Top 10 Local News Stories Of 2017: 1 Through 5

By Mike Perleberg The Chinese philosopher Confucius once said “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is bitterest.” Eagle Country 99.3 is attempting to help our listeners and readers gain wisdom in the first way as we reveal the Top 10 Local News Stories of 2017. Eagle Country 99.3 News’ Mike Perleberg and Travis Thayer have ranked the top ten local news stories of the year. The rankings are based on each story’s impact, how long it remained in the headlines, and how popular respective articles were on the radio station’s website. Stories #1 through #5 are listed below. Find stories #6 through #10 here. Check out our list, then weigh in with your thoughts on our top ten news stories and the rankings on our Facebook page.   1. Meth remains a scourge on southeastern Indiana Timothy Parsons Jr. (center) was called a "main dealer" of meth in southeastern Indiana. He and others were arrested in a multi-state investigation in June. (Left to right) Kenneth J. Rodmaker, Jessica L. Steele, Timothy A. Parsons Jr., Joyce A. Parsons, Morgan Whaley. Photos by Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department. The number one story of the year is the continued rise and pervasiveness of methamphetamine in southeastern Indiana. While heroin and opioid abuse are certainly still prevalent in the area, methamphetamine abuse is just as much of a problem, if not more so. More than 50 stories were published by Eagle Country 99.3 this year dealing with methamphetamine arrests - including the arrest of a large drug dealer. According to the most recent Indiana State Police data, clandestine lab incidents in the state have declined from 1,721 in 2013 to 1,452 in 2015. However, law enforcement locally and across the state have attributed imported Mexican meth with filling the void to give abusers their fix. Meth use has been connected with crimes ranging from thefts and burglaries to vehicle crashes and police chases. In February, 25-year-old Justin Holland was high on meth when he attacked an Indiana Conservation Officer during a traffic stop in Ohio County. Holland was shot and killed by a woman who witnessed the ongoing attack and was trying to save Indiana Conservation Officer Chris Powell. An autopsy and toxicology tests determined Holland’s system contained methamphetamine, marijuana, methadone, benzodiazepines (anxiety medication), and dextromethophan (cough suppressant). In May, Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens announced a decision not to charge the shooter.   2. Dearborn County couple shot, perhaps over property line dispute Terry Storey is escorted to a courtroom on July 31, 2017. Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3. The second most important story of the year started innocently enough when Manchester Township resident Brittany Black was mowing her lawn on July 28. All of a sudden, Black, 30, was struck by a gunshot. She died of that gunshot. Her husband, Kyle Black, was also shot as he came to her aid. Kyle survived the shooting, but was hospitalized for an extended time. Police quickly located and arrested the Blacks’ neighbor, Terry Storey. Investigators say Storey was found with guns and shells that matched waddings found on the Black’s property. Though Storey’s exact motivation for the unprovoked shooting is not known, prosecutors have said that there were previous property line disputes between Storey and his neighbors. Storey faces charges of Murder and Attempted Murder, but he may never stand trial. Last month, a Dearborn County judge cited psychologists’ evaluations of Storey in ruling him incompetent to stand trial. Storey remains in the custody of the Indiana Department of Corrections. A trial may eventually happen if, and when, Storey is restored to competency.   3. East Central football wins state East Central team captains (left to right) Jayden Williamson, Alex Maxwell, Logan Storie, and Keegan Gindling with the IHSAA 4A State Championship Trophy after the Trojans won the championship game over Lowell, 14-7, on Saturday, November 25 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Photo by Eric Thomas, Eagle Country 99.3. After a grueling early season schedule had them off to a 1-2 start to the 2017 season, the East Central High School Trojans football team made a run to the IHSAA 4A Football State Championship. Head coach Justin Roden in his 5th year at EC has brought the program back to the pinnacle of Indiana high school football. “All I can do is be humble and thank the St. Leon community and our kids because they played their rear ends off and they deserve