Murder Charge Filed in Huntington Death

A 28-year-old Huntington man now faces a charge of murder in the death of a woman with whom he lived. Huntington County prosecutor John Branham says police served an arrest warrant for the murder charge this morning, while the suspect was incarcerated on a preliminary charge of aggravated battery. Branham has charged the man with killing 31-year-old Ada Phillips of 529 South LaFontaine Street. Branham says Phillips died of a single stab wound to her abdomen. Police found Phillips in her home after someone called 9-1-1 early Sunday morning. Branham says EMS transported her to Parkview Huntington Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Branham says the suspect is held without bail and will appear in court tomorrow morning for an initial hearing.

Coroner Blames Death on Stab Wound

The Huntington County coroner says 31-year-old Ada Phillips of Huntington died yesterday of a stab wound to her abdomen. Police found her in a house at 529 South LaFontaine Street early yesterday morning after they got a 9-1-1 call. Police are holding a 28-year-old Huntington man without bail this morning. He faces a preliminary charge of aggravated battery.

KREMC Customers Experience Outage

A broken pole is believed to be the cause of an outage which affected approximately 3,200 Kosciusko REMC members this morning. At 8:53 a.m., NIPSCO’s feed was lost to Kosciusko REMC’s Maple Leaf Substation. Power was fully restored by 9:05 a.m.

Winter Storm Approaches

A winter storm could drop eight to 10 inches of snow on Kosciusko and Whitley County over the next day or so. But Michael Skipper of the National Weather service says he expects the biggest problems tomorrow. Hear Skipper talk about the possibility of drifts as tall as four feet. Skipper says snowfall should be lighter in Huntington and Wabash Counties, but driving conditions all over the Q101 area could be nasty this afternoon. Q101 will keep you up to date on this developing storm as it happens.

WCHS Percussion Ensemble Wins Competition

The percussion ensemble from Warsaw Community High School brought home a first-place trophy from a contest in Wells County Saturday. The ensemble earned a score of 85.2 out of a hundred at the Norwell High School Invitational competition.

Huntington Police Hold Suspect in Death Investigation

Huntington police are investigating the possible violent death of a 31-year-old Huntington woman. They’re holding on 28-year-old man on a preliminary charge of aggravated battery while they await the results of an autopsy. Police expect the autopsy to confirm how the woman died. The investigation started with a 9-1-1 call early this morning.

Foundation Conducts Arts Survey

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation is participating in an online survey to ascertain the opinions of community members regarding arts and culture needs. Residents who wish to participate can go to www.kcfoundation.org and click on to the link that reads, "Arts & Culture Survey."

Vote on DST Delayed

It looks like the Indiana House of Representatives will wait until the last minute to vote on the daylight savings time bill. Yesterday, one of the bill’s chief sponsors requested a delay on the vote, because several lawmakers were absent. The deadline for the House to pass the legislation is Tuesday.

Seat Belt Bill Passes Senate

A tougher seat belt law has made it out of the State Senate. If it becomes law, every passenger in cars, trucks and SUVs would have to wear seatbelts. The bill is now up to the to House of Representatives.

Wabash County Man Charged in Stabbing

The Wabash County prosecutor has formally charged a 19-year-old Speicherville man with felony aggravated battery, battery, residential entry and misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the stabbing of an 18-year-old Urbana man. Speicherville and Urbana are both small towns between Wabash and North Manchester. Wabash police say the suspect entered a Wabash apartment where the victim was visiting and attacked the victim with a knife. The victim received a life-threatening cut to his neck and walked to the Hardee's Restaurant for assistance. At last report, he was in serious condition in a Fort Wayne hospital. Court records indicate that the suspect was already facing a felony charge of intimidation with a weapon from January. This afternoon, a judge revoked the suspect's bail bond on that charge, so the suspect is now held in the Wabash County Jail without bond.

