The Howard County Coroner’s Office conducted 275 death investigations in 2022. Of the 275 cases, 183 were determined to be due to natural causes. There were two homicides, 21 suicides, 65 accidental deaths, and four cases that are presently undetermined. These cases do not include deaths that occurred outside of Howard County but were the result of incidents that occurred in Howard County.
Of the 65 accidental deaths investigated, 38 were the due to drug overdose, five were the result of motor vehicle accidents, two were accidental infant suffocations, one was an industrial accident, three were accidental drownings, and 16 resulted from related falls and injuries in a home or institution setting.
Of the 38 confirmed overdose cases, three involved heroin, 27 involved Fentanyl, 18 involved methamphetamine, six involved other opiates and benzodiazepines, one involved alcohol, three involved Cocaine, and one involved synthetic substances. The majority of overdoses were the result of polysubstance abuse.
Of the 275 cases investigated in 2022 by the Coroner’s office, there were 111 autopsies conducted with 121 toxicology studies and four imaging X-rays performed for a total cost of $202,613 to Howard County. The cost for 34 of the toxicology tests done were covered by a program through the Indiana State Department of Health.
In addition to the 275 cases that were investigated by the Coroner’s office in 2022, there were an additional 91 direct releases cases that were processed by the Coroner’s office.
The suicide rate almost doubled in 2022 at 21 cases versus 11 cases in 2021. The rate has been variable over the last several years with 17 cases in 2020 and 12 in 2019. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the US. 45,979 Americans died by suicide in 2020 with an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts.
Howard County has many organizations including Turning Point - System of Care, Gilead House, Howard County’s problem-solving courts, faith-based programs, and others that continue to work diligently to combat addiction issues, provide mental health care, and prevent suicide deaths in our community. If you need help, or someone you know needs help, please reach out and ask. For more information and resources concerning suicide prevention, visit in.gov/issp/ or https://www.facebook.com/SuicidePreventionCoalitionofHowardCounty
Akers files to run at large for City Council
In a first bid for local office, wife, mother, and business owner Adrienne Akers has announced her candidacy for an at-large seat on the Kokomo Common Council.
Akers was born and raised in Kokomo. While she has pursued various educational and career opportunities in Seattle, Wash., Washington D.C., and areas in between, her roots and love for her family brought her back to serve her hometown where she is raising her two children, Phoenix and Gryphon, alongside her husband, Zach Partlow.
“I am committed to making Kokomo a better place to raise my family and a place my children want to raise theirs,” Akers said. “I believe my background and my experiences have prepared me to make a positive contribution as a member of the city council.”
Akers earned a liberal arts degree from Indiana University and teaching credentials from Ball State University. She was an educator at Elwood Haynes Elementary for several years and taught briefly at Northwestern Elementary before starting her family.
While her students remember her as Miss Akers, many locals know her best as the market manager for the Kokomo Downtown Farmers’ Market; a position she held for nearly 10 years. Locally, she increased both market participation and impact, increased opportunities for local food producers and entrepreneurs, and secured a $250,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to increase consumption of fresh, locally grown food in Kokomo.
Akers is now owner of downtown Kokomo’s only source of fresh food, The Radish Market & Cafe. Eliminating the food desert downtown has been her goal for many years. Akers’ business continues to foster other small local businesses that do not have the resources to begin their own storefront operations.
“I have always been fascinated with and proud of Kokomo’s history of innovation and excellence,” Akers said. “I believe the principles of hard work and dedication that put Kokomo on the map are the same principles that will guide us into the future. Together, we can build a thriving and diversified economy, a culturally rich community, and a hometown all of our citizens can be proud of and benefit from.”
Akers said she looks forward to the opportunity to serve and represent the community by listening to Kokomo’s residents and learning more about their needs.
“I will bring integrity, openness, and a willingness to roll up my sleeves and get to work,” Akers said. “Whether it’s public safety, quality of life issues, health and welfare concerns, or supporting businesses large and small, we need to work together to make sure all our citizens, no matter what part of town they live in, have opportunities to enjoy the great life Kokomo has to offer.”