August 2014

August 18 — September 19, 2014

FREE www.cassnetwork.com

Back to School 2014-2015

I’ve known what I was going to write about in this space for a couple of weeks. I have a confession to make and I’m more than a little embarrassed to admit it, but here goes: I never ate at the Whitehouse and the last time I swam at Tower Park Pool, I was in elementary school.

My husband isn’t a morning person unless he’s filling in at the radio station. He’d been to the Whitehouse, but it was as a nightowl — still up when they opened in the morning.

Therefore, every time he knew he was going to fill in for an extended period of time, we attempted to plan my inauguMichelle DIALS Editor/publisher ral visit to the Whitehouse. And every time, life got in the way. When they hosted “Dine for Downtown,” we thought we’d support it. But something INFO is a free, monthly newspaper serving Cass County, Indiana and always came up and sidetracked the surrounding areas. It is part of our plans. the Cass County Communication Network, published by Mid-July, when Phill was on Mix Existential Media LLC. 102 for the week, we were going Published by Calendar Items to go. And then, the news broke.

Existential Media LLC Community events that are open P.O. Box 314 to the public and have a specific The Whitehouse was closing Logansport, IN 46947 date, time and location can be August 1.

Editor/Publisher submitted FREE to Michelle Dials CassCountyCalendar.com.

“If we’re going, we’ve got to (574) 721-4636 Use the submit link on the website (michelle@ or e-mail details to go this week,” I said, and I got A existentialmedia.com) contact@cassnetwork.com.

LOOK. Cover Photos We reserve the right to select Shared by specific events to feature on our “If you haven’t gone there yet, CassCountyOnline fans Facebook page, in e-mail on Facebook newsletters, in Cass County INFO was it really important to you?” or in other community updates.

One copy of INfo: is free.

Phill asked. “Or do you just think Additional copies are $.50 each.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA you have to go because it’s Photos posted on our Facebook The views expressed closing?” fan pages may be selected, at by our our discretion, to be published in writers are not That stung, but he was right. I necessarily those of INFO. Photos can also be Existential Media LLC. e-mailed to contact@cassnetwork. decided I wasn’t going to go just com.

For advertising to see what I’d been missing all information, contact Advertising information this time. My punishment would Phill Dials The Cass County Communication (574) 721-4635 Network offers print, web and be not knowing whtat I’d missed. (phill@ mobile advertising solutions. For cassnetwork.com) Photos popped up in my Facebook information about advertising, e-mail contact@cassnetwork.com. feed of people’s last visits. Rich Voorhees posted an awesome Editorial Information photo essay documenting the Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect local institution’s final days. the position of the Cass County Communication Network or its parent company, Existential Media LLC. Our publications provide information Tower Park Pool ‘s final days about events and activities happening in or near Cass County, Indiana.

The information is provided by Existential Media LLC for general inforof the season were also coming. mation purposes only. We strive to keep the information up-to-date and We say final days of the season, correct, however we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitabilbut it’s probably not going to ity or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in our publications for any purreopen. I asked people to share pose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at their photos of final visits to the your own risk. In no event will Existential Media LLC be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or restaurant and the pool on our damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or Facebook pages and they profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of our publications. graciously did, sharing memories Interested in advertising with Cass County Communication that I probably couldn’t have Network? Call (574) 721-4635 for more information! captured with my own camera.

The photos they shared tell the

2 | Cass County INfo: | August 2014

story of what these local icons meant to them. You can find a few of the memories people shared on page 11 of this issue.

Rumor has it that by the time the next issue of INFO is out in September, our Staples store will be closed.

Our community morale has taken some pretty big hits lately. The news of something closing almost always gets more attention than the news of something opening and we feed off negativity. But there are things to celebrate.

At least two Logansport natives have opened businesses in downtown Logansport this summer — Upgrades Training Center offers classes in almost everything you can think of, and next month, we’ll see the return of the State Theater as a live entertainment venue.

Those are just the most recent ones but if you think about it, we have all kinds of stuff that we didn’t have back when we had the Iron Horse Festival. (Speaking of which, local organizations could use some help from the community to preserve the mural at the intersection of 3rd and Market).

We’re into one of the busiest times of year here in Cass County – coming up in the next few weeks: a free 5K, Pancake Day and Art on the Avenue and Live United Day, just to name a few. The Performing Arts Council kicks off their season next month, too. It’s also budget time for local government. This is when your comments matter — if you think that more money needs to be allocated toward something specific, share your concerns with your elected officials!

