Two West Noble students die in car crashes
Noble County Sheriff's Department reports two unrelated fatal crashes occurred on Feb. 23 which claimed the lives of two West Noble High School students driving to school. Both victims were members of the senior class.
The first crash occurred at 7:38 a.m., about one half mile north of the West Noble High School on US 33. A 1996 Ford Explorer driven southbound on US 33 by 18-year-old Amanda L. Musser of Cromwell, travelled off the east side of US 33, striking a utility pole and rolling over. Musser, who was the only occupant, was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected after the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Weather was not a contributing factor in this crash. Investigators believe the driver's attention may have been diverted as it appears she simply drove off the road in a curve.
A short time later, at about 7:54 a.m., a two-vehicle crash occurred on the US 33 railroad overpass located at the north edge of Kimmell. A 1998 GMC pickup driven by 18-year-old Brandon A. Replogle, of Kimmell, was northbound on US 33 and apparently lost control on the icy bridge deck. The pickup slid left of center and was struck broadside by a southbound 1995 Ford truck driven by Jerry L. Rockey, 47, of Shipshewana. Rockey was not injured. Replogle was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash was located about three miles south of the West Noble School.
Shipshewana Couple Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography
LaGrange County-On Monday, February 15, the LaGrange County Sheriff Department was dispatched to a criminal complaint in the 5700 north block of County Road 1070 W in rural Shipshewana. During the initial investigation of that complaint, Deputy Ed Flowers was alerted to possible child pornography on a laptop computer in the home.
The computer was seized and later checked by Detective Deven Hostetler with the Indiana State Police Crimes against Children Unit. A series of images depicting children under the age of 16 in sexual poses were discovered on the computer. An investigation was then initiated by Indiana State Police Detective Jeff Boyd, who arrested Ray A. Shank, 36, and his wife Veronica L. Shank, 37; both of Shipshewana on one charge each of Possession of Child Pornography, a Class D Felony. Ray Shank was booked into the LaGrange County Jail on Tuesday, February 16 and Veronica Shank was booked into the same facility on Thursday, February 18th. Both have since bonded out.
Another case pertaining to the original call that the LaGrange County Sheriff Department responded to has also been submitted to the LaGrange County Prosecutors Office and any questions about that case should be referred to those agencies.
ARRESTED AND CHARGED:
Ray A. Shank, 36, Shipshewana, Indiana
--Possession of Child Pornography, Class D Felony
Veronica L. Shank, 37, Shipshewana, Indiana
--Possession of Child Pornography, Class D Felony
State Police Apprehend Man Who Fled From Local Police
Auburn-Troopers from the Indiana State Police apprehended a man this afternoon, on I-69 in DeKalb County, after he had fled from officers from the Fort Wayne Police Department.
At approximately 2:00 pm, the Fort Wayne Police Department initiated a vehicle pursuit on I-69, northbound in the area of Coldwater Road, in which a white 1995 Plymouth van, driven by 47 year old Robert Jerome Hudson of Jeffersonville, Indiana, was refusing to yield to their emergency lights and sirens. Within approximately three minutes, the pursuit was terminated.
At approximately 2:10 pm, Trooper Timothy Myers, who was on I-69 at the 125 mile marker, observed Hudson’s vehicle traveling northbound. He activated his emergency lights and siren and proceeded northbound in an attempt to stop Hudson. Hudson allegedly increased his speed and failed to stop and as a result, he ran over stop sticks that were deployed by Troopers at the 126 mile marker. Hudson continued northbound, as two of his tires went flat, before stopping and being taken into custody by Troopers at the 127 mile marker.
Traffic was tied up for a very short time and should be moving normally at this time. Hudson was taken into custody and transported to the DeKalb County Jail on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and on an outstanding theft warrant out of Floyd County.
ARRESTED AND CHARGED:
Robert Jerome Hudson, 47, Jeffersonville, Indiana
--Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Class D Felony
--Arrest Warrant for Theft out of Floyd County, Indiana
Experimental February goose season to be continued
The final year of a three-year experimental hunting season aimed at controlling breeding populations of resident Canada geese around urban areas of Indiana has been authorized for selected counties.
Season dates are Feb. 1-15 in the following counties: Noble, Adams, Allen, Boone, Clay, DeKalb, Elkhart , Greene, Hamilton , Hancock, Hendricks, Huntington , Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Madison , Marion , Marshall , Morgan, Parke, Shelby , St. Joseph , Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo , Wells and Whitley.
To participate, hunters must have a valid hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp, signed federal duck stamp, a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number, and a free permit from the DNR. The free permit is available at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/, by phone (317-232-4200), or at any state fish and wildlife area, field office, or reservoir during regular business hours in January.
Ordering online allows the customer to print a permit at the time of order and saves postage costs. Hunters can minimize time online by not waiting until the last minute to apply.
DNR waterfowl biologist Adam Phelps said overall response from hunters remains positive, and that adding an online permit application last year helped, as did adding several check stations.
Phelps said nearly 3,000 of the 4,000 hunters who registered for the 2009 special season participated and reported taking an estimated 6,300 Canada geese. The two-year total for the February season is more than 11,000 geese.
Hunters must report all harvested geese to a check station. Geese must have the head, a fully feathered wing, and reproductive parts still attached when the bird is checked. Check station staff will age and identify the sex of each bird, and will remove and keep the head of all adult birds checked.
Data collected from these heads are used to help determine if the late season will continue in future years. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines require that at least 80 percent of the geese harvested during the three-year experimental period must be the giant subspecies of Canada goose – the goose that commonly breeds in Indiana and surrounding states.
“If we remain over 80 percent giants across all three years, we will ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to grant operational status to the season,” Phelps said. “This means that birds would no longer need to be checked and no permit would be needed to hunt.”
Even if Indiana meets federal guidelines that qualify for extension, the season may be closed in future years if local Canada goose populations are reduced too much.
The bag limit for the experimental season is five Canada geese per day, with a possession limit of 10. Shooting hours are from a half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
The temporary rule that establishes the late Canada goose season also authorizes a special late season for two light goose species – Ross’ and snow. During the last 30 years, populations of both species have nearly quadrupled, resulting in severe degradation of their breeding grounds. Hunters do not need a Federal duck stamp or HIP number to take snow or Ross’ geese in this special season.
Federal regulations prohibit the Late Canada Goose and Light Goose special seasons being open at the same time.
As a result, the Light Goose season will be Feb. 16 to March 31 in the 30 counties designated for the Late Canada Goose season, and Feb. 1 to March 31 in all other counties.
ENMS Teachers win state award
East. Noble Middle School teachers Brooke Cain and Tami Housholder went to Indianapolis on Nov. 17 to receive the prestigious Disability Awareness Campaign Award from the Indiana Conference for People with Disabilities. This award recognized Kendallville Middle School and its teacher sponsors for their 2009 Disability Awareness Day.
This was the sixth year for Brooke and Tami to lead KMS and its students and staff in a day filled with activities and speakers. Their hard work evolved from five lesson plans and 30 volunteers to 20 lesson plans, more than 50 volunteers and a school-wide event where students learn to accept the differences in all people.
Activities for the 2009 Disability Day included raising more than $2000.00 to help a local fifth-grade student obtain a service dog. Students also wrote approximately 100 letters to their state senators to support a law permitting service dogs in all public buildings. Because of these types of activities and strong leadership from Brooke and Tami, all students who participated have become more accepting of people with disabilities.
Noble County Government Meetings this month
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