The Miss Pulaski County Pageant Committee has announced they will be welcoming this year’s Miss Pulaski County, Alyssa Garnett, back to the county on Sept. 20 with a huge celebration to honor her accomplishment in being crowned the 2014 Miss Indiana State Fair Queen. Garnett beat out 87 other candidates, becoming the third contestant to represent Pulaski County as Miss Indiana State Fair.
(Through 9-13-13)
1. Tim Roth-Winamac (33 years): 206-132 .609
2. Kirk Kennedy-NJSP (23 years): 167-98 .630
3. Andy Thomas (14 years)-Culver: 88-62 .587
4. Dan Klimczak (8 years)-South Central: 66-18 .786
5. Darren Rodriguez (6 years)-West Central: 28-29 .491
6. Chris McGowen-Knox (2 years): 3-11 .214
7. Dave Sharpe-John Glenn (1 year): 2-2 .500
While several of Upsall’s family members were present in the courtroom during the hearing, they elected not to speak as it would be too difficult. The defense called one witness to make a statement and that witness was Amanda May Bell, Roy Bell’s youngest sister. Continue reading
A Marshall County man has been formally charged with Child Molesting as a Class C felony and Sexual Battery as a Class D felony in Marshall Superior Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Jesse Slabaugh reportedly admitted to molesting a 13-year-old, and also allegedly admitted to having done so three other times. The 23-year-old had begun these acts when the child was three years old.
After taking statements from witnesses, probable cause was found to issue a warrant for his arrest. Bail was set at $10,000 cash and the defendant is to have no contact with the victim.
The Starke County Commissioners last night approved the final design and estimate for the new Starke County Jail facility, allowing the bidding process to begin. Representatives from the Skillman Corporation and DLZ presented the commissioners with the documentation for their approval and requested authorization to issue CDs for bidding.
The bids are estimated to come in around $10,225,000, and officials hope to receive the bids on Oct. 10, allowing for a groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. CT. The commissioners approved their request, authorizing them to advertise for bids.
Fox explained that the layout of the office has to change, specifically in the child support division. Certain privacy laws need to be followed and the general public should not be allowed in the area where business is conducted. Fox said the child support staff has moved around in the office and darkened film has been installed on windows in the office to shield information on computers. The employees who work in the traffic department have been moved to accommodate this change.
The commissioners also approved the hiring of Christy and Justin Chapman to serve as live-in caretakers at the facility after the previous caretaker was released from his contract due to reported violations.
Graveside services for 59-year-old Michael Carey Velligan of Las Vegas are Saturday, Sept. 21 at noon ET at Star City West Cemetery. Frain Mortuary in Winamac is handling arrangements.
Roy Bell, the man convicted of murdering former Knox resident, Wilma Upsall, was sentenced in Fulton County Superior Court to Life in Prison without the Possibility of Parole on a charge of Murder.
Bell was additionally sentenced to 10 years with the enhancement of 10 years on a charge of Burglary and four years with the enhancement of four years on a charge of Robbery. Those sentences will run consecutively for a total sentence of Life in Prison without the Possibility of Parole plus 28 years.
Judge Wayne Steele found Roy Bell guilty during a bench trial on Aug. 27. Bell was found guilty on six counts: Murder, Murder in the Commission of Another Crime (Burglary), Murder in the Commission of Another Crime (Robbery), Burglary, Robbery and Criminal Confinement.
A caller claiming to be from Texas recently called a Knox resident to say that his granddaughter was arrested in Texas and she needs bail money to get out of jail. A woman was then put on the phone to talk to the grandparent and pleaded for bail money. Upon further investigation, there was no arrest and the victim was out a lot of cash.
He stated that the last time he was in the community center, he smelled gas and the culprit was the stove. The doors leading in and out of the kitchen cause the pilot light to go out and this instance wasn’t the first time it had happened. He commented that the stove really didn’t work that well in the first place.
Chambers noted that the stove is commercial-grade and a similar stove will be installed.
In more maintenance issues at the community center, the hot water tank leaked and damaged some electronics on the floor in the building. That issue has been addressed and remedied.
Authorities in LaPorte County are investigating a Sunday afternoon shooting that claimed the life of a 3-year-old boy. It happened inside a mobile home at Terrace Acres on U.S. 20, according to “The Times of Northwest Indiana.” Several people have been questioned, according to the newspaper, but no arrests have been made. One of the youngster’s female relatives reportedly told the newspaper the shooting was “a really bad, tragic accident.”