I was hoping I’d be able to wrap my thoughts up into a neat little package but I guess the moral of my story is this:.

Yes, things are changing and it’s not always for the better. But if you look at our front cover, it should give you optimism. Dozens of our fans responded to our call for first day of school photos and I didn’t know how I’d ever choose between them for “Caught on Camera.” So I decided to include all the photos we’d received by our publication deadline. Those smiling kids are the faces of our future.

They may be doctors, nurses, teachers, astronauts, firefighters, politicians or entrepreneurs. Some of them will more than likely be doing jobs we’ve never even heard of. Building a community where they’ll want to live, work and raise their own families starts right now.

As a kid who grew up in Logansport, I can tell you that they’ll remember the memories they make in this community more than they’ll miss the stores that come and go. So this month, make it a point to eat at the restaurant you’ve always thought about trying. Take in the fall colors from the new Cole Bridge. Volunteer on Live United Day. This is your community. Make the most of it!

INDOT to Install New Signage at Logansport Interchanges

July 18 was a day of celebration as the new Cole Bridge at Riverside Park was officially dedicated. The bridge connects the Eel River Run with the River Bluff Trail. Local philanthropists Milt and Jean Cole and their family led a crowd across the bridge for a balloon release after a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE DIALS

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has made detailed plans to install improved signage at the Logansport interchanges along the Hoosier Heartland Highway and State Road 25.

In a letter to State Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport), INDOT commissioner Karl Browning stated that INDOT will install two “Stop Ahead” signs and two oversized stop signs with flashers at two intersections on the State Road 25/ Hoosier Heartland interchange.

One set of signage will be installed on the westbound U.S. Route 24/U.S. Route 35 ramp at the intersection of State Road 29, and the second set will be installed on the eastbound U.S. Route 24/U.S. Route 35 ramp at the intersection of Burlington Avenue/State Road 329. In addition, INDOT will be moving the stop bars forward at these intersections to allow for better sight distance.

“With the occurrence of yet another fatal accident over the weekend, it’s clear that there is no time to waste in installing the new signage at the Logansport interchanges,” Head said. “I thank INDOT for conducting the traffic study and I’m hopeful the new plans will increase safety and ease travel for all drivers.”

Public meeting about new power plant set for Aug. 25

BY MICHELLE DIALS Copies of the development agreement for the new power plant were hand-delivered to members of the Logansport City Council and the Utility Service Board the night of Monday, Aug. 11. The 21 page document, drafted for the city by attorneys Brian Bosma and John Molitor, was presented to Logansport media representatives Wednesday, August 13 by Mayor Ted Franklin and LMU Superintendent Paul Hartman.

The mayor says a public hearing is set for 6 p.m. Monday, August 25 at McHale Performing Arts Center, then, some special meetings to vote on the agreement are anticipated.

Residents who are interested in reading the development agreement can obtain a hardcopy from the mayor’s office or the LMU superintendent’s office.

“Barring any unforeseen events, it looks like this is the final document that sets the air permit in motion and it sets all the financing agreements, the final financing agreements and our reimbursement,” Franklin said.

The reimbursement he refers to is a $1.75 million “planning, design and due diligence fee,” referred to in the purchase power agreement as a “franchise fee” that the developer is expected to pay the city no later than March 31, 2015.

Franklin says the company now wants to be known as “Logansport Energy Group LLC,” instead of TCS Logansport Energy Group.

A public hearing where community members can learn more is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 at McHale Performing Arts Center and at that time, Franklin expects representatives from Logansport Energy Group to attend the meeting.

“I know we’re going to be criticized because there’s not a lot of detail in here,” Franklin said.

“We can’t spell out the exact description of the facility until IDEM approves the plan. The plan can’t be presented to IDEM until we do the computer modeling. The computer modeling will tell us what happens when we import the fuel, convert the fuel to gas, light the gas, make the electricity and send it out. Then, IDEM will tell us how high the stack has to be.”

Franklin and LMU superintendent Paul Hartman referred several times to the process of pyrolysis, to convert trash to gas, but they say the first phase would be natural gas.

Franklin expects some special meetings to be called in September for consideration of the agreement, which the council asked for 30 days to review. Franklin says the 30 day window began when they received the document.

One exhibit is attached to the document — “Exhibit D - Milestones,” and lists many events but few dates. The scheduled commercial operation date for the new plant is listed as no later than midnight January 1, 2019.

