December 22, 2020 7:44 p.m.
President Trump went on pardon tear Tuesday night as his presidency wanes, with the White House announcing grants of clemency for key figures in the 2016 Russia investigation and for congressional allies of Trump who were prosecuted during his administration.
Trump granted a full pardon to his former 2016 campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, who kickstarted the Russian investigation when he told a foreign diplomat about Russia’s efforts to dig up dirt on Hillary Clinton. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation for making false statements to the FBI. The former Skadden Arps lawyer Alexander van der Zwaan, who likewise pleaded guilty in Mueller’s probe, was granted a full pardon for lying to officials investigating his involvement in a 2012 a report that white-washed the prosecution of a Ukrainian official.
By Local News | MyWabashValley.com
INDIANAPOLIS (WTWO/WAWV) Two area leaders were recipients of the state s highest civilian honor.
Vigo County Commissioner Brad Anderson and Vermillion County Commissioner Harry Crossley were presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash awards Tuesday.
Anderson, who will officially retire as a commissioner this month, is a lifelong Vigo County resident. He served for eight years as a county commissioner, with two of those years as president. Before that, he was elected five times to the Vigo County Council.
Anderson has also been active with several other community organizations including serving as Vigo County Fair Board president for a number of years, member of the Zorah Shrine and former president of the Economic Development Committee.
Dec 23, 2020
James Albert Kreiser passed away on December 17, 2020, at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 72.
He died peacefully after spending time with his wife and daughters at his side. Jim was born in Springfield, Illinois, and grew up in Peoria. He spent the past 36 years with his wife and daughters in New Jersey, Georgia and Virginia. During his final five years, he resided in Sitter & Barfoot Veteran’s Care Center, Richmond, where he was treated with great dignity and respect while receiving extraordinary personal care.
Jim served in the United States Marine Corps and fought in the Vietnam War in 1968-1969. He was awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds received in enemy action. Following his military service, he attended Bradley University, from which he graduated in 1973. It was during his college years that he became intrigued by film and video production that subsequently guided his career choices.
ALBANY â Federal service to the United States Marine Corps, whether in a civilian capacity or in uniform, is an extraordinary privilege that few have the honor of experiencing. Itâs an honor Trent Blalock reflected on during his retirement ceremony after 31 years of service.
Blalock, who served for more than three decades, retired as deputy commander, Marine Corps Maintenance Command, at Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people, the retirement ceremony was a virtual event that included Blalockâs family, Col. Wilfred Rivera, commander MDMC, and Maj. Gen. Joseph Shrader, commanding general MCLB-Albany.
Paul Evan Jones passed away from cancer on December 16, 2020, at home with his wife by his side.
Paul proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for 22 years, earning a multitude of the highest accolades, and retiring at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. He was a veteran of the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Paul was a Radar Approach Controller, as well as an Air Traffic Controller. As a civilian in his forties, Paul made the important decision to attend college and major in Computer Science, obtaining both an Associate of Science Degree and a Bachelor of Science Degree, turning him into an IT Guru. His latest retirement was from Regions Riverchase Operations Center, where he was a Database Administrator for the Mortgage Department.