03/09/10

SULLIVAN, IND (WIBQ)-A Sullivan County man faces 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder. 35-year-old Gregory Hale admitted he killed Jennifer Peaks in a mobile home near Paxton last summer. He then told the court he knocked over a candle inside the trailer and let it burn. Hale also admitted to stealing a truck belonging to Peaks' father. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison for murder. Hale was also sentenced to nine years on two arson charges. The sentences will run concurrently. Hale was also fined 300 dollars plus court costs.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-One man is in jail, accused of pointing a gun at a cab driver. The incident happened early Sunday morning at a home on Blue Ridge Drive in Vigo County. The sheriff's department arrested 47 year old Tom Pemberton. A yellow cab driver said he drove Pemberton around Terre Haute to restaurants and bars. When the driver went to collect the tab, Pemberton ran inside his home, got a shotgun, and pointed it at the driver. Police later convinced Pemberton to drop the weapon. Pemberton is held on 75-thousand dollars bond. His cab bill was 165-dollars.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-Two children are turned over to child protective services after police bust an active meth lab. It happened Sunday night at a home on Old Royse Road, just west of U.S. 41 in Vigo County. Police were looking for a man with outstanding warrants when they discovered the meth lab. As officers moved in, Terry Baugh and Robert Chlebowski ran to a closet, and then tried to get into the home's crawlspace. Police arrested Terry Baugh, Jr. and his wife Brittany, along with Robert Chlebowski and Teresa Chapman. The Baugh's one and two year old children are now staying with other relatives.

WHEATLAND, IND (WIBQ)-A Vincennes man is dead, following an accident near Wheatland. 53-year-old Randy Lancaster lost control of his vehicle on Nimnicht Road Sunday. The vehicle hit a utility pole, and then continued on for more than a hundred feet before coming to a stop. Lancaster was pronounced dead at the scene. Knox County's coroner performed an autopsy on him. The results have not been released.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-Schools are re-thinking health care to help off-set state budget cuts. The Vigo County School Board is considering an on-site medical clinic. It's estimated to cost about $60,000 to create, but should reduce health insurance costs. The free clinic would treat employees for general illnesses and offer prescription drugs. School officials visited medical clinics at other Indiana schools. A Vigo County School Board committee will consider when and where to possibly create an on-site medical clinic.

03/08/10

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-The Vigo County School Board will meet Monday night. The board is expected to hear from the director of human resources on a proposed on-site medical clinic. The hope is that a clinic would help reduce health care costs to the corporation. Employees covered by the school district's insurance program could use the clinic. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will take place at the school corporation's administration building. That's located at 7th Street and Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-The Terre Haute Sinfonietta Pops Orchestra hosted a concert Sunday afternoon. It was called "Where the Black Hawk Soars." Dr. David Behrs, the president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, narrated the concert. The first 100 people to hit the door received a copy of the book, "My Antonia." It's part of the Vigo County Public Library's “Big Read Program.” The concert featured music from a variety of composers, including Vivaldi, Scott Joplin, and Virgil Thompson.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-Saturday night's "100 Men Who Can Cook" event raised a record-breaking amount of money for the Terre Haute Children's Museum. Lynn Hughes, the museum's executive director, says it raised $85,000. That easily surpasses last year's total of just over $58,000. Each cook brought in one of their specialties to share with people who bought tickets for the event. There was also a silent auction with several items to bid. Hughes said they'll host this event again next year.

TERRE HAUTE, IND (AP) — A new ordinance that requires secondhand shops to report their sales activity to police has sparked confusion in Terre Haute. The ordinance takes effect April 1 and is designed to help police recover stolen goods by requiring daily reports of purchases of jewelry, office equipment, electronics and tools, along with scrap metal. Dealers submit the information through the Internet. Some shop owners say the ordinance places an unfair burden on small-business owners who have no Internet access. Many say they aren't sure whether the rule applies to their operations and worry that its reach will expand. Assistant Police Chief Shawn Keen says the ordinance will help police track down stolen items. More than $4.3 million in stolen property was reported in 2008.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL (WIBQ)-The race is set for Governor of Illinois. Illinois state senator Bill Brady officially won the republican nomination for governor. His opponent, Kirk Dillard, conceded after a month of uncertainty. Brady will now face democratic governor Pat Quinn in the November election.

ROSEDALE, IND. (WIBQ) - One person is recovering after a car slams into a house this weekend. It happened Saturday afternoon in Rosedale. Authorities say a man was driving when he passed out due to low blood sugar, that's when police say he clipped the back of a parked car, and then slammed into a chimney. The extent of the driver’s injuries has yet to be released.

03/03/10

BRAZIL, IND. (WIBQ)-A part of interstate 70 is closed this morning, after a semi goes up in flames. It happened around 1:30 a.m. in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 28. That's just west of the Clay-Putnam county line. Fire officials say the semi's driver and passenger noticed an orange glow coming from the dash. The two were able to escape before the semi was engulfed in flames. They were taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor burns. At this time, only one east-bound lane is open along the wreckage area of I-70. Crews are working to remove the burned semi.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-The man accused of setting two fires in Terre Haute is now behind bars. Police arrested Joseph Andrew Wagle Thursday in connection to a house and car fire Saturday. Police say Wagle had a dispute with his ex girlfriend, then tried to set fire to her home. That fire sent three people to the hospital including a 4 month old and 2 year old. Wagle faces four counts of arson and he's ordered to have no contact with the victims.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-Evidence from an Illinois triple murder is found in Terre Haute, possibly the murder weapon. A manager at the US 41 IHOP told chicago's WBBM radio he saw detectives remove a plastic bag with a sneaker. The manager said he heard they also found a gun, but Indiana state police won't confirm that information. Chicago area police had called the ISP yesterday to search the IHOP dumpster after police arrested 23-year-old Jacob Nodarse in Florida. NBC reports Nodarse confessed to killing three people in Darien, Illinois Tuesday. Police say no weapon was found at the crime scene in Darien, Illinois.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-There was a heated debate at last night's Terre Haute city council meeting. At issue, a responsible bidder ordinance which would change the way the city hires contractors for city projects. It was standing room only in the city court room for the public forum. The chamber of commerce spoke out against the ordinance saying many of the items in the proposal are already required under state law. But supporters say current laws are not enough and fear many are not enforced. They want to ensure all contractors are educated in their field and can prove they comply with state requirements and argue the cheapest work isn't always the best. The council will vote on the ordinance next Thursday.

