Tourism Board to Construct Traveler Magazine

Julie Dessauer

The Starke County Tourism Board met this week and the members discussed putting together the county’s Traveler Magazine.

President Julie Dessauer said the 32-page manual will be distributed to all of the truck stops in the state of Indiana and will feature all the attractions Starke County has to offer. Now that all of the organization’s finances have been restored, advertising for the magazine can be secured and printed.

The board is also making plans for the Yellow River Fest in Hamlet to take place in August. A unique triathlon is scheduled and more details on that portion of the Yellow River Fest will be released once plans are finalized.

Starke County Tourism Board Reorganizes

Julie Dessauer

The Starke County Tourism Board, which has been in the news recently surrounding a misappropriation of funds incident, has recently reorganized.

Taking over the President’s position is Julie Dessauer. Dessauer replaces Rich Wieczorek. Other board officers are Vice President John Hensler, Secretary Thom Morin, and Treasurer Tabitha Dillner. Wieczorek remains on the board as a voting member, but not an officer.

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Starke County Tourism Embezzlement Explained

Jennie Carter

In an effort to explain how the embezzlement of $7,140 could go undetected for almost a year, the Starke County Tourism Board issued a timeline and statement yesterday in the Jennie Carter case.

According to the timeline, Carter, Coordinator of the Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County organization, wrote a check for that amount of money on March 21st, 2011 to the Drug Free organization. She claimed it was for money owed to the Indiana Department of Revenue in taxes. Cosigning with Carter was the Tourism Board President, Rich Wieczorek, who is not suspected of wrongdoing. The check was cashed by Carter, who took possession of the money.

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Financial Improprieties Found Involving Starke County Taxpayer Money

Jennie Carter

The Starke County Commissioners emerged from an Executive Session yesterday to announce financial improprieties involving taxpayer money by Jennie Carter. Carter is the Coalition Coordinator for Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County.

According to County Attorney Martin Lucas, the commissioners came to the conclusion that Carter committed financial improprieties by transferring funds from the Convention and Visitors Board to the Tourism Board.

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