Stabbing Victim Still Serious

An 18-year-old Urbana man remained in serious condition this morning after he was stabbed in the neck in Wabash Wednesday. Police say the attack occurred in the Meadowbrook apartment complex and that the victim walked from their to the Hardee's Restaurant to seek help. A 19-year-old Speicherville man remained in custody this morning on a preliminary charge of disorderly conduct. The prosecutor's office was to receive the case today and then decide whether to bring additional charges against the Wabash man.

New Colts Stadium Still Alive

A committee of the Indiana House has approved a bill that keeps alive plans for a new football stadium in Indianapolis. The bill would pay for the stadium with a combination of sources, including taxes on the salaries of football players, taxes on tickets, an in increase in Marion County’s hotel and car rental tax.

State Receives $19 million to Help Homeless

The federal government will provide Indiana 19.4 million dollars to serve homeless people this year. Most of the money will go toward providing housing, job training, health care and other services to people who are without homes long-term.

Wabash Stabbing Seriously Injures Urbana Man

An 18-year-old Urbana man is in serious condition this afternoon with a stab wound to the neck. Wabash Police say that at 1:15 a.m. today, the Hardee's Restaurant reported that a man covered in blood had walked up to their drive through window. The man was later transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital. Police are not saying yet where the stabbing occurred. Police have arrested a 19-year-old Speicherville man on a preliminary charge of disorderly conduct.

WCS Seeks Replacement Board Member

The Superintendent's office at Warsaw Community Schools is gathering the names of people who would like to fill an unexpired term on the school board. Board member Larry Chamberlain, who represented district 5, has resigned. His term runs until December 31, 2006. The school board will appoint someone to complete Chamberlain's term. Anyone who is interested in the position should call 371-5098, extension 2465, by 4:30 p.m. March 11.

KREMC Scholarship Deadline Approaches

The deadline is approaching for students to apply for 2005 Kosciusko REMC Energy Scholarships. Applicants must be members of KREMC or a dependent of a member and must submit an application by 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 1. The utility will award a total of $6,000. Contact Kimberly Shumaker via email or call her at (574) 267-6331 for more information.

State Senate Approves Same-Sex Marriage Ban

The Indiana Senate has approved an amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage. Forty-two senators voted in favor of the amendment and eight voted against it. All eight senators who opposed the resolution are Democrats. Advocates say the amendment is necessary to protect traditional marriage. Critics denounce it as unnecessary and discriminatory. The issue now goes to the House. If the House passes the resolution, two more steps are required to amend the constitution. First it the legislature must approve it again in either 2007 or 2008, then be ratified by Indiana voters.

State Reps Approve Budget

The state House of Representatives has approved a budget that gives schools and Medicaid slight increases in funding but virtually freezes property tax relief for local governments. The vote was right down party lines, with all 52 Republicans supporting it and all 48 Democrats voting against it. The spending plan now goes to the Senate, which is already working on its own version.

Daniels Wants Prosecution Power for I.G.

Governor Daniels wants the state’s new inspector general to have the power to bring criminal charges against state employees. Daniels says that authority is necessary to deter state workers from breaking the law. But Democrats say someone who is appointed by the governor should not the power to prosecute.

Crash Critically Injures Peru Boy

A chain-reaction crash near Peru yesterday has left a seven year old Peru boy in critical condition this morning. State police say the boy was in the back seat or a car that got rear-ended. Two other people in that car also suffered injuries. One is an 11-year-old boy and the other is a 30-year-old woman. The people in the other two vehicles were not hurt.

Wizards Encourage Warsaw Students to Read

Kids at Warsaw’s Redeemer Lutheran School get to meet some professional baseball players today. Members of the Fort Wayne Wizards minor-league baseball team will tell students about a reading program in which students can earn free tickets to a Wizards game.

Warsaw Kids to Speak at Museum

The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne has invited four fifth-grade students from Warsaw’s Washington Elementary School to speak in its auditorium today. The kids will give two presentations on Abe Lincoln this morning.

Fire Death Postpones Miss Huntington Pageant

Sponsors of the Miss Huntington pageant have postponed the event from Sunday, February 20 to March 6. Pageant Director Stephanie Pyle died last night in a house fire (see below for more).

