The news cycle is never ending, with some stories headlining for more than a year.
While some of the top stories of 2016 are carry-overs from 2015, some will continue to make news in 2017.
An example is the No. 1 story of 2016:
1. A grand jury convened in Kosciusko County and indicted three people in February, including Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine. The 10 counts against Rovenstine include a level C felony count of bribery; two counts of level 5 felony bribery; intimidation, a level 6 felony; assisting a criminal, a level 6 felony; and five counts of official misconduct, one a D felony and four level 6 felonies.
Also indicted were Grace College professor Mark H. Soto and Kevin L. Bronson, the former owner of a martial arts business in Warsaw. The six counts against Soto include three charges of corrupt business influence, class C and Level 5 felonies; and three counts of intimidation, class D felonies. The 10 counts against Bronson are three charges of corrupt business influence, class C and Level 5 felonies; intimidation, a class D and level 6 felony; three charges of intimidation, class D felonies; intimidation, a level 5 felony; intimidation, a class D felony; and intimidation, a class D and level 6 felony.
The orders to issue arrest warrants for Rovenstine, Soto and Bronson were filed Feb. 29. Bail for Rovenstine and Soto was fixed at $10,000 surety each and Bronson’s at $50,000.
Rovenstine will get a jury of Kosciusko County residents, as decided by a judge Nov. 9. On Nov. 4, Special Judge Evan Roberts held a test jury in court to determine whether an impartial jury could be found within the county. Special Prosecutor Nelson Chipman asked Roberts to consider calling a jury from outside the county to ensure a fair trial.
The test jury was held in response to Chipman asking the judge to reconsider an earlier denial for a change of venue. On Nov. 9, Roberts denied Chipman’s motion, confirming his earlier ruling. Rovenstine’s trial is scheduled for February 2017.
In late November, court documents indicated Chipman was close to a plea deal with Bronson.
Soto’s jury trial was scheduled to begin Dec. 15 in Elkhart County, but was rescheduled.
2. In February 2015, Joshua Knisley, 19, and his girlfriend, Tara Thornburg, 23, were murdered in Thornburg’s Syracuse home.
The trials of the men accused in the murders took place in October of 2016.
Brandon Woody and Kyle DeHart were convicted of murder Oct. 7 and sentenced to 120 and 110 years in prison, respectively.
A third man, Thomas Hursey, pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to robbery charges in connection with the double murder. Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed took the plea agreement under advisement, and set a hearing date for 9:45 a.m. Jan. 26.
3. The murder of a 2-year-old girl shocked, saddened and angered many in the Warsaw community and beyond.
Police arrested Christopher Grimmett, 29, of 53 EMS C17 Lane, Warsaw, Nov. 11 and charged him with the murder of Adalin S. Stamper, 2.
Shortly after 5 a.m. that morning, police found Stamper’s body buried in a shallow grave in the back yard of 1835 Sue Ave., on Warsaw’s west side. Grimmett told police he beat her to death with his hands, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.
More than 100 people attended a candlelight vigil Nov. 26 at Center Lake Park.
Stamper died from multiple blunt force traumatic injuries, according to authorities. A pre-trial conference is set for 3 p.m. Jan. 16.
4. In 2015, Warsaw Community High School graduate Ben Higgins made international headlines for being named the newest member of “The Bachelor” TV show on ABC. Segments for the show were filmed in Warsaw, including a scene in downtown Warsaw.
He continued to make headlines when the 20th season premiered in January. As the season progressed he eventually chose Lauren Bushnell over the other contestants.
Then in October, Higgins and Bushnell’s new reality television show premiered. Titled “Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?,” its first episode aired Oct. 11 on Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family).
5. One of the vehicles involved in a head-on crash that killed a mother and her adult son on Christmas night near Wawasee High School was apparently drag racing prior to the collision, according to the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team.