The mayor said those who want to review the development agreement can receive one hard copy from either his office or the LMU superintendent’s office. Electronic copies will not be provided. “”They’re entitled to one copy total,” Franklin said. “We’ll share it with anybody we have to, but we don’t have to share it electronically. We just have to share it. So that’s what we’re going to do.”

“If we were a private business, this would be a classified document,” Hartman said.

Though the plan wasn’t revealed to the public until the end of November 2012, Franklin says his first meeting about the power plant project was February 17, 2012..

“I’ve carried this torch about as far as I can carry it,” Franklin said. “At this time, I’m essentially done. My duties with regard to this project are over. Now it’s going to revert to Paul (Hartman) and the employment agreement, those kind of things, subsidiary developments that go along with this. It’s not me.”

August 2014 | Cass County INfo: | 3

How will 2015 budgets impact your property taxes?

I learned a lot of things during my time at the IU School of Journalism, but there wasn’t a class on reporting about local government. Several years ago, I stopped by the mayor’s office and asked a question about the budget. Then-mayor Mike Fincher offered me a soda and a seat and pretty soon, I was getting a primer on the “Logansport civil city” budget.

It’s enough to make your head spin —levies and line items, AV and DLGF and assessments and tax rates.

Speaking of DLGF — that’s the Department of Local Government Finance — they have a section on their website called the “Citizen’s Guide to Property Tax” that’s a great place to start.

Obviously, I need to know these things as part of my job. But I also pay property taxes in our community — three sets this year, to be exact. So if my bill is going to go up, I want to know why. Keep reading, if you do, too.

First of all, if you own property, you’ll pay property tax. The amount of property tax you pay is based on the value of your property. (Former LEDF president Skip Kuker explained it to me as an algebra equation — Rate x AV = tax. More on that later.) Counties, cities, townships, libraries and other special entities like fire districts get money from property taxes.

Each of those entities (called a “taxing unit”) puts together a budget. A tax levy is the amount they can raise each year in property taxes toward that budget. (Their budget may be funded by more than just property taxes).

The total tax levy (how much that taxing unit can collect) is divided by the total net assessed value - the sum of the values of all the property in that taxing unit and that gives us the property tax rate for that taxing unit. That’s why when you get your property tax bill, you’ll see different tax rates for different entities — county, school, library, etc. Still with me?

They add all those up and that’s your total tax rate for the year. For the property tax bills you pay in May and November 2014, the total tax rate for Logansport residents in Eel Township was 4.9518. That means for every $100 of net assessed valuation, you pay about $4.95. Net assessed valuation is the value of your property minus deductions —like a homestead standard deduction. So a property with an assessed value of $40,000 might have a net assessed value of $7,400 after deductions. So here’s that algebra equation: (7,400/100) X 4.9518 = $366.43 in property taxes for the year.

Now, when you get your bill, you’ll notice that it says property taxes are capped at 1% of value for owner-occupied homesteads, 2% for other residential property and farmland and 3% for all other property (like businesses). So if the tax rate was higher, if you were paying residential property taxes, the maximum amount you’d pay in the example above would be $400 because the property tax caps kick in.

Now, this is as I understand it. Bear in mind that I’m not formally trained in any of this. If you have questions about your specific situation,, give our county assessor, auditor or treasurer a call.

Speaking of the assessor, that’s where it all starts. If you own property, you probably received a notice of reassessment. Open that and look at it

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and if it’s drastically different, give the assessor’s office a call. You have a limited amount of time to appeal it if you disagree. You’ll see a value for your land and a value for “improvements,” which are the structures on your property -- house, garage, etc. If your assessed value went way up and your tax rate goes up, going back to Skip’s algebra equation, you’re going to be paying more taxes. So don’t just file that away, because it directly impacts the tax bill you’ll be getting next spring.

Now, that was a long-winded primer on how your property factors into this all so I could get to budgets. On the next page, you’ll see information on the 2015 budget process for Cass County taxing units. It’s all available on a handy new website, budgetnotices.in.gov. Only a handful of our taxing entities have submitted their budgets so far, but more will be coming as budgets have to be wrapped up by November 1 at the latest. The website is important, because in 2016, that info will no longer be published in newspapers (which government has had to pay to do in the past). We’ve heard so many questions from people about it though that we we’re happy to dedicate a page of our space so people can take a look at where their money is going. It’s much more detailed even than what you see on the page at the right, but that’s a start.

