WASHINGTON — A man discovered missing after his house burned to the ground early Wednesday called his brother around 11:45 a.m., bringing a collective sigh of relief to family and friends waiting to learn if he’d been inside the house when it burned. Chris Spalding, 43, lived alone at 1938 CR 300S, according his sister, Denitra Spalding, and the family couldn’t find anyone who’d had contact with him since 10 or 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. She said his phone company had been contacted to track his phone, but it was either off or destroyed in the fire. “Both of his vehicles are here,” she said prior to Chris calling their brother Brian Spalding. “We don’t know if he was home.” According to Denitra and their father, Bernie Spalding, the fire started at about 3 a.m. Bernie said the neighbor heard an explosion and when he looked outside, the house was engulfed in flames. Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tony Wichman said firefighters had the blaze under control by 3:30 a.m. He said the roof collapsed, knocking everything into the basement. Late Wednesday morning they were still trying to determine the cause of the fire. Assisting WTVFD on the scene was Veale Township, the state fire marshal and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department. Neighbor Jimmy Gaither provided a backhoe to help sift through the rubble.
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Hill arrested on $100K bond
Andrew Logan Hill, 32, Washington, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on a warrant for petition to revoke a suspended sentence. He remains in the Daviess County Security Center on a $100,000 bond.
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Cemetery owners plead for time, help
For nearly a century and a half, Daviess County folks have been laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery at the west edge of Washington, but in recent years maintenance of the 23-acre property has declined and people are no longer wanting to bury family members there.
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Washington High School to graduate 167 Saturday
Washington High School will hold its 135th Commencement Exercises at 2 p.m. today in the high school gymnasium.
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WC to graduate
Washington Catholic High School Commencement Exercises will be held at 8 p.m. today at the Bird Cage.
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PC to graduate
PETERSBURG — Pike Central High School will hold its 37th Commencement Exercises at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium.
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ND commencement is Friday evening
North Daviess High School will hold it commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
Following the processional led by North Daviess faculty and juniors Janice Knepp and Cari Jo Wilson, the voluntary invocation will be led by Chelsea Graber. Stacey Beard, class president, will then make welcoming and introductory remarks. -
Fire destroys home in minutes
A Tuesday afternoon fire in rural Daviess County has left a family homeless, although unharmed.
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Barr-Reeve holds 47th commencement Saturday
Barr-Reeve High School will hold its 47th Commencement Exercises on Saturday afternoon in the high school gymnasium beginning at 2 p.m. Again this year, the graduation will be an afternoon affair.
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Loogootee to hold graduation Friday
Loogootee Junior/Senior High School Class of 2012 will hold its graduation exercises at 7 p.m. Friday.
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ND finds ways to use cell phones
A lengthy discussion between North Daviess school board and administrative members concerning future student cell phone usage dominated the board’s Monday meeting.
Board members were considering a second reading for the school’s junior and senior high school handbooks when the discussion began. - More Local News Headlines
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Hill arrested on $100K bond


