News From The Hoosier State

[David In Indy]

From WTHR Channel 13 Website:


Greencastle restaurant closed after road kill is found in kitchen


Greencastle - A Greencastle restaurant is open for business again after health inspectors shut it down when they found a deer carcass in the kitchen.

La Charreada Mexican Cuisine is open for business after the Putnam County Health Department closed it for 48 hours last week.

"I myself would not eat there no more and I think the restaurant aught to be shut down," said Mark Herbert, who's eaten at the restaurant in the past.

On October 24th, inspectors, responding to two tips, found the carcass of a deer in La Charreada's kitchen.  Employees were slicing meat off the road kill which was dropped off by an Indiana conservation officer. Restaurant workers were butchering the road kill for themselves, not for the restaurant.

"I just couldn't believe that they would do that in the restaurant, much less during business hours," said Putnam County Health Department inspector Darrell Brackney. "On one side of the kitchen they were serving meals and preparing meals and on the other side of the kitchen they were butchering a deer on the floor."

Citing at least five serious violations, the health department immediately closed the Greencastle restaurant, forcing about two dozen people to get up and leave in the middle of their meals.

This is not the first time this business has been shut down. Last year an inspector found more than 20 health violations, half of them critical.  Things like cockroaches in the kitchen and food not being stored at the right temperature.  The restaurant was closed for a day and fined.

Geneva and Matt Green had lunch at the eatery on Tuesday, even after hearing about the events of last week.  They said the food was delicious.     

"You can't control your employees all the time," Matt Green said. "It was someone in there that made a bad decision. We trust the place and we'll be back."

But waiters were spotted inside with little to do during Tuesday's lunch hour, evidence perhaps that not everyone is so forgiving.

"I would say they've got their work cut out for them to convince people that this was an isolated deal and that the employees no longer there were responsible and nothing like that will happen in the future," Brackney said.

The restaurant manager says three employees, including a manager, were fired as a result of the incident. 
La Charreada is now on probation and will be inspected by the Health Department at random every week for the next six months. It will also be fined a total of $1,200.

[David In Indy]

From the WTHR Channel 13 Website:


Father charged with allowing 10-year-old to drive truck


Edgewood - An Edgewood man is in trouble with the law after picking his 10-year-old son as his designated driver.

Police say 35-year-old Anthony Russell was drunk, with a blood alcohol content of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit, when he let his son get behind the wheel of his pickup. The Edgewood Police officer who wrote the report says Russell "told me he allowed his son to sit on his lap and operate the vehicle." The officer also noted that he smelled alcohol on Russell's breath.

With the boy behind the wheel, the truck lost control on a hill near 8th and Knollwood in Edgewood, left the road and took out a tree. The steering wheel was shattered, breaking one of the boy's ribs.

"If it had been a bigger tree, it would not have broken and given way," a neighbor near the crash scene said. "From that standpoint, (the boy) was lucky."

Police say when they got to the scene, they heard Russell tell his son, "it's okay, you didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault."

Another neighbor told Eyewitness News, "against the law, isn't it, not to have the boy in a seatbelt? I think it's irresponsible of the parent."

Russell was formally charged Monday with two felony counts of driving while intoxicated, one count of felony neglect and a misdemeanor drunken driving charge. He was being held Tuesday in the Madison County Jail under $5,000 bond.

[David In Indy]

From the WTHR Channel 13 Website:


Mother leaves newborn at Community East


Indianapolis - A newborn baby abandoned by its mother at an Indianapolis hospital is safe. Police and healthcare workers say she did the right thing.

Hospital officials say an unidentified woman approached a Community East employee outside of the emergency room on Monday. After a brief conversation, she did something to save her newborn child.

"The lady got back into her car, brought the baby out and said that the baby was just born and [she couldn't take care] of it and handed the baby to the employee," Community East President Anita Harden said.

The woman left a healthy newborn girl with the umbilical cord still attached. The hospital is caring for the child after contacting Marion County Child Protective Services. This comes just days after 19-year-old college student and Plainfield native Katie McCoy was charged with murder in Louisville courtroom for allegedly drowning her newborn daughter after concealing her pregnancy.

Indiana law is designed to protect parents in cases like this. The state's safe haven law allows a woman to turn a newborn over to police, fire departments and hospitals without the fear of prosecution.

"That protection's in place so that encourages the mother or anyone involved in a situation like that to choose life for the child," said Harden.

Despite safe haven laws that have offered anonymity and legal protection since 2000, few women relinquish their newborn children. On average, just three to four Indiana women each year, according to the National Safe Haven Alliance. On the other hand, Indiana Health Department statistics show three times as many --11 women in 2005 - killed an unwanted infant child.

