(Richmond, IN)--The man accused of trying to rape a 16-year-old girl on the Cardinal-Greenway trail in Richmond has made his first appearance in court.  37-year-old Billy Wallace remains charged with rape and strangulation.  On Friday, he appeared in Wayne Circuit Court.  Wallace was declared indigent and a public defender was appointed to the case.   According to court documents, Wallace came up behind a girl walking on the trail, put a towel around her mouth, and dragged her into the woods.  Wallace said that he had no recollection of the incident because he was high on drugs.  A trial date was set on Friday for September 29, although that will almost certainly be pushed back.

(Richmond, IN)--An alleged Richmond drug dealer was taken into custody Sunday.  Richmond police located 34-year-old Brandon Baker in the 100 block of South 10^th at around 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon.  Baker was charged with both dealing and possession of meth.  Quantities have not been released. 

(Wayne County, IN)--At least one person was flown from the scene of yet another crash in the construction zone of the Revive I-70 project Sunday afternoon.  It happened at around 5 o’clock in the westbound lanes near the Mineral Springs Road overpass.  The crash blocked the westbound lanes.  Eastbound lanes were also shut down to allow a medical helicopter to land.  Details of what caused the crash – along with the identities and conditions of those involved – have not yet been released.

(Connersville, IN)--The cause of a Connersville fire remained under investigation Monday morning.  It broke out at around 11:15 Friday night at a building in the 200 block of West 6^th Street.  That building had once been home to both an employment office and a license branch.  Firefighters arrived to find flames showing from the front of the building.  They were on the scene for several hours due to the building’s construction and false ceilings.  No injuries were reported.

(Eaton, OH)--A former Eaton middle school teacher has been taken into custody in Florida and now faces numerous counts of sexual battery.  The investigation into 45-year-old Kristin Schamel began earlier this year.  "The victim came to us an made an allegation of inappropriate sexual activity while they were a student at the (Eaton) middle school," said Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson.  On Monday, Schamel was indicted by a grand jury and, later this week, she was picked up in the St. Petersburg area of Florida.  She was initially charged with ten counts of sexual battery and now faces extradition back to Ohio.

(Richmond, IN)--A mechanic for the Richmond Police Department has been charged with theft.  36-year-old Rhett Richey was initially jailed earlier this week for theft from a motor vehicle.  An initial hearing in the case was waived yesterday and a bench trial was set for September.  Other details, including what Richey is alleged to have taken, have not yet been obtained.

(Winchester, IN)--It’s been more than two years since a tornado did heavy damage in Winchester.  Now, a building that has been uninhabitable since that tornado struck will be taken down with something brand new going in its place.  Winchester City Council this week approved rezoning that will allow for demolition of the former Randolph Nursing Home.  In its place, a $13 million senior housing complex will be constructed.  Preliminary plans call for 45 single-story units that will serve people who are at least 62 years old.  The project still needs state approval.  If that is granted, construction would start this fall with completion expected in about one year.

(Eaton, OH)--The man accused of killing a woman at the Petro Struck stop on the state line was back in court for formal arraignment Wednesday.  LaDavid Shaw entered a plea of not guilty.  He also requested that the judge look into why he did not get a bond reduction.  The magistrate said she would do as Shaw requested, but said it was unlikely his bond would be reduced.  Shaw also asked for time to find additional legal counsel.  He is next due in court on August 13 and will be held on a million-dollar bond until then.

(Richmond, IN)--A new building and a new business appear headed for the Gateway Plaza on National Road East in Richmond.  Lora Schlosser, who lives in Portland, appeared before the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals Wednesday and said that she would like to put a coffee franchise where the former Lulu’s Taco building is.  That franchise is called Scooter’s Coffee.  Schlosser already owns a Scooter’s in Decatur and described the business.  "Drive-thru only...we offer specialty coffee, energy drinks, and some food items," Schlosser said.  The Zoning Board gave unanimous approval Wednesday.  Demolition and construction are expected to start soon.

(Greenville, OH)--The shooting in Greenville that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point reported on Wednesday morning has resulted in the death of a 26-year-old man.  It happened early Wednesday in the 1100 block of Russ Road.  The victim has been identified as James Cocoran, who died at the scene.  A second man, later identified as 33-year-old Todd Black, was located at the same address and taken into custody without incident.  Black was booked into the Darke County Jail on one count of murder.  He’s claiming the shooting was done in self-defense.

