Columbia City Steel Mill Announces Expansion

Steel Dynamics, Inc. announced today it will expand its structural steel and rail mill near Columbia City, creating more than 50 new jobs. The company says it will spend $75 million to add a second casting operation to the plant. By the fourth quarter of 2008, the project will increase the mill’s capacity to transform recycled steel scrap into structural steel. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered the company up to $1.325 million in performance-based tax credits based on the announced job creation plans. The State of Indiana will also provide $350,000 in infrastructure grants to the local community to assist with off-site infrastructure improvements needed for the project. Whitley County offered the company property tax abatements worth approximately $3.1 million.

State Investigating Possible New Botulism Case

A spokesman for the Indiana State Department of Health has confirmed that the department has learned of a new suspected botulism case. Risk Communication Director Erik Deckers tells The New Q101 that it will take about five days to confirm the case. Until then, the department's official position is that Indiana has only two cases that are definitely linked to an outbreak involving contaminated canned meat products. This morning, The New Q101 reported that Indiana State Police arranged an emergency relay of botulism medication from Chicago to Logansport Memorial Hospital last night.

Grain Traps Silver Lake Farm Worker in Bin

Rescue workers saved the life of a Kosciusko County farm worker after he became trapped in a grain bin yesterday afternoon. It happened at a farm near Silver Lake, while workers were moving corn from the bin to a truck. Carlos Torres went into the bin to unclog an auger that moves the grain. The corn then sucked Torres in and trapped him. It took rescue workers a couple hours get Torres out by cutting a number of holes in the side of the grain bin. A helicopter flew Torres to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, where he was in fair condition at last report.

Mora Truck Produces Evidence

State police technicians have completed an inventory of the contents of a pickup truck that belongs to a suspect in two Warsaw murders. According to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, technicians found an empty nine millimeter ammunition box, one nine millimeter cartridge, a withdrawal receipt from a local bank and potential sources of D-N-A. The truck belongs to Omar Mora, who faces charges in the shooting deaths in May of his wife and the manager of a Warsaw convenience store. Police have not found Mora.

Two Injured in Battery, One Critically

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department announced yesterday that it is investigating an alleged battery case that injured two people Sunday, one critically. According to a news release, they found the victims in a home on Lake Sharon Road, southeast of Warsaw. EMS took both 25-year-old Sarah Hardin and 24 year old Justin Sainer to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. The hospital has since released Hardin but Sainer was in critical condition at last report. Police arrested a 24 year old male suspect on a charge of aggravated battery.

Warsaw Mother Sentenced in Neglect Case

A judge has sentenced a 21-year-old Warsaw woman to a year on probation, for leaving her two babies unattended in a car while she applied for a job. Jodi Phillips had pleaded guilty to felony neglect of a dependent under the terms of a plea agreement.

Biomet Sues Zimmer

Warsaw orthopedic manufacturer Biomet has sued local competitor Zimmer and a former Biomet executive who now works for Zimmer. Biomet claims Zimmer and the former Biomet executive tried to make use of confidential company information and tried to interfere with Biomet’s contracts with its distributors.

Possible New Botulism Case in Logansport

See an update to this story.

Reports indicate that at least one more Hoosier has become ill with botulism. Last night, Indiana State Police arranged an emergency relay of botulism medication from Chicago to Logansport Memorial Hospital. Previously, the only Indiana cases of botulism involved a Columbia City couple. No word yet on whether the Logansport case involves contaminated canned meat product.

Warsaw Seeks Archers for Second Deer Hunt

Warsaw police are accepting applications from bow hunters who wish to participate in the city’s second deer hunt. Archers must live in Kosciusko County and complete a training session before they can participate in the hunt, which is scheduled to begin October first.

Governor, Steel Dynamics to Make Announcement

See an update to this story.

Governor Mitch Daniels plans to join executives at the Steel Dynamics plant near Columbia City today to make an economic development announcement. A news release from the governor’s office does not indicate what the announcement will be. In the past, other area businesses have announced expansion plans during similar visits by the governor.

