Autopsy results are inconclusive in death of Johnson County inmate.

Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess says notification has been made to family members reference the death of inmate Aneesa Lynn Robbins, 31, of Indianapolis.

An autopsy was performed by the Johnson County Coroner’s Office. The initial exam was inconclusive but toxicology information will take six to eight weeks.

Members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division interviewed all inmates who were housed with Robbins. Jail video is also being reviewed. At this time no foul play is suspected in the death and no physical harm has been uncovered or is suspected.

The investigation is continuing and further review will be conducted upon receipt of the toxicology results.

Heavy, wet snow is supposed to fall across Indiana throughout the weekend, says the National Weather Service.

“What we are looking at is a strong system moving in during the day on Saturday. We’re looking at snow Saturday night and maybe some rain Sunday then back to snow Sunday night,” said Crystal Petit, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. “For Indianapolis, we’re looking at anywhere between two and four inches of snow. Right now, we’re anticipating the heaviest snow falling north of Indianapolis.”

The heaviest snow is expected to fall in the northern parts of the state.

“By the time it’s all said and done, probably a large part of northern Indiana will see anywhere between 5 and 9 inches,” said Patrick Murphy, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana. “It’ll be pretty widespread. The primary access of heaviest snow is expected to be probably on either side of U.S. 30.”

Both meteorologists say the storm should completely move out by Monday morning. They say heavy and wet snow can bring hazards.

“If that snow collects on the trees and doesn’t fall off in rather short order, you could be looking at some tree damage which could also cause some power outages. You’d also be looking at travel difficulties. There will be slick roads that people need to watch out for,” said Petit.

Murphy agreed with both of those points and added something else.

“This heavy wet snow also means snow removal won’t be easy,” said Murphy.

The American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling snow and to seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack.

Murphy said skies will begin to clear Monday.

“It will be fairly quiet for a few days then there will be a system moving in later in the week. That system won’t be as strong,” said Murphy.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Saturday evening through Sunday evening for much of central and all of northern Indiana. 

Hoosier public school students could start classes after Labor Day if a bill being discussed in the State Senate becomes law.

A bill being proposed by State Senators Dennis Kruse, Jean Leising, and Linda Rogers would prohibit public schools from beginning classes before the Tuesday after Labor Day, the first Monday in September.

The new rule would be in place for the 2022-2023 school year.

The bill allows for certain schools, including year-round schools and schools with balanced calendars, to start school before Labor Day.

Opponents to similar bills in the past have argued that it should be up to individual school districts to determine when classes begin.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of a female inmate.

On Thursday, Johnson County Correctional Officers were summoned by other inmates reporting an unresponsive inmate. Correctional staff immediately began CPR on the inmate until Franklin Fire/Rescue and Seals Ambulance Service arrived. Medics and members of the Sheriff’s Office continued CPR for several minutes but the attempts were unsuccessful. The inmate was pronounced dead at the jail.

The Johnson County Coroner Michael Pruitt and Sheriff’s Office investigators are conducting an ongoing investigation.

Ten Walmart stores in Indiana are now offering the COVID-19 vaccine to Hoosiers age 70 and older.

Other states with Walmart stores offering the vaccine include Georgia, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Louisiana.

The coronavirus shot is now available at the following Walmart locations:

- Columbus: 735 Whitfield Drive
- Greenwood: 1133 N. Emerson Rd.
- Lafayette: 2347 Veterans Memorial Parkway South
- Michigan City: 5780 Franklin St.
- Mishawaka: 316 Indian Ridge Blvd.
- Muncie: 1501 E. 29th Street
- New Castle: 3167 S. State Road 3
- Noblesville: 16865 Clover Rd.
- Terre Haute: 2399 S. State Rd. 46
- Warsaw: 2501 Walton Blvd.

Appointments can be scheduled online through ourshot.in.gov.

The Indiana House of Representatives recently voted in support of legislation to fully fund all K-12 public school students for the 2020-21 school year, regardless of whether students attended classes in-person or virtually due to COVID-19, according to State Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville).

Eberhart said the pandemic caused many traditional public schools to shift from in-person classes to remote learning. Under current law, schools receive 85% of tuition support per virtual student, which is defined as a child learning 50% or more of their instruction online.

This means many schools would qualify for the lower funding amount because of moving classes online. This legislation, which now advances to the Senate for consideration, would help mitigate requirements under current law and allow K-12 public schools to receive 100% funding for each student, whether they attended classes in-person or virtually.

"This proposal is quickly working its way through the legislative process," Eberhart said. "We know Indiana schools deserve to be fully funded after working hard to educate our students during the pandemic." 

One man injured and now a shooting investigation for Bartholomew County law enforcement.

About 5:32 am Wednesday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 9400 block of Main Street, Taylorsville.

On arrival, a male, identified as Justin Black, was located with a bullet wound to his stomach.  Black, was transported to an Indianapolis hospital via Lifeline.

The suspected shooter was detained and, although several streets were closed, there was no threat to the public.  Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers wants the public, especially parents of students at Taylorsville Elementary, to know that BCSO was in contact with school SRO’s (School Resource Officers) and school officials at all times during the incident to make sure they were kept informed and knew that it was safe for students to come to school.

The investigation is ongoing.

“This call came in at 5:32 a.m. and deputies were on scene at 5:39 a.m.” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers.  “Within minutes the scene was secured and the victim was receiving aid.  The weapon was secured and the suspected shooter is cooperating with law enforcement," added Sheriff Myers.

“I want to commend BCSO Sergeant Jarod Aspenson, who was first to arrive, did an excellent job getting this situation under control, getting aid for the victim and getting the scene secured," said Sheriff Myers.

An inmate who escaped from the Hancock County Jail earlier this month is back behind bars.

Tyrell Deshawn White, 22, was found by police in Indianapolis on Thursday, Jan. 21, in the area of 30th Street and Graham and Graham Avenue, the Hancock Co. Sheriff's Office said.

He is being held in the Hancock County Jail, where he faces additional charges for escape.

White escaped from jail officers while taking trash out to a dumpster on Jan. 10. Investigators believe White had someone waiting in a nearby vehicle to help him escape.

White had been in the jail awaiting trial on multiple charges stemming from a July 2020 arrest by the Fortville Police Department. He also had an outstanding warrant out of Marion County for armed robbery and theft.

There's another legislative debate over forms of cannabis that aren't marijuana.

Indiana legalized CBD oil three years ago. Shelbyville Representative Sean Eberhart wants to apply the same standard to the hemp flower: it's legal as long as the THC content is minimal.

Eberhart says hemp is projected to be a quarter-billion-dollar industry within four years, and says Indiana farmers and retailers should be able to compete with neighboring states for a slice of that pie.

But State Police oppose the bill, saying it would make Indiana's marijuana laws unenforceable. Since hemp flower and marijuana look and smell the same, only the THC content would separate legal from illegal, making it the only drug subject to a quantitative lab analysis.

Current law addresses that issue by limiting hemp to licensed processors -- if you don't have a license, there's a presumption you've broken the law, regardless of the lab test.

A similar objection sank Eberhart's last attempt to legalize hemp in 2019. Eberhart says a new Purdue-developed field test can solve that problem. But prosecutors also oppose the bill, saying that test hasn't been ruled admissible in court yet.

The bill failed at a Monday committee hearing when no one seconded a motion to pass it, but the proposal could still come back for another try.

The sausage in your fridge could be part of a new recall. 

Bob Evans is recalling about 4,200 pounds of raw pork sausage because it could be contaminated with pieces of thin, blue rubber.

The recall includes 1-lb tubes of sausage that are labeled "Bob Evans Italian Sausage." The products have a lot code of 0352 and a "USE/FRZ BY" date of Jan. 31.

The recalled sausage was shipped to stores in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Bob Evans did not say how the rubber pieces ended up in the sausage products.

If you have any of the recalled sausage, you should throw it away or return it to the store.

Development of the I-74 corridor in Shelby County is getting county government leaders focus at Pleasant View.

County commissioner Chris Ross says the recent moves by that governing body is with the interest of a potential developer in mind.

But the commissioner notes that even if the current developer’s project doesn’t come to fruition that Shelby County needs to ready the site.

The Pleasant View exit has already seen growth with recent additions.

The Bartholomew County Jail is on lockdown after nearly half of the jail's inmates and four employees tested positive for coronavirus.

A team with the Indiana Department of Health visited the jail over the weekend to test the inmates and found that 91 of 211 inmates were positive for the virus, according to The Republic newspaper.

