Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) re-introduced the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act, which aims to reduce catalytic converter thefts by marking identifying information on catalytic converters, addressing how the parts are purchased, and strengthening enforceability of catalytic converter theft for local law enforcement.

“Across the country, millions of Americans are faced with costly repairs to their vehicles thanks to skyrocketing rates of catalytic converter thefts,” said Congressman Baird. “Last Congress, I was proud to introduce the PART Act because I recognized the impactful financial consequences these all-too-common thefts have had on Americans and business owners, and I want to empower our law enforcement to hold these thieves accountable. It’s time to close loopholes in our legal system that allow thieves to easily steal this required car part, and I’m excited to work with Congresswoman McCollum, Congresswoman Craig, and Senator Klobuchar to re-introduce this bill to deliver a common-sense solution to this very serious problem.”

“Theft of catalytic converters continues to be a growing and costly problem, leaving victims on the hook to pay to replace them,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “I’m pleased to join my colleague Rep. Baird in reintroducing the PART Act in the 118^th Congress.  By working collaboratively with our auto dealers and law enforcement, we can help prevent this crime by closing loopholes to make it a criminal offense and providing tools for investigators to link stolen catalytic converters to the vehicles from which they were stolen. I look forward to working with them and my colleagues in the House to pass the PART Act.” 

“Catalytic converter and auto thefts are on the rise in Minnesota and our local law enforcement need more support to get this under control,” said Congresswoman Craig. “That’s why I’m working to pass the bipartisan Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act, so Minnesota law enforcement can more effectively combat these crimes and help keep our communities safe. I’ll keep reaching across the aisle to get this important bill across the finish line and improve public safety in the Second District.”

“Throughout the country, we’ve seen an alarming increase in catalytic converter thefts. These converters can be easily taken from unattended cars but are difficult and expensive for car owners to replace,” said Senator Klobuchar. “By making catalytic converter theft a criminal offense and ensuring each converter can be easily tracked, our bipartisan legislation would provide law enforcement officers with the tools and resources they need to crack down on these crimes.”

Catalytic converters are car parts used to reduce the potency of toxic emissions from an internal combustion engine and is a component required in compliance with the Clean Air Act.  These parts are constructed using precious metals such as rhodium, platinum, and palladium, and, depending on the price point for these metals, can be sold to scrap dealers for hundreds of dollars. Replacement of these parts can be very costly for vehicle owners, with many replacements ranging from $500 to $2,300. In some cases, the cost of a catalytic converter theft may even be enough for a total loss to a vehicle.

The theft of catalytic converters has become increasingly prevalent in the past two years, plaguing vehicle owners, scrap yards, and law enforcement officials in communities across the United States. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of reported catalytic converter thefts rose from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020 – an increase of over 325%. Faced with this sharp increase, law enforcement officers have limited tools to curb thefts as current policy leaves many advantageous loopholes for criminals to exploit. A lack of criminal code in regard to the trafficking of these stolen parts means that law enforcement must catch a criminal in the act of removing the part in order to prosecute a case.

The PART Act seeks to reduce catalytic converter thefts by allowing law enforcement officers to link stolen parts to the vehicle from which they originate by requiring new vehicles to have a VIN number stamped onto the converter, creating a grant program through which entities can stamp VIN numbers onto catalytic converters of existing vehicles, improving record keeping standards for purchasers of used catalytic converters, and establishing enforceability of laws around catalytic converter theft by codifying these crimes as a criminal offense. 

Ascension St. Vincent’s primary care office in Brazil is closing along with several other sites in the state.

The Brazil office is located at 1214 E. National Avenue, Suite 100.  Other area Ascension St. Vincent’s offices scheduled to close include Avon, Plainfield and Crawfordsville.

Others on the list are in Greenwood, Frankfort (2), Lafayette and Carmel.

A prepared statement on the closings blamed the Covid-era impact on health care.

Western Indiana high schools were well represented recently at the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Regional Career Development Conference, as more than 200 students showcased the skills they have learned through the JAG program at their schools. 

Jobs for America’s Graduates is a national workforce skills readiness program for high school students. It focuses on the importance of earning a high school diploma and acquiring the soft skills employers require. Skills which are developed include problem solving, leadership, job seeking, team building, and academic skills; all necessary to complete post-secondary training and success in today’s job market. 

Currently, more than 135 JAG programs operate in Indiana. In the Wabash Valley, thanks to the support and cooperation of local school administrations and the Western Indiana Workforce Development Board, JAG programs operate at Northview High School, Riverton Parke Junior/Senior High School, West Vigo High School, North Putnam High School, Sullivan High School, Terre Haute North Vigo High School, Terre Haute South Vigo High School, Cloverdale High School and Parke Heritage High School. 

Fifteen teens and three programs earned a first place spot, which qualifies them to compete at the JAG State Career Development Conference this spring in Indianapolis.

“We are proud of the JAG programs in our region for developing young leaders and positioning them to compete against some of the best minds in our state,” said Greg Lee, who oversees nine JAG programs in western Indiana. “The JAG experience not only sets young people up for success after high school, it also teaches valuable personal and career skills they will carry with them throughout their lives.” 

A full listing of students and schools are listed below.

Chapter Marketing Brochure

1st - North Putnam High School

2nd - Sullivan High School

3rd - Terre Haute North High School

Chapter Social Media Campaign 

1st - Cloverdale High School

2nd - Sullivan High School

3rd - Terre Haute North High School

Chapter Marketing Commercial

1st - Cloverdale High School 

2nd - Terre Haute North High School

Project Based Learning

1st Place - Keelie Pierce, Kaydence Sharp, Kiersten Wade - Cloverdale

Entrepreneurship Plan 

1st Place - Matthew Brooks, Eli Pine, Kaleb Westerkamm - Terre Haute North 

2nd Place - McGuire Lee, Andrea Nees - Cloverdale

3rd Place - Jaycee Farris, Bryce Johnson - North Putnam

Digital Invitation/Save the Date

1st Place - Kaylee Tingley - Terre Haute North

2nd Place - Gavin Williams - Sullivan

3rd Place - Haley Hired - Terre Haute North

Career Presentation

1st - Aeris Rogers - Northview

2nd - Rilya Archer - Northview

3rd - Brooklyn Deck - Terre Haute North

Creative Solutions 

1st - Lee May - Sullivan

2nd - Abagayle Welton - Cloverdale

3rd - Dakota Rilenge - Northview

Critical Thinking

1st - Dakota Parks - North Putnam

2nd - Aubrey Klutey - North Putnam

3rd - Dylan Frey - Terre Haute South

Employability Skills 

1st - Lane Gilbert - Sullivan

2nd - Alyssa Franklin - Terre Haute South

3rd - Carson Shober - Terre Haute South

Financial Literacy 

1st - Carson Hall - Cloverdale

2nd - Hayden Tipton - Terre Haute North 

3rd - Drew Nesbitt - North Putnam

Public Speaking

1st - Jaydah Holmes - West Vigo

2nd - Jaxon Carie - Sullivan

3rd - Sam Lynch - Northview

Writing Skills 

1st - Nevaeh Gordon - Sullivan

2nd - Mackinley Lawson - North Putnam

3rd - Camaren Nees - Northview

Outstanding Senior

1st - Nathaniel Reedy - Northview

2nd - Candace Poff- Pittman - Terre Haute South

3rd - Wen Monce - Terre Haute North

An arrest in Marshall County involved a man wanted on a warrant in Montgomery County.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office was called at 3:30 p.m. to the area of U.S. 31 and U.S. 6 on reports of a man walking in and out of traffic and running in front of moving vehicles.

Deputies determined that the man, Thomas Witt, 31, of Crawfordsville, was under the influence of drugs.  Witt also had an active felony arrest warrant for his arrest through Montgomery County.

Witt was arrested on a public intoxication charge in Marshall County.

A familiar face at DePauw University has a new title. 

Sarah Steinkamp, who currently serves as chief of staff for university president Lori White, was recently appointed as the university's Vice President for Communications and Strategy. She had held a similar position as interim dating back to last July.

"In her interim role, Sarah demonstrated her capacity to successfully lead an integrated communication strategy for the university and the president's office, and I am delighted to appoint her to this new position," White said in a release.

With a bachelor's from Wells College, Steinkamp earned a Master's in health education from Ithaca College and a doctorate in education from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. Before arriving at DePauw, she served in various roles at Washington University in St. Louis and Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. 

"I deeply believe in the transformation that occurs when students are poured into by faculty, staff, students and mentors. My own journey was shaped by mentors and faculty who pushed me to be and do more," Steinkamp said. 

Steinkamp said she looks forward to telling the stories of DePauw and its students.

"There are immense opportunities to demonstrate the impact DePauw makes on student's lives. I find great meaning in mentoring, leading, learning and growing with others who are excited and curious. For that very reason, DePauw is an awe-inspiring community to be a part of," she said. 