Weekend Crash Kills South Whitley Man

A two-vehicle crash in southwestern Whitley County killed a 29-year-old South Whitley man over the weekend. Whitley County police say Craig Saltsman was driving a corvette on County Road 950-West Saturday evening, when the driver of a Ford Ranger pick-up failed to yield at a stop sign on County Road 400-South and collided with the Corvette. The Corvette then caught fire. Nineteen-year-old Columbia City resident Andrew Kessie drove the truck. E-M-S took him to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne for treatment of a head injury.

Former Massage Parlor Owner Pleads Guilty

The former owner of a Warsaw massage business pleaded guilty yesterday to three counts of bribery and one count of promoting prostitution. The 51-year-old woman, who owned VIP The Office Spa, had entered a plea agreement with prosecutors. A judge set a sentencing hearing for August 23rd.

Fake Bomb Forces Courthouse Evacuation

Officials evacuated the Fulton County courthouse in Rochester yesterday after a police officer found what looked like a bomb outside. It turned out to be a fake that was apparently placed as a hoax. The device turned up during the courthouse’s first murder trial in 20 years but police say they don’t know if there’ a connection or if it was just a coincidence.

Three Troopers Injured in Three Days

Collisions have injured three Indiana State Police troopers in three days. Yesterday, a truck rear-ended a state police cruiser near Bloomington, injuring a trooper who was a passenger in the car. Wednesday, a trooper was injured during a traffic stop on Interstate 465 in Indianapolis when a truck slammed into the car the Trooper had pulled over. Tuesday a trooper was one of six people who were injured on U.S. 50 in southwestern Indiana's Daviess County when a semi truck sideswiped the trooper’s cruiser.

Recalled Food Cans Bursting

The nationwide recall of tainted canned food products has become more urgent, as some of the recalled cans have begun bursting. The cans are contaminated with botulism toxin. As the bacterium grows, it produces gas that can cause a can to burst. Health officials are concerned that some of the recalled products are still on store shelves and in people’s homes. They say the dangerous toxin is extremely potent and that you can become infected by breathing it after a can bursts. Health officials say recalled cans should be wrapped in two plastic bags and thrown in the trash. There’s more information about the recalled food products on the web site of the Food and Drug Administration.

Governor Orders More Reassessments

Governor Mitch Daniels has ordered property reassessments in Gibson, Posey and Delaware counties. Daniels says evidence indicates that previous assessments in those counties undervalued commercial and industrial properties – thus shifting more of the local tax burden onto homeowners. The state is still reviewing assessments in dozens of other counties. Meanwhile, three state lawmakers have asked Daniels to order a similar reassessment of properties in Aboite Township of southwestern Allen County.

Fire Destroys Cromwell Liquor Store

Fire destroyed a liquor store in the Noble County town of Cromwell yesterday. It took six fire departments nearly an hour to bring the fire under control because bottles kept exploding, allowing the alcohol to fuel the fire. No one was in the store when the blaze broke out, and there were no reports of injuries.

Kendallville Officer Suspended without Pay

The Kendallville Board of Works has changed a police officer’s suspension from with pay to without pay. The 33-year-old man faces charges of computer tampering and computer trespass for allegedly using computer software to spy on an ex-girlfriend.

U.S. House Opposes Whiting Refinery Expansion

The U-S House of Representatives has passed a resolution that expresses disapproval of an Indiana refinery’s plan to expand and increase discharges of ammonia and sludge into Lake Michigan. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued a permit that allows the increase in discharges from the BP refinery in Whiting. Governor Daniels says the refinery’s expansion will provide jobs and help decrease gasoline prices.

WPD Officers Get New Radios

Warsaw Police Department officers have received new portable two-way radios that improve their ability to communicate. A $35,823 grant from the Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation enabled the department to purchase the radios. Some of the radios they replace were more than a decade old. Warsaw Police Lieutenant Kip Shuter says the new radios enable officers to communicate from places the old ones didn’t work, including the local hospital and Warsaw Community High School. Although the new radios provide officers with digital capabilities, Shuter says citizens who have police scanner receivers in their homes will still be able to monitor officers’ transmissions on the same frequencies previously used.

