DeBruler Imaging owner Dave Fincher passed away Wednesday morning. 

Fincher’s wife, Donna, posted that Dave was a wonderful husband, father and Pop to his grands. She went on to say that “Dave didn’t know a stranger and could carry on a conversation about anything.” He loved what he did and it was his passion.  Dave could be seen anywhere from the schools to a baseball field taking team and individual pictures across many counties. 

The DeBruler Imaging studio will be closed for the next week or so as they deal with the passing of Dave. 

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared.

The Greenfield Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Dorothy Rogers, an 87 year old white, female, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 157 pounds, grey hair with blue eyes, last seen wearing a jean jacket and capri pants.

She is driving a black 2018 Buick Regal with Indiana plate D898ZK.

Dorothy is missing from Greenfield,  and was last seen on Tuesday, September 29, at 11:00 pm.  She is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. 

If you have any information on Dorothy Rogers, contact the Greenfield Police Department at 317-477-4400 or 911.

Walmart finalized plans today to establish a new fulfillment center in Hancock County and create up to 1,000 new jobs by the end of 2025. The facility will provide additional online fulfillment capabilities for the company as it continues to meet increasing online demand from customers. At 2.2 million square feet, this facility will be Walmart’s largest e-commerce fulfillment center in the U.S.

"It gives me a great deal of pride to see Walmart growing and expanding rapidly in the Hoosier state," said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. "As the Crossroads of America, we are perfectly positioned to support Walmart as they secure increasing customer demand and continue contributing to our state's economy, while providing new jobs to 1,000 Hoosiers in the process." 

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company will invest approximately $600 million to construct and equip its new facility on approximately 204 acres at 5300 W. 500 N. in an unincorporated part of Hancock County north of Mount Comfort and south of McCordsville. The new, state-of-the-art facility will allow Walmart to expand its e-commerce operations for both its own online inventory and recently-announced third-party fulfillment, Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS), for vendors who hire the company to store, pack and ship items for customers. Construction is slated to begin this month, and the company expects to start fulfillment and distribution in the fall of 2022, reaching full operational capacity by spring of 2024.  

“We’re pleased to work with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation on this project and appreciate their support to help bring new development and jobs to central Indiana, which is a key market for Walmart,” said Steve Miller, Walmart senior vice president, fulfillment operations. “We look forward to utilizing this fulfillment center to help meet increasing online shopping demands and ultimately serve our customers.”

As Walmart continues to expand online, the creation of WFS, powered by Walmart's state-of-the-art supply chain capabilities, allows Walmart.com Marketplace sellers to grow their businesses through WFS, managing shipping, returns and customer service. Business owners are able to send inventory to Walmart fulfillment centers, where the company stores the products securely and prepares them for shipping when an order is placed.

Walmart, which employs approximately 1.5 million associates nationwide including more than 41,000 in Indiana, will begin hiring in the spring of 2022 for positions in receiving, picking, packing, shipping and management. Interested applicants may apply online.

“We are very, very pleased that Walmart has found Hancock County, and the Mt. Comfort Road Corridor in particular, to be ideal for their operations,” said Hancock County Council President Bill Bolander. "Both Hancock County and the Hancock Economic Development Council will continue to work with Walmart to ensure a smooth and successful launch and continuing operation of their facility with regard to workforce, infrastructure and overall economic development improvements within the county.”

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Walmart Fulfillment Services LLC up to $1.25 million in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans and up to $4.75 million in conditional tax credits from the Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) tax credit program based on the company’s planned capital investment in Indiana. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired and investments are made. The Hancock County Council and the Hancock County Redevelopment Commission approved additional incentives at the request of the Hancock Economic Development Council. Duke Energy offered additional incentives.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to skip trick-or-treating, but police in Greenfield have decided to move forward with the Halloween tradition anyway.

The police chief in Greenfield, Jeff Rasche, says he thinks that the people in his area could take part in holiday festivities without causing an outbreak.  Rasche says he decided to move forward with trick-or-treating before the CDC released its decision on the matter but is sticking with his decision for now.