Four inmates refused to be tested and were put in quarantine, according to jail officials.

The jail is locked down and will continued to be locked down until at least the end of February, reports The Republic. No one has been allowed in the jail for months, except for the attorneys of inmates. Under the current conditions, not even attorneys will be allowed inside.

Jail officials say medical staff are monitoring all inmates and are on call 24/7.

Two Fortville police officers rescued two kids from a house fire over the weekend. 

It happened in the 9200-block of North County Road 400 West in Hancock County on Saturday.  The Fortville Police Department says three officers responded to the home when they home heard about the fire at the two-story home. 

Two of the officers, identified in a Facebook post by the department as Officer Kessinger and Officer Lockhart, forced their way inside the home after they were unable to determine if anyone was inside. They found two kids asleep in a bedroom upstairs. They woke them up and rushed them out of the home to safety, investigators say. 

"Officer Kessinger and Lockhart's quick actions and disregard for their own personal safety led to the rescue of 2 juveniles," the department's Facebook post read. "Their actions reflect great credit upon themselves and the Fortville Police Department."

The Vernon Township Fire Department said the improper disposal of ashes from a wood burning stove are what started the fire. 

National Trade Supply (NT Supply), a national supplier of air and water filter products, announced plans today to expand its Greenwood operations. The company, which has already significantly ramped up its hiring with 43 new team members added in 2020, plans to create up to another 43 new jobs by the end of 2024.

"NT Supply's growth in Indiana is admirable, from its early starts with one e-commerce site, to now a national brand of multiple highly specialized e-commerce sites," said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. "Indiana's supportive business environment encourages companies like NT Supply to expand operations and create more quality job opportunities for Hoosiers."

NT Supply will invest nearly $4.9 million to expand its operations at 2011 Southtech Dr. in Greenwood, growing within its existing facility, acquiring a 143,000-square-foot facility adjacent to its current facility, and purchasing additional manufacturing equipment and automation to increase production and fulfillment capacity. The company completed the building acquisition in June 2020 and is fully operational in the new space. 

"Demand for cleaner air and water and, therefore, our products had been steadily growing for years, and we continually found ways to safely and efficiently operate from a single facility," said Todd Kenworthy, COO of NT Supply. "It became clear we couldn’t continue to serve our customers and employees properly without adding square footage to our vision. When we considered our options to expand, we decided to remain in Johnson County because of the friendly business environment, welcoming community, low cost of living, access to a talented labor pool and easy interstate access."

The company, which currently employs 157 associates in Greenwood and 167 at retail locations throughout the state and U.S., is currently recruiting for manufacturing, fulfillment and clerical positions. Interested applicants may apply online.

Founded as a HVAC e-commerce site in 2002, NT Supply has transformed into a group of specialized and diverse e-commerce sites including FilterOutlet.com, DFfilterPro.com and flagship site DiscountFilters.com featuring its AirX and ClearChoice filter brands. DF Filter Pro also offers retail locations for mechanical contractors and homeowners in Greenwood and throughout Indiana and Illinois. The company's goal is to offer products that provide comfort, clean air, clean water and energy efficiency at affordable prices. NT Supply has been named by the Indianapolis Business Journal as one of the 25 Fastest-Growing Indianapolis Area Private Companies, secured spots on Inc. 500's America's Fastest Growing Companies list and Indiana’s Best Places to Work program as well as the Internet Retailer Top 500.

“NT Supply is a true Greenwood success story,” said Greenwood Mayor Mark W. Myers. “The company has experienced tremendous growth and success since its founding here in 2002. It’s no surprise to see them continuing on an upward trajectory. We appreciate the investment and share their confidence in Greenwood’s future economic strength.”

Indiana is a leader in manufacturing, with 8,500 manufacturing facilities and the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the nation. In 2020, 145 manufacturers committed to investing more than $3.75 billion to grow their operations here and create up to 17,792 new Hoosier jobs (+23% from 2019) with average salaries above the state’s average wage. 

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered National Trade Supply LLC up to $640,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s plans to create up to 86 new jobs by the end of 2024. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. The city of Greenwood supports the project in partnership with Aspire Johnson County.

The Shelbyville Boys and Girls Club annual Winter Festival is going virtual this year.  The event is a major fundraiser for the club with a grand prize of $5000.

Executive Director Scott Spahr talks about the plans for the Covid-impacted event.

The link to the club's Facebook page to watch it live starting at 7:00 pm with the drawing beginning at 8:00 pm.  The silent auction will end around 9:00 pm.  Winners will be announced on air. 

https://www.facebook.com/Shelbyville-Boys-Girls-Club-211107965590449

The Indiana Department of Education has released graduation rates for high schools and districts across Indiana. 

While a global pandemic altered the 2019-20 school year, graduation numbers rose in the state from 87.69 percent to 87.29 percent. The rate reflects the State Board of Education's waiver of the Graduation Qualifying Exam for the class of 2020, which was not given, along with other statewide tests, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In Shelby County, all four school districts had a graduation rate higher than the state average. 

Southwestern Consolidated had the highest graduation rate in the county, as 50 of 52 students graduated for a 96.15 percent graduation rate.

Right behind them was Northwestern Consolidated, which had a graduation rate of 93.46 percent as 100 of 107 students graduated.

Shelbyville Central Schools had the third best graduation rate in the county, as 248 students out of 269 graduated for a 92.19 percent graduating.

Shelby Eastern Schools had a graduation rate of 87.34 percent as 69 out of 79 students graduated. 

Within Shelby Eastern Schools, Morristown Junior-Senior High School posted a 93.18 percent graduation rate, as 41 of 44 students graduated. At Waldron, the graduation rate was 80 percent. 

While Shelby County's main school districts did well, the Excel Center did not. The Excel Center had the lowest graduation rate in Shelby County. A total of 16 students out of 55 graduated for a total of 29.09 percent. 

A shipment of COVID-19 vaccines that arrived in a central Indiana county already thawed prompted officials to briefly offer the shots to people not yet eligible for the vaccine.

The Johnson County Health Department and Johnson Memorial Hospital received 957 already thawed Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines late last week. Officials had to act fast because that vaccine can be stored thawed for only up to five days under U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance.

The county’s health department briefly opened the vaccine to the general public. While the vaccine eligibility was widened, the goal remained to vaccinate those most at risk, department director Betsy Swearingen said.

The vaccines were administered Thursday through Saturday, within the window recommended by the FDA and the manufacturer, Swearingen told the (Franklin) Daily Journal.

Currently, under state guidelines, the only Hoosiers eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine are first responders, health care workers and individuals age 70 and older.

Some individuals not meeting those guidelines or not at increased risk from COVID-19 received the vaccines. Swearingen said her department doesn’t have statistics about how many such people received vaccines.

However, she said most of the thawed vaccines were given to people age 50 and older and those with medical conditions that put them at risk for a poor outcome if they contract COVID-19.

Shelbyville Police are actively investigating a robbery at the AT&T store, and officials believe the crime may be connected to one that took place recently in Greenfield. 

According to Shawn Bennett, deputy chief of detectives for the Shelbyville Police Department, officers arrived Thursday at the business for a robbery call and found two employees, who were uninjured. 

The suspects were described as two black males. 

The robbery comes on the heels of a similar incident that happened at the AT&T Store, 1346 N. State St., Greenfield. Upon arrival at that case, police were advised two black male suspects entered the store and alerted those inside the store that it was being robbed. 

At the time, Greenfield Police Captain Michael Schwamberger told Giant FM, the department is looking into the possibility of this incident being related to other cell phone store robberies in the Indianapolis area. 

"As of right now, we don't have any evidence or indication that this is related to some of our other recent robberies in the Greenfield area. Several robbery rings -- not all -- in the past have shown us that groups of suspects will stick with a certain type of location i.e. banks, cell phone stores, fast food restaurants, etc. when they commit robberies. Lots of times, they start out in major cities and eventually spread out to surrounding communities. This robbery could be the case in that scenario based on the amount of cell phone store robberies that Indianapolis has experienced lately," he said. 

Bennett told Giant FM Friday morning the Shelbyville Police believe the suspects in the Greenfield and Shelbyville robberies are the same individuals. 

Anyone with information in the Shelbyville case is asked to please contact Detective Deborah Tilford with the Shelbyville Police Department at 317-392-5117.

Anyone with any information on the Greenfield case is asked to call the Greenfield Police Department at 317-477-4410. 

Robert Lewis with the Shelby County Health Department says they are preparing Shelbyville's Occasions Banquet Hall to serve as a vaccine clinic. 

