The wait is almost over for vendors and residents, as the Greencastle Farmers' Market is set to return to the downtown square on May 20. 

Festivities will run every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon, and there is something for everyone, according to local organizers. 

"We expect at least 40 vendors, we will have live music every weekend and we're celebrating the city's bicentennial this year by providing market tote bags," said Madison Hanna, executive director of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. 

Hanna said the Greencastle Farmers' Market allows people to come together to share their passion for local food and culture. 

"The live music adds to the festive atmosphere and provides a soundtrack for a fun and enjoyable Saturday morning out on the town. It's more than just a place to buy fresh produce and handmade goods. It's a celebration of our community and everything that makes it unique. With vendors from all over Putnam County, there truly is something for everyone at the market. From farm fresh fruits and vegetables to artisanal crafts and one-of-a-kind gifts, you're sure to find something that catches your eye," Hanna said. 

Hanna said what really sets the farmers' market events apart is the sense of community it fosters. 

"As you stroll through the stalls and listen to the live music, you can't help but feel a sense of connection with your fellow shoppers. It's a place where people come together to share their love of local food and culture, and to support the hardworking farmers and artisans who make it all possible. So why not come down to the square and see for yourself what makes the Greencastle Farmers' Market so special? We guarantee you'll leave with a smile on your face and a renewed appreciation for everything our community has to offer," Hanna said. 

A traffic stop Friday by the Rockville Police Department and the Parke County Sheriff's Department turned into a chase and, ultimately, the arrest of a Rockville man on several charges.

Officers stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 41, north of Sassafras Dr. and observed Drew Burger, 33, Rockville, in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Burger was wanted on a Parole Violation warrant in Indiana. 

According to officers, Burger refused to comply with commands and forced the keys of the vehicle from the driver, stealing the vehicle and fleeing from police. 

Burger would lead police on a chase on U.S. Highway 41, hitting 100 mph during the chase, which extended through Marshall, Indiana. 

During the chase, Burger threw methamphetamine from the vehicle, before crashing the stolen vehicle. After wrecking, Burger was taken into custody. 

Officers were able to recover about 43 grams of meth, as well as items related to the illegal distribution of drugs and drug paraphernalia. 

The suspected meth also tested positive for fentanyl. 

Burger was arrested and booked in the Parke County Jail on multiple felony charges, as well as the parole warrant. He is being held without bond.

Already having been successful in the automotive business, Putnam County resident Joey Jones recently embarked on a new endeavor of servicing the glass needs for residents. 

Jones, who owns Rockstar Window Tinting, said Auto Glass Plus, 3197 U.S. 231, Greencastle, helped him with a challenge he was facing just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"I was faced with a challenge of growing. I came up with two options -- move the shop to a more highly populated city or add a service that would be a big addition. I really didn't want to leave my hometown and start over, so we researched industries that would be an easy transition and addition. At one of my previous jobs, I was able to learn glass replacement, and I enjoyed it years ago. It was kind of a mix between accessory type work and collision repair. We set forth to make it a reality," Jones told The Putnam County Post. 

Jones admits he has spent the last few years learning the industry and the future of auto glass replacement and has learned that technology is always changing, as well as the fact that glass is a vital part in the safety of a vehicle. 

"It does a lot more than keep the wind out of your face. It keeps you and your occupants safe. A properly installed windshield is designed to work with your structure in case of a roll over, as well as your airbags in case of an impact. We strive to provide the absolute safest installations possible," Jones said. 

Auto Glass Plus handles all the automotive glass repair and replacement needs a person could need, according to Jones. 

"Whether it is a simple, but important windshield rock chip repair ro full replacement, we can do it. We also have the ability to calibrate all of the safety features built into the windshields of many new vehicles. We are the first independently owned glass company to bring that to the West Central Indiana area," Jones said. 

Auto Glass Plus is open Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

For more information, call 765-655-0114.  

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces restrictions on U.S. 40 starting on or after Wednesday, May 10 for bridge work near Stilesville.

U.S. 40 will be restricted between State Road 75 and S.R. 240 through late May, weather permitting. 

This contract was awarded to Pacific Painting Co., Inc. It involves a total of five bridges: Two bridges on U.S. 40 in Putnam County, two bridges on U.S. 36 in Parke County and one bridge on S.R. 59 in Parke County.

The entire contract is expected to be completed in July of 2023.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is reopening I-65 through the North Split interchange this weekend.

Crews will work in stages, first on northbound lanes. After northbound lanes are open, crews will work to reopen southbound lanes.  

All I-65 NB and SB lanes are expected to be open by Monday, weather permitting. Crews will begin with reopening I-65 NB, followed by I-65 SB. After both northbound and southbound lanes are reopened, the detour on I-465 will be lifted. 

Click here to view timelapse footage of the North Split project progressing. 

During the opening process, drivers can expect multiple short-term lane restrictions as crews install pavement markings and move barrels to open the lanes.   

With the new movements, motorists will be able to travel along I-65 through the North Split interchange from both directions.  

As a reminder, under the permanent North Split interchange configuration, there will no longer be access to I-65 SB via the Delaware/11th Street ramp and access to the Meridian/Pennsylvania Street exit will only be available through I-65 NB.  

Access to downtown Indianapolis will be maintained via:  

• I-70 WB collector/distributor (C/D) exit ramp to Michigan Street  
• I-65 NB/ I-70 EB exit ramp to Washington Street  
• I-70 WB to Martin Luther King, Jr./West Street  
• I-65 SB to Meridian Street  
• I-65 SB to West Street 
• All existing ramps on I-70 west of the South Split 

The I-65 SB to C/D movement, Ohio Street exit ramp, and Meridian/Pennsylvania exit ramp remain under construction. All ramps and movements are expected to be open by the end of May. 

As we continue through spring and enter summer and fall of 2023, crews will work on local street paving and aesthetic design updates, including planting.  

The North Split Reconstruction Project provides safer, more free-flowing travel for the thousands of motorists who use the interchange each day. The new system features a smaller footprint and increases the walkability of surrounding downtown Indianapolis neighborhoods. The redesigned interchange improves safety by eliminating weaving and merging, leading to better traffic flow.

A bill authored by State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg), Senate Enrolled Act 242, which would repeal a provision requiring a local floodplain administrator to use state floodplain mapping data unless at a landowner's request, passed the General Assembly.

"Restricting what floodplain mapping data local governments use is a property rights issue, as it greatly impacts property value and whether residents can build on their own land," Leising said. "This bill simply provides flexibility for local floodplain administrators to make better-informed decisions on whether someone can develop their property without harming the environment."

Leising authored SEA 242 after hearing testimony from many constituents across the state and experts from organizations including the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Farm Bureau, Slonaker Farm Management, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Indiana Department of Environmental Management during multiple Drainage Task Force meetings last year.

The Drainage Task Force was created by Senate Enrolled Act 85, also authored by Leising, during the 2022 legislative session. The task force reviews drainage laws and makes determinations and recommendations concerning drainage and regulatory matters.

"The Drainage Task Force meetings revealed mounting frustration from residents across the state struggling to develop or sell their homes because the area is designated in a state floodplain, despite not being in a federal floodplain," Leising said. "Now landowners can choose whether they want a floodplain administrator to use state floodplain mapping or an engineering study when making permit determinations."

SEA 242 will now move to the governor's desk for further consideration. To learn more about the bill, visit iga.in.gov.

The Putnam County Community Foundation is excited to announce its most recent grant recipients from the Community Foundation’s largest unrestricted fund, the Community Grants Endowment, as well as from its 44 named unrestricted funds, created by generous organizations and community members.

“The Grants Committee works hard each grant cycle to ensure that funds make it into the hands of organizations doing great work in Putnam County,” said Dean Gambill, Community Development Director. “This cycle of grants is no exception.”

The Community Foundation’s Spring 2023 grant cycle awarded over $90,000 in grants to six community partners serving Putnam County.

Grant recipients include:

• Central Indiana Land Trust: Support for Save Fern Station campaign
• DePauw University: Support for music festivals for the Putnam County community
• Gleaners Food Bank: Establish school-based food pantry at North Putnam
• Greencastle Youth Softball Association: Build turf batters' boxes and resurface fields
• Putnam County Playhouse: Complete conversion of staging lighting from incandescent to LED
• Russellville Volunteer Fire Department: Outfit remaining emergency vehicles with medical equipment

These grants were recommended by the Grants Committee, comprised of 10 members, who reside throughout the county.

“We are excited to provide funding through our Community Grants program to a variety of organizations working to make Putnam County a great place to live,” said Dakota Everts, Chair of the Grants Committee. 

The Community Foundation’s next Community Grants cycle will take place in the fall of 2023, with grant applications due by August 1, 2023. For questions about the Community Grants program, please contact Dean Gambill at 765.653.4978.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces restrictions on U.S. 231 starting on or after Monday, May 1 for a bridge replacement project near Cloverdale.

One lane will be restricted on U.S. 231, at approximately 0.33 miles north of S.R. 42, over Doe Creek. It will be down to one, 11-foot lane.

The restrictions are expected to last through early November, weather permitting.

This contract was awarded to White Construction, LLC for over $3.5 million. This project involves phased construction, with traffic being maintained by flaggers and barrels. INDOT will update the public on future restrictions. It also involves culvert work on U.S. 231 approximately 1.45 miles south of S.R. 42, also in Putnam County.

The entire contract is expected to be completed in November of 2023.

A pair of wrecks Wednesday at the intersection of U.S. 36 and U.S. 231 in Putnam County kept deputies of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department busy. 

The first wreck happened when a southbound semi turned in front of a northbound pickup, causing a head on collision. According to deputies, nobody was hurt, but both trucks lost quite a bit of fluid, making the road way slick. Officials had to close the roadway for approximately 45 minutes to clean up the fluids. 

Once the accident scene was cleared, deputies were called back to the same intersection after a truck lost a part of its load after traveling through the intersection too fast. 

As a result, a bucket carrying drywall screws was busted open, spreading thousands of screws to the roadway as other motorists drove straight through the pile of screws. 

The second accident forced the closure of the intersection again. 

Officials with the Putnam County Sheriff's Department took to Facebook with a message for motorists. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, BE CAREFUL driving through strange fluids and foreign objects on the roadways. The screws were pretty obvious, yet a lot of motorists drove right through them. I have a feeling some inpatient motorists are now going to find a surprise or two, stuck in their tires...Drive safe out there Putnam County," the message read. 

In 2021, 35% of Putnam County households were in poverty or considered ALICE, meaning they earned above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford a basic household budget.  

That’s 4,748 households – a 3% increase since 2018.  

The figures were released today by United Way of Central Indiana and Indiana United Ways, in partnership with United For ALICE, as part of a 2023 report, “ALICE in the Crosscurrents: COVID and Financial Hardship in Indiana.” This is the first data report from United Way that shows how the COVID-19 pandemic affected households financially.

The report looks at households that are in poverty or considered ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE represents a growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and technology. These workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial hardship, while keeping our local communities running.

Statewide, 39% – more than 1 million households – were in poverty or considered ALICE in 2021. That’s a 10% increase since 2018.  