The chart shows the 2014 certified levy (what they’re allowed to collect in property tax this year), the 2015 proposed budget and the 2015 proposed levy. They can reduce their budgets after they’ve been advertised, but they can’t increase them. So chances are, some of these may be higher than what they’ll actually turn out to be. The levy won’t be certified and the tax rate won’t be set for a few more months. So, at this point, you can’t determine a direct impact on your taxes.

However, you can see which entities are proposing higher levies than they did last year — and several of them are. All of the entities are required to hold a public hearing on their budget — so if you have questions about it, you can attend that meeting and listen or ask your questions.

We’ll run this again in September, hopefully with more of the blanks filled in, but this is a start.

The other important thing to remember is that when taxing units make their budget, they’re supposed to follow it. The city is proposing a nearly $18 million budget, but that includes salaries and budgets for lots of different departments. They can’t take money from the police budget and spend it on the pool. So if you have questions about how an entity is planning to spend its money, now is the time to find out.

We’ll post public hearing dates on CassCountyCalendar.com so check there or explore budgetnotices.in.gov for more information.

We’ll probably be focusing pretty heavily on the Logansport city budget this year, as Logansport (Eel Twp)’s tax rate is 21st in the state — as in it’s among the highest in the state. Adams Township ranks 1569 in the state.

That’s some interesting info, too — the state’s highest tax rate is 6.5212 and its lowest is 0. I didn’t check to see where the highest rate was but you can find that, plus a wealth of other information at stats.indiana. edu. Check back next month for more info on 2015 budgets.

-- Michelle Dials, publisher

2015 Budget Info for Cass County Taxing Units Taxing Unit

2014 Certified Levy

2015 Proposed Budget

2015 Proposed Levy

Difference between 2014/2015 levy

Public Hearing

Adoption Date

Meeting Location & Time

Cass County

$8,380,637

$24,548,900

$13,397,222

+$5,016,585

8/15/14

9/19/14

Cass County Govt. Bldg

Adams Twp

$25,936

$68,590

$26,000

+$64

9/24/14

10/8/14

Bethlehem Twp

$34,171

Boone Twp

$45,250

Clay Twp

$17,480

$$43,040

$17,470

-$10

9/11/14

10/2/14

Clinton Twp

$56,237

$80,475

$61,489

+$5,252

9/2/14

9/30/14

Deer Creek Twp

$52,000

$57,400

$34,638

+$2,850

10/4/14

10/18/14

37,264

$19,000

+$80

9/10/14

9/24/14

$17,896,607

$9,789,502

+$1,046,389

9/2/14

10/6/14

City Council Chambers

$468,877

$212,480

+$14,218

9/2/14

10/6/14

Royal Center Town Hall, 7 p.m.

$38,087,315

$10,161,134

+$2,085,657

8/25/14

9/8/14

Administration Bldg, 2829 George St, 5 p.m.

$250,567

$179,500

+$6,685

9/9/14

10/14/14

Walton Library, 6 p.m.

$53,200

$42,500

+$17,048

9/18/14

10/16/14

Faith Lutheran,6765 E 800 N, Logansport.

7:30 p.m.

Eel Twp

$245,399

Harrison Twp

$45,604

Jackson Twp

$44,923

Jefferson Twp

$31,788

Miami Twp

$307439

Noble Twp

$18,920

Tipton Twp

$37,766

Washington Twp

$82,894

Logansport Civil City

$8,743,113

Galveston Civil Town

$274,270

Onward Civil Town

$10,229

Royal Center Civil Town

$198,262

Walton Civil Town

$166,834

Pioneer Regional School Corporation

$2,208,464

Southeastern School Corporation

$3,018,287

Logansport Community School Corporation

$8,075,477

Caston School Corporation

$1,691,514

Logansport-Cass County Public Library

$1,072,069

Royal Center Public Library

$83,978

Walton Public Library

$172,815

Cass County Solid Waste Management District

$0

Logansport Cass County Airport Authority

$574,568

Cass County Fire District #1

$681,429

Rock Creek Cass-Carroll Conservancy District

$25,452

Information from budgetnotices.in.gov as of 8/16/14

2909 Valleyview Dr., 5 p.m.

21 Lake Street, Lake Cicott, 9 a.m.

August 2014 | Cass County INfo: | 5

Calendar

Publicize your event!