Opening is targeted for the early days in February.

On Nov. 18, 2020, Keihin IPT Manufacturing in Greenfield became eligible to apply for benefits and services through the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

TAA is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). TAA assists workers who have lost their jobs due to foreign trade, and anyone affected can seek help at their local WorkOne center.

Keihin IPT Manufacturing, a manufacturer of automotive parts, laid off 23 workers in July 2020. Any Keihin worker who was laid off on or after July 24, 2019, and before Nov. 18, 2022, may be eligible to apply for TAA benefits.

TAA services and benefits include:

• Training—pays 100% of all required training costs
• Income support—up to 130 weeks of income-support payments
• Job search and relocation allowances—reimbursement of 90% of allowable costs to travel to a job-search activity or relocation for new employment
• Wage subsidy—for workers age 50 and older up to $10,000
• Health care tax credit—IRS tax credit of 72.5% of qualifying monthly health care premiums

Many benefits are time sensitive. Workers have up to 26 weeks from their certification date, or 26 weeks from their separation date (whichever is later) to enroll in training to receive income support benefits.

For more information about the TAA program, please visit: https://www.in.gov/dwd/taa/ or call 317-914-7323 or email TradeActPetitions@dwd.IN.gov.

Shelbyville Police report that they were dispatched to the AT&T store at 2584 East State Road 44 for a robbery.  Two employees were at the store and werenot injured in the incident Thursday morning.

The suspects were not located in an initial search of the area.  Police have only released the description as being two black males.

Police did not report if anything was taken.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Deborah Tilford with the Shelbyville Police Department at 317-392-5117.

An Interlocal Agreement for the Emergency Communications Department received the go-ahead from the Shelbyville Common Council Wednesday.

The city and Shelby County will enter into the agreement that will end with the county in charge of the service in a few years.

City attorney Jenny Meltzer.

Shelbyville and Shelby County have been studying for some time what to do with the dispatch / 911 service.  At one point, the possibility of a regional service based in Hancock County was discussed.

Mayor Tom DeBaun.

Consultant Barry Ritter on how they’ve reached this point.

Ritter says there is still evaluation to be done to set the future.

New director Jason Abel on establishing a service that will offer greater aid to fire dispatches.

The city joined county government entities in approving the interlocal agreement.

A Shelbyville child’s life was not long.  Just two hours.  His impact will be felt on lives for years to come.

Mason Ray Fletcher, aged 2 hours, passed away Sunday at Methodist Hospital.  

The obituary notice from Glenn E. George & Son Funeral Home states that Mason was the very first infant donor at Methodist Hospital. His organs were donated to help save the lives of six other babies. 

Survivors include his parents of Shelbyville;  2 brothers and 2 sisters; grandparents- Jack & Mary Maxwell of Indianapolis, David & June Neeley of Shelbyville; and several aunts and uncles. 

He was preceded in death by a brother Jacob Fletcher.

A private graveside service will be held at Van Pelt Cemetery.

Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com

For the second consecutive year, Indiana State Senator Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, is taking aim at those who commit domestic violence. 

Crider, who represents a portion of Shelby County, is the author of Senate Bill 79. The bill is aimed to enhance the penalty for domestic violence involving strangulation. The bill would make domestic battery a Level 4 felony if the suspect has a previous conviction involving strangulation of a member of the same household. 

Normally, domestic violence charges are a Level 5 or Level 6 felony. 

Crider told Giant FM this bill is an important one, especially to the victims of domestic violence. 

"We know that when violence reaches that level, really bad things happen so I am trying to get the penalty at a level someone doesn't just bond out and go right back into a volatile situation," Crider said. 

Over the years, Crider has worked on legislation aimed at victims of violent crimes, including rape. Last year, Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law a bill that extends the statute of limitations in rape or sexual assault cases by five years past the age of 31 if there is new DNA evidence discovered or video recording is found or if the person who committed the offense confesses. 

Crider says a main reason why his legislation continually getting passed and signed into law has to do with his developing a reputation inside the Statehouse. 

"I think I've developed a reputation. That makes it easier. Being part of leadership may help a bit, but I work on some tough issues and I fight pretty hard for them, so my success rate is pretty high," Crider told Giant FM. 

The Mega Millions jackpot just keeps growing.

No one won Tuesday night's drawing, which means the jackpot for the next drawing is worth $970 million, the biggest jackpot in more than two years. 

Tuesday night's winning numbers were: 10-19-26-28-50 and a Mega Ball of 16.

Also worth more than $700 million dollars is tonight's Powerball drawing, which has a jackpot of $730 million.

It's the first time both lottery jackpots have topped $700 million

Shelby County has a new county historian.
 
New Shelby County Historian William Aughe has been researching genealogies for more than 15 years across Indiana and Kentucky. He is a member of the Grover Center Museum and Historical Society and Shelby County Genealogical Society as well as other organizations.

Recently, Aughe served as a volunteer for the Irvington Historical Society and on the boards of the Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation and the Historic Irvington Community Council.
 
In addition, a number of other Indiana county historians have been reappointed to new three-year terms, beginning January 1, 2021. Those county historians include:
 
Decatur County - Russell Wilhoit
Johnson County - Max Fitzpatrick
 
The Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau thank all Indiana county historians for their service and dedication to local history.
 
In 1981, through an effort to improve the historical communication network in the state, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau established the Indiana County Historian Program.
 
County historians serve as volunteers appointed by the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Historical Bureau to promote local history in their counties, connect individuals and groups with history resources, promote collaboration between local history organizations and maintain connections with the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Historical Bureau.

More than 762,000 pounds of pepperoni Hot Pockets are being recalled by Nestlé Prepared Foods, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The frozen stuffed sandwiches are being recalled because they may be contaminated with pieces of glass and hard plastic. 

At least four people have complained about the product, including one person who reported a "minor oral injury", the USDA said.

The recall is for 54-ounce packages of 12 “Nestlé Hot Pockets Brand Sandwiches: Premium Pepperoni". Recalled boxes have a best-before date of Feb. 2022 and lot codes of 0318544624, 0319544614, 0320544614 and 0321544614.

The boxes also have the establishment number "EST. 7721A" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Anyone who has the recalled Hot Pockets should not eat them and should throw them away or return them to the store.

An Edinburgh man died Sunday night in a crash in Columbus.

Musa Rahmani, 53, died of blunt force trauma to the head and chest, according to the Bartholomew County Coroner's Office.

Police say Rahmani was a passenger in a Buick Rendezvous SUV that lost control while traveling on northbound U.S. 31 near Indianapolis Road. The Buick crossed the center line and hit an SUV and Rahmani was thrown from the vehicle.

The driver of the semi was not hurt.  The driver of the Buick was taken to an Indianapolis hospital.

Police are still investigating.

Indiana native and Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer faces multiple charges in connection to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The musician from Columbus, Indiana, turned himself in to authorities around 3 p.m. Sunday, the FBI confirms.

FBI Indianapolis on Sunday night said, “Jon Schaffer, Columbus, IN, has been arrested in connection to Jan 6 incident at the U.S. Capitol. Schaffer faces 6 charges including engaging in an act of physical violence in a Capitol building. Schaffer was allegedly among rioters who sprayed Capitol police with ‘bear spray.'”

Schaffer is charged with:

- Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority
- Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business
- Knowingly Engages in an Act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in any Restricted Building or Grounds
- Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Engage in an Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building
- Parade, Demonstrate, or Picket in a Capitol Building

Authorities say Schaffer was photographed and seen on surveillance video carrying “bear spray” and arguing with Capitol Police officers inside the Capitol. In images captured from the riot, Schaffer can be seen wearing a baseball cap that says “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member.” The Oath Keepers described themselves as a militia of former law enforcement and military personnel.

According to a court filing, Schaffer attended the Nov. 14, 2020, Million MAGA March in Washington wearing the same blue sweatshirt he wore at the Capitol and during that march told a member of the press:  My name’s Jon Schaffer, I’m from Indiana. A group of thugs and criminals hijacked this country a long time ago. And now they’re making their big move, and it’s not gonna happen. . . People need to wake up and snap out of the Matrix, because they’re going down. They made the move, they’re messing with the wrong people here, trust me on that. And we needed it to be open like this. Open fraud. Open theft. Because now we see you, and you’re going down, mark my words.

When asked about possible violence at the protest, Schaffer said, “if somebody wants to bring violence, I think there’s a lot of us here that are ready for it. We don’t want that, but if
they bring it we’re going to respond to that, trust me,” according to the court filing.

