Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette announces new grant opportunities

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Grant proposals that address needs in the areas of children’s music education, children’s needs, and community beautification are being accepted at The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette from now until noon on Tuesday September 2, 2008. Not-for-profits serving the Tippecanoe County area are encouraged to apply. For information, go to www.cfglaf.org or call (765) 742-9078.

For projects benefiting “Music Education for Disadvantaged Youth”, $8,500 is available for grants in 2008. In 2007, grant awards from the Louisa Lee France Endowment funded $1,400 in music lesson scholarships (Children’s Music Foundation, Inc.) and $2,000 for piano tuning and repair (also at Children’s Music Foundation, Inc.)

For projects benefiting or addressing “Children’s Needs” a total of $7,500 is available for grants in 2008. 2007 grant awards from the Fund for Children’s Needs were awarded to:

• $350, spring break theatre classes, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette.
• $2,100, membership fees, uniform pieces, and troop start-up money for 100 Hispanic girls as well as funds for participation in a Piñata Party and Fiesta Camp, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.
• $5,000, Systems of Care flex fund for small, one-time expenses impacting seriously emotionally disturbed children, Wabash Valley Hospital Department of Child & Adolescent Services.

A total of $2,300 is available for the 2008 grant cycle for “Community Beautification”.

This is the first year for grant awards from the Virginia B. Huth Fund and the George and Betty DeVault Fund.

The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette is a nonprofit public charity established in 1970 to inspire, nurture, and practice philanthropy, stewardship, and leadership in the communities we serve. Additional grant opportunities are also available through The Community Foundation. For further information or to access a grant proposal application, visit www.cfglaf.org, call (765) 742-9078 or e-mail to info@cfglaf.org.

$50,000 reward offered in Tippecanoe Courthouse attempted bombing

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Tippecanoe County Sheriffs Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the attempted bombing of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse.

On Aug. 2, 1998, at approximately 10 p.m., a Tippecanoe deputy sheriff responded to the courthouse to investigate a report of a fire. The deputy found a pickup truck had been driven into the Fourth Street entrance. An improvised explosive device was contained in the bed of the truck. The explosive device did not detonate, but the ensuing fire caused significant damage to the courthouse.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in solving this case. Evidence and leads have been explored, but more information is needed. Now is the time for those persons with information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator(s) to come forward as the statute of limitations will expire soon. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-78CRIME (1-800-782-7463). Callers may remain anonymous.

The Tippecanoe County Sheriffs Office, ATF, FBI, Indiana State Police, and Lafayette Police Department are jointly investigating the case.

St. Elizabeth Regional Health announces organizational appointments

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Lafayette based, St. Elizabeth Regional Health recently announced several organizational appointments.

Vicky Snipes, B.S., CHSP, has been appointed director of emergency preparedness. Vicky served previously as safety director at Logansport Memorial Hospital. Snipes is responsible for creating partnerships with community agencies to improve preparedness efforts in Tippecanoe County, conduct preparedness drills as required by Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), manage preparedness grant dollars and their assigned requirements, serve as the District Four hospital preparedness chair and organize all hospital functions in the district.

Allen Borck B.S., NREMT-P, P.I., has been appointed operations manager for Ambulance and EMS Education. Borck’s responsibilities include supervision of the ambulance and EMS education department. Allen began working at St. Elizabeth ambulance department in 1985, and became the EMS education coordinator at St. Elizabeth Regional Health in 2002. He has worked in rural, urban/suburban and fire department-based EMS operations.

Jeff Houston, NREMT-P, has been appointed EMS coordinator. Houston will assist with the operation of the EMS departments and act as liaison with organizations sponsored by St. Elizabeth Regional Health and all Tippecanoe County fire departments.

Jennifer Knowles, R.N., is the new operations manager for the St. Elizabeth Emergency Care Center. Knowles previously was the center’s patient care coordinator prior to becoming the operations manager. As operations manager, Knowles oversees the operations of the department, handles concerns within the department and helps manage the flow of the department.

Beth Beebout and Sally Perdur have been appointed as patient liaisons for St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

As patient liaisons, they will visit patients at both campuses every weekday to make sure the patients’ stay is comfortable and log all compliments and complaints. Patient liaisons act as the contact between hospital administration and patients to improve patient satisfaction with hospital services. Beebout and Perdur will identify and resolve, as possible, patient concerns by explaining hospital policies and procedures and informing appropriate departments of specific issues related to patient care.

Beebout owned a small gift shop in downtown Lafayette prior to joining the staff of St. Elizabeth Regional Health. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington and majored in psychology. She is a member of the Uptown Merchants’ Association and the Indiana Chapter of the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy.

Perdur has been with St. Elizabeth Regional Health since 2005. She previously served as communications supervisor for two years and transferred to Performance Improvement. Perdur has a bachelor’s degree in human resource development from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. She is a member of Indiana Chapter of the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy.