The increase in the number of ALICE households can be attributed to an increased cost of living, the report shows. From 2018 to 2021 in Indiana, the average cost of living went up by 17% for a single adult household and 12% for a family of four.  

While the Federal Poverty Level is used as a national measure for determining how many people are living in poverty, the ALICE report explains that this is “drastically inadequate” because it is not based on the current cost of household necessities and isn’t adjusted to reflect cost-of-living differences for every county across the country: “With the [Federal Poverty Level] as the primary way for policymakers and local stakeholders to gauge the extent of financial hardship in their communities, a huge portion of struggling U.S. households go unrecognized.”  

The United Way report includes an ALICE Household Survival Budget, which provides a more complete picture of what families need to cover the basics in a modern economy – and helps us better understand how many people are living in or near poverty. According to the ALICE report, the average cost of living for a family of four in Indiana in 2021 was $58,428 – more than double the Federal Poverty Level figure of $26,500.

“The ALICE report is vital to helping us understand the people we serve, the struggles they face and how we can better guide our investments and develop programs, partnerships and strategies to help those in need,” said Denise Luster, United Way of Central Indiana’s chief strategic intelligence officer. “The work of United Way is more important than ever before. Every day we’re fighting to make life better for those in poverty and ALICE by helping to provide essential services and pathways to financial stability so individuals and families can thrive.”  

Data from the report shows that in Central Indiana:  

• More than 36% of Central Indiana households were in poverty or considered ALICE in 2021. That’s more than 244,400 households – over one in three Central Indiana households – and an 11% increase since 2018.
• United Way of Central Indiana’s seven-county service area – Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties – accounts for 24% of all poverty and ALICE households across the state.  
• Of the seven counties, Marion County had the highest percentage of households in poverty or ALICE at 42%.  
• 52% of Black households and 48% of Hispanic households were in poverty or considered ALICE in United Way’s seven-county service area.

Key findings from the report regarding statewide data include:  

• Households headed by single women had the highest rate of financial hardship in Indiana at 76% in 2021.  
• Of the 20 most common jobs in Indiana in 2021, 70% paid less than $20 per hour. While the report shows that wages have increased since the pandemic, they haven’t been enough to move families above the ALICE threshold.
• Black households, young households and single-parent households had the highest rates below the ALICE threshold in Indiana in 2021.  
• Only 36% of Hoosier households in poverty or considered ALICE reported having a rainy-day fund for emergencies.
• Renter households in poverty or considered ALICE were much more likely than those above the ALICE threshold to report they were not caught up on rent payments.

To read the report, go to uwci.org/who-we-serve.  

Learn more about the report at UnitedForALICE.org/Indiana. Learn more about how United Way of Central Indiana is addressing our community’s needs at uwci.org/impactunited.  

Indiana’s unemployment rate in March stands at 3.1% according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for March stands at 3.5%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate increased to 63.5% for March, remaining above the national rate of 62.6%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,416,350 – an increase of 6,653 from the previous month.

Private sector employment in Indiana increased by 3,300 jobs over the last month, translating to a gain of 70,200 jobs from this time last year. Indiana’s March private employment stands at 2,830,500. This is a new private employment peak for Indiana.

Industries that experienced job increases in March included:

• Professional and Business Services (+4,400)
• Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+800)
• Leisure and Hospitality (+700)
• Manufacturing (+400)

As of April 17, there were 130,218 open job postings throughout the state. In March, 17,039 unemployment insurance claims were filed in Indiana.

Individuals looking for work, training or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released  a proposed determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded stuffed raw chicken products when they exceed a very low level of Salmonella contamination.

This announcement is a significant first step that builds on FSIS’ proposed regulatory framework to reduce Salmonella infections linked to poultry products, released in October 2022.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Salmonella bacteria cause approximately 1.35 million human infections and 26,500 hospitalizations in the United States every year. Of those infections, over 23% are attributed to poultry consumption. Foodborne illness can have a devastating impact, both personally and financially, on people’s lives, the cost of which reverberates through the economy. Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) show the total cost for foodborne Salmonella infections in the United States is a staggering $4.1 billion annually and the cost for the loss of productivity to the economy is $88 million. These are real costs to real people that can and should be prevented.

“USDA is taking science-based, decisive action to drive down Salmonella illnesses linked to poultry products,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Today’s proposal represents the first step in a broader effort to control Salmonella contamination in all poultry products, as well as a continued commitment to protecting American consumers from foodborne illness.”

Under this proposal, FSIS would consider any breaded stuffed raw chicken products that include a chicken component that tested positive for Salmonella at 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram prior to stuffing and breading to be adulterated. FSIS is also proposing to carry out verification procedures, including sampling and testing of the chicken component of breaded stuffed raw chicken products prior to stuffing and breading, to ensure producing establishments control Salmonella in these products. If the chicken component in these products does not meet this standard, the product lot represented by the sampled component would not be permitted to be used to produce the final breaded stuffed raw chicken products. The chicken component represented by the sampled lot would need to be diverted to a use other than breaded stuffed raw chicken products.

Breaded stuffed raw chicken products are pre-browned and may appear cooked, but the chicken is raw. These products are stuffed with ingredients, such as a raw vegetable, butter, cheese or meat such as ham. The products are typically cooked by consumers from a frozen state, which increases the risk of the product not reaching the internal temperature needed to destroy Salmonella. In addition, it may be difficult for a consumer to determine an accurate internal temperature of these products because they contain multiple ingredients that may cook at different rates.

In proposing to declare Salmonella an adulterant in breaded stuffed raw chicken products, FSIS based its decision on several factors, including that since 1998, FSIS and its public health partners have investigated 14 Salmonella outbreaks and approximately 200 illnesses associated with these products. The most recent outbreak was in 2021 and resulted in illnesses across 11 states.

The labeling of these products has undergone significant changes over time to better inform consumers that they are raw and to provide instructions on how to prepare them safely. Despite these efforts to improve labeling, these products continue to be associated with Salmonella illness outbreaks. Additionally, data from outbreaks and FSIS’ consumer research show that some people may not realize these products contain raw chicken because the outside may appear browned and cooked, which leads them to believe that the product is safe to eat as is or not cook the product to a safe internal temperature.

FSIS is seeking public comments on the proposed determination and the proposed verification sampling program.

Comments on the proposed determination and verification procedures must be received within 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Comments may be submitted online via the federal eRulemaking portal, available at www.regulations.gov; by mail sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 3758, Washington, DC 20250-3700, or by hand or courier delivery to 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 350-E, Washington, DC 20250-3700. All items submitted by mail or electronic mail must include the agency name and docket number FSIS-2022-0013.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) recently honored a select group of police officers for their efforts in reducing impaired driving and making Indiana roads safer.

The officers recognized, 23 in total, are part of the state’s Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program.

DREs receive specialized training to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs. Because of their training, they are often called upon by law enforcement to assist with traffic stops with the goal of keeping impaired drivers off the road.

The DREs were recognized during the Indiana Traffic Safety Conference, celebrating the officers after the eighth annual awards ceremony that took place in March. The awards ceremony was hosted by the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

During the March event, the following awards were presented: (20) Longevity Awards, (2) DRE Performance Awards, the Officer David Moore DRE of the Year Award and the Lt. Gary Dudley DRE Instructor of the Year Award.

"It is an honor to acknowledge the crucial role that these officers play in ensuring the safety of our roads and communities," stated Devon McDonald, Executive Director of ICJI. "Their top priority is to prevent drug-impaired drivers from endangering lives on the road.”

The 2022 DRE of the Year Award, named after fallen Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Moore, was presented to Crawfordsville Police Department’s Lieutenant Matt Schroeter. Lieutenant Schroeter is a 17 year veteran of the Crawfordsville PD, and has focused large portion of his career on impaired driving.

He completed his Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) certification in 2019 and became a certified DRE in 2020. Lieutenant Schroeter was presented the DRE Performance Award for the year 2021 and became a certified DRE Instructor in 2022.

"Being a drug recognition expert is more than just a job; it is a calling," stated Jim Bryan, Traffic Safety Director at ICJI. "These experts are frequently faced with challenging situations where drivers may be under the influence of one or more illegal substances. The diligent work of each DRE to conduct thorough evaluations is essential to ensuring safety on the roads."

Runnings, a Minnesota-based retailer, has recently reached an agreement to purchase R.P. Home & Harvest, a family-owned company with 22 locations and one distribution facility across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

That includes the Home & Harvest location in Crawfordsville.

Upon completion of this acquisition, Runnings’s footprint will expand to 80 locations, serving customers in 12 states from New York to Montana.

“From the customers and the communities to the employees and vendors, we truly feel this is an excellent opportunity for everyone involved,” added Brian Odegaard, President of Runnings. “These stores and communities are very similar to the markets we presently serve and, after many discussions with R.P. Home & Harvest’s leadership, both companies knew this would be a great fit from a culture, values, and operations standpoint.”

“It’s pretty amazing how quickly this all came together,” said Jason Plummer, President of R.P. Home & Harvest. “Just a couple of months ago this wasn’t even on the radar but when a win-win opportunity appears, it is an exciting thing. Runnings has been doing this for over 75 years, and they are one of the top farm, home, and outdoor-store companies in America, extremely well-regarded by customers and competitors. We are both family-owned companies and that means a lot to us. This deal would not have come together if we did not have the utmost confidence that Runnings will do a phenomenal job for all stakeholders.”

The transaction between Runnings and R.P. Home & Harvest is scheduled to close in June. The stores will continue operating as R.P. Home & Harvest for a limited period of time as Runnings transitions the stores to their well-known brand.

“I have personally visited many of the R.P. Home & Harvest stores, and I was thoroughly impressed, especially with some of the team members I encountered,” said Odegaard. “We can’t wait to add these stores and the R.P. Home & Harvest team members to our growing company.”

“There is a long list of employees, vendors, and other hardworking people who brought these stores out of the ashes of a bad situation, literally going from empty stores to serving customers in a matter of weeks during a very tough economic time. I know the communities and customers appreciated this unbelievable effort, and this transaction with Runnings is only going to add the next great chapter to this story,” added Plummer. “My family is active in many of these markets through other business and civic activity, and I can’t wait to see Runnings take these stores to the next level.”

About Runnings:

Runnings is a privately held retailer selling an extensive selection of pet supplies, sporting goods including hunting and fishing equipment, clothing and footwear, lawn and garden supplies, housewares, tools, farm supplies, toys, and outdoor equipment. Founded in 1947 and owned by the Dennis and Adele Reed Family, the Company currently has 58 stores and employs more than 2,700 workers across eight states. For more information visit www.runnings.com.

About R.P. Home & Harvest:

R.P. Home & Harvest, founded in 2021, operates 22 farm and ranch stores and one distribution center across four states. The company is an affiliate of R.P. Lumber Co., Inc., a family-owned home center and building materials retailerbased in Edwardsville, IL that operatesover 80 locations throughout Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming, Iowa, and Wisconsin. More information can be found at www.rphomeandharvest.com.

U.S. ally South Korea will send public safety K-9 teams to train this summer at the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch, the nonprofit’s officers announced today.

“Two dozen police and fire canine handlers have asked to utilize our 62-acre training retreat, which features classroom space and comfortable lodging in addition to three lakes, open, rolling and wooded areas,” said Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse, ISYR president.