The court filing says he went on to tell the press at the November march: “We’re not going to merge into some globalist, communist system, it will not happen. There will be a lot of bloodshed if it comes down to that, trust me. The American people will not go for that bulls–t once they understand what’s actually happening. So that’s where we’re at. Nobody wants this, but they’re pushing us to a point where we have no choice.”

After being photographed at the Jan. 6 riot, Schaffer was quickly identified as a member of the band Iced Earth.

In the days following the riot, Iced Earth bassist Luke Appleton posted a message from the band on social media condemning the riot and the violence.

We want to thank those of you who have sent words of support in recent days. Some of you have been concerned by our silence, which we understand. We needed some time to properly process the information and find out some facts before we made a statement.

We absolutely DO NOT condone nor do we support riots or the acts of violence that the rioters were involved in on January 6th at the US Capitol building. We hope that all those involved that day are brought to justice to be investigated and answer for their actions.

With broken hearts we are sending our love and compassion to everyone who has felt pain from the events on January 6th. We are deeply saddened and our hearts go out to the families of the lives lost that day. There are really no proper words to console. Just know we are with you in your shock, grief and pain. Much love to you all. Stu, Luke, Jake, Brent

Iced Earth was formed by Schaffer in 1985, according to the band’s website.

A New Palestine woman is dead following a car accident Sunday morning that had U.S. 52 closed for several hours.

According to the Hancock County Sheriff's Department, Peggy Brune, 69, New Palestine was transported to Methodist Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Deputies responded to calls of a head on collision in the 2800 block of West U.S. 52 for a two-vehicle, head-on crash involving a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox occupied by two adult males, and a 2012 Ford Escape occupied by one female driver. All parties involved were transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

The Ford Escape, driven by Brune was traveling eastbound on U.S. 52. The Chevrolet Equinox was traveling west bound on U.S. 52. The vehicles were approaching each other when the Chevrolet Equinox apparently crossed the centerline into the path of the Ford Escape.

Evidence at the scene indicates Ford Escape tried to move to the shoulder of the road to avoid a collision. The impact occurred in the eastbound lane of U.S. 52. The reason the Chevrolet Equinox crossed into the path of the Ford Escape has not been determined. Roads were wet and there was snow at the time. 

The driver and passenger of the Chevrolet Equinox were transported to Methodist with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was identified as Michael L. Wilcox, 66, Fountaintown. The passenger was identified as the driver’s adult son, Michael A. Wilcox, 45, Fountaintown. 

Major Health Partners (MHP) began offering COVID-19 vaccines to Hoosiers aged 70 and older as well as healthcare workers and first responders, on Friday, Jan. 15. The COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is located in the lower level of the MHP Medical Center at 2451 Intelliplex Drive in Shelbyville.  Patients should use Entrance 2 (main entrance) and will be directed by a member of the MHP staff on where to go from there.   

Appointments are required.

The COVID Vaccine Clinic will be open noon to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Appointments can be scheduled on the state’s website at www.ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211.  You do not have to be an MHP patient to receive a vaccine at this clinic, which will have the capacity to administer more than 190 vaccines a day.

Patients need to bring a photo ID with their date of birth and their insurance card (if they have one). While the Covid 19 vaccine is free to everyone, providing us with your insurance information allows the State to bill insurance companies or Medicare an administrative fee. 

“We have been eagerly anticipating this day for many months and are thrilled to join hospitals, community pharmacies and other health care facilities across the state to begin protecting Hoosiers from the COVID-19 virus,” said Linda Wessic, MHP Vice President and CNO.  “True to our mission to improve the health and health care of our community, we are committed to offering our resources and talents to support the Indiana State Department of Health in vaccinating as many Hoosiers as possible as quickly as possible.”

MHP’s front-line employees began receiving the first doses on December 18, 2020, but they had to travel to Hancock County to get them.  “I’m pleased that nearly 400 employees have received their first dose and of those, about 175 have already received the second and final dose of the Pfizer vaccine, providing them with 95% immunity from the virus,” said Dr. Paula Gustafson, MHP Chief Medical Officer and pediatrician. “This will help ensure our care teams are healthy and available to care for the patients who need our advanced skills and expertise.”

Through careful and strategic planning, the MHP pharmacy, operational and patient care teams developed an efficient process for administering and documenting vaccines. As supplies of vaccines increase, MHP plans to continue its partnership with the Health Department to expand its services as needed to ensure the most vulnerable people across the state have access to the vaccine.

To ensure patients get both required doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is necessary for maximum protection, a second appointment will be scheduled for each patient when they receive their first dose.

In consultation with security officials and the leadership of the General Assembly, Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced out of an abundance of caution the state government complex will be closed to the public Tuesday and Wednesday in light of recent national events, threats to other state capitols and COVID-19 restrictions.

There have been no credible threats against the Statehouse.

Per the typical schedule, the Statehouse will be closed for the weekend and Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Additionally, the Governor will virtually deliver his 2021 State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. Details, including broadcast information and access to pool coverage, will be shared at a later date.

The Governor’s weekly COVID-19 briefing will be held Thursday, Jan. 21 at 2:30 p.m.

“The safety and security of our state employees and the Hoosiers who use our state services are always top of mind,” Gov. Holcomb said. “After an evaluation with public safety leaders, we have decided to err on the side of caution and close the state government complex to the public. Hoosiers will still be able to access essential state services online, on the phone, or in-person at branches around the state.”

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray and House Speaker Todd Huston have canceled legislative activity for the week of Jan. 18. Bray and Huston said no committee or session meetings will be held next week, and staff will work remotely until instructed to return to the building.

“This decision was made out of caution and in the best interest of everyone involved in the legislative process,” Huston said. “Public gatherings are a critical component of our democracy, and I pray that any demonstrations are peaceful and respectful of the incredible privilege we all have as Americans to make our voices heard.”

“We have a lot of work to do this session on behalf of Hoosiers, but the safety of every person in the Statehouse is always our number one priority," Bray said. "We trust Superintendent Doug Carter and his team, and at his urging, made the decision to cancel our activities out of an abundance of caution.:

Indiana State Police say they have concluded a death investigation that involved officers with the Greenfield Police Department.

At the conclusion of the Indiana State Police investigation into the death of,David Donelli, 42, of Indianapolis, which began December 15, 2020, the findings were turned over to the Hancock County Prosecutor for review. This is standard procedure in a case such as this. The Hancock County Prosecutor, Brent Eaton, reviewed the findings of the investigation and has determined no criminal charges will be filed related to this incident. 

The three Greenfield Police Officers involved were Patrol Officer Jill Jenkins, Patrol Officer Andrew Pfaff and Lieutenant Matthew Holland. 

Original release

At the request of Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche, the Indiana State Police are investigating a death that occurred December 15, 2020, at approximately 11:45 a.m. in the parking lot of 2055 Barrett Drive, Greenfield, Indiana. The death occurred during the course of a police investigation.

Preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives revealed this incident began when three Greenfield Police Officers located a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the business. Further investigation led the officers to the suspect who was inside the business. During the course of the investigation the suspect fled on foot and ran outside into the parking lot. While chasing the suspect, one officer utilized a less lethal weapon commonly referred to as a taser. After the deployment of the taser, the suspect fell to the ground and struck his head on the concrete. Immediately after he was taken into custody, the officers rendered first aid until paramedics arrived. The adult male was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The Indiana State Police, along with the Hancock County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate this incident. 

The future of Morristown’s First Merchants Bank branch may be down to just months.  

First Merchants has announced an April timeline for the Morristown branch.  Area residents are still fighting to get the word out about how important it is to them to keep it open.

One of those residents is Diane Hannell.  She describes her emotions when she heard that First Merchants intended to consolidate the branch and employees into its Shelbyville facility on Marketplace Boulevard.

Hannell says the community is contacting the bank and more in an effort to prevent the Morristown bank from closing.

This response was provided to GIANT fm News by First Merchants on the closing of their facility in Morristown:

For the past several years, First Merchants has been investing in our vision for a banking delivery transformation that will serve as a catalyst for our company’s future. We are continuing to build on our commitment of meeting the evolving needs of current and prospective clients, while balancing the needs of our communities. First Merchants is embracing the increased utilization of our mobile and online banking services, along with changes in banking center interactions.

On April 20, the Morristown banking center located at 488 West Main Street will consolidate with and into our Shelbyville banking center located at 2350 Marketplace Boulevard.

