Renata “Rae” Harris, 84, of Chesteron, IN, formerly of Frankfort, passed away on June 25, 2026 at home.  She was born November 7, 1941 to Fredrick and Lucille (Tragnitz) Rickenberger in Chicago Heights, Illinois.  On June 23, 1963 she married Stephen Lynn Harris in Dyer, Indiana.

Rae was a 1958 graduate of Bloom Township Schools and went on to earn her BA in Language from Indiana University in 1962.  She then went on to earn her Masters from Purdue University.  She was a teacher of English, Spanish, and Latin in schools in Gary and Western High School in Howard County. She also taught for IU Kokomo as well.  Rae was a member of St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Frankfort.  She was the National President of Psi Iota Xi from 1996-1997, was involved in the Kappa Chapter in Kokomo from 1967-1979, and was a current part of the Beta Tau chapter since 1979.  Rae enjoyed sewing, reading, and cooking.

Surviving are her husband: Steve of Chesterson, her sons: Charles F. “Chuck” (Michelle) Harris of Valparaiso, IN and John Paul “JP” Harris of Frankfort, IN,  a sister:  Ethel Mae DeYoung of Renton, WA, and two granddaughters:  Christine and Ella Harris, both of Valparaiso, IN.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother:  Earl F. Rickenberger.

Friends may visit Saturday,  July 11 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 1951 Wilshire Dr., Frankfort.  A memorial service with Psi Iota Xi honors will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the church.  Rev. Dr. Darin Hendrey will officiate.  Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St.  Frankfort is honored to assist the Harris family.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Frankfort Psi Iota Xi, care of Treasurer Alison Robinson, 508 Ann St., Frankfort, IN 46041.  Please visit goodwinfuneralhome.com where you may share a condolence with the family.

The Clinton County & 4-H Fair is inviting community members, families, organizations and businesses to help kick off fair week by participating in the annual Clinton County Fair Parade on Sunday, July 12.

This year’s parade theme is “Mooovin’ and Groovin'” and celebrates the fun, music and community spirit of the Clinton County & 4-H Fair.

The parade begins at 2 p.m., with participants asked to line up starting at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Frankfort Public Library. The lineup will proceed down Washington Street toward Gillman’s.

No prior registration is required to participate in the parade.

Those with questions may email clintoncofair1701@gmail.com.

Indiana Conservation Officers are searching for a 54-year-old Indianapolis man who went missing after a canoe capsized in a retention pond.

The man and three family members were canoeing yesterday evening on a retention pond in The Willows housing addition on the northwest side of Indianapolis when their canoe overturned, throwing all four occupants into the water. Three of the individuals were rescued, and two were transported to local hospitals. Both have since been released. The fourth occupant remains missing.

Search crews are using side-scan sonar, underwater cameras, and scuba divers in an effort to locate him.

Responding agencies include the Pike Township Fire Department, Indianapolis Fire Department, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

As Hoosiers head outdoors this summer on golf carts, ATVs, dirt bikes and other special vehicles designed for sport and leisure activities, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is reminding buyers and sellers to check registration and titling requirements before hitting the road or trail.

Knowing which vehicles require registration or titles can help prevent fraudulent sales, ensure compliance with Indiana law and avoid unexpected issues when purchasing or operating a vehicle.

Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) are increasingly gaining popularity in some communities and must be titled and registered. Unlike golf carts, LSVs are electrically powered vehicles that do not exceed 25 mph and are equipped with many of the same safety features required for passenger cars.

Off-road vehicles (ORVs) must be registered and, if purchased after Dec. 31, 2009, must also be titled. ORVs include:

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) which include three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and six-wheelers
Dirt bikes
Minibikes
Recreational off-road vehicles (ROVs)
Snowmobiles
Motor Driven Cycles (MDCs), commonly known as mopeds or scooters, must be registered, but they do not require a title. MDCs are defined in Indiana law by their cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters.

