Around the Region

Elkhart company sends Angel pins to thousands of troops\nELKHART -- Thousands of U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf will soon have guardian angels to watch over them, courtesy of an Elkhart company.\nThe family owned company, called L and B, recently sent 10,000 small brass medallions to Marines stationed in Kuwait. The medallions are stamped with an image of a praying angel.\n"The pocket angels remind people that they have a guardian angel," said Lori Bennett, one of the owners of L and B. "And it reminds them to be thankful for the small miracles that happen everyday. The pocket angel isn't the reason for the miracles, but it helps remind them that someone is watching over them."\nSince they began making the angels last year, the Bennetts have given away more than 90,000 around the world.\nMost of the angels that the family gives away are blessed by local priests. The 10,000 angels sent to Kuwait were blessed by Father James Seculoff of St. Mary's Church in Bristol.\nPeace vigil held at Ball State campus\nMUNCIE -- A candlelight peace vigil held at Ball State University focused both on the war in Iraq and U.S. foreign policy in general.\n"America supports oppression all over the world," organizer and Indiana Academy senior Gina Wertz said. "Israel is a prime example of that. We want to raise awareness and spread truth about injustices America has dealt to the rest of the world."\nAbout 90 people attended Sunday night's vigil. The group was silent for 30 minutes and then heard speeches from Wertz and Unitarian Universalist minister Thomas Perchlik.\nHe argued the war in Iraq is not a just war because Iraq never directly threatened the United States.\n"Our country believes, just as terrorists believe, that violent force is going to get us what we want -- security," Perchlik said. "But it won't."\nIraqi-born man accused of funneling money to Iraq\nELKHART -- The FBI has arrested an Elkhart man and two Colorado brothers on charges of illegally funneling about $7 million to Iraq during the past 2 1/2 years.\nMazin Abdulhay Al Saeed, 35, was charged Friday with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Federal prosecutors declined to say whether the case was connected with a nationwide crackdown Friday.\nAccording to court documents, Al Saeed, a U.S. citizen born in Iraq, was one of several sources who contributed money to brothers Maitham Abdulla Jaber Al Samar, 39, and tobacco-store owner Qassim Abdulla Jaber Al Samar, 38, both of Denver.\nThe trio is charged with failing to follow required procedures for making such big-dollar currency transactions. The money eventually was wired from Colorado to banks in Jordan and Kuwait, among other places.