SATURDAY August 3, 2013
Summer Festival Page A2 Hamilton moving celebration to August
Baseball Page B1 White Sox fall to Tigers
Weather Cloudy today, with scattered showers possible. High 78. Low 55. Some sun Sunday. Page A10
GOOD MORNING St. Joe invites entries for pickle fest parade ST. JOE — Organizers are inviting clubs, organizations and individuals to participate in the St. Joe Pickle Festival Grand Parade, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, at 1 p.m. No advance registration is necessary. Parade entrants who have not been contacted in advance, but wish to participate, should report to the west edge of Washington Street at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 10 to line up for the parade.
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West Nile virus found here County issues tips to avoid bites AUBURN — This summer’s first sign of West Nile virus in DeKalb County has arrived, the DeKalb County Health Department said Friday. A sample pool of mosquitoes collected July 17 in the county by the Indiana State Department of Health has tested positive for the virus, said Bernie Sukala, the
county’s environmental health specialist. Sukala said mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus tend to lay their eggs in ditches and catchbasins with high organic matter, septic system discharge sites, unused wading and swimming pools, vehicle tires and other containers of water.
Most people — about 80 percent — of people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes will have little or no symptoms, Sukala said. More than 19 percent will experience a relatively mild illness or fever. Fewer than 1 percent will be susceptible to one of the more severe forms of the disease, which may result in encephalitis — an inflammation of the brain — or meningitis, an inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and
threat from al-Qaida
voluntary manslaughter and three years in prison for theft. The sentences will be served at the same time. He was ordered to pay $10,774 in restitution. Alexander originally was arrested by police at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and resisting law enforcement. Investigators later discovered the car Alexander was driving at the time of his arrest was registered to Funich. A Alexander roommate found Funich, 42, dead in his residence on Lonesome Oak Court. The Allen County Coroner’s Office ruled Funich’s death a homicide, listing his cause of death as
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States issued an extraordinary global travel warning to Americans Friday about the threat of an al-Qaida attack and closed down 21 embassies and consulates across the Muslim world for the weekend. The alert was the first of its kind since an announcement preceding the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This one comes with the scars still fresh from last year’s deadly Sept. 11 attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, and with the Obama administration and Congress determined to prevent any similar breach of an American Embassy or consulate. “There is a significant threat stream and we’re reacting to it,” said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He told ABC News in an interview to be aired Sunday that the threat was “more specific” than previous ones and the “intent is to attack Western, not just U.S. interests.” The State Department warning urged American travelers to take extra precautions overseas, citing potential dangers involved with public transportation systems and other prime sites for tourists and noting that previous terrorist attacks have centered on subway and rail networks as well as airplanes and boats. It suggested travelers sign up
SEE SENTENCE, PAGE A10
SEE TRAVEL, PAGE A10
OCTAVIA LEHAMN
Party for Pianos on the Square Lauren Woodcox of Auburn plays selections from Taylor Swift’s album, “Fearless,” at a Garden Party Friday on the DeKalb County Courthouse square. The party kicked off the Auburn Arts Commission’s
Pianos on the Square event, with several performances by local pianists, a chalk walk and refreshments.
Death brings 50-year sentence Auburn man pleads guilty
Coming Sunday
Pianos on the Square
Everyone is invited to not only play but to attend free concerts with this interactive art exhibit, which features decorated pianos. Read more about the exhibit, going on now, in Auburn, Butler, Waterloo and Garrett.
Clip and Save Find $90 in coupon savings in Sunday’s newspaper.
AUTO RACING Check out the latest auto racing news and photos kpcnews.com Sports > Auto Racing
Info • The Star 118 W. Ninth St. Auburn, IN 46706 Auburn: (260) 925-2611
Index
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Classifieds.................................B7-B8 Life..................................................... A6 Obituaries......................................... A4 Opinion ............................................. A5 Sports.........................................B1-B3 Weather..........................................A10 TV/Comics .......................................B6 Vol. 101 No. 212
SEE VIRUS, PAGE A10
Global travel warning issued U.S. hears credible
State now taking applications for school safety grants INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Secured School Safety Grant created to provide matching grants to put police and other safety measures in schools is now taking applications. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security says it started taking grant applications Thursday. The deadline to submit proposals is September 30. The Indiana Secured School Fund was created to provide matching grants to school corporations, charter schools or coalitions of schools to make schools safer by hiring school resource officers, conducting threat assessments, or purchasing equipment to restrict access to schools or to expedite notification of first responders.
spinal cord. Animals also can be infected with West Nile virus. Sukala said to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, people should avoid heavily wooded areas or tall weeds, if possible. For people who must be outside during the periods from dusk to dawn, or in heavily shaded areas, Sukala offered these tips: • Make sure to use an effective mosquito repellent.
BY KATHRYN BASSETT kbassett@kpcmedia.com
FORT WAYNE — A rural Auburn man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Friday for the beating death of another man in Allen County a year ago. During a hearing in Allen Superior Court, Judge Fran Gull accepted a plea agreement by Michael Alexander, 34, of the 3400 block of C.R. 60. Alexander previously had pleaded guilty to an amended charge of voluntary manslaughter, a Class A felony, in the death of Gregory A. Funich. Alexander also pleaded guilty to theft, a Class D felony. Alexander had been charged with murder, but the charge was reduced as part of the plea agreement. Gull sentenced Alexander to 50 years in prison for
Hefty family to lead United Way campaign Free concert Friday kicks off fund drive The United Way of DeKalb County has announced that the Hefty family will be its 2013-2014 campaign chairs. David and Stacy Hefty of Hefty Wealth Partners, along with their four children, Sydney, 10, Matthias, 8, Isaiah, 6, and Isaac, 2, are taking on the challenge of bringing together a team of community volunteers to raise funds to support 21 partner agencies and many other nonprofit programs in DeKalb County. The Heftys will host a free kickoff concert with the popular local band Choice at the DeKalb Outdoor Theater on Friday. DeWald Northeast Dental Group is sponsoring the event. Gates for the concert will open at 6 p.m, and DeKalb Health, Garrett State Bank and Yes You Can Fitness will be there with information and activities for children and families. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a new or gently used books for children ages birth to 3. The books will be distributed to children throughout the county who are participating in
one of the United Way funded programs. David and Stacy Hefty said they have enjoyed volunteering on several DeKalb County nonprofit boards over the past 14 years. However, as their family grew, they found it more and more difficult to dedicate time away from the family for these causes. “That is why it was an easy decision to chair this year’s United Way campaign when offered to do so, as a family,” Stacy Hefty said. The United Way directly benefits many of the groups the Heftys have worked with in the past, and they said it is a great way to introduce the needs of the local community to their children. “We are incredibly excited with this new direction of our annual campaign,” said Julie Hill-Lauer, United Way executive director. “Our board views this as an opportunity to reach out to families with young children and help them see how easy it is to make time to volunteer and help others in their community.” Campaign volunteers working under the Heftys direction will be reaching out to families in every community of the county, encouraging them to look for
SUE CARPENTER
The David and Stacy Hefty family will lead the 2013-2014 fund drive for United Way of DeKalb County. In front, from left, are Sydney, 10, Matthias, 8, Isaiah, 6, and Isaac, 2. In back are Stacy and David Hefty.
ways to get involved with United Way and with other nonprofits in DeKalb County, the agency said. For more information on the
campaign or Friday’s concert, people may contact the United Way office at 927-0995 or unitedwaydekalb.org.