Ligonier festival to go on despite theft charges

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LIGONIER – A town rocked by a theft that threatened the future of its annual marshmallow festival is using the incident to rally support for the event.

Ligonier Mayor Patty Fisel told The Goshen News (http://bit.ly/ONTGGt) residents are working to turn the incident into a positive and to keep the Labor Day weekend festival on track.

Forty-two-year-old Tamara Deel is charged with two counts of theft and one count of fraud on a financial institution. Noble County Prosecutor Steven T. Clouse said Deel is charged with stealing about $15,000 from the festival in her position as its chairwoman and more than $121,000 from her employer.

Festival committee member Pamela Howard said many in the community have promised to do whatever is needed to keep the festival going.