South Korean canine teams will be co-hosted by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which headquarters its statewide Search & Rescue Training Center on ISYR’s property in rural West Central Indiana. When not in use by K-12 and college students, the Youth Ranch is made available for specialized public safety training, including by fire fighters, dive teams, drone pilots and task forces, former Clark County Sheriff and current ISYR Vice

President Jamey Noel said.

“We’ve now been honored the past few years to engage more than 2,500 Indiana youth and host hundreds of public safety officials from throughout the state and across the nation,” said Cass County Sheriff Ed Schroder who serves as ISYR secretary. “To date, our farthest youth visitor was from Ukraine and farthest adult guest was from Argentina. In August, we will add South Koreans to our list of working partners and friends.”

John Jones, treasurer of the Youth Ranch and owner of Southeast Indiana’s John Jones Auto Group, said the South Korean request points to the excellent reputation and facilities IDHS and ISYR share. “As we expand indoor and outdoor training spaces and overnight accommodations, we anticipate more and more students and first responders will utilize our unique academy.”

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) announced that branches in counties holding a primary election will extend hours of operation on Monday, May 1 and Tuesday, May 2 to issue ID cards and driver’s licenses to be used for identification at a polling place.

These branches will be open Monday, May 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, May 2, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Visit the BMV website for details about Election Day, including which branches are open, transaction and processing information, and FAQs.

The Indiana BMV provides free, state-issued ID cards for voting purposes to any unlicensed Hoosier who is a U.S. citizen, who can provide proper documentation, and who will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next general or municipal election.

The following documents are required to obtain a new state ID card or driver’s license.

A complete list of documents can also be found here.

• Proof of Identity document, such as a birth certificate or passport

• Proof of Social Security document, such as a Social Security card, pay stub, or W-2

• Proof of lawful status, such as a birth certificate or passport

• Two documents that serve as proof of residency, such as a voter registration card, utility bill or bank statement, dated within the last 60 days

• If your name has been legally changed and now differs from your identity document(s) (i.e., birth certificate or passport), proof of name change must be provided to obtain a state ID or driver’s license

All branches will resume regular business hours on Wednesday, May 3.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana is commemorating National Crime Victims’ Rights Week from April 23–29.

According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2021, there were more than 4.6 million violent victimizations and 11.7 million property crimes, the latest year for which such information is available.

“Survivors’ voices must be heard. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana is committed to listening to victims and supporting them at every step of the criminal justice process and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is an opportunity for all of us involved in law enforcement to reaffirm our dedication to providing resources, connections, and support to victims of all crimes.”  

The federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”

During NCVRW 2023, the USAO SDIN will share information about victims’ rights and resources and underscore the importance of listening to survivors’ voices in every space where decisions are made that could impact them by holding a roundtable with Domestic Violence Service Providers in the district. The USAO SDIN is also honoring agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for their tireless advocacy on behalf of communities that have been affected by crime.

On October 21, 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland released revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines updated, for the first time in a decade, when and how Department of Justice employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. The guidelines apply to all department employees engaged in the investigative, prosecutorial, correctional, and parole functions within the criminal justice system.

For more information about how to support all victims of crime, visit OVC’s website at ovc.ojp.gov.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to eligible individuals due to the major disaster declared by the President on April 15.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan, and White counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornados between March 31, and April 1. 

Applications for DUA must be filed by May 22, 2023.

To be eligible for DUA benefits under Presidential Disaster Declaration FEMA-4704-DR, individuals must meet the following criteria:  

• Became unemployed, including self-employed individuals, as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President;
• Be a U.S. national or a qualified alien;
• Not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;
• Have worked or were self-employed in, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above; and
• Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.  

Individuals in the following circumstances are included in those who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster:  

• Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster;
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of the disaster;
• Became the primary earner of a household because of the death of the head of the household; or 
• Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.  

Applications for DUA must be filed by May 22, 2023. 

Applications filed after May 22, 2023 will be considered untimely, unless the individual provides good cause for filing after this date. DUA benefits eligibility will be determined on a weekly basis. 

Individuals who may be eligible for assistance must first file a regular claim for Unemployment Insurance benefits by visiting the Uplink Claimant Self-Service System at uplink.in.gov/CSS/CSSLogin.htm. If the applicants is denied regular Unemployment Insurance benefits they can then apply for DUA.

Before applying for DUA, individuals should gather these items:

• Social Security Number;
• Name and address of their last employer or scheduled employer; and
• A copy of their most recent federal income tax forms or check stubs that show earnings and employment.

After filing for UI and gathering the items above, Hoosiers who think they may be eligible for DUA benefits are encouraged to apply by completing the forms found on the DUA website:?in.gov/dwd/indiana-unemployment/individuals/dua/. After completing the forms, click the “fill out this form” link on the DUA website to apply and upload the completed forms.

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For applicants who do not have access to a computer or mobile device, Unemployment Insurance access kiosks are available at WorkOne offices in all 12 disaster-area counties. Find your local WorkOne at in.gov/dwd/files/WO_CareerCenters_Map.pdf.

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DUA information, including answers to frequently-asked questions, are available at?in.gov/dwd/indiana-unemployment/individuals/dua/ or through the Customer Support Center.?DWD’s Customer Support Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)?Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 1-800-891-6499.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter recently announced the promotion of Senior Trooper Michael Featherling to the position of sergeant.

Sergeant Featherling will serve as the District Squad Sergeant for the detectives of the Putnamville District.  His responsibilities will be to provide supervision and support to the district investigators, as well as manage all the district criminal investigations.  Sergeant Featherling earned this promotion through a competitive selection process.

Sergeant Featherling is a 11-year veteran of the Indiana State Police. He is a 2002 graduate of Sullivan High School, in Sullivan, IL, and a 2006 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, in Indianapolis, IN, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. 

In March of 2012, Sergeant Featherling graduated from the 71st Indiana State Police Recruit Academy and was assigned to the Putnamville District where he worked as a road patrol trooper assigned to Clay County.  In 2015 he was reassigned as a district detective.

During his career, Featherling has served the Indiana State Police as a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, Methamphetamine Lab Team, Field Training Officer, and as a Detective. 

Sergeant Featherling is also a Senior Airman of the Indiana Air National Guard.

Sergeant Featherling resides in Parke County with his wife Lindsey, and his two children, Cooper, and Mary-Claire. 

The Clinton Township Fire Department finds itself facing the same issue as many township volunteer stations around the state -- a lack of volunteers. 

"We just really need more members. All volunteer departments need more members," CTVD Chief Tony Camp told The Putnam County Post. 

With the hope of drawing new members, Camp is prepared to implement a new pay scale in hopes of generating new applicants. 

Camp said the system pays out every six months because that is when his department gets its contract money. 

"You will be required to have 48 hours on station, which you sign up for the days you want to be on station and the hours need to be spread out over the six months. The person must attend four trainings and two meetings within the six months and they will receive $300. Any event like a fundraiser the person participates in each month is an extra $15," Camp said. 

He admits he knows it doesn't sound like much to begin with, but says it gives the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department a starting point. 

"Plus, every year, you will get a $200 clothing allowance," Camp said. 

Prior to this plan, volunteer firefighters received $5 per run and training, according to Camp.

The fire department currently has seven firefighters, and Camp would like to see about 10-15 more join. 

"Of the seven, one is in training right now, three are EMR and Fire 1 and 2 and two are EMR and Fire 1. Fire 1 teaches you the basic skills to fire fighting and Fire 2 shows you how to use those skills in a controlled setting. All firefighters have to have that in order to do an offensive attack on a fire or they must have the 30 hour mandatory training to just do defensive attacks. There's more to the training but the focus is to give you an idea of what it is," Camp said. 

As a result of being low on staff, Camp said the demand for mutual aid with other departments increases response time, but has a message for residents. 

"Help is always on the way," Camp said. 

The Mental Health America Person of the Year Award recognizes an individual in the community who has shown outstanding dedication to improving mental health and wellness of individuals and/or families.  Whether it be through advocating, educating, or collaborating, or providing support services and prevention activities, the Person of the Year awardee should be someone who promotes community-wide mental health and wellness and improves the quality of life of Putnam County residents impacted by mental health concerns.

The Mental Health America Educator of the Year Award recognizes an educator in Putnam County who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the mental health and wellness of children, families and fellow education professionals. Nominations are welcome of any person in the education field, not limited to K-12.

Nominations can be submitted a variety of ways: US Mail to
10 ½ N. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN 46135; email Director@mhaopc.org; fax to 765-653-0048; or text to 765-246-1003. 

We’d like to receive nominations before April 25 to allow awards and arrangements to be made.

Recipients of the Person of the Year Award in recent years have been Eric Rippy, Nicholas Heck, Beth Benedix, Jacob Weeks, Jan Evans, and Alan Zerkel.  Recent past recipients of the Educator of the Year have been Joanna Muncie, Brad Hayes, Dawn Tucker, and Anita Edenfield.

On Saturday, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department will be hosting the annual Drug Take Back Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Citizens can drop off any unused, unwanted or expired medications to be disposed of in a safe manner.

The Sheriff's Office will not accept liquids, needles or sharps of any kind.

The Indiana State Police held their annual awards and recognition ceremony in Indianapolis. 

The ceremony publicly recognized the achievements and accomplishments that all too often go without proper recognition.  Officers were recognized for their dedication, service, bravery, and devotion to the department and the citizens of Indiana. 

From the Putnamville State Police Post the following officers were recognized:

Trooper Gerald Stump  – 2022 Trooper of the Year District Award

The 2022 Putnamville District Trooper of the Year is Trooper Gerald Stump. Trooper Stump’s performance and accomplishments during 2022 are worthy of such recognition and have earned him this award.  Trooper Stump is a seven-year veteran of the Indiana State Police.

Trooper Stump was overwhelmingly nominated for this award by his peers and the Putnamville District Command Team. During 2022, Trooper Stump concentrated his traffic and criminal enforcement efforts on DUI, drug enforcement, and associated crimes.  Trooper Stump made eight DUI arrests and 222 criminal arrests, most of which were drug and/or alcohol related. Trooper  Stump, who is currently assigned to the Vigo County ISP squad, regularly assists the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department and the Terre Haute City Police Department with calls of service. Trooper Stump is also a field training officer for the district and is a graduate of the 78th ISP Recruit School. 

Lieutenant Dave Cox commented, “Trooper Stump sets the example of what a trooper is and he treats people with genuine respect.  He is a mature and conscientious trooper who has earned the respect of his peers, supervisors, and the citizens he serves. His overall dedication to the agency and its mission, his initiative, and his modesty are his outstanding attributes.  Trooper Stump is a well-rounded law enforcement professional who will undertake any task”. 

Stump resides in Vigo County with his wife Kaysee, and daughter Kenadee.

Trooper Austin Robertson - 2022 Top DUI Trooper 

Trooper Austin Robertson was recognized for his DUI enforcement efforts.  Trooper Robertson removed 39 impaired drivers off Indiana roadways in 2022.  Trooper Robertson’s outstanding performance in this significant enforcement activity exemplifies the professionalism and integrity expected of an Indiana State Trooper.  Trooper Robertson’s actions bring great credit upon himself and the Indiana State Police, making the roadways safer for the citizens of Indiana.  Trooper Robertson is a  three-year veteran of the Indiana State Police and a graduate of the 80th ISP Recruit School.  