A Brazil woman turned herself in to local authorities on a warrant for felony theft.

The Brazil Police Department says officers attempted to serve a warrant at the home of Sara Albright on Tuesday but no one answered the door.  Brazil Police say they are investigating an alleged report of more than $2000 from a Clay County youth All-Star team that raised the money through donations.

Albright turned herself in at the Clay County Jail on Thursday.

An initial hearing is scheduled for February 8.

With her first meeting under her belt, Emily Haltom is getting acclimated with her new role representing Taylor Township on the Cloverdale School Board. 

"It is an honor to represent Cloverdale schools. I love our community and school system, and I am eager to serve to the best of my ability. My daughter is currently a first grader. My middle child is in preschool at Cloverdale and my son will be old enough for school soon. I want to be involved in helping our school grow and succeed for my children and their classmates," Haltom told The Putnam County Post.

Haltom earned 536 votes, defeating Carol Ann Pennington last November for the seat.

"To those that went out and voted, thank you. I am honored to have been chosen to serve, and I look forward to all I will learn and help our schools accomplish," Haltom said. 

Haltom said it is "extremely important" to her to have a say not only in her children's education, but pave the way for the entire school district. 

"Cloverdale is a wonderful school with great teachers, staff and administrators. I am active in our parent teacher organization as well. I love being able to serve and see joy on the student's faces and I am so excited to expand my service to the middle school and high school by serving on the school board," she admitted. 

With her first year on the school board already kicked off, Haltom said she is taking it all and is looking forward to learning. 

"My goal for the first year is to be a sponge and take in all of this new information and to use it to serve our community the best way possible," Haltom said. 

A man arrested on a Putnam County warrant has been sentenced on meth and gun charges in federal court.

Jared Mashburn, 40, of Indianapolis, Indiana was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, on December 14, 2020, Mashburn was arrested in Indianapolis by Indiana State Police Troopers on an outstanding Putnam County warrant. Mashburn was wanted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, resisting law enforcement, and possessing methamphetamine. At the time of his arrest, troopers searched Mashburn’s person and located two loaded handguns, approximately 22 grams of methamphetamine packaged in bags for resale, and approximately $12,000 in cash.

Later that same day, troopers executed a warrant to search Mashburn’s residence. Investigators located and seized 38 firearms, approximately 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, digital scales, a vacuum sealer, and a drug ledger. Investigators also seized items associated with the Aryan Brotherhood, of which Mashburn was a known member, including a jersey with Aryan Brotherhood insignia and a Nazi flag, uniform, and other Nazi paraphernalia. The Aryan Brotherhood is a notorious white supremacist group with affiliated gangs in many prisons.

At the time of this arrest, Mashburn had been previously convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine and having an illegal drug lab. Mashburn was prohibited from owning firearms under federal law due to his previous felony convictions.

“This heavily armed meth dealer and gang member is exactly the sort of dangerous criminal we must prioritize for federal prosecution,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Repeat felons who menace the public with illegal guns and poison our families with deadly drugs will face the sorts of serious consequences imposed by the court today. I commend the efforts of the FBI and Indiana State Police to protect the public by ensuring that the defendant will spend years in federal prison and off our streets.”

“The sentence imposed today clearly demonstrates that those who use firearms in furtherance of their illegal activities will be held accountable and removed from our communities so they can no longer pose a risk,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of drugs into our neighborhoods and keep firearms out of the hands of those prohibited from being able to possess them.”

The Indiana State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Mashburn be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney, Pamela S. Domash, who prosecuted this case.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch testified in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday in support of Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), legislation which will strengthen the direction Indiana takes in assisting Hoosiers suffering with behavioral health issues, including mental illness and addiction.

Authored by Sen. Michael Crider, R-Greenfield, SB 1 will transform the current 988 Crisis Hotline into 988 Response Centers and direct Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration to apply for support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand the network of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in Indiana.

It is unusual for a sitting Indiana governor or lieutenant governor to testify in front of a committee on behalf of a specific piece of legislation.

"As co-chair of the Indiana Roundtable on Mental Health, I could have justified speaking on behalf of this bill. But for personal reasons, I was compelled to testify," said Lt. Gov. Crouch, who also is Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “One in five Hoosiers suffers from mental illness or addiction, and my family is no exception. My mother suffered from depression throughout her life, and my younger sister died by suicide in her 20s.”

If enacted, SB 1 will create 988 Crisis Response Centers, allowing mobile crisis teams to be dispatched to assist in a severe mental health crisis. SB 1 also addresses funding and sustainability for CCBHCs, which are designed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care. There are currently 19 pilot CCBHC sites in Indiana.

“The cost of untreated mental illness and addiction cases to the state of Indiana exceeds $4 billion annually,” said Crouch, who has been an outspoken supporter of behavioral and mental health initiatives throughout her career. “In addition to the cost of life, can Indiana afford not to do more for Hoosiers suffering from mental illness and addiction?”

The Senate Appropriations committee is expected to vote on SB 1 at its next meeting.

John McPherson remembers the first time he met Bill Newgent and how caring he was.

"He was caring to everyone. From his employees to the citizens of Greencastle and to all responders in Putnam County, he was always there for anyone that needed a helping hand or a listening ear," McPherson told The Putnam County Post of Newgent. 

Newgent, the former fire chief of the Greencastle Fire Department, passed away earlier this month. 

He retired in 2016 after 23 years with the department, where he spent 16 years as the chief. 

McPherson said Newgent hired him as the department's first fire inspector/safety officer.

"He created that position because he saw a need for it. I worked for Bill and the Greencastle Fire Department and the city for 10 years," McPherson said. 

Rob Frank, assistant fire chief for the Greencastle Fire Department, admitted he has fond memories of his former leader. 

"He was a leader and set the example for others to follow. He ensured the department had the training and equipment they needed to get the job done. By being heavily involved around the state with the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association, I feel like he put our small department on the map," Frank told The Putnam County Post. 

Much like McPherson, Frank got to know Newgent both personally and professionally. 

"There is a quote that is credited to Sir Isaac Newton, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." That is how I would describe Bill when it came to what he did for the Greencastle Fire Department, the firefighters that worked here and everyone that came into contact with him. He had a huge impact on the fire service and was respected everywhere he went," Frank said. 

Frank said Newgent was the chief when he came to the department as a reserve firefighter in 2008. 

"He later hired me as a full time firefighter in 2012 and promoted me to Lieutenant before he retired," Frank said.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department is accepting applications for the position of Merit Deputy.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent and a valid driver’s license.

Applicants who have completed the Tier 1 Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Certification will be exempt from the written exam however they will need to complete the physical agility portion of the test.

Application deadline is February 8 at 4:00 p.m. Applications are available on our website, located at: www.putnam-sheriff.org, by emailing a request to tom.sutherlin@co.putnam.in.us or by picking one up in person at: 13 Keightly Road, Greencastle, IN 46135. Inquiries regarding this position should be made to Chief Deputy Tom Sutherlin at (765) 653-3211.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a written and physical agility test on Saturday, February 11 at 9:00 am or Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Putnam County 911 Dispatch Center.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department offers a wide array of benefits to include:

Probationary salary: $49,537.00/ After first year $52,716.00

12 hours shifts (every other weekend off)                                  

Clothing Allowance

Insurance benefits for health, visions, dental and life                  

Take home vehicle

For the second time in a month, a potential severe winter storm failed to live up to its billing in Putnam County, according to local emergency responders. 

Sgt. Matt Ames, of the Indiana State Police Department, told The Putnam County Post on Wednesday evening, the Putnamville Post had responded to three property damage accidents and four slide offs. 

"Overall, it was very quiet for us," Ames said. 

Rob Frank, assistant fire chief at the Greencastle Fire Department, echoed those sentiments. 

"There is a lot of wet, slushy snow. The main roads are fairly clear with wet surfaces, but the side streets need some work," Frank told The Putnam County Post Wednesday afternoon. 

A recent traffic stop by Indiana State Police led to the arrest of an Indiana man for posession and operating while under the influence of a controlled substance.

Todd Mills, 58, of Spencer, was incarcerated in the Miami County Jail to face criminal charges for allegedly operating a straight truck while under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Indiana State Police initiated a traffic stop on a 2021 Freightliner straight truck, pulling an industrial woodchipper, on U.S. 31 near Miami County Road 1150 South. The driver was allegedly not wearing a seat belt. While speaking to Mills, the trooper determined Mills was possibly intoxicated.

Further investigation revealed that Mills was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine. During a search of the Freightliner, officers purportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Mills was working for Wright Tree Service Inc based in Des Moines, Iowa.

School and Business Closings, Cancellations, and Delays

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

*South Putnam Community Schools: There will be NO eLearning; this will be an old-fashioned snow day! Schools in the South Putnam district will make up this day on February 20th, Presidents' Day.

A man shot and killed in an attempted home intrusion in Terre Haute has been identified as being from Clay City.

