The Times from Munster, Indiana • 9

www.nwi.com THE TIMES TT SATURDAV NOVEMBER 3 2007 PACE A3 Toddler Ryan reassigned to federal prison in central Wisconsin day with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals saying his "day of was at hand. A Continued from A1 On Friday, Lake County Coroner David Pastriek ruled Marshaun's death a homicide, saying he died of multiple blunt force trauma. Hammond police spokesman Michael Jorden said the case is under investigation and the department is giving out no Information. Neighbors surrounding the two-story red brick apartment building at 1033 Cleveland St.

gave this scenario of Tuesday's events: Marshaun's father sat on the porch of the house talking with his teenage neighbor for about 20 minutes. A little after 4 p.m. Marshaun's dad went inside, saying he needed to check on his son. The man came out with a scared look on his face, asking to use the teen's phone. As he went back inside with the phone, the teen followed.

"His son was laid out on the bed with throw-up on the bed up to his eyes," the teen said. Marshaun's father pushed on the bed next to the boy, urging him to "get up, get up, get up." "I was walking in and out of the room. I couldn't bear to see his son like that," the teen said. Paramedics arrived and began CPR. A neighbor offered to take care of Marshaun's sisters, a 1-year-old and an infant, while his dad accompanied him to the hospital.

Three hours later, Marshaun's aunt and mother came back to the house with the news the child had died. Child Protective Services workers took Marshaun's sisters, neighbors said. GEORGE RYAN Ryan was convicted by a jury of steering contracts to Warner and other friends, using state resources to run his campaigns and killing an Investigation of bribes paid In exchange for truck driver's licenses. Prosecutors traced $170,000 of the bribe money to the Citirens for Ryan campaign fund which has itself been convicted of racketeering. Lawyers say trying to get bail from the U.S.

Supreme Court Is a long shot. But Stevens, who handles such requests originating in the Chicago-based 7th Circuit, on Ihursday asked the government to reply to Ryan's request. He gave the solicitor general's oliice until 2 p.m. Monday. Government to reply to Ryan's request lor hail BY MIKE ROBINSON AP Legal Affairs Writer CHICAGO The federal Bureau of Prisons has reassigned former Gov.

George Ryan to a prison at Oxford in central Wisconsin to serve his racketeering and fraud sentence, his attorneys confirmed Friday. "We're pleased for his family's sake that it's Oxford," Ryan's attorney, former Gov. James R. Thompson, said. Oxford, where various politicians, mobsters and assorted other big shots from Chicago have served time, is considerably closer to Chica go than the prison camp at Pultun, where Ryan had been assigned.

Ryan, 71, had been due to report Wednesday to Duluth to start serving the 6.5-year sentence unless the U.S. Supreme Court grants bail. Lawyers had been trying to get him reassigned to Oxford. Ryan got the letter reassigning him at his Kankakee home Ihursday, Thompson said. Unlike Duluth, Oxford is within a day's drive of Chica- "Both Oxford and Duluth are fine institutions and Its not a matter of choosing one over the other, but the travel time to Oxford is better for his family," Thompson said.

Ryan was ordered to report to prison on Wedncs- -son then asked Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens to grant Ryan bail while he tries to get the high court to consider his appeal. Stevens on Thursday asked the government to reply to the request for bail, which was filed on behalf of both Ryan and co-defendant Larry Warner. They have been free on bond since their ApriL 2006 conviction. Homicide Contlnutd from A1 accounts were used," he said. Halcarz, who died as a result of blunt force trauma to the back of his head, was found in a pool of blood on an enclosed porch at 1301 Service St.

on Wednesday afternoon. Stills said Halcarz most likely was dead for several days. The last time family members had talked to him was 1 p.m. Oct. 27.

Stills praised the hard work of his detectives over the last couple days. "We've been working 'round the clock and they're not going home anytime soon," he added. Frank Halcarz Jr. said he would hold off on making anymore statements on his father's homicide until after charges were filed. He said Ridgelawn Funeral Home, 4401 W.

Ridge Road, Gary, is handling funeral arrangements. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday with the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Halcarz Jr.

said his dad will be buried at Chapel Lawn Cemetery. and he's currently in custody in Lake Station. He's been questioned in regard to the case," Stills said. Police on Friday got a second important break in the case, he said. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood and recovered a miniature sledgehammer believed to have been used as the murder weapon.

Stills said the hammer was found in a woodsy area southwest of Halcarz's home. Stills said Scroggin, a relative of Halcarz through marriage, had been residing for some time in a trailer at the back of the elderly man's property. "Scroggin and Halcarz had had a falling out," Stills said. He said the falling out was most likely due to financial matters, since it appears Scroggin was most likely taking money from the older man without his permission. "We confirmed Halcarz's Licenses Continued from A1 son used an invalid number.

The BMV said it will work with law enforcement to investigate those cases. Previously, the BMV relied on commercial data verification services to check Social Security numbers. Now the BMV will check data directly with the Social Security Administration. Indiana will be the 48th state to use the direct check Even a typo or a person using a nickname on a driver's license may cause problems. The BMV will mail letters to those with mismatched information, and they will have eight weeks to make the changes.

When checking current data, the BMV also found that multiple people sometimes used the same Social Security number or that a per system. Obama CD O)" cn 1 TP than $100,000 that came from Northwest Indiana. Contributions from the region represent about 17 percent of total Hoosicr donations. In addition to Obama's local success during third quarter fundraising, the period also widened the lead Democrats have on Northwest Indiana donations. At the end of July, about 58 percent of regional donations were going to Democrats.

Recent spikes In contributions have pushed this figure up to almost 65 percent. Across the state, the figure is more balanced with Republicans receiving about 49 percent of funds and Democrats receiving 51 percent. Local officials couldn't explain Obama's recent surge in regional fundraising. Porter County Democratic Party Chairman Jeff Chidlstcr said he wasn't aware of any mass fundraising going on for Obama. Jennifer Hora, professor of political science at Valparaiso University, said It may Just be a proximity Issue.

"I certainly do think that him being from a neighboring state could be part of It," Hora said. Continued from A1 in the state was Rudy Giuliani. During the third quarter, however, the Republican hopeful collected only $11,170 from Indiana. The candidate collecting the second highest amount of donations during this span was former Sen. John Edwards, who received almost $84,000 statewide.

In Northwest Indiana, Obama also captured the title of top fundraiser, raking in almost $21,000 from the region in the third quarter. The senator has collected a total of about $51,000 from the area. Despite Obama's top fundraising title, Edwards collected more regional money than any other candidate during the third quarter. From July to September, nearly $29,000 was donated to Edwards' campaign. The South Carolina candidate is still hovering in fourth place for highest funds collected both regionally and statewide.

In total, Hooslers have donated more than half a million dollars to presidential candidates from July to September. This figure includes more.