Happy Thursday!
I hope you're having a good start to your morning. Today's top story covers a Richmond mother who allegedly put her children at risk with her drug consumption, while today's feature includes an interview with a local leader aiming to put an end to food insecurity in Wayne County.
Your Thursday Richmond weather forecast: A high of 91, low of 70. Partly cloudy. ⛅
🎶 Song of the day 🎶
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Kiya Butler, 36, and 39-year-old Paul Robert Ford, both of Richmond, are facing child neglect charges resulting in serious bodily injury.
Butler gave birth to a child two months prematurely, after allegedly smoking crack cocaine while she was still pregnant with the child. A witness said Butler had tried to persuade her not to call 911 over fears that the Indiana Department of Child Services would take away her three children, all under 6 years old.
Ford, who was reported to be living at the same address as Butler, was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent. Butler faces the same charges.
For the full story, read here.
📰 What else you should know today:
🎤 $10 concert: No, this is not a scam. A Bloomington couple is holding a raffle for two tickets to one of Taylor Swift's Indianapolis shows to raise money for charity, and all it will cost you is $10.
🤢 Spoiled food found in local inspections: In recent inspections at local restaurants by the Wayne County Health Department, five critical and 24 noncritical violations were noted.
💵 Couple awarded big legal win: A jury in Valparaiso awarded a couple $25 million after a man had blood work done in 2017 indicating he had cancer, but the results were never sent to the specialist who ordered the test.
🎰 From jackpot to felony: A Henry County man thought he won over $2,000 at a slot machine at a casino in Anderson. Instead, he's facing more than two years in prison.
⚖ Disgraced former sheriff pleads guilty: Former Clark County sheriff, Jamey Noel, has pleaded guilty to 27 felony charges, including theft, money laundering, official misconduct and tax evasion.
👩💼 Questions with a community leader 👨💼
This week, I spoke with Kyle Ingram, who is going on his fourth year as executive director at Circle U, a nonprofit organization that has been around since 1979 and aims to end food insecurity in the county.
Q: How did you end up in your current role?
I had served on the board of directors there for eight years, and when my predecessor took another position, I had just basically retired from officiating men's college basketball across the country at the Division I level and was wanting to and having the need to be doing something.
I told the board that I would be interested in that position if they wanted to move further into that discussion, and they said that they would welcome me to be that individual, and we've hit the ground running, but it's not without the support of the board. It's been a very heartwarming, eye-opening experience for me having driven by the issue (of food insecurity) and not being aware of it for many years until stepping into the role of executive director.
It's something that is near and dear to my heart as far as trying to continue to find solutions to help those who are in need.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
The idea of knowing that each day, through volunteers and community support, that we're doing God's work in some way, shape or form of providing one of life's essentials, which is food, so that they can get through to the next day.
Knowing that it might be that one person that just needs help that day to get themselves back on their feet to become a more active part of society. Whether it's by getting a job or not feeling like they're a disappointment to friends, family or whatever, they can see that there are others in the position that they are and they're not alone.
We're there to help with a hand up, not a handout, as the old saying goes, in hopes that they can then say, "You know what, I can now move on my own." That's kind of what makes it the job that it is and the enjoyable aspect of being the executive director at Circle U.
Q: What do you enjoy in your free time?
Both my son and daughter are here locally. Both of my parents and in-laws are still living and here locally, and I have the most awesome grandson who will be 2 in April. Being able to spend time with my family and appreciate the gifts that I've been given through them helps me that much more with what I do with Circle U, because I know there are others who don't have those gifts like what I do. It just kind of helps me to open up a little bit to those who are in need or those who don't have that feeling of family, love and support. That's kind of what I enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to read through today's newsletter. I always appreciate any story tips you may have to better serve you and the city of Richmond. My email address is eweaver@gannett.com and you can follow me on X (@evan_weaver7).
See you tomorrow.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: 🚓 Richmond mother allegedly smoked cocaine before giving birth
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