Local & Bistate
Tanning business uses grand reopening to help local charity
TERRE HAUTE — Area first responders might be drying out their “soggy donuts” in tanning beds this week, as a local business ties a grand reopening to charity.
The facilities formerly known as Florida Tan at 2615 Poplar and 1501 Ft. Harrison are now named “Larry Paul Tanning Spa” after their founder, Larry Fleschner, according to his nephew Paul.
Since Fleschner’s death, the company he grew from one store to 15 has been placed into a charitable trust, and since January the group has given nearly $30,000 to nonprofit agencies, Paul Fleschner said.
Between May 16 and 24, patrons donating $5 to a local charity through the stores can get discounts on tans and products, he said.
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett said, “I would say this is pretty unique” for businesses to partner with charities in such a way, as he cut a ribbon at the store Sunday afternoon.
One of the groups on board is The Soggy Donuts Fund, an organization established by area law enforcement to raise funds for first responders whose homes have been destroyed during natural disasters.
The purpose of the fund is to allow responders’ families to at minimum get a hotel room while they attend to floods such as the ones last June.
Ryan Adamson, one of the group’s founders, said the efforts have grown significantly since inception this winter.
While at a conference in Washington D.C., a police officer from San Francisco told him he’d heard of the effort. “It tells you the outreach we’re getting,” Adamson said. “Indiana to California.”
The group will host a golf scramble June 4, and so far, businesses such as Larry Paul Tanning Spa are jumping on board, he said.
“The community’s been a real blessing,” he said. “We have yet to take a step back”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Indiana voters turn to online registration
Voter registration ends Oct. 4 for the upcoming Nov. 2 general election, but this year marks the first time Hoosiers can go online to register or download a registration form.
The online registration site is www.indianavoters.com. -
The Verve about to kick smoking status
Clouds of smoke and ashtrays will soon be out the window as The Verve, a well-known downtown Terre Haute live music venue, becomes a smoke-free nightclub on Labor Day.
-
Brazil couple heading to East Coast to help after Earl
As the East Coast braces for powerful Hurricane Earl, Wabash Valley Red Cross volunteers are preparing to help.
-
Valley residents warned of scams targeting the elderly
Beware of the telephone caller who gives you one of the following messages:
-
Pink fire trucks heading to Fairbanks Park for ‘Red Lights for the Headlights’ event
Five pink fire trucks will show up at 5 p.m. Thursday at Fairbanks Park for the “Red Lights for the Headlights” event for breast cancer awareness, and the public is invited to attend.
-
State auditor touts ‘transparency website’
Indiana residents can now search state contracts, employee salaries, budget information, revenue and expense data, local government information and more online at a new state “transparency website.”
-
Shorted-out light fixture caused fire at The Woods, investigators say
A fire at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College that damaged a basement storage area and a first-floor office Tuesday in Guerin Hall was electrical in nature, fire investigators have determined.
-
Indiana American to flush water main
Indiana American Water will conduct water main flushing in the Terre Haute service area from Sept. 6 through Oct. 15, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
-
Hostage situation resolved peacefully at state prison
Indiana State Prison Superintendent William Wilson announced Tuesday the successful resolution of a hostage situation that occurred at the Indiana State Prison in Pendleton.
-
ISU sees 33 percent increase in new, first-time freshmen
Indiana State University’s enrollment has increased by nearly 1,000 students this fall, ISU officials reported Wednesday.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Indiana voters turn to online registration
