Ray Culp

LaGrange

To the Editor:

A big thanks to you and your staff for the announcement of my 100th birthday. Also to Drs. Kashiyap, Jan, Kamineni, and Cindy and all the staff for the birthday luncheon – and to my relatives, friends, and neighbors for the calls, cards, and for attending my open house. A big thanks to all.

Rhonda Urick

Topeka

To the Editor:

My daughter was born at 26 weeks in July 2004, weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces. Her dad walked away when she was eight days old without an explanation. I spent every day at the neonatal ward doing as much for her as was allowed. Only three weeks after having a cesarean, I returned to work. I watched her fight for her life, and I brought her home after 10 weeks. Her dad never returned or knew that she survived.

After her homecoming, I filed child support papers with the state I was living in. When doctors told me daycare was not an option for my baby, I made the decision to move home to Indiana. I have lived in this community almost all my life and wanted to raise her around family. Within a few days of arriving home, I filled out child support papers with the LaGrange County Prosecutor’s Office. I had a copy of the father’s license, copies of current pay stubs, and a signed paternity paper.

We had a court date back in 2005. I left work for the hearing only to be told at the courthouse that the hearing was cancelled, and I wasn’t notified. Again, I left work to a second hearing and the father did not appear. I was told that he had three weeks to contact the courthouse or LaGrange County Prosecutor’s Office. After that, an amount would be set not in his favor. That did not happen. I have had excuse after excuse from the prosecutor’s office as to why I am not getting support. I’ve also received apologies for the mistakes they’ve made.

Within the past seven months, I have notified the LaGrange County Prosecutor’s Office three different times (by letter because they don’t want you calling) and given them the father’s employer, employer’s address, and phone number. He is a long-distance truck driver and doesn’t have a home address. His truck is his home. Today I received a letter from my caseworker at the prosecutor’s office stating that because the father has never lived in Indiana, Indiana cannot force him to comply and support his daughter. His last known postal address is in Washington. The State of Washington is the one who must make him comply. He has not has the Washington address for at least a year, and the LaGrange County Prosecutor’s Office is aware of this fact.

Not only is the father not paying support, he is not providing insurance for his child. The State of Indiana pays her medical bills. I am currently employed at a not-for-profit organization that does not provide medical insurance. I am also working toward an associate’s degree through online courses. My daughter recently recovered from her neck being broken in two places after we were in a car accident.

After my car insurance was maxed out, the State of Indiana covered the rest of her hospital stay, therapy, and follow-up visits. She is having surgery next week to have her tonsils/ adenoids removed. Yes, the State of Indiana is paying for that. They also cover her asthma medication, doctor visits, and ER trips. If the State of Indiana is paying her medical expenses, why doesn’t the State of Indiana have the right to force the father to comply and support/insure his child? And why did I leave work twice to attend a court hearing if the State if Indiana cannot force him to comply?

With the encouragement of family, friends, and others, I am going to continue to speak out until I receive help with this issue. I’ve come to realize there are many parents in LaGrange County that are not receiving support and are struggling. I’ve been told by the prosecutor that I need to be patient. They have 1,800 cases and two caseworkers. Well, as of now, I’m over 3½ years patient.