Merchants are hoping for a Valentine’s Day validation.Retailers and others are looking for any signs that an economic comeback is truly mounting.INDIANAPOLIS – DeKalb County's Kruse International lost its license to hold auctions Tuesday following a tense hearing before the Indiana Auctioneer Commission.
After three hours of discussion and a lunch break, the commission then decided to suspend Dean Kruse's personal auctioneer's license for two years.
The earlier decision leaves the auction company's signature event, its Labor Day weekend classic car auction in Auburn, in limbo.
Another auction company could rent the Kruse Auction Park grounds and hold an auction there, but the Kruse name has suffered amongst classic car buyers and sellers.
The commission, part of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, rejected an initial settlement proposed by the Indiana Attorney General's office, unanimously voting it did not come down hard enough on Kruse and his company.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's print editions of The Journal Gazette or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Wednesday.