this. So, heads up and cheers up to St. Leon,” Roden said immediately following the victory. The underdog Trojans met the number-one ranked Lowell Red Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on November 27 and pulled out a thrilling 14-7 victory sealed by a late interception by EC cornerback Nathan Lloyd. Nathan Lloyd's second pick to help seal the victory inside the final two minutes. [audio mp3="http://eaglecountryonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/EC-Lloyd-INT-2.mp3"][/audio] If the audio player does not appear, click here to listen to the clip. The Trojans were led by a great senior class, including running back Logan Storie, linebacker Jayden Williamson, and lineman Keegan Gindling, as well as junior quarterback Alex Maxwell. The state title is the first for East Central since 1994 and second in school history.   4. Citizens halt South Dearborn High School improvements File photo. Plans for an artificial turf field and a multi-purpose activity building split citizens in the South Dearborn School District. In late 2016, the school board passed a plan to bring $9.76 million in upgrades to the high school, a portion of which would have included the turf field and activity building. Citizens concerned about the property tax increase that would have come with the facilities project started a petition and remonstrance process. In February, folks on both sides of the issue raced to gather the most signatures either for or against the school spending. In March, the Dearborn County Clerk of Courts certified that those seeking to stop the project won with 1,923 signatures to 1,481. Under state law, South Dearborn Schools must wait at least a year before considering any similar type of building project at the high school. The successful remonstrance did not prevent improvements at South Dearborn’s five other school buildings from taking place this year. The price tag of those improvements was less than $2 million at each school.   5. 67 ½ year sentence for child murderer Jennifer Schooler was sentenced to 67 1/2 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Bradyn Chadwell. Three-year-old Bradyn Chadwell was horrifically abused in a Batesville apartment in August of 2015. He died in the hospital days later. The girlfriend of Chadwell’s father, Jennifer Schooler, was charged in 2016 with Murder in Ripley County. In January, Schooler was convicted of Murder and was later sentenced to 67 ½ years in prison. “As I search for the words to bring Bradyn back, I’m sorry is not enough,” Schooler said at her sentencing. “I’m sorry for the things I did and didn’t do. Whatever my sentence is today, I will do my very best with it. I’m very sorry.” Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel was happy that Schooler received the maximum sentence allowed. “I wish I could extend condolences to the family, but this boy had no family,” Hertel said. “I can’t say that he’s better off where he is, but he was certainly in a living hell for about the last three months of his life.” The saga of Bradyn’s death came to a conclusion in August when his father, 46-year-old Thomas Chadwell, pleaded guilty to Neglect of a Dependent. The charge stemmed from Chadwell’s failure to seek medical attention for Bradyn or provide food for Bradyn or his 12-year-old sister. Thomas Chadwell was sentenced to more than two years behind bars.   Click here to read more about top stories #6 through #10. 6. State Lawmakers Targeted Local Riverboat Casino Revenue 7. Local Special Olympian Wins Gold At World Games 8. Southwest Local Schools’ Perseverance Passes School Levy, Bond Issue 9. Pride Groups Comes Out In Southeastern Indiana 10. Everybody Watched The Great American Solar Eclipse   Honorable mentions (in no particular order): Mother, Son Suspected In Dearborn Co. Break-Ins Explosive Device Goes Off In Suspect’s Own Home; May Have Been Targeting Others Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Gang Attacks Man At Hidden Valley Restaurant Switzerland County Player Seriously Injured In Football Game Welcome Back Rabbit Hash General Store Franklin Co. Prosecutor Clears Officers In Fatal Shooting   Most popular 2017 news stories by pageviews at EagleCountryOnline.com: Deputies: Grass Clippings In Road Caused Motorcycle Crash – 103,737 views Police Break Up Home Invasion Robbery in Progress; Leads To Cache Of Drugs – 36,125 views Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Gang Attacks Man At Hidden Valley Restaurant – 24,542 views SEI’s “Main Dealer” Of Meth, Others Charged – 24,114 views Police Find Children, Meth In Downtown Lawrenceburg Apartment – 22,561 views