Hamilton County Groups Split $500,000 in Grants

Inside INdiana Business:

"Ten local non-profit organizations will receive a total of $500,000 in grants from the Hamilton County Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2008 as award recipients from the Destination: Hamilton County Community Development Fund, the bureau announced.

Nineteen organizations originally requested funds, and eleven county organizations were invited to apply for Destination: Hamilton County funds. Ten awards have been made in the highly competitive grant process. Grants were chosen by a committee that included tourism professionals, board and community representatives and, county council members, in a lengthy review process.

The Destination Hamilton County program is designed to encourage, support, and assist in the development or creation of projects to further the development of tourism in Hamilton County and to strengthen community."

Congresswoman Julia Carson dies

IndyStar.com:

"Congresswoman Julia Carson died this morning at the age of 69.

Carson’s death comes just weeks after she announced she was dying of lung cancer and would not seek re-election to a seventh term in 2008.
Two days later, she said she would not seek re-election, saying her time away from Congress would be “a time to weep and a time to laugh,” and she added, “a time to heal.”"

Swearing In Ceremony

The Other Side of Beech Grove:

"You are cordially invited to attend the upcoming City of Beech Grove Swearing-in Ceremony of newly elected City officials on Saturday, December 29 from 2-4 p.m. at the Hornet Park Community Center.

Our new clerk-treasurer, first-ever city judge, seven council members and myself will be sworn-in at this public ceremony, which will include a program led by Master of Ceremonies West Point Cadet and Beech Grove native Eddie Mobley."

Child-alert system will start in days

IndyStar.com:

"The system expected to debut in Marion County next week would tell police whether they are heading to an address under scrutiny by the Department of Child Services.

The plan to improve the sharing of information between law enforcement and child welfare agencies came out of a meeting Monday called by Marion County juvenile court Judge Marilyn Moores to discuss communications gaps revealed by the death of TaJanay Bailey. The 3-year-old died Nov. 27 as a result, prosecutors say, of abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother, Charity Bailey, and the woman's boyfriend, Lawrence Green."

Indianapolis Firefighters Rescue Two Children from Blaze

Firehouse.com News:

"Two children were taken to a hospital in serious condition after firefighters rescued them from a burning home on the city's west side Monday night, officials said.

A man who escaped from the fire in the 3500 block of West 12th Street suffered minor injuries, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, the man, who was in the front yard, told them that the children still were inside the home. Firefighters found the children in a back bedroom, officials said."

Panel Plots 27 Steps To Fix Indiana

Journal and Courier Online:

"A bipartisan panel on local government reform has suggested sweeping changes for Indiana: no township trustees, no elected sheriffs and no tiny school districts.

The commission wants one elected county chief executive who would oversee county government and appoint other county offices, including sheriff, assessor, coroner and auditor.

Township governments would be eliminated, with their duties shifted to the county executive. Small school districts would be reorganized to have at least 2,000 students."

High-Tech Company Investing in Former Indianapolis Mall

Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick:

"Mayor Bart Peterson today joined community and business leaders to announce a multi-million dollar investment that will transform the former Eastgate Consumer Mall on the city’s Eastside into a high-tech data hub and office center.

Lifeline Data Centers, LLC, a local high-tech company specializing in securely hosting and maintaining data and applications for businesses and government clients, will purchase the Eastgate property and invest nearly $23 million to transform the site into a state-of-the art facility to house it’s expanding business.

“Together, the City of Indianapolis and Eastside community leaders have made tremendous progress in bringing business and investment back to the East Washington Street corridor,” Mayor Peterson said. “Eastgate has always been a challenge in this vision for a revitalized Eastside, but this major commitment by Lifeline will open the floodgates for more investment and even greater progress.”"