Robertson resides in Sullivan County.

A group of creative students at DePauw University are thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Art Walk, an interdisciplinary arts festival, taking place from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30 on the DePauw campus.

This dynamic weekend-long event will showcase the creativity and talent of DePauw students and offer a variety of engaging activities for the entire community.

The festivities kick off on Friday at 2 pm with an Art Crawl, a guided tour of campus art exhibitions, featuring personal insights from the artists themselves. At 3pm, immerse yourself in the beauty of the DePauw Nature Park during a serene Nature Listening Walk. Later on Friday, at 8 pm, prepare to laugh out loud at a side-splitting Comedy Show.

Saturday's events begin with an Outdoor Festival in Stewart Plaza from 11:30 am to 2 pm, featuring live music and art vendors to inspire and entertain. At 5pm, be captivated by the creative minds of student playwrights at the Theatre Show in Kerr Theater, followed by a dazzling display of movement and rhythm during the 6 pm Dance Showcase in Moore Theater.

Sunday offers an opportunity for reflection with an 11 am Poetry Reading, before you put on your dancing shoes for an instructional Swing Dance session at 12:30  pm. Finally, at 7:30 pm, join us for a memorable closing concert of original music by the Contemporary Ensemble in Kresge Auditorium.

In the coming days, be on the lookout for even more event announcements, including student recitals, film screenings, and more. For a detailed schedule, location information, and all the latest updates, visit www.dpuartwalk.com.

Don't miss out on this weekend of artistic exploration, inspiration, and fun at DePauw's Art Walk, brought to you by the creative students at DePauw University!

About Art Walk:

Art Walk was founded in 2020 by a group of music students in response to the pandemic's impact on the creative world at DePauw University. The initiative began as a virtual event, using QR codes to showcase student works across campus, and has since evolved into an annual celebration of interdisciplinary creativity, collaboration, and community engagement. Art Walk offers DePauw students an opportunity to enhance their liberal arts education through creative projects and experiences, embodying the values of innovation, accessibility, and intellectual stimulation. With Art Walk 2023, the student organizers are committed to reaching new heights in artistic expression, fostering a sense of ongoing creative inspiration for all who participate.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect Thursday from noon - 8 pm for critical fire weather conditions.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued the warning for much of central Indiana. Factors include winds out of the south at 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph and relative humidity as low as 20 percent.

Temperatures Thursday will climb well into the 80s before potential rainfall joins a cold front that will cause temperatures to drop for the upcoming weekend.

A fire on Van Bibber Lake that rekindled several times Wednesday resulted in a fatality.

Officials received a call shortly after 10 a.m. of a fire at 1047 Van Bibber Lake Estate. Upon arrival, firefighters found a home and adjoining garage fully engulfed. 

Tony Camp, chief of the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Department, told The Putnam County Post, the matter was under investigation.

"We have no comment at this time. We want to express our sympathy and sorrow for the victim and her family," Camp said. 

A measure that would allow personnel in Indiana schools to be trained to carry handguns and use them in the event of a school shooting is now headed to the desk of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb after passing the Indiana Senate Tuesday. 

House Bill 1177, authored by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, cleared the Senate 42-8 and cleared the House 71-24. State Senator John Crane, R-Greencastle, and Rep. Beau Baird, who represents Putnam County in District 44, both voted in favor of the measure. 

The legislation did not come without a fight in the Senate, as Democrats tried three times to pass amendments to the bill, with all three failing. 

Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, proposed an amendment that would require schools to notify parents of who has been authorized to carry a firearm and it failed 34-15.

Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, attempted two proposed amendments. 

The first requested the training be done by an instructor who is not only qualified, but also approved by the Law Enforcement Training Board and would ensure the training was continued. That measure failed 33-16.

Ford's second proposal asked for the measure to be dumped and sent to a summer study committee to allow more time to discuss the proposed legislation.That measure also failed 39-10.  

Lucas told The Putnam County Post he feels good that his legislation is headed to Holcomb's desk and that he has heard from numerous educators who support it. Lucas continued by saying his legislation can be traced back to multiple school shootings across the nation, but was spurred by the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. in 2018. 

"It is a great piece of legislation that simply gives those that volunteer state paid training and a chance to save their life in the event of an active shooter situation," said Lucas, who stressed the legislation is "strictly voluntary." 

Lucas said a school corporation has to want to do it and teachers/staff must volunteer and pass a psychological evaluation and complete a training course before the state will pay for it. 

The state will pay for it by reallocating funds in the Indiana Safe Schools fund to training. 

Current law permits educators to carry guns in schools but does not require or offer formal training. 

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces restrictions on U.S. 231 starting on or after Monday, May 1 for a bridge replacement project near Cloverdale. One lane will be restricted on U.S. 231, at approximately 0.33 miles north of S.R. 42, over Doe Creek. It will be down to one, 11-foot lane.

The restrictions are expected to last through early November, weather permitting.

This contract was awarded to White Construction, LLC for over $3.5 million. This project involves phased construction, with traffic being maintained by flaggers and barrels. INDOT will update the public on future restrictions. It also involves culvert work on U.S. 231 approximately 1.45 miles south of S.R. 42, also in Putnam County.

The entire contract is expected to be completed in November of 2023.

Putnam County Treasurer Kathy Minnick announced at the end of last week that  as of April 13 the 2022 - payable 2023 - tax statements had been mailed.

Of note, the statements were not mailed in the pink envelopes again this year due to a product shortage.

The spring installment is due Wednesday, May 10, 2023 and the fall installment is due Monday, November 13, 2023.

If you do not receive your bill, you can request a duplicate by contacting the Putnam County Treasurer’s Office via phone 765-653-4510 or e-mail treasureroffice@co.putnam.in.us.

Failure to receive a statement will not relieve you of paying taxes and/or penalties that may be due.

Taxes may be paid at any of the following banks located in Putnam County:

First Financial, First National, Old National, North Salem State, Teachers Credit Union or Tri-County. You must bring your tax statement if you want to pay at the bank. The banks will not accept a payment after the due date.

Taxes may also be paid online at https://www.govtechtaxpro.com , https://enoticesonline.com/put or https://www.certifiedpayments.net/ using bureau code 3115129.

If you mail your payment, the envelope must be postmarked on or before the due date to ensure a penalty is not assessed.

The Putnam County Treasurer’s Office will accept cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards. Payment by debit/credit card or electronic check will incur a processing fee.

It began as a way for men across Putnam County to get involved and make a difference and has quickly grown into much more.

The 100+ Men Who Care of Putnam County borrowed an idea from similar 'giving circle' organizations, according to member Todd Lewis, who is the vice president of First National Bank in Cloverdale. 

"Each member commits to donating $500 to the Putnam County Community Foundation each year. The first $100 goes into our community endowment at PCCF. Then the remaining $400 is given out $100 at a time at our quarterly meetings. We combine our $100 donations to create a big impact. Our members nominate local nonprofits that benefit Putnam County," Lewis told The Putnam County Post. 

Each quarter, three organizations are randomly selected and make a brief presentation to the group, who then votes, according to Lewis. 

"Based on 100+ members, in 45 minutes each member's $100 donation will become part of a big $10,000 donation to a deserving nonprofit. Plus, the $100 given to our community endowment at the Putnam County Community Foundation means funds will be generated annually for the community grants committee at the Foundation to use," Lewis said. 

One of the groups 100+ Men of Putnam County models itself after is the 100+ Women Who Care chapter in Putnam County. 

"Inspired by their success, in January of 2015, Scott Davis rallied 11 men -- Jeff Signworth, Ken Eitel, Page Cotton, Eric Wolfe, Bob Jedele, Alan Zerkel, Todd Lewis, Ralph Cunha, Chuck Schroeder, Jason Hartman and Dave Murray -- to begin a Men's 100+ Who Care chapter. We come from all walks of life and different backgrounds. As individuals, we, sometimes, feel that it is difficult to make a significant impact in our community, but, as a group of 100+ Men, we have the ability to make a meaningful difference in ways that we never thought possible," said Lewis. 

Lewis said he is involved in several local nonprofits, but the 100+ Men of Putnam County is "completely different."

"While we want members to come and enjoy the fun and fellowship, there is no attendance requirement or pressure. As a matter of fact, we have several members who live outside of the community now and have never attended an event, but they still want to be involved and make a difference. Also, this is a perfect organization for someone that is either out of town a lot or is super busy. The meetings are short, but very meaningful. We learn about three nonprofits/projects every meeting. I can truly say these are fun and I look forward to them. Plus, the impact we make together is incredible. We have given out almost $400,000 since 2015. The lowest number of members we have had is 102. In 2023, we are hoping to get over 120," Lewis said. 

For more information, visit http://www.100plusmen.com.

On Saturday,  the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring its 24th nationwide "Prescription Drug Take Back" initiative. 

The "Take Back" initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.

Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment.  This program is for liquid and pill medication.  Vaping pens without batteries and vaping cartridges will also be taken.  Needles, new or used, WILL NOT be accepted for disposal.  This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose both potential safety and health hazards.

Once again, the Indiana State Police is pleased to partner with the DEA, and as in the past, unwanted medications may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except for the Lowell and Toll Road Posts.  The event will be on Saturday, April 22, 2023, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.   

The Indiana State Police Post in Putnamville will have their collection on Friday, April 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

To locate the State Police Post closest to your home or business, click this link for Indiana State Police on the Map. To find other locations in Indiana or across the U.S. that are participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click this link to the DEA.

The Drug Take Back events are the safe, popular and responsible way for the public to legally dispose of prescription drugs with no questions asked.  

Putnam County nonprofits interested in receiving special grant funding from United Way of Central Indiana can apply April 17-30.  

United Way will award $50,000 in special funding during this grant cycle to nonprofits headquartered in Putnam County that are addressing basic needs, education and financial stability and that serve county residents who are in poverty or are considered ALICE, meaning they earn above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford a basic household budget. (ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.)  

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of Putnam County stakeholders, who will select the grant recipients. Funds will be distributed in June.  

Interested organizations can learn more by contacting Chris Flegal, director of community relations, at chris.flegal@uwci.org.

Apply online here.

The bodies of Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, have been recovered from Monroe Lake.

Just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Indiana Conservation Officers located and recovered the bodies of the victims in 18 feet of water in an area east of the Paynetown Marina. 

Release as of April 18, 2023, at 10:05 a.m.

Conservation officers will continue the search today at Monroe Lake for the two missing men using multiple types of side scan sonar, remote operated vehicles (ROV) and scuba divers.

Search crews battled heavy wind and waves on the water yesterday. Today’s subsiding wind conditions will aid in the search and recovery operation.

Release as of April 17, 2023, at 9:23 a.m.

The search for two men who went missing Saturday afternoon while swimming at Monroe Lake is ongoing.

Crews used side scan sonar and scuba divers all day Sunday to search the area where the men were last seen in the water. High winds and rough water created obstacles for officers conducting the search.

Conservation officers are back on the water this morning to continue the search and recovery operation.

Release as of April 16, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.

