TDN 07/10/13

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Wednesday

It’s Where You Live! www.troydailynews.com July 10, 2013

Volumune 105, No. 161

INSIDE

TDN gets a new look You may notice a new look to your Troy Daily News today. As of today, the Troy Daily News now is being built by the Civitas Media pagination team in Lumberton, N.C. While the look of the newspaper has changed slightly, we can assure you we will continue to bring you the same news, sports and information you have grown accustomed to over the past century. We hope you enjoy the new look of the newspaper and look forward to continuing to serve Miami County.

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Woman, son rescued

Husband found dead from apparent suicide BY WILL E SANDERS Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com

PIQUA — Authorities rescued a woman and her adult son from a rural Piqua home early Monday morning after the woman’s husband attempted to break into their residence, lit a garage on fire and blasted a shotgun into the air several times — before taking his own life. Miami County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Steve Lord said the victim of the apparent suicide was identified as David A. Gerlach, 48, who lived at the residence and was found lifeless in the backyard of the home, which is located at 9881 County Road 25-A,

just north of Piqua. According to Lord, authorities were initially called to the home at approximately 2:30 a.m. on what was first described as a domestic-related incident, but once law enforcement arrived they noticed a detached garage was on fire. While detached, the garage was in close proximity to the home and a large propane tank, Lord said. Upon arriving at the scene deputies and other emergency first responders assisted a 43-year-old woman and her 21-year-old son from a window in a bedroom as Gerlach fired a shotgun several times in proximity to the

• See RESCUED on page 2

Photo by Dave Fornell

Area firefighters from area departments including Piqua and Fletcher work a hose line on a burning garage early Monday morning that, according to investigators, was set by the husband, who later shot and killed himself after a search by Miami County Sheriff’s deputies.

Investigators still searching for man

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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Happiness is ...

Readmore Hallmark plans ornament unveiling event

By Melanie Yingst Staff Photo by Melody Vallieu

Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com

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in75 appears today in TDN Looking for something fun to do this week? Want to get ahead on your Christmas shopping? Are you looking for unique ways to use the cherries that are in season? If so, check out this week’s edition of in75 in today’s Troy Daily News.

INSIDE TODAY Calendar....................3 Dates to Remember...BX Deaths.......................5 Douglas A. Snyder Harold E. Furrow Joan Seay Raymond G. Moorman Sr. Robert W. Sutherly David A. Gerlach Bella Ann-Renee (Bryant) Frock Elizabeth A. Stephenson Louis T. Batty Mary Ellen Phillis Margaret M. Thompson Classifieds................13-14 Opinion.....................4 Sports........................15

OUTLOOK

TROY — Miami County Sheriff ’s Office officials are still investigating the details of Friday’s incident at a local bar where witnesses saw a woman being pulled from a trunk of a car in the parking lot at the Railroad Restaurant. According to Miami County Sheriff’s Office’s Chief Deputy Dave Duchak, investigators are still trying to determine the relationship between Jessica Gillespie, 31, of Troy, to the white male who pulled her from the trunk of a car at the restaurant located on South Crawford St. Friday afternoon. Witnesses say they saw a Staff Photo | ANTHONY WEBER white male open the trunk of a Susan Reed sets up a camera at the Miami County Incarceration Facility which also will serve as the center to apply for concealed silver Mercury Marquis sedan and carry permits and sex offender registration. and pull Jessica Gillespie, 31, of Troy, out of the trunk in the parking lot at 4:24 p.m. Friday. He then fled on foot. Duchak said the white male subject’s role in the incident has had conflicting accounts

CCW, sex offender registry moves Offices now located at incarceration facility

By Melanie Yingst Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com

Incarceration facility to have open house

MIAMI COUNTY — The Miami County Sheriff’s Office moved two of its departments out to the Incarceration Facility located on County Road 25-A, Troy, last week. Miami County community members seeking their concealed carry weapon permits and those who need to complete their obligation to the county’s sex offender registry now must visit the soon to be open county incarceration facility located at 2042 N. County Road 25-A, Troy,

TROY — The Miami County Incarceration Facility will begin accepting inmates into alpha pod later this month after being closed for 3 ½ years due to the economic downturn which caused budget cuts. Bravo pod will likely open later this fall as the hiring and training process for new staff concludes. Each pod can house a maximum of 60 inmates. The Miami County Sheriff’s Office was budgeted to open two of the four pods this year. After B pod is opened the downtown jail will fall back to a population not to exceed 55 to be in compliance with minimum state jail standards. The recent average population at the downtown jail has been 115. In anticipation of the facility being re-opened and after receiving inquiries from citizens to be able to tour the facility we will be offering tours to the public from 1-5 p.m. July 12th. This will be the only date and times for tours, because after the facility begins accepting inmates, for security purposes, the sheriff’s office can no longer offer access to the building in the jail area. Staff will be on hand to offer the tours and answer any questions the public may have about either jail.

• See REGISTRY on page 2

Today Chance of Showers/TStorms High: 86º Thursday

Chance of showers/Tstorms Low:72º Complete weather information on Page 12 Home Delivery: 335-5634 Classified Advertising: (877) 844-8385

Brown bear rescued

California animal sanctuary relocating animal BY Will E Sanders

Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com

COVINGTON — Maddie, a fully-grown, 12-year-old female brown bear, has resided in two connected corn cribs at a rural Covington farm for the last seven years under the care of her owner, Kimberly Wymer. On Tuesday Maddie’s life of confinement came to an end. Officials with a

California animal sanctuary coaxed the 325 pound bear from her rusted corn crib home and in to a transport cage where she will make a cross-country trek to her new home. And that new home is Lions Tigers & Bears, a wild animal sanctuary and rescue facility in Alpine, Calif., where she will begin her new life of freedom in a new 5-acre habitat. The sanctuary itself contains 55

rescued animals and 17 different species, said Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions Tigers & Bears. Brink said she was happy when Wymer reached out to her and her organization, and said she was glad that Wymer decided to do the right thing for the interests of Maddie. “She (Wymer) knows she is doing the right thing for this bear,” Wymer said. “And

Maddie knows it, too. Maddie knows she is going to get a good home. It will be nice to get this bear out of her small cage and into a habitat.” Wymer, 47, said she got Maddie from a friend who had the bear for three years, but then needed to get rid of it. Wymer said that had she not stepped in to take care of the bear from her friend that Maddie was going to be sold for $125 to a hunting

• See BEAR on page 2

• See SEARCHING on page 2

Suspect in Stone Circle Drive Thru robbery in jail By Melanie Yingst Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com

MIAMI COUNTY — Miami County Sheriff’s Office officials have detained James Coots, 32, of Troy in connection with the armed robbery at the Stone Circle Drive Thru on June 29. According to Miami County Sheriff’s Office’s Chief Deputy Dave Duchak, both the county detectives and the Tipp City Police Department helped in the investigation which led to Coots arrest Tuesday afternoon. Coots was charged with one count of aggravat- James Coots ed robbery which is classified as a first degree felony. According to reports, Coots allegedly brandished a knife in his waistband to a drive through employee before fleeing with an undetermined amount of cash. “Working with detectives with the Tipp City Police Department and using the business surveillance tapes, we were able to identify Coots as the subject in the robbery at Stone Circle Drive Thru,” Duchak said Tuesday. Coots has been incarcerated at the Miami County Jail.

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