Terre Haute Police say Michael Bell, 30, died in the incident.  A person with Bell during the incident was not charged and released.

No charges are being filed against the homeowner who fired the gun.

The Terre Haute Police Department is still investigating.

On Sunday morning, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department joined Owen County at a home in Clay in Cass Township.  Authorities say Michael Ramirez, 26, of Poland, ran from law enforcement and was then tracked from a car accident scene in Owen County.

Ramirez barricaded himself inside of a home and eventually a deputy with the assistance of a K-9 entered the home and brought out Ramirez and another man, Steven Samora, 38, also of Poland.

Both men were charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia.

Ramirez is also wanted on several warrants from Clay, Putnam and Owen counties.

Heavy snow, both in weight and volume, is expected with a Winter Storm Warning.

The National Weather Service has issued the Winter Storm Warning to start at 1 a.m. Wednesday and extended through 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Total snow accumulations of 4 - 8 inches is possible with this system.  The snow is also expected to be wet and heavy.

Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.

Mikayla Johnson remembers the exact moment she became interested in local government. 

She began a career as a field examiner with the Indiana State Board of Accounts, performing financial audits on local governmental agencies, and it was a turning point, as she said those experiences gave her an understanding of the impact and importance government plays in the daily lives of citizens.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my job at the state and took great pride in helping local officials to be good stewards of the funds that they received and playing a role in ensuring that those funds, our tax dollars were spent appropriately," Johnson told The Putnam County Post.

After having a son, Johnson began looking at how she could have a larger impact in her local community. She would leave her job with the state to take a position with the Putnam County Hospital to further help push the hospital's mission of providing exceptional care close to home by joining their accounting department. 

"When I realized that it is an election year for local cities and towns, that is when all the dots started to connect and I knew that this was the opportunity I was looking for. Having audited many Clerk-Treasurers during my time at the state, I have seen how vital it is to have a qualified individual in the position," said Johnson, who has thrown her hat into the Republican primary ring for the Greencastle Clerk-Treasurer post.

Johnson admits she hopes to use her skills, knowledge and experience to help Greencastle in the future. 

"I hope to use my skills, knowledge and experience to help the City of Greencastle to continue to thrive and be a community that I want to raise my kids in, my kids want to raise their kids in and so forth for many prosperous years," Johnson said.

Johnson said she brings experience to the race, having worked on both audits and the work, 

"Voters can rest assured in knowing that I have the accounting background necessary to perform the daily tasks required of the Clerk-Treasurer and the experience in performing these tasks. Furthermore, having been an auditor, I can ensure that efficient processes and procedures and strong internal controls are all in place. I am confident that I can help the City of Greencastle to continue to receive clean audit reports, which helps the City's bond rating and ability to receive funding. I also have experience in auditing federal programs and a master's class in grant writing and look forward to using this knowledge and experience to help the city to apply for and receiving additional monies for projects, without the need to seek an outside consultant," Johnson said. 

Johnson said the inflation residents is feeling is also felt by local governments, making it harder to increase and diversify revenue streams. 

"The rising costs of goods, along with a continued demand of more rules and regulations means that the city will need to continue to find ways to absorb costs by utilizing current staff and taking advantage to get the most out of the technology that's available. During my time at the state, I had experienced a few cutbacks where I learned how to maximize the limited resources that we had. It will be important to continue to build strong five year plans, not just in utilities and public safety, but also for our roads and all city owned facilities. This is an area the Clerk-Treasurer and Mayor could work closely together on to really make a big impact for the City of Greencastle," Johnson said. 

Why should voters vote for Johnson?

"Voters should vote for me in the primary because I am excited to serve the residents of Greencastle, to give back and to contribute to our community. As mentioned, I have seen how important it is to have a qualified individual in the Clerk-Treasurer seat and I strongly believe that I meet and exceed those qualifications. My background shows that when I make a commitment, I am dedicated to honoring that commitment and to do it justice by being all in," Johnson said. 

Funeral services are set for Friday for a former Greencastle fire chief.

Bill Newgent was 54 when he passed away Friday. He was a 1988 graduate of Greencastle High School.

Bill Newgent retired in 2016 after 23 years with the Greencastle Fire Department in 2016, 16 years as the Fire Chief. Prior to becoming a full time fireman, he volunteered at both the Madison Township Fire Department and the Greencastle Fire Department.

Newgent was also a part of Task Force 7 incident command team. He was a member and past president of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association and a board member for Hoosier Burn Camp for several years.

Newgent owned and operated JTN Services and JTN Outdoor Power.

Newgent also served in several other capacities including as President of Putnam County Airport Board, President of Putnam County Sheriff’s Department Merit Board and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 27, at the Greencastle Christian Church. Interment will follow at the Union Chapel Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church with a past and present Firefighters Walk Thru to be held at 6:00 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hoosier Burn Camp or Greencastle Professional Firefighters Union #5125.

Three people were killed in an Owen County house fire.

The fire took place near Patricksburg early Sunday morning.  The identities have not been released as of this report.  Autopsies are being scheduled.

The house was fully engulfed when fire crews arrived.  The State Fire Marshal's Office has been called in to investigate.

Foul play is not suspected.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of the victims of the tragedy in Monterey Park, California.

Flags should be flown at half-staff at the Indiana Statehouse until sunset on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.

Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to reopen I-70 westbound through the North Split interchange this weekend.  

Weather permitting, the westbound lanes of I-70 are expected to be open by Sunday morning.   

To prepare to open the lanes, crews will be shutting down the I-70 westbound ramp to Michigan Street Friday night at 9 p.m. to place pavement markings and move barrier wall. The ramp will reopen Sunday morning with the reopening of I-70 westbound. During the closure of the ramp motorists can access downtown via the MLK/West Street exit.  

There will also be intermittent lane restrictions on I-70 westbound from Emerson Avenue to the North Split Friday and Saturday nights. Drivers are asked to slow down in this area and watch for new traffic patterns as the lanes are opening.

With these new movements, motorists will be able to travel along I-70 WB from the east and continue through the North Split onto I-70 WB south of downtown.

Last week, I-70 EB was opened through the North Split interchange. 

I-65 NB will detour along I-70 WB and I-65 SB traffic traveling through Indianapolis will continue using the detour along I-465 until the I-65 movements are completely open in late spring of 2023. 

The Meridian/Pennsylvania ramp will remain closed until I-65 is open. In the new North Split interchange configuration, motorists will no longer have access to the ramp from I-70 WB. This will eliminate the weaving pattern across multiple lanes, making the exit safer for motorists. 

The North Split reconstruction project will provide safer, more free-flowing travel for the thousands of motorists who use the interchange each day. Once complete, the new system will take up a smaller footprint and increase the walkability of surrounding downtown Indianapolis neighborhoods. The redesigned interchange will improve safety by eliminating weaving and merging, leading to better traffic flow.? ? 

Access to downtown Indianapolis will be maintained via:  

• I-70 WB collector/distributor (C/D) exit ramp to Michigan Street (13 ton declared vehicle weight restriction effect) 
• I-65 NB/ I-70 EB exit ramp to Washington Street (13-ton declared vehicle weight restriction in effect)  
• I-70 WB to Martin Luther King. Jr/West Street  
• I-65 SB to Meridian Street  
• All existing ramps on I-70 west of the South Split ? 

The FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, is issuing a national public safety alert regarding an explosion in incidents of children and teens being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for additional explicit material or money—a crime known as sextortion.

Over the past year, law enforcement agencies have received over 7,000 reports related to the online sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys. More than a dozen sextortion victims were reported to have died by suicide. The FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners implore parents and caregivers to engage with their kids about sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place.

Sextortion schemes occur in online environments where young people feel most comfortable—using common social media sites, gaming sites, or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe. On these platforms, predators often use fake accounts and target minors.

Through deception, sextortionists convince the young person to produce an explicit video or photo. Once predators acquire the images, they often threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim sends additional sexually explicit material. Some of these criminals demand money or gift cards to keep them from releasing the compromising material in their possession. Often, these predators demand payment through a variety of peer-to-peer payment applications. In many cases, however, sextortionists release the images even if additional material is sent or payments are made. The shame, fear, and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse and may drive them towards self-harm.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana prosecuted several “sextortion” related cases in recent years, including the following:

United States v. Kyle Peterson:  Between March of 2020 and March of 2021, Kyle Peterson persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Beginning on March 20, 2020, Peterson used the social media platforms Omegle and Snapchat to contact minors, including Victim 1. Victim 1 was twelve years old at the time of contact with Peterson. Knowing the victim was a child, Peterson began to groom her by sending her sexually explicit images and videos online. The material Peterson distributed to Victim 1 included an image depicting sadomasochistic behavior and images and videos depicting sexual abuse of animals.

Peterson engaged in sexually explicit video chats with the child and instructed her to send him sexually explicit videos of herself. When Victim 1 stopped complying with Peterson’s continuous demands, he began threatening to disseminate her sexually explicit images and videos to her family and friends and post them on the Internet.