There are many commonly purchased vehicles for leisure activities that are exempt from being registered or titled in Indiana. These vehicles include:

Golf carts (Some municipalities require registration of these vehicles if they are operated on local roadways. Check with your county or municipality to see if such a registration is required. These registrations would not be completed with the BMV.)
Electric scooters and wheelchairs
Electric personal mobility or assistive mobility devices (like hoverboards or segways)
Go-karts
Motorized bicycles and tricycles (not to be confused with motor driven cycles)
Motorized coolers

Additionally, all watercraft operating on Indiana waterways must be titled and registered with the BMV and should display valid watercraft decals unless otherwise exempt. Find a list of exempt watercraft here. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources requires permits for watercraft for many properties. Watercraft operators can find more information on those requirements here.

For full details on how to register and title your vehicle, visit the BMV’s website which includes an interactive walk-through guide on required documents. Plus, a quick reference guide with some information on how to operate these vehicles safely from our partners at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is available here.

Attorney General Todd Rokita today announced that his office has played a key role in a major nationwide enforcement action against doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals for alleged participation in healthcare fraud schemes.

The Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has conducted multiple criminal investigations into alleged Medicaid fraud, leading to charges in connection with the nationwide initiative. As of June 23, eight cases have been filed in various counties.

Since taking office in January 2021, Attorney General Rokita’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has secured more than $100 million in taxpayer funds lost to provider welfare fraud through nearly 100 separate civil and criminal recoveries.

“Medicaid exists to protect our most vulnerable Hoosiers — not to line the pockets of greedy providers,” said Attorney General Todd Rokita. “When unethical professionals steal from these programs, they don’t just commit fraud — they betray taxpayers and hurt the very people who need help most. My office will continue to partner with the Trump Administration and others to hunt down these criminals, recover every dollar possible, and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Indiana Attorney General’s MFCU investigated licensed healthcare professionals, medical offices, and providers where suspected illegal activity occurred.

In all the mentioned cases, Attorney General Rokita’s attorneys are prosecuting the alleged crimes with assent of the local prosecutors’ offices in the counties where the alleged crimes occurred. These investigations are part of a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Below are summaries of the cases involving Indiana’s MFCU investigations. In each case, the fact that a person has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and these individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

State v. Brandy Rifner 48C05-2606-F6-001532 

Brandy Rifner, 42 years old, of Fishers, IN, was charged by a charging instrument with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit, a Level 6 Felony and Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information a Level 6 Felony in connection with the alleged diversion of fentanyl, a controlled substance. As alleged in the charging instrument, Rifner, allegedly diverted fentanyl and furnished false or fraudulent information or omitted information. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General, Kimberly Savoie of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Courtney Schaefer 19D01-2606-F6-000554 

Courtney Schaefer, 40, of Bristow, IN, was charged by Probable Cause Affidavit with three counts of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud/ Deceit and Failure to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record, all Level 6 Felonies, in connection with drug diversion of 13 tablets of Hydrocodone, 3 tablets of Pregabalin, and 3 tablets of Clonazepam. As alleged in the Probable Cause Affidavit, Schaefer, a Licensed Practical Nurse, diverted the controlled substances from a Dubois County nursing home and did not make controlled substance records as required by law. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Ki’Andreia James 49D23-2606-F6-017341 

Ki’Andreia James, 39, of Indianapolis, IN, was charged by Probable Cause Affidavit with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit (Level 6 Felony) and Failure to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record (Level 6 Felony) in connection with diverting at least 186 hydrocodone tablets. As alleged in the Probable Cause Affidavit, James, a Registered Nurse, diverted these narcotic drugs in the course of her work at a local nursing home. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Mackenzie Leigh Deyer 02D04-2606-F6-000794 

Mackenzie Leigh Deyer, 26, of New Haven, Indiana, was charged by criminal charging information with Count 1: Fraud, a Level 6 Felony; Count 2: Fraud, a Class A Misdemeanor; Count 3: Fraud, a Level 6 Felony; Count 4: Theft, a Level 6 Felony; Count 5: Theft, a Class A Misdemeanor; Count 6: Theft, a Level 6 Felony; Count 7: Identity Deception, a Level 6 Felony; Count 8: Identity Deception, a Level 6 Felony; and Count 9: Identity Deception, a Level 6 Felony in connection with a series of alleged actions involving improper use of other people’s debit cards. As alleged in the charging instrument, Deyer was employed as a Home Health Aide at Evergreen Village, an assisted living facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she allegedly obtained access to several residents’ debit card information that she used to obtain property without the residents’ consent. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Georgeanna Teipen of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Paula McCarthy 32C01-2606-F6-000402 

