Poker player pleads
Another ringleader of an illegal poker game run through a downtown apartment building has taken a plea deal that would see him serve no jail time.
Michael J. Pocock, 32, of the 3400 block of Olin Avenue, pleaded guilty to a professional gambling charge through a deal that calls for the same 1 1/2 -year probation term two other housemen pleaded to previously. In exchange for the suspended sentence, he is to cooperate with prosecutors in pending cases.
Police began watching the north tower of Three Rivers Apartments in late February, where surveillance and a raid confirmed a group leased an apartment solely for the purpose of running a poker game there, according to court documents.
Four others were charged in connection with the game. Housemen Daniel G. Zoch, 54, and Brent A. Starr, 30, each pleaded guilty this month. A poker game operated in the apartment building for more than 20 years, detectives said.
Auction total grows
The Auburn Fall Collector Car Auction has consigned 475 cars, the new park owner announced Thursday, saying it plans to push 1,500 collector cars over the weekend.
Auctions America by RM, which purchased the auction park from Dean Kruse and Kruse International earlier this month, said it is in the midst of $1.5 million of renovations in preparation for the Sept. 2-5 auction and sale.
For more information or to consign an automobile for the auction, call 1-877-906-2437.
Fiscal summit on TV
Next week's Allen County Fiscal Summit will be televised live on the City's Public Access cable TV channels (Channel 58 on Comcast and Channel 28 on Frontier). The summit, which will be open to the public, will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the City-County Building's Omni Room. All taxing units will be able to discuss community spending priorities and the effect property tax caps will have on anticipated revenues.
Tea-party kudos
Emery McClendon, the Fort Wayne FedEx driver who helped organize last year's tea party rally at the Allen County Courthouse, received the “Activist of the Year” award from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation's Rightonline Conference in Las Vegas last week. The award recognizes leadership in advancing economic freedom and liberty through modern media. McClendon is a contributor to Internet sites and founded the Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day.