We welcome clients who use the First Merchants Morristown banking center to access their accounts and bankers at any of our locations, along with a deposit-capable ATM which will remain in the area. First Merchants recognizes the value of our staff, so we are retaining all banking center teammates and helping each teammate find a position at First Merchants.

We believe these changes will allow First Merchants to remain a trusted choice for our clients and communities, attract and retain high-performing teammates, and continue to serve as a reliable and strong investment for our shareholders.

-        First Merchants

Hannell says the community is not satisfied with what they’ve been told.

Hannell says this is more than just keeping convenient banking in town.  It’s about a staff that has always given its personal attention and care to the Morristown community.

Many residents have spoken and written that if this closing happens it will end their affiliation with First Merchants.

A change.org petition that was recently started has over 1, 200 signatures.  You find it at  http://chng.it/vwFDkWXSrj

There's a new police department in town.

Community Health Network has established it's very own police department. The department will be staffed by 60 officers, with former Greenfield Chief of Police John Jester serving as the new police chief of Community Health's police department.

"We're going to have citizens that are proud of it, we're going to have visitors that are proud of it, we're going to have patients that are proud of it, but most importantly for me, I want this to be a program that our caregivers are proud of," Jester said in a video posted to Community Health Network's Facebook page.

Jester continued, "[A program] that they have confidence in, they know we're here to protect them, they know that we're here to provide them with a safe environment, they have enough trust to come to us when there is an issue, and trust that we will handle that issue appropriately."

The department will patrol all of Community Health Network's near 200 sites.

Community Health Network is the latest Hoosier hospital system to establish it's own police department. In 2013, Indiana joined dozens of other states in passing a law allowing hospitals to create their own police force.

An Indiana State Police Sergeant who called Hancock County home has passed away following a battle with brain cancer.

The Indiana State Police is saddened to announce the passing of 25 year Indiana State Police Veteran Sergeant Mitchel "Mitch" Blocher. 

During his career with the Indiana State Police, Sgt. Blocher was a member of the SCUBA team, a SWAT sniper, an investigator and most recently a supervisor for the Electronic Surveillance Unit. More information about his ISP career can be found in the obituary below.

Captain Tony Delello, Indiana State Police Area Five Commander, and longtime friend to Sgt. Blocher said, "Mitch stood strong on his values, to include his family, his faith and his community. His passion for his career and public safety was apparent in every aspect of his life. He worked tirelessly for twenty-five years to ensure safety in his community and beyond. Mitch will be remembered as a loyal leader who was a mentor to many."

The funeral will be available to view  on a live stream Saturday January 16  at 12 p.m. on Nine Star Connect.  www.vimeo.com/ninestar

Obituary for Sgt. Mitchell "Mitch" A. Blocher, provided by Hinsey-Brown Funeral Home

Sgt. Mitchell “Mitch” Alan Blocher, 49, fought the good fight against brain cancer and victoriously finished the race to meet his Savior on January 2, 2021. Mitch was born on June 26, 1971 in Wabash, Indiana to Alan Leroy and Carol Ann (Barton) Blocher.

Immediately after graduating from Ball State University in 1994, Mitch was accepted by the Indiana State Police and attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. He graduated on December 22, 1995 and was sworn in as an Indiana State Trooper on December 24, 1995.

During his 25 years of active service with the Indiana State Police, Mitch served on the Emergency Response Team as a Sniper from 2004-2008 and the Underwater Search & Rescue Team from 1998-2004 and 2009-2013 where he was a Dive Master. In 2012, he was promoted to Sergeant and in 2013 was assigned to the Electronic Surveillance Team where he served as Sergeant until his passing.

For his heroic achievements during his career, Mitch also received many awards and recognitions, including numerous honors from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization, the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators Award in 2010, the Sherlock Award for Fraud Investigation, the US Secret Service Certificate of Appreciation, the US Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to a Prosecution, and the 2010 Indiana State Police Outstanding Investigator of the Year Award.

The brightest part of Mitch’s life began on December 5, 1998 when he married fellow BSU Cardinal, Angeline Sunier. Mitch and Angeline settled in Hancock County and began a family with the birth of their oldest son Samuel “Sam” Ray in 2002. Their youngest son, Joseph “Joey” Henry followed in 2004. Mitch enjoyed spending time camping with his family, having backyard bonfires, grilling out and was a favorite fan at his sons’ athletic & academic events.

An avid runner, Mitch completed the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathon many times and in 2014 was awarded the prestigious 500 Club Award, finishing 267th place overall.

Mitch unreservedly loved people and gave special attention to Eastern Hancock Schools and Wilkinson Church of Christ. He was a founding member of the EH Education Foundation, was invited to the EH Leadership Team and received the Loyal Royal award in 2020 from the EH Athletic Boosters. At WCC, Mitch helped with any and every Men’s Ministry function and was an ever-present welcoming face to each person coming in the door, even during his cancer battle. In 2018, Mitch ran a full marathon with Team World Vision at the Indy Monumental Marathon, raising money for clean water around the globe.

Everything about Mitch, from his life, throughout his sickness, and to his death was ultimately to fulfill his greatest purpose on this earth - to point others to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is nothing that would bring more fulfillment to Mitch’s legacy than for people to meet Jesus through his story. He lived the words of Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)

Mitch is survived by his wife of 22 years, Angeline Blocher; sons, Sam and Joey; mother, Carol Blocher; father, Alan Blocher; sister, Tina (Eric) Menze; brother-in-law, Dane Dawson; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Chip and Tina Sunier.

He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, sister, Tamara Dawson and niece, Emma Menze.

A “File by” visitation will be held on Friday, January 15, 2021 from 4-8 p.m. at Wilkinson Church of Christ, 7293 IN-109, Wilkinson. Please be patient as the church is limited to 50 guests at a time.

Funeral services will be private and by invitation only. Those wishing to view the service via Live Webcast will be able to Saturday, January 16, at 12:00 p.m. that will be broadcast through NineStar (a link will be posted when available). To show love and support to the Blocher family, you may meet at Eastern Hancock Schools parking lot on Saturday at approximately 1:30 p.m. to see the family and funeral procession. (More information to follow.) In addition, there will be a Celebration of Life service at Wilkinson Church of Christ on Saturday, June 26, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, monetary contributions can be made in Mitch’s memory to the Eastern Hancock Education Foundation or Cops for Kids of Indiana, Inc. Edible arrangements will also be accepted.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service Knightstown Chapel. You may express condolences or share a memory of Mitch at www.hinsey-brown.com.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sgt. Mitchell "Mitch" A. Blocher please visit our Sympathy Store.

The name of the shooting victim from a Sunday night incident has been released by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department.  

Joseph A. Harris 39, of Fountaintown, was declared dead at the scene.

No other details have been released in this ongoing investigation.

Below is the original Shelby County Sheriff's Department release on the Sunday incident.

This is the obituary notice for Joseph Harris submitted by Mrphy-Parks

Joseph A. “Joe” Harris, 39, of Fountaintown passed away Sunday, January 10, 2021 at his residence.

He was born October 5, 1981 in Anderson, to Bruce A. Harris and Christina A. (Matthews) Epperson.

Joe attended Morristown Jr/Sr High School.  He enjoyed listening to music, especially Rock N Roll. 

Two of his favorite pastimes were racing and playing video games.  He loved playing sports in his younger years and watching games as he got older.

Joe will be greatly missed by his mother, his sister, Nikki Collins (Darrell Baker) of Greenfield; his step-brother Danny Epperson (wife, Brandi) of Gwynneville; his niece, Mackenzie Collins; his nephews, Dreyton Epperson, Wesley Collins, and Darrell Baker III.  Joe is also survived by his maternal grandmother, Pam Matthews, his uncles, Jeff Matthews, Jason Matthews, and Jamie Matthews (wife, Jennifer), his aunt, Pam Matthews, his former brother-in-law, Ryan Collins, and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bruce, his paternal grandparents, and his maternal grandparents.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Funeral Directors, Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Joe’s family.

Memorial contributions may be given to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Avenue, Ste. 902, New York, NY 10018 or hdsa.org/how-you-can-help/donations.

Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.

Original release

One man is dead from a Sunday night shooting in Shelby County.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department released information about the incident that occurred about 9:40 pm Sunday.  The report of a shooting was at a residence in the 11000 block of North State Road 9.

Upon arrival Shelby County officers found a male, 39, deceased from a gunshot wound. There was a another male ,67,also at  the scene , who was suffering from injuries . That male was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department says they are not currently looking for anyone else involved. The incident is still under investigation at this time. 