Warsaw Murder Suspect's Truck Found

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Dept. photo

Police in Chicago have found a pickup truck that belongs to a suspect in two Warsaw murders. According to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Chicago police found Omar Mora’s pickup truck parked on a residential street on Chicago’s north side, very near Interstate 94. Police say they do not know how long the truck had been there or whether Mora is still in that area. Mora is a suspect in the shooting deaths of his wife and the manager of a Warsaw convenience store May 23rd. A special unit of the Chicago police department drives down streets scanning and looking up license plates. That unit reportedly discovered Mora’s truck. Detectives from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and Warsaw Police Department went to Chicago to assist in the investigation and take custody of the truck.

U-S 35 Crash Kills Two

A three-vehicle crash on U-S 35 in Cass County yesterday afternoon killed two people. Police say a 70-year-old Galveston woman and a 53-year-old Kokomo man both died at the scene. Police say the woman’s pickup truck crossed the centerline and crashed nearly head-on into the Kokomo man’s pick up truck. A third vehicle then collided with the second truck.

Kosciusko Deputies Investigate Possible Attempted Kidnapping

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department announced today that it is investigating a possible attempted kidnapping that occurred in the northwestern portion of the county early last evening. According to a news release, a 14-year-old girl reported that a man in his late 40s or early 50s grabbed her and tried to enter her home at the Millwood Trailer Court. The girl told police the man eventually fled in a pickup truck. Police are asking for citizen help to learn more about this incident. The release describes the suspect as a white man with short hair who weighs approximately 155 pounds. He was wearing a gray button up shirt with black vertical stripes, dark blue jeans, white and black tennis shoes, and a black belt with a silver colored "skull" buckle. The man fled in a newer, light blue Ford F150 pickup truck with an Indiana "In God We Trust" plate attached. The truck had a piece of black flexible pipe in its bed. Kosciusko County Sheriff Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to call them at (574) 267-5667 or Crimestoppers at (800)-342-STOP.

Angry Taxpayers Complain to State Commission

Dozens of taxpayers and local officials complained to a state commission about property taxes yesterday. They spoke at the first of a series of hearings by the Commission on State Tax and Finance Policy. Republican Senator Luke Kenley of Noblesville chairs the commission He said, "We plan to have as many meetings as we need to have this summer and fall to deal with this issue." The commission could end up recommending different ways of providing relief and reforming the system.

Woman Gets 30 Years in Death of Stepdaughter

A Fort Wayne woman -- who dropped her 5-year-old stepdaughter on the floor and failed to seek medical attention for the child -- got 30 years in prison yesterday. The child died from her injuries. Twenty-five-year-old Shanna Pritchard pleaded guilty to neglect under the terms of a plea agreement.

Firery Crash Closes U.S. 24

A fiery crash closed down U-S 24 between Roanoke and Fort Wayne yesterday. Police say the driver of a tanker that was carrying flammable tar lost control and the truck rolled over and caught fire. The two men in the truck suffered serious injuries.

Canned Meat Product Recall Expanded

A recall over botulism contamination now involves more than 80 types of canned stew, chili, hash and other products sold under a variety of labels. The recall includes some Kroger and Meijer brand products. See the entire list. At least two Indiana people became ill after eating one of the products.

Bullet Hits Warsaw Postal Carrier

Investigators are looking into the shooting of a rural Warsaw postal carrier. Police say carrier Danelle Trier suffered minor injuries when a .22-calibre bullet hit her in the head. She told police she didn’t even know she’d been shot until doctors later removed the bullet. Police say they believe a bullet from a 17-year-old boy's rifle accidentally hit Trier while he was shooting at squirrels. The shooting happened June 30th, but the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department didn’t release any information about it until yesterday. Postal inspectors have taken over the investigation and no one has been arrested.

Babysitter Sentenced for Beating Infant

A 21-year-old Silver Lake man got four years in prison and two years on probation yesterday for beating his girlfriend’s one-year-old son while he was babysitting the child. Christopher Powell had pleaded guilty to battery causing serious bodily injury under the terms of a plea agreement.

Fire Destroys Elkhart County Duck Hatchery

A big fire destroyed a 20-thousand-square-foot building at a duck hatchery in Middlebury yesterday. It took nine fire departments several hours to put out the fire at Culver Duck Farms in the Elkhart County town. Owner Burk Culver says it looks like the fire started in a malfunctioning generator. No one was hurt but the fire destroyed more than 500-thousand eggs.

