“READERS FORUM” MAY 26, 2018
We hope that today’s “Readers Forumâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?
WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
“Readers Poll†question is: Do you feel that the Henderson Methodist Community Hospital Board of Director should hold a public meeting to discuss the future of the Hospital?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE Files, CHANNEL 44 NEWS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, READERS POLL, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS†and “LOCAL SPORTSâ€.  You now are able to subscribe to get the CCO daily.
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Evidence Used in Roach Trial Shows Insight Into Case
Evidence Used in Roach Trial Shows Insight into Case
MAY 26TH, 2018 
JEFF GOLDBERG EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
The photos paint a picture the prosecution team used to show the jury what they think Roach did.
There are pictures of Aleah Beckerle’s room the day after she was taken. Many of those pictures focus on the skinny window Roach admitted to taking Beckerle out of during a police interrogation. It appears to be unmoved, affirming what an EPD detective said during the trial.
The window was skinny, so a series of reenactment photos of what it would look like if a man were to break in that was included.
Also included in the binder full of evidence were photos of the South Bedford home were Beckerle was found. They show layers of trash over Beckerle’s partially mummified body.
Photos of key DNA evidence were also included. A picture of the duct tape prosecutors say Roach used to silence Beckerle was included. So too was a picture of a manila envelope that contained a cigarette found in the body bag during the autopsy. Both were confirmed to be consistent with Roach’s DNA by the ISP testing lab. Pages of more DNA evidence were also included.
The autopsy report which was signed off on by James Jacobi, one of the witnesses in the case, was also included in the binder set.
U.S. Senate Candidate Mike Braun’s Assets Worth $35M To $96M
U.S. Senate Candidate Mike Braun’s Assets Worth $35M To $96M
Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly’s assets, on the other hand, are much less and fall somewhere between $872,000 and $1.9 million. The reports list assets in ranges, rather than in specific amounts.
The reports from candidates and sitting senators were due May 15 to the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee, but Braun’s report was not filed until Thursday afternoon. Donnelly’s report was filed May 11.
Braun’s campaign had told other media outlets that it would be filed within the 30-day extension period, but Democrats still criticized the delay.
“His campaign can tell you whatever they want,†Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said in a prepared statement. “The story is, the ethics committee puts a deadline there. Candidates should be following it. Mike Braun appears to be too busy in Washington D.C. visiting the swamp, doing all the things he said he would never do when he was a candidate in the primary election, so he should have filed it when he was in town.â€
Braun’s biggest asset by far is his private stock in his Jasper-based company, Meyer Distributing, which is worth somewhere between $25 million and $50 million, according to the disclosure filed with the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee. Braun reported earning nearly $18.5 million from the stock.
After that, his biggest asset is the property he owns along with his wife, Maureen. They own and rent property worth between $8.45 million and $38 million, according to the disclosure.
That includes nearly 750 acres between Evansville and Mount Vernon, with a value of $250,001 to $500,000; a total of 815 acres near Griffin, worth $565,000 to $1.15 million; and 92 acres in Owensville worth $50,001 to $100,000. It also includes an undisclosed amount of farmland and timberland in Jasper and French Lick worth a combined $7.35 million to nearly $36 million.
And it includes the property and building for Maureen Braun’s home furnishings store, Finishing Touches, in Jasper, which has a value of $250,001 to $500,000.
Braun’s other assets come from mutual funds, retirement accounts, life insurance, government securities and bank deposits.
Between five checking and savings accounts, the couple has $203,005 to $545,000.
Braun earned $180,000 from his role at Meyer Distributing last year, plus more than $38,000 from the state of Indiana. Maureen Braun earned $225,000 through Finishing Touches.
Braun took out at least three lines of credit so far in 2018 for his campaign worth $2.25 million to $10.5 million. A line of credit from 2017 worth $100,001 to $250,000 does not list a purpose.
The only other debt listed are two mortgages.
Donnelly’s biggest asset is his property in Michigan City, worth $500,000 to $1 million. Other assets include bank deposits, stock, mutual funds, life insurance and retirement plans.
As promised, Donnelly reported that he sold his stock in Stewart Superior Corp. His campaign confirmed in August that he sold it for $17,410 and planned to donate the proceeds to charity.
Stewart Superior Corp. is operated by Donnelly’s brother, and the vulnerable senator was criticized for the investment after it became public that the business has a factory in Mexico.
Donnelly’s only liability is a mortgage.