On Tuesday the CDC posted guidelines on its website labeling traditional trick-or-treating and other common Halloween celebrations “high risk” this year. Instead, they suggested that people leave pre-made goodie bags on their front porch for kids to get rather than handing out candy themselves or leaving out a bowl for kids to dig through.

These are the activities the CDC said to avoid to help prevent the spread of coronavirus:

-Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door.

-Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots.

-Attending crowded costume parties held indoors.

-Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming.

-Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household.

-Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behaviors.

-Traveling to a rural fall festival that is not in your community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, Hancock County has reported more than 900 COVID-19 cases with nearly 16,000 people tested.

Rasche also said that he spoke with the mayor and the Hancock County Health Department about his decision. He said that he has been in contact with other officers in the surrounding area and he is under the impression that most, if not all of them, will also be moving forward with similar trick-or-treating plans. He says he is still encouraging people to wear an actual face mask even if they’re in a costume.

“We are not going to encourage large groups to be out trick-or-treating together or large groups going to people’s houses. You know, maintain social distancing,” Rasche said.

Greenfield plans to release more guidelines for families as Halloween nears.

Attorney General Curtis Hill on Friday sued a Greenfield monument company accused by consumers of taking their money without providing gravestones they ordered. This civil action against the company, Greenfield Granite, seeks consumer restitution and costs under the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.

Attorney General Hill also filed a request for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order aimed at preventing the company from removing, selling or transferring assets until the legal process plays out.

As of Sept. 15, 2020, the Greenfield Police Department had taken approximately 70 reports in which consumers reported that Greenfield Granite failed to properly fulfill orders. Recently, officers have observed individuals at the business turning away customers while workers appear to be removing items from the business.

“We have laws in place to protect Hoosiers when businesses abandon their obligations to customers,” Attorney General Hill said. “In this case, we want to ensure that any consumers harmed by this company’s business practices receive refunds or, if they prefer, have their orders fulfilled if products remain available.”

Greenfield Granite’s area of specialty makes this case especially troubling, Attorney General Hill added.

“No one with an ounce of compassion wants to hear about a business taking advantage of grieving customers trying to achieve closure after losing loved ones,” he said.

Attorney General Hill expressed appreciation to the Greenfield Police Department and Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton for their investigatory assistance.

Consumers who have complaints regarding Greenfield Granite should file a consumer complaint online at https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/ or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-382-5516.

In a related story, a death investigation into a Greenfield business owner was concluded approximately three weeks ago, according to officials with the Greenfield Police Department.  Greenfield Police have ruled the shooting death of Amie Strohl, 50, as a suicide.

Officers were dispatched earlier this week to Greenfield Granite Co. Inc, 952 West Main St., Greenfield. Upon arrival, officers located a 50-year-old female deceased at the business. The woman was later identified as Amie Strohl, owner. According to Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche, Strol was found inside the business shortly after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and had died from a gunshot wound.

In a news release, the department stated no signs of foul play had been found and there was no concerns for danger to the public.

According to court records, Strohl was to have appeared in Hancock County Superior Court 2 for a civil case. In addition, she was a defendant in another case brought forward by IMC Credit Services. Court records show that a judgement was granted to IMC Credit Services after Strohl did not show for several appearances.

The Greenfield Police also confirmed they were engaged in an active investigation against Stohl, but no criminal charges had been filed. 

Are you an artist?  Doesn't really matter.  You can be one Saturday at an annual event in Greenfield.

Greenfield Main Street Executive Director Debra Smith talks about Chalk Fest.

Smith says they will make the necessary fixes to deal with Covid-19.

A theme and prizes are in play.

Chalk Fest is Saturday from 3 – 6 pm.

United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced Thursday that Bruce Wayne Ford, 47, New Palestine, has been charged with eleven counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

“The financial investors in this case placed their hard earned money into the hands of someone whom they thought they could trust, oftentimes the majority of their life savings,” said Minkler. “Instead, the victim’s money fell into the hands of a thief who cares about no one but himself and his interests. Justice will prevail and hopefully restore some trust back to the victims.”