Nicole M. Hannisick has been appointed manager of business development for St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

As manager of business development, Hannisick’s responsibilities will include development of products and services used to enhance the relationships of the hospital, physicians, and community. Additionally, she will work with physicians, promoting new or existing products and services for St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

Hannisick received her bachelor of arts from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and her master’s in health administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Recently, she completed a year-long administrative fellowship with SSFHS’ Western Indiana Region. She has also served as an administrative resident and administrative intern at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Braddock campus in Braddock, Pa.

Hannisick is a member of American College of Healthcare Executives.

Tippecanoe County anonymous crime reporting hotline launches June 1

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Patrick K. Harrington, Tippecanoe County Prosecutor, and Kathryn J. Redd, Tippecanoe Project Safe Neighborhood/Gang Initiative Coordinator, announce the first phase of the launch of the TIPPECANOE COUNTY WeTip anonymous illegal activity reporting hotline. The hotline phone number, 1-800-78-CRIME, will be active on June 1, 2008.

According to a press release issued by the Prosecutor’s Office, the system has been developed in response to the citizens desire to become an active partner with law enforcement in ridding their neighborhoods of illegal activities and crime, all Tippecanoe County law enforcement agencies have partnered with We Tip on the war against crime.

By incorporating, We Tip Municipal, Law Enforcement and School programs into a comprehensive initiative, all citizens are assured that they can use the system and that their crime tips will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

As the first phase of the We Tip program, over 65,000 flyers will be distributed, through the schools this week, to every child in Tippecanoe School Corporation, Lafayette School Corporation, and West Lafayette Community School Corporation. Based on the model used in the Compton Unified School District, in California, each child will be given three flyers and asked to distribute one to each neighbor adjacent to their home.

This grassroots initiative is intended to “put the power back in the hands of the citizens and away from those involved in illegal activity.”

We Tip operates “800″ toll-free lines, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by trained operators who are able to field calls in English and Spanish and with a TIDY machine for the hearing-impaired.

The We Tip Hotline will be live on June 1.

Further announcements will be made at the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Project Safe Neighborhood Anti-Crime Initiatives Press Conference on May 28, 2008 at 5:00pm, Duncan Hall. Susan Aguilar, WeTip CEO, will be speaking to the press at that time.

Summer construction projects to affect traffic around Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Several construction projects will cause vehicular and pedestrian traffic disruptions this summer on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. This list (with links to maps) from Physical Facilities includes the major construction disruptions, which will begin on or after Monday, May 12. Travelers are asked to be alert and to be patient as staff and contractors work to complete the projects before the start of the fall semester.

South Russell Drive will be closed for reconstruction between Harrison Street and the KB&S railroad tracks to the south. Construction traffic, customers, and staff are asked to use Ahlers Road from S. River Road for access to campus buildings south of the railroad tracks. A map of the area is available here: www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/S.Russell_RR.pdf

First Street between Martin Jischke Drive and Russell Drive will be closed until August 2009 for the Duhme Hall remodel project. The Windsor Woods parking loop will not be available for thru traffic. A map of the area is available here: www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/Dumhe_Hall.pdf

First Street, from McArthur Drive to the west entrance of the parking lot at Fowler House, will close for utility work until July 2009 for the new student housing project. A map of the area is available here: www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/RSH.pdf

Traffic will be realigned along Harrison Street from Jischke Drive to Russell Drive for the start of the Harrison Street high voltage duct bank project. During construction additional streets will close for periods of time. These areas include:

• Harrison Street crossing at Transportation.
• Jischke Drive just north of Harrison Street.
• Nimitz Dr. between Jischke Dr. and Gates Drive.
• Gates Drive south of Nimitz Drive to the Discovery Parking lot.
• Arnold Drive south of Nimitz Drive

A map of the area is available here: www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/Harrison_St._High_Voltage.pdf

A tunnel top replacement project will take place immediately south of State Street on S. Russell Drive. The closure is from State Street to just before the entrance into the Lilly parking lot on the east side of the S. Russell and the entrance into the Poultry building parking lot. Both parking lots will be available from the south side of the closure. A map of the area is available here: www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/Tunnel_Top_S.Russell.pdf

The Tippecanoe County Highway Department will close Stadium Avenue at the bridge just west of David Ross Road to replace the bridge. A map of the area is available here: www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/travel/pdf/Tippi_Bridge_Stadium.pdf

In addition, the Indiana Department of Transportation plans to repave various locations on campus from May 12 through June 30. Locations include:

• North University Street from Stadium Ave. to Tower Drive.
• Ade Drive starting at Tower Drive.
• Tower Drive from University Street to N. Intramural Drive.
• N. Intramural Drive from Indiana 26 to 3rd Street.
• Beering Drive from Tower Drive to Stadium Avenue.
• Horticulture Drive from Harrison Street to one drive north of Harrison Street.
• Drive to Daniels turf farm on Indiana 126.

The Pedestrian Traffic Impact Map for summer 2008 is available at www.purdue.edu/physicalfacilities/campusconstruction/

This Web site displays the construction projects around campus that will affect pedestrian and vehicular traffic throughout the summer. Click on the colored and numbered sites for the individual project’s location, construction dates, and related information. (Pop-ups must be enabled to use this feature.)

Questions about the map may be directed to Stephanie Boland, physical facilities communications coordinator at seboland@purdue.edu or 4-6916.

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