A Wednesday afternoon traffic stop resulted in two men spending the rest of the day behind bars on multiple charges.
At 3:15 P.M., Senior Trooper Jarrod Lents observed a green 1997 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck disregard a stop sign on Weisbach Road at Sherfick School Road near Shoals.
Trooper Lents pulled the truck over and began speaking with the two occupants. Lents learned that the driver, 39 year old Mitchell F. Newton of Dubois, was driving with a suspended driver’s license through Indiana, and had a prior conviction for the same offense.
The passenger, Travis W. Stine, 39, French Lick, initially gave Trooper Lents a false name and information in an attempt to not be identified. Lents later learned and confirmed his correct identification, as well as the fact that he was wanted through Crawford County on a felony theft charge.
During the stop, Lents asked for the assistance of Sheriff Travis Roush and Major Andy Burkhardt of the Martin County Sheriff’s Department. Burkhardt conducted an open-air search with his K9 partner Asher, who positively indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.
Officers searched the vehicle, locating marijuana, a metal smoking pipe, and two syringes. Officers later learned the narcotics and paraphernalia belonged to Stine.
Both Newton and Stine were placed into custody and lodged, without incident, in the Martin County Jail.
Arrested and Charges:
Mitchell F. Newton, 39
Dubois, IN
– Driving While Suspended with a Prior Conviction, Class A Misdemeanor
Travis W. Stine, 39
French Lick, IN
– Illegal Possession of a Syringe, Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
– False Informing, Class B Misdemeanor
– Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor
Two from Pekin were taken by ambulance to separate hospitals this afternoon after a crash on State Road 135 closed the road for over an hour.
Indiana State Police Trooper Phillip Baker said a Silver Mitsubishi SUV struck the rear-end of a Blue Ford Mercury sedan, flipping the SUV in the middle of the road.
Shannon Hinkle, 35, Pekin, was distracted by her child in the backseat, said Baker. “When she turned around she didn’t have time to stop before impact.”
She was taken by ambulance to Floyd Memorial Hospital. Baker did not know her condition.
Jack Floyd, 83, Pekin, was stopped in the Mercury. He was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent Salem Hospital. Baker said he has a laceration above one eye.
CINCINNATI — It’s been viewed as a formality for years, but it finally came to pass on Wednesday. Cincinnati’s hometown player and former Reds star Ken Griffey Jr. is now officially in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In his first year of eligibility on the ballot, Griffey was elected on a record 99.3 percent of the ballots, and he just missed being unanimous with 437 out of 440 votes. The record had previously belonged to former Mets and Reds pitching great Tom Seaver, who was elected in 1992 with 98.8 percent of the vote.
“Excited, nervous,” Griffey said about the moment. “I want to thank you guys for voting for me, the Baseball Writers’ Association [of America]. I want to thank you for putting pen to paper and punching out my name. … It’s truly an honor.”
Top 10 vote-getters by percentage
Year
Player
Ballots cast
Votes
%
2016
Ken Griffey Jr.
440
437
99.30
1992
Tom Seaver
430
425
98.84
1999
Nolan Ryan
497
491
98.79
2007
Cal Ripken Jr.
545
537
98.53
1936
Ty Cobb
226
222
98.23
1999
George Brett
497
488
98.19
1982
Hank Aaron
415
406
97.83
2007
Tony Gwynn
545
532
97.60
2015
Randy Johnson
549
534
97.27
2014
Greg Maddux
571
555
97.20
Joining Griffey as a 2016 Hall of Fame inductee is former Dodgers and Mets catcher Mike Piazza, who received 83 percent of the vote. Both will be inducted on July 24 in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Despite being a lock for being granted baseball immortality, Griffey said he tried not to think about becoming a Hall of Famer. Very superstitious, he admitted to playing in the Hall of Fame Game three times at nearby Doubleday Field, but he would never set foot in the Hall of Fame museum itself or even drive in front of it.
