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Last updated on Friday, December 30, 2016
(UNDATED) - September saw a man sentenced to 80 years in prison for the murder of an IU student; a fire destroyed two Martin County turkey barns and killed 10,000 birds; Bedford officials took steps to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and John Williams Boulevard and Bedford North Lawrence High School crowned homecoming royalty.
Brown County Circuit Judge Judith Stewart sentenced 51-year-old Daniel Messel to 80 years in prison for the murder of 22-year-old Hannah Wilson.
In August, after about 5 hours of deliberating, a Brown County jury found Daniel Messel guilty of murdering the IU senior.
A passerby found Wilson's body on April 24, 2015 in a parking lot face down at State Road 45 and Plum Creek Road near Helmsburg. Wilson had been reported missing the day before the discovery of her body. Messell's cell phone was found next to her body.
An autopsy determined that Wilson had died from blunt force injuries to the back of her head.
The jury also determined Messel, a print shop worker from Bloomington, was guilty of being a habitual offender. That offense added an additional 20 year to his sentence.
Judge Stewart sentenced Messel to 60 years for the murder and an additional enhancement of 20 years for being a habitual offender.
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A fire destroyed two turkey barns and killed about 10,000 birds in Martin County.
Firefighters were called to Pleasant View Turkey Farm at 793 Nolley Lane, southeast of Whitfield
.
According to Haysville Volunteer Fire Department Chief John Furhman, when firefighters arrived two 40-by-500 foot turkey barns were engulfed in flames.
Loogootee, Southeast Fire, Civil Defense and Harrison Township fire departments were called to assist. In all 15 trucks and 41 firefighters battled the blaze. Firefighters battled the blaze for more than four hours.
Firefighters were able to save a third building used for breeding operations.
Fuhrman says the fire started after some burning cardboard from a burn pile blew into the first barn and was pulled through the ventilation system spreading the fire to the second barn.
Fuhrman estimated the loss at $400,000 for the buildings and $150,000 for the turkeys. The farm is associated with Perdue Farms.
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In August, Bedford city officials took steps to create a roundabout at the intersection of Williams Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue.
Officials say the roundabout will relieve traffic congestion at the busy intersection.
Once the roundabout is complete Mayor Shawna Girgis says the city will host a public meeting to explain to motorists how to maneuver through the roundabout.
The project includes resurfacing of Lincoln Avenue from 18th Street to Sixth Street and the replacement of some sidewalks along Lincoln Avenue if funding is available.
Bidding should begin this winter with construction beginning in the spring.
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Jacob Osborne was crowned Senior King and Alivia Mackey was crowned 2016 Bedford North Lawrence Homecoming Queen.
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