Indiana Conservation Officers are resuming the search this morning for two missing Indiana University students in the water at Monroe Lake. 

Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, were boating on a pontoon with friends on Monroe Lake yesterday afternoon when the group anchored to swim. When both men did not resurface, friends tried to help but were unsuccessful.

Rescue units utilizing side scan sonar and scuba divers searched the area before suspending search operations for the night due to darkness. Conservation Officers will resume their search this morning. 

Indiana University Student Services assisted with transporting the group back to campus and providing counselling services.

Units assisting in the search include the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Bloomington Police Department, IU Police Department, Monroe County Dive Team, IU Dean of Students Office, Monroe Fire Protection District, and IU Health EMS.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is in the process of updating the Shoreline Management Plan for Cecil M. Harden Lake located in Rockville.

The Louisville District will be hosting an open house Tuesday night to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the new Shoreline Management Plan. 

The meeting will be 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bellmore Fire Department.

A draft copy of the Shoreline Management Plan can be viewed by clicking here HERE. Copies will be made available at the open house.

Written comments and requests will be accepted during the workshop or can be submitted by email to LRL-PageMaster-MWH@usace.army.mil.

The public comment period will be open until April 26, 2023.

Victims of severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in Indiana from March 31 to April 1, 2023, now have until July 31, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.

Following the disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, individuals and households affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that reside or have a business in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan, and White counties qualify for tax relief.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after March 31, 2023, and before July 31, 2023, are granted additional time to file through July 31, 2023. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until July 31 to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period. This includes 2022 individual income tax returns due on April 18, as well as various 2022 business returns normally due on April 18. Among other things, this means that eligible taxpayers will have until July 31 to make 2022 contributions to their IRAs and health savings accounts.

The July 31, 2023, deadline also applies to any payment normally due during this period, including quarterly estimated tax payments, quarterly payroll and excise tax returns. In addition, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after March 31, 2023, and before April 18, 2023, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by April 18, 2023.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.

The IRS encourages affected taxpayers to file for an extension electronically by April 18, 2023, if the taxpayer feels more time is needed to complete the tax return before the July 31, 2023, deadline. This can be done for free using IRS Free File. For details about this and other electronic options, visit IRS.gov/Extensions.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.

Covered Disaster Area

The localities listed above constitute a covered disaster area for purposes of Treas. Reg. §301.7508A-1(d)(2) and are entitled to the relief detailed below.

Affected Taxpayers

Taxpayers considered to be affected taxpayers eligible for the postponement of time to file returns, pay taxes and perform other time-sensitive acts are those taxpayers listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(1), and include individuals who live, and businesses (including tax-exempt organizations) whose principal place of business is located, in the covered disaster area. Taxpayers not in the covered disaster area, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c) are in the covered disaster area, are also entitled to relief. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in the relief activities in the covered disaster area and any individual visiting the covered disaster area who was killed or injured as a result of the disaster are entitled to relief.

Under section 7508A, the IRS gives affected taxpayers until July 31, 2023, to file most tax returns (including individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns, S corporation returns, and trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; annual information returns of tax-exempt organizations; and employment and certain excise tax returns), that have either an original or extended due date occurring on or after March 31, 2023, and before July 31, 2023, are granted additional time to file through July 31, 2023.

Affected taxpayers that have an estimated income tax payment originally due on or after March 31, 2023, and before July 31, 2023, are postponed through July 31, 2023, will not be subject to penalties for failure to pay estimated tax installments as long as such payments are paid on or before July 31, 2023.

The IRS also gives affected taxpayers until July 31, 2023, to perform other time-sensitive actions described in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c)(1) and Rev. Proc. 2018-58, 2018-50 IRB 990 (December 10, 2018), that are due to be performed on or after March 31, 2023, and before July 31, 2023, are granted additional time to file through July 31, 2023.

This relief also includes the filing of Form 5500 series returns that were required to be filed on or after March 31, 2023, and before July 31, 2023, are postponed through July 31, 2023, in the manner described in section 8 of Rev. Proc. 2018-58. The relief described in section 17 of Rev. Proc. 2018-58, pertaining to like-kind exchanges of property, also applies to certain taxpayers who are not otherwise affected taxpayers and may include acts required to be performed before or after the period above.

Unless an act is specifically listed in Rev. Proc. 2018-58, the postponement of time to file and pay does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1094, 1095, 1097, 1098 or 1099 series; to Forms 1042-S, 3921, 3922 or 8027; or to employment and excise tax deposits. However, penalties on deposits due on or after March 31, 2023, and before April 18, 2023, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by April 18, 2023.

Casualty Losses

Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year. See Publication 547 for details. Individuals may deduct personal property losses that are not covered by insurance or other reimbursements. For details, see Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts and its instructions. Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on their return should put the Disaster Designation, “Indiana, severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes”, in bold letters at the top of the form. Be sure to include the FEMA disaster declaration number, FEMA-4704-DR, on any return. See Publication 547 for details.

Other Relief

The IRS will waive the usual fees and requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned Disaster Designation, Indiana, severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in bold letters at the top of Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate, and submit it to the IRS.

Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case. Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS website, IRS.gov.

When July 1 rolls around, new bills signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb will become law and one of them pertains to the removal of troublesome township trustees. 

The bill was the brainchild of Indiana state Senators Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, who filed the bill after an investigation into former Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising stealing township funds and numerous allegations made against another township trustee in Indiana. 

Under the bill, a township board can adopt a resolution for the removal of the trustee, however, the county commissioners and county council each have to adopt resolutions to remove the trustee. 

Should all three adopt resolutions, the issue will then land in circuit court, where a judge will hear evidence and present a ruling on the trustee's future. 

The trustee will have numerous opportunities to present their defense during the process. 

For Joey Jones, there is something special about being able to provide a service like tinting windows.

It is fair to say it is a passion, and one the Putnam County resident has enjoyed for just over a decade with his business, Rockstar Window Tinting, 3197 South U.S. Hwy 231, Greencastle. 

"Rockstar Window Tinting is a unique business as it provides services and products not found without traveling a couple of counties. We install all of your vehicle accessories such as remote starts/alarms, leather interiors, car audio and video, truck bed covers, lighting, hitches, steps and so much more," Jones told The Putnam County Post. 

Working on and being cars is nothing new for Jones, who admits for as long as he can remember custom cars and trucks have always "amazed" him.

"Whether it was crazy paint jobs, monster engines or anything unique that you could tell was built with passion by someone. And, I always wanted to be involved in some way," Jones admits. 

After high school, Jones was a collision tech until he got hired in the customizing and accessory side of the automotive world. 

"I have always maintained an open mind to continuously learning. I learned jobs and duties that no one else wanted to do, knowing one day it would help create opportunities in the future. Eventually that led me to a corporate job for a manufacturer in the automotive aftermarket industry," Jones said. 

That opportunity gave Jones experience and a chance to learn the business side of the industry, as he was dealing with hundreds of shop owners daily. 

And, it gave him a realization. 

"It led me to realize that I belong in the shop. That's where my passion was. Doing the physical work that made our customer's vehicles their own. Sales and customer service aren't my strong point. However, I have been able to put some fantastic team players in that position," Jones said. 

Rockstar Window Tinting is open Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call Jones at 765-301-9301 or email rockstartinting@gmail.com. 

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Indiana to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes from March 31-April 1.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan and White counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Brian F. Schiller has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.

Residents who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling (800) 621-3362 or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

Details are now available on a Thursday Montgomery County car - train crash that killed a Darlington man and injured another person.

Just before 10:45 p.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to a fatal crash on Nucor Road near Comfort Road. The Indiana State Police reconstructed the crash at the request of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling northbound on Nucor Road, approaching a railroad crossing. At that time, an Amtrak train was traveling eastbound, approaching the railroad crossing. The railroad crossing arms were down, and the crossing lights were flashing. The Tahoe went around the crossing arm and was struck on the driver’s side by the train.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by the Montgomery County coroner. The coroner identified the driver of the Tahoe to be Timothy Pettice, 33, ofDarlington.

A helicopter transported the passenger of the Tahoe to an Indianapolis area hospital. The condition of the passenger is currently unknown.

None of the passengers on the train were injured.

Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction was assisted by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Coroner, Crawfordsville Fire Department, Crawfordsville EMS, Montgomery County EMA, CSX, and Amtrak.

Indiana Conservation Officers are resuming the search this morning for two missing Indiana University students in the water at Monroe Lake. 

Siddhant Shah, 19, and Aryan Vaidya, 20, were boating on a pontoon with friends on Monroe Lake yesterday afternoon when the group anchored to swim. When both men did not resurface, friends tried to help but were unsuccessful.

Rescue units utilizing side scan sonar and scuba divers searched the area before suspending search operations for the night due to darkness. Conservation Officers will resume their search this morning. 

Indiana University Student Services assisted with transporting the group back to campus and providing counselling services.

Units assisting in the search include the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Bloomington Police Department, IU Police Department, Monroe County Dive Team, IU Dean of Students Office, Monroe Fire Protection District, and IU Health EMS.

A philanthropic event aimed at helping stock local food pantries is slated for Monday in Putnam County. 

The annual Supermarket Sweep will take place Monday, April 17, and residents are invited to shop and donate items needed to local food pantries. 

In-kind donations can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Greencastle Kroger.

Benjamin Sanders, a DePauw student, is looking forward to taking part in the event. 

"For the past 6 years the Hartman Center for Civic Engagement, DePauw Student Government and the Purdue Extension office have partnered together to help restock the shelves of our local pantries before we leave campus for the summer called Supermarket Sweep. Over 4,000 individuals in our community are worried about where their next meal will come from. To put that into perspective, that's 1 in 6. Most of the schools in town offer free and reduced school lunches, but over the summer that leaves many students without access to their next meal. By participating in Supermarket Sweep, people are helping us raise awareness around food insecurity, funds, and in-kind donations for the Pantry Coalitions in Putnam County," Sanders told The Putnam County Post. 

On Sunday, DePauw students will compete in challenges across campus to learn about food insecurity and win gift cards to purchase items for the pantries. One day later, the Supermarket Sweep takes place, and teams from DePauw will shop 7:30-9 p.m.

"We invite all community members to come on April 17th and donate as they shop," Sanders said. 

Sanders is a stone scholar and is part of planning and executing Supermarket Sweep and engaging students and the community to participate. 

"I'm excited to run some of the on-campus challenges on Sunday and be there on Monday to help out with donations and spreading the word. I think service is such an important aspect of DePauw, so I'm happy to be a part of engaging with the community through Supermarket Sweep," Sanders said.   

If you are unable to shop but still want to donate, cash and check donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to the Putnam County Community Foundation: Putnam County Pantry Coalition. 

A Terre Haute man was killed Friday in a motorcycle crash while fleeing law enforcement.

Just before 7 p.m., Parke County deputies tried to stop a speeding motorcycle in the area of U.S. 41 and 900 South.  The driver, Stephen David Kellams, 31, was operating a 2015 Harley Davidson.  Kellams refused to stop and fled northbound at a high rate of speed and passing vehicles.

Kellams was clocked as high as 95 mph.

At U.S. 41 and 600 West, Kellams lost control and skidded into a guardrail and was ejected from the motorcycle.  Kellams was declared dead at the scene.