“I could control how I played and how I do things. But I can’t control what other people do for you. To get the call is unbelievable,” Griffey said.
During a 22-season career from 1989-2010 — spent primarily with Seattle and Cincinnati — Griffey batted .284/.370/.538, and his 630 home runs are ranked sixth all-time. His 1,836 RBIs are ranked 15th all-time and he hit 40 or more homers in five consecutive seasons, including a career-high 56 homers in a season in both 1997 and ’98.
“Ken made things that were not supposed to be easy, look easy,” said former left fielder Adam Dunn, Griffey’s Reds teammate from 2001-08. “There are very few players who had more fun playing the game. He loved playing, and we loved watching. Ken is one of my favorite people, both as a professional and on a personal level. He not only is a Hall of Famer on the field, but he also is one off it.”
2016 Hall of Fame results
440 votes were cast, 330 needed for election
Votes
Player
Percentage
437
Ken Griffey Jr.
99.3%
365
Mike Piazza
83.0%
315
Jeff Bagwell
71.6%
307
Tim Raines
69.8%
296
Trevor Hoffman
67.3%
230
Curt Schilling
52.3%
199
Roger Clemens
45.2%
195
Barry Bonds
44.3%
191
Edgar Martinez
43.4%
189
Mike Mussina
43.0%
180
Alan Trammell
40.9%
150
Lee Smith
34.1%
92
Fred McGriff
20.9%
73
Jeff Kent
16.6%
68
Larry Walker
15.5%
54
Mark McGwire
12.3%
51
Gary Sheffield
11.6%
46
Billy Wagner
10.5%
31
Sammy Sosa
7.0%
Players who missed the 5 percent threshold and are no longer on the ballot: Jim Edmonds (2.5%), Nomar Garciaparra (1.8%), Mike Sweeney (0.7%), David Eckstein (0.5%), Jason Kendall (0.5%), Garret Anderson (0.2%), Brad Ausmus (0.0%), Luis Castillo (0.0%), Troy Glaus (0.0%), Mark Grudzielanek (0.0%), Mike Hampton (0.0%), Mike Lowell (0.0%) and Randy Winn (0.0%).
The unanimous winner of the 1997 American League Most Valuable Player Award, Griffey was also a 10-time All-Star (and ’92 All-Star Game MVP), a seven-time AL Silver Slugger Award winner, a recipient of 10 consecutive AL Gold Glove Awards from ’90-99 and a member of the All-Century Team that was named in ’99.
The son of Big Red Machine member Ken Griffey Sr., the 46-year-old Griffey Jr. is the first overall No. 1 Draft pick to enter the Hall of Fame. He was selected by the Mariners in 1987 out of Moeller High School in Cincinnati.
With that connection in mind, Griffey requested a trade to his hometown team after the 1999 season. On Feb. 10, 2000, the Mariners honored his request by dealing him to the Reds. During his nine seasons in Cincinnati from ’00-08, Griffey ranked seventh in franchise history with 210 home runs. He hit career milestone homers Nos. 500 and 600 while in a Cincinnati uniform.
The Reds traded Griffey to the White Sox during the 2008 season. Unfortunately for him and the club, he left with unfinished business. Between ’00-07, Griffey missed 453 games with injuries, including a torn right hamstring. The Reds only enjoyed one winning season, which was during Griffey’s first year with Cincinnati.
However, Griffey remains one of the more special players to ever wear the Reds’ uniform.
Reds shortstop great Barry Larkin was Griffey’s teammate from 2000-04, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame in ’12. Griffey and Larkin will be now be reunited in Cooperstown.
“Ken Griffey Jr. had the prettiest swing I have ever seen,” Larkin said. “Not only was the swing pretty, but it was effective. He hit for average, for power, and he hit in situations. He played the game the right way offensively, he impacted the game defensively. Junior had great range, tremendous athleticism and a cannon of an arm. And he played with a smile on his face. It was an honor to play alongside one of the greatest players in the history of the game.”
