(UNDATED) – In August 2018 a Bloomington man was charged with murder and attempted murder after a fight on West Third Street left one man dead and another in serious condition. A couple left a 1,000 tip for a single mother who served their meal at a Brown County hotel.
Gene McCracken announced his candidacy for Bedford mayor, Stan and Ann Armstrong received the 2018 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation from Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau. Bob Lamey retired as Indianapolis Colts radio announcer.
Also in August, Evan Schaffer was found guilty of murdering 25-year-old Justin Lampkins. Indiana Conservation Officer Tony Mann was presented with DNR Law Enforcement’s Pitzer Award at a statewide meeting on Aug. 17. Bedford’s Director of Administrative Service and former Lawrence County Sheriff Sam Craig is seeking the Republican nomination for mayor of Bedford.
Tony Mann Wins Award As Top DNR Law Enforcement Field Officer
Indiana Conservation Officer Tony Mann was presented with DNR Law Enforcement’s Pitzer Award at a statewide meeting on Aug. 17.
The award is given annually to the top field officer in the state, as selected from 10 District Officer of the Year award winners.
Since 1997, Mann has served in District 7 and is assigned to Martin and Dubois counties.
Sam Craig Seeking GOP Nomination For Bedford Mayor
Bedford’s Director of Administrative Service and former Lawrence County Sheriff Sam Craig is seeking the Republican nomination for mayor of Bedford.
Prior to serving as sheriff for two terms, Craig served as a major and detective commander for the Bedford Police Department. He also serves as president of the Lawrence County Council.
Craig is a lifelong resident of Lawrence County. He and his wife Lou Ann have two children, Ashley Spreen and Alex Craig, and five grandchildren. They attend St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Jurors Found Evan Schaffer Guilty of Murder
Jurors found 23-year-old Evan Schaffer guilty of murdering 25-year-old Justin Lampkins at the Bedford McDonald’s drive-through during the early morning hours of April 23, 2017.
The jury took less than three hours deliberating.
Schaffer, of Orleans, was also found guilty of pointing a firearm, carrying a handgun without a license and battery resulting in bodily injury.
Bob Lamey Retired as Indianapolis Colts Radio Announcer
The Indianapolis Colts announced that Colts radio announcer Bob Lamey, the “Voice of the Colts” for more than three decades, retired from his duties as the team’s play-by-play voice for Colts radio broadcasts.
“I have had a great deal of fun for 35 years, and it’s time,” Lamey said. “Great things and great people. I cannot thank Colts fans enough for their support through the years. I also owe the world to the Irsay family, particularly Jimmy. I’ve never worked for a better person or a ‘got-your-back’ boss like him. I will always bleed blue.”
Lamey worked 31 seasons as the club’s radio play-by-play voice, serving from 1984 to 1991 and again from 1995 to 2018. He previously worked as the official play-by-play voice of the Indianapolis Racers hockey team from 1974 to 1977 and the Indiana Pacers from 1977 to 1984.
He also worked 23 years for WIBC Radio in Indianapolis, the last 15 as sports director. Lamey was inducted to the Indiana Sports Broadcasters and Writers Hall of Fame in 2008.
Stan and Ann Armstrong Receive 2018 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation
Stan and Ann Armstrong received the 2018 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation from Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau.
The award was presented to the family during the Celebration of Agriculture at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The Armstrong family have been farming in southern Indiana since 1817. Stan and Ann Armstrong operate the Spring Creek Cattle Co. LLC on land that has been in the family since 1855, adding fields, timber stands and rolling hills that bring their holdings to 1,140 acres.
The Armstrongs have maintained the 1873 family home, which also serves as the headquarters for their Spring Creek Cattle and Pleiades Cattle companies.
“While we’ve made changes throughout the years to accommodate family needs, we maintained the integrity of the farmhouse, making sure the siding, windows, and shutters on the additions match the original house,” says Stan Armstrong.
Man Shot Four Times in Police-Involved Shooting
Officials say 24-year-old Daniel Boyer was shot four times after pointing a loaded semi-automatic handgun at Monroe County deputies.
