Monthly Archives: March 2022

Columbus woman accused of attempted murder in shooting

Carmela Goddard. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

A Columbus woman is facing charges including attempted murder after allegedly firing a gun during a domestic dispute.

The Columbus Police Department reports that 43-year-old Carmella E. Goddard was served with an arrest warrant Thursday on charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness and intimidation.

Police say that the incident happened Friday evening in the 4600 block of Riverside Drive. Officers report that during a dispute, Goddard pointed a firearm at another person and pulled the trigger. But the gun malfunctioned. During a subsequent struggle for the weapon, it went off putting a bullet hole through the living room wall.

She is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bond.

Jennings farmer rescued from grain silo

Rescue workers saved a Jennings County farmer from a grain silo this week.

According to reports from the Letts Community Volunteer Fire Department, the incident happened Monday afternoon on East County Road 1220N in Jennings County when a man was reported to be buried up to his neck in a grain bin.

Westport Fire Department, which provides coverage for the area was the first on the scene, and called for assistance from Jennings County departments. Those on the scene found the victim engulfed in grain up to his mouth with only his face and top of his head visible. A large area of rotten grain was also bridged above the patient, further complicating the situation.

Letts Fire Department arrived with grain rescue equipment, a 75′ ladder truck, a utility truck and an ambulance. They used a “Great Wall Grain Tube” to surround the victim, which allowed the grain to be removed from around the patient. After about an hour and a half on scene, a harness was able to be placed around the victim and he was removed from the bin.

The fire departments were assisted at the scene by the Greensburg Waste water department which provided a vacuum truck, Justin Greathouse who provided a grain vac, the Campbell and Spencer township fire departments and the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. A Statflight medical helicopter was also on standby at the scene.

Photos courtesy of Letts Community Volunteer Fire Department

Medora man arrested in Jackson County shooting

A Medora man has been arrested after a shooting Wednesday afternoon in Jackson County.

According to reports from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the victim, who is not yet being publically identified, called 911 at about 4:50 p.m. Wednesday afternoon to say that he he had been shot while at a home. He then drove to the intersection of U.S. 50 and County Road 975W. That’s where police and medics found the man, lying on the ground outside of his vehicle.

Police were able to find out the location of the suspect from the victim, before he was taken to Schneck Medical Center for treatment. He was later transferred to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis where he is in critical condition.

The suspect, 46-year-old Donald A. Fugett was located at his home and taken into custody. A search warrant was served on the home and evidence related to the shooting recovered.

Fugett is being held on a felony charge of battery with a deadly weapon.

State police seize 70+ pounds of pot in I-65 traffic stop

A California man was arrested after State Police troopers discovered more than 70 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle on Interstate 65 Tuesday.

According to Indiana State Police reports, a trooper made a traffic stop on an SUV just north of Seymour in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 at about 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The trooper became suspicious that criminal activity might be taking place and the vehicle was searched. Troopers discovered 60 vacuum-packed bags containing marijuana. Troopers estimate the marijuana has a street value of between $150,000 and $200,000. More than $16,000 in cash was also found in the vehicle.

The driver, 37-year-old Arman Hakobyan of Chatsworth, California was arrested on initial charges of dealing over 10 pounds of marijuana and possession of marijuana.

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

Flat Rock-Hawcreek seeking nominees for alumni award

Flat Rock-Hawcreek Schools are looking for nominees for their annual Outstanding Alumni Award.

To be eligible for the award, a nominee must have graduated from a Flat Rock-Hawcreek high school at least 10 years ago. Once someone is nominated they will remain under consideration indefinitely.

According to the schools, the purpose is to recognize alumni who have made significant contributions to the schools or who have contributed in an exemplary way in the business or community sectors.

Nominations are due by April 15th. Winners are announced at the May alumni banquet.

Nominations should be submitted to:
FRHC Outstanding Alumni Award
9423 N State Road 9
Hope, IN 47246
Nominations may be faxed to (812) 546-5617.

Nominations will also be accepted by email: [email protected].

Nomination forms can be found on the FRHC website at www.flatrock.k12.in.us or at any of the FRHC school offices.

Law firm establishes foundation to help senior charities

A new private foundation will support grants to groups helping aging adults, those with special needs and their families.