Storms Cause Flooding in Area

Overnight thunderstorms caused flooding and other problems, mostly in the northern part of the Q101 area. According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding closed five intersections in northern Kosciusko County around midnight. In Noble County officials reported two feet of water on State Road Nine. Some city streets in Fort Wayne also had that much water on them. Dispatchers say all roads were passable by early this morning. In LaGrange County, a three-foot-diameter tree fell on a house.

Huntington County Fire Kills Two

A couple from the southeastern Huntington County town of Warren died in a motel room fire yesterday. Officials say they believe a cigarette might have started the fire that killed Warren residents 72-year-old Glen Holcombe and 64-year-old Carolyn Holcombe. They were staying at the motel because of a recent fire in their home.

Plea Agreement in Warsaw Prostitution Case

Court records indicate that the former owner of a Warsaw massage parlor has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. The deal calls for the 51-year-old woman to plead guilty to one count of promoting prostitution and three counts of bribery.

Governor Takes Steps Against Property Taxes

Governor Mitch Daniels has ordered Marion County officials to reassess properties in the county. And he ordered the county to freeze its property tax bills at last year’s rates until the reassessment is done. Daniels took the step because the county might have undervalued commercial properties, resulting in unfair property tax bills for homeowners. Daniels says he might have to order reassessments in many other counties but he needs more data first. In a longer term step to reduce taxes, Governor Daniels has announced that a special commission will study ways to reorganize local government. Daniels says Indiana’s local government system is antiquated and has too many offices and layers of bureaucracy.

Chili Sauce Warning

Federal health officials say an Indiana couple is among at least four people who have become seriously ill after eating canned hot dog chili sauce. Officials say certain cans of the product are contaminated with botulism toxin. It’s the first such contamination of canned food in decades. The Food and Drug Administration says people should throw away certain 10-ounce cans of Castleberry's, Austex and Kroger brands of hot dog chili sauce. The recall covers cans with "best by" dates from April 30, 2009, through May 22, 2009. It includes cans carrying the following universal product codes:

• Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030000101)
• Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 3030099533)
• Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce (UPC 1111083942)

You can get more information by calling the manufacturer toll-free at (888) 203-8446 or visiting its web site, www.castleberrys.com/news_productrecall.asp.

Angola Woman Allegedly Paid Others to Kill Husband

Police have arrested an Angola woman for allegedly trying to hire someone to kill her husband. The 44-year-old woman faces a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Police say one of two people she paid was an undercover state police officer.

Indy Girl Allegedly Dumps Newborn in Trash

A 17-year-old Indianapolis girl faces charges in California this morning, after she allegedly gave birth to a baby in a restaurant restroom and then dumped the infant in a trash can. Police say the infant is in good condition.

Daniels Opposes Spending Surplus on Tax Relief

Governor Mitch Daniels says he opposes a leading Democrat’s suggestion that the state use its entire one-point-two-eight-billion-dollar surplus to reduce property taxes. House Speaker Patrick Bauer’s idea would prevent the state from rebuilding its cash reserves and making back payments to local governments. Daniels says he is open to using part of the surplus on a temporary basis until the state receives other money that’s already earmarked for property tax relief.

Refinery Repairs Could Reduce Gasoline Prices

Repairs at a northwestern Indiana refinery could mean lower gasoline prices in the Q101 area. Prices went up after the B-P Refinery in Whiting shut down part of its facility earlier this month after workers discovered a leak. B-P has finished the repairs and the unit is producing gasoline again.

Police Arrest Three on Cock Fighting Charges

Three northern Indiana man face felony charges this morning related to an unusual crime: cock fighting. State police have arrested a LaGrange man and two Angola men on charges of promoting animal fighting and possessing animal fighting paraphernalia. Police say a traffic stop led to a search warrant for a property in LaGrange. Police say they found more than 100 chickens there, as well as items used in cock fighting, including sharpened spurs.

State has $1.28 Billon Surplus

The state ended the fiscal year with a surplus of about one-point-two-eight billion dollars, but most of that money is already earmarked and cannot be used to decrease property taxes. After money is placed in various reserve funds and the state makes back payments due to local governments, only about 252-million of spendable cash remains.

Daniels Leads Campaign Funding Race

Republican Governor Mitch Daniels reported four-point-one million dollars in campaign cash yesterday. His closest competitor in campaign money is Democrat Jim Schellinger, who had one-point-one million in his campaign account.

