The Times from Munster, Indiana • 61

Have you seen a crime? The police blotter does not reflect every crime that has been committed in a community. In some instances, police reports are not generated, and in others the police withhold information pending investigations. If you know of a crime that occurred in your neighborhood, contact your local police department, then call West Lake Editor Mark Fitton at (219) 933-4088. log on to nwitimes.com for the latest crime news WE FRIDAY APRIL 22 2005 PAGE B9 WEDNESDAY Vandalism. 9 a.m.

at Dyna Care, 8140 Calumet Ave. Someone used an unknown object to scratch a vulgar word on the front window. The damage was about $200, police reports said. THURSDAY Theft. 4:45 a.m.

in the 2100 block of Ramblewood Drive. A resident heard a noise in his garage and found that his 2003 Polaris Sportsman ATV was missing. Police reports say the man searched and found it abandoned in a nearby wooded area due to a low battery. WEDNESDAY Robbery. At 11:52 a.m.

at Briar East Towing, 3550 169th St. A 22-year-old man reported being robbed at gunpoint. The suspect took the man's wallet containing $400. Theft. At 5:40 p.m.

at Indianapolis Boulevard and New York Avenue. A wallet containing $52 was reported stolen from a vehicle. EAST CHICAGO WEDNESDAY Theft. At 2:15 p.m. in the 4900 block of Jonquil Lane.

An engagement ring and PlayStation were reported stolen from a residence. Criminal mischief. At 5:43 a.m. at Busy Corner, 3401 Michigan Ave. A Plexiglas window was reported damaged.

Burglary. At 1:51 p.m. at All Crane Leasing, 1000 E. Chicago Ave. Three desks, three furnaces, electric wiring, toilet dividers and steel tubing were reported stolen during a burglary.

Assist other agency. 6:05 p.m. at Broad Street and Ash. Officers got an anonymous tip that Laura Dale Covarrubias, 33, of 818 N. Rensselaer, Griffith, was at her house.

Officers arrested her on two revocation of probation warrants for possession of cocaine and theft, police reports said. THURSDAY Recovered vehicle. 4:26 a.m. at 1120 Reyome Drive, No. OL.

Alfonzo Dee Ratliff, 22, same address, was arrested for probable cause theft after an officer found a fake VIN number plate covering the original one on a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Police said the car was stolen from Cleveland, Ohio. GRIFFITH WEDNESDAY Traffic stop. 11:13 a.m. in the 1900 block of West Glen Park Avenue.

A 16 year-old Highland boy was clocked at 50 mph in a 35-mph zone. He was arrested and charged with possession of marijuanahash, possession of drug paraphernalia, purchasing tobacco by a minor and minor possession of alcohol. Possession of marijuanahash. 11:40 a.m. at Griffith Senior High School, 600 N.

Wiggs St. A 14-year-old Chicago boy was arrested. King: Pastrick swayed vote for new chair WHITING WEDNESDAY Warrant arrest. At 3:40 p.m. in the 1900 block of Schrage Avenue.

David C. Soto, 19, of 1719 119th Whiting, was arrested on a Lake County warrant for dealing marijuana. Theft. Ac 4:26 p.m. in the 1400 block of John Street.

Three set of keys were reported stolen from a home. The keys, which belonged to the Amvets headquarters, 1914 New York were used to open the building where $300 was found missing from a box under the cash register. THURSDAY Drunken driving. At 2:36 a.m. at Indianapolis Boulevard and 121st Street.

Richard R. Swanson, 53, of 9041 Charrington Drive, Frankfort, was arrested for OWI, a police report said. then King's deputy mayor, to run against Clay as commissioner three years ago. She lost. She now is serving as city clerk.

King said it was only after he couldn't talk Pastrick out of supporting Claythathe agreed to run for county chairman if the state committee couldn't agree on anyone after a first ballot. King said he doesn't intend to change his mind despite pleas to reconsider and he doesn't expect it will change his job as mayor or a political figure except, "I'll have fewer rubber chicken dinners to attend." BY THE NUMBERS In its eight-year existence, a review of Harrah's East Chicago Casino local gaming taxes and incentives found: $130 million spent by the city and two foundations. (Second Century provided no information) $202 million in total economic impact $76 million in wages generated. 3,280 jobs created. SOURCE: DREW IUCII.

