Indiana cannibal’s sentence confirmed by State Supreme Court
The Indiana Supreme Court upheld life without parole for Joseph Oberhansley, who had previously been convicted in September of 2020, of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body. Oberhansley killed Tammy Jo Blanton in 2014, with her body being found with more than 25 sharp force injuries and multiple blunt force injuries.
Oberhansley’s attorney, Victoria Casanova, argued before the Indiana Supreme Court that Oberhansley’s mental health wasn’t taken into consideration and that the jury didn’t return a proper verdict form in weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Oberhansley’s original testimony was that two men had been in Blanton’s home when he arrived, and that they knocked him out, only to awake when Police arrived.
Grace Berger to debut in Indiana Fever opening game on Friday
On Friday evening at 7pm, The Indiana Fever will kick off their regular season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with the addition of Indiana University Graduate Grace Berger. The 6′ Guard out of Louisville, KY accumulated 1,841 points, 573 assists, and 752 rebounds over her 5-year collegiate career. Berger ranks seventh all-time in scoring and second in all-time assists. She averaged 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals and shot 45.2 percent from the floor.
City of Bloomington Violence Reduction Grant Applications Available
Mayor John Hamilton has designated $125,000 in funding directly to support community-based efforts to prevent, intervene and reduce violence in Bloomington. The City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department will administer the new Community-Based Violence Reduction Grants – a project to invest annually in evidence-based violence prevention projects offered by neighborhood-based agencies and organizations in Bloomington.
Eligible applicants can be but are not limited to, non-profit organizations, neighborhood associations, resident councils, and faith communities that serve Bloomington neighborhoods. Applicants with demonstrated experience intervening and addressing crime, especially relating to retaliatory violence and youth-involved violence, are encouraged to apply. This funding is intended to build the capacity of grassroots organizations engaged in violence prevention and ensure resources reach the residents who need them most. Collaborations with two or more partners will strengthen the application. Eligible organizations may apply for grants of up to $25,000.
The application can be found at https://bton.in/7XhkT. The submission deadline is Thursday, June 15 at 5 p.m. Grant award announcements will be made by July 30, with program implementation to begin September 1, 2023, or thereafter. For questions, please contact City of Bloomington After Hours Ambassador Charles Culp at 812-349-3430 or charles.culp@bloomington.in.gov.
Bloomington Chamber names new Director of Foundation
Katie Sensabaugh was recently named the Director of the Chamber’s Foundation & Internal Operations for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.
“Katie Sensabaugh continues to add value to our organization and the members we serve,” said Chamber President and CEO Eric Spoonmore. “She is the perfect fit to manage our internal operations while also advancing the Chamber’s Foundation and Success School programming to new levels.”
This Week in Hoosier History
1930 United States Vice President Charles Curtis was met by enthusiastic crowds as he visited seven Indiana cities all in the same day. Starting from Indianapolis, he traveled to Franklin, where he spoke at the Artcraft Theater. Moving on, he made speeches in Edinburgh, Columbus, Crothersville, Austin, and Scottsburg. At all stops, he encouraged Hoosiers to cooperate with President Herbert Hoover in his efforts in dealing with the nation’s economic problems.
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