The Griffeys go back-to-back
9/14/90: Ken Griffey Jr. follows his father’s homer with one of his own, making them the first father/son tandem to connect in the same game
The BBWAA has never unanimously elected a player on its Hall of Fame ballot. Griffey did not hold a grudge against the three writers who did not check his name.
“I can’t be upset. It’s truly an honor to be elected,” Griffey said. “To have the highest percentage is definitely a shock, because I don’t think that way. I was just hoping. The big thing is to get into the Hall of Fame. As long as you get in, that’s what it is.”
Louisville Bats manager Delino DeShields and pitching coach Ted Power will return to the team’s field staff for the 2016 season. They will be joined by new hitting coach Jody Davis and new trainer Steve Gober.
DeShields, 46, will skipper the Bats for his second season following the promotion of former Bats manager Jim Riggleman to the Reds’ staff. Louisville finished third in the International League West at 64-80 in 2015 in DeShields’ first campaign. The 2016 season will be his eighth overall in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization and seventh as a manager. DeShields has also managed at Double-A Pensacola (2013-2014), Class A Dayton (2011-2012) and Rookie Billings (2010). He began his tenure with the Reds as Billings’ hitting coach in 2009.
DeShields was the 12th overall draft pick by the Montreal Expos in the 1987 June draft out of Seaford High School in Seaford, Del. He made his Major League debut in 1990 and went on to play in 1,615 games with the Expos, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles and Cubs through 2002, mostly at second base. He finished his big league career with a .268 batting average and his 463 career stolen bases currently rank him 50th all-time.
Power, 60, returns for his 11th season as Bats pitching coach. Louisville pitchers have recorded a 3.97 ERA and have authored 96 shutouts during Power’s tenure with the Bats. He enjoyed a 13-year Major League career spending time with eight organizations, including six seasons with the Reds. Power was previously the pitching coach at Dayton (2002) and Billings (2000-2001).
Davis, 59, enters his first season in the Reds organization after spending two seasons as a hitting coach in the San Diego Padres’ system at Triple-A El Paso (2014-2015) and Class A Lake Elisnore (2014). He replaces Tony Jaramillo, who served as Louisville’s hitting coach from 2013-2015 and was promoted to assistant hitting coach with the Reds for 2016. Davis previously spent time in the Chicago Cubs’ system as manager at Class A Boise (2010), Class A Daytona (2007-2008) and Class A Peoria (2006). He was the Cubs’ minor league catching coordinator in 2009. Davis enjoyed a 10-year Major League career with the Cubs (1981-1988), where he was an All-Star in 1984 and 1986, and the Atlanta Braves (1988-1990). In 1986, he won a Rawlings Gold Glove and threw out a modern-day record 89 attempted base stealers. He recorded a .245 career average with 127 home runs and 490 RBI.
Gober enters his first season in the Reds organization after working with the Washington Nationals since 2002, including the three most recent seasons as assistant athletic trainer on the big league staff. He replaces Jimmy Mattocks, who served as Louisville’s trainer from 2011-2015 and was promoted to assistant athletic trainer with the Reds for 2016. Gober played golf and baseball at Shenandoah University and earned a degree in kinesiology/sports medicine in 1998.
The Bats’ new strength and conditioning coach is still to be determined. Cody Clark served in the role in 2015.
The Bats will open their 2016 schedule with a seven-game road trip beginning April 7 before the home opener on Thursday, April 14 vs. Toledo at 7:05 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 6, 2016) – As of noon today, Multi-State Lottery Officials have increased tonight’s estimated Powerball jackpot to $500 million. Swift sales nationwide prompted a $50 million midday increase for the second day in a row.
Powerball players haven’t had a shot at this much money in nearly a year, since February 2015. Powerball has cracked the $500 million mark only three other times. If won tonight, the $500 million jackpot would be the FOURTH largest in the game’s history.