IUPUI PROFESSOR CONDUCTING STUDY FOR THE INDIAHA GAMING COMMISSION the foundations, testified about questionable practices he witnessed there. group was a part. Stahura said the Indiana University study missed the mark badly. He was betting the new study would be more on the mark when it sees the city's library system casts a far greater net than the study described. Nor was mention made, he said, of the support the city gives to the "80-year-old building dumped on it by the refiner)'." Stahura was referring to the old Standard Oil community building that costs the city 60 percent of its parks budget.

Sandra Martinez, superintendent of schools, said she, too, would welcome validation. MUNSTER TUESDAY Theft. 12:28 p.m., at Jewel-Osco, 716 Ridge Road. A shopper was distracted by a woman who said the wheel was bad on her shopping cart. In the meantime, a man removed the wallet from her purse from behind.

Traffic stop. 12:40 p.m. at Ridge Road and Columbia Avenue. An officer saw Thomas G. Sandman, 46, of 1200 N.

Jay Griffith, weaving back and forth and cutting off several vehicles. He was arrested for drunken driving, speeding, unsafe lane movement, improper passing on the right and failure to signal. Possession of marijuana. 9:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of Camellia Drive.

As officers were parked while investigating a burglary, a silver Honda Accord sped toward the squad cars and almost collided with them. Justin Alfred Hernandez, 18, of 250 Maple Lane, Munster, was arrested. King also answered criticism from Democratic activists that his departure was "sour grapes" over King's failure to win the county chairmanship himself. He said he wasn't interested in that job, but Pastrick inquired whether King would consider it. King said he did and later told Pastrick, "I thought about it and wasn't interested." He said Pastrick then switched his allegiance to Clay.

King and Clay, who head the Gary Democratic precinct organization, have been at odds for years. King encouraged Suzette Raggs, tractual obligations and will review the request. Taylor said the two foundations were set up that way to be able to help more people than a government entity, which can't give money to a religious charity, for example. "So far, the foundations have never had a chance to tell their side of the story," Taylor said before the hearing. East Chicago's Common Council passed an ordinance in March to claim all the gaming money after negotiations over the local agreements broke down.

East Chicago Councilman Jesse Gomez, a former director at one of will have implemented improvements. "We're here to help you simplify your work, not make more work," he said. The project also will look for ways in which various jurisdictions can work together to save costs while mamtaining the autonomy of each community, Murray said. Actual work is expected to begin sometime in May and finish in December. Stahura welcomed the help, but also what he hoped would be "validation" that the city had been doing a better job than portrayed in an earlier, privately funded study of which Charbonneau's HIGHLAND WEDNESDAY Criminal mischief.

11:55 a.m. at Imagehaus Printing and Design, 2513 Highway Ave. The business reported that people keep removing a road construction blockade and are driving over the lawn, police reports said. Accident. 2:11 p.m.

at Indianapolis Boulevard and Ridge Road. A 47-year-old Michigan City woman said she was hit from behind by a white vehicle that fled the scene. She was taken to Community Hospital in Munster with back pain. what the current mayor of East Chicago (George Pabey) has to say. We are more interested in what the past mayor of East Chicago has to say and that is what we are going to do," King said.

King suggested former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick, as a voting member of the state committee, swayed the vote despite Pastrick's defeat at the ballot box last fall for another term as mayor. He said Pastrick's influence, despite the unfavorable reputation East Chicago politics under Pastrick evokes, is symbolic with what is wrong the state and county party. prised to find the three recipients consider themselves private entities even though they were set up as part of state-authorized casinos intended to benefit the public. In an age of corporate accounting scandals, every company or foundation must provide accurate information for oversight, one said. "How do we know how the money is being used," asked Ann Bochnowski, a commission member from Munster.

"I don't care if you think it's a private company now why do you not need to provide transparency?" A lawyer for Second Century said his client has followed its con- Lowell and Valparaiso, and the hi-tech business incubator in Merril-lville. Another enticement to development is a strong, efficient government. Brimmer said. "This is not a witch hunt," he said. "We're looking to make things better." Murray described a many-layered process in which consultants will work directly with managers and employees to arrive at strategies to save time and money.

