Sparks is a Pillar of the Community
Also, sheriff's department warns against impaired driving; Project Access opens a Peru branch; KPD warns against online holiday shopping scams
Sparks awarded Pillar of the Community
The Howard County Board of Commissioners honored Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance CEO Charlie Sparks on Nov. 21 with the highest honor it can bestow — the Pillar of the Community Award.
Sparks recently retired from the Alliance after decades of service in economic development locally and at the state level, and the commissioners sought to thank him for his work; most notably, the securing of a $2.5 billion investment in a new EV battery plant from Stellantis and Samsung.
“This board wants to recognize you for your many years of service in economic development,” said Commissioner Paul Wyman. “Thank you for everything you’ve done, not only for our community, but around the state. You’ve had your hands in a lot of things over the years, and the results have been phenomenal.
“And talk about going out with a bang with the battery plant! I know how hard you worked on that project, and I know how hard you’ll work on future stuff.”
Sparks, who also received a Sagamore of the Wabash from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb earlier this month, returned the sentiment of thankfulness to Howard County.
“I’ve been blessed to start my career here in my hometown and to finish it in my hometown,” said Sparks. “I had some really interesting experiences in between. And to finish with such an exclamation point …
“I want to thank Howard County. They have been a supporter of the Alliance since it was created. That means a lot. And they have been a great supporter of me.”
Law enforcement ramping up patrols during peak Thanksgiving travel
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. AAA is predicting 54.6 million people will be heading out for the holiday. Of those, nearly 49 million will be traveling by car, a rebound to almost pre-pandemic levels. This time of year is also associated with higher drinking rates, which combined with the sheer number of drivers on the road, makes it an especially dangerous time for motorists.
To prevent crashes, the Howard County Sheriff’s Office will be ramping up enforcement as part of the Safe Family Travel campaign. Starting this week, officers will be out in greater numbers conducting saturation patrols designed to discourage impaired driving and promote seat belt use.
Safe Family Travel operations begin before Thanksgiving each year and run through New Year’s Day. The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded with grants provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI).
“We’re not telling people they can’t drink. We’re asking people to be responsible and to not drink and drive,” said Sgt. Justin Markley “The holidays shouldn’t be marked by tragedy, so don’t ruin your life or the life of someone else by getting behind the wheel impaired. You will be held accountable if you do.”
According to NHTSA, drunk driving and fatal crashes spike during the Thanksgiving holiday season. This can be attributed, in part, to cultural phenomena like “Blackout Wednesday” or “Drinksgiving,” an event synonymous with heavy alcohol consumption. This year’s holiday also comes at a time when fatal crashes and dangerous driving are up across the state and nation.
In Indiana, 932 people lost their lives on the road last year, a four percent increase from 2020. Of those fatalities, 12 occurred during the Thanksgiving holiday season, with more than half found unbuckled at the time of the crash. On average, approximately one-fourth of the state’s traffic fatalities are caused by drunk drivers.
“Impaired driving is life-threatening, but even more so around the holidays,” said Robert Duckworth, ICJI Traffic Safety Director. “With so many ride options available, there’s no reason that should be the case. We’re asking everyone to plan accordingly and to make safety a priority. Our goal is zero fatalities this year.”
With officers on high-alert, motorists are encouraged to plan ahead to get home safely by designating a sober driver or by using public transportation or a ride service like Uber or Lyft. Even if one drink is consumed, never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.
It’s also important to wear a seat belt, put away the distractions and follow posted speed limits. Travelers are encouraged to check road conditions before each trip and to leave with plenty of time to reach their destination safely.
“We’re anticipating a very busy travel season this year, so for those sharing the road, remember to slow down, drive sober and buckle up,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Most fatal crashes are avoidable, not inevitable. We want everyone to make it to the Thanksgiving table safely.”
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal in Indiana and all 50 states. Those who choose to drive impaired are, not only risking their life and the lives of others, but also could face an arrest, jail time, and substantial fines and attorney fees. The average drunk driving arrest costs up to $10,000.
Motorists are encouraged to contact the department or call 911 if they encounter an impaired or unsafe driver on the road. For safety tips, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
Project Access opens Peru location
Project Access had a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 15 in front of its expanded offices located inside the Community Resource Center, 13 E. Main St. Peru
.
The board members, director, and staff expressed their excitement about expanding into the Miami County community and being able to offer Miami County residents the following programs:
Doctors and dentists donated care; medication assistance (prescriptions); free medical equipment; and hearing aids and glasses for both adults and children.
People in need may contact the Project Access office at 765-854-0544 to set up an appointment for help with medical needs.
KPD warns against online shopping scams during holiday season
This is a Public Service Announcement to remind the citizens of our community of continuing online shopping scams during this holiday season. While many online sellers are legitimate, unfortunately scammers can use the anonymous nature of the internet to rip off unsuspecting shoppers.
Many of these websites offer luxury items such as popular brands of clothing, jewelry and electronics at very low prices. Sometimes you will receive the item you paid for, but they will be fake. Other times you will receive nothing at all.
The biggest tip-off that an online seller or retail website is a scam is the method of payment. Scammers will often ask you to pay using a money order, pre-loaded money card, or wire transfer immediately. If you send your money this way, it is unlikely you will see it again or receive your purchased item.
Scammers ask for your personal or financial information – things like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number.
Before you act, type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam,” and see what you find.
Another warning sign is that the online seller refuses to meet you in person because they are unable to travel, or too busy to make the time to meet with you. Any arrangements that are made to meet in person to exchange payment for the merchandise with the seller, should only be done in a safe zone. We recommend the use of a location like the interior lobby of City Hall, where the entire exterior and interior areas are covered by the highest quality of video cameras.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times while conducting your holiday shopping. If you choose to conduct online marketplace shopping remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it could be a scam.
Officers of the Kokomo Police Department will once again be conducting extra safety patrols in and around our multiple shopping areas this holiday season for your protection. For more on how to recognize a scam, go to ftc.gov/scams.