Photos from the annual Adoption Day ceremony at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
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Mike Wolanin | The RepublicBartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long, from left, and her daughters Kaylin and Morgan put up cupcakes to celebrate adoption day in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Magistrate Long presided over two adoptions on adoption day.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Stuffed animals and cupcakes are seen on a table to celebrate adoption day in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Cupcakes with emoji decorations are seen on a table to celebrate adoption day in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, left, gets a bouquet of flowers from her friend Juliet Roman in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom before finalizing her adoption at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, in stripes, is surrounded by friends, family and supporters in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom before finalizing her adoption at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Bartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long presides over the adoption proceedings for Destani McClellan in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Bartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long presided over two adoptions to mark adoption day.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan waits to testify in her adoption proceedings in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, left, and her adoptive mother Ginger Ann McClellan swear in before testifying in Destani’s adoption proceedings in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, from left, and her adoptive mother Ginger Ann McClellan listen as attorney Jennifer Hanley addresses Bartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long during Destani’s adoption proceedings in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, left, and her adoptive mother Ginger Ann McClellan smile at each other during Destani’s adoption proceedings in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Jamison McClellan when it is mentioned that Destani McClellan will officially be his older sister after her adoption is finalized in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Bartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long, right, watches Destani McClellan bang her gavel to finalize her adoption by Ginger Ann McClellan in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, left, hugs her adoptive mother Ginger Ann McClellan after her adoption by Ginger Ann was finalized in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Destani McClellan, left, hugs Bartholomew County Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long after finalizing her adoption by Ginger Ann McClellan in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Destani McClellan, in stripes, poses for a photo with her friends and brother Jamison, in red, after finalizing her adopting by Ginger Ann McClellan in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Charles Fugate swears in before testifying about adopting his great nephew Remington in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Charles Fugate, left, looks at his attorney Grant Kirsh as Fugate finalizes the adoption of his great nephew Remington in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Carol, left, and Shelby Zapfe watch their friend Charles Fugate finalize the adoption of his great nephew Remington in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Charles Fugate smiles during a court proceeding to finalize the adoption of his great nephew Remington in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Remington Fugate plays with a balloon as his great uncle Charles Fugate finalizes becoming his adoptive father in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Jessica White looks after Remington Fugate as he plays with a balloon while his great uncle Charles Fugate finalizes becoming his adoptive father in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Remington Fugate and his great uncle Charles Fugate play with balloons plays as Charles finalizes becoming his adoptive father in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Friends and supporters take photos as Charles Fugate finalizes the adoption of his great nephew Remington Fugate in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Charles Fugate holds his great nephew Remington Fugate as Remington bangs the gavel to finalize Charles becoming his adoptive father in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic Charles Fugate, center, holds his newly adopted son Remington Fugate as they pose for a photo with his friends Carol Zapfe, left, and Shelby Zapfe, right, in the Bartholomew County Circuit Courtroom at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind. Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Fugate was Remington’s great uncle before the adoption proceedings made him his adoptive father.