Two Drown in Southern Indiana Lakes

Drownings in separate southern Indiana lakes killed a five-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man yesterday. Police say the boy drowned after he tried to follow older children into deep water at Lake Monroe near Bloomington. The man died after diving from a cliff platform at a private recreation area near about 30 miles southeast of Indianapolis.

Train Kills Huntington Man

Police say a 32-year-old Huntington man died yesterday after a train struck his car at a Huntington crossing. Investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened and hope an autopsy performed yesterday will help.

Wabash County Crash Kills Driver

A 34-year-old Miami County man died in a single-car crash in southern Wabash County last night. State police say Christopher Carroll lost control of his car on a curve and hit an embankment. He died at the scene of head injuries.

Runaway Horses Lead to Boy's Death

Runaway horses led to the death of a 12-year-old LaGrange boy over the weekend. Police say Marion Yoder was riding on farm equipment the horses were pulling when something startled them. The boy struck his head on the paved road when he jumped from the equipment.

Crop-Duster Crashes, Pilot Dies

Officials say a crop duster crashed into some trees near Mishawaka yesterday afternoon. The pilot died.

Warsaw ATV Rider Injured

Conservation officers reported yesterday that a 14-year-old Warsaw boy suffered injuries after he lost control of an all-terrain vehicle Friday. According to a news release, Justin Lampkin was riding an ATV on a sandy trail on private property north of Warsaw when he drove over a series of bumps causing him to either be thrown off or fall from the vehicle. Lampkin suffered a broken collar bone.

Hundreds Protest Property Taxes

Hundreds of people joined a protest against dramatically increased property taxes yesterday in downtown Indianapolis. Police estimate that about one thousand people gathered on Monument Circle for the so-called "Black Sunday" protest. Many protesters dressed in black or carried black umbrellas while others carried signs.

State Fixes New BMV Computer Problem

Technicians have fixed a computer hardware problem that led to long lines at Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches throughout Indiana Saturday. A spokesman for the state Office of Technology says the state government computer network bogged down Saturday when some equipment installed earlier in the week malfunctioned. He does not expect the problem to recur.

Huntington Lifts Water Conservation Request

The City of Huntington has lifted a request for residents to conserve water. The city issued the advisory Sunday after a water main break reduced the amount of water in tanks. The advisory had prohibited residents from watering their lawns.

Long Thompson Announces Gubernatorial Campaign

Former U-S Representative Jill Long Thompson has formally announced that she will run for governor. She says that if elected, she would consider the state's options on every privatization contract signed by Republican Governor Mitch Daniels, including the Indiana Toll Road lease.

South Whitley Man Sentenced in Molesting Case

A judge in Columbia City has sentenced a South Whitley man to six years of probation for molesting a seven year old girl. Twenty-seven-year-old Joshua Bowman must spend two of those years on home detention. He pleaded guilty to child molesting under the terms of a plea agreement.

Commissioners Seek Bids for Aerial Photos

Kosciusko County commissioners have instructed a county staff member to get bids for new aerial photos of the entire county. The photos would update images that are available on the web as part of the county’s geographic information system. Commissioner Bob Conley expressed concerns that the aerial photos violate the privacy of county citizens.

Funeral for Trooper Rich Today

Master Trooper Detective David E. Rich

Funeral services for Indiana State Police Master Trooper Detective David Rich take place today. The trooper was shot to death while on duty near Wabash last week. The memorial service begins at 11 a.m. at the Honeywell Center gymnasium in downtown Wabash. Afterward, a procession will take Rich’s body to the Friends cemetery southwest of Wabash for burial. Officials invite citizens to line the procession route and show their respect when the procession passes by placing their hands on their hearts or waving American flags. See a map of the procession route.

Daniels Promises Action on Property Taxes

Governor Mitch Daniels has hinted at the possibility of a special legislative session to provide property tax relief. Daniels issued a news release last night in which he says he will take every step within his authority to help homeowners. The statement also says Daniels is discussing with lawmakers how a special session might provide immediate relief directly to property taxpayers who have been especially hard hit. On average, homeowners statewide face a 24 percent increase in property taxes this year.

