Local News from WIKY

Police: Evansville woman drunk in wrong-way crash

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 04/12/2013 - 9:44am
An Evansville woman is recovering from a wrong-way crash on I-70 between Terre Haute and Indianapolis. State Police say 57-year-old Pamela Goedde had a blood-alcohol level of .24 -- three times the legal limit -- when she drove on the wrong side of the highway and crashed into a semi Thursday night. She was taken to an Indianapolis hospital with head and leg injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. The truck driver wasn't hurt. Five other vehicles swerved off the highway to avoid Goedde's car.

Area Plan recommends Majestic Place project

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 04/12/2013 - 9:41am
A planned commercial and residential development near USI passes its first test. Area Plan voted 7-to-4 to recommend rezoning about 200 acres of land along the University Parkway. That's despite opposition from residents in that area. And now, USI wants to be involved in a master plan for the area. The proposal now goes to Vanderburgh County Commissioners for their vote. Commission President Marsha Abell authored a letter saying Perry Township needs the development, and that the University Parkway is not a "glorified driveway" for USI.

Drug testing for welfare recipients approved with protection for kids

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 5:36pm
The Indiana Senate approves a bill requiring drug-testing for welfare recipients. Supporters say it will help them because they won't lose benefits if they pass the test. But opponents say testing welfare recipients hasn't worked in other states and is expensive for taxpayers. An amendment adopted Tuesday provides that benefits for children would continue to be paid to another family member or guardian if a parent flunks the test. The House passed a similar bill in February.

Woman in positions of trust accused of theft

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 5:35pm
A probable cause affidavit accuses a Gibson County woman of taking thousands of dollars from a parent-teacher organization and a Cub Scout pack. 28-year old Deanna Merrifield-Fox faces two counts of theft for allegedly taking $3,800 from Cub Scout Pack No. 222 and $1,700 from the Lowell Elementary School PTO. Police investigators say she was the the treasurer of the PTO and leader of the scout pack and at the time that the funds were unaccounted for. Investigators say Merrifield-Fox admitted she misused at least $2,000.

Coast Guard to rule in fracking case

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 5:31pm
Kentucky residents and environmentalists are awaiting a decision from the U.S. Coast Guard on a proposal that would allow fracking waste to be shipped on the Ohio River. Sasha White is an organizer with the group called "Appalachia Resist!" They are protesting plans, which they consider dangerous and unneeded. Greenhunter Water owns a fracking facility in Ohio and wants to ship up to a half million gallons of water per load down the river. Greenhunter says shipping by barge is more efficient and safer than shipping the waste by truck.

Chief Billy Bolin loses hair to support Det. Schroer

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 5:29pm
Evansville's police chief is nearly bald for a cause. Billy Bolin followed through on a promise to have his head shaved at an Evansville school as part of the "Shavin' for Schroer" fundraiser. Bolin helped raise $1500 for the Schroer family after speaking to kids at  West Terrace School about leadership and following your dreams. He sat on what was called the "hot seat" and several students stepped-up to shave Chief Bolin's head. The event was fun for the kids and for Chief Bolin.

Man arrested for Henderson bank robberies

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 10:16am
Henderson police arrest a man suspected of robbing two banks in less than one week. Police arrested 45-year-old David Sharp, who matched the photos and descriptions from the Independence Bank robbery on Tuesday, and the Fifth Third Bank robbery on April 3. Detectives say they found Sharp in an apartment in the 600 block of Washington Street, near the banks that were robbed. Police say they obtained a search warrant and found evidence linking him to the robberies. Sharp faces two counts of First Degree Robbery.

Storms spare Evansville

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 04/11/2013 - 10:09am
The Evansville area avoids the rough stuff. First Alert meteorologist Byron Douglas says the severe weather threat evaporated early Thursday morning. He says the biggest problem was heavy rain, up to two inches in some places.

Breaking news - Lincoln Elementary locked-down after shooting report

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 1:47pm
At about 1:40 this afternoon, a person was reportedly shot in the chest on Jeanette Benton Drive, near Canal Street. Evansville Police and an ambulance are there. Central Dispatch says the victim was talking with them on a phone as the ambulance approched the scene. Nearby Lincoln Elementary School is locked down. Police are searching around the inner city for a suspect.

Downtown Hilton hotel project moves forward

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 12:36pm
The Redevelopment Commission votes 4-0 in favor of a pre-development agreement for a new downtown convention hotel. President and CEO of development firm HCW, Rick Huffman says a 12-story, 253 room Hilton Doubletree Hotel would be full service, with a restaurant, indoor pool, and top-floor lounge. The project also includes a more than $30 million city investment for about 70 upscale apartments, retail space, and improvements to infrastructure and nearby facilities. The pre-agreement means talks leading to a development agreement can move forward.