ROCKVILLE, IND. (WIBQ)-After a slow start, the sap is now dripping from the trees in Parke County. The county has five syrup making businesses or sugar camps as they're called. In late winter and early spring, the sap, or sugar water, is pulled from the trees. It's then boiled... turning into syrup. This weekend, you can try some of the syrup at the Parke County Maple Fair. The maple fair is Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 4 each day at the Parke County Fairgrounds on highway 41 north of Rockville. The cost is 6 dollars for adults, 2 dollars for kids 6 and under.

03/03/10

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-A Vigo county jury finds Brent England not guilty of murder. England was charged with murdering Jack Berry, Jr. back in December of 2008. The courtroom became very intense after the verdct was read... as members of berry's family were very upset. England was removed quickly from the courtroom. The chief deputy prosecutor admitted this was a tough case to prove, since it was based mostly on circumstantial evidence. Berry's body has never been found.

SULLIVAN, IND. (WIBQ)-Too much speed leads to an arrest on drug charges. 42-year-old Angela Elliot of Leavenworth, Indiana is held on 59- thousand dollars bond in the Sullivan County jail. Charges against her include dealing meth and marijuana. A state police trooper stopped Elliot for speeding on US 41 in Sullivan County. After taking a sobriety test at the scene, she grabbed two packages from the vehicle and ran away. She was caught after a brief foot chase. Police say the packages contained meth and marijuana.

INDIANAPOLIS (WIBQ)-Indiana will soon have a new health commissioner. Governor Mitch Daniels appointed Dr. Gregory Larkin Wednesday. Larkin replaces Dr. Judy Monroe, who will become the deputy director for the CDC. Larkin is a former Greencastle family physician and 22-year employee of Eli Lilly. He's also served on the Healthy Indiana plan task force and the Indianapolis Medical Society. Dr. Larkin will start work on April 1st.

TERRE HAUTE (WIBQ)-It could soon be easier to remember your political representatives. Indiana's Secretary of State spoke at ISU yesterday to promote redistricting reform. Todd Rokita wants the general assembly to redraw Indiana's political districts more simply. He says districts should follow familiar boundaries such as county or township lines. Rokita says legislators get re-elected more easily because they draw their districts to include more supporters. Indiana legislators will use this year's census data to redraw the state's political districts by April 2011.

LAWRENCEVILLE, ILL. (WIBQ)-Consumers in Lawrence County, Illinois will pay more for some purchases. The Lawrence County board approved a new one-percent retail tax to help fund school construction. The tax will go into effect July 1st. The tax will apply to the sale of general merchandise. Groceries, prescription drugs, farm machinery and fertilizer will be exempt. Money raised by the tax could be used to make the county more eligible for more state funding for schools

03/03/10

A murder-for-hire lands a former Crawford County resident in prison. The Lawrenceville Daily record reports Bruce Mendenhall was sentenced to 30 years on Friday. A Tennessee jury found Mendenhall guilty in January. He tried to hire people to kill 3 witnesses set to testify against him in a murder case. Police say Mendenhall killed a woman at a Nasvhille truck stop in 2007. He's set to go on trial for her death on May 10th. Mendenhall is also a suspect in other truck stop murders.

Terre Haute police arrest a man on attempted robbery charges. Police believe 32-year-old Adam Shelton held up the Marathon gas station at 13th and Poplar shortly after 6-30 Monday evening. Witnesses said Shelton entered the store and ordered everyone out, because he was going to shoot the clerk. He then grabbed the clerk by the shirt, and pointed a gun at the clerk's wife and children. Police believe Shelton was drunk when he held up the store. He's being held on 50-thousand dollars bond.

The Vigo County woman killed in a fire over the weekend has been identified. The New Goshen fire chief says 88 year old Iona Hiddle died in the blaze. Her home on North Funkhouser caught fire around 1-30 Saturday afternoon. Fire chief Rex Schoffstall did not want to identify her until all members of her family were told of her passing. Schoffstall said Hiddle was cooking on her stove when the fire started. Sugar Creek's fire investigator is assisting with the investigation.

A special prosecutor will now handle the investigation into former pro boxer Terry Ray. Monday... Vigo County prosecutor Terry Modesitt confirmed Ray is the subject of a criminal investigation. Modesitt filed a motion Tuesday asking Judge David Bolk to appoint a special prosecutor to this case. Modesitt says he wants to avoid the appearance of impropriety. When asked what that would be, Modesitt said he would not elaborate. A special prosecutor could be appointed in this case as earlier as today. No word on what if any charges could be filed.

Duke energy customers, check your bill! About 14-thousand Indiana customers were overcharged due to a computer glitch. Those overcharged have account numbers with the last two digits of 0-9... 10... 11... or 12. The wrong formula was entered into a computer program. The program helps calculate what a customer should pay... based on history of use... when a meter reader can't make it to their home.