Several Hoosiers could have been involved in the riot that happened at the Capitol building in Washington, DC January 6.

So far, no one from Indiana has been charged, but that could change.

"Like FBI field offices across the country, FBI Indianapolis is receiving tips regarding Hoosiers who may have been at the Capitol building in Washington, DC Jan. 6. Any subjects that are arrested/indicted will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, DC," said Christine Bavender, Public Affairs Officer at FBI Indianapolis.

The FBI has shared numerous photos of pictures taken from social media posts of people that breached security at the Capitol. On Tuesday afternoon, Steven D'Antuono, the acting director in charge of the Washington D.C. FBI field office, said they have already received more than 100,000 pieces of digital media.

“I want to stress that the FBI has a long memory and a broad reach, agents and our partners are on the streets investigating leads, not only here in the D.C. area but also across the country in FBI’s 56 field offices,” said D’Antuono. "We are scouring everyone for investigative and intelligence leads, and we continue to ask for more."

To report tips to the FBI, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or send tips to tips.fbi.gov.

Maple Leaf Foods announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenleaf Foods, SPC, a leader in plant protein products, is advancing plans to increase tempeh production capacity through the acquisition and planned build-out of a food processing plant in Indianapolis, Indiana.   

Driven by growing demand for its Lightlife® tempeh products, phase 1 of the Project involves the acquisition of a 118,000 square foot plant in Indianapolis which is expected to close in early April, and the installation of tempeh production equipment with initial capacity of approximately 4.5 million kilograms. The acquisition is subject to typical closing conditions, including completion of due diligence.

Based on early pre-engineering for the build-out of the plant, the estimated cost of the Project, including the acquisition cost, is approximately US $100 million. Initial production at the plant is targeted to begin in the first half of 2022, and when fully operational it will employ approximately 115 people. If demand for tempeh continues as expected, the plant offers the flexibility for the Company to proceed with a second phase of the Project which could include doubling the capacity.

Building additional capacity for tempeh products aligns with the Company's goal of maintaining its market leadership position in this category and is consistent with its strategy to build capacity in support of the high-growth plant protein business through the effective deployment of capital.

"Maple Leaf Foods has been purposeful in executing a multi-tiered strategy focused on capital efficiency. To date, we have found ways to leverage the capacity of our existing plant protein manufacturing assets, while successfully utilizing footprint in the rest of our network," said Michael McCain, President and CEO.  "At this juncture, given the high demand for our tempeh products, this Project offers us the ability to deliver incremental capacity in a cost-effective, timely manner in a location that has synergies with our long-term vision."

In 2019, Maple Leaf Foods announced plans to build a new world-class plant protein facility in nearby Shelbyville, Indiana, but development of that project has been delayed due to a number of factors including challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. By leveraging the opportunity to acquire an existing facility in Indianapolis to fast-track tempeh production, the Company will be able to meet near term, growing demand for tempeh while allowing more time to develop its longer-term vision for Shelbyville.   

About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods is a producer of food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf^®, Maple Leaf Prime^®, Maple Leaf Natural Selections^®, Schneider's^®, Schneiders^®, Country Naturals^®, Mina^®, Greenfield Natural Meat Co.^®, Lightlife^®, Field Roast Grain Meat Co.™ and Swift^®. Maple Leaf employs approximately 13,000 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).

A Columbus police officer was arrested on felony battery and official misconduct charges after an investigation by detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post.

The Columbus Police Department contacted the Indiana State Police on June 17, 2020 and requested an investigation be conducted after an officer allegedly struck a suspect while the suspect was in custody in the back of a Columbus Police vehicle the previous day. 

The investigation by ISP Detectives determined that on June 16, 2020, Officer John Velten, a 14 year veteran of the Columbus Police Department, arrested an adult male after responding to a fight on Indiana Avenue in Columbus.  While handcuffed in the back seat of the police vehicle, the suspect began hitting his head against the interior of the police vehicle.  As a response, Officer Velten struck the suspect with his fist while the suspect was still handcuffed inside of the vehicle.  Officer Velten’s actions caused moderate injuries to the suspect.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was turned over to a special prosecutor to review the case.  As a result, charges of Battery Resulting in Moderate Injury, Level 6 Felony and Official Misconduct-Level 6 Felony were filed against John Velten.  He was arrested Tuesday when he turned himself in to detectives at the Bartholomew County Jail.   

According to the Columbus Police Department, which has been fully cooperative with ISP Detectives, Velten has remained employed with the City of Columbus in a non-law enforcement related capacity since the investigation began.  The Columbus Police Department will be releasing additional information on the status of John Velten’s employment with the City of Columbus.

One man is dead from a Sunday night shooting in Shelby County.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department released information about the incident that occurred about 9:40 pm Sunday.  The report of a shooting was at a residence in the 11000 block of North State Road 9.

Upon arrival Shelby County officers found a male, 39, deceased from a gunshot wound. There was a another male ,67,also at  the scene , who was suffering from injuries . That male was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department says they are not currently looking for anyone else involved. The incident is still under investigation at this time. 

MHP COVID-19 Update                 DATE: January 11, 2021

• UPDATES FROM INCIDENT COMMAND: 

• General update:  Acuity is starting to increase compared to the last several weeks.  We remain busy, but we are able to care for each and every patient that requires our services, whether that is in the Emergency Room or our inpatient units.  Priority Care and our MHP Family and Internal Medicine walk-ins are busy, but manageable.  The State’s positivity rate sits at 16.3% and the rate is 16.58% for Shelby County.     
• Covid Vaccination Clinic at MHP:  Our first vaccine clinic day will be Friday.  Following ISDH guidelines, adults 80+ years of age, Healthcare Workers and First Responders are currently eligible to receive the vaccination.  Registration: www.ourshot.in.gov  Our plan is to vaccinate 4 people every 10 minutes.  We have a sufficient number of volunteers to staff the vaccine clinic.  Both Major and the County Health Department are available sites for vaccination. 
  • Bamlanivimab “Bam” monoclonal drug for Covid treatment.  As of today, we have infused 333 patients with this Eli Lilly monoclonal drug.  We have a sufficient supply of both Regeneron and Bamlanivimab for our current needs. 

• MHP TESTING STATUS:
  • Number of NEW positive results: 82 new positive cases since 1/8/202
  • Out of the 82 new positive cases, 8 patients required inpatient care and 74 remained outpatient.  All testing supplies are good at this time.  Our in-house Covid rapid antigen test started today. 

• MHP EMERGENCY DEPT STATUS:
  • We are busy, but stable in the Emergency Department.   

• MHP INPATIENT STATUS:
  • Current number of 3^rd floor inpatients:  36 and 7 of those patients are in the Critical Care Unit (CCU). 
    • Number of available 3^rd floor beds: 4
  • Currently, we have 19 inpatients that tested positive for COVID.

• VENT STATUS:
  • Number of vents currently in use and number of vents available:
    • We have 5 ventilator(s) in use and 1 BiPAPs in use, 2 trilogy units are in use.  This leaves us with 12 ventilation units available.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an apparent hunting accident that claimed the life of a Columbus man.

About 9:00 am Sunday, officers were dispatched to the area near the 9200 block of South State Road 58 in Columbus after a hunter was found unresponsive by a family member after he failed to return home.

John Walker, 54, of Columbus, was found suffering from a gunshot wound that initial investigation suggests came from an accidental discharge of his firearm. Walker was pronounced dead at the scene.

Exact cause of death is pending autopsy results.

This investigation is still ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.  

Shelbyville High School 2020 graduate Julia Hamblen is taking a gap year to serve as Indiana FFA President.  On Monday, she’ll serve as Master of Ceremonies at a major event.

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Attorney General-elect Todd Rokita will be sworn into office by the Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush during a small, private ceremony at the Indiana State Museum today.

Hamblen talks about receiving the request.

She says a recent interaction with the state offices likely helped lead to this opportunity.

She says there’s some nerves but more excitement.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, the event is closed to the public, but can be viewed online via a livestream: https://vimeo.com/event/356296

Governor Holcomb is directing flags in the State of Indiana to be flown at half-staff to honor United States Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, and all Capitol Police Officers and law enforcement.

Flags should be flown at half-staff immediately until sunset on January 13, 2021.

Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents in Indiana to lower their flags to half-staff.

Businesses fined or closed for violating local pandemic restrictions would get a second avenue for appeal under a bill backed by Senate Republicans.