(Liberty, IN)--A Union County deputy received formal recognition Wednesday for saving a life.  Deputy Andrew Stansberry recently responded to a call of an electrocution.  Stansberry was able to perform CPR on the victim and keep that person alive to be transported to a nearby hospital.  Stansberry on Wednesday was presented with Union County’s Life Saving Award.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond woman accused of setting a fire that resulted in a house explosion surrendered at the Wayne County Jail Tuesday and then bonded back out.  25-year-old Autumn Reed faces multiple counts of arson resulting in serious bodily injury.  In April of last year, court documents indicate Reed set her boyfriend’s clothes on fire at a house in the 100 block of Randolph Street.  But the fire got out of control and resulted in an explosion that destroyed one house and damaged two others.  A total of six people sustained injuries.

(Fountain City, IN)--A Fountain City-area family lost all of their belongings in a fire early Tuesday morning.  It broke out at the home of Jonathan and Tonya Pampel on Middle Road just north of Fountain City.  The occupants were able to escape without injury and three of the eight children who live there were away at camp.  Numerous animals, though, were lost in the fire.  There’s no word yet on the cause of the fire.  Crews were called back to the scene Tuesday night when the fire rekindled.  A gofundme account has been established to help to family.

(Eaton, OH)--The Mississippi semi driver accused of killing a woman at the Petro Truck Stop on U.S. 40 at the Indiana-Ohio state line is due back in court Wednesday.  LaDavid Shaw will be arraigned for the murder after a grand jury handed down an indictment earlier this week.  Now, the victim’s sister is speaking about the relationship between Shaw and the victim.  Shaneice Robinson said her sister had recently begun dating Shaw and was riding with him on a trucking trip.  Shaw told investigators he strangled the woman because she wouldn’t stop talking.  Shaw is being held on a million-dollar bond.

(Liberty, IN)--Details of a Fourth-of-July meth bust in Union County were released Tuesday.  Invesitgators say Darren Fox of Richmond was stopped for speeding that afternoon.  When the deputy approached, drug paraphernalia was in plain view.  A further search of Fox’s vehicle turned up unspecified quantities of meth and marijuana.  Fox now faces numerous charges.

(Greenville, OH)--Officers and medics responded to a reported shooting near a Darke County apartment complex early Wednesday morning.  The shooting was reported in the 1100 block of Russ Road in Greenville at 1:45 Wednesday morning.  That’s according to Darke County dispatchers.  There was no immediate word on whether or not anyone was injured or what led to the shooting.

(Richmond, IN)--The plan to add residential housing to a 19-acre area just south of Walmart in Richmond took a major step forward Monday night.  Richmond Common Council, by a 5-2 vote, approved rezoning for the area that is bordered by South 37^th to the east and Backmeyer Road to the south.  Several council members had expressed concern over traffic impacts – particularly on Backmeyer.  The developer’s commitment to fund a traffic study played a role in Monday night’s passage.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the alleged rape that occurred on the Cardinal-Greenway Trail in Richmond that Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News first reported Monday morning.  An initial hearing has now been set for Friday for 37-year-old Billy Wallace.  According to court documents, a 16-year-old girl was walking on the trail.  A man came up behind her, put a towel around her mouth, and started to drag her into the woods.  The girl was able to break free.  Wallace then gave her a Sonic the Hedgehog t-shirt, which was later recovered.  When he was later questioned by investigators, Wallace said that he had no recollection of the incident because he was high on drugs.

(Eaton, OH)--The Mississippi man accused of killing a woman at a state-line truck stop last month was back in court Monday and was formally indicted by a Preble County grand jury for murder.  LaDavid Shaw allegedly intentionally crashed his semi on an I-70 on-ramp in an attempt to cover up a strangling.  Shaw was charged with capital murder in 2007, but that case was pled down to manslaughter.  Shaw will remain in the Preble County Jail on a million-dollar bond as the case proceeds through the court system.

(Richmond, IN)--Monday afternoon, the group Cops Cycling for Survivors made its way into Wayne County as part of its bicycle tour across Indiana.  Each year, those officers pedal their way across the state to honor their colleagues who have died in the line of duty.  That includes Richmond’s Seara Burton.  "They're not just names on a wall.  They're human beings.  And the survivors...they deal with it on a daily basis.  We're here to support them," said one of the officers involved in the trip.  The group will be leaving Richmond Tuesday morning toward Losantville and will end the day in Bluffton.