[David In Indy]

From the WTHR Channel 13 Website:

Colts offer chance to win Super Bowl XLI rings


Indianapolis - Colts fans have a chance to win a piece of the team's Super Bowl victory - a Super Bowl ring - through a charity raffle team owner Jim Irsay announced Tuesday during a pep rally for Sunday's game against New England.

Irsay wore a giant blue top hat, large round blue sunglasses and a white showman's suit as he told hundreds of fans about the "Quest for the Ring" raffle during the Monument Circle rally.

"I look like Willie Wonka Elton - a combination of Willie Wonka and Elton John," Irsay joked before throwing open a gold treasure chest containing a small box with five shiny rings.

Although some fans clearly hoped Irsay would toss the rings into the crowd, Irsay explained that the rings would instead be given away in a raffle contest he hopes raises up to $1 million for Indiana charities.

Raffle tickets cost $5 each and will be sold through Nov. 20 for the three-stage contest Irsay said would earn five people "a once-in-a-lifetime prize."

Twenty-five finalists will first be chosen from up to 200,000 tickets the team hopes to sell. Ten finalists will then be chosen to move onto the contest's final stage during a Nov. 30-Dec. 1 treasure hunt for Colts-related items hidden around Indianapolis.

Those finalist will gather on the RCA Dome's field at halftime of the Colts' Dec. 2 game against Jacksonville and select one locked box and key. Five of those boxes will hold one Super Bowl XLI ring.

Friends Mike Lasiter and Chris Daymude, who used their lunch hour to attend Tuesday's rally, both said they'll buy at least one raffle ticket and would love to win a treasured memento of the Colts' February Super Bowl win over the Chicago Bears.

"It would be great to get one of those rings," Daymude said.

Fans dressed in blue Colts jerseys and sweaters filled the south side of Monument Circle for the rally, listening to bands perform and watching highlights from January's 38-34 AFC title game victory over the Patriots that were shown on two giant screen TVs.

Chip Cooper, who joined friends at the rally, lamented that he nearly caught one of several footballs Irsay threw into the crowd after announcing the raffle contest.

Cooper predicted that the Colts will win Sunday's home game against the Patriots by at least a touchdown. He said Colts, the second in league history to open three consecutive seasons at 7-0, is on a roll.

"The Patriots are just another team in the NFL," he said. "They play well but we're better than they are."

Contest details:

To enter Stage One, fans must purchase one or more $5 tickets. Up to 200,000 tickets will be sold from noon (EDT) on Oct. 30, 2007 to noon (EST) on Nov. 20, 2007.

Fans can purchase tickets at the RCA Dome in the box office during normal business hours and in the guest relations kiosks during the Nov. 4 and Nov. 18 Colts home games; at participating Indiana Ticketmaster Ticket Centers; and through the local Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone service. 

The numbers for Indiana are: Anderson/Muncie (765) 644-3131;  Bloomington (812) 333-9955; Evansville (812) 423-7222; Ft. Wayne (260) 424-1811; Indianapolis (317) 239-5151; Lafayette (765) 743-5151; South Bend (574) 272-7979; and Terre Haute (812) 234-2424. Tickets cannot be purchased online.

On Nov. 21, 2007, 25 winning numbers and 20 alternates will be randomly selected.  Those numbers will be posted on the Colts Web site that evening. Winners who provide proper notification by 5 p.m. (EST) on Nov. 27, 2007 will be deemed Stage One winners and will advance to Stage Two. In the event that proper notification is not received by winning ticket holders, alternate ticket holders will be contacted.

In Stage Two, the 25 Stage One winners-and up to three "helpers" of their choice-will participate in a treasure hunt for Colts-related items around the city of Indianapolis from Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 2007. The top 10 performers, as determined by the sole discretion of the Ravenchase Adventures LLC judges, will advance to the third and final stage.

During halftime of the Colts home game on Dec. 2, 2007, the 10 Stage Two winners will gather on the field and select one locked box and key to open upon command. Five of the finalists will find an authentic Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl XLI ring inside.

For a complete list of contest details and rules, visit colts.com/ring.

[David In Indy]

Here's a few things happening in Indiana on the first day of November, 2007.



From the channel 13 website:


NAACP will join suit against Eli Lilly

Nov 1, 2007 02:30 PM EDT

 
Indianapolis - The NAACP is now part of a racial discrimination case against Eli Lilly and Company. The Indianapolis-based company faces a federal lawsuit for allegedly creating a hostile workplace for 50 people and paying them less money because of discrimination.

The NAACP announced at a downtown rally Thursday morning it is now one of the plaintiffs in a racial discrimination case against Eli Lilly, calling it a national concern.

"We filed it to litigate it and win it," said Joshua Rose, plaintiffs' attorney.