Kim Conrad, 61, Syracuse, and her son, Stephen Conrad, 32, a 2003 graduate of Wawasee, were killed at the area known as “Crazy Corners” where Syracuse–Webster Road intersects CR 1200N. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Three others were hospitalized.
Police believe the accident happened shortly after 6 p.m. when a car driven by Mickgomery W. Hisey, 26, Syracuse, was traveling west on CR 1200N when it collided “virtually head-on” with a car driven by Stephen T. Conrad, 67, Syracuse.
Authorities believe Hisey had been involved in a “drag race” and was traveling in the opposite lane of traffic prior to the collision. According to witness statements collected by police, Hisey had begun passing a vehicle on the crest of a hill just east of the intersection. Hisey’s vehicle entered the intersection, striking the 2016 Pontiac driven by Conrad.
6. Alexander Jackson, 24, of Milford, was charged with attempted murder and other charges following a road rage incident July 27 that began south of Syracuse and ended in North Webster. Jackson is alleged to have fired a weapon at the car he was chasing.
Because a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department officer was involved, the investigation was immediately turned over to Indiana State Police.
7. Barnett’s Bail Bonds Inc., The Papers Inc., Stacey Staley, formerly of Staceypageonline.com, and three bail agents were sued by the victim of a 2014 shooting and his mother.
On June 6, Larry Helman and his mother, Atta, both of Cromwell, filed a civil action against Barnett’s Bail Bonds Inc., The Papers Inc., Stacey Staley, formerly of Staceypageonline.com, Tadd Martin, Daniel Foster and Michael Thomas. The suit was filed in Kosciusko County Circuit Court. Larry Helman’s twin brother, Gary, died during the shooting.
The counts alleged were as follows: negligence, battery to Atta Helman, battery to Larry Helman, trespassing, residential entry and intimidation. The plaintiffs, represented by Anthony Rose, South Bend, demanded a trial by jury.
The first count of negligence was against all defendants. According to the lawsuit, Martin negligently fired his gun, wounding Larry with two bullets. Larry suffered from substantial pain, injuries, medical bills and lost wages due to Martin’s actions.
Staley was negligent toward the Helmans by providing information to bounty hunters in anticipation of a violent confrontation, the suit claims, and Larry and Atta both suffered injuries due to the defendant’s actions.
Staley also provided the information to the bounty hunters to gain notoriety for her then-employer, The Papers, by being the first reporter on scene, the suit claims. Barnett’s is liable because Martin, Foster and Thomas were employed there. The Papers is liable because Staley was acting as an employee at the time, according to the suit.
The lawsuit results from a shooting on Aug. 25, 2014, at 9174 Doswell Blvd., Cromwell.
On Dec. 5, 2016, The Papers Inc. and Stacey Staley were dropped from the suit, but the suit was refiled against them Dec. 19. The Helmans have a similar case pending in federal court.
8. On Dec. 5, the Warsaw City Council approved plans for a slim-downed version of a proposed third Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory fire station that will be located on the south side of the city.
Approval for the station came after several long city council meetings where residents and some council members balked at the projected $3.2 million cost, though no one was against the station itself. Mayor Joe Thallemer said the total amount of bonds was $2.95 million, keeping it under the $3 million set by city council on Dec. 5.
9. Sharon Mitterling, 67, was killed outside her Husky Trail residents in Warsaw, when she was struck by a Winona Lake squad car driven by policeman John Leeper while retrieving her mail. She died on the way to a hospital.
In 2002, Mitterling complained to the city about the safety of Husky Trail. The city has been addressing traffic concerns in the area as part of the Husky Trail construction project, which includes the addition of sidewalks and street lights.
10. One of two Leesburg quarry drowning victims on Feb. 19 may have died trying to save the other.
Indiana conservation officers found the second body, that of Allen Stattler, 41, Dowagiac, Mich., on Feb. 22 in the same area as the body of Dustin Reaker, 29, Bremen. Reaker’s body was found about 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in the quarry, which is along West CR 600N. Officials believe the two men had been ice fishing.
