Local News from WIKY

Meijer eyeing Evansville

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 10:07am
A major grocery and retail chain is planning to open a store in Evansville. Developer Jim Vincent tells the Courier and Press that he has sold 25 prime acres on Green River Road, north of Theatre Drive, to Meijer. The chain plans to open what it calls a hypermarket — a store that combines a grocery store and a department store. It's planned for the west side of Green River, between Cheddar’s and Menard’s. Michigan based Meijer operates stores in five states, including Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Stormy weather headed for Tri-State

Submitted by WIKY News on Fri, 05/31/2013 - 10:04am
First Alert meteorologist Byron Douglas is predicting a stormy start to the weekend. Byron says strong storms are possible Friday and more likely Saturday. He says he can't rule out isolated tornadoes. The rough weather is expected to move out Sunday, when clear and cooler conditions move in.

Antother meth round-up in Evansville

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 5:51pm
A half dozen Evansville residents are arrested on warrants growing out of a federal indictment, unsealed Thursday afternoon. U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett came to Evansville to discuss the arrests in connection with a meth ring. He calls the investigation a great effort involving several agencies at the federal, state, county and city levels. Hogsett says 29-year old Joshua Chaffin is the alleged ring leader, aided by 31-year old William Hollis and 30-year old Travis Sutton. He says mid-level distributors included 32-year old Gary Winstead, Jr. and 28-year old Michael Hartweck.

Community One holds its first ribbon cutting in Glenwood

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 5:49pm
Dozens of Glenwood Neighborhood residents and supporters turn-out for the first ribbon cutting of a house completely refurbished by a group known as Community One. The two-story house is at 501 East Riverside. Community One has begun work to refurb a second house, at 1727 S. Bedford. The organization is getting financial support from the Vectren Foundation and other support from Crossroads Christian Church. The houses will be sold to needy families at below market prices.

Guilty verdicts for Christopher Bell

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 5:47pm
The verdict is guilty in the murder and conspiracy trial of 24-year old Christopher Bell. He was convicted on both counts in the shooting death of Cedric Watt last September. Ted Mueller Jr. was also charged with Murder and Conspiracy. He was convicted of shooting Watt and was earlier sentenced to 65 years in prison. Bell was accused of being an accomplice in the crime, which began as an armed robbery.

Big crowd watches sentencing of child molester

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 5:45pm
Police Chief Billy Bolin got the crowd he was hoping for - and Jack Perkins the Third got stiff sentences from Vanderburgh Superior Court Magistrate Kelli Fink. She gave him 45 years for child molesting and 16 years for criminal confinement. Bolin urged friends on Facebook to pack the courtroom to show their support of a harsh sentence. Officials say Perkins will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence on the child molesting charge. He admitted abducting and molesting a 9-year old boy, but pleaded mentally ill.

Evansville speller out

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 10:21am
Evansville's representative in the National Spelling Bee is out of the running. Fourteen-year-old Aaron Manning easily spelled a pair of words Wednesday, but he came up just short in a written test. Just 41 of this year’s 281 participants advanced to the semifinal round.

Boy's body recovered

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 10:18am
A sad ending to the search for a missing boy in western Kentucky. A dive team recovered the body of nine year old Warren Patterson from Kuttawa Harbor, a popular beach area on Lake Barkley, late Wednesday night. State police and emergency crews had been searching for the boy since his parents reported him missing Wedneday afternoon. Patterson was at the beach with family members and was last seen at a playground about 30 yards from the water.

Police chase ends in river

Submitted by WIKY News on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 10:17am
A soggy ending to a police chase in Downtown Evansville. Police say they were chasing 24-year-old Jason Rose on foot early Thursday morning, after he allegedly stole a vehicle. Police say Rose ran behind the Pagoda and onto the Greenway. As police approached, he jumped into the Ohio River. Police called for a fire department rescue team, but Rose came back out and was taken into custody. Rose faces preliminary charges of vehicle theft and resisting arrest.

Gibbs on the grow

Submitted by WIKY News on Wed, 05/29/2013 - 5:09pm
Good paying jobs .... some 160 of them .... are coming to Henderson through a $23-million expansion of Gibbs Die Casting. The Henderson Gibbs facility employs more than 560 people. Kentucky encouraged the project with tax incentives of up to $3 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear joined local and company officials to make the announcement at the plant, owned by Koch Enterprises of Evansville. read more