Huntington Civic Leader Pyle Dies in House Fire

A well-known community volunteer and director of the Miss Huntington scholarship pageant has died in a house fire. According to a news release from the Huntington Fire Department, firefighters found Stephanie Pyle, 45, with no vital signs in an upstairs bedroom. They had responded at 10:17 p.m. Thursday to a report of smoke coming from the windows of the house on Huntington’s northwest side. It took approximately 20 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the fire. According to the news release, an investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s office ruled the fire accidental. The investigator reported that he could not rule out improperly discarded smoking material in an office in the home as the cause of the fire. The Huntington County Coroner ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. In addition to serving as director of the Miss Huntington pageant, Pyle had volunteered on many charitable boards and projects in the community.

Warsaw Man Charged with Fatal Hit-and-Run

A crash in western Kosciusko County yesterday afternoon killed a Rochester man and left a Warsaw man in jail. It happened at the intersection of State Road 19 and Kosciusko County Road 250-North at about 2:35. According to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, the 29-year-old Rochester man was driving on 19 when a driver on 250-North disregarded a stop sign and drove into the path of the SUV. The SUV’s driver was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled over several times. A helicopter flew him from the scene to a Fort Wayne Hospital. He died there a couple hours later. Police say the other driver left the scene. With the help of calls from the public, police later found the car in a field and arrested the man who allegedly drove it while he was walking a couple miles away. He’s a 29-year-old Warsaw man who faces charges this morning of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Police say they suspect alcohol might have been a factor.

Police Pursue Driver Through Kosciusko, Elkhart Counties

A 23-year-old Cromwell is in the Kosciusko County jail this morning on multiple charges, after a high-speed chase through parts of Kosciusko and Elkhart Counties last night. State Police say it started on Kosciusko County Road One Thousand East near 75-North when a State trooper tried to stop a car that had a burned out license plate light. State Police say the driver took off and led police on a chase that lasted 23 minutes. Police say the guy drove as fast as 100 miles an hour in heavy snow. The pursuit ended safely when stop sticks deflated the car’s tires in Nappanee… 18 miles from where it began. The suspect faces charges of resisting arrest, being an habitual traffic offender and possessing methamphetamine.

Trucker Gets Four Years for Blown Red Light

A fatal crash in Warsaw back in 2003 has resulted in a four-year prison sentence for a Chicago trucker. A judge gave that sentence to 57-year-old Tadeusz Dylak yesterday. In January, a jury convicted Dylak of reckless homicide for killing a man by running a stop light with his truck, on U-S 30 at Center Street.

Suspect in Murder of Mother, Grandparents faces Death Penalty

The 29-year-old Indianapolis man who allegedly killed his mother and grandparents could pay for the crime with his life. The Marion County prosecutor says he will seek the death penalty against the man, but not the man’s 18-year-old sister, who also faces murder charges in the case.

Columbia City Trees to be Pruned

Columbia City residents might notice workers pruning trees along city streets today and tomorrow. The Community Tree Board has hired AEP to help keep the trees healthy.

Goshen RV Plant Adds Jobs

Keystone RV Company in Gosehn is adding more than 300 people to its workforce. The company makes trailers under 16 brand names. It plans to open a new 60,000-square-foot plant by mid-March.

Ruppel Opposes Daylight Savings Bill

Republican Representative Bill Ruppel of North Manchester tells Q101 he plans to vote against a bill that would keep all counties in their current time zones but require everyone to observe daylight savings time. Hear Ruppel talk about what constituents are telling him on this issue. Ruppel says it makes more sense for Indiana to be on central time, because people here do more business with Chicago than with New York.

Warsaw Matches, Beats State on ISTEP

The state has released results from last fall’s ISTEP tests in grades four, five and seven. Students in Warsaw Community Schools did as well as or better than students statewide on all parts of the test. As compared to state averages, Warsaw’s strongest results were on the fifth grade math test. Eighty-two percent of Warsaw fifth-graders passed that test, as compared to 72 percent of fifth-graders statewide.

