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Input Sought on Four-Year Transportation Plan

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VINCENNES, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation is hosting regional open houses around the state to collect input on its draft four-year transportation plan. INDOT needs the public’s help in identifying projects and improvements that will enhance safety, mobility and economic growth while protecting the environment.INDOT_Logo_BW-a

Open houses

INDOT invites the public to attend one of its remaining regional open houses listed below, which are all being held from 4 to 7 p.m.Eastern time.

Southwest Indiana: Tuesday, March 31 at INDOT’s Vincennes Sub-District Office, 3650 South U.S. Highway 41 in Vincennes

  • Southeast Indiana: Tuesday, April 7 at INDOT’s Seymour District Office, 185 Agrico Lane in Seymour
  • Northwest Indiana: Thursday, April 9 at INDOT’s LaPorte District Office, 315 East Boyd Blvd. in LaPorte
  • East Central Indiana: Tuesday, April 14 at INDOT’s Traffic Management Center, 8620 E. 21st St. in Indianapolis
  • West Central Indiana: Thursday, April 16 at the Ivy Tech Crawfordsville Campus, 2325 Phil Ward Blvd. in Crawfordsville

 

The open houses are an opportunity to meet with INDOT staff in an informal setting where discussion and conversation will be welcomed and appreciated. During each open house, INDOT officials will be available to address questions and solicit input on a variety of programs including planning, project selection, multimodal, highway safety, economic opportunity, local projects, public involvement and district operations.

About the STIP

To use federal funds, a transportation project must be listed or amended into the statewide transportation improvement program.

INDOT’s draft STIP lists all transportation projects considered regionally significant or planned for federal funds from July 2015 through June 2019. The document anticipates the funds available for various transportation modes, including highways, transit and trails.

INDOT develops the STIP in cooperation with metropolitan planning organizations, which produce their own local transportation improvement programs. INDOT reviews and incorporates the metropolitan TIPs into the statewide document by reference.

Provide input

INDOT’s Draft STIP is available for public review at the regional open houses and for download at www.in.gov/indot/3132.htm. The public may submit comments through:

The web comment form at www.in.gov/indot/3132.htm,

  1. Email addressed to draftstip@indot.in.gov,
  2. Postal mail addressed to Michael McNeil, INDOT STIP Director, 100 N. Senate Ave., IGCN 955, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or
  3. Paper comment forms at one of the regional open houses.

INDOT respectfully requests that all comments be submitted or postmarked by Thursday, April 30. INDOT will then collate and respond to comments and questions on the record as part of the final STIP.

 Special accommodations

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, INDOT can make special accommodations for persons needing auxiliary aids or services of interpreters, signers, readers, or large print. Please direct requests for accommodations to Rickie Clark, INDOT’s Office of Public Involvement, at 317-232-6601 or rclark@indot.in.gov.

Gov. Pence To Meet With Scott County Official

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Gov. Mike Pence is to visit Scott County and meet with local officials about an HIV outbreak that Pence’s office says “has reached epidemic proportions.”

Pence is scheduled to travel with state health commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams and state epidemiologist Pam Pontones to Scottsburg for this afternoon’s meeting.

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The governor will issue a public health disaster emergency Thursday for Scott County, but the scope of that order will be determined by what he hears from local officials today.

State health officials said Friday that 55 HIV cases have been confirmed in southern Indiana. Scott County is the epicenter of that epidemic.

Federal health officials will begin working in the area this week. At the same time, a local doctor is pushing for a change in state law he believes could help contain the spread.

The CDC is stepping in to help. Disease Intervention Specialists and what’s called an “Epi-Aid” team are expected to start this week.

Most of those infected shared needles while injecting a powerful prescription painkiller, but some of the HIV cases have been linked to unprotected sex.

DOT closing I-65 lanes near Austin

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The Indiana Department of Transportation is closing single lanes on Interstate 65 between mile markers 33.5 and 38.5 this week on either side of Austin. 
 
Outside I-65 lanes—both northbound and southbound—are currently closed to allow INDOT’s contractor to complete operations on the $54.7 million design/build project between Scottsburg and Seymour.  Wednesday through Friday, inside lanes—both northbound and southbound—will be closed to traffic.
 
