’s main speaker. Recent weather almost prevented Pence from making the trip north. Beth Sherman, executive director of the LaGrange Chamber of Commerce, said the winter storm that rolled across Indiana this past weekend forced Pence and his staff to deal with much of the weather’s aftermath, causing the governor to miss several prearranged events. “I didn’t know until about 3:30 yesterday afternoon if he would make it,” Sherman said. Pence arrived at the Chamber event just before noon and quickly worked his way through
“We’ve been headed in the right direction much of the last decade. Indiana’s greatest natural resource is common sense.” Mike Pence Indiana governor
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Family of accident victim hosting benefit BY KATHRYN BASSETT kbassett@kpcmedia.com
AUBURN — Friends and family members of Connie Cossairt had planned to host a benefit event to help with her medical expenses and to prepare Cossairt’s home for her return from a hospital after she was injured in a motorcycle accident. Before that could happen, Cossairt died Nov. 30 after suffering a pulmonary embolism, said her niece, Amy Knapp. “She was doing great,” Knapp said. “Things happen.” Cossairt was one of two people injured when a motorcycle
struck a railroad crossing gate arm Oct. 13 southwest of Butler, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department reported. The family decided to continue with the benefit event and will host “A Day of Remembering” Saturday at the Auburn American Legion, 1729 Sprott St. Now the benefit will raise money for the family to help cover medical bills, funeral costs and the cost of a headstone, Knapp said. A lunch of unlimited chili, toppings, chips or cookie and a drink will begin at 1 p.m. The
cost is $5 per person and free to children 5 and under. A live auction will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature items including gift baskets, gift certificates, clothing and a television. There also will be a bake sale and garage sale table. Those attending will have the chance to purchase balloons and send “messages to heaven,” Knapp said. Entertainment will be provided by a live band. “As the passing of Connie has weighed heavy on many hearts, this event is put together to celebrate the life of an amazing woman,” Cossairt’s friends and
A Day of Remembering WHEN: Saturday at 1p.m. WHERE: American Legion post, 1729 Sprott St., Auburn WHAT: Food, auction at 3 p.m., live music, bake sale, garage sale WHY: To cover medical and funeral expenses for Connie Cossairt family members said on a flyer promoting Saturday’s event. “She was loved by many. … We look forward to hearing many happy memories of her!”