BICKNELL, Ind. (WISH) — A man died while driving an all-terrain vehicle early Sunday morning in rural Knox County, Indiana State Police said in a news release.
State troopers were called at 1 a.m. Sunday to a single-vehicle crash on Albrecht Road near Oaktown Road. That’s about 4 miles northwest of the town of Bicknell.
Charles Hunt, 64, of Edwardsport, was operating his ATV when he abruptly went off Albrecht Road and into a ditch. He was ejected from the ATV.
He died at the crash scene, the Knox County Coroner’s Office says.
BICKNELL, Ind. (WTWO) — Folks in Knox County are remembering a local man, killed in the line of duty.
Army 1st Lt. Clay Cullen, 25, was one of two soldiers killed when his helicopter crashed. Cullen was based in Colorado, but the crash happened during a Saturday training mission in California.
Folks who knew Cullen spoke Tuesday of a caring young man who loved his country.
“He was always smiling,” Aaron Hall said. “I mean I can just see that smile on his face right now.”
Walking around North Knox High School, it’s easy to spot Cullen. Awards and achievements of the dedicated athlete and scholar still hang with pride on the walls.
“It’s just real hard to process,” Hall said. “It’s just really serial right now. But we are going to miss him.”
Halls Tuesday were silent as students and faculty mourned the loss of one of their own.
“It’s a cliché to say someone was doing what they loved, but he really was,” John McClure said.
History teacher John McClure said he stayed in touch with Cullen after graduation.
“I was really impressed what he had achieved,” McClure said. “He wasn’t the kind to brag on himself or he wasn’t the self-promoting type of person. He just worked hard and achieved what he wanted to.”
After graduating from North Knox, Cullen went on to college at Indiana University, where he joined the ROTC program. After graduating, he went on active duty in the military.
No matter where he went, though, friends said, Cullen never forgot where he came from.
“He was a man of honor,” Krisiti Utt said. “He was a man that loved his country, that loved God. I have no doubt that he’s looking down on everyone with that smile on his face.”
On Tuesday, the student body wore red, white and blue to honor Clay Cullen, and the flag outside the school was flying at half staff.
Cullen was the first active duty service member North Knox has lost since the 1970s. Cullen’s parents survive in Knox County.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
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BICKNELL, Ind. (WTWO) — An animal rescue operation in Knox County has suffered a setback, and it includes a devastating loss for the shelter’s volunteer director.
Jackie Rogers runs the North Knox Animal Shelter out of her home in Bicknell. A suspected electrical fire this week destroyed Rogers’ house, including the shelter’s office.
The blaze also claimed the lives of her personal pets, four dogs and three cats.
“All of my babies died, they couldn’t save them. It went up too fast and it was too hot and they couldn’t get to them,” said Rogers.
A foster dog in an outside pen was saved. The shelter is an “all foster” operation. They do not have a kennel.
The fire destroyed paperwork and electronics.
“We’re in a regrouping stage at this point because we have to recuperate a lot of the devices like our computer systems and stuff like that. It was all inside and at this time it’s lost,” said Rogers.
The groups says they will still try to find foster homes for stray and abandoned animals. They will also post updates on its Facebook page about the recovery.
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BICKNELL, Ind. (WTHI) – In Bicknell, around dinner time, McDonald’s becomes a hub. It’s a place to grab a bite to eat after a long day’s work, and for some, a way to put food on the table.
That’s no different for their newest employee, Trenton Gardner.
“You see, when I wipe tables and customers are at the tables, I get paid for it,” he said, “It’s the coolest job I’ve ever done.”
Looking at him, you can’t help but notice that he appears a little young. Well, after all, he is only 7 years old.
“He asked for a job and they told him he was too young, and he burst into tears because he was so upset,” said General Manager Rhonda Butler.
Determined to get hired at McDonald’s, Butler noticed his persistence. She and management came up with an idea. They hired Trenton as an honorary employee, complete with his own apron, name tag and hat.
For $1, Trenton wipes the tables quickly and with a smile. However, the money isn’t for him. He uses it to buy toys for children in his community.
“Just to see someone so young have that kind of ethic, and just want to help and be a part of something, and he’s like ‘McDonald’s is the best place ever!’,” Butler said, “So it’s good to know that hey, this could be one of my future employees.”
His mother, Lindsey, says the idea came up after Trenton found out about Toys For Tots.
“When Toys For Tots bins started coming out, he wanted to know what it was,” she said, “Me and his dad explained to him that not every kid is fortunate enough to get toys like he did for Christmas, and that made him very upset and very sad.”
“We’ve always raised Trenton that not everything in life is handed to you and you have to work hard for what you get,” she said, “So low and behold that led him to asking his Grandpa Terry if he could take him to McDonald’s to get a job.”
Trenton has only been on the job for about a week, and he said he absolutely, 100 percent, loves it.
“You don’t expect a little kid to be that excited about wanting to do something,” Butler said, “He just wanted to be part of something and be a part of the team, and it’s good to be able to give him that little bit of excitement and something for him to look forward to.”
As his mother, Lindsey says there’s no greater feeling than knowing her son wants to make a difference in someone else’s life.
“I don’t know where me and his dad went with this, but we’re so glad that we raised him up this way,” she said.
“Part of being a mom, no matter how old your kid is, is what am I going to do when he gets older? One day I’m not going to be there,” she said, “That’s where me and his dad started out young with him, we wanted to make sure that he had good values and that one day he can function when we’re not there. If he’s willing to do this so hard at 7, I only imagine what he’s going to be like when he gets older.”
Bicknell McDonald’s also joined Trenton in his efforts by donating toys of their own. Early Tuesday evening, Trenton and his family were able to drop off a truckload of toys to their local Social Ministries.
VINCENNES, Ind. (WTHI) – One Bicknell, Indiana man faces ten charges, all in relation to sex crimes against a minor, according to police.
According to court documents, James Burden, 38, was arrested March 24 and appeared to his initial hearing on March 27.
Court records show one of the Burden’s charges states that the victim was mentally disabled.
Documents state the 10 counts went from 2004 through 2011.
Bicknell faces four counts of child molesting – intercourse or deviate sex with victim less than 14, three counts of rape (force or imminent threat of force), two counts of rape (with deadly force, deadly weapon, SBI or use of drug) and one count of rape with a victime mentally disabled, such that consent is not possible).
A booking record released to WISH-TV sister station WTHI News shows that Burden has a lengthy criminal record, which include past arrests for battery in 2012 and criminal mischief.
It’s not clear whether Burden saw convictions on those charges. Court records did not show a future court date for Burden.
VINCENNES, Ind. (WTHI) – A Lawrenceville, Illinois man was arrested Wednesday by Vincennes Police in connection to a February 15 armed robbery.
Police say the robbery took place at the Fast Trax Convenience Store, 601 Old Wheatland Rd., in Vincennes.
Kurtis Waller, 23, of Lawrenceville was arrested at a home in Bicknell Wednesday, according to WISH-TV sister station WTHI News.
Waller faces possible charges of armed robbery and theft.
Vincennes Police cited anonymous citizen tips and WTHI-TV news coverage as factors assisting in Waller’s arrest.
Bicknell Police and Indiana State Police assisted VPD in the investigation.
Police, working on tips, searched a Bicknell residence Wednesday afternoon.
According to police documents, multiple items and a semi automatic pistol were discovered in the residence, which police believe were connected to the armed robbery.