Planning an event that you want people to know about? Make sure to add the details to www.casscountycalendar.com. It’s FREE!

August 21 & 28, Sept. 4 & 11 Preserving the Harvest

The public is invited to attend free fresh food preservation workshops on the following dates: Aug 21: Franklin School: Tomatoes; Aug 28: Columbia School: Pickles ; Sept. 4: Fairview School: Green Beans; and Sept. 11: Landis School: Apples At each session, participants will learn to can, freeze, and dry the featured food of the evening and learn skills to preserve other foods. Participants are required to register by the Friday before each workshop by calling the United Way of Cass County office at 574753-3533. These workshops are a partnership of the Cass County Resource Network, Logansport Community Schools, Purdue Extension, and United Way of Cass County.

August 23 Cass County Farm View

A family-friendly event takes place at Kitchel Farms, a beef farm owned by Jon and Diana Kitchel. Petting zoon, interactive booths, tractors and more. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The farm is located at 9018 E South River Road, Peru.

August 26 Classics Day at the Movies

The fourth Tuesday of each month, Mary Max Cinemas will show a “Classic” movie, from the 40’s through the 70’s. This months movie is “The Sting” (1973). The event is open to any member of the community who is 50 years of age or older and their caregivers. $3 admission per person and $1 popcorn, soda and coffee are available. Doors open at 9:00am and the movie starts at 10:00am.

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August 22 and 23 Logansport Shrine Frolic

Friday night: New York Strip $14 or Grilled Chicken Breast Supper $11, 5-8 p.m.

Live band in the tent (Eel River Band) from 7-11 p.m. Saturday: Parade lineup starts at noon, Parade starts at 1 p.m. BBQ Pork Loin $7 after parade at the club. Awards at 2 p.m.

Eel River Band performs in the tent after the parade.

The Logansport Shrine Club is the oldest Shrine Club in Indiana. It was chartered in April 1920 and currently has 190 members.

We are currently transporting 37 children to Chicago and Cincinnati Shrine Children Hospitals. Drivers volunteer to drive these children.

We take care of children in need regardless of the families ability to pay. If you know of a child in need, please contact a Shriner. The Shrine has a total of 22 hospitals in the US, Mexico and Canada. The operating budget for these hospitals exceeds 780 million dollars annually. This is all accomplished by donations.

August 29 Outdoor Movie Night Join The Salvation Army for an outdoor movie!

Bring a blanket, a chair and your family! This is a free event with concessions available. Popcorn 25 cents and pop 50 cents Have some fun with your neighbors under the stars! 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at 615 Heath St.

August 30 Step Up Saturdays The Cass County YMCA and the Logansport Parks Department are partnering with LaPorte Mayor Blair Milo to host “Step-Up Saturdays” at Huston Park. Mayor Milo is going to each county in Indiana in an effort to make Indiana healthier. The community is encouraged to come out and walk or run the 5K route on the paved trail of Huston Park, which is located just south of Chase Road at 1721 Smith St. The event begins at 9 a.m. Questions can be directed to Parks Administrator, Janet Fawley at 574753-6969 or Executive Director, Brent Kelley at 574-753-5141. ​

Sept. 3 Izaak Walton League Chicken Bash The local chapter of the Cass County Izaak Walton League is raising money to dredge the main pond for improved water quality for the fish and other aquatic species. The cost is approximately $15,000. A Hap’s Chicken Bash is scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Cost is $8.50.

Children 8 and younger $4.

Sept. 6 Cass County Pancake Day Join the Cass Co. 4-H and Logansport/Cass Co. Chamber of Commerce at the 4-H Fairgrounds for this wonderful, long-standing, annual community event! Enjoy all the pancakes you care to eat and each ticket includes a fresh, charcoal grilled pork sausage and a beverage of your choice. There will be Chamber of Commerce Members in attendance to showcase their business/organizations. 7-11 a.m. $6 for adults, $4 for kids 12 and under.

These are just a handful of the hundreds of events listed on CassCountyCalendar.com and new events are added daily, so check back often to make sure you don’t miss a thing! It’s FREE to list your event, so if you’re having an event that’s open to the public, make sure to add the details by heading to www.casscountycalendar.com and clicking submit.