Charlestown Senator Chris Garten's bill would let businesses appeal a health department violation notice to the county commissioners. The penalty would be on hold until the appeal is resolved. 
President Pro Tem Rod Bray says the bill is one of Senate Republicans' top priorities. He says people affected by the decisions of an unelected health department should be able to turn to officials who are directly answerable to voters.

Garten's bill would give a business two weeks to file an appeal. The commissioners would then have a month to decide whether to hear it. If they don't grant a hearing in that time, the citation stands.

While the commissioners would handle appeals in most counties, there are three exceptions. Indy's UniGov structure would send appeals to the City-County Council. Fishers, Gary and East Chicago have their own health departments, so the city council would hear appeals there. And in the rest of Lake County besides Gary and East Chicago, appeals would go not to the commissioners but the county council.

Businesses can already challenge citations in court -- they could still do that if the council or commissioners rule against them. 

35 of the 39 Republican senators are co-authoring the bill, so it's already got the votes to pass the Senate. The House would consider it in March.

A man was arrested for driving drunk the wrong way on a road in Columbus Friday morning with his child in the truck.

The Columbus Police Department (CPD) said Anthony Harris, 43, of Westport, was going north in the southbound lanes of Central Avenue and nearly hit a CPD officer's car. Police say Harris was stopped and arrested. They say they administered a breathalyzer test and Harris' blood alcohol content was .147, which is well over the legal limit.

The child is okay.

Harris was booked into the Bartholomew County Jail.  

As Shelbyville continues to deal with Covid-19 and the ramifications of the virus, Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun says while there were some successes with how the city dealt with the disease, there is still much work to be done. 

DeBaun told Giant FM the city of Shelbyville did "as well as it could" in 2020 as Indiana Code limited the city on just how much actual authority local leaders have in the midst of a pandemic. 

"Our role was to be a part of the bigger team in gathering and evaluating information and then determining what the best route would be for our facilities," DeBaun said. 

The mayor said city leaders also sent out as much information to the public as possible so the residents would be able to make some of the same decisions, as well as understand why the city was responding the way it did on several matters. Shelbyville also participated in several rounds of small business Covid relief in cooperation with the Office of Rural and Community Affairs to assist anyway it could.

There were some rough moments in 2020 for the city as a result of the pandemic, according to DeBaun. 

"It was unfortunate that we had to suspend some programming and not open some facilities, but I think those were the right decisions. Additionally, we did see some reduction in local tax collections, however, I believe the bigger concern will be mid 2021 and in 2022 based upon how income taxes are collected and distributed," DeBaun told Giant FM.

As the calendar has moved into 2021, DeBaun continues to keep an eye on Covid-19 and continues to offer the same message to citizens -- wash your hands and take the necessary steps to ensure safety. 

"My message is the same as it has been throughout the pandemic -- mask up, maintain the proper social distance and wash your hands frequently. In communicating with Major Health Partners, I don't know that we are at a crisis level yet, but it won't take long to get there if people aren't diligent with these protocols," DeBaun said. 

The Morristown First Merchants banking center is scheduled to consolidate with and into the Shelbyville banking center at 2350 Marketplace Boulevard in April.

Several residents have signed a petition in an effort to keep the bank in the community.

The petition can be found at the following link:

https://www.change.org/p/first-merchants-bank-keep-our-small-town-bank-alive?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=5a702ca0-4eff-11eb-ab5d-037fe6092fdb&fbclid=IwAR1nL0WR7PW76mHojcslMgYVDuR_tOVnKunHS8K_uWky8rRBSnS6Xb0qb_Q

This response provided by First Merchants on the closing of their facility in Morristown:

For the past several years, First Merchants has been investing in our vision for a banking delivery transformation that will serve as a catalyst for our company’s future. We are continuing to build on our commitment of meeting the evolving needs of current and prospective clients, while balancing the needs of our communities. First Merchants is embracing the increased utilization of our mobile and online banking services, along with changes in banking center interactions.

On April 20, the Morristown banking center located at 488 West Main Street will consolidate with and into our Shelbyville banking center located at 2350 Marketplace Boulevard.

We welcome clients who use the First Merchants Morristown banking center to access their accounts and bankers at any of our locations, along with a deposit-capable ATM which will remain in the area. First Merchants recognizes the value of our staff, so we are retaining all banking center teammates and helping each teammate find a position at First Merchants.

We believe these changes will allow First Merchants to remain a trusted choice for our clients and communities, attract and retain high-performing teammates, and continue to serve as a reliable and strong investment for our shareholders.

-        First Merchants

A scammer that has called at least one person in southern Indiana, is going through some trouble to seem like a state police detective, to try and get peoples personal info.

The victim told police they got a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The caller said they were alerting them that their Social Security was being suspended due to fraudulent activity in Texas and that they would soon get a phone call from the Indiana State Police. 

The would-be scammer also provided the number that would call, with the proper 765 area code.  When that phone call came it actually showed up as Indiana State Police.

The state police say neither the Social Security Administration, the IRS, nor the Indiana State Police will ever call requesting personal information over the phone, text, or email. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, or any federal or state agency who asks for personal or financial information, hang-up. 

The Social Security Administration advises reporting suspected fraudulent calls to the Office of the Inspector General at OIG.SSA.GOV. 

State Police say never provide information over the phone about your personal identity, social security number, bank account(s), or credit card number(s) to an unknown caller.

A total of 33,500 Hoosiers age 80 or older registered for free COVID-19 vaccines between 9 and 11:30 a.m. Friday, the first day of eligibility for this age group.

Among those registering, 21,000 people scheduled appointments in the first 90 minutes after registration opened.

Hoosiers can continue to register at https://ourshot.in.gov, by calling 211 or by contacting one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging for help. A caregiver or loved one also may make an appointment on behalf of an eligible senior.

Individuals may encounter wait times due to a high volume of interest. The registration system was designed to put visitors into a holding queue when volume is high. The Indiana Department of Health encourages eligible Hoosiers to be patient or to check back later in the day.

An additional update will be provided later today.

The Greenfield Police are asking for the public's help in solving a robbery that occurred Thursday evening. 

Officers were called to the AT&T Store, 1346 North State St., Greenfield, for a robbery call. Upon arrival, police were advised two suspects entered the store at approximately 7:15 p.m. and alerted those inside the store that it was being robbed. There were no customers in the business at the time and there are no injuries. 

Police have described the suspects as two males armed with a handgun. 

Captain Michael Schwamberger, of the Greenfield Police, tells Giant FM, the department is looking into the possibility of this incident being related to other cell phone store robberies in the Indianapolis area. 

"As of right now, we don't have any evidence or indication that this is related to some of our other recent robberies in the Greenfield area. Several robbery rings -- not all -- in the past have shown us that groups of suspects will stick with a certain type of location i.e. banks, cell phone stores, fast food restaurants, etc. when they commit robberies. Lots of times, they start out in major cities and eventually spread out to surrounding communities. This robbery could be the case in that scenario based on the amount of cell phone store robberies that Indianapolis has experienced lately," he said. 

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Greenfield Police Department at 317-477-4410. 

A Kentucky woman is fighting extradition from Shelby County to face charges in the death of her two year old son.

Jennifer Geiling, 26, of Louisville, Ky, was arrested by local officers on December 30, on a warrant issued out of Jefferson County, Kentucky, on charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Reckless Homicide. 

The Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office filed against her as a Fugitive From Justice, as she is fighting extradition back to Kentucky to face the charges.

According to Kentucky Court Records that obtained by the Shelby County Prosecutor, the charges stem from an incident on May 2, 2019, when Geiling’s 2 year-old son was mauled to death by a pit bull.  According to the report and information from an investigator with the Jefferson County, Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, this not the first time that the pit bull had injured the child, and the pit bull also had a history of aggression against various others as well, up to the point that one neighbor had previously shot at the dog.  It had a history of attacking and biting people, including its owner, and the Louisville Police Department had responded before to calls regarding the aggressive dog. 

The report indicates that on May 2, 2019, another woman was lying on a bed and watching television with the child when the pit bull (named “King”) jumped onto the bed and immediately grabbed the child by the head and began shaking him violently.  The dog then pulled the child to the floor, where it clamped onto the child’s head/neck area and resumed violently shaking the child.  By the time that two neighbors were able to get the dog to release the child, it was too late. 

One of the neighbors advised that Geiling simply said that the child “always screams and sets the dog off”. 

Officers further noted “The house was absolutely filthy covered in animal feces, visible rats/mice, bugs, clutter, disarray, and an extremely foul odor.”  Geiling was charged with the two offenses by a grand jury.

