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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
Angola, Indiana
GOOD MORNING Stutzman refuses pay during shutdown WASHINGTON, D.C. — As of early Wednesday, more than 80 federal lawmakers have said “no” when it comes to getting paid during the government shutdown — including U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Howe. A report in The Washington Post said through early Wednesday Stutzman afternoon, 42 Republicans and 44 Democrats have said they plan to donate or refuse compensation earned during the impasse. Stutzman announced his decision on his Facebook page Tuesday evening. The statement said, “Today, I asked Congress’ chief administrative officer to withhold my pay during this shutdown. House Republicans have passed four plans to fully fund the federal government but the Senate has rejected each of them. It’s time for (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid and President Obama to come to the table.” The Post report said members of Congress are paid $174,000 annually, and this money is Constitutionally mandated to be paid, thus not affected by the shutdown. Meanwhile, Wednesday Stutzman introduced the GARDS Act to ensure that National Guard is paid during the government shutdown. “Guard Appropriation Restoration During Shutdown Act” fully funds National Guard operations during the government shutdown and amends the Pay Our Military Act to ensure members of the National Guard, military technicians, and critical personnel remain paid during the government shutdown. Stutzman, citing news reports, said 1,000 Indiana National Guard employees were furloughed Tuesday.
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Sheriff warns of health scam FROM STAFF REPORTS
ANGOLA — Steuben County Sheriff Tim Troyer said there have been scams directed at local people as uninsured people across the country started signing up for insurance through exchanges as part of the Affordable Care Act. “We have received some reports of phone scams involving the new healthcare act and insurance marketplace. The scam targets those on Medicare and they state (they) are calling to issue another card in response to the
new insurance changes,” Troyer said. “This is a confirmed scam. Do not give out your information to these callers who are also requesting banking information. Medicare is not calling to obtain information for a second card from anyone.” Tuesday was the first day in which Hoosiers could sign up for insurance through the ACA using a federal website. The program allows uninsured people to purchase health coverage through an exchange being run by the
federal government. Unlike other states, Indiana is not operating an exchange for its residents. It was expected that scams would evolve with the start of signup of the ACA, also known as Obamacare. “Please alert your friends and family, especially senior citizens who will be targeted by these criminals,” Troyer said. Health advocates working to enroll uninsured Indiana residents through the federal exchange that opened Tuesday said most
Steuben, DeKalb to RISE to the Occasion
SEE RISE, PAGE A6
SEE SCAM, PAGE A6
Talking, but still no action Shutdown goes on as White House meeting brings no compromise WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama brought congressional leaders to the White House on Wednesday for the first time since a partial government shutdown began, but there was no sign of progress toward ending an impasse that has idled 800,000 federal workers and curbed services around the country. Obama “refuses to negotiate,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio., told reporters after private talks that lasted more than an hour. “All we’re asking for here is a discussion and fairness for the American people under Obamacare.” But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said moments later, “We’re locked in tight on Obamacare” and neither the president nor Democrats will accept changes in the nation’s 3-year-old health care law as the price for spending legislation needed to end the two-day partial shutdown. With the nation’s ability to borrow money soon to lapse, Republicans and Democrats alike said the shutdown could last for two weeks or more, and soon
BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com
ANGOLA — The Steuben County and DeKalb County communities are once again gearing up for RISE to the Occasion. The annual signature RISE Inc. event will take place Thursday, Oct. 10, at Trine University’s Arc Center from 6-10 p.m. The eighth annual RISE to the Occasion offers tastes, sights and sounds of the lakes through a sampling of the foods, arts and music home to Steuben and DeKalb counties. The event offers unlimited access to all fine dining vendors, as well as entrance to a wide array of local art displays, music and silent and live auctions. RISE serves developmentally disabled clients from Steuben and DeKalb counties. Last year’s event drew more than 600 people and raised $40,000. Proceeds go toward programming to enhance the daily life skills, increase independence and self-sufficiency in disabled adults. “My goal is $50,000,” said Denise Payton, RISE executive director. “The community’s support for us is phenomenal. “One thing new this year is a live auction and silent auction in-between the music,” Payton said. “Auctioneer service has been donated by Charleston Service. We’re looking for items from certificates to unique items donated by artists.” Payton said unique auction items are already available and will include three separate progressive dinners prepared by those on Snow Lake, Lake James and Jimmerson
people appear to be reviewing the new marketplace at the center of the health care overhaul before actually buying insurance. Indiana residents began creating accounts through the federal insurance exchange, also called a marketplace, along with residents of 35 other states where leaders opted to let the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services run their exchanges. The exchange represents the core of President Barack
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Johnny Appleseed pays a visit Deb Smathers portrayed Johnny Appleseed for first-graders Friday at Ryan Park Elementary School. Smathers, who retired last year after teaching 43 years for the Metropolitan School District of Steuben County, has portrayed John Chapman — an American pioneer known for planting apple trees throughout the northeastern part of the United States — for more than 20 years. Chapman, who owned property in Allen County, was known for his simplistic lifestyle, and Smathers’ character is barefoot, wearing a burlap sack and tin pot on her head. Smathers, who has done her Johnny Appleseed talk in all of MSD’s four elementary schools over the years, talks about Chapman’s life and the lifestyle 200 years ago then opens the floor for questions. “First graders would have been happy to ask Johnny questions the rest of the day,” said Ryan Park first-grade teacher Christina Minick, calling Smathers “a wealth of knowledge.”
SEE TALKING, PAGE A6
Federal workers can wait, wonder WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown has set federal workers on edge, leaving them to wonder how long it may be before they get paid again as lawmakers show no sign of ending the standstill. Workers were paid retroactively for time away from work after the last shutdown in 1995, though it’s not clear if they
will be paid for furlough days this time around. The loss of a paycheck could be critical for lower-paid workers like janitors and maintenance staff, but even workers with savings were talking about trimming grocery budgets and putting off big purchases and spending on things like home renovations. Some 800,000 federal workers
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have been told not to report to work until Congress reaches a budget deal. Visitors to the nation’s federally funded parks and museums have been turned away, and government help ranging from farm subsidies to health care assistance have been snared in the stalemate. Richard Marcus, who lives SEE WORKERS, PAGE A6
In the pink
45 S. Public Square Angola, IN 46703 Phone: (260) 665-3117 Fax: (260) 665-2322 Classifieds: (toll free) (877) 791-7877 Circulation: (800) 717-4679
Index • Classified.............................................. B7-B8 Life.................................................................A3 Obituaries.....................................................A4 Opinion .........................................................A5 Sports.................................................... B1-B3 Weather........................................................A6 TV/Comics ..................................................B6 Vol. 156 No. 272
AMY OBERLIN
Angola Fire Department and Steuben County EMS are selling hot pink T-shirts to show their support for breast cancer awareness. At left, Greg Aldrich and Vicky Meek of the EMS model their Ts, which have an EMS emblem, and firefighters, from left, Kevin Mory, Mike Meek, Bill Harter, Erich Kaiser and Ray Harvey wear their shirts. The two shirt options available to the public vary somewhat from the duty T-shirts. The fire department shirts are $15 and the EMS shirts are $12. Employees at both departments started wearing the shirts Monday and will wear them the rest of the month to show their support for cancer awareness. The shirts will be on sale for a couple of weeks. The proceeds collected will be donated to the Steuben County Cancer Association, which supports local families that have been struck by cancer. This is the second year the fire department has sold breast cancer awareness T-shirts; last year’s shirts were blue with pink writing.