Top Cajun Band to Play at M.C.

Grammy-nominated Cajun band BeauSoleil performs in concert at 7:30 tonight at Manchester College's Cordier Auditorium. Hear Mike Nelson's report, including a sample of BeauSoleil's music and comments from the band's leader.

Committee Approves Daylight Savings Bill

A committee of the Indiana House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require all of Indiana to observe daylight savings time. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

MC Raises $9,631 for Tsunami Relief

Members of the Manchester College community and neighbors have donated $9,631 for tsunami disaster relief in a one-month effort coordinated by the college. The college forwarded the money to the Church of the Brethren, which is working with Church World Service to help victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in Asia.

Association Recognizes KCH Diabetes Program

Kosciusko Community Hospital's diabetes education program has received an outstanding recognition certificate from the American Diabetes Association. The certificate indicates that the hospital's program meets the association's national standards.

Pres. Day Skating to Benefit J.A.

With kids out of school for President's Day, Warsaw's Eastlake Skating Center plans an afternoon roller skating session Monday, February 21, to benefit Junior Achievemnent. It runs from one to four p.m. Admission is three dollars, which includes regular skate rental. Proceeds go to J-A program in Warsaw Community Schools. For more information, contact J-A board member Steve Holbrook.

WCCS Considers High School Bldg. Study

Whitley County Consolidated Schools Superintendent Bill Carnes has asked the school board to take the first steps toward deciding whether to build a new high school. Hear Carnes talk about the study he's suggesting and why. Carnes says the school system should begin by hiring a consulting firm. It would look at classes the high school offers and might offer in the future. And it would look at the system’s finances, to see what it can afford and when. The board decided to meet with the consulting firm before it approves the study.

House Committee Approves State Budget

A committee of the Indiana House of Representatives has approved a state budget that’s different than the one Governor Daniels asked for. Unlike the governor’s spending plan, the House budget includes some new money for schools. And it does NOT include a one-time tax increase for people who make more than 100-grand a year. The budget next goes before the full House.

State of Columbia City

Columbia City Mayor James Fleck plans to give his second annual state of the city address at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday. The deadline for lunch reservations is the end of the day today. Call the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce at (260) 248-8131 for more information and to make a reservation.

CCAC Announces Softball Information

The Warsaw City-County Atheltic Complex has announced registration and calendar information for the 2005 Warsaw Men's City Softball League. The orgganizational meeting will be Sunday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall. For more information, see the CCAC web site.

Committee Approves Seat Belt Requirements

A state Senate committee has unanimously approved a bill that would require everyone to wear safety belts in trucks, SUVs and cars. The bill next goes before the full Senate, which passed similar legislation last year.

Band Teachers to Help Future Members Choose Instruments

Warsaw band teachers will help future band members choose their instruments during upcoming fitting sessions. The sessions will be held at Edgewood Middle School on February 28th and March 3rd between 4-8pm. An appointment is required. To make an appointment, call the Warsaw High School Music Office at 574-371-5099 ext. 2315.

Local Artists Win Awards

Robert Hudson's first place painting, "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Two Winona Lake artists and one from Roann have won awards in Honeywell Center’s annual Nine-County Art Show. Robert Hudson of Winona Lake won first place in the painting category, as well as in drawing and pastels. Nicole Moore of Winona Lake one second place in the watercolor category. Aaron Deardoff of Roann won second place in drawing and pastels. The show at the Honeywell Center in Wabash runs through March 19. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Chairman Delays Vote on DST Bill

A committee of the Indiana House of Representatives held a hearing yesterday on whether Indiana should go on daylight savings time. But the committee chairman delayed a vote on the issue. The chairman says he thinks his committee will pass a bill that would require all Indiana counties to observe daylight savings time and he also things the full House will pass it.