Geiling had previously been arrested on the case when it was first filed.  She was given court dates, but skipped court and fled to Indiana. 

At her initial hearing in Shelby Superior Court No. 2 on the Fugitive From Justice (extradition) filing, Geiling told Magistrate Jennifer Kinsley that she would not agree to extradition because she thought the case should be dismissed, claiming that she had already suffered enough due to the child’s death.  Prosecutor Brad Landwerlen says the only emotion she showed while making this argument was frustration – stating that her being in custody was interfering with her life. 

Geiling remains in the Shelby County Jail and Landwerlen is working with the Indiana Attorney General, the Kentucky Attorney General, and the Governor to obtain a Governor’s Warrant to compel extradition to Kentucky to face the charges.

It's the end of an era.

Over the last half-decade, Family Video has held on as the last big brick and mortar movie and video game rental store throughout the United States, outlasting stores like Blockbuster and Hollywood Video.

On Tuesday, the dreadful news was sent to all remaining 200 stores that they would have to sell off their inventory and close for good by late February.

"This was the thing to do on a Friday night," said Jessica Grose, the manager of the Family Video store in Shelbyville. "It's sad. We're going to miss so many people."

Grose told WISH-TV that her business has been down 50-to-75-percent since reopening from pandemic shutdowns over the summer. Company leaders have come to the conclusion that there was just no financial way forward.

The news of the closure comes just months after Family Video district manager Kristin Drisko told 93 WIBC back in September that she was confident that the video store chain would be able to navigate successfully through the pandemic.

"The company has to make those hard decisions to say 'we have to close some of these stores that just did not bounce back'," she said in September. "Some stores were hit way harder with COVID than others and some just didn't bounce back."

Another reason for Family Video's planned closure that Drisko touched on was the fact that Hollywood was, and in some cases still is, on lockdown. With the movie industry at a crawl or standstill, there are not many new movies for the company to push out there in order to draw in customers.

"You know, if we had this big title that would bring everybody in, it would have made a big difference but we didn't have that," she said.

Now, when you walk into one of the 20 remaining Family Video stores in Indiana, nothing will be available for rent, but everything will be up for sale. The plan is to close all stores by Feb. 28, but some stores may close sooner if they can sell off all their movies and games before then.

Thus, bring the brick and mortar video rental store into extinction.

An Edinburgh police officer is facing charges for molesting a family member.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says Michael Nunez, 33, faces two counts of child molesting.

The boy and his mother reached out to police in December. When investigators spoke with the 12-year-old boy, he told them that the molestation started when he was six and happened once a month for the next six years, only when his mother was out of the house. The boy said Nunez forced him to touch his privates and do other sexual activities.

Nunez was arrested Tuesday. Each charge could be worth 20-50 years in prison, meaning Nunez could face up to 100 years.

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Donna Christian has been named the Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

She will be replacing Executive Director Julie Metz who has held the position for 14 years.

Metz is eager to retire but she said, “knowing that Donna shares my passion for the county and the mission of the Chamber makes it easier to move on. Donna has exciting ideas that will continue to meet the needs and expectations of our members and the community.”

Donna Christian has a varied background that is well-suited for the job of Executive Director. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Journalism from the University of Indianapolis and has continued her education with certifications from Michigan State University and the University of Notre Dame.

Her background includes serving in positions in Governor Orr’s public relations department, WWWY Radio, Irwin Management Company of Columbus as The Commons Mall and Downtown Main Street marketing director, general manager of Indiana Premium Outlets with Simon Property Group, and operations in the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. She has served on numerous boards and committees. She was appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh to serve on the State Tourism Board, Columbus (IN) Visitors Center, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Zonta Club, Columbus Jaycees, Columbus Farmers Market, Columbus Area Arts Council, and the Foundation for Youth to name a few. She is a current member of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

Travis Edington, President of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce said, “Hiring someone with Donna’s experience and talent is a clear example of the Chamber’s determination to continue the momentum and positive impact for our members’ businesses under Julie’s leadership. The Hiring Committee interviewed outstanding candidates, but Donna stood out for her experience, marketing and ability to develop relationships with members, the media and the county. We found her to be engaging, energetic, and experienced. She certainly has a “can-do” attitude.”

Donna Christian is a life-long resident of Shelby County and a graduate of Southwestern High School.

“I have always wanted to work in my hometown. Shelbyville and the county have always held a special affection. I am always quick to tell others that I’m a resident of Shelby County. The people in the county are authentic and caring – it’s just a great place to live, work and raise a family. I’m excited about the opportunity to be instrumental in adding valuable programs and educational opportunities for our members while promoting business growth in Shelbyville and the surrounding area,” Christian said. “I look forward to fulfilling the needs of our current membership while spearheading a push for new members. I believe passionately in the Chamber and its capacity to enhance the economic and business climate of our area. It’s going to be great to be at home in Shelby County and serving my community.”

Donna will start her position on Monday, January 11.

“I am anxious to start training with Julie for this job. I know she will get me prepared to take the helm and chart a course for success. Julie is such a seasoned, well-known professional – it will be a challenge to meet her high standards. I know the Directors and members of the Chamber join me in wishing her all the best in her endeavors. She will be sorely missed,” Donna Christian said.

The City of Shelbyville has opened its Landlord Registry Program.

Planning and Building Director Adam Rude explains the main reasons for asking rental property landlords to register their property with the city.

Rude says they currently have a form that can be downloaded.  Soon, online registration will be available.

Rude says they will hold a webinar to further explain registration and answer questions.  A deadline to be registered is set for later on in March.

You can see more details about the landlord registry on the City of Shelbyville website at:  https://www.cityofshelbyvillein.com/departments/planning-building/landlord-registration/ .

Feeling lucky? This week's lottery jackpots have big prizes.

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is worth an estimated $432 million dollars.  Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is worth $384 million.

Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern time. Players have one hour until then to purchase a ticket.

In 2018, officials from the city of Shelbyville and Shelby County cooperated in the purchase of 131 acres for potential development.  

In 2019, Greenleaf Foods, SPC announced it was purchasing the land and investing $310 million in what is expected to be the largest plant-based protein foods facility in North America. 

At a ground breaking ceremony in April of 2019, officials stated Greenleaf would build the facility and create as many as 460 jobs by the end of 2022. 

The 230,000 square-foot facility is to be located on 57 acres east of I-74 and south of State Road 44 and is on property that First Presbyterian Church was going to develop on prior to the city and county purchasing the land. 

The Greenleaf development was to be the largest industrial project in the history of the city.

However, progress on the development has slowed since due to the Covid-19 global pandemic. 

Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun told Giant FM Greenleaf has suffered the same effects of the pandemic as you would expect in an uncertain market. 

"Because of that, the project was delayed but still on track to be completed. Greenleaf's leadership still is committed to Shelbyville, and we continue to work with them to complete their design and approve their site and development plan. I anticipate the commencement of more work on that project in the very near future," DeBaun said. 

Greenleaf has hired several employees, who were working in their temporary offices in Intelliplex but are now working from home. Currently, Greenleaf is going through the review process by Planning and Zoning. 

DeBaun said he is unsure if the goal to hire 460 employees by the end of 2022 is realistic due to the pandemic, but he says he remains confident Greenleaf will continue its investment in Shelbyville. 

"These projects go through a tremendous amount of review and discussion. The decisions to support projects like these aren't made lightly, so there is a high degree of confidence they will succeed," DeBaun told Giant FM. 

Your cat or dog food may be part of a new recall.

Midwestern Pet Foods is recalling certain varieties of Sportmix dog and cat food because it may contain a potentially fatal level of a toxin called aflatoxin.

The FDA says Sportmix High Energy Dog Food is linked to at least 28 dog deaths and 8 illnesses.

Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on grains like corn used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, it can cause illness and death in animals.

Symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, and/or diarrhea.

The list of recalled dry pet food products announced by Midwestern Pet Food, Inc. on December 30, 2020 is:

Sportmix Energy Plus, 50 lb. bag
 - Exp 03/02/22/05/L2
 - Exp 03/02/22/05/L3
 - Exp 03/03/22/05/L2

Sportmix Energy Plus, 44 lb. bag
 - Exp 03/02/22/05/L3

Sportmix Premium High Energy, 50 lb. bag
 - Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Sportmix Premium High Energy, 44 lb. bag
 - Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Sportmix Original Cat, 31 lb. bag 
 - Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Sportmix Original Cat, 15 lb. bag
 - Exp 03/03/22/05/L2
 - Exp 03/03/22/05/L3

Pet owners should throw the recalled products out immediately.