Paula McCarthy, 50, of Mooresville, IN, was charged by Probable Cause Affidavit with Obtaining a Controlled Substance with Fraud/Deceit, Furnishing False or Fraudulent Information, and Forgery, all Level 6 Felonies, in connection with drug diversion of oxycodone. As alleged in the Probable Cause Affidavit, McCarthy, a Registered Nurse, diverted this narcotic drug from a Hendricks County nursing home and then forged the signature of another nurse on a controlled substance record in an attempt to cover her tracks. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Tamara Smart 29D04-2606-F6-005237 

Tamara Smart, 51, of Indianapolis, IN, was charged by Probable Cause Affidavit with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit (Level 6 Felony) and Failure to Make, Keep, or Furnish a Record (Level 6 Felony) in connection with drug diversion of oxycodone. As alleged in the Probable Cause Affidavit, Smart, a Licensed Practical Nurse, diverted the narcotics from a Hamilton County nursing home and did not make Controlled Substance Records as required by law. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Pecola Simpson 65C01-2606-F6-000355 

Pecola Simpson, 50, of Evansville, IN, was charged by Probable Cause Affidavit with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit (Level 6 Felony) and Failure to Make, Keep, or Furnish Records (Level 6 Felony) in connection with drug diversion of over 30 units of hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and lorazepam. As alleged in the Probable Cause Affidavit, Simpson, a Licensed Practical Nurse, diverted the narcotics from a Posey County nursing home and did not make legally required Controlled Substance Records. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

State v. Teresa Waltz 65C01-2606-F6-000356 

Teresa Waltz, 54, of Newburgh, IN, was charged by Probable Cause Affidavit with Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud or Deceit (Level 6 Felony) and Failure to Make, Keep, or Furnish Records (Level 6 Felony) in connection with drug diversion of over 60 units of hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, lorazepam, and tramadol. As alleged in the Probable Cause Affidavit, Waltz, a Registered Nurse, diverted the narcotics from a Posey County nursing home and did not make legally required Controlled Substance Records. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Kyle Sprunger of the Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

Attorney General Rokita expressed gratitude to the investigators and attorneys of his Indiana MFCU team, as well as federal partners, for their hard work on these important cases.

The Indiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a federal grant. The remaining 25 percent is funded by the State of Indiana.

One of Boone County’s favorite summer traditions is back as the 2025 Ole Hickory Days Festival returns to downtown Colfax on Friday and Saturday, August 1–2. This year’s theme, “A Stroll Down Memory Lane,” celebrates the community’s rich history while bringing together residents and visitors for two days of family-friendly entertainment, food, and hometown fun.

A full schedule of activities is planned, including a community parade, fish fry, truck and tractor pull, live entertainment, and events for all ages.

Festival highlights include:

• Friday, August 1
  • Festival activities begin with food, entertainment, and community events.
  • The popular Truck and Tractor Pull returns, drawing competitors and spectators from across the region.
• Saturday, August 2
  • The annual Ole Hickory Days Parade takes center stage, with parade registration beginning at 1 p.m.
  • Visitors can enjoy festival food, games, local vendors, historical exhibits, and family activities throughout the day.
  • Community favorites, including the traditional fish fry, help make the weekend a memorable hometown celebration.

Local organizations and businesses, including the Colfax Historical Society and Colfax Pizza King, help make the festival a special community tradition.

Whether you’re returning to relive cherished memories or visiting Colfax for the first time, the 2025 Ole Hickory Days Festival offers a weekend filled with small-town hospitality, community pride, and summer fun.

Everyone is invited to visit Colfax on August 1–2 and take “A Stroll Down Memory Lane” during one of central Indiana’s most beloved community festivals.

Karen K. Bowman, 84, of Kirklin, passed away June 24, 2026 in her home.  She was born May 21, 1942 to Robert and Wilma (Ferrell) Calloway in Frankfort, Indiana.  She married Dale L. Bowman on June 17, 1960 in Kirklin.