Fiery Crash Closes I-69 in Steuben

A crash and fire involving two semi trucks in Steuben County forced police to close I-69 this morning. It happened between the Ashley and Angola exits.

Inmates Break Out of Elkhart County Jail

Six inmates escaped from the Elkhart County Jail in Goshen last night. Police say that at about 9:30 p.m., the inmates scaled a wall and gained access to a roof by damaging an attached steel mesh. The inmates were held on a variety of charges, the most serious being armed robbery.

Warsaw Man Pleads Guilty to Voyeurism

A 48-year-old Warsaw man has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of voyeurism. He admitted hiding a tiny camera in the bathroom of a rental house. A judge scheduled sentencing for August 13th.

Long-Thompson to Announce Governor Run

Former U-S Representative Jill Long Thompson plans to formally announce a run for governor today. That would make Long Thompson the third Democrat to seek the party’s nomination.

Mother of Interstate-Walking Toddler Pleads Guilty

An Indianapolis woman could get up to two years in prison after her three-year-old son wandered away from home and onto an Interstate highway while his mother slept. The 31-year-old woman accepted a plea agreement that called for her to plead guilty to child neglect.

Motorcycle Crashes Kill Warsaw Woman, Wabash Man

Motorcycle crashes over the weekend in the Q101 area killed two people. Yesterday afternoon, a 39-year-old Warsaw woman died in a single motorcycle crash on State Road 19 in Miami County. Indiana State Police say Leigh Roberts was riding too fast for a curve and lost control of her motorcycle. She died of severe head trauma. Police say a helmet might have saved Roberts’ life, but she was not wearing one. Saturday afternoon, a single motorcycle crash on State Road 13 in Kosciusko County killed a 39-year-old Wabash man. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department says Gene Sage’s motorcycle struck a guardrail. Sage died at the scene. A 42-year-old female passenger on the motorcycle suffered extensive leg and head injuries.

Tractor Strikes, Kills North Milford Boy

An incident involving a farm tractor killed a four-year-old boy of over the weekend. According to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriffs Department, it happened at about 5:30 Saturday afternoon on a property on County Road 1050 North. Police say Marein Miller of rural North Milford was riding on a tractor with his father, Leon Miller. The tractor was negotiating a narrow trail through the woods when it struck a tree, throwing the boy. The tractor came free from the tree and struck the boy. He died of extensive internal injuries.

Huntington Issues Water Conservation Advisory

The City of Huntington has instructed residents to begin conserving water. Officials say extreme heat and high water usage has left water levels in city tanks dangerously low. They’ve issued an advisory that prohibits Huntington residents from watering their lawns.

Funeral Arrangements for Master Trooper David E. Rich

Funeral services for Master Trooper David E. Rich, who was killed while on duty near Wabash last week, will be held Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the Honeywell Center Gymnasium, 275 W. Market Street, Wabash. Burial will follow at Friends Cemetery in Wabash. Viewing will be Tuesday, July 10, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave., Wabash. Memorial contributions may be made to "Children of Trooper David Rich Memorial Fund" c/o of First Merchants Bank, 1250 N. Cass Street, Wabash, IN 46992.

Trooper's Killer Shoots, Kills Self

State Police have released more information about the shooting death yesterday of 41-year-old Master Trooper Detective David Rich. Sergeant Tony Slocum says Rich was on his way home from work when he stopped to help what he believed was a stranded motorist at about four o’clock yesterday afternoon. The car was on the shoulder of U-S 24 about a mile west of Wabash. Slocum says as Rich approached the car, the man inside shot Rich in the chest with a shotgun, killing him. The man then apparently reloaded the shotgun and took his own life. Slocum remembers Rich as one of the nicest people he’s ever met. "You know, he might give you the proverbial shirt off his back," Slocum said. "If that guy needed help, he would have gave him his shoes, his pants, he would have done anything to help him." Slocum says the shooter was 21-year-old Joseph Vultaggio Jr., of Gaylord, Michigan. He was driving a car that Vultaggio’s father had reported stolen.

Water Park Visitor Died of Illness

A coroner says a 29-year-old Fort Wayne woman died of natural causes at a southern Indiana water park Wednesday. The coroner says the woman suffered congestive heart failure while standing in shallow water at the Holiday World amusement park in Santa Claus.