Peterson was convicted and sentenced to 22 years in federal prison in December 2022.

United States v. Buster Hernandez:  In August 2017, Buster Hernandez was initially charged with sexually exploiting a minor, threatening to use an explosive device, and threatening to kill, kidnap, or injure another person. Those charges eventually extended to include 41 separate allegations including: production of child sexual abuse materials, coercion and enticement of minors, receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, the threatened use of explosive devices, extortion, threats to kill, kidnap or injure other persons, witness tampering, obstruction of justice and retaliation against a victim. The offense conduct included the actual or attempted sextortion of at least 375 victims including those from two foreign countries, threats to kill, rape, and kidnap hundreds, and threats to use explosive devices against Plainfield and Danville High Schools, the Shops at Perry Crossing, and a local Walmart.

Hernandez also sexually exploited and threatened several other minor victims in Hendricks County and other cities in Indiana. When victims stopped complying with his demands, he posted sexually explicit images and videos that the victim had sent against their will and often threatened to kill them and their families. 

Hernandez was convicted and sentenced to 75 years in federal prison in March 2021.

“Sexual exploitation of children is a despicable crime that may go unrecognized by friends and family of the victims. In this digital age, it is imperative that we stay informed of the deception and other tactics sexual predators use to harm our children,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Victims of sextortion may feel confused, embarrassed, and as if there is no escape. I strongly urge parents and caregivers to engage with the children in their lives to discuss this crime and help law enforcement agencies prevent the abuse before it happens.”

What if you or your child are a victim?

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including:

• Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.
• Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator. Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment.
• REPORT the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
• BLOCK the predator and DO NOT DELETE the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.
• Let NCMEC help get explicit images of you off the internet.
• Visit missingkids.org/IsYourExplicitContentOutThere to learn how to notify companies yourself or visit cybertipline.org to report to us for help with the process.
• Ask for help. This can be a very complex problem and may require help from adults or law enforcement.
• If you don’t feel that you have adults in your corner, you can reach out to NCMEC for support at gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Registration is now open for the 2023 Indiana Small Farm Conference, the premier annual event for the state’s farming community.

The 11th annual conference and trade show will take place March 2 and 3 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville.

One of the featured keynote speakers is Hunter Smith, former Indianapolis Colts punter and co-owner of Wonder Tree Regenerative Farm in Zionsville, Indiana.

“At WonderTree we hope to prove, once again, the viability and sustainability of decentralized, local farms serving communities as primary sources of food, experiences and culture,” Smith said.

Since 2013 the conference has featured comprehensive, instructive and enjoyable programming about diversified farming and local food systems, bringing together novice and experienced small-scale farmers. For more information and registration, visit purdue.ag/sfc.

“I grew up on a small family farm where nothing was ever wasted, and food was simple and delicious,” said Sara Frey, owner of Frey Farms and a 2023 conference keynote speaker. “Every growing season yielded different crops, and we’re proud to bring that produce to market today. Some of my fondest memories are of trying to figure what to do with the imperfect or ‘ugly fruit,’ which led to my vision of using all of what we grow and creating farm-fresh beverages for families.”

This year’s conference offers 12 tracks, allowing attendees to choose sessions that best align with their farming operations and goals. Among the topics are:

• Urban agriculture
• Vegetable production
• Farm stress
• Marketing
• Technology on small farms
• Livestock
• Equity in the food system
• Value-added products
• Fruit production

“The Indiana Small Farm Conference is a great way to learn what’s next in production, marketing and other areas to make the most of your efforts in 2023 and for years to come,” said Amy Thompson, Purdue Extension’s beginning farmers coordinator and a conference organizer.

The Access Center at Hamilton Center has changed its name to the Crisis Diversion Center.

Hamilton Center’s 24-hour Crisis Line remains the same at 800.742.0787.

The name change comes at the tail end of a series of expansions in services for the department and more accurately represents its evolving role in the community. The department will continue to deliver all the same services, including crisis assessments and acute interventions.

Over the past couple of years, the department has expanded to operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This expansion in hours allows the Crisis Diversion Center to better serve individuals who are experiencing a mental health emergency when that emergency occurs.

In addition, the mobile crisis team, which began in 2021, has allowed Hamilton Center’s mental health professionals to meet those in crisis wherever they may be in the Vigo County community - connecting them with mental health professionals, as well as assisting with transportation back to the facility for monitoring and acute intervention as needed.

“The expansion of hours in the Crisis Diversion Center allows more opportunity for people in Vigo, and surrounding counties, to access crisis services at a time when they are most vulnerable and in need of support,” said Natasha Newcomb, LCSW, Chief of Crisis Diversion. “These services help us better route people to appropriate levels of care.” 

The addition of these services and programs has allowed Hamilton Center to enhance the collaborative relationship with local law enforcement by diverting mental health crises away from the criminal justice system to mental health services. “Diversion centers like this one allow law enforcement to more quickly connect those in crisis with the right care – mental health professionals,” said Amber Sebastian, Manager of Crisis Diversion at Hamilton Center, Inc. “It will also lessen their involvement in mental health crisis situations and get them back out in the community to deal with other criminal activities.”

In addition to the expansion in services, the facility has more than doubled from roughly 1000 square feet to more than 2000 square feet, increasing from two observation/assessment rooms to six. “Hamilton Center has always worked to provide the least-restrictive environment possible for consumers in our care,” said Natasha Newcomb, LCSW, Chief of Crisis Diversion Center. “To promote this, we have added recliners for each room, a pantry, and designed the common area to feel more open.”

“Our vision is to advance excellence in healthcare through compassion, customer responsiveness, innovation, and flexibility,” said Melvin L Burks, President and CEO of Hamilton Center, Inc. “These enhancements have positioned us to better serve our consumers’ needs and the community’s need.” He also stated that these changes align with priorities at the State and Federal level with the rollout of 988, the new national mental health crisis/suicide prevention number and the movement toward federally recognized, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which Hamilton Center is a part. 

Hamilton Center, Inc. is a regional health system in Central and West Central Indiana with corporate offices located in Terre Haute.  Services are provided to children, youth, and adults, with specialized programs for expectant mothers, infants, and people who may be struggling with stress, life changes, or relationship issues, as well as more serious problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and serious mental illnesses.

A Crisis Specialist responds to a community crisis call and deploys shortly after to travel directly to the individual in crisis and deliver mental health services.

Hamilton Center provides the least restrictive environment possible for those in its care. The Crisis Diversion Center has added comfortable seating, a pantry, and a more open atrium to promote this. “It’s important for those in crisis to have a safe, comfortable, and confidential environment to recovery and stabilize in,” said Natasha Newcomb, Chief of Crisis Diversion Center at Hamilton Center.

The bids are in to demolish the old Jones School located at 209 W Liberty Street, Greencastle.

However, the bids the Putnam County Commissioners received are drastically different in price and the details of the demolition. The Commissioners agreed they needed time to review the bids and compare what options are being offered for the variety of price points. They will be holding a special meeting January 23 at 8:00 a.m. in their normal meeting room on the first floor of the Putnam County Courthouse.

The Jones school building was built in 1954. It served as an elementary school for 47 years and a little over 10 years as an annex for the Putnam County Courthouse. However, time has not been kind to the building and it is no longer fit to house even the most basic of storage items. 

Since putting the demolition up for bid, several bids have come through. But the difference in bids is over $100k from the lowest bid to the highest, with some of the bidders offering to seed the remaining land when demolition is complete. The Putnam County Commissioners will meet Monday to ensure the bids compare “apples to apples,” as commissioner Rick Woodall put it.

This Saturday will be the first of three legislative updates in Putnam County.

State Representative Beau Baird, State Senator Rod Bray and State Senator John Crane are expected at the Putnam County Farm Bureau Saturday at 9 a.m.

The public is invited.

Future sessions are scheduled for February 18 and March 18.

A Brazil man is in the Vigo County Jail after he fled officers on a pursuit into Clay County early Tuesday morning.

The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office says , Joshua D. Corbin, 29, was seen with his truck backed up to the Seelymart Gas Station on East US 40.

When approached by an officer Corbin provided a fake name and last four digits of his social security number.  Police found out Corbin's true identity while talking to the truck's female passenger.

Now knowing Corbin had a warrant for resisting arrest the officer requested assistance.  As the arriving officer was trying to put his vehicle in front of Corbin's truck the suspect drove away from the scene.  The second officer was almost struck by Corbin's truck.

The pursuit included several residential yards, a deep ravine and then onto US 40 at speeds of 90 miles per hour.  At one point, Corbin missed a Clay County turn at an intersection and his truck got stuck in the yard at that spot.  Corbin fled on foot but was captured after a short chase.

Corbin was charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Indiana Conservation Officer Cole Hollingsworth has been selected as the 2022 District 5 Officer of the Year.

