Identity made in homicide
(Muncie) – The Delaware County coroner has released the name of a woman found burned to death and wrapped in a sheet. Police found the body of Tonia J. Ingram, 40, last Saturday. Three suspects, Terry Rutledge, 44, Antowyn Warren, 33 and Regina Miller, have been charged with obstruction of justice, assisting a criminal and murder. Investigators believe Ingram was killed at a residence in the 300 block of North Hackley Street and her body dumped along the side of the road and then set afire to cover up the murder.
Bus driver fired for drunk driving
(Kokomo) – The Kokomo Center school district has fired a bus driver after she was arrested last Saturday for driving drunk. The Howard County Sheriff’s Department say the blood alcohol test of Theresa Mast, 56, was at .20, two and a half times the legal limit. Mast was driving a girls’ swim team to a meet before her arrest. Other motorists noticed the bus swerving and alerted police.
Smoking ban heard last night
(Indianapolis) – A controversial smoking ban was presented by City County Council president Ryan Vaughn last night and now is in the hands of the council. Vaughn’s plan calls for a smoking ban which exempts cigar and hookah bars and social clubs like the VFW and American Legion halls. Final passage is set for December 19 and if signed into law would become effective January 22, in time for the February 5th Super Bowl.
Robbers target store
(Indianapolis) – Police are looking for armed robbers of a far northside jewelry store. The three suspects entered the Master Jewelry Store at 81st and Bash Road shortly before noon Monday. Witnesses told police the robbers entered the store wearing rubber gloves and ordered employees to the floor before smashing jewelry cases. They were last seen headed southbound on Bash Street in a dark colored Ford Crown Victoria with tinted windows. No one was injured during the incident.
Postal service announces operation changes
(Washington) – In response to declining revenue and mail volume against the increased usage of the internet for bill paying and communication, major changes were proposed Monday wihin the U.S. postal system.. Those plans include closing 252 of the nation’s 461 mail processing centers which will create a one or two day delay of first class mail. Postal officials stated the moves were necessary to reduce their budget by $3 billion. Also in the announcement were job terminations; 28,000 postal workers could be without their jobs next year. Eight Indiana mail processing centers are on the proposed list for closing. Those centers are in Muncie, Bloomington, Gary, Kokomo, Lafayette, Terre Haute, South Bend and Columbus.
Contractor set to bring jobs to Indiana
(Clarksville) – Military contractor Rivera Consulting Group says it plans to build a new facility in southern Indiana which is expected to bring 85 jobs to that area by 2014. The company will spend $5.6 million dollars to expand operations and build a new site for its headquarters. Rivera Consulting Group provides software development services, defense applications as well as consulting to private and government agencies. The Economic Development Corporation says it offered the company more than $1 million in tax credits.
School district makes payout in bullying case
(Columbus) – The Bartholomew Consolidated School District will pay $100,00 dollars in a lawsuit settlement by a former student. Margaret Sobieralaski claims teachers and staff did nothing to stop a former classmate from spreading sexual messages about her. The girl’s mother said the bullying caused her daughter so much stress that she considered suicide and did not graduate with her class. No comment has been made by the school district about the case.