Ford, was arrested at his home Friday, September 11, and had his initial appearance on September 16, in the federal courthouse in Indianapolis. Through his company, Ford Financial and Insurance Services, he devised a scheme to defraud his investors by means of materially false statements and misrepresentations. As alleged in the Complaint, rather than invest his clients’ money as promised, Ford wired or transferred investor funds to Ford’s financial accounts to use for his own personal expenditures.

Ford’s illegal scheme to steal his clients’ investment funds was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana Secretary of State’s office, and the Greenfield Police Department.

“Investment fraud schemes ultimately lead to the loss of innocent victims’ hard-earned money. The victims expected the defendant to protect their future, not use their money to fund his personal lifestyle,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to investigate these types of crime and ensure criminal activity is identified, investigated, and disrupted.”

“Ford was not registered to sell securities with the Secretary of State’s office, a basic requirement,” said Secretary of State Connie Lawson. “If one investor had checked his registration, his entire scheme would have crumbled. I encourage everyone to check their investor’s registration prior to exchanging any money. It’s a simple safeguard that could protect your retirement nest egg.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who is prosecuting this case for the government, Ford faces up to 25 years’ in federal prison if convicted of the charges.

Voters in Hancock County will have two more voting locations on Election Day thanks to the Hancock County Election Board.

Those wishing to cast a ballot on election day will be able to do so at the McCordsville City Hall and Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine. The changes bring the total number of voting centers up to 10, but the county has used as many as 12 in the past.

Other polling places include: Hancock County Courthouse Annex, main branch of the Hancock County Public Library, Sugar Creek branch of the Hancock County Public Library, NineStar Connect North, Fortville Community Center, Buck Creek Township Fire Department, Nameless Creek Camp and Event Center, and Wilkinson Church of Christ. Anyone who is registered and a resident of Hancock County can vote at any of the polling places early or on Election Day.

Locally, the November election was decided in the May primary as no Democratic candidates will be on the ballot for county-wide seats.

Voters will have a say in state representative, state senator, U.S. House Representative, governor, attorney general, and the presidential race. In addition, there are school board races that will appear on the ballot. 

A woman is recovering in the hospital after a Greenfield Police patrolman rescued her from a burning car.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, at around 1:30 a.m., GPD Patrolman Blake Crull was on patrol when he passed by a burning, upside down car in the 4200 block of East US 40. Inside the car was Heather Fischer, 36, who was trapped and badly hurt.

Crull was able to pull Fischer through a side window to safety. Seconds later, the car’s engine exploded.  Fischer was taken to the hospital.

The driver of the car who crashed into Fischer, Arturo Casimiro, 46, was arrested and taken to the Hancock County Jail. He’s been charged with two DUIs and one count of Driving While Suspended.

For the better part of nine months, New Palestine Town Council member Angie Fahrnow warned fellow council members not once, not twice, but on many instances about potential nepotism issues between clerk-treasurer Tonii Pyle and former town manager David Book, who was Pyle’s father-in-law.

In the end, the council learned its lesson as Pyle has officially tendered her resignation in a move that will still cost the town and continues a fractured relationship between town leaders and Pyle.

In a statement, Pyle, who delivered her resignation to Hancock County Clerk Lisa Lofgreen, said that her office had tried to bridge a gap with the current town council.

“For the last nine months, the clerk-treasurer’s office has been trying to bridge a gap to create a healthy work environment with the current town council that the town employees and voters expect and deserve. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen. Pursuant to Indiana Code 5-8-3.5-1, Notification is being presented to the Hancock County Clerk of Courts of my resignation of the office of the New Palestine Clerk Treasurer, effective 9/9/2020,” Pyle wrote.

The town will now have to select someone to fill the remaining years on Pyle’s term. The position will be advertised and town council will be holding public interviews September 23 at 7:00 p.m. Pyle ran unopposed for the clerk-treasurer position in 2019 after working under former clerk-treasurer Becky Hilligoss.

The resignation comes on the heels of the discovery that Pyle had abandoned her office earlier this month, cleaning it out and locking up important town files in a cabinet the town does not have a key for. In addition, the council discovered the town’s employees were not paid on time.

While Fahrnow voiced concerns multiple times, she took no joy in the resignation, telling Giant FM she does not feel good about the situation.