District 5 includes Clay, Greene, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo counties. 

Hollingsworth is assigned to Greene County and has been a conservation officer since 2019. Before transferring to Greene County, he served Wayne County.

In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, Hollingsworth has served as a public information officer and airboat operator. He has also been selected as a future field training officer.

The district award puts Hollingsworth in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is given to the top overall conservation officer in the state and is selected from the 10 district award winners.

The Pitzer Award is named after Conservation Officer James D. Pitzer, who was fatally shot while investigating illegal hunting activity on Jan. 2, 1961, in Jay County.

The Humane Society of Putnam County is once again dealing with overcrowding at its facility.

The shelter is encouraging the public to help by fostering a dog or cat while they wait for their forever home.

The shelter notes benefits of fostering an animal in your home helps teach them obedience, manners, and housetraining - which increases their chances of adoption and decreases the likelihood of the animal being returned.

All expenses and supplies are provided by HSPC.

Email hspcanimals14@gmail.com for a foster application.

A truck involved in the attempted theft of an ATM machine has been located. 

The Clay City Police Department needs is asking the public's help in identifying the suspects.

The department posted these images on its Facebook page. Pictured are the suspects who tried to steal the First Farmers ATM.

Anyone with information is asked to call (812) 939-2311.

A Putnam County man who fled police in a vehicle and then barricaded himsef from authorities is facing a handful of charges.

Darrell Goff, 44, of Greencastle, has been formally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, criminal recklessness, pointing a firearm, felony neglect of a dependent and resisting law enforcement.  The Putnam County Prosecutor has also included an enhancement for being an habitual offender.

Goff is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon.

Original story on Putnam County Post

A pursuit and standoff between a Greencastle man and law enforcement included shots fired Monday night.

Indiana State Police Putnamville Trooper Kevin Fowler was patrolling in southern Putnam County just after 7 p.m.  While patrolling, he observed a vehicle with an inoperable head lamp.  According to the ISP press release, Trooper Fowler, in his fully marked police car, caught up with the vehicle and activated all his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop on US 40 near County Road 510 East, but the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.

The vehicle traveled on US 40 turning north on Zinc Mill Road.  It was at this time that the driver of the vehicle shot at the trooper’s car with a handgun.  The pursuit continued through side roads with the vehicle driving to Woods Edge subdivision in Greencastle.  The vehicle eventually stopped and a male driver then quickly exited the pursued vehicle running away from the vehicle, stating, “there is a child in the car.”  It was at this time that a child also exited the vehicle and ran towards Trooper Fowler.  The child was immediately secured and taken to a safe location. 

The male suspect then ran into a residence and barricaded himself.  A female was already located inside the residence. Negotiators from the Indiana State Police were able to make contact with the male suspect and were able to get the female released safely.  

The suspect was then identified as Darell L. Goff, 44, of Greencastle.  Just before 12 a.m. the Indiana State Police SWAT team began using non-lethal tactical techniques to gain voluntary compliance for Goff to surrender.  Goff surrendered a few moments later and was taken into custody without further incident.  Goff was then transported to the Putnam County Jail.    

The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives Ryan Winters and Don Curtis, with the assistance of Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, First Sergeant Brian Maudlin, and CSI Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville State Police Post. 

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Greencastle Police Department assisted. 

Goff faces several charges including:

• Possession of Firearm by Serious Violent Felon, Level 5 Felony
• Pointing a Firearm, Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
• Neglect of Dependent, Felony 6
• Criminal Recklessness, Felony 6

A Texas man was arrested on cocaine charges on I-70.

About 4 p.m. Thursday, an Indiana State trooper stopped a semi tractor-trailer for a motor carrier inspection on Interstate 70 in Hendricks County.  The driver was identified as Jorge Bucio, 37, of Weatherford, Texas. 

During the course of the inspection and conversation with Bucio, criminal indicators were detected which raised the suspicion that illicit activity was occurring. The Plainfield Police Department canine was called for assistance.  A positive canine alert for the odor of illegal drugs led to the search of the semi tractor-trailer.

During the search, the trooper discovered approximately 22 pounds of cocaine in the sleeper berth.  The estimated street value of the cocaine is $400,000. 

Bucio was traveling from Arizona to Ohio

.  

Bucio was taken into custody and transported to the Hendricks County Jail where he is currently being detained on dealing and possession of narcotics charges.

After three terms as clerk-treasurer for the city of Greencastle, Lynda Dunbar is not ready to quit serving the residents.

As a result of her desire to make a difference, Dunbar announced her intentions to run as a Republican for Mayor. 

"I'm prompted to run for mayor because I believe in serving my community and finding lasting solutions in maintaining infrastructure, public health and safety, quality of life, and downtown Greencastle. It has been a pleasure to work with two different mayors with two different leadership styles and I'm ready to take on and build upon their successes and to move Greencastle forward by addressing important issues in our ever changing community," Dunbar told The Putnam County Post.

Dunbar, who previously served as an auditor for the Department of Defense and owned Treasures on the Square and Completely Nuts and Candy Company, said she is thankful for the 11 years she has served Greencastle as clerk-treasurer, calling it a "true honor" to serve in that capacity. 

"I cannot think of another position in Greencastle that could have prepared me to be the next mayor of Greencastle. As clerk-treasurer, I understand every revenue stream that we have to operate the City of Greencastle and our City utilities. I know how they can be spent, how they cannot be spent, what we might do to increase revenue and what doesn't make any difference. I understand budgets and grants, the rules for doing city projects and my experience goes on. I also know the city staff and department heads because I have worked with all of them the last 11 years. When I take office the first day, I will hit the ground running," Dunbar admitted.

While Dunbar acknowledges there are many issues facing the nation, state and Putnam County, she adds Greencastle has its own share of issues it is facing. 

"Some of those issues facing the City of Greencastle are lack of housing, city code and zoning that is no longer applicable, under utilized resources and the continued lack of money to maintain current and future infrastructure. I would encourage residents to begin to follow my campaign and plans for Greencastle on my Facebook page and my soon to be released website, lyndadunbarformayor.com for my plan to address these challenges," Dunbar said.

As she prepares for the upcoming Republican primary this spring, Dunbar has a clear message for those who may vote for her or are thinking about voting for her.

"I want my voters to get excited about what Greencastle can be. I want the voter to understand how much I love Greencastle and also see the potential I see in our community. We have had a lot of success, but we need to continue making our community better and I know I am the person that can regain that momentum," Dunbar said. 

The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday, Jan. 23, as the beginning of the nation's 2023 tax season when the agency will begin accepting and processing 2022 tax year returns.

More than 168 million individual tax returns are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the April 18 tax deadline. People have three extra days to file this year due to the calendar.

With the three previous tax seasons dramatically impacted by the pandemic, the IRS has taken additional steps for 2023 to improve service for taxpayers. As part of the August passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has hired more than 5,000 new telephone assistors and added more in-person staff to help support taxpayers.

“This filing season is the first to benefit the IRS and our nation’s tax system from multi-year funding in the Inflation Reduction Act,” said Acting IRS Commissioner Doug O’Donnell.  “With these new additional resources, taxpayers and tax professionals will see improvements in many areas of the agency this year. We’ve trained thousands of new employees to answer phones and help people. While much work remains after several difficult years, we expect people to experience improvements this tax season. That’s just the start as we work to add new long-term transformation efforts that will make things even smoother in future years. We are very excited to begin to deliver what taxpayers want and our employees know we could do with this funding.”

These steps took place as the IRS worked for months to prepare for the 2023 tax season. The Jan. 23 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to perform annual updates and readiness work that are critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. This is the date IRS systems officially begin accepting tax returns. Many software providers and tax professionals are already accepting tax returns; they will transmit those returns to the IRS when the agency begins accepting tax returns on Jan. 23.

The IRS urges people to have all the information they need before they file a tax return. Filing a complete and accurate tax return can avoid extensive processing and refund delays as well as avoid the possibility of needing to file an amended tax return.

In addition, the IRS encourages people to carefully review their tax situation to make sure they don’t overlook important tax credits they may be eligible for, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The IRS has set a special day on Jan. 27 to encourage people to make sure they understand the important benefits of the EITC, a credit that can help low- and moderate-income workers and families.

The IRS has a variety of free services available to help people. The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs also offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. People can also get help from trusted tax professionals, commercially available tax software as well as IRS Free File, which provides free electronic filing of tax returns.

April 18 tax filing deadline in 2023

The filing deadline to submit 2022 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Tuesday, April 18, 2023, for most taxpayers. By law, Washington, D.C., holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in the same way as federal holidays. The due date is April 18, instead of April 15, because of the weekend and the District of Columbia’s Emancipation Day holiday, which falls on Monday, April 17.

Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, to file.

Resumes are due by Friday for anyone who would like to serve on the Cloverdale School Board from Jennings Township.