ISP Gets New Bomb Truck

Police in the Q101 area have a new tool to deal with explosive devices. The Indiana State Police post in Fort Wayne showed off its new bomb disposal truck yesterday. Federal homeland security funds helped buy the truck and modern equipment for it.

USPS Seeks Input on N. Webster Post Office

The U-S Postal Service holds a town meeting in North Webster tonight, to discuss expansion plans for the town’s post office. The meeting begins at six o’clock at the North Webster Community Center. Postal officials expect to decide by the end of April whether to expand the current post office or build one at a new location.

WCHS Choirs to Present Concert

Warsaw Community High School choirs present a concert tonight at First United Methodist Church. The concert begins at 7:30 and there is no admission charge. The program includes a wide variety of styles, ranging from the Renaissance to Broadway show tunes.

Mellencamp to Perform in Ft. Wayne

John Mellencamp's first North American tour in three years will include a concert in Fort Wayne. As part of the Indiana-based rocker's 16-city "Words & Music" tour, Mellencamp will perform at the Allen County Memorial Coliseum April 12. Ticket prices for the Fort Wayne show will be $32.50 and $45.00. They go on sale February 26.

Weather Creates Many Potholes

You might think mid-40s temperatures in the middle of February are a good thing… until your car slams into a pothole. Hear Jennifer Mace of the Indiana Department of Transportation talk about how the weather has been hard on roads. Mace says every time the ground freezes then thaws again, more potholes form. She encourages you to call the DOT about any potholes you find on state highways. For roads in the Q101 area, call the Fort Wayne District DOT office at 260-484-9541.

"Crazy Waiter" Charity Dinner Tomorrow

The 10th Annual Combined Community Services Crazy Waiter Dinner and Auction is scheduled for tomorrow, from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Ramada Plaza 2517 facility, East Center Street, Warsaw. Proceeds from the event benefit Combined Community Services to help low income Kosciusko County families become self-sufficient. For more information, call Laura Kaufman, CCS Executive Director, at (574) 269-6019, extension 23.

Crash Critically Injures Wabash Boy

A 10-year-old Wabash boy is in critical condition this morning, after he was trapped in the wreckage of a car for more than 45 minutes yesterday. The crash also injured the boy’s 38-year-old mother, who is in fair condition this morning. It happened on Old U-S 24, near the intersection with Wabash County Road 800 West. Police say the woman lost control of a Pontiac Grand Am on a patch of ice. The car left the road and slammed into a tree. The main impact was right outside the boy’s door. The car ended up wrapped around the tree, with part of it several feet off the ground. The boy suffered head and internal injuries and his mom had head and facial injuries. A helicopter flew them both to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

State Senate Approves Higher Speed Limits

We’re one step closer to legally driving 70 miles an hour on rural parts of Indiana interstates. The State Senate passed a bill yesterday that would raise the speed limit. The bill now goes to the House, where it has the support of that chamber’s top lawmaker.

Daylight Savings Bill to get Hearing

Daylight Savings Time will get attention in the Indiana House next week. The chair of the House Commerce Committee says that panel will conduct a hearing Monday afternoon on a bill that would require the entire state to observe daylight time. The chairman says he doesn’t know if the committee will vote on the bill Monday.

Event to Provide Free Help with College Financial Aid

Families who have a student entering college next year can get free help with financial aid applications Sunday afternoon. College Goal Sunday begins at two o’clock at 34 locations around the state, including Ivy Tech in Warsaw. Get more information, including locations, from the College Goal Sunday web site.

Library AV Department to Close

The Warsaw Community Public Library will close its audio visual department for a week, beginning at six o’clock tonight. Workers will put a new floor in the area. The library has pushed back due dates on material borrowed from the A-V department.

MC Recital Cancelled

Manchester College has cancelled a faculty recital that was scheduled for this evening. The recital by Associate Professor Debra Lynn will be rescheduled at a later date.

MC Grad to Lead DNR

Governor Daniels has appointed a Manchester College graduate to head the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Kyle Hupfer graduated with a business degree in 1995. Most recently, he has been a corporate lawyer with an Indianapolis law firm.

