Coffee Club Podcast 01-31-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 01-31-2014
Arson Opry Fire Trial begins in Nashville IN
The defense and prosecution finished presenting evidence on the same day in the Little Nashville Opry arson trial.
The owner of a southern Indiana concert hall says she wasn’t having financial troubles when it was destroyed in a fire that prosecutors say was arson.
Esther Hamilton testified Tuesday in the trial of former Little Nashville Opry manager James Bowyer on charges he set the fire that destroyed the business Hamilton started with her late husband in 1975.
Forensic Accountant Alan Strange from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives testified the Opry did not have the funds to pay for the act scheduled to perform on Sept. 26. Strange told of Hamilton’s financial dealings from 2003 up to the fire in 2009. He said based on statements from her accountants, the Opry was in financial decline, and ticket receipts had been $1.7 million in 2003, compared with $900,000 in 2009.
He said both Hamilton and Bowyer removed money from Opry accounts, and he could document what Hamilton was doing with the money, but could not track what Bowyer had done with money.
Strange says that according to records from the two riverboat casinos, the French Lick casino and Indiana Live, Hamilton visited casinos on 816 days between mid-2005 and mid-2009, and Bowyer visited casinos on 650 days.
Casino records show that, during that time, Hamilton spent $4.2 million, including money she brought in, winnings and credit, and she lost about $152,000. Strange said Bowyer spent about $1.7 million and lost $163,000 in the same period. At the time of the fire, he said, Hamilton owed the four casinos around $73,000.
Strange said based on his research, the Opry did not have the money to pay for the act scheduled. He also says there were four promissory notes in the Opry’s office after the fire indicating the Opry would pay Bowyer $300,000.
Man enters B-ton 7-Eleven, demands money
City, campus and state police officers and a police dog searched for a man suspected of taking items from a convenience store early Wednesday afternoon on Bloomington’s northwest side.
According to Bloomington police Sgt. Joe Crider, clerks from the 7-Eleven, at 1122 W. 11th St., reported that a man demanded money and then fled with various items from the store.
No one was injured in the incident.
The suspect is a white male, about 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-7 tall and 140 to 150 pounds. BPD officers described him as wearing a blue winter jacket with black striping along the bicep area of the sleeve.
He is believed to be in his 30s with a goatee.
BPD Sgt. Joe Crider says the man entered the store showing a handgun and demanding money from the store clerk.
The suspect fled with a drink and cigarettes but no money.
The BPD is following up with an investigation and an analysis of the video footage from the store.
People with any information regarding the robbery or suspect can contact BPD Detective Rick Crussen at 812-349-3374.
Swap Shop Podcast 01-30-2014
Swap Shop Podcast 01-30-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 01-30-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 01-30-2014
Indiana waiting to raise minimum wage
A bill to raise Indiana‘s minimum wage is currently awaiting a hearing.
Supporters rallied at the Statehouse on Wednesday, saying an increase would pull some families out of poverty.
Jeff Harris with the Indiana ACL-CIO says these workers don‘t have any extra money to spend.
He says if they are paid more, it would help the economy and get things rolling again. However, opponents worry a forced increase in the minimum wage will be a job-killer and force businesses to close.
State Gets involved with Propane problem
Members of Indiana‘s Congressional delegation have signed a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation for an emergency extension on transporting propane.
The U.S. DOT declared a state of emergency for the Midwest and waived truck drivers from service limitations to enable them to deliver the much-needed propane.
The exemption is set to expire on February 11th. Congressman Larry Buschon (R-8th) says the 500,000 Hoosiers who heat their homes with propane need the deadline extended.
Prices have skyrocketed to over $6 a gallon in some places. The regular price of a gallon of propane is around $2.50.
The state of Indiana has also issued an emergency proclamation waiving hours of service limitations for propane transporters that remains in effect until January 31st.
Buschon serves on the Transportation Infrastructure Committee and hopes to soon hear about a possible extension.
2018 Super Bowl hopes for Indianapolis
Members of Indy‘s 2018 Super Bowl Bid Committee will be checking out what New Jersey has to offer up football fans for the big game this weekend.
The Indiana group will be leaving Thursday to get a feel of the ‘fan experience‘ with a visit to Superbowl Blvd –an NFL created area in Time Square.
Indianapolis is hoping to bring another Super Bowl back to the Circle City and is planning to make a bid to host the 2018 Super Bowl.
Committee member Susan Baughman says they want pay special attention to NFL priorities to incorporate into the city‘s bid. Baughman says Indy is hoping to lean on it‘s 2012 Super Bowl success to come up with a successful bid.
WSLM – John Jones Partner to give away Daytona 500 tickets
WSLM and John Jones Auto Group are partnering to give you the opportunity to get you into the race and will be sending a lucky race fan to Daytona for the start of the 2014 NASCAR season.
Tickets will be awarded to one lucky winner on Friday, Feb. 7 at 10a at the Salem John Jones Auto Group location. The winner will receive two tickets to the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 race on Saturday, Feb. 22 and two tickets to the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Race on Sunday, Feb. 23.
John Jones Auto Group customers can enter at any John Jones location around Southern Indiana – Salem, Corydon, Scottsburg, Greenville- or go to wslmradio.com/contests and sign up there.
“We’re very excited to be partnering with WSLM to provide tickets to someone in the Kentuckiana area,” said Elaine Davis, Marketing Director at John Jones Auto Group. “We’re a proud sponsor of NASCAR and INDY Car racing on WSLM and look forward to providing additional giveaways the rest of the season with WSLM.”
Last year, WSLM gave away tickets to the Kentucky Speedway races, as well as the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis and races in Michigan and Chicagoland.
“We have developed a great relationship with NASCAR and our race broadcasting affiliates of MRN and PRN and will be partnering to give away more tickets to more tracks this year,” said station owner Rebecca White. “WSLM was once considered the Racing Station of the Nation. At one time we worked very closely with local and regional tracks and even had our own WSLM Racing team.”
WSLM has moved deeper into the racing action the past few years by becoming the only radio station in the Louisville market to carry all divisions of NASCAR – Nationwide, Grand Am and Sprint Cup as well as a selection of Indy Car races.
“WSLM has had a long relationship with the Indianapolis 500,” said White. “Dad use to fly his plane up to the race and take clients there. Now I get to go and be part of the activities involved there. It was so fun to visit with AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti last year during practices at the track.”
WSLM 97.9 FM will be broadcasting the races on Feb. 22 and 23 as well as special programming during Speed week, including interviews with Kenny Wallace and Daytona Speedway President, Joie Chitwood.
“We’re not only thrilled to bring NASCAR back to the airwaves of Southern Indiana and online at wslmradio.com,” said White. “We’re the only station around streaming all the NASCAR events.”
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