No candidate filed in the November election for the Jennings Township seat once held by Arvel Hinton.  Candidates must be residents of Jennings Township.

Candidate interviews are scheduled for January 16.  That will be followed by a special meeting to make the appointment on January 19

For more information, contact the office at 765-795-4664.

Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) re-introduced the VA Same-Day Scheduling Act to ensure Veterans get the timely attention and treatment they deserve when they contact the VA.

The VA Same-Day Scheduling Act improves veterans’ experiences with the VA by prioritizing customer service. This common sense legislation guarantees that any veteran who makes a phone call requesting care is able to schedule their appointment during that phone call.

“The unnecessary and costly delays our Veterans and Service members continue to encounter when trying to schedule medical appointments with the VA is plainly unacceptable,” said Congressman Baird. “As a fellow veteran, I am no stranger to these roadblocks, which is why I am committed to pushing for noticeable improvements within the VA to ensure the care our veterans and service members receive is more reflective of our nation’s gratitude for their service and sacrifice.”

The VA Same-Day Scheduling Act is narrow in scope to guarantee priority for an established patient of the VA. This bill is also specific to care administered by the VA to avoid issues carrying out this task related to the community care system. The VA Same-Day Scheduling Act removes any ambiguity in scheduling VA-provided care over the telephone and provides the Department considerable flexibility by making the bill applicable 120 days after enactment, allowing ample time for appropriate adoption of this law.

As a 17-year resident of Greencastle and member of the Greencastle City Council since 2019, Veronica Pejril has announced her intentions to run again for her city council seat. 

The Democrat has filed for the May primary and is looking forward to continue serving as a champion for Greencastle's youth, as well as all residents. 

"In the past three years, I have had the opportunity to listen to the people of Greencastle: teachers, public safety officers, shop floor union laborers, retail workers and more. They are the heart of what makes our city so vibrant and it is their voices I try to represent in City Hall when working on city policy. I hope that my track record of fiscal responsibility and thoughtful community engagement have earned the trust of my 3rd Ward neighbors to serve a second term.

"Together, we've accomplished so much, all while navigating an historic pandemic, but there is still much to do. We must do more to support quality of life, especially for our underserved residents," Pejril told The Putnam County Post. 

Perjil got involved in politics after her twin sons graduated from Purdue University in 2017.

"Once they were out and on their own, I looked for ways to better give back in service to the community that has done so much to support me," Perjil said.

During her tenure on council, Perjil said there are quite a few accomplishments she is proud of, including pushing to double the city's 2023 street repair budget while keeping the budget balanced and with strong cash reserves. 

"I also supported new salary ordinances that gave pay raises for our police officer, firefighters, and municipal employees to promote morale and retention with competitive pay. Working the Human Relations board, we are aggressively working to address accessibility concerns from our disabled and elderly residents, especially in the central business district," she said. 

And, she is hopeful voters will give her another chance to continue helping the residents of Greencastle, while working on more projects aimed at improving quality of life. 

"In addition to improving our city streets through more proactive maintenance, some things I hope to focus on in a second term include expanding housing inventory, especially at entry-level, attracting new industries and improving transparency in city communications. Some of this work is already underway, and I think we can do more with diversifying the tax base to ensure it all comes to fruition without impacting residents' taxes. My vision is to inspire everyone in our community to come together around our common values to make Greencastle a more vibrant, more welcoming place for all," Purjil admitted. 

Purjil is active with 100 Women Who Care of Putnam County, the county Housing Stability Committee and the Greencastle NAACP Unit 3051. She also plays jazz/blues piano with her church community and in Putnam County's music scene. She serves on the Board of Directors for Main Street Greencastle, on the Executive Board of Indiana Youth Group and on the Board of Trustees of Princeton University's LGBTQ+ Alumni Association. At DePauw, she leads the University's instructional technology team and is Assistant Professor of Music. 

Want a chance to see the Indiana Pacers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers next month?

Then, you are in luck, especially if you are a Putnam County school-aged kid. 

The Putnam County Health Department has purchased five pairs of tickets to the Feb. 5 game for their "Shot for Hoops" campaign. 

In order to be eligible to win, students have to come into the health department and get the HPV vaccine during the month of January. 

"We just wanted to go with a theme that school-aged kids could relate to. That is why we purchased the tickets from the Pacers and promoted it as a "Shot for Hoops" program. We purchased five pairs of tickets -- one for a winner from each school corporation and then a second pair that will go to a second winner from the school corporation with the highest participation rate. The tickets are section 18 rows 2 and 3," said Joni Young, administrator for the Putnam County Health Department. 

The HPV Vaccine is a cancer prevention as there are more than 40 types of Human Papilloma Virus that can affect the genital areas, mouth and throat of both males and females. 

There are about 79 million Americans infected with the virus and approximately 14 million become newly infected each year, according to the CDC. 

HPV is spread through sexual activity, but one does not have to engage in sexual intercourse to get the virus, as it can spread through skin to skin contact during sexual activity, and there is no cure. 

The Putnam County Health Department urges students to get vaccinated early and prior to becoming sexually active so the body can develop a full immune response to HPV. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers with perennial forage crops of an option to report their acreage once, without having to report that acreage in subsequent years, as long as there are no applicable changes on the farm. Interested producers can select the continuous certification option after USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) certifies their acreage report.?

“FSA’s continuous certification option simplifies future acreage reporting of perennial crops, and it can also help streamline the application process for many of our farm programs, including disaster assistance programs,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “For example, when persistent drought conditions over the past year affected livestock producers in the West and Great Plains, producers who had previously filed a continuous acreage report were able to benefit from a streamlined application process for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program.”?

?

An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses, including perennial crops like mixed forage, birdsfoot trefoil, chicory/radicchio, kochia (prostrata), lespedeza, perennial peanuts and perennial grass varieties. To access many USDA programs, producers must file an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planting acreage.?

The perennial crop continuous certification process requires a producer to initially complete an acreage report certifying the perennial crop acreage. The producer may select the continuous certification option any time after the crop is certified. ?Once the continuous certification option is selected, the certified acreage will roll forward annually and does not require additional action on the producer’s part in subsequent years unless the acreage report changes.?

Once an producer selects continuous certification, then continuous certification is appliable to all fields on the farm for the specific crop, crop type and intended use. If continuous certification is selected by any producers sharing in the crop, then the continuous certification is appliable to fields in which the producer has a share for the specific crop, crop type and intended use. ?

 “Currently less than half of the 336.5 million acres of perennial forage is being reported using the continuous certification process,” Ducheneaux said. “Producers can help streamline the reporting process by selecting continuous certification after filing their crop acreage report.”

Producers can opt out of continuous certification at any time. The continuous certification will terminate automatically if a change in the farming operation occurs.?

How to File a Report??

To file a crop acreage report, producers need to provide:??

Crop and crop type or variety.??

Intended use of the crop.??

Number of acres of the crop.??

Map with approximate boundaries for the crop.??

Planting date(s).??

Planting pattern, when applicable.??

Producer shares.??

Irrigation practice(s).??

Acreage prevented from planting, when applicable.???

Other information as required.??

More Information?

Producers can contact their local FSA office to see if their crops are eligible for continuous certification or to make an appointment. Producers can make an appointment to report acres by contacting their local USDA Service Center. ??

A recall has been reissued for a Fischer Price product.

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission the recall is for the company's Rock 'n Play Sleepers.

In April 2019, over 30 deaths were reported in the sleeper after infant rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained.

But, since the recall, another 70 deaths have been reported.

Anyone who has the sleeper is supposed to stop using it and contact Fischer Price for a refund.

It's illegal to sell or distribute the sleeper.

An Indiana State Trooper was working near I-69 and SR 445 during a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Awareness (HIDTA) campaign when a vehicle stop resulted in an arrest and discovery of methamphetamine. 

Cody Kay Etherton, 39, of Nineveh, was found to have two active warrants. One warrant was out of Johnson County and one was out of Owen County.

During the stop, the trooper found Etherton to be in possession of marijuana and approximately 6.7 grams of methamphetamine. 

Etherton was arrested and transported to the Greene County Jail on charges of:

Dealing Methamphetamine, a Level 3 Felony

Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 5 Felony

Possession of Marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor

The American Farm Bureau Federation and John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding that ensures farmers’ and ranchers’ right to repair their own farm equipment.

The MOU, signed at the 2023 AFBF Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the culmination of several years of discussions between AFBF and John Deere.

“AFBF is pleased to announce this agreement with John Deere. It addresses a long-running issue for farmers and ranchers when it comes to accessing tools, information and resources, while protecting John Deere’s intellectual property rights and ensuring equipment safety,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “A piece of equipment is a major investment. Farmers must have the freedom to choose where equipment is repaired, or to repair it themselves, to help control costs. The MOU commits John Deere to ensuring farmers and independent repair facilities have access to many of the tools and software needed to grow the food, fuel and fiber America’s families rely on.”

