UAW, Stellantis reach agreement

Also, victim identified in Jan. 18 fire; IU Kokomo awards alumni scholarships

The United Auto Workers and Stellantis have reached a resolution to grievances filed against the company concerning promises made in their 2023 contract. Of note for workers in Kokomo is the commitment to entrusting them with production of the GME-T4 EVO engine for hybrid electric vehicles.

This agreement marks a reversal by the company, which had previously planned on moving this engine production out of the country. While successfully enforcing the contract, UAW International President Shawn Fain acknowledged there has been an attitude shift at Stellantis since Antonio Filosa was named chief operations officer for North America following the resignation of CEO Carlos Tavares in late 2024.

"This is a leadership that is ready to recommit to investing in our membership, our communities, and in this company," said Fain.

In addition to the commitment for Kokomo, the union secured manufacturing of the new Dodge Durango at the Detroit Assembly Complex. The company also reaffirmed its intent to resume manufacturing in Belvidere, Ill., in 2027.

"This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable," said Fain. "We've shown that we will do what it takes to protect the good union jobs that are the lifeblood of places like Belvidere, Detroit, Kokomo, and beyond.

"Throughout this process we've all learned an important lesson. It takes a fight to keep jobs here in this country. We've shown the company and the nation that we are ready for that fight."

Victim identified in Jan. 18 fire

On Sat., Jan. 18, at approximately 2:25 a.m., the Howard County Coroner was dispatched to 1131 N. Armstrong St. in reference to a decedent located at the scene of a residential fire.

The decedent has been positively identified as the resident and homeowner, Charlene Marie Ormsby, 69. Identification was made through DNA analysis by the Indiana State Police Forensic Lab in Indianapolis.

An autopsy was performed on Tue., Jan. 21, by a forensic pathologist at the Howard County Coroner's Office. The preliminary autopsy findings are consistent with thermal and inhalation injuries from the fire. Final determination is pending forensic toxicology and lab results.

This case remains under investigation by the Kokomo Fire Department and the Howard County Coroner's Office. Anyone having additional information is asked to contact District Chief Glenda Myers at 765-457-2636 or gmyers@cityofkokomo.org .

IU Kokomo awards alumni scholarships

Scholarships provide students many opportunities in college. They can offset costs associated with tuition, help with books, living expenses, travel, and more.

IU Kokomo awards two alumni scholarships to students each year: the IUKAA scholarship and the Kokomo Region Alumni scholarship. Both were generously created by alumni and donors to benefit students from any major at IU Kokomo. Since 2013, 54 students have been awarded one of these scholarships.

During the fall semester, alumni recognized four of the six recipients for the 2024 to 2025 academic year at the annual alumni scholarship reception. Current and former alumni board members, former scholarship recipients, faculty, and campus leadership came together to meet the recipients and hear more about their goals, the impact of receiving one of the alumni scholarships, and what it has been like to be a student at IU Kokomo.

The three recipients of the IUKAA scholarship are Bailey Harness, Allison O’Brien, and Natalie Cole. Harness is occupational therapy assistant major, and her mother, Charlotte Harness, is an IU Kokomo alumna, which makes Bailey a part of a legacy family. O’Brien is a biological and physical sciences major, and her mother, Andrea Foreman-O’Brien, is also an IU Kokomo alumna, which makes Allison a part of a legacy family as well. Cole is an MBA student, and her father, David, mother Jessica, and sister Katherine, are all IU alumni, making Natalie a member of a legacy family.

The three recipients of the Kokomo Region Alumni scholarships are Makayla Clark, Sonny Rosetto, and Justin Dyer. Clark is an occupational therapy assistant major, Rosetto is a biology major, and Dyer is an education major.

The financial support of these scholarships makes a massive impact on current and future IU Kokomo students.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.