Latest news with #Harshman
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
ISP honors lieutenant, master trooper for leadership in Delphi investigation
During the 2025 Indiana State Police Annual Awards Ceremony, two members of the Lafayette District were honored for their work in the Delphi double homicide case. Superintendent Anthony Scott presented a Commendation Award to Lieutenant Jerry Holeman in recognition of his leadership and Master Trooper Brian Harshman was recognized for his commitment and sustained effort throughout the multi-year investigation into the Delphi double homicide. Holeman served as a primary investigative lead in the case surrounding the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German — an effort that spanned nearly eight years and demanded extensive coordination between law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. His ability to manage teams, adapt to emerging developments, and remain focused under the scrutiny of national media coverage was essential in maintaining the investigation's momentum and integrity, according to a press release from the ISP. The case produced tens of thousands of tips and an immense volume of digital and physical evidence. Lt. Holeman worked tirelessly to ensure all avenues were explored while also fostering collaboration across jurisdictions. His clear-headed leadership helped guide the team through many challenges, the press release said. This commendation honors Lt. Holeman's unwavering dedication, resilience, and steady command presence, which brought credit to himself and the Indiana State Police throughout one of the most demanding investigations in the agency's history. For Harshman's valuable contributions, he has been awarded a certificate for exceptional meritorious service. Harshman worked in partnership with investigators from District 14 and the Special Investigations Division / Internet Crimes Against Children to support key aspects of the case involving the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German. Over the course of several years, he dedicated a significant portion of his time to analyzing and documenting sensitive materials linked to the suspect, which required detailed attention and discretion. His efforts helped maintain continuity within the investigation and added critical context during the trial preparation phase. By managing and organizing important records, he ensured that investigative leads and evidentiary details were preserved and accessible for review. This recognition honors Master Trooper Harshman's enduring professionalism, his contribution to the pursuit of justice, and his role in one of the most emotionally challenging cases faced by the Indiana State Police.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City approves funding aimed at roads and streets
The city of Frederick is looking to better maintain its roads and streets. City Council members approved funding for two measures to address imperfections on the surfaces used by cars, cyclists, wheelchairs, pedestrians and others moving around the City of Clustered Spires. One item, approved at a Feb. 20 meeting, involved a $164,517 contract, including a $15,000 contingency, with O'Connell & Lawrence Inc., an engineering firm headquartered in Olney, according to city documents. Nicole Harshman, manager of projects and inspections for the city, said at the meeting that the money would go toward understanding the current state of sidewalks and curbs, as well as ramps' compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, using high-resolution images and geotagged locations. 'The work includes collecting data, creating a sidewalk condition index, data integration into our asset management program and creating a plan for prioritization of repairs,' Harshman said. She added that the project would begin in late March or early April and take around six months to complete. Council President Katie Nash said the upcoming inventory study was 'a long time coming.' Nash said she appreciated that this represented a 'move to a more proactive approach' than the current complaint-driven process. Harshman estimated that the city has over 600 miles of sidewalk, given the approximate 300 miles of roadway and that most developments have sidewalks on both sides. 'It's a lot of sidewalk,' Council Member Kelly Russell said. Russell added that she was excited to see sidewalk infrastructure improved, as it had been a budget priority of hers. The city may use the results of the study to inform a multi-year rehabilitation program, according to city documents. Nash said she appreciated advancing the first step toward a sidewalk maintenance approach, but wanted to make sure that after the results of the contractor's assessment, the city would have budget and action items ready to implement a plan. The council unanimously approved the purchase. The council also unanimously approved a contract with M.T. Laney Company, Inc., an asphalt paving and site development firm out of Eldersburg, the incumbent vendor, for $146,405. The contract is to repair streets with permanent asphalt patches, at the direction of and to the standards of the city, according to the records. Nash said she was concerned that the repeat use of the same vendors could imply that the bidding process was not opened wide enough to consider new vendors. In addition to the bid that was chosen, the city received two other bids. HMF Paving Contractors, Inc., out of Frederick, bid $237,610 and Finley Asphalt & Concrete, out of Bristow, Virginia, bid $1,119,560, according to city records. Council Member Donna Kuzemchak said such a vast difference in bids led her to question if contractors really were 'comparing apples to apples.' Justin Gruden, public works project manager, said the 'high bid was a red flag.' Gruden added that unless there was a work performance issue, the city takes the lowest bid. He said M.T. Laney had been excellent to work with. Tracy Coleman, deputy director of public works, said that sometimes vendors bid high strategically. 'If they're the only bidder ... they're going to make a lot of money,' Coleman said. She added that the contract was a line-item contract, in which the city listed the specific items and tasks it sought vendors to perform to improve roadways. 'So in this contract, it's apples to apples,' Coleman said. 'Or asphalt to asphalt, if you like.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Yahoo
Wyoming mom confesses to shooting 4 daughters before turning gun on herself
A Wyoming mother allegedly called 911 to confess that she'd shot her four daughters, and was planning to do the same to herself. One of the young victims reportedly survived the attack, but was clinging to life Thursday. The tragic incident occurred Monday when Tranyelle Harshman phoned law enforcement around 1:30 p.m. to report her daughters, ages 2-9, had been shot, according to the Big Horn County Police Department. 'When dispatchers asked the status of the gunshot victims, the female stated that she believed them to be deceased,' police said, adding that Harshman then expressed her intent to fatally shoot herself. The 32-year-old mother told the dispatcher that law enforcement would find two of the victims in a crib on the second floor of her home and the other two in a lower-level bedroom they shared. She said that she'd be found in her upstairs bedroom, then disconnected the call despite the dispatcher's multiple attempts to keep her on the line. When authorities arrived to the Byron residence roughly five minutes later, they found all four children and the mother with gunshot wounds to the head. Two of the young victims, ages 2 and 9, were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two girls, ages 2 and 7, were found alive but critically wounded. They were taken to a hospital where the 2-year-old died 'a very short time later due to the extent of her injuries,' police said. Harshman was also found seriously wounded on Monday from a seemingly self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police confirmed Tuesday night that she died earlier that day in an northern Wyoming hospital, reported local NBC affiliate KULR8. As of Thursday, the 7-year-old victim was still alive in a Salt Lake City hospital, where she'd been airlifted for advanced treatment, according to a GoFundMe set up for Cliff Harshman, the father of the 2-year-old girls. Quinn Blackmer, the father of the two older girls, told Montana station KTVQ that he's furious over the killing, saying 'there's no playbook' for handling the death of one daughter and the near-fatal shooting of another. 'I'm trying my hardest to bury that for a while and to focus on the now, because that anger isn't going to bring my child back,' Blackmer said. People who knew the victims told Montana station KRTV that their mother was being treated for mental health issues including postpartum depression before she apparently snapped. Friends of the Harshman family said the cost of funeral expenses and support for the survivors presents an additional obstacle during an already difficult time. The GoFundMe had raised over $100,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