David Gilmore, John Deere Senior Vice President, Ag & Turf Sales & Marketing said, “This agreement reaffirms the longstanding commitment Deere has made to ensure our customers have the diagnostic tools and information they need to make many repairs to their machines. We look forward to working alongside the American Farm Bureau and our customers in the months and years ahead to ensure farmers continue to have the tools and resources to diagnose, maintain and repair their equipment.”

The MOU sets parameters and creates a mechanism to address farmers’ concerns. John Deere commits to engaging with farmers and dealers to resolve issues when they arise and agrees to meet with AFBF at least twice per year to evaluate progress.

The agreement formalizes farmers’ access to diagnostic and repair codes, as well as manuals (operator, parts, service) and product guides. It also ensures farmers will be able to purchase diagnostic tools directly from John Deere and receive assistance from the manufacturer when ordering parts and products.

The MOU has the potential to serve as a model for other manufacturers and AFBF has already begun those discussions.

Read the MOU here. 

The 2022 Owen County Fair Queen is now a member of the Indiana State Fair court.

Bre Davis, a 2022 graduate of Owen Valley, was chosen as 2nd Runner-up at the state fair pageant.

Davis is the daughter of Nikki Bradley and Delano Porter and a student at the University of Southern Indiana.

While in high school Davis was involved in Student Council, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Owen County Junior Leaders, Fantastics 4-Hers 4-H Club, Indiana 4-H Ambassador Program, volleyball, tennis and advanced show choir.

Claire Bishop, of Hancock County, was chosen Miss Indiana State Fair 2023.

A pursuit and standoff between a Greencastle man and law enforcement included shots fired Monday night.

Indiana State Police Putnamville Trooper Kevin Fowler was patrolling in southern Putnam County just after 7 p.m.  While patrolling, he observed a vehicle with an inoperable head lamp.  According to the ISP press release, Trooper Fowler, in his fully marked police car, caught up with the vehicle and activated all his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop on US 40 near County Road 510 East, but the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.

The vehicle traveled on US 40 turning north on Zinc Mill Road.  It was at this time that the driver of the vehicle shot at the trooper’s car with a handgun.  The pursuit continued through side roads with the vehicle driving to Woods Edge subdivision in Greencastle.  The vehicle eventually stopped and a male driver then quickly exited the pursued vehicle running away from the vehicle, stating, “there is a child in the car.”  It was at this time that a child also exited the vehicle and ran towards Trooper Fowler.  The child was immediately secured and taken to a safe location. 

The male suspect then ran into a residence and barricaded himself.  A female was already located inside the residence. Negotiators from the Indiana State Police were able to make contact with the male suspect and were able to get the female released safely.  

The suspect was then identified as Darell L. Goff, 44, of Greencastle.  Just before 12 a.m. the Indiana State Police SWAT team began using non-lethal tactical techniques to gain voluntary compliance for Goff to surrender.  Goff surrendered a few moments later and was taken into custody without further incident.  Goff was then transported to the Putnam County Jail.    

The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police detectives Ryan Winters and Don Curtis, with the assistance of Lieutenant Jeff Hearon, First Sergeant Brian Maudlin, and CSI Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville State Police Post. 

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Greencastle Police Department assisted. 

Goff faces several charges including:

• Possession of Firearm by Serious Violent Felon, Level 5 Felony
• Pointing a Firearm, Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
• Neglect of Dependent, Felony 6
• Criminal Recklessness, Felony 6

Sate troopers could see a significant increase in starting pay under a proposal from Governor Holcomb.

The governor unveiled his proposed budget last week before this week's start of the legislative session. It included raising starting pay of Indiana State troopers from $53, 000 to $70, 000.

ISP hopes that could help the shortage of troopers and bring in more candidates.

In 1994, starting pay for troopers was $25, 000.

The Hendricks County Sheriff's Office has released the names of individuals located dead on the scene of the homicide/suicide  in the 10200 block of Co Rd 100S. 

The deceased have been identified as Dianne Cook, 65, and Barri Cook, 61, both of Avon.  The Cooks had been legally divorced since 2019; however, they were known to continue living together within the same residence.  

The preliminary investigation indicates that there was some type of altercation in the home, and Dianne Cook was apparently shot multiple times by Barri Cook.  Barri Cook subsequently died from what appears to be a sel- inflicted gunshot wound.  

Hendricks County detectives along with the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office are continuing to investigate this incident.  

Hendricks County authorities are also asking for assistance from the community in identifying family members or legal next of kin for Barri Cook.  If you have any information that might help identify Barri Cook’s family or legal next of kin, you are asked to please contact the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office at (317) 718-2910.  

UPDATE:

The individuals located dead on the scene of the homicide/suicide yesterday in the 10200 block of Co Rd 100S  have been identified as Dianne Cook, 65 years of age, and Barri Cook, 61 years of age, both of Avon.  The Cooks’ had been legally divorced since 2019; however, they were known to continue living together within the same residence.  

The preliminary investigation indicates that there was some type of altercation in the home, and Dianne Cook was apparently shot multiple times by Barri Cook.  Barri Cook subsequently died from what appears to be a self inflicted gunshot wound.  

Hendricks County Detectives along with the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office are continuing to investigate this incident.  Hendricks County Authorities are also asking for assistance from the community in identifying family members or legal next of kin for Barri Cook.  If you have any information that might help identify Barri Cook’s family or legal next of kin, you are asked to please contact the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office at (317) 718-2910.

Original Release:

The Hendricks County Sheriff's Department and coroner are handling a death investigation.

Just after 9 a.m. Saturday, deputies responded to the report of a welfare check in the 10200 block of Co Rd 100S.  It was reported to deputies, by a family member, that they were unable to reach a loved one at the residence and that the person had not reported to work in several days.  A family member made entry into the residence with the assistance of Hendricks County deputies and located two people deceased.

Deputies secured the scene and contacted investigators to respond.  As is routine procedure in these types of cases, a search warrant was obtained to further the investigation.  At this time the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office can confirm that there are two people deceased in the home, a man and a woman.  Both are believed to be residents of the home in which they were located. 

Indiana Congressman Jim Baird continues to show his frustration as wrangling continues in Washington on the selection of a Speaker of the House.

On Wednesday, The House adjourned for a third day without electing a new speaker as Kevin McCarthy again failed to gain the 218 votes required.

It's now the longest speaker contest in 164 years.

Congressman Baird (IN-04) issued the following statement after the House failed to elect Leader McCarthy as Speaker of the House: 

“As the Representative-Elect to Indiana’s 4^th Congressional District, I am beholden to the Constitution and my constituents,” said Congressman Baird. “Every day that passes where we fail to elect a Speaker is a day my colleagues and I cannot assist my fellow Veterans with VA claims, help seniors get their social security, or fulfill any of our commitments to the American people. It’s time to put our country and fellow citizens first, and I’m calling on my colleagues to end this nonsense by uniting to elect a Speaker so that we can get back to serving the American people.” 

A Clay City man has been charged for chasing and firing a gun at a FedEx delivery driver.

Joe Tiefel was charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony. According to court documents on December 12, Tiefel approached an independent contractor for FedEx.  As the driver tried to get away, Tiefel pursued and fired several gunshots.  The delivery van was struck ast least three times.

Concern over the unmarked suspicious vehicle sparked the incident.

Tiefel is scheduled for an initial hearing in Clay County Circuit Court on Monday, Jan. 23.

Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana collected $12,233,320 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2022. 

Much of it involved American Senior Communities with locations in Greencastle and across Indiana.

Additionally, the Southern District of Indiana worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $216,807 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $60,816 was collected in criminal actions and $155,991 was collected in civil actions.   

“The efforts and leadership of our Civil Division and Asset Recovery Unit have resulted in the recovery of millions of dollars that will assist victims of fraud and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “We are proud to have coordinated with so many local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to protect victims and hold criminals accountable.”

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, working with partner agencies and components, collected $1,964,136 in asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2021. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

For example, in August, the Southern District of Indiana recovered Nearly $6 million as part of the government’s settlement with American Senior Communities, L.L.C. (ASC). In 2017, a former employee of a hospice services company doing business with ASC filed a “whistleblower” lawsuit under the civil False Claims Act. The complaint alleged that ASC had engaged in conduct to defraud the Medicare program. Specifically, the complaint alleged that ASC was charging Medicare directly for various therapy services, which were being provided to beneficiaries who had been placed on hospice, when those services should have been covered by the beneficiaries’ Medicare hospice coverage. Based on the investigation, the estimated loss to the Medicare program was $2,795,522.33 and ASC agreed to pay $5,591,044.66 to the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shelese Woods and Justin Olson handled the case for the United States

American Senior Communities has locations across the state including Greencastle, Crawfordsville, Mooresville, Danville

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education Office of Kindergarten Readiness, has been awarded a $42 million federal grant. 