He promised no surprises in the company's final report expected in December because managers will be kept abreast of the progress and, hopefully, already Fladeland said he would recommend it to all pet owners. The cost of the chip is $15, of which the shelter makes a little more than $9 to help neuter and spay animals. Not only does it help identify lost pets, Webb said it also helps her office identify owners who HAMMOND TUESDAY Theft. At 9:44 p.m., at Village Discount Outlet, 2706 165th St. A purse was reported stolen from a shopping cart.

Auto theft. At 4:52 p.m. in the 7000 block of Birch Avenue. A 1983 Buick Park Avenue was reported stolen. Auto theft.

At 3:07 p.m., at Neal's Dodge, 7212 Indianapolis Blvd. A 2005 Dodge Magnum was reported stolen. King had backed previous county Chairman Stephen R. "Bob" Stiglich for the post, as had five other Democratic mayors and a large number of party activists and elected Democratic officials. However, the State Democratic Central Committee voted 13-8 Tuesday night to replace Stiglich with Clay.

King announced Wednesday he was quitting the party and would be a political independent. "The state party said we don't care what you in Lake County have to say. We don't care what the results in Lake County were in the last general election. We don't care boards don't get paid, but foundation lawyers said boards of similar size foundations do provide compensation to get the necessary expertise and commitment. Tax forms the two foundations keep on file at the attorney general's office show they pay Russell Taylor, the executive director, a combined salary of $126,062, plus benefits and expense accounts.

A list of 38 others receive nearly $350,000 combined each year, mostly for roles as director. Most of the directors are connected to the previous administration because it's a small city, Taylor said. Panel members also were sur- Study Continued from B1 office to learn more about the project. Also sitting in was Ed Charbonneau, executive director of the Northwest Indiana Local Government Study and member of the working group overseeing the project. "We look at this as an economic development project," Brimmer said in leading off the discussion.

Visclosky has been working hard, he said, on a series of projects aimed at diversifying the region's opportunities. They include the Marquette Plan to revitalize the lakefront, the South Shore expansion toward Pets Continued from B1 Rusty, a 2 12-year-oId golden retriever belonging to John Flade-land, a former Schererville town councilman and current Schererville Police Commission member, had the chip inserted. BY BILL DOLAN bdolannwitimes.com 219.662.5328 GARY Mayor Scott King said Thursday that "old-guard East Chicago politics" caused him to renounce his life-long identity as a Democrat. "This party is bothering me. I'm the same person I was," he said Thursday during a news conference at City Hall to further explain his reaction to the election of Lake County Commissioner Rudy Clay, D-Gary, as chairman of the Democratic county organization.

Harrah's Continued from B1 Attorneys for Mayor George Pabey, who resigned as police chief to join the original group of casino investors in 1993, argued it's time for a new economic development agreement. They said the Twin City Education Foundation, Community Development Foundation and Second Century have been controlled by political insiders of the former administration and have not fully reported how they spent the money. Gaming panel members expressed shock to learn that the foundation's board members were paid substantially. They said other Carrier Continued from B1 "I don't think I did anything spectacular," Mamich said. "I just feel bad he was all alone for so long." She cried during an interview thinking she should have done more faster.

Lorraine Jewett disagrees. "If it hadn't been for Wanda, my brother-in-law would have been dead." This is not the first time O'Keefe has fallen, but this time he couldn't reach his cordless phone and no one had checked on him for a few days, she said. "I call her a hero, that's what I call her," Jewett said. "I love her with all my heart." Mamich, a Times carrier for about six years, also works as a crossing guard at Broadmoor and Manor in Munster. She's trying to put her child through college, she said.

"I just did what I thought any carrier would do," said Mamich, who has since talked to O'Keefe on the telephone. "I'm really glad he's K. have simply let their animal go. "There are a number of people who just open the door and kick the dog out at U.S. 30 and 41," she said, adding last year the shelter took in more than 300 stray animals.

The shelter's adoption rate is 80 percent and workers seldom euthanize an animal. Anybody can adopt an animal from the shelter, following a background check. Webb said the chip also will allow the agency to pursue charges against an owner who lets the animal go. 1.