New Red Cross Youth Group

The Huntington County chapter of the American Red Cross is inviting middle school and high school students to attend the first meeting of a new Red Cross Youth organization. The meeting starts at 5:30 this afternoon in the Huntington County Annex building on Jefferson Street.

Man Charged with Practicing Medicine w/o License

Indiana State Police arrested a 66-year-old Topeka man today on charges of practicing medicine without a license. According to a news release, an undercover officer discovered the man providing medical services in an Elkhart health food store. Police say that at the time, his medical license had expired.

Daniels Signs Economic Development Bill

Governor Daniels has signed a bill that eliminates the Indiana Department of Commerce and creates the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). The new quasi-governmental organization will take over the state's economic development efforts. A 12-member board will lead the IEDC. Daniels will be chairman. He plans to name the other board members by Monday.

Sauders Wins School Board Seat

The vote spread in the race for a seat on the Warsaw school board changed by one vote after yesterday’s special election. And the outcome remained the same… Chuck Sauders will replace Mark Minatel on the board. Sauders beat Sterling Watkins by six votes, even though Watkins won the precinct that voted yesterday by 66 votes. Hear Sauders talk about how surprised he was to win the election. Watkins says despite the outcome, he has no regrets. Hear Watkins talk about how he thinks the special election was the right thing to do. Ninety-six people voted in the special election, which a judge ordered in that precinct after election workers put the wrong ballot in a voting booth last November. Sauders is a former principal in the school district and served on the board before he went to work for it.

Courthouse Updates Proposed

The Kosciusko County Courthouse needs nearly three million dollars worth of work, especially on its plumbing and electrical systems. Hear County administrator Ron Robinson talk about how needs have changed in the past few decades. Robinson says a contractor has listed all the work that needs done. The company reported its findings to county commissioners yesterday. County Council will receive the report tomorrow night.

Committee Approves Same-Sex Marriage Amendment

A committee of the Indiana Senate has approved an amendment to the state’s constitution that would ban same-sex marriage. The amendment must still get the approval of the full Senate and the House before Hoosiers get to vote on it.

Scholarship Honors Late Detective

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation has announced a new scholarship in memory of a Sheriff’s Department detective who was killed in the line of duty. Kosciusko County kids who plan to study criminal justice in college are eligible for the scholarship. It honors Phil Hochstetler, who was shot and killed in 1994.

Rail Work Closes Center Street

Center Street in Warsaw will be closed today between Detroit Street and Park Avenue. Norfolk-Southern will be making emergency repairs to its crossing.

Escapee from Whitley Co. Jail Recaptured

A Huntington man is in custody in Ohio this morning, after escaping from the Whitley County jail yesterday. Whitley County Sheriff Michael Schrader says the escapee had been a trusty who was allowed into unsecured areas of the jail to perform chores. Hear Sheriff Schrader explain how the inmate escaped. Schrader says Huntington County police tracked the 21-year-old man to Van Wert, Ohio, where Van Wert City Police captured him. The Whitley County jail had been holding the man on burglary charges. He could be back in Whitley County today, if he waives extradition from Ohio. Schrader says police are still working on whom to charge with helping the man escape.

Special Election in School Board Race Today

Hundreds of Warsaw residents have a chance to vote in a school board election again today. A court ordered a special election in one precinct after one voting booth in that precinct displayed the wrong ballot for a while last November. Today’s election will determine whether Chuck Sauders or Sterling Watkins will replace Mark Minatel on the Warsaw Community School Board. Polls will be open at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds until 6 p.m. and only people who live in the affected precinct are eligible to vote.

Daniels Appoints Huntington County Man

Govenor Daniels has named a Huntington County man to lead the Indiana Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Tom Applegate tells Q101 about his plans for the department. Hear Applegate talk about improvements he plans to make in the IDVA. Applegate also plans to help Hoosier veterans receive more information about state and federal benefits. Applegate has been Huntington County’s veterans’ service officer for 10 years. He lives in Warren.