Sept. 6 Northern Cass County Tour See unique pottery, experience wine tasting and shop for rustic furniture, crafts, antiques, primitives and other unique items. Finish off with some great food, homemade donuts and coffee. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Lanedale Pottery 4786 W. 900 N.; Indian Trail Wines.; 7540 N. 350 W. Jim & Kay’s Rustic Furniture 3137 W. 800 N., Modern Day Pickers, 7415 N. 225 E.; Old Mill Restaurant, St. Rd. 16. Small Town Brew. Twelve Mile

Sept. 6 Cass County Council On Aging Community Day Cass Area Transit/Cass County Council on Aging will be donating a used wheelchair van to the community. They will also be having a community ard sale and auctioning off several other vehicles. If you are interested in the van that is being donated, please send your essay as to how you could benefit from this vehicle to Cathy Martinez, c/o Cass County Council on Aging, 115 S 6th St, Logansport, IN 46947. The deadline for entry will be Aug. 20, 2014. They will then select one winner from the essays to receive the vehicle. Make sure to include your name and contact number on your essay.

After the presentation ceremony, several other used transit vehicles will be auctioned off, with a minimum starting bid of $500.

The parking lot will be open to the community for yard sale, baked goods, vendors and craft items at no charge. Deadline for reserving your table is August 20 or when all tables are filled. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donation of the wheelchair bus will be at noon and the auction will start at 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 2 Rivers on 2 Wheels 6th annual bike tour begins at 8:30 a.m. at Riverside Park. Registration forms available at the Cass County Family YMCA or register online at active.com.

Sept. 13 Art on the Avenue The Cass County Arts Alliance and Logansport Savings Bank present this annual event at Little Turtle Waterway featuring vendors, food, music activities for kids and more.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sept. 14 Walton Library's 100th anniversary Open House from 2-4 p.m.

Saturday, September 13 8:30 a.m. at Riverside Park Registration forms available or register online at active.com

Sept. 19 & 20 Live United Day Live United Day and Campaign Kick-off Sites — Galveston: September 19 at 8 am at the Small Town Diner (formerly Lulu’s); Logansport: September 19 at 9 am at the Cass County Family YMCA Royal Center: September 19 at 8 am at the Royal Center Methodist Church and Twelve Mile: September 20 at 8 am at Community Center. REGISTER FOR LIVE UNITED DAY ONLINE www.unitedwayofcasscounty.org 1) Volunteer/Get Connected 2) Login/Join to create a profile 3) Then browse the “Needs” tab for a project

Sept. 20 Live Well Health Expo In conjunction with Live United Day, there will be a family friendly festival located at Little Turtle Waterway. Fun Run at 8a.m., Live Demonstrations on the Community Stage from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Blood Mobile, WOW bus, Health Screenings. 40+ Vendor Booths, Kids Area. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FREE

Cass County Family YMCA 905 E Broadway Logansport www.casscountyymca.org 574-753-5141 August 2014 | Cass County INfo: | 7

Asthma? Allergies?

Logansport Memorial Hospital now offers pulmonology services

A SUCCESS i am

| 574-753-5101 8 | IvyTech.edu/apply-now Cass County INfo: | August 2014

As a rural hospital, we are challenged in many ways. One of our biggest challenges is providing access to specialized care that’s local and in our community, which many of our patients need and want. We know that many of our patients suffer from respiratory problems and have requested pulmonology services. As part of our 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment, we made “access to care” a top priority for targeted improvement over the next three to five years.

Logansport Memorial Hospital is pleased to announce that we now offer pulmonology services for our patients with the addition of Dr. Francois Fadel to our physician network. He shares some information in this article about what he does, and why it’s beneficial for patients to have pulmonology services that are close to home.

What is pulmonology?

“Pulmonology is a subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on diseases of the lungs and bronchial tubes, which can include evaluating the heart and the upper respiratory tract (made up of the nose, pharynx and throat),” indicated Dr. Fadel. “A pulmonologist is a physician who studies internal medicine and then completes additional schooling and training to diagnose and treat conditions and diseases of the chest. These can include pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, emphysema, lung cancer, and other complicated chest infections. Pulmonologists can also treat and help active or previous smokers who have respiratory symptoms or shortness of breath. We can assess the patient’s lung function, and optimize treatment of their lungs, as well as aid in smoking cessation.”

Who needs a pulmonologist?

“Patients who have a chronic cough, difficulty breathing, persistent lung infection, or any other breathing-related problem typically need specialized services, like those that a pulmonologist provides. To determine how serious your condition is, I will typically conduct pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to measure how well your lungs take in and exhale air,” he says. These tests also check how well your lungs transfer oxygen into the blood.

