(UNDATED) – December 2018 saw Jasmine Pickett plead guilty to her part in the murder of Kamie Ratcliff, Sears Hometown in Bedford is closing its doors, the top-selling tree at Lawrence InterFaith Endeavor Christmas Fantasia fetched $2,500, the City Of Mitchell owes State collected traffic fines, State Rep. Chris May was appointed to Vice Chair two committees.
Jasmine Pickett Pleads Guilty To Her Part In The Murder Of Kami Ratcliff
Jasmine Pickett plead guilty to aiding, inducing or causing abuse to a corpse and failure to report a dead body in the murder of Kamie Ratcliff.
Pickett entered the negotiated plea deal on December 6th in Lawrence County Superior Court II.
A charge of obstruction justice and false informing were dismissed.
Judge John Plummer lll sentenced Pickett to two years in prison. She received five days of credit time and Judge Plummer lll suspended one year and 355 days of the sentence.
A Lawrence County Superior Court II jury found her former husband Lincoln Pickett guilty of killing 29-year-old Kamie Ratcliff on Jan. 21, 2016 in the back seat of his red Blazer after an argument. He then waited a week before burning her body in a burn pit at his home at 3413 US 50 West.
He was also found guilty of obstruction of justice, abuse of a corpse, false informing and failure to report a dead body.
Jasmine Pickett agreed to testify truthfully during his trial in exchange for a plea deal.
State Rep. Chris May Appointed To Vice Chair Two Committees
State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) was selected to serve as vice chair of the House Local Government Committee and the House Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation.
“The House Local Government Committee will be making decisions on laws that will hit close to home like those affecting officials in our community,” May said. “In the House Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation, we will be busy working on legislation to help connect Hoosier companies with other states to help them remain competitive.”
May was also reappointed to serve on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee.
Standing committee assignments are made biennially after each election. House lawmakers will convene at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 in the House Chamber for the first day of the 2019 legislative session.
City Of Mitchell Owes State Collected Traffic Fines
In the past eight months, the city of Mitchell has collected more than $24,000 in traffic-related ordinance violations. But the state says they must turn that fine money over.
The City of Mitchell received notice from the State Board of Accounts that said if the city was collecting fines from moving violations and not turning them over to the Indiana Auditor’s Office, the city was in violation and those funds needed to be paid immediately.
Since receiving the letter, the Mitchell Police Department has ceased writing moving ordinance violations and plans to remit the funds as soon as it receives the directive from the auditor’s office.
Luckily for the City of Mitchell, none of the money collected has been spent.
The City of Mitchell owes the state $24,205.
Sears Hometown In Bedford Closing Its Doors
Sears Hometown in Bedford will close its doors on January 12th.
Gary Smart, who has owned the store since 2012, is grateful for his loyal and dedicated customers.
Customers can look forward to sales and graduated discounts during the holiday season. The discounts will be on in-store appliances, tools and more as supplies last. Everything will go.
The decision to close was based upon several business factors.
Top Selling Tree At Lawrence InterFaith Endeavor Christmas Fantasia Fetches $2,500
A tree decorated by Three Crazy Ladies was the top-selling Christmas tree at Lawrence InterFaith Endeavor Christmas Fantasia on Saturday, December 1 at Bedford’s First Baptist Church.
From left to right Anna East, Yolanda Roe, Pat Sluder
The tree titled “Elfish Christmas” fetched a whopping $2,500 was decorated by Anna East, Yolanda Roe and Pat Sluder.
The tree decorated with elves had branches filled with more than $400 in gift certificates from area businesses. Underneath the tree, wrapped gift boxes contained items for people of all ages provided from Bedford Big Lots and other items including baked goods from Bob Evans, a crockpot and more.
This year there were 115 entries which raked in more than $32,000 for the LIFE Pantry, according to Laura Bailey, co-director of LIFE.
