Around Indiana

La. man buys Saints flag that flew in Indianapolis

A Louisiana businessman has bought a noted piece of New Orleans Saints memorabilia — a flag that hung outside Ind. Gov. Mitch Daniels’ office as part of a wager Daniels made with La. Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Bryan Bossier, owner of Diamond B Construction in Alexandria, La., paid $6,852 for the flag in an online auction Thursday.

The governors agreed that the loser of the Colts-Saints Super Bowl game would display the winning team’s flag for a week at their state capitol building.

The money from Bossier’s purchase goes to an inner-city youth sports program in Indianapolis.

Bossier won the auction in the final seconds by placing a winning bid just before the auction expired, too late for anyone to outbid him.


Hometown honors ex-Miss America  with street signs

A former Miss America is going to get what rocker John Mellencamp didn’t: a street named for her in her hometown.

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted to name County Road 400 East “Katie Stam Road” in honor of Indiana’s first Miss America.

Commissioner John Schafstall said the road’s legal name will remain unchanged but additional signs with the new name honoring Stam will be installed. Stam’s family lives on the road.

Stam finished her reign in January.

A similar idea to rename part of Community Drive in Seymour in honor of Mellencamp when he was enshrined at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008 never advanced.


Police: 8 teenagers shot while leaving concert in Gary

Authorities said eight teenage boys were shot while leaving a Gary skating rink where they were attending a concert.

Police Cpl. Gabrielle King said “chaos broke loose” when a fight took place during the Friday night event at World of Skates, and security advised attendees to leave. Police said the shooting started in the parking lot.

The wounded teens were transported to three area hospitals, where some remained Saturday. Police said they ranged in age from 14 to 18, with wounds in the legs, wrist, stomach or back. King said injuries weren’t believed to be life-threatening.

King said Saturday evening no arrests had been made. A message seeking comment was left at World of Skates.

King said the wounded weren’t clear on what prompted the shooting.