A pulmonologist is one type of asthma and allergies specialist that may be helpful to use when treating various chest and lung conditions. As we move into Fall, the seasonal changes may cause certain allergies to flareup or worsen, making it harder to breathe. Asthma can also be affected by seasonal changes.

“Asthma symptoms differ from patient to patient, so there are a variety of tests that I can perform to help determine what approach may be the best to take,” explains Dr. Fadel. “A variety of additional tests can be performed, and they just help me learn more about your lungs and how they function. Once I have the results, I prefer to work together with the patient to decide what feels right and is best to do in treating their specific allergies, asthma, or other condition.”

Respiratory therapists can assist pulmonologists by performing these tests, and Logansport Memorial Hospital is fortunate to have a fullystaffed respiratory therapy department and pulmonary rehabilitation facility on-site.

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Logansport Memorial welcomes new family medicine physician Logansport Memorial Hospital is pleased to welcome Dr. Charles Friend to the Logansport Memorial Physician Network as a board-certified family medicine physician.

Dr. Charles Friend is a board-certified specialist in Family Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice. He received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri. From there, he completed his residency in family medicine at the Eglin Regional Medical Center on the Eglin Air-Force Base in

Florida. He has extensive experience in family medicine, obstetrics, sports medicine, occupational medicine, and emergency medicine. As a physician, he has previously served as a chief of staff and as a director over various medical departments. He is married with children, and loves reading, building computers, and writing.

Dr. Friend is now accepting new patients. T make an appointment, please call (574) 753-4500.

Dr. Kenneth Kigorwe announced his resignation effective August 15, 2014 as he pursues an exciting new professional opportunity.

PULMONOLOGY, from page 8 Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program designed to teach you about your lungs and how to live better with your lung condition. Additionally, LMH has a sleep laboratory on-site to assist with the treatment of sleep disorders. These on-site programs make receiving pulmonology services more convenient for our patients.

Meet Dr. Francois Fadel Dr. Fadel is an expert specialist practicing in four specialties – internal medicine, pulmonary/ respiratory medicine, critical care medicine, and undersea and hyperbaric medicine. He is triple board-certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in internal medicine, pulmonary/respiratory medicine, and critical care medicine. He completed a fellowship of double certification in critical care medicine and pulmonary/respiratory medicine at The State University of New York in Brooklyn, New York.

He utilizes the most advanced technologies and procedures to diagnose and treat respiratory conditions, including lung cancer. As the only critical care and pulmonology physician serving Logansport and Cass County, he looks forward to establishing his practice and providing an exceptional level of specialized care for our community.

Primary care physicians can refer you to receive the specialized services of Dr. Fadel. You can learn more about your referral options by calling (574) 753-1384.

FOR SALE BY OWNER 3 BEDROOM HOUSE • $68,000 2427 NORTH STREET • LOGANSPORT

Living room on main level; 3 bedrooms and bath upstairs, kitchen, laundry room & half bath downstairs)

• Ready to move in • New high-efficiency furnace •1 Car Garage • Large yard

• Refrigerator, electric stove, window A/C included • Great neighborhood near park and trail

574-721-4636

for more info or to schedule an appointment to see this home.

August 2014 | Cass County INfo: | 9

sure that if I dropped my German class, Manchester College would still let me attend there.

They did...WOOHOO!!!

Seniors RULE! I was also a Mount Man for the cheerleaders during the basketball season. It was fun. Although lifting cheerleaders and making sure they don’t go crashing to the floor is hard work.

Spring Break of 1994 was my first out of state trip without direct adult supervision. We’ll leave it at that...WOOHOO Seniors RULE!!

The month of May rolled around and my best friend Chad and I spent our Senior Skip Day at the only logical choice there was to do such things in May of 1994...

Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. See? If you know me, then you know my obsession with Motorsports, and it clearly didn’t happen overnight.

Graduation day rolled around on Saturday, May 28th, 1994. I sat in a crowded gymnasium and watched my fellow classmates walk down the aisle and get their diplomas, listened to the all the speeches, and got sweaty under that oppressive cap and gown. I feel like I walked very fast when it was my turn to go on stage. I was probably trying not trip on anything, so walking fast was a poor choice on my part. On the way home after the ceremony, I was alone in my car and listened to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird.