Kellams was not wearing a helmet.  A toxicology screen will be conducted during the autopsy.

Assisting in the incident were the Clinton Police Department, Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department, Rockville Police Department, Lyford Police Department and Parke County EMS.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that occurred Thursday in Clay County.

Shortly after 5 p.m., officers and emergency personnel responded to the 2700 block of North County Road 875 East in Poland after receiving reports of a serious ORV accident.

Upon arrival, responders located Michael D. Rubeck, 65, of Bowling Green, trapped under an ORV. Rubeck was pronounced dead at the scene.

The initial investigation revealed the ORV was being operated on the roadway by a juvenile with Rubeck as a passenger. The juvenile operator swerved to miss an animal in the roadway, and the ORV left the roadway and rolled onto the passenger side and onto Rubeck.

No helmets or safety equipment were in use at the time of the accident, which is still under investigation.

Assisting agencies included the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, emergency medical service, and coroner’s office; and the Bowling Green, Poland, and Posey fire departments.

Early Friday morning, the Indiana State Police was made aware of an email message sent to several dozen Indiana schools threatening the use of explosive devices that had allegedly been planted on various school campuses.

We immediately allocated all intelligence resources to investigate the validity of the threat, to include communication with the Department of Education, our local, county, and federal law enforcement partners. At this time no suspicious or explosive devices have been found in any of our schools. The investigation into the origin of this threat is ongoing.

Out of an abundance of caution, troopers throughout the state have been in communication with their local schools to offer assistance and resources. School corporations are working with their local law enforcement to make the best decision about their operations today.

Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said, “The safety of our children will always be a top priority, the Indiana State Police will continue to offer any and all resources we have to schools to ensure safety for our students.”

A truck gently collided with a building downtown Greencastle on Thursday.

Rex Hale, of Bainbridge, was driving south on Jackson Street, heading for Washington Street. However, when Hale attempted to make his right-hand turn onto Washington, he suffered from a medical emergency, causing him to drive onto the sidewalk near the vacant building of 22 W. Washington Street.

When the officers arrived, Hale was unresponsive and not breathing, still inside his vehicle. Officers removed Hale, began life saving measures and Hale regained consciousness. Hale was transported from the scene by Putnam County EMS.

No damage to Hale's vehicle or the building was reported.

Hale's condition is not known at this time; however, he was conscious when he left the scene.

A former nurse in Crawfordsville has been sentenced for tampering with medications.

Jennifer L. Adams, 38, of Whitestown, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to tampering with consumer products.

According to court documents, from October 1, 2018, to February 18, 2020, Jennifer Adams repeatedly tampered with vials of injectable pain medications, including fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, and ketamine, while employed as a registered nurse in the emergency department at Franciscan Health in Crawfordsville.

Using an automated medication dispensing machine, Adams gained access to the medications without authorization and used them herself. To conceal her scheme, she refilled the vials of medicine with saline solution and super glued the lids back on. Adams used the saline solution on thirty to forty unknowing patients who had been admitted to the emergency department and were in need of pain relief. The investigation found that Adams tampered with between two and seven vials of medicine during each shift that she worked.

“Emergency room patients depend on healthcare providers to give them the medicines they need. This defendant abused her position of trust to steal powerful prescription pain medications and give patients saline instead,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Substance use disorders are serious diseases impacting everyone, including nurses, and medically approved treatment is critical to saving lives and careers. That’s why my office worked with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to secure a settlement agreement to ensure that Hoosier nurses can have access to medication assisted treatment while participating in the Indiana State Nursing Assistance Program. I encourage all providers struggling with substance abuse to seek help, because stealing medications from patients is a serious crime that carries serious consequences.”

“Health care professionals who take needed medications from patients not only harm patients but also put at risk the trust that U.S. consumers have in those who provide their medical care,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Chicago Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice health care professionals who tamper with patients’ medications.”

“Most health care workers are heroes and work very hard to save lives, but when one person decides to abuse this power, patients suffer tremendously,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This is unacceptable. We should be able to trust our doctors and nurses and not have to worry about tampered medication. I applaud the work of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for seeking justice for Hoosiers.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Adams be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison and pay a $1,000 fine.

Troopers with the Indiana State Police Putnamville District and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) arrested a Cayuga man on charges of Possession of Child Pornography.

The investigation began when a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was received by the ICAC Task Force.  As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained through the Parke Circuit Court and served Thursday morning at a residence located on Maple Street in Cayuga. Based on preliminary findings as a result of the search warrant, Ray Keller, 51, of Cayuga, was interviewed and subsequently incarcerated at the Fountain County Jail. 

Anyone having any information related to crimes against children are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or visit the NCMEC website at http://www.missingkids.com/home and find the link to make a CyberTipline report.

Assisting agencies included the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department, Fountain County Sheriff’s Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. 

A Clay County man had his parole revoked after he was caught looking into a home window in Brazil.

Brazil Police report Daniel Winn, 58, of Carbon, was registered as a violent sexual predator and on parole through the State of Indiana. Parole agents revoked his parole after Winn was picked up by Brazil Police and the Indiana State Police at a residence in Carbon.

Brazil Police officers were called to a home on the north side of the city about 7:00 am Monday on a report of a suspicious man at a residence.  The person reporting the incident said Winn was caught peering into a bedroom window.  When caught, ,he ran away and left the area in a silver car.

A Brazil Police officer located the vehicle nearby.  It was registered to Winn.

Brazil Police learned from the parole agent that a GPS monitoring system placed Winn at the residence at the time of the incident.

Winn was taken to the Clay County Jail.

While local and federal officials want people to enjoy all that Cagle Mills Lake offers, there has been a growing problem recently, as vandals are causing damage to the property. 

In a Facebook Post, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, said they are having more incidents with off-road vehicles on government land. 

"THIS particular individual/RTV is a repeat offender! They are going around locked gates and creating damage to the area that our small staff works very hard to keep nice for our visitors. If you happen to know who this is, please pm us, so that we may have a discussion with them," the post states. 

Going off road with vehicles is strictly prohibited on USACE property and can land the offender with a hefty fine or court date. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials have said the actions of the vandal(s) could force the closure of the Dam/Tailwater area when staff is not present. 

"We are hoping that by reaching out to the community we can get this under control so that we don't have to resort to that," the post stated, adding there are multiple offenders.  

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces 224 Indiana cities, towns, and counties that will receive a combined $133.4 million in state matching funds for local road projects through Community Crossings, a component of Governor Holcomb's Next Level Roads program.

“The continued success of the Community Crossings program becomes more evident each year," said Gov. Holcomb. "Improving transportation infrastructure at the most local level makes communities that much more attractive for business and Hoosier families alike to connect and grow."

Communities submitted applications for funding during a highly competitive call for projects in January. Applications were evaluated based on need and current conditions, as well as impacts to safety and economic development. Funding for Community Crossings comes from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. The Community Crossings initiative has provided more than $1.27 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects since 2016.

“Safe, modern infrastructure at the local level makes Indiana's transportation network stronger,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “Partnering with locals on these projects is something INDOT looks forward to each year. The hard work and dedication of local entities to secure these funds and make improvements in their communities does not go unnoticed.”

Among area recipients:

Greencastle, $1,000,000.00

Putnam County, $1,000,000.00

Brazil, $227,842.50

Clay County, $1,000,000.00

Clayton, $140,724.75

Cloverdale, $403,293.00

Danville, $381,321.70

Hendricks County, $1,000,000.00

Owen County, $974,410.30

Parke County, $803,326.79

Plainfield, $976,132.77

Rockville Crawfordsville, $596,505.10

To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds of 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities and have an asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. Indiana law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities located in counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer. 

State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April 2017.

The next call for projects will open in July.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office will be hosting the annual Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 22, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM.

Citizens can drop off any unused, unwanted or expired medications to be disposed of in a safe manner.

The Sheriff's Office asks that there be no liquids, needles or sharps of any kind.

Update:  The Hendricks County Coroner’s Office made a positive identification on the deceased individual located in the White Lick Creek near Plainfield off of County Road 750E on April 7. 

He has been identified as Jonathan Critser, 28, of Mooresville.  Critser had been reported missing to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office since December 24, 2022. 

The family  has been notified of the identification. 

The investigation into the cause and manner of death is still ongoing; however, no foul play is suspected in this case. 

Further investigation has revealed that the deceased is a white male with an approximate age range of 25-35 years of age.  A positive identification has not yet been made by the Hendricks County Coroner’s Office due to condition of the deceased remains. 

Hendricks County Detectives are working with the Coroner’s office to follow up on all investigative leads to determine the subject’s identity.   

Original release from this past weekend

The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office along with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources have been on the scene since last night of a deceased individual that was found in a creek near the 7300 block of Co Rd 750E south of Plainfield. 

No identification or details of how the body has been found has been released.

The deceased was transported to the Hendricks County morgue for further investigation.   The deceased was found in less than pristine condition and positive identification is going to take some time, in addition to locating / notifying legal next of kin.

An autopsy is scheduled for later today.

The Hendricks Co Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency on this case.  

There is good news for those in need in Putnam County — there are no plans to end the Putnam County non-food pantry at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 520 E. Seminary St., Greencastle. 

With that said, there will be changes coming to the pantry. 

The drive thru distributions will take place April 29 and May 27 from noon until 3 p.m. 

However, there will be no distributions in June and July so that new personnel can be trained and a new way to give out products can be planned.  

For more information or to get involved, contact the church at 653-3921.

When July 1 rolls around, new bills signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb will become law and one of them pertains to the removal of troublesome township trustees. 

The bill was the brainchild of Indiana state Senators Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, who filed the bill after an investigation into former Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising stealing township funds and numerous allegations made against another township trustee in Indiana. 

Under the bill, a township board can adopt a resolution for the removal of the trustee, however, the county commissioners and county council each have to adopt resolutions to remove the trustee. 

Should all three adopt resolutions, the issue will then land in circuit court, where a judge will hear evidence and present a ruling on the trustee's future. 

The trustee will have numerous opportunities to present their defense during the process. 

After a lengthy collaborative investigation involving the Indiana State Police, Terre Haute Police Department, Vigo County Sheriff's Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, officers were able to collect enough evidence leading to the arrest of five suspects.

The suspects were involved in a large-scale methamphetamine and marijuana distribution organization. Officers seized approximately $240,000 of U.S. currency, eight guns, 41.3 ounces of methamphetamine, 41 pounds of marijuana, 99 commercially packaged THC edibles, 85 THC vapes, 2 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 2.6 grams of LSD, and approximately 321 grams of THC wax.

All five suspects were arrested and taken to the Vigo County Jail without incident.

This case remains under investigation and additional arrests may be forthcoming.

Johnathon Avery, 30, Terre Haute

• Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony

Ryan Long, 35, Brazil

• Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony

Justin Coogan, 21, Terre Haute

• Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony

Nicholas Raley, 43, of Rosedale

• Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony

Jerry Woodfin, 54, Terre Haute

• Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Conspiracy to Deal Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
• Possession Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony

A 4-0 vote named the newest member of the Greencastle School Board.

Megan Inman fills the vacancy left by the recent move of Russell Harvey to leave the board for an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Greencastle City Council.