“I never feel good about situations like this because in the end the town is the one paying the price. Furthermore, I don’t feel good about the fact that several unanswered questions remain. There is still town property we do not have back. I am upset that she got away with as much as she did. I am ready to move forward and put a positive light back on our small community and focus on the things that are important for this town,” Fahrnow said.

A source speaking with Giant FM on the condition of anonymity said Pyle deleted all of the town’s payroll documents, including the backup and then scrubbed the computer.

“She deleted it all. Council is missing files, signed ordinances and checks,” the source told Giant FM.

The resignation could bring about an end to what has been a frosty relationship between council and the clerk-treasurer’s office.

Earlier this year, the council voted in favor of censuring Pyle.  In making the motion, councilman Bill Niemier laid out several issues the council has had with Pyle since January, alleging that Pyle has “engaged in conduct and actions that are contrary to, and directly interfere with, the orderly functioning of Town business.”

“The residents of New Palestine deserve better and such deficiencies need to be documented. If Tonii Pyle were an employee of the Town, I would be moving that her employment be terminated, but that is not an available option as she is an elected official. Therefore, my motion, based upon these facts and circumstances, is that the Town Council formally censure Tonii Pyle. Although there may be few practical implications from being formally censured, and the same cannot and does not remove Tonii Pyle from her elected position as the Clerk-Treasurer, such motion does in fact create a formal and permanent record of Tonii Pyle’s failure to properly perform the functions of her elected office,” Niemier said shortly before the vote.

At that meeting, council voted 3-2 in favor of censuring Pyle. Fahrnow and Brandee Bastin joined Niemier in favor of voting yes, while council members Bledsoe and Jarson voted no.
Then last month, the town council learned Pyle had locked several town officials out of the town’s digital financial database as work began on the 2021 budget.

At the time, Fahrnow said by Pyle locking department heads out of the programs, it creates more work.

“It’s an extra inconvenient step to have her print for the department heads, but we continue to find ways to keep moving past the obstacles. She has cost the town thousands of dollars getting help to do her job. That isn’t even including her requested attorney fees,” Fahrnow told Giant FM.

To further complicate matters, town officials also discovered that Pyle, former clerk-treasurer Becky Hilligoss, former town manager Dave Book and current council member Jan Jarson all played a role in modifications to the town’s employee handbook pertaining to return to work provisions for employees returning from medical leave.

The changes include alternate job descriptions for light duties with medical exceptions. It is believed Hilligoss put the changes in the handbook.

Fahrnow again said she was disappointed, but not surprised.

“There were a lot of things that were being done behind Clint Bledsoe and Brandee Bastin’s back,” Fahrnow said, adding there is documentation stating that Jarson was aware of the changes.

And, there is a current investigation by the Indiana State Police regarding ghost employment and allegations that Pyle illegally obtained signatures on her petition to run for office while working and using town property.

Fahrnow said she hopes positives will come out of everything the town has dealt with.

“I hope that all of this has brought to light the bigger picture, which is the amount of control the state of Indiana gives to the clerk treasurer and the damage they can do to a town. You can have no financial background and run for clerk-treasurer and not be responsible for any of your mistakes. There should be better laws in place or it should be moved to an appointed position,” Fahrnow said. 

The Greenfield Police Department continues to investigate the death of a resident after being dispatched Tuesday to Greenfield Granite Co. Inc, 952 West Main St., Greenfield.

Upon arrival, officers located a 50-year-old female deceased at the business. The woman was later identified as Amie Strohl, owner. According to Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche, Strol was found inside the business shortly after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and had died from a gunshot wound.

The Greenfield Police are investigating everything concerning her death, including the possibility that she took her own life. In a news release, the department stated no signs of foul play had been found and there was no concerns for danger to the public.

According to court records, Strohl was to have appeared in Hancock County Superior Court 2 for a civil case. In addition, she was a defendant in another case brought forward by IMC Credit Services. Court records show that a judgement was granted to IMC Credit Services after Strohl did not show for several appearances.

The Greenfield Police also confirmed they were engaged in an active investigation against Stohl, but no criminal charges had been filed.