The suit was filed last year with four plaintiffs. Now they have more than 50.

"I can truly feel what happened in the history books," said Cassandra Welch, plaintiff.

Welch was one of the first plaintiffs in the case. She says working at Eli Lilly was like working back in time.

"Employees being referred to as 'Buckwheat.' The 'N word' was a regular thing," she said.

Welch's case first caught the nation's attention when she came forward with allegations that a black doll with a noose tied around its neck was left on her desk at work. "My first reaction to the noose was fear, real fear that I felt," said Welch.

"As we've gone through and done what I think is a thorough investigation, we believe this lawsuit is still without merit," said Derica Rice, Eli Lilly senior vice president and CFO.

Welch says one of Lilly's diversity policies is to hold what they call conflict management sessions. It's a meeting where employees are encouraged to say what's on their mind, with a promise that nothing leaves the room once it's over.

Welch describes one that was held with her supervisor. "She said in that session in front of two other Lilly employees that she absolutely believes that African Americans are not equivalent to Caucasian Americans, that Blacks can't do the same work as Whites. That they don't deserve the same pay as Whites and I was supposed to walk out of that session and say oh thank God she told me and our feeling are out on the table and everything's fine. Well, everything was not fine."

She says she went straight to Human Resources for help.

"I went immediately to HR and they said 'No, wait, wait, we can't hear this, you can't share anything that came out of that session. We don't document that,'" said Welch.

Eli Lilly's chief financial officer says the allegations that Black employees receive lower salaries because of their race is not true. "How we establish our pay scales is based upon the market which allows us to be competitive," said Rice.

"This is a company that likes to check the boxes," said Rose.

Prosecutors say you can see the company's diversity policy on paper but you don't see it in action and in how they treat their Black employees.

"Diversity to them means selling their products to a diverse range of people," said Rose.

Plaintiffs say they're suing for change. The goal is to see the company institute a policy that sets equal opportunity goals and motivates manager to meet them. Lilly says that policy is already in place. It will be up to a federal judge to decide if the plaintiffs will be designated as a class to certify the case as a class action lawsuit.

[David In Indy]

From WISH Channel 8 website:


Man Admits To Murder-For-Hire


Indianapolis - A surprising confession came Thursday from a man accused of trying to hire an undercover officer to kill his wife. Robert Quarles not only confessed to the crime, but he explained why he did it. Meanwhile, police have re-opened another death investigation following Quarles' arrest.

Murder-for-hire suspect Robert Quarles made a startling confession during this jailhouse interview. When asked if he hired someone to kill his wife, he responded, "Yes, I did." When pressed for a reason, he said, "Over a period of time there was so much bickering and battering between me and her."

Metro Homicide detectives say the 56-year-old negotiated with a hit man to kill his wife, but the hit man was really undercover Lt. David Young.

"I really would not have [done] it, but mental stress. I just lost my cool," Quarles said.

SWAT officers arrested Quarles at 23rd and Keystone. His wife talked to Channel 13 in an exclusive interview. "You go from loving a man to finding out he wants to kill you. It's a hard switch," she said.

Police also say Quarles tried to poison his wife with a bottle of Visine three weeks ago. The incident put her in the emergency room with severe nausea. Investigators say Quarles told an undercover detective, who he thought was a hit-man, that he'd already tried to kill his wife himself with the Visine.

Quarles also confessed to another murder-for-hire plan. He wanted the husband of his ill daughter's caregiver dead. But after sharing thoughts of drowning his wife with detectives, they reopened the investigation of his daughter's drowning death.

Although Quarles is a person of interest in the case of his daughter's death, he denies any wrongdoing.

"Jessica's death, it was an accident," he said.

During the jailhouse interview, Quarles not only admitted to the murder for hire, but he also apologized to his estranged wife.

"Honey, I am so sorry," he said.

Quarles went back to his jail cell hoping his apology and confession eventually leads to his freedom.

[David In Indy]

From WTHR Channel 13 website:


Star Fires Staffer Over Controversial Comments


Indianapolis - The local NAACP stood in protest of the Indianapolis Star, calling a blog that appeared earlier this week racially offensive.

Flanked by civic, business and religious leaders near the Martin Luther King-Robert Kennedy Peace Memorial, the NAACP demanded action be taken at the Star over a racially charged slur historically used by hate groups. The language was aimed at embattled City-County Council President Monroe Gray.

"We protest. We demand a public apology from the Indianapolis Star, not to African-American elected officials, not to the homeless, but to the community," said Rep. Bill Crawford (D-Indianapolis).

"I apologize for the remarks that are posted on our website," said Dennis Ryerson, editor and vice president of the Star. "Our standards were communicated. The person is no longer with the newspaper." Ryerson's remarks were greeted with applause.

