Arts leaders take side in mayor's race

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	Tuesday, November 6, 2007
	Arts leaders take side in mayor's race The race between Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and his Republican challenger, Greg Ballard, became interesting in the final days, and not just because Ballard suddenly got traction in a widely publicized poll. In the past few days, two prominent arts leaders zinged letters around town urging a vote for Peterson. Read more in IBJ 's new blog News Talk . Logistics company owner dies suddenly David Kiebach, the co-founder and principle of MD Logistics in Plainfield, one of the area's fastest-growing private companies, died of a heart attack yesterday prior to leaving for work. Kiebach, 47, started MD Logistics and MC Express in 1996. In a statement, Kiebach's business partner, Mark Sell, said MD Logistics would continue to serve its clients.
	A dozen network doctors reject Anthem American Health Network says its doctors in Kokomo, Russiaville and possibly other locations no longer will take new patients who are insured by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana. The announcement was issued yesterday, after the physician network said Anthem refused to increase reimbursement rates. The change will take effect Nov. 10 at 12 doctors' practices in Kokomo and Russiaville, according to a press statement from American Health. Anthem countered that its rates are competitive and that it still maintains the largest provider network in the state.   Study: Indiana college towns affordable There's at least one ranking related to college football where Indiana schools-and the towns that surround them-come out on top: house affordability. A study by Coldwell Banker has found that Muncie, home of Ball State University, is the nation's most affordable college town. Other Indiana college towns also showed well on the list. Purdue University and Indiana University had the most affordable housing markets in the Big Ten.   Long-time Muncie firm sold for $185M Maxon Corp., a Muncie company that makes burners, gas valves and other heating equipment used by industry, has signed a definitive agreement to be sold to Honeywell International for $185 million. In a statement, Maxon President Rich Clasby said he anticipates Honeywell's presence in developing countries to further accelerate growth at Maxon, which has shown increasing sales strength in the past few years. No immediate changes are planned at the companies, according to a report in The Star Press of Muncie.   Haverstick headquarters staying put The headquarters of Haverstick Consulting Inc., the Carmel-based defense-consulting firm being acquired by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. of San Diego, will remain in Indianapolis, a company executive said. Haverstick, headed by Conseco founder Steve Hilbert, agreed yesterday to be acquired by Kratos for $90 million, including $69 million in cash and $21 million in Kratos stock. Following the announcement, Howard Bates, president and CEO of Haverstick's three divisions, said the company will remain in the Indianapolis area and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kratos.   Boston Scientific to sell some Guidant units Boston Scientific Corp. said yesterday it will sell its cardiac and vascular surgery businesses to Sweden-based Gettinge Group for $750 million. Boston Scientific, headquartered in Natick, Mass., acquired the cardiac surgery unit in April 2006 as part of its $27 billion acquisition of Indianapolis-based Guidant Corp., a deal that boosted Boston Scientific's debt amid downturns in two of its heart device markets.
	Whirlpool loses discrimination appeal The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled against Whirlpool Corp. in its effort to reverse previous courts that found that an employee at Whirlpool's Evansville plant was fired in retaliation for filing a racial-discrimination complaint, reports the Evansville Courier & Press . The ruling, which upholds decisions by the Vanderburgh County-Evansville Human Relations Commission and Circuit Court Judge Carl Heldt, states former employee Harriett Layne should be reinstated and paid $113,137 in lost wages. The company might appeal. From IBJ staff and Associated Press-Compiled by Norm Heikens Election glitches materialize Four of 917 precincts in Marion County did not open on time for elections this morning when workers failed to show up. Marion County Clerk Beth White said replacement workers were sent immediately. She also said a technician was working on problems that cropped up with touch screens on some voting machines. There was also a report of voter registration problems in one precinct; that issue was addressed by the voter registration office.
	Hoosier voters choose mayors in 119 cities Democrats hold 65 mayoral offices across the state, but the GOP hopes to gain seats against incumbents like Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and Lawrence Mayor Deborah Cantwell. Polls show Mayor Peterson leading Republican Greg Ballard by about 4 percentage points. In Carmel, Republican James Brainard seeks re-election against Democrat Henry Winckler and Independent Marnin Spigelman. Fox 59 News will report on the results and voting problems at 10 p.m. and tomorrow on Fox 59 Morning News from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Triple murder may be double murder-suicide Police believe an Argos couple and their infant daughter died as the result of a murder-suicide. The couple's 12-year-old son discovered the bodies yesterday. Investigators believe that Terry Snedeker shot his wife and daughter before turning the gun on himself. The couple was going through a divorce. Now solo, VP set to expand Convenience store stalwart Village Pantry has launched a $15 million plan to renovate 146 stores and is eyeing acquisitions that could double the chain's size in three years.   True trailblazer IBJ has given this year's Michael A. Carroll Award to Brian Payne for his pioneering work on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.   Gambles paying off for Centaur CEO Centaur Inc.'s recent closing on $1 billion of financing is the latest payoff for years of hard work by the gambling company's CEO, Rod Ratcliff.   Largest Indianapolis-Area Electrical Contractors Largest Downtown Office Complexes Sign up today for IBJ's Health Care Life Sciences Weekly E-mail Alert. This weekly news-email is sent out every Wednesday morning to over 3,000 business professionals. The content will cover the business of health care, life sciences and related insurance and benefits news. Readers will find news about hospitals, medical practices and health care companies as well as updates of stories that first appear in Indianapolis Business Journal. Also included are industry stats and trends, people news, event news and news of public policy changes that affect the health care and life sciences industries. Sign up today for your free subscription.
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