Heritage Fund, the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing that the owners of the Voelz, Reed, & Mount law firm have created the foundation. Co-owner Blake Reed said that the practice has seen an increased need for support for senior and special needs populations and the firm was looking for a way to support these groups.

The new foundation will give grants of $500-$1,000 each to non profit organizations in Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Decatur counties that serve aging adults. Applications will be accepted from April 1st through April 29th.

Last year, Heritage Fund began focusing on helping to create personal foundations through the fund’s “Your Philanthropy. Your Way” initiative. Heritage Fund President and CEO Tracy Souza said that a personal foundation gives all of the benefits of a private foundation with a fraction of the cost and without the administrative burden.

For more information you can visit heritagefundbc.org.

Brown County authorities looking for shooting suspect

Frederick Robert Dees. Photo courtesy of Brown County Sheriff’s Department.

Brown County authorities are looking for a man suspected to be involved in a shooting last week.

According to reports from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to North State Road 135 last week for a reported shooting. They identified Frederick Robert Dees as a suspect in the case. Dees now has active warrants for his arrest. Deputies say that outside of Brown County he is known to frequent Franklin, Greenwood and Indianapolis.

He is considered to be armed and dangerous. If you encounter Dees, you should not approach him. Instead call 911.

If you have any information on Dees whereabouts, you are asked to call Detective Paul Henderson or Detective Brian Shrader at 812-988-6655. You may also leave information anonymously at the sheriff’s department tip line at 812-988-6620.

Thousands without power in wake of overnight storms

Last night’s bad weather is causing power outages across the state of Indiana this morning.

Duke Energy is reporting more than 1,300 customers without power in our area, with more than 800 near Westport, 360 near Flat Rock and Hope, and 210 near North Vernon. Duke is reporting that most of those outages are still being investigated and do not yet have a repair time estimate. Duke Outage Map

Bartholomew County REMC is reporting 174 customers without power, with most of those in Harrison Township. The utility estimates that power will be restored to most of those customers any time now. Bartholomew County REMC Outage Map

Jackson County REMC is reporting about 110 customers without power, most in the North Vernon area. Jackson County REMC Outage Map

No source yet for mysterious Wednesday blast sound

Emergency officials and residents are looking for answers after a large explosive sound shook south central Indiana around 12:45 p.m. yesterday afternoon. However the source of the loud blast remains a mystery.

Emergency operation centers from Bartholomew, Brown and Monroe counties all reported receiving multiple calls about the sound. But there were no signs of any explosion or source for the sound in their counties. People from as far as Johnson, Decatur, Marion, Lawrence and Owen counties reported the sound.

The Cordry-Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department in Nineveh posted a video from their fire station bay camera that captured the sound, which lasted about five seconds.

https://www.facebook.com/csvfa/videos/3120608911518259

Camp Atterbury Public Affairs office says that the blast did not happen on the base and there was no training going on at the time. Indiana State Police in Versailles say that they had not heard any reports on the sound.

The U.S. Geological Survey says there was no significant earthquake activity in the Hoosier state on Wednesday.

Crane Army Ammunition Activity told WRTV that it conducted routine demilitarization operations earlier yesterday morning but nothing was out of the ordinary and there was nothing that happened that would have caused the reported incident.

Hope woman sentenced to five years in neglect case

Teresa Wade. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

A nearly three and a half year investigation into the neglect and death of an adult dependent is closing with the sentencing of a Hope woman to five years in prison.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the case began in December of 2018 when Columbus Regional Health staff alerted deputies to a senior who had been neglected and denied medical care, causing injuries that were likely going to be fatal. Hospital officials said the victim was severely malnourished and was suffering from bed sores that had caused internal infections that ultimately led to the victim’s death.

Deputies say that 57-year-old Teresa Wade of Hope had been appointed by the court to be the caretaker for the victim after he suffered a stroke. She moved the victim into the home she shared with her husband. But Wade allegedly did not take the victim to his medical appointments, and did not fill his prescriptions or administer them as prescribed.

Police say that Wade took advantage of the fact that she was the payee for the victim’s monthly disability payments.

Wade was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and death.

Wade pleaded guilty in October to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury. On March 24th, Wade was ordered to five years in the Indiana Department of Corrections and two years of probation once she is released.