In April 2021 the city approved installing a Baby Box at the Bedford Fire Department, the reigning spelling bee champion will keep her title, a Bedford man was sentenced to prison for the death of his long-time girlfriend and Indiana University’s female president took the helm.
Baby Box will be installed at Bedford Fire Department headquarters
In April 2021, the Bedford Board of Works approved Pritchett Brothers to install Bedford’s new Baby Box at the Bedford Fire Department headquarters on H Street.
Duke Energy awarded the City of Bedford a $15,000 grant for the project. Pritchett Brothers Construction submitted a bid of $6,500 and the city will pay $1,500 towards the project.
A Baby Box is a safety device provided under the state’s Safe Haven Law and legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender their newborn, if they are unable to care for it. A Baby Box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital.
The box is monitored 24/7, fire officials said. When a baby is placed in the box, it triggers an alarm, notifying officials when to pick up and care for the baby.
The Indiana Safe Haven law allows a parent to bring a child, 30 days old or younger, to an employee at any hospital emergency room, manned fire station, or law enforcement agency without facing prosecution for endangering or abandoning a child, officials said. A parent can also use a safety device like the Baby Box to ensure anonymity for the parent.
Pamela Whitten named Indiana University first female president
The Indiana University Board of Trustees named Pamela Whitten as the university’s 19th president.
A visionary scholar and accomplished educator and researcher, Whitten has held a variety of leadership roles, beginning at Michigan State University and now as president of Kennesaw State University.
As IU’s first female president, Whitten assumes the helm at one of the nation’s leading research universities at a time of record-level research funding and philanthropic support.
Phillip “Butch” Deckard sentenced in death of Charlene Silvers
On April 9, 2021, Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge John Plummer III sentenced Phillip “Butch” Deckard to prison in the death of Charlene Silvers
Deckard, 58, was found guilty of shooting and killing his girlfriend Charlene Silvers after a domestic dispute on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at the home the couple shared at 2738 Maul Ridge Road.
Due to double jeopardy laws, all the charges but one were dropped after the state and defense agreed. Deckard was sentenced to a Level 3 felony of aggravated battery with a substantial risk of death.
Judge Plummer sentenced Deckard to the maximum sentence under Indiana law of 9 years in prison and added 7 years after the crime was enhanced. One year was suspended and will be served on supervised probation upon Deckard’s release.
The crime was enhanced to a domestic violence crime. Under the law, it’s a crime for someone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor domestic violence offense to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Silvers died from her injuries on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at 7:24 p.m.
“I have wrestled with this case. There are some real issues in this case,” said Plummer at the time of sentencing. “He (Deckard) never departed from his statement that it was an accident. But he never accepted responsibility or showed remorse. I do not find that Charlene Silvers induced her injuries in any way. She is not responsible for her death. He (Deckard) could have walked away and never picked up that gun. But he chose to pick up the gun and now she is dead. It is what it is and we can’t change it now.”
Deckard plans to appeal his conviction. Judge Plummer appointed a public defender who will represent him in the appeal.
Returning champion Meryl Klein wins 47th Annual WBIW Lawrence County Spelling Bee
The 2020 returning champion Meryl Klein kept her title as the 47th Annual WBIW Lawrence County Spelling Bee Champion Tuesday afternoon.
Meryl Klein, who was an 8th grader at Bedford Middle School is the daughter of Brian and Maria Klein.
Klein won the title after completing 12 rounds.
The final word that took the Day 1 grades 3-5 first-place finisher Liam Ruple out of the competition was – puce. Ruple is a 5th grader at Lincoln Elementary.
Typically, the WBIW Lawrence County Spelling Bee Champion would advance to the Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee. However, that bee has been canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. This was the second year that Klein will miss the opportunity to compete in the Kentucky Derby Festival due to COVID-19.
Klein was awarded a $100 cash prize provided by WBIW, a pizza party for their homeroom class provided by Papa Johns Pizza, a t-shirt, and the traditional spelling bee bobblehead trophy.
All participants receive a 1340 AM WBIW Spelling Bee t-shirt and a participant certificate.
