A look at an ongoing story I’ve been covering since Dec. 2020; Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising. Teising, in an abridged synopsis. In Dec., the J&C published a story exposing the trustee for living outside the township, which is required by Indiana law. Since she returned to the township in March, she has been fighting with the township board, firefighters and local media. Now, Teising faces 21 felony theft charges for receiving her township trustee paycheck between June 2020 and June 2021 while allegedly not residing inside Wabash Township, which is required by Indiana law. During her tenure, she hired two new paid firefighters, then fired them at the end of June, along with the third paid firefighter, leaving the township to only volunteers. She claimed the township could not financially support the paid firefighters because she failed to create a revenue stream for the firefighters.
Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising talks with the Journal & Courier before she was to host a meeting on the future of the Wabash Township Volunteer Fire Department, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Volunteers with the Wabash Township Fire Department wash Tanker 8, Wednesday, June 30, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Angel Valentin, Wabash Township Board president reacts while talking with Trustee Jennifer Teising during a meeting of the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, June 15, 2021 in Wabash Township.
A sign reading “Where is Trustee Teising?” sits outside Wabash Township Fire Station No. 1, Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Wabash Township.
Jennifer Teising, Wabash Trustee, walks out of Tippecanoe County Magistrate Court after an initial hearing, Friday. May 27, 2021 in Lafayette. A grand jury indited Teising on 20 counts of felony theft on May 12 for allegedly receiving her salary while not living in the township, as required by law.
Firefighter Travis Merkel is interviewed by a TV station before a township board meeting.
Wabash Township Firefighter Travis Merkel, left, speaks, during a meeting of the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Mike Dwyer, Wabash Township Fire Association President, holds his head after speaking before the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in West Lafayette.
Deputy Chief Jim Lewis watches as trustee Jennifer Teising speaks to members of the media after a meeting of the Wabash Township board, Tuesday, July 27, 2021 in West Lafayette.
As Asian carp continue to thrive as an invasive species, local bow fisherman Gene Mills aims to change that. Spending a few hours on the Tippecanoe River, Mills and Shaine Loveland guided a flat-bottom boat around the river in the darkness, using generator-powered lights to illuminate the water around the boat. Mills, who has been bow fishing for several years, stands on a raised platform at the front of the boat, waiting for the silver flash of light swimming through the water to release the arrow into the water.
On June 30, 2019, Amtrak’s Hoosier State rail line rode through Lafayette one last time. The Indianapolis to Chicago line was cut after the state of Indiana failed to approve $3 million in funding.
On the platform of the Big Four Depot, signs from the Indiana Passenger Rail Association hang, informing passengers of the final running of the Hoosier State, Sunday, June 30, 2019 in Lafayette, Ind.
Perched above the platform of the Big Four Depot, Joe Krause looks out towards Main st. and the parking lot for passengers that may be running late for the morning Hoosier State train to Chicago, Friday, June 21, 2019 in Lafayette. Since retiring from West Lafayette High School, volunteer Krause spends his mornings assisting passengers.
On the morning of the final train to Chicago, Sunday, June 30, 2019, 14 passengers boarded from the depot, two traveling via business class according to Krause.
Weeks before the Indiana Passenger Rail Association’s signs lined the platform, a lone sign was tacked to a bulletin board inside the station’s lobby, asking riders to “please save Amtrak’s Hoosier State passenger train,” Friday, June 21, 2019 in Lafayette.
The last Hoosier State to Chicago pulls into the Big Four Depot, Sunday, June 30, 2019.
A conductor ushers passengers onto the final Hoosier State train to Chicago on Sunday, June 30, 2019.
“I want to take him on it before we can’t anymore,” said Shirley Downham after tying her grandson, Karson Downham’s shoes on Friday, June 28, 2019 in Lafayette.
A conductor helps load passenger’s luggage onto the train as they load on Sunday morning before departing for Chicago.
One final time, the conductor radios ahead to signal the train is cleared to leave the Big Four Depot for Chicago, Sunday, June 30, 2019.