Donnelly and Braun will face each other in November in one of the most-watched U.S. Senate races.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
GAVEL GAMUT
WHAT COULD GO WRONG
By Jim Redwine
Mothers of sons frequently assume, often rightly so, that attention to detail is not their son’s strong suit. Daughters of fathers often assume, frequently to their chagrin, that their father’s strong suit is attention to detail. In situations calling for responsible action a mother of a son usually looks to her dad instead of her son. If given a choice between youthful exuberance and supposed tempered judgment a woman, say the mother of a bridegroom, will lean on experience, say the grandfather of that bridegroom, when important wedding tasks (safekeeping of the wedding rings, for example) must be performed.
This was the dilemma facing our daughter, Heather, last Saturday when she worried her son, Alec, might lose the wedding rings if they were entrusted to his care. As I was going to be performing the ceremony at Alec and Arielle’s outdoor wedding at JPeg Ranch, Heather believed she could rely on me to be the keeper of the rings. It had already been decided that the tall grass and uneven land militated against using a child ring bearer. So, it came down to which semi-adult male of the wedding party should be entrusted with the rings. Heather chose me. Hey, I did not volunteer.
However, once the mantle was cast upon me I approached the task as most males would have. I promptly put the matter out of my mind and concentrated on the large albino catfish that Adrian, the brother of the bridegroom who was supposed to be getting formally dressed as a member of the wedding party, caught in our pond before the wedding. See you have already forgotten about the rings too.
Anyway, as I took my place on the antique, moveable bishop’s stand about 10 minutes before the start of the wedding and looked at the podium where I had casually placed both Alec’s and Arielle’s rings, the sense of happy serenity that had pervaded my psyche turned to panic. The rings had blown off into the tall grass.
Oh, I could have called for help but then Heather would know, and life is already too short for me to face that. So, I did what any man would do. In my suit and black judge’s robe, I got down on my hands and knees in front of the assembled congregation and proceeded to sift through the foliage. It was hopeless of course but what choice did I have?
Just as I had decided to fake the whole ring thing by using my own wedding band for Arielle to place on Alec’s finger and then covering both of Arielle’s and Alec’s hands with mine as he pretended to place nothing on Arielle’s finger, the heavens opened up and a ray of blazing sun glinted upon bright shiny objects resting against the bottom edge of the wooden bishop’s stand. My first thought was I had better pay this good fortune forward. My next thought was it really wasn’t that big of a deal as All’s Well That Ends Well and Heather might now never know.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
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VANDERBURGH COUNTY DEMOCRATS WILL HOLD CAUCUS A TODAY
Party Chairman Scott Danks announced that today that the Vanderburgh County Democrats will be holding a Committeeman and Vice Committeeman Caucus , May 26th, at 10:00 AM at Central Library (Browning Room, 200 SE MLK Blvd., 47713).
According to Danks those who have been in office for fewer than 30 days cannot yet vote, but are welcome to attend and meet other committee persons, ward leaders, candidates, and members of the Central Committee.
INDOT Halts Road Construction Projects For Holiday Weekend
Staff Report
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS — Most highway maintenance and construction projects will be halted by the Indiana Department of Transportation so that holiday and Indianapolis 500 traffic will flow more smoothly this weekend.
Whether traveling to the Indianapolis 500, vacationing or visiting family, INDOT encouraged drivers to plan extra travel time.
INDOT directed contractors to pull back road barriers to the safest extent possible. However, drivers should be prepared for some restrictions and reduced speeds because of the ongoing construction work in the following areas:
Northern Indiana
- S. 41 is closed in both directions between Sibley St. and Michigan St. in Hammond for bridge reconstruction.
- S. 41 is reduced to one lane in each direction between S.R. 114 and U.S. 24 near Kentland in Newton County for bridge and pavement construction.
- S. 31 is reduced to one lane in each direction near Plymouth in Marshall County for paving work.
- S. 24 is down to one lane in each direction between S.R. 29 and U.S. 31 in Cass County for pavement restoration.
- I-469 is reduced to one lane in each direction at multiple locations in Allen County.
- R. 14 is closed in both directions between U.S. 41 and S.R. 55 in Newton County.
- R. 8 is closed in both directions in LaPorte County between U.S. 421 and S.R. 39.
- S. 421 is closed in both directions between S.R. 143 and S.R. 14 in Pulaski County for bridge construction.
- S. 6 is closed in both directions at Brimfield in Noble County.
Central Indiana
- Watch for brief lane closures on I-74 at multiple locations between Indianapolis and the Illinois state line for bridge construction.
- Portions of State Road 3 are reduced to one lane in each direction between New Castle and Muncie.
