WHEELER | Dona Henry said she was surprised to wake up Saturday morning and discover someone had scattered Ku Klux Klan material throughout at least her section of the small unincorporated area along Ind. 130.
"I don't know why anyone would chose Wheeler to do it," she said.
The flier, which claims President Barack Obama's proposed health care plan will reduce the number of white people by encouraging abortions, was rolled up and placed into blue bags similar to those used for newspaper delivery. The flier contains a photograph of Obama and encourages readers to visit a KKK Web site for more information.
"Protect your white Christian heritage with the Knights party," the flier reads.
Unopened bags could still be seen early Saturday afternoon on driveways along the north side of Ind. 130.
Wheeler resident Wendell Wettstein picked up a flier outside his home and said he was offended without even reading it.
"I'm offended by anything KKK related," he said. "I don't believe in it, and I'm not going to tolerate it."
Henry said there are minorities living in the community, but she has never seen any race-related animosity.
Neither she nor Wettstein have seen any other racially motivated material distributed in the community.
Porter County Sheriff Dave Lain said assuring the safety of residents will be among his responses to the fliers. He had yet to see any of the papers Saturday afternoon.
"If it's Klan literature, I know it's trash," he said.
While this type of material is not illegal, he wondered if the distribution technique could not be interpreted as breaking the law by littering. But he said the bigger issue is why someone would do such a cowardly act.
"We're absolutely committed to have people treated equally and not be placed in fear," he said.
Lain knew of no other such literature being distributed elsewhere in the county, though he said his department and others do occasionally investigate racially motivated vandalism.
"We don't know the source of the material yet. This isn't the first such incident we've had. It's been awhile since we've seen this kind of material. I don't remember if there was a source identified the last time," Lain said. "Our next step will be to ensure that people feel safe. No one should feel threatened in their own neighborhood. We will probably step up patrols in that vicinity for a period of time. Certainly, if anyone has information that would help identify the source of this material, they should give us a call at the WeTip hot line, (800) 78-CRIME."
Lain also said he planned to bring the issue to the attention of others who serve with him on local human relations groups.
Wettstein found it strange his small community was targeted for the distribution when the postal service does not even deliver mail to homes.
Henry said Wheeler has traditionally been treated as a dumping ground because of its old age, location along the highway and unique position of being surrounded by cornfields.
Anyone with information about racist literature distributed Saturday in unincorporated Wheeler is asked to call the Porter County WeTip hot line at (800) 78-CRIME
