Local News from WIKY

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.

Governor signs kid umpire/referee bill

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 9:51am
Not many 13-year olds can say they helped change a state law. But Matthew Burkhart of Newburgh can. He believed the state's ban on anyone under 14 working as a referee, umpire or official for youth athletic programs was just wrong. He and his parents convinced State Representatives Suzanne Crouch and Ron Bacon to co-sponsor the bill. Vaneta Becker guided it through the Senate. And it has been signed into law by Governor Pence. It amends Indiana's child labor laws to allow Hoosiers under age 14 to work as officials in youth athletic programs.

Aztar earnings up

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 9:48am
Casino Aztar was the only one of Indiana's 11 casinos to see increases in both attendance and revenue last month. The Indiana Gaming Commission says the Evansville casino topped 105,000 admissions in March, up seven-tenths of a percent from the same period last year. Aztar also earned $10.9 million in revenue, an increase of 1.4 percent over a year ago.

West side residents return to County Commission meeting

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 04/10/2013 - 9:47am
A big crowd of west siders again turns out for the Vanderburgh County Commission meeting. They repeated a request for a comprehensive development plan for the area around University Parkway. Stan Blaszczyk asked commissioners to respond to their questions and discuss the future re-zoning of the area. Commission President Marsha Abell has told the group that zoning decisions have to first go through the Area Plan Commission, which recommends what to do before Commissioners vote.