These dollars will be used over three years to implement programmatic changes that will improve Indiana’s capacity to recruit early educators, increase access to early learning opportunities for students in unserved areas and ultimately, support families as they make important decisions regarding their child’s education.

"These funds come at a key time as Indiana has built the foundation for innovation through the collaborative partnership of FSSA, IDOE and the Early Learning Advisory Committee. Together we are uniquely prepared to best serve children and families across the state," said Maureen Weber, chairwoman of the Early Learning Advisory Committee. 

The three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will award $14 million annually to FSSA, which partnered with the Indiana Department of Education on the grant application.

Combined with FSSA’s $4.2 million annual investment as matching funds required by the grant, $54.6 million will be leveraged in total to accelerate and build Indiana’s capacity to implement long-lasting change, including:

• Building upon stakeholders’ understanding of the needs, gaps and inequities in Indiana’s birth-through-age-5 mixed delivery system, especially as they relate to underserved populations
• Refreshing Indiana’s birth-through-age-5 strategic plan to reflect the current environment and the existing opportunities to drive system-level change
• Amplifying the voices of families in decision-making and introducing new services and educational supports that empower them as their child’s first and most important teacher
• Introducing new workforce recruitment and career pathways, building the operational capacity of early childhood care and education providers and enhancing workforce conditions and compensation
• Strengthening instructional practices, quality measures and birth-to-age 8 coordination efforts
• Investing in the expansion of high-quality programs in underserved geographies

The funding will build upon key work already underway to improve the early learning infrastructure in Indiana. New state legislation championed by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb restructured and expanded Indiana’s Early Learning Advisory Committee, and Gov. Holcomb also launched a new Office of Kindergarten Readiness within IDOE to work in partnership with OECOSL to ensure the early learning experiences children receive are effectively readying them for school. In September 2022, new early learning policy goals were established by ELAC to ensure Hoosier children, especially those most underserved, have access to early learning opportunities that prepare them with the skills required to thrive in kindergarten.

The numbers are out and for the Greencastle Fire Department, 2022 was a "record" setting year, according to local officials. 

For 2022, the department finished with a total of 1,506 calls for service and completed 2,982 hours of training last year. 

Of the calls, 63 were for fires, 712 were rescue and EMS related incidents, 90 were for hazardous conditions, 149 were service calls, 170 were good intent calls, 306 were false alarm or false call responses and 15 were for severe weather. 

Rob Frank, assistant fire chief, told The Putnam County Post that it was the second busiest year with 2019 with 1,498 calls for service. 

He noted the department dropped around 200 runs per year in 2020-21.

"In 2020 when Covid hit, our number of EMS calls went down due to us initially taking less Covid related EMS responses. We were not sure how things were going to turn out. We only have 15 firefighters and we needed to keep them healthy in order to respond to non-EMS runs. When Covid hit the fire house, we had to shuffle firefighters around in order to stay operational," Frank said. 

He added that during Covid, the department did not take as many alarm calls either, due to DePauw having limited students on campus and a lot of businesses and factories being closed or limited with employees. 

"In 2022 we were just catching back up to where we left off in 2019. We are pretty steady on most response categories with an uptick in the number of fires and alarms from last year. I think we will see around 1,500 calls if not an increase in calls for this year," Frank said. 

Frank said the Covid-19 pandemic took quite a toll on not only his fire department, but fire departments and EMS operations all over. 

"If you remember when everyone was staying home to "flatten the curve," our firefighters, along with EMS and police had to keep working. Everyone was doing what they could to keep crews healthy in order to keep running. The pandemic took a toll on EMS and fire departments who were trying to keep up with responses and keeping their crews healthy enough to keep operating. Getting proper PPE for our crews and then having to wear that PPE on runs was another challenge. There was definitely a learning curve and something we weren't prepared for. I feel like the county and all emergency services pulled together and made the best of a bad situation. We came out on the other side better from the learning experience that we had," Frank said. 

Through four days, the department had responded to 13 calls this year, with the majority being EMS responses, according to Frank.

The filing period for municipal elections in Indiana opens Wednesday.

Potential candidates for political offices have until 12 p.m. on February 3 to file to run under a major political party for the spring primary. 

The primary is May 2.

The mayor’s position in Greencastle, held currently by two-term Mayor Bill Dory, is up for re-election.  Also, Greencastle clerk-treasurer and all of the city’s council seats are up for this election.

A local congressman has expressed his disfavor with the current state of the Republican party in Washington.

The House adjourned Tuesday and will resume Wednesday with more deadlock anticipated in the selection of a Speaker. It's the first time that the process went to multiple ballots since 1923. California lawmaker Kevin McCarthy became the first candidate to fall short in a first ballot for speaker in a century

Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) released the following statement:

“For two years, the American people have suffered under Democrats’ one-party rule in Washington and have felt the lasting impact their inflation-driving policies have had on their wallets,” said Congressman Jim Baird.  “Every moment we waste not electing Leader McCarthy as the Speaker of the House is time we’re taking away from fulfilling our commitment to Americans to ease the financial strain of surging inflation rates, securing our communities and southern border, unleashing American energy, and holding the Biden administration accountable.”

Following a two-month decline and a year of weak sentiment, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer closed out the year on a more positive note, rallying 24 points in December to a reading of 126.

U.S. farmers were more optimistic about both their current situation and expectations for the future. The Current Conditions Index jumped 37 points to a reading of 135, while the Future Expectations Index increased 18 points to a reading of 122. The Ag Economy Barometer is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted Dec. 5-9.

“The improvement in current sentiment was motivated by producers’ stronger perception of current financial conditions on their farms and could be attributed to producers taking time to estimate their farms’ 2022 income following the completion of the fall harvest,” said James Mintert, the barometer’s principal investigator and director of Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture.

The Farm Financial Performance Index climbed 18 points to a reading of 109 in December. Notably, this was the only time in 2022 that the index was above 100. The turnaround was driven by a sharp increase in the percentage of producers who expect better performance than last year, which jumped from 23% to 35% of respondents, and is consistent with USDA’s forecast for strong net farm income in 2022.

The Farm Capital Investment Index climbed 9 points this month to 40, the highest reading for the index since February; yet, it remains 9 points lower than a year earlier. Among the nearly three-quarters of respondents who said it was a bad time for large investments, the most commonly cited reason was high prices for farm machinery and new construction (41%), followed by rising interest rates (28%).

Despite the improvement in farmers’ perceptions of their financial situations, both the short- and long-term farmland value indices continued to drift lower in December. The short-term index fell 5 points to 124, while the long-term index declined 4 points to 140. When examined over the course of the last year, it’s clear that sentiment among producers about farmland values has shifted. For example, compared to a year ago, the percentage of respondents who expect to see farmland values decline in the upcoming year increased from 6% to 15%, while the percentage expecting to see values rise declined from 59% to 39%. Among producers who expect farmland values to rise over the next 5 years, just over three-fourths of them said that a combination of nonfarm investor demand and inflation are the main reasons they expect to see values rise.

Looking to the year ahead, the December survey asked producers to compare their expectations for their farm’s financial performance in 2023 to 2022. Producers indicated they expect lower financial performance in 2023 and cited rising costs and narrowing margins as key reasons. Concerns about costs continue to be top of mind for producers. Nearly half (47%) of crop producers said they expect farmland cash rental rates in 2023 to rise above the previous year. Other top concerns for 2023 include higher input costs (45% of respondents), rising interest rates (22% of respondents) and lower crop or livestock prices (13% of respondents).

Read the full Ag Economy Barometer report. The site also offers additional resources – such as past reports, charts and survey methodology – and a form to sign up for monthly barometer email updates and webinars.

Each month, the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture provides a short video analysis of the barometer results. For even more information, check out the Purdue Commercial AgCast podcast. It includes a detailed breakdown of each month’s barometer, in addition to a discussion of recent agricultural news that affects farmers.

Attorney General Todd Rokita announced a $20 million settlement with Google to resolve Indiana’s lawsuit against Google for deceptive location tracking practices.

The attorney general filed a separate, independent lawsuit when negotiations between the company and a coalition of state attorneys general stalled. As a result, Indiana received approximately twice as much money as it would have received as part of the settlement that was later reached with the 40 states that did not file lawsuits against Google. 

“This settlement is another manifestation of our steadfast commitment to protect Hoosiers from Big Tech’s intrusive schemes,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We will continue holding these companies accountable for their improper manipulation of consumers.”

Google’s deceptive practices became widely known following a 2018 story by the Associated Press. After that story, multiple states began investigating Google’s location tracking practices. 

As detailed in Indiana’s lawsuit, Google uses location data collected from Indiana consumers to build detailed user profiles and target ads, but Google has deceived and misled users about its practices since at least 2014.

Attorney General Rokita pursued litigation against Google because even a limited amount of location data can expose a person’s identity and routines. Such data can be used to infer personal details such as political or religious affiliation, income, health status or participation in support groups — as well as major life events such as marriage and the birth of children.