$590 million May 2013 (won in Florida) ALL TIME POWERBALL RECORD
$587 million in November 2012 (won in Arizona and Missouri)
$564 million in February 2015 (split by three tickets in Texas, Puerto Rico and North Carolina).
CURRENT $450 MILLION ESTIMATE
$448 million in August 2013 ( won in Minnesota and New Jersey)
$425 million in February 2014 (won in California)
Indiana leads the nation in Powerball jackpot wins with 38. The biggest Powerball jackpot prize ever won in Indiana was $314.5 million.
Mr. Kevin G. Wheeler age 47 of Salem passed away Tuesday, January 5 at Meadow View Health and Rehab.
Mr. Wheeler was born March 7, 1968 in Salem the son of Danny Michael and Sharon L. Williams Wheeler. He was a former logger.
He is survived by a son: Zach Wheeler, two brothers: Danny Wheeler and Robert Allen Wheeler, and two sisters: Melissa Mason and Ladonna Melton. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation was chosen and there will be no services or visitation.
Famed rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have churned out chart toppers with hits “Thrift Shop,” “Can’t Hold Us,” and the latest sensation, “Downtown.” They will be in town next year to spend an evening with fans at the Louisville Palace on January 31.
Part of the duo’s appeal is their innovation and reliance on ideas and lyrics that go against much of hip-hop’s traditional swagger. “Thrift Shop” talks of a penchant for secondhand clothes, while the Heist song “Same Love” features singer-songwriter Mary Lambert in a celebration of same-sex unions. The two musicians have become a powerhouse in delivering lyrics with a strong message accompanied by infectious musical beats.
The pair was nominated for seven Grammy awards at the 56th Annual Grammys, winning four awards, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (The Heist), Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance (“Thrift Shop”). Macklemore and Ryan Lewis hadn’t released a new album since the incredibly successful Heist. Now, with a new album coming up that already has hits on the charts, this tour already has a high demand.
Tickets are $49.50-$70.00 in advance. Showtime is 8:00 p.m. – Doors open at 7:00 p.m. All ages are welcome. Service charges not included on ticket prices. Tickets subject to price increases day of show. Tickets may be purchased at www.louisvillepalace.com or at The Louisville Palace Box Office, 625 South Fourth Street. Box office hours are Monday – Friday, 12pm to 5pm.
The Indiana State Police is now accepting applications for the 76th Recruit Acadmey. Don’t delay if you’re looking to start your law enforcement career. The deadline to submit an on-line application is 11:59 p.m. on January 6, 2016.
Visit this YouTube link to see a 15 second video with information on where to submit an application: https://youtu.be/ea-ic_JDiIs
The annual Purdue Extension Beef Cow-Calf Improvement Seminar will provide a market outlook for 2016 and trends that might help cattle producers determine when and how to sell their calves to receive the best price.
Market needs will also be discussed and will include consumer demands and how Indiana cattle compare to other states.
Purdue Extension hopes this seminar will provide producers with strategies to improve return on investment – back-grounding, creep feeding, selling in pools and more.
Speakers for the day’s program include Dr. Jim Mintert – Purdue Center for Commercial Ag., Mr. David Trowbridge – Gregory Feedlots, Dr. Devin Laurent – University of Kentucky and Dr. Andrew Griffith – University of Tennessee, some of the top experts on this topic.
The Beef Management Seminar will be Saturday, January 16 at the Orange County Community Center (1075 N. Sandy Hook Rd., Paoli 47454) from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. Registration is $30 per person, students are $15. The fee includes meals, snacks and take-home reference materials.
For more information or to register contact the Purdue Extension – Orange County office at 812-723-7107 or the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at 812-883-4601.
Famed rap duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have churned out chart toppers with hits “Thrift Shop,” “Can’t Hold Us,” and the latest sensation, “Downtown.” They will be in town next year to spend an evening with fans at the Louisville Palace on January 31.