Officially, Inman is one of the two positions on the school board that are appointed by the city.  She and Brian Cox are those two representatives on the board. 

Cox is currently a Democrat candidate for mayor. He is uncontested in the spring primary and will face Linda Dunbar in the November general election.

There were four applicants total for the position.

Could personnel in Indiana schools be carrying guns and have the opportunity to use them in the event of a school shooting?

It is a possibility, as a bill authored by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, has advanced out of the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development. 

The measure would provide state funded firearms training for school personnel, including teachers, and advanced out of the House earlier this session by a vote of 71-24. Rep. Beau Baird, who represents Putnam County in District 44, which includes portions of Putnam County, voted in favor of the measure. 

Lucas told The Putnam County Post his proposed legislation can be traced back to multiple school shootings across the nation, but was spurred by the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. in 2018. 

"It is a great piece of legislation that simply gives those that volunteer, state paid training and a chance to save their life in the event of an active shooter situation," Lucas said. 

Lucas said it is important to stress that his legislation is "strictly voluntary."

"The school corporation has to want to do it and the teachers/staff must volunteer and pass a psychological evaluation and then complete the prescribed course and then the state pays for it," Lucas acknowledged.

The state would pay for it by reallocating funds in the Indiana Safe Schools fund to training. 

McCormick’s Creek State Park, which was severely damaged by last Friday’s tornado is reopening to limited use Friday.

The park’s Canyon Inn will be fully open and will offer an Easter buffet on Sunday, with reservations highly recommended for those who plan to attend. 

Many park trails remain closed, and the campground will be closed through October 1. Individuals with campground reservations are being contacted directly and given full refunds, and no new reservations for camping at McCormick’s Creek will be accepted for arrival dates through the end of 2023.

Volunteers who would like to help with park cleanup can sign up at https://bit.ly/mccormicks-creek-volunteer, and they will be contacted by Indiana State Parks staff in the coming weeks.

When guests arrive, they will receive a handout of facilities and services available, with updates also available online at on.in.gov/mccormickscreeksp to check ahead of a visit.

Park interpretive naturalists will be roving in key park locations to answer questions throughout the weekend. 

Here's what you need to know if you plan to visit:

Guests are STRICTLY PROHIBITED from walking or driving into areas where barricades and/or “closed” signs are in place. These barriers and signs are in place for everyone's safety.

CANYON INN: Canyon Inn is OPEN for dining and overnight lodging beginning April 7. The April 9 Easter Buffet will continue as planned.

SADDLE BARN: The saddle barn is open on its regular schedule and trail rides are available.

CAMPGROUNDS: The campgrounds, which bore the brunt of the tornado damage, will remain closed through October 1, 2023. Those with existing camping reservations between now and then are being contacted regarding automatic cancelations and refunds. No new camping reservations are being accepted for ANY arrival dates in 2023 until further notice.

CABINS AND SHELTERS: There is damage to some of the family cabins and other rentable facilities, and guests with reservations are being contacted regarding moves to other cabins or facilities on site until repairs can be made.

GROUP CAMPS: Some structures sustained damage. These are being assessed and groups who use them for overnight activities will be contacted.

PROGRAMS: Watch for interpretive naturalists at key park locations this weekend; they will be roving and available to answer questions about the park. The Wildflower Weekend activities scheduled for April 7-9 in the park are POSTPONED until later in the spring. The Owen County SWCD/MyPath wildflower programs will be held as scheduled in Spencer. School and group programs are being rescheduled as needed. Regular public programming will tentatively resume later this month.

NATURE CENTER: Crews continue to work on restoring power, and the center may not be open this weekend. The center’s reptiles are being cared for temporarily in other state park locations.

ROADS AND TRAILS: Our DNR crews continue to clear roads and will be working on trails as well, but some may remain closed for an extended period of time. You are STRICTLY PROHIBITED from driving or walking into areas with barriers and closure signs. Gate staff and the inn front desk will have details available on which trails are open and which are closed.

FIRETOWER: The fire tower was not damaged in the storm and is open.

MCCORMICK'S CREEK FALLS: The falls are viewable from Trail 3, but trail structures are damaged and closed.

WOLF CAVE: Wolf Cave and all trails accessing Wolf Cave Nature Preserve are closed.

NATURE PRESERVES: McCormick’s Cove Nature Preserve and Wolf Cave Nature Preserve are being inspected for natural resources impacts and responses.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: See links below. Our first priorities are to safely clear roads and create space to manage debris, to work with campers whose vehicles and RVs were damaged, and to assess, clear and reopen park facilities and trails where possible.

The physical and natural resources of this park are forever changed by this natural disturbance, and we all have many good memories of what “was.” But nature is resilient and so are we as humans, and we will now look to the future for what “will be.” The physical clean-up and thoughtful planning for the future of facilities and natural resources will take time, and our DNR team is ready and already working to tackle the challenges and opportunities.

Links:

--Sign up to volunteer when we are ready for assistance: https://bit.ly/mccormicks-creek-volunteer. If you get a loading page, click on the three dots in the right bottom corner and open in system browser. If that doesn't work, email dnrwebmaster@dnr.IN.gov. Sorry for the trouble!

--Learn about ways to donate to restoration efforts: on.IN.gov/instateparksdonate

--Friends of McCormick's Creek: friendsmccormickscreek.org

--Follow McCormick's Creek on Facebook: McCormick's Creek State Park

--See photos of the tornado's impact on the park: Indiana Department of Natural Resources

If lawmakers have their way, Putnam County school districts could see more grant funding for school safety. 

The Secured School Safety Grant is funded at $19 million per year, but a bill by Evansville Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara looks to raise the funding to $25 million a year. Furthermore, the measure calls for the creation of school safety commissions formed in each county. 

The bill, HB 1492, made its way out of the House and has moved out of the Senate Education Committee and is headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Under the Secured School Safety Grant, school districts can use funds for resource officers and law enforcement, equipment or technology, warning systems, firearms training for staff, threat assessments and the implementation of support systems designed to keep schools safe. 

Last year, four schools in Putnam County received more than $237,000 through the Secured Schools Safety Grant Program. 

Cloverdale Community Schools received $50,000, while Greencastle Community School Corp. and North Putnam Community Schools received, $47,068 and $40,000, respectively. South Putnam Community School Corporation received $100,000. 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb has sent a letter to President Joe Biden to request expedited assistance for Hoosiers affected by a historic 25 tornado event that swept through Indiana on March 31 and April 1.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) and federal officials continue to conduct joint preliminary damage assessments in preparation for this request. 

“I’ve taken prompt action to ensure Hoosiers can rebuild their roots here in Indiana,” said Gov. Holcomb. “Due to the severity and magnitude of this disaster, I have requested FEMA expedite our request for federal assistance while we continue to respond to the communities affected.”

In a letter to the president, Gov. Holcomb requested an expedited major disaster declaration for federal assistance. Joint state and federal assessments are still underway, but under preliminary findings, 5 people have died, 34 Hoosiers have suffered injuries, 165 structures were destroyed and 157 structures sustained major damage. Power outages affected nearly 107,000 and hundreds of other individuals were impacted in some way. Not only was the devastation brought on by this disaster severe and widespread, it also significantly impacted areas with low socio-economic status.

If approved, individual assistance programs could provide grants for temporary housing disaster assistance and unlock other resources to help individuals and Hoosier business owners. If public assistance is approved, federal funds may reimburse state and local response agencies for qualifying activities, such as emergency protective measures, debris removal, road repairs and some personnel costs.

Gov. Holcomb’s letter to President Biden can be found here.

Justin Herrington, 32, of Whitaker, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, in 2012, Herrington sexually abused Minor Victim 1, a 5-year-old child in his care, custody, or control, in Morgan County. Herrington’s abuse of the child was discovered in 2012 and he was arrested and charged in state court. He was convicted of child molestation in 2014 and spent 446 days in prison before being released to serve the remainder of his sentence on probation. Herrington was also ordered to register as a sex offender against children for the remainder of his life.

After his release from prison, Herrington began distributing, receiving, and possessing child sex abuse material—including a previously unknown image he produced of Minor Victim 1 engaged in sexually explicit conduct in approximately 2012, when he was sexually abusing the child.

On March 6, 2019, law enforcement officials received a report from a drugstore employee who believed that Herrington had submitted images of child sexual abuse to the store for photo processing. Law enforcement officers arrested Herrington later that day when he arrived at the store to pick up the images. Further investigation of Herrington’s digital devices uncovered numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse material of prepubescent children under the age of 12, including the image of Minor Victim 1. Many of the images, messages, and search terms located on Herrington’s devices demonstrate a sexual obsession with children in diapers.

Forensic investigation of all of Herrington’s digital devices proved that he belonged to a Russian-based website known by law enforcement for spreading child sexual abuse material. The investigation also revealed that Herrington was in the process of grooming a 13-year-old girl via Chat Hour and Snapchat. Online, Herrington claimed to be an 18-year-old and nearly enticed the girl to send him sexually explicit images of herself and meeting him in person.

At the time of his arrest, Herrington was in a relationship with an individual that had a 5-year-old child, in violation of the terms of his release for child molestation. Information on Herrington’s devices revealed that he attempted to get jobs at local daycares and as a babysitter, and even responded to a Craigslist advertisement seeking a babysitter for a 4-year-old.

On or about August 6, 2019, Herington was charged with federal offenses, and ordered detained pending trial. In August 2021, while in federal custody, Herrington used detention facility mail to send sexually suggestive depictions of children wearing diapers, including Minor Victim 1, that were produced to his attorneys during his state prosecution to at least 19 other inmates around the country.

“For years, this insatiable child sex predator demonstrated utter disregard for the safety and dignity of children to satisfy his own sick lusts,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “It is especially chilling that he was grooming an additional victim online and repeatedly sought to work in daycares and as a babysitter. The sentence imposed today demonstrates that a civilized society will simply not tolerate these heinous crimes against our children. I commend the Martinsville Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for working together to remove this dangerous pedophile from our community.”

Martinsville Police Department, Indiana State Police, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and FBI investigated the case. The Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office prosecuted the related state cases. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Herrington be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison. Herrington must continue to register as sex offender where he lives, works, and goes to school as required by law and has been ordered to pay restitution to Minor Victim 1.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case.

This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a partnership of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies led by the Indiana State Police. The Task Force is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting crimes involving the technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children and the trafficking of child sexual abuse material. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. In fiscal year 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the Southern District of Indiana was second out of the 94 federal districts in the country for the number of child sexual exploitation cases prosecuted.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc

Crews responded to a structure fire in Clay County Wednesday morning.

Dick Johnson Township Fire Department responded just after 6 a.m.  The trailer was engulfed when crews arrived but they were able to gain control quickly.

No injuries were reported.  The cause remains under investigation.

A Tornado Watch is in effect until 5 pm EDT this afternoon for 32 counties in central to southern Indiana.

Also, a Wind Advisory remains in effect until 8 pm EDT

Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts possible up to 55 mph.

Owen and Morgan are among the counties added to the state’s disaster declaration request.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb added five counties to the state’s disaster declaration request today. The counties are Morgan, Monroe, Benton, Owen and White. The governor previously issued an executive order requesting federal assistance for Sullivan and Johnson counties on Saturday.