Karen was a graduate of the first Clinton Central High School graduating class of 1960.  She drove a school bus for the Clinton Central School Corporation for 16 years.  In addition to being a homemaker and a lifelong farmer alongside Dale, Karen also worked at both Schultz IGA as well as The Farmers Bank.  She worked in her earlier years at Hanson’s Grocery in Kirklin.  Karen was a member of the Scotland Christian Church for several years where she played the piano, organ, and sang in the church choir.

Surviving are her husband: Dale Bowman, her sons:  Timothy L. (Nathan Williams) Bowman of Riverview, Florida, Terry (Angela) Bowman of Frankfort, and Tony L. (Kim) Bowman of Frankfort, and a daughter:  Tammy (Matt) Campbell of Kirklin, as well as a sister: Diana (Danny) Scircle of Frost Proof, Florida, 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, one brother, and a grandson.

Friends may visit from 4 – 7 p.m. at Goodwin Funeral Home , 200 S. Main St. Frankfort on Monday, June 29.  A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 30 at Goodwin Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. with a burial following the service at Scotland Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the Frankfort Salvation Army, 300 W Washington St, Frankfort, IN  46041.  Please visit goodwinfuneralhome.com where you may share a condolence with the family.

Linda Montalvo, 77, of Frankfort passed away June 22, 2026 at home.  She was born January 22, 1949 to Charles and Kathleen (Culley) Sharp in Frankfort, IN.  She married Geronimo “Tino” Montalvo on December 23, 1966 in Frankfort.

Linda attended the Community Schools of Frankfort.  She worked as a housekeeper at Wesley Manor for twenty years.  She was a lifelong resident of the Frankfort community and was a member of the Frankfort Eagles.  Linda enjoyed camping and traveling as well as playing cards, Yahtzee, and spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving are her sons:  Jerry (Lori) Montalvo and John (Alisha King) Montalvo, both of Frankfort, and sisters:  Pam Castillo and Sue Winnett, both of Frankfort.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter:  Cynthia Montalvo, son:  Michael Montalvo, sister: Debra Whiteman, and brother: Charles “Bud” Sharp.

Friends may visit Wednesday, July 1 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. with a funeral service immediately following at 4:00 p.m. at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St. Frankfort.  Memorials may be made to the Clinton County Humane Society, P.O. Box 455  Frankfort, IN  46041.  Please visit goodwinfuneralhome.com where you may share a condolence with the family.

HOWARD COUNTY, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Transportation announces alternating lane closures are planned next month on U.S. 31 for concrete patching in Kokomo.

Alternating lane closures will begin on or after Monday, July 6 on northbound and southbound U.S. 31 between County Road 600 N. and State Road 18. Work is expected to continue through the end of August.

Crews began concrete repairs on U.S. 31 in Kokomo last summer, reopening the road in the late fall. The remaining work will be performed this summer under alternating lane closures to minimize the impacts to traffic.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and use extra caution while traveling in and around work zones. All work is weather-dependent, and schedules are subject to change.

My mother, Denise Michelle Knipp (Chelle), née Twitty, 53, passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Lebanon, Indiana. She was born in 1972 in Lebanon, the daughter of Frank Twitty and Doris (Keeley) Cole.

Chelle graduated from Lebanon High School in 1991 after marrying the love of her life and the best man I know, my dad, Steve Knipp of Dayton, Ohio the year before. Chelle spent more than 25 years working in radiography and was widely loved by her colleagues, work friends, and patients for the care she showed, her no-nonsense attitude, and her ability to light up any room she entered. She was exceptional at many things, but none more so than being the world’s best mother. She was an incredible mother, a very loving wife, a nurturing grandmother, and a daughter beyond compare and she will be dearly missed.

Chelle is survived by her husband, Steve Knipp; mother, Doris (Ron) Cole; father, Frank Twitty; son, Steven (Sara) Knipp; grandson, Carter Knipp; brother, Larry (Mendi) Twitty; sister, Missy Bledsoe; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and in-laws who all thought more than the world of her.

Chelle was preceded in death by her sister, Beverly Twitty, and brother, Larry Franklin Twitty, Jr.

Funeral Services are to be held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. Visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow services at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.

Online condolences: www.MyersMortuary.com