Stories from Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Linton utility customers will be seeing an electric rate hike, but the city council agreed Monday night to spread out the economic pinch by making the increase in two increments spread out until 2012. The first increase -- a 2.9 percent across the rate scale -- will take place Jan. 1, 2010...

Laurel A. Helms, 77, of Bloomfield, passed away Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 at Prairie Village Living Center in Washington. Born Jan. 29, 1932 in Newberry, she was the daughter of William and Flora Zella (Wesner) Clark. Laurel was a homemaker and a florist, a member of the Allen Chapel Methodist Church in Bloomfield and attended the United Methodist Church in Bloomfield...

If you notice a flurry of first responder and police activity around the Linton-Stockton Elementary School about noon on Thursday, don't get alarmed. It will all be a mock drill to better prepare school, police, fire and ambulance service personnel in the event a real disaster strikes...

Carl Ray James "CJ" Crichfield, 19, of Hymera left this world on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. He is sadly missed. He was born in Evansville on April 23, 1990 to Kevin Wayne and Blanche Marie (Lorenzo) Crichfield. He is survived by his parents, Kevin & Blanche Crichfield; sisters,Janey Marie Crichfield and Loren DeLeigh Crichfield; a brother, Kevin Nick Crichfield, all of Hymera; paternal grandparents, Ronald and Bobbie Crichfield of Dugger; grandmother, Darla Padgett; paternal aunts, Carmen Holeman, Thea Hollingsworth, and Tish Padgett; paternal uncles, Shane Padgett, Heath Padgett, and T.J. ...

Francisco Javier Ramon, Jr., 25, Bloomfield, has been sentenced to three years in prison. The sentence was handed down by Judge Dena Martin during Ramon's sentencing hearing in Greene Superior Court Tuesday morning. The defense argued that Ramon was an alcoholic in need of treatment he couldn't get in prison. The prosecution argued he had already been given a fair chance with treatment but it didn't work and he had gone out and committed the same crime again. The judge gave him the maximum...

A man previously arrested in Greene County for felony possession of marijuana, Jason A. Bridgewater, 33, Springville, was arrested in Bloomington on Monday in connection with a sexual assault. The preliminary charges against Bridgewater include rape and burglary, both class A felonies, and confinement, a class B felony, according to the Herald-Times...

The operation of golf carts on the streets of Linton drew discussion from the city council members again on Monday night, but no action was taken on a pending ordinance that has been on the table for several months. Council member Linda Bedwell presented a revised draft of the ordinance for the council's review and said she hoped action might be taken at next month's meeting...

FARMERSBURG -- The North Central LadyBirds put four players in double figures and rolled past White River Valley 79-21 in the first girls high school basketball game for both teams here Tuesday night. WRV's only experienced player, senior Alicia Talley scored a team-high 18 points. Maddy Dyer accounted for the other two tallies for the Lady Wolverines who travel to Elnora Saturday for a meeting with the North Daviess Lady Cougars...

JASONVILLE -- Chelsea Meeks scored 20 points and Sara Young added 12 to lead defending Class A state runner-up Vincennes Rivet to a 67-29 victory over host Shakamak in a girls high school basketball game here Tuesday night. It was the season opener for both squads...