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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
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Wawasee Community Schools responds to ransomware attack %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU A ransomware attack on Wawasee Community Schools late last week is now being investigated by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Education. Dr. Stephen Troyer, superintendent of Wawasee Community Schools, explained during a phone interview Monday afternoon, Jan. 23, that around 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, the school corporation was alerted to a possible ransomware attack which shut down all Windows-based systems. A ransom was demanded, $1.5 million if paid within five days of the attack, $2.5 million if paid after the first five days. “Essentially it’s extortion,” he said. While all school servers connected to the internet or devices that were linked, such as computers to printers, were affected, student devices were not. The attack also did not affect any records regarding student, staff or teacher information. Troyer explained that information is stored off-site. “One of the things we’ve been eager to hear is that we did not have any of our students, faculty or employment records compromised,” Troyer said. Troyer explained all Wawasee students use Chromebooks and they were not affected by the attack; however, teacher laptops were. “We had school Friday,” Troyer said, “but there was no Wi-Fi at all. … It was like school back in 1985.” A rumor students were banned
from using their phones was “just that — a rumor,” according to Troyer, since there was no access to the internet at any of the schools in the corporation. Troyer explained both school officials and law enforcement are sure the attack was not conducted by students. “A lot of these situations are not based in the U.S.,” Troyer explained. Cyber attacks like this are considered federal crimes. Should the perpetrators be caught, they face a fine and up to a 10-year prison sentence if this is a first offense for this type of crime or a 20-year sentence if they have been convicted of at least one similar crime in the past. Troyer said there was no warning prior to Friday’s attack. “A lot of times, ransomware will come in and sit dormant for a while before it hits,” he explained. The investigation is in the very early stages, so investigators are not sure yet if Friday’s incident was caused by dormant ransomware or if it was a flat-out attack. The impacted server has been pulled from the system and sent to law enforcement for forensic investigation to determine how the ransomware infected the corporation’s system and who may have done it. Troyer said Wawasee’s technology team believes the ransomware spread from one computer to a corporation server and spread from there. “Our tech team has been incredible,” Troyer said, explaining the team was on-site all weekContinued on page 3
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Over $160,000 recently awarded to 20 local organizations ment and furniture for their house manager, who will live in the home with the residents. “During their stay, we will address their substance use issues by offering a structured, purposeful program,” said Cotton. Classes include cooking, book studies, life skills, community service, 12-step meetings and more. The LITEHouse staff are equipped to tailor the experience to each resident according to her needs. Local organizations and agencies also receiving funding: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana Inc., City-County
Athletic Complex, Combined Community Services, Community Apple Orchard Corporation, Fellowship Missions, Greater Warsaw Cooperative Preschool, Hope’s Harbor Family Hospitality Homes, Junior Achievement Serving Wawasee, Kosciusko Community YMCA, Milford Police Department, Ryan’s Case for Smiles, Ryan’s Place Inc., Syracuse Parks & Recreation Department, Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum Inc., Turning Point Inc., Warsaw Area Career Center, Warsaw Parks & Recreation Department, Warsaw Police Depart-
ment and the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory. Community Fund grants are awarded based on a competitive grant application process. Nonprofit organizations serving Kosciusko County are eligible to apply in seven areas of interest: arts and culture, human services, civic projects, recreation, environment, health and education. The next grant application deadline is Wednesday, March 1. For more information and to access the application, visit kcfoundation.org/grants/communityfund-grants.
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Cromwell man donates van to Warsaw woman %\ 3+2(%( 087+$57 6WDII :ULWHU A Warsaw woman was gifted new wheels recently, thanks to a kindhearted individual. Deloris (Mock) Selvey lost both of her legs due to diabetes. A friend came to Phil Tom and
asked him if anyone needed a handicap van. After Adam Grim’s father died, the Cromwell man wanted to donate the van to someone who could use it. Grim contacted his friend, Tom. Tom, a local farmer and owner of Tom’s Produce, said Selvey, his cousin, Continued on page 2
Caucus called to replace Larry Martindale on Syracuse Town Council Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan announced Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 18, a caucus to replace Larry Martindale on the Syracuse Town Council will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7. Martindale’s replacement will be voted on by Republican precinct committee members in Turkey Creek Township Precincts 2, 3, 4 and 5. The event will be held in the Syracuse Town Council Chambers, 310 N. Huntington St., Syracuse. Eligible candidates filing for the vacancy must reside in Ward
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4 in the town limits of Syracuse and be a Republican in good standing. Declarations of candidacy are available at the office of the Kosciusko County Clerk of the Court, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw, and must be filed with Ragan no later than 72 hours prior to the commencement of the caucus. Each candidate will be allowed a maximum of three minutes to address the voting caucus. /($9,1* 7+( &281&,/ ³ 6\UDFXVH 7RZQ &RXQFLOPDQ /DUU\ 0DU WLQGDOH DQQRXQFHG ODVW ZHHN KH LV VWHSSLQJ GRZQ GXH WR KHDOWK UHDVRQV $ FDXFXV KDV EHHQ FDOOHG IRU )HE WR VHOHFW KLV UHSODFHPHQW )LOH SKRWR
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More than $160,000 was awarded to 20 local organizations and agencies in the most recent Community Fund grant cycle. Living in Transition Effectively, based in Milford, was among the grantees. “We prepare individuals to reenter society, including recovery and treatment programs,” said Tammy Cotton, LITE’s executive director and program coordinator. “We help them find housing, health care, jobs and whatever else they may need to get back on their feet.” This spring, LITE plans to open a new recovery home, LITEHouse, for women in their program. The Community Fund grant enables LITE to purchase office equip-
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