Jail death ruled natural

Also, Community First funds affordable housing; Pack the Cruiser with Kroger; Stellantis CEO holds town hall

On May 24, 2025, at 7:18 p.m., the Howard County Coroner was dispatched to the Howard County Jail regarding a death investigation of an inmate. The decedent has been positively identified as Amanda Lee Sullivan, a 46-year-old female from Kokomo.

An autopsy was performed on May 27, 2025, by a forensic pathologist at the Howard County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death has been determined to be Schizophrenia with other significant conditions of hyponatremia. The manner of death has been ruled as natural.

The investigation was completed by the Indiana State Police, the Howard County Sheriff Department, and the Howard County Coroner’s Office.

Community First funds affordable housing

Community First Bank of Indiana recently participated in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ (FHLBank Indianapolis) Community Multiplier – Member Match Program, resulting in $220,000 in funding for eight nonprofit organizations across Hamilton, Howard, and Marion Counties.

Through this initiative, Community First Bank contributed $20,000 in matching donations, while FHLBank Indianapolis provided $200,000 in grant support. These funds are now supporting critical affordable housing and community development efforts led by:

• Bridges Outreach

• Community Action of Greater Indianapolis

• Family Promise of Hamilton County

• Family Service Association of Howard County

• Habitat for Humanity of the Kokomo Community

• Kokomo Rescue Mission

• Prevail, Inc.

• Turning Point System of Care

Each of these organizations makes a profound difference. Family Promise of Hamilton County shared, “So far in 2025, we have received 160 crisis calls. We continue to work every day to empower families in making their transition from housing insecurity to sustainable independence. We couldn't do this work without support from our community and grant opportunities like the Community Multiplier Grant. Thank you for your faith in our mission and vision.”

The Community Multiplier program is designed to support targeted affordable housing initiatives that fall outside of FHLBank Indianapolis’ other grant programs. With grants ranging from $25,000 to $125,000, the program enables nonprofits in Indiana and Michigan to partner with member financial institutions to address urgent community needs.

Community First Bank selected this initiative in alignment with its 2025 Giving Priorities, which were shaped by community input. These priorities include:

• Affordable Housing

• Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• Mental Health Services

• Transportation

• Youth Engagement/Mentorship

• Childcare Solutions

• Education and Training Opportunities

• Social Services

“Supporting the Community Multiplier program allows us to amplify the work of local nonprofits who are tackling housing insecurity and building stronger, more resilient communities; exactly the kind of impact our giving priorities are meant to support,” said, Robb Blume, CEO of Community First Bank.

Community First Bank expressed its commitment to standing alongside these organizations and FHLBank Indianapolis in building a future where every Hoosier has a safe place to call home. More information about the supported nonprofits can be found at https://CFBindiana.com/community-multiplier.

Pack the Cruiser with Kroger

Kroger and the Kokomo Police Department will unite Saturday, June 28, to fight hunger, asking customers to join their efforts to “Pack the Cruiser.” The four-hour food drive, filling a police vehicle with nutritious food, will gather donations from generous Kroger customers who wish to help the Howard County Health Department during an especially challenging summer.

Bethany Wenger, Public Health Projects Manager for the health department, worries about Howard County families who face “a wide range of barriers to accessing nutritious meals for themselves and their children.” She said their difficulties leave “thousands of children facing food insecurity over the summer.” Wenger’s concern inspired the food drive as part of the new Howard County Summer Feeding Program.

Colleen Juergensen, president of Kroger Central Division, says, “The timing of this drive is especially important because, when school is out, many children don’t have access to the nutrition provided through school lunches. We also know demand is up at food banks and pantries while donations are down. So, Pack the Cruiser helps ensure food is available when local families need help.”

The “Pack the Cruiser” Food Drive will take place at Kroger, 605 N. Dixon Road, on Sat., June 28, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

“Our core values rely on a simple concept: Pride in Commitment – Excellence in Service,” said Lt. Charlie Fourkiller of the Kokomo Police Department. “This new food drive gives the department another chance to demonstrate the depth of our devotion to the people of Kokomo. We’re honored to partner with Kroger to support ‘Pack the Cruiser’ and do what we can to ensure more local kids have access to nutritious foods and go to bed with full stomachs this summer.”

Members of the Howard County Summer Feeding Program hope to collect enough shelf- stable, kid-friendly meals and snacks to serve 500 local children each week. Wenger suggests the following items for Kroger shopping lists:

• Peanut butter (plastic container)

• Jelly (plastic container)

• Mac & cheese cups

• Canned tuna and chicken

• Canned soups, chili, ravioli

• Canned fruits and vegetables

• Cereal boxes

• Instant oatmeal

• Applesauce and fruit cups

• Granola bars

All Howard County shoppers are invited to help Kroger and Kokomo Police “Pack the Cruiser” at the Dixon Road store on Saturday. Every donation will directly help local children in need.

Stellantis CEO holds town hall

Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa held his first global Town Hall from Italy, Turin, on June 25. The Town Hall was broadcast globally to all Stellantis employees connected around the world. Filosa shared with employees the cultural framework he wants to implement.

“Our focus is clear: it is to make the right decisions, by putting our people first, putting our customer at the center of everything we do, and in doing that - creating value,” said Filosa. “Let’s create an environment where respect is the foundation of everything; one where people know they can speak up and be listened to.

“Once we have great people, as you are, with a clear set of goals, who work together with respect and mutual trust, all of this - coupled with our competitive mindset - will make us unstoppable.”

Filosa took the opportunity to present to the team his key priorities for the company:

• Grow the business by launching the right products that the customers want and that represent the real DNA of our iconic brands;

• Improve industrial execution. There is nothing wrong at Stellantis that cannot be fixed with what is right at Stellantis;

• Set the highest ambition in quality, and the time is now;

• Prepare for the future. The company already started to review its long-term strategic plan, which will be shared when the company is prepared to do so.

• Doing all of the above with intensity and joy.

Filosa concluded by focusing on the importance of creating one team.

“Let’s make a deal today, together,” said Filosa. “We don’t use anymore the nomenclature ex-FCA and ex-PSA. We are Stellantis.”