The governor also announced that state agencies will offer two one-stop locations to assist residents impacted by the tornadoes. Two sites, one in Sullivan and the other in Whiteland will open beginning Thursday. Hours on Thursday and Friday will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The sites will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will open again on Monday, April 10 at 9 a.m.

Locations are:

• The new Sullivan City Hall, 110 N. Main Street, Sullivan
• Clark Pleasant School District Administration Building, 50 Center St., Whiteland

“Hoosiers are known for stepping up for each other in times of disaster,” said Gov. Holcomb. “We’ve offered these types of centers before with great success and we’ll continue to be boots on the ground to lend support once again.”

Among the agencies that will be on-site are:

• Indiana Department of Homeland Security 
  • Recovery resources and information 
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
  • Reproduction of identification, permits, title replacement, registrations, and license plates.
• Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI)
  • Interpretation of insurance policies, information on lost or damaged policies, obtaining copies of insurance policies, and car insurance assistance.
• Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD)
  • Apply for state unemployment benefits; Information on services available through the WorkOne offices.
• Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA)
  • Replace Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit cards, Health coverage application assistance.
• Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA)               
  • Emergency hotel vouchers and short-term rental assistance for persons in need of immediate housing. 
• Indiana Department of Health (IDOH)
  • Replacement of vital records (birth and death certificates), WIC assistance, and referrals for health services.

Hoosiers may also call 211 for referrals to services and to report damage.

However, damage reports to 211 do not constitute as an official application for assistance. Should the state’s application for federal assistance be approved for some or all counties, more information about the FEMA aid approval and SBA Disaster Loan processes will be made available.  

McCormick's State Park in Owen County hopes to reopen to visitors on Friday following last weekend's deadly storm at the park's campground.

Brett and Wendy Kincaid of Rossville were in a camper that was struck by the tornado there last Friday.

The park and the Canyon Inn will remain closed to the public through Thursday.

Barring any significant changes, the park will Oopen for day use on Friday. Canyon Inn will also open for dining and overnight lodging, and Sunday's Easter Buffet will continue as planned.

The campground, which took the brunt of the tornado damage, will remain closed at least through April 30 and likely beyond. The damage is severe. Those with camping reservations will be contacted directly regarding changes or cancelations.

There is some minor damage to a few of the family cabins. Guests with reservations will be contacted  regarding moves to other cabins on site where possible until they are repaired.

The Wildflower Weekend activities scheduled for April 7-9 will be postponed until later in the spring.

DNR saw crews continue to clear roads and will be working on trails as well, but some trails may remain closed for a period of time.

See updates/alerts at on.IN.gov/mccormickscreeksp.

The Putnamville State Police Post and the National Insurance Crime Bureau want to ensure that the residents who were impacted by the tornado and storm damage, receive legitimate information concerning contractors for cleanup and repair. 

Should homeowners suspect fraud during the rebuilding process, they should contact their insurer, state, or local law enforcement, and the NICB (1-800-TEL-NICB).

Some tips to avoid contractor fraud, provided by the NICB, include:

• Get more than one estimate. Never let a contractor pressure you into hiring them.
• Work only with licensed and insured contractors.
• Demand references and check them.
• Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the driver’s license number and their vehicle’s license plate number.
• Get a contract in writing. This should include cost, time schedules, payment schedules, guarantees, work to be done, and other expectations that should be detailed.
• Never sign a contract with blanks as these could be filled in later without your knowledge.
• Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is done and ensure reconstruction is up to current code.

Additionally, below are some useful links to other materials that may be helpful to victims:

Disaster Fraud | National Insurance Crime Bureau (nicb.org)

Fraud Resources After a Disaster

Contractor Fraud PSA from the NICB

Along with the reports of fraudulent disaster relief workers, there is also the threat of looting and thefts in the affected areas as well. If you observe individual(s) removing items from properties where they do not belong, please contact the Indiana State Police, and local law enforcement as saturated patrols will continue in these areas to fend off this criminal activity. 

You can report suspicious individuals or activity to the Indiana State Police at (765) 653-4114.

The City of Greencastle will partner with the Putnam County Mural Project to honor the city’s Bicentennial by commissioning a mural at the corner of Indiana and Franklin streets in downtown Greencastle.

The mural will celebrate the people, places, ideas, themes, etc., that help tell the story of Greencastle's past, present, and future.  

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to bring another mural to Greencastle, and one that celebrates our town’s storied history,” said Mayor Bill Dory. “While we know we can’t tell every important story in our past on one wall, this is one way we can creatively tell our history to visitors and residents alike.”

We believe murals have the ability to transform communities by celebrating heritage, creating civic pride, and enriching lives through participatory art-making. This is best accomplished when murals are used to activate spaces in areas that are otherwise overlooked.

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Our past work engaged the public by hosting workshops & presentations for community members interested in learning about murals and their positive effect on neighborhoods. We invited community members to vote on their preferred style and content of future murals all of which the PCMP team will be utilizing as input into the creative works that encompass and inform the artist chosen for this year’s mural. Additionally, with this wall’s focus being the Greencastle Bicentennial, we engaged a number of individuals throughout our community to sit on a Historical Ideation Committee. This committee’s primary charge was to pinpoint the people, places, and things in Greencastle past, present, and future that tell the story of our town. Through this process, we learned that our community prioritizes imagery that celebrates the nature of our county and the assets our county consistently promotes (music and historic architecture, to name a few.) More specific details garnered from the Historical Ideation Committee will be shared with the selected artist for inclusion in the design for this year’s mural.

The chosen artist will be asked to work in tandem with the PCMP team in order to produce work that is reflective of and responsive to the Putnam County community and our processes for this particular mural. The Greencastle Bicentennial chosen muralist will be required to sign a contract that outlines the needs and responsibilities of their work leading up to and throughout the project itself. The timeline below outlines important due dates throughout the process. The Putnam County Mural Project provides a stipend to the chosen artist, outlined below, and will provide the wall prep, lift needs, and wall sealing. The artist is responsible for covering their own materials, paints, housing, and food throughout the run of the project. Artists will be required to provide proof of materials purchased by date listed below in order to ensure arrival on time for the project. Artists will also be expected to help the PCMP generate awareness about this project and their work through their own website/social channels. PCMP will reserve the right to use images of in-progress works and final work for their own promotional purposes.

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?Timeline for the 2023 Greencastle Bicentennial Mural: 

• April 1, 2023: Call for Artists Application OPEN

• April 30, 11:59pm ET: Call for Artists Artist Application Deadline

• May 1 - 25: Application Review Process

• May 27: Selected Artist Notified

• June 15, 11:59pm ET: Draft designs due to PCMP 

• June 15-25: Artists will receive feedback on draft designs from PCMP 

• June 30, 11:59pm ET: Final designs due to PCMP

• July 1-10: Feedback from PCMP on final designs

• July: Designs shared with Putnam County Community Members

• August 7: Materials listing and needs submitted to PCMP. ALL materials for completion of mural MUST be ordered by this date by artists. 

• August - September: Wall prep completed by PCMP

• September 23 - October 7, 2023: Mural Installation

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An application outline can be downloaded  HERE.

Traffic restrictions continue in Greencastle.  To the chagrin of many drivers.

U.S. 231 is to be restricted as part of a major pavement improvement project. The northbound lane will be restricted between S.R. 240 and Washington Street. Northbound traffic will shift into the existing southbound lane. 

The official detour follows U.S. 231 to U.S. 40, or S.R. 75 to U.S. 36 and back.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department is among those psoting information related to the project about the road restrictions on Bloomington Street. Southbound traffic from Washington Street is currently closed. INDOT has blocked off both turning lanes, installed barricades and put up signs indicating that the road is closed and you can't turn there.

It's suggested that drivers plan on an alternate route (for example, Jackson St. or one of the many side roads for the smaller vehicles) that can get you around the construction.

This project may go on for several months.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department notes that company responsible for the paving project is currently in contact with INDOT to see if more signs can be placed out there.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating after the bodies of a Rossville couple were located at the campground at McCormick’s Creek State Park.

The victims have been identified as Brett Kincaid, 53, and Wendy Kincaid, 47, both of Rossville, Indiana. 

Severe storms hit the area of McCormick’s Creek State Park in Owen County causing severe damage to the area, specifically the campground.  Immediately following the storm and throughout the next day, responders searched the area attempting to confirm everyone was able to reach safety. 

After being notified of two campers being unaccounted for, additional searches of the property were conducted and the bodies of the victims were discovered.

Responding Indiana State Police troopers focused on assisting the Owen County Sheriff’s Department, several Owen County Fire Departments, Owen County Emergency Services, and Indiana Conservation Officers with checking the park for potentially injured campers who were in various camp sites during the severe storm.  Found campers were evacuated from the campgrounds with assistance from the Spencer-Owen County School Corporation, who supplied a bus to help with the transport. 

Owen County Sheriff Ryan White reported power outages throughout the county including Spencer and Gosport.

Lawrence and Monroe counties reported downed trees while Morgan County reported downed trees and power lines which included loss of power in Martinsville. High winds also caused severe damage to buildings in Martinsville.

The primary election may not be until May, but the deadline to register to vote in the municipal primary election is Monday, April 3. 

Those wishing to register can do so by visiting indianavoters.in.gov. 

The municipal election will be May 2.

Early voting begins April 4 and will last until noon on May 1. 

While other parts of Indiana were ravaged Friday night by tornadoes, strong winds and severe weather, Putnam County dodged the worst of it, according to local officials. 

Rob Frank, assistant chief of the Greencastle Fire Department, said his department was called out to one tree in the roadway, which was cut. 

Reelsville Volunteer Fire Department assistant chief John McPherson said his area was "pretty fortunate." 

"We made two calls for trees down and another for powerlines down. Everything was south of I-70. We had a tree fall on 40 (Saturday) morning. It is a mess in Spencer and Sullivan. It could have been a lot worse," McPherson said. 

Frank confirmed that members of his department are headed to Sullivan County with the Mobile Command Center. 

Lt. Brandon Watson and Engineer Paul Hinton will be traveling to Sullivan County, Frank said. 

"We are always happy to help out. We received a call from Dave Costin, who is the Putnam County EMA Director, telling us that Sullivan County had requested our Mobile Command Vehicle. It provides a place for an incident command team to plan and run operations. It has phones, internet, televisions, printers and cameras in it. Anything the team would need for planning, and it can also be used as a mobile dispatch center. Our guys drive it down and set it up so it's operational and then they support anything the team might need. Dave is there also," Frank said. 

A restaurant in Greencastle was the victim of a fire Saturday night.

The Greencastle Fire Department responded to a call of a structure fire at the Putnam Inn, 400 North Jackson St. 

Upon arrival, there was smoke and a fire was located outside the building. 

The fire was quickly extinguished  and firefighters entered the building for further investigation. Upon investigation the fire was determined out and the box alarm was struck. 

Two employees were inside the building at the time of the fire. They found a basket of towels on fire in the storage area. They threw the basket out the back door of the building. Their quick actions kept the fire from spreading and getting worse, according to officials. 

Other than smoke there was a small amount of damage inside the building located in the storage area. 

No injuries were reported.