Missing Money Mystery in Merrillville -- Who Took the Town's $300K?

A mystery is afoot in Merrillville as town and state officials investigate who took almost $300,000 from the town's treasury.

Merrillville's clerk-treasurer breaks the news that a "long-time town employee" took almost $290,000 from the town's treasury, according to Post-Tribune and Northwest Indiana Times news reports.

Officials with Indiana's State Board of Accounts continue their audit and criminal charges haven't yet been filed against the unnamed employee.

Writes Piet Levy in the Post-Tribune:

Reports of $41,000 missing first surfaced in July, but now seem to have just scratched the surface. Clerk-Treasurer Rose Ann Antich-Carr said more than $290,000 disappeared between 2001 and 2005, according to findings by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.

Antich-Carr said she believes a town employee is the culprit. "The morale had really fallen when the office staff heard this," Antich-Carr said. "It's a sick situation."

Accidents on I-65 & Broadway Make Driving Rough In Northwest Indiana

As I was heading out for work a little after 6 a.m. this morning, I heard a traffic report that there was a serious personal injury accident on I-65 near the 73rd Street overpass in the northbound lanes north of US 30 in Merrillville.

As I was filling up with gasoline at Thornton's on 61st Avenue in Hobart, I saw the news helicopter hovering over that area for a fairly long time. As I was leaving the gas station, the helicopter headed north following I-65 and found another auto accident that had happened at Broadway and 44th where a car hit a light pole.

It was tough driving for Northwest Indiana drivers and commuters today.



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Merrillville accident I-65 US 30 73rd Ave Broadway Gary Indiana

The Centier Corporate Center Rises

The Centier Corporate Center rises on 84th Avenue in Merrillville.

From Centier Bank's website:

The structure will sit on the corner of 84th Avenue and Virginia Street. The façade is made up entirely of a tinted glass, which reflects the blue skies and image of the surrounding landscape. The rounded curve of the building offers a unique change and more modern look for Centier Bank. On the rooftop of the building, above the large Centier logo, sits a large cylindrical structure, a crowning architectural feature that will illuminate the skies upon night fall.

I can't wait to see the finished version of the Centier Corporate Center.

The five-story building promises to be a beautiful addition to the collection of low rise buildings that have sprouted up along the I-65 business corridor in Merrillville as well as a landmark that may come to represent Northwest Indiana in the future.

Centier Corporate Center Merrillville architecture Northwest Indiana

Moon Over Northwest Indiana

There's always something magical that happens in the evenings right around the time of the start of a new school year.

Broiling hot days give way to moderate days filled with golden light. Evening air loses the humidity that marks the summer time. Night air becomes nice, crisp and invigorating. The days get shorter as the year begins its wind down.

The night visits sooner. The moon seems to get a little larger.



A large moon floats over Northwest Indiana last night.



Portillo's Restaurant in Merrillville is always a beacon for hungry patrons with its bright neon lights.



Night lights brighten the night sky at Marcella and 61st Avenue as fast food restaurants and gas stations compete for customers.

Northwest Indiana night sky Merrillville Hobart moon