A Fort Wayne man is facing a felony arson charge after he used his T-shirt to start a fire that slightly damaged an apartment building.

Dana L. Green, 25, of the 700 block of High Street, is accused of setting the fire at 811 Belle Ave. on Sept. 15 after an altercation with a man at the residence, according to the probable-cause affidavit.

The affidavit said the fire spread up the siding but was extinguished before it got farther. A white T-shirt, which Green was seen wearing earlier in the evening, was found at the base of the fire with a strong odor of accelerant, the affidavit said.

McLEAN, Va. — The wife of Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., was charged with drunken driving and hit-and-run after police said she hit a parked car in northern Virginia.

Fairfax County Police say an officer stopped 76-year-old Charlene Lugar on Wednesday evening after seeing damage to her car and smoke coming from the hood. Police later determined she also hit a parked car. Both charges are misdemeanors.

In a statement, the senator said he is thankful that no one was injured and that he and his wife are “deeply sorry and embarrassed that this accident has occurred.”

Formal charges have been filed in Allen Superior Court against two men involved in recent robberies.

Torrie I. Essex, 30, who was listed as homeless, is accused of walking into the Sunshine Laundry on Lake Avenue on Nov. 15, with a handgun and then demanding money, according to the probable-cause affidavit.

Joshua D. Pence, 22, of the 400 block of Wallen Hills Drive, is accused of pulling a weapon on a pizza delivery man Nov. 3 in the driveway of a home and then demanding that the victim hand over the pizza and pop that he had delivered along with his money, wallet, cell phone and keys, according to the probable-cause affidavit. Both are Class B felonies. Other suspects are alleged to have been involved in both crimes.

Despite objections from nearby residents concerned about lights, traffic and commercialization of a mostly residential area, the Allen County Plan Commission approved Maggos Development Inc.'s proposal for a 12,000-square-foot multi-tenant retail building at Coldwater and Gump roads adjacent to Cedar Canyons Elementary School. County Commissioner and Plan Commission member Bill Brown said nearby residents have expressed an interest in buying the property, and said he hopes the outcome of that attempt will be known by the time the Commissioners decide whether to ratify the Plan Commission's recommendation - a decision normally made within 90 days.

Spy Run Extended will be closed to all traffic between Spy Run and Parnell avenues Monday through Wednesday. The roadway will open for the Thanksgiving weekend, and then close again on Nov. 30 and continue through Dec. 2 for pavement restoration.

Authorities plan to continue searching for a missing Columbia City woman today. Meanwhile, her former husband is still being held for questioning by the Whitley County Sheriff's Department.

The search began Wednesday after an acquaintance of Debra K. Houser, 49, went to the sheriff's department about 10 a.m. Wednesday to report concerns for her wellbeing. That tip led police to go to her home at Old Trail Road and County Road 400 West in Whitley County, but officers didn't find her there.

Her former husband, Rodney Houser, is being questioned, authorities said. Houser is described as white, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Kroger officials warn that fraudulent checks are being sent to Kroger customers claiming those customers are winners of a “Shoppers Lottery.” There is no such lottery. The checks are fake.

Company officials report that upset customers have been bringing the checks to Kroger stores when they are rejected by commercial banks.

The checks are forgeries made from legitimate Kroger checks, have a Sherman Oaks return address and show a JP Morgan Chase bank account in New York.

The company said it is working with authorities to investigate. Kroger customers who believe they may be the victim of this scam should contact 1-800-KROGERS for instructions.

BBB of Northern Indiana is warning area consumers about a scam that exploits Community Harvest Food Bank to stage a fraudulent raffle.

Alerted to the possible scam by the food bank, BBB found that a business owner was approached by a man described as skinny, 5 feet, 4 inches tall and wearing glasses, who asked the business to donate a free oil change and tire rotation for an auction to benefit the Community Harvest Food Bank. The business owner agreed. Soon the business was being presented with coupons for this free oil change and tire rotation by several consumers, one of whom happened to be a police officer, who had purchased two raffle tickets for $10 each.

Community Harvest Food Bank knows of no proceeds from an auction benefiting its work.

Kroger will do more through the end of the year to help the Salvation Army raise money in Fort Wayne and other cities in its Central Division. The company has set a goal of raising $1 million with the Salvation Army - an increase of 36 percent over the $735,000 raised last year in the Red Kettle Campaign.

Kroger Central Division has 151 food stores, all but a few located in Indiana and Illinois. Of those central division stores, 139 will be involved in the Red Kettle Campaign. The campaign, announced Thursday, will run through Jan. 1. To bolster the efforts of Salvation Army volunteers, Kroger will give:

♦Signs in each local store providing information and encouragement related to the Red Kettle Campaign.

♦Space in print advertising in key media markets.

♦Time during radio advertising segments in key markets.

Lutheran Hospital is asking the public to remember their loved ones with a personalized holiday ornament.

The hospital is inviting the public to come to Lutheran Hospital from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday where volunteers will hand paint the names of their loved ones on an ornament to be placed on the Remembrance Tree located in the main lobby of the hospital.

The tree was initiated and organized by Nicki Knefelkamp, who wanted to do something meaningful to remember her mother, Deborah Joanne Tracey.

A special dedication ceremony will be held at 12:45 and the names of those being remembered will be read aloud.

There is no charge for the ornaments which will hang on the tree throughout the holiday season. The public may pick them up after the New Year.

The Jingle Bell 5K Run, Non-Competitive Walk, and Canine Companion Walk for Arthritis 2009 will be held Dec. 6 at Winona Lake Senior Center, Warsaw. Early registration fees are $15 ages 18 and under and $20 ages 19 and over canine companions $10 additional.

Early registration ends Saturday.

Mail completed registration forms to and make checks payable to The Arthritis Foundation, 11123 Parkview Plaza Drive, Suite 206, Fort Wayne, IN 46845. To register online go to jinglebellrunwarsaw.