It seemed fitting because I knew in the back of my mind that despite spending nearly every day since 1980 with many of these people, I wouldn’t see most of them ever again. There was a definite finality to the day, and I was okay with it. WOOHOO SENIORS RU-oh forget it....

No, but seriously, do you know what DIDN’T

NO BUT SERIOUSLY ...

It was late August, 1993 and the world was a very different place.Wesley Snipes starred in a movie with Sean Connery and everyone seemed to be cool with it (Rising Sun), kids made mix tapes for their boyfriends and girlfriends and no one cried about COPYRIGHTS, and a certain little band from an unlikely town was taking the music world by storm...That’s right, Ace of Base...They’re from Gothenburg which is Sweden’s second biggest city, y’know...

August 1993 was also the beginning of my senior year of high school. I spent 4 long years doing just enough to not have to work all that hard, and just enough to get accepted into a college. Done and done. Ever heard of Senioritis?

It’s a very real thing, and I had it. Bad. So, with the melody of All That She Wants ringing loudly in my ears, I was ready to light this candle and get my senior year over with! I had a life to start! WOOHOO!! Seniors RULE! Honestly, though, my senior year at Northwestern High School was pretty uneventful. I played football, got injured and had to sit out 6 weeks or so. We ended up going 5-5 on the season, I think. I passed my classes and made

CCCF Hosting Football Food Drives

The Cass County Community Foundation will be sponsoring its annual football food drives at area high schools. Fans bringing non-perishable or canned food items to help the hungry will receive a rally towel.

10 | Cass County INfo: | August 2014

happen at any point in 1993-1994? At no point did I think that someday I’d be married and have my own kids in school, and they’d be following in my own footsteps. I mean, who does, right?

This year, both of our kids, Gretchen and Cooper, will be in school. Gretchen is a grizzled veteran of the elementary school scene as she’s entering 3rd grade. Cooper is a newbie going to kindergarten. I never really gave it much thought, but then it hit me that the nearly 13 years they’ll be in school will give them memories, good and bad, for the rest of their lives....

The heartbreak of not doing well on a test; The beaming confidence of getting an A on a report; Getting distracted in class by your crush; Watching your crush flirt with someone else; Getting sick at school; Recess; The unbridled joy of the teacher showing a movie in class; Watching someone else get sick at school; Navigating the minefield that is the elementary lunch room; The stress of getting into college; Asking a date to prom; All those memories that lay before them, it will all stay with them forever. In a lot of ways it’ll shape them into the adults they’ll become. I suppose I could be freaked out about the whole thing, but honestly, I’m just glad that I get to watch them do it, and I hope I can be there for them when they need me.

After all, I come from a generation of people that thought it was okay to throw Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery in a movie together, and we put Swedish synth pop at the top of the charts....We know how to make things work.

-Matthew Paul Mix 102 Morning Guy, Director of Operations WLHM/WSAL/WHZR

Friday, August 22: Lewis Cass vs. Pioneer - choice of a Panther or King rally towel.

Friday, Aug. 29 at Caston vs. West Central Game to receive a Caston Comet rally towel Friday, Sept. 12: Logansport High School vs. Huntington North - get a red and black Felix Rally Towel

The end of an

ERA

at WHITEHOUSE NO. 1 & TOWER PARK MUNICiPAL POOL

The first weekend of August 2014 marked the last weekend of operation for two local icons —the Tower Park Municipal Pool and the Whitehouse No. 1.

We asked fans to share their photos —top row shared

by Nikki Malott, Stephanie Strahlem, Maria Rogers and Jane Williams. Middle Row shared by Jeremie/Rachelle Pearson and Jane Williams.

Bottom shared by Kevin Burkett

August 2014 | Cass County INfo: | 11

CASSINFO: Sign up for school delays from Logansport, Southeastern, Pioneer and Caston School Corporations.

CASSINFO MOBILE ALERTS From Cass County Communication Network Sign up for local alerts and deals on the go!

To receive school closing and delay information, text one of the following to 46786 CASSINFO CASTON CASSINFO LOGAN CASSINFO SOUTHEASTERN CASSINFO PIONEER To receive alerts from multiple schools, sign up for each district separately.

Standard Message and Data Rates May Apply When you subscribe, you will receive mobile alerts, reminders and deals which include paid advertisements from local businesses.

A service of the Cass County Communication Network published by Existential Media LLC

Just want mobile alerts, reminders and deals but not closings and delays?

Text CASSINFO to 46786.