Judge Rules in Tammy Van Dam Case

Posted on Author WKVI

LaPorte County Judge Thomas Alevizos issued a two page ruling Tuesday afternoon that gave a rather “limited preliminary injunction” in a case brought by the estate of Tammy Van Dam, and her life partner Beth Urschel. The suit brought by the lawyer for the two asked that the wreckage from the State Fair stage that collapsed be preserved.

Alevizos did though reject a request to preserve all e-mails, 911 calls and other evidence that could be destroyed.

He also criticized the attorney before him, Kenneth Allen, for saying he was seeking $50 million for the estate of Tammy Van Dam. The judge said that local court rules stipulate that no damage amounts be listed. He called the revelation of the amount a “publicity stunt” by the attorney.

Tammy Van Dam was killed, and Beth Urschel was injured when the stage collapsed before a performance of the county music duo Sugarland at the State Fair.

La Crosse Man Reacts to Indiana State Fair Tragedy

Posted on Author WKVI

Just over a week after the tragedy at the Indiana State Fair, a La Crosse man expressed his reaction to the stage collapse and ensuing tragedy on the ground at the Sugarland Concert in the Northwest Indiana Times.

Tim Greiger said he didn’t like the way the sky looked so he hustled his family to safety. If he hadn’t, they would have been under the stage as it fell.

He ushered his mother and wife into a bathroom, and went back out toward his seating area. In the article Greiger said, “I saw a lot of things I wish I wouldn’t have seen, I saw people dying, and hurt all over the place.”

Greiger, 34, said he considers himself very lucky to have been spared the fate of those sitting in the area around him.

Meanwhile the mourning continues for Beth Urschel of Wanatah, the life partner of Tammy Van Dam. The estate of Van Dam is suing for $50 million dollars, and a lawsuit for Urschel is listed at $10 million.

At a press conference Friday, Urschel said, “It was Tammy’s birthday weekend, and I was taking her to see her favorite band.”

Urschel has a broken clavicle, tissue damaged in her arm, a severed little toe that was reattached and another toe that was crushed according to an article in Saturday’s Post Tribune.

Lauren Jernas to Participate in the Indiana State Fair Pageant

Posted on Author WKVI
Lauren Jernas

Lauren Jernas, who was recently crowned Starke County 4-H royalty, will be competing in the Indiana State Fair Queen pageant August 19th-21st. Lauren will be competing with 88 other contestants from around the State for the honor of being the 2012 Queen.

Lauren was asked why she decided to be part of the pageant.

“I was chosen as one of the Starke County 4-H Royalty winners so I decided to go down to the State Fair to go to the pageant and have fun and meet a lot of different girls from around the state.”

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