Southern Indiana
- R. 37 is reduced to one lane in each direction in between Martinsville and Bloomington for I-69, section 5 construction.
INDOT instructed race fans traveling to the Indianapolis 500 to plan routes ahead of time and have a designated sober driver. Traffic management staff will be on duty during the race, monitoring for congestion, informing law enforcement and posting alerts to dynamic message signs.
FOOTNOTE: TheStatehouseFile.com is a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Man Walking 7,000 Miles Treks Through Indiana
Man Walking 7,000 Miles Treks Through Indiana
MAY 25TH, 2018 KATELYN PERRETT EVANSVILLE, INDIANA
Brad is walking the American Discovery Trail, a 7,000-mile path that goes from coast to coast.
The route doesn’t just take you along major highways. Anyone who takes the journey will also find themselves on railways, canals, bike and hiking paths, and back country roads.
Marro says, “I decided, what would it be like to walk this instead of drive it?â€
When he hit Indiana, he had 3,000 miles left. He spent time at Angel Mounds, the Evansville riverfront, and Mount Vernon.
“Whenever I get a state down the sense is great and I haven’t got a state down in a long time,†Marro says.
This nearly two-year journey is no walk in the park.
Marro explains, “It was a very painful first month. Mentally I wasn’t prepared for how lonely it is out there and how isolated it is. Sometimes you don’t talk to anyone for a day or two. Now I enjoy it now that I’m used to it. Now it’s just kinda power for the course and I can grind out about 20 miles a day.â€
Luckily, he’s had a lot of help along the way, from complete strangers.
“I’ve just been really amazed at the timing of the serendipity of people and right when it’s about to rain and hail, suddenly I find a pavilion or someone pulls up. For me, park pavilions and towns that have power, water, and a bathroom is like the Ritz Carlton to me,†Brad said.
The kindness of strangers and the love of family and friends have helped make the journey possible.
“While I’m out here doing it alone, I’m really supported,†says Marro.
Follow along with Brad’s journey here.
Attorney Who Threatened Estranged Wife With Ax Disbarred
Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com
A Mishawaka attorney convicted of felony intimidation after threatening to kill his wife with an ax has been disbarred.
The Indiana Supreme Court reached that disciplinary decision Thursday in the case of In the Matter of Fronse W. Smith, Jr., 71S00-1711-DI-707, which began when Smith was on the phone with his estranged wife and threatened to “split (her) chest open with an ax†in May 2015.  The wife called 911, while Smith continued to threaten her via text message and drove to her home.
Smith was attempting to enter the home when police arrived, at which point he told his wife, “Now you’ve really done it.†Police discovered an ax in Smith’s car, and he was arrested and charged with felony intimidation. Online court records show Smith was convicted in November 2015 and was given a one-year suspended sentence. The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the Level 6 felony conviction in October 2016.
Smith’s law license has been under an interim suspension since December 2016. He was also indefinitely suspended in April 2017 for failure to cooperate with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission’s investigation against him and was administratively suspended for failure to pay dues and meet CLE requirements.
The Indiana Supreme Court wrote in its Thursday per curiam opinion that Smith violated Indiana Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(b) by “committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.†Agreeing with Smith’s hearing officer that the incident represented “a total breakdown of self-restraint,†the justices agreed to disbar Smith, effective immediately.
“The circumstances of Respondent’s crime are profoundly troubling,†the justices wrote. “Respondent not only communicated to his wife a threat to murder her with an ax, he then immediately drove to her house with a said ax and was in the process of entering her home when police arrived.â€
“We recognize that Respondent’s criminal conduct toward his estranged wife over the course of a single evening is distinguishable from the prolonged ‘scorched earth campaign’ committed by the attorney against his ex-girlfriend in (Matter of Keaton, 29 N.E.3d 103, 110 (Ind. 2015)), a distinction that prompted the hearing officer in this case to recommend a lengthy suspension rather than disbarment,†the court continued. “Nonetheless, the serious nature of Respondent’s misconduct, his resulting felony conviction, his noncooperation with the disciplinary process, and his failure to participate in these proceedings, collectively persuade a majority of this Court to conclude that disbarment is the appropriate sanction in this case.†The order did not indicate which justice or justices may have disagreed with disbarment.
Smith’s disbarment marks the second time in a week that theSupremee Court has revoked an attorney’s law license. Former Anderson attorney Stephen Schuyler was disbarred Tuesday for misappropriating at least $550,000 from six supervised estates. Schuyler is currently serving an eight-year sentence for theft and other felony convictions related to his misconduct.