According to Coroner Joani Shields, Boyer suffered two gunshot wounds to his left thigh, one to his right index finger and a superficial wound to the right side of his lower back.
Boyer died after being taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
Boyer was shot after Deputies Don Teague and Deandre Moxley went to the home in the 5900 block of Tower Road. The mobile home is along a wooded area along a gravel dead-end road that runs north of Tower Road, off Ison Road.
Officers went to the home to arrest 33-year-old Tiffany Flynn on a warrant for a violation of home detention. Police also believed Boyer might be at the home.He was wanted on warrants for dealing and possession of meth.
The two deputies approached the rear of the mobile home from a wooded area while another deputy approached from the front.
Boyer exited the home out the back door.
“The male subject who they had been looking for came out the back door with a handgun, pointed it at the deputies and said a comment to the effect of ‘f— this,'” Swain said.
Teague and Moxley fired their 9 mm Glocks striking Boyer four times.
McCracken Announces Candidacy For Mayor
Executive Director of the StoneGate Arts & Education Center and Lawrence County Commissioner, Gene McCracken has declared his candidacy for Mayor of Bedford.
McCracken is a former business teacher, Executive Director of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council and winner of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award.
Gene is married to Janice (Hawkins) McCracken and they reside at 310 Hill Drive, Bedford. Gene and Janice are both retired teachers. Gene recently served ten years as the Executive Director of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council and is currently serving as Executive Director of the StoneGate Arts & Education Center. They have two adult sons, Thad and Jamie McCracken.
Couple Leaves $1,000 Tip For Single Mother Serving At Brown County Hotel
What would you do if you got a $1,000 tip? That’s what one single mom in Brown County had to decide. Anna Hofstetter is a bartender at Hotel Nashville and she said a couple staying at the hotel to celebrate their wedding anniversary gave it to her.
Hofstetter said it was a slow Saturday night. During the evening, she struck up a conversation with the couple. She told them she’s a single mom and works three jobs to support her two kids.
“They sat at a little table near the door, and they said they got married at the Hotel Nashville seven years ago,” she said.
She said they ordered long island iced teas, a crab artichoke appetizer, and the dinner special. Their check came to $32.40. When Hofstetter picked up the receipt, she saw they wrote $1,000 in the tip column. There was also a message saying, “give something for kids.”
“I said thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me,” she said.
She could have used it for her kid’s birthdays, their college fund or to pay off her student loans. A few days later, she had another idea after bumping into Clara Stanley. Stanley and another group of kids are collecting money to build a skate and teen park in Brown County. They hope to build it at Deer Run Park. The county still needs to approve the plans. The kids created a group called Kids on Wheels for their fundraising efforts.
“Brown County has lacked a healthy, wonderful place for children,” said Stanley, President of Brown County Enrichment for Teens Association Inc. or BETA.
It’s a project Hofstetter thought would make a lasting impact so she felt it was worth a $1,000 donation.
“I know Anna is doing a lot of working hours, single mom. $1,000 is big money,” said Stanley.
Hofstetter said this donation will not only be for her kids but also for all of the kids in the community. Kids on Wheels has already raised roughly $25,000 for the skate and teen park. Their fundraising goal is $120,000. They are getting some help through state grants. If they collect another $50,000 before September 22, they will receive a $50,000 matching grant from the state.
If you are interested in donating, click here.
Bloomington Man Now Facing Murder Charge
A Bloomington man charged with murder and attempted murder after a fight on West Third Street left one man dead and another in serious condition.
Bloomington Police Capt. Steve Kellams said when police arrived at the Ziebart parking lot in the 2400 block of West Third Street, they found 23-year-old Victor Morales Acosta “lying in blood” with knife wounds to his neck and face. Monroe County Coroner says Acosta suffered 34 stab wounds and likely died from blood loss.
A second victim, suffered multiple stab wounds and was transported to the IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
Police arrested 30-year-old Pedro Jeronimo-Arriaga at his place of employment.
He is scheduled for a pretrial conference on Feb. 19, 2019, at 11 a.m. in Monroe Circuit Court.
He is being held in the Monroe County Jail without bond.