"The apology is appropriate, but I think that with all the press that I've received from the Indianapolis Star in the past year that at least the apology could be above the fold on the front page," said Gray.

Ryerson says he takes responsibility and pledged to enact change.

We'll have much more on this story coming up on Eyewitness News at 5:00 pm. This story will be updated later.

[David In Indy]

News From Indiana for November 2nd, 2007


From The Indy Channel website:



Cat Honored For Saving Indiana Family

NEW YORK -- When the Keesling family of Indiana was about to be overcome by carbon monoxide, their cat clawed at wife Cathy's hair until she woke up and called for help. When Debbie Parkhurst choked on a piece of apple at her Maryland home, her dog jumped in, landing hard on her chest and forcing the morsel to pop out of her throat.

For their nick-of-time acts, Toby, a 2 1/2-year-old golden retriever, and Winnie, a gray-eyed American shorthair, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In addition, five humans were honored Thursday for their actions toward animals in the past year, including a Bronx firefighter who saved a dog and cat from a burning building.
 

Neither Parkhurst nor Keesling could explain their pets' timely heroics, though Parkhurst suggested her pooch's Heimlich maneuver might have been guided by divine intervention.

"That's what our veterinarian said," she said. "He wasn't making a joke; he's very spiritual, and now I have to agree with him."

Both pets were themselves rescued in infancy -- Toby as a 4-week-old puppy tossed into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old orphan hiding under a barn, so helpless that Keesling's husband, Eric, had to feed her milk with an eyedropper.

As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump being used to remove flood waters from their basement in New Castle, Ind., last March malfunctioned, spreading carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie moved into rescue mode, the couple's 14-year-old son, Michael, was already unconscious.

"Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry meow," Cathy Keesling said. "When I woke up I felt like a T-bar had hit me across the head."

State police and sheriff's officers responding to her 911 call said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.

Debbie Parkhurst's husband, Kevin, was at his job at a Wilmington, Del., chemical firm when she took a midday break from making jewelry and bit into an apple.

"Normally I peel them, but I read in Good Housekeeping magazine that the skin has all the nutrients, so I ate the skin, and that's what caused me to choke," she recalled.

"I couldn't breathe and I was in panic when Toby jumped on me. He never does that, but he did, and saved my life."

Both Toby and Winnie accompanied their owners to the awards luncheon at Manhattan's posh Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center.


Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[David In Indy]

From The Indy Channel Website:



NFL "Circus" Rolling Into Indianapolis

Indianapolis -The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts are entering a historical meeting Sunday. For the first time in NFL history, two teams with records of 7-0 or better will meet when the 7-0 Colts host the 8-0 Patriots.

And the defending Super Bowl champions are prepared for the hype.

"It will be a circus," Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy said.

The Patriots' three-ring act of head coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Randy Moss bring their big-top show into Indy. After starting the year amid a cheating scandal, Belichick has led the Pats to blow-out wins, out-scoring league foes 331-127. Brady has been rolling under center, throwing an NFL-best 30 touchdowns in the first eight games. And Moss, who joined the Pats in the off-season, has been Brady's main target, grabbing 11 touchdown catches.

The Colts will counter New England's attack with their own offensive arsenal. Peyton Manning, who's trying for his 100th career victory Sunday, has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and three interceptions through seven games. His air attack has been aided by the team's ground game, as Joseph Addai leads the league in rushing touchdowns with seven.

Entering Sunday's game, the Brady-led Patriots hold a 6-3 advantage over Manning's Colts, but Indianapolis has won the past three meetings.

[David In Indy]

From The Indy Channel Website:


Thousands of Hoosiers To Get License Warning From The BMV


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Bureau of Motor Vehicles said it will soon inform about 200,000 Indiana residents that they're close to having their driver's licenses revoked because of data discrepancies.

A recent round of security checks found that BMV data on those people -- about 3 percent of Indiana drivers and state identification holders -- clashed with other government data on the same people, the agency said.

The mismatches could involve names, Social Security numbers, birthdays or genders. In letters that the BMV will send starting next week, the 200,000 will be asked to contact the BMV by mail, online or come to a branch in person.
 

Commissioner Ron Stiver said it is hard to predict how many of the discrepancies will be easy to fix and how many will be difficult.

"It's difficult to tell why a record doesn't match," Stiver said. "In some cases, it may be … my wife and I got married and she updated her name in one place, but not the other. In some cases, it may be a number transposed."

The discrepancies were discovered as part of intensified security checks involving the Social Security Administration.

Some people will have to go through the Social Security Administration and the BMV to sync their records. Anyone who fails to fix the errors will get a second letter, and if they don't respond, their driver's licenses or ID cards will be revoked after two months, the BMV said.