John R. Jurgensen Company, the state’s contractor, has crews working in median and shoulder areas along the north-south highway. 
 
This INDOT project has renovated 21 lane miles of pavement and rehabilitated 20 bridges between State Road 56 in Scott County and U.S. 50 in Jackson County.
 
For highway information, monitor social media sites: www.Facebook.com/INDOTSoutheast and Twitter @INDOTSoutheast.  Verify travel plans at TrafficWise:  http://www.trafficwise.in.gov.

Accepting Entries for Upcoming 47th Annual Orleans Dogwood Festival Parade

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Entries are now being accepted for the upcoming 47th annual Orleans Dogwood Festival Parade set for Saturday, May 2nd beginning at 12 Noon. Categories include floats, political, walking, equestrian, classic and/or antique vehicle, bands etc.

The hometown parade will start from the Orleans High School, located on the north end of town. The school traditionally serves as the staging area for the event. Line up begins at 9 a.m. and continues up until 11 a.m. Judging of units begins at approximately 11 a.m.

The Parade travels down Maple St (SR 37 S.) and through the historic downtown area.

Entry forms may be obtained by visiting the dogwood festival websitewww.orleansdogwoodfestvial.com  Entry forms also will be available from TheOrleans Progress Examiner, The Orleans Library and Orleans Town offices.

 

ARBOR DAY EVENT PLANNED AT SPRING MILL

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The public can help Spring Mill State Park celebrate national Arbor Day next month by supporting tree planting efforts in the campground.

Spring Mill is seeking donations to buy trees to replace the more than 100 ash trees the campground lost to the emerald ash borer infestation.

The park also needs volunteers to help plant the new trees on Saturday, April 25, the day after Arbor Day. Planting will start at 10 a.m.

The park plans to buy 100 to 150 trees through donations. Prices range from $30 to $40 per tree.

Checks should be made to Spring Mill State Park. Donations can be brought to the park office or mailed to P.O. Box 376, Mitchell, IN 47446. (Be sure to specify this is an Arbor Day donation.)

If you are unable to donate but would like to volunteer, email springmillstatepark@dnr.IN.gov or call (812) 849-3534.

Salem Man busted for Heroin, Meth, Pot and Guns

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A 28 year old Salem man was arrested Wednesday as part of an ongoing drug investigation with the Indiana State Police and jailed in the Washington County Detention Center.

Arrested was Brandon A. Durbin, 28, 1651 Sparks Ferry Road in Salem on the following charges:

  • Dealing in Heroine – Level 3 felony, Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 4 felony
  • Dealing in Schedule 3 Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
  • Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
  • Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
  • Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony
  • Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony
  • Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor

Durbin also had in his possession several stolen guns and over $10,000 in cash.

Indiana State Police investigators served a search warrant near Salem on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

As a result of the search warrant, numerous drugs and drug related items as well as weapons and cash were taken into evidence.

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At approximately 7:30 Wednesday morning, Troopers from the Sellersburg State Police Post along with officers from the Salem Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant for the residence located at 1651 Sparks Ferry Road in Salem.

The residence was occupied by Durbin along with his girlfriend.

Upon entering the house officers discovered and confiscated methamphetamine and marijuana as well as numerous shotguns, rifles and pistols.

While conducting the search, numerous items believed to be stolen from a Salem business were also located including tools, lawn and garden equipment and appliances.

Officers from the Salem Police Department then began a separate investigation into the items which were later confirmed to be stolen.

Rep. Davisson sponsors Work Ethic Certification measure

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As we move through the second half of session, the House will continue to discuss and pass Senate Bills. Education initiatives continue to be a priority for House Republicans, and I am proud to sponsor Senate Bill (SB) 356, which is a work ethic certification measure for students.

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Our children are our future and so providing them with skills that will help them succeed professionally will allow Indiana to continue with economic growth.

The bill encourages employers to work with schools to create a program in which students develop work ethic skills necessary for success in higher education or employment. Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded a work ethic certificate. I believe the requirements for the programs are comprehensive, and take into account not only school performance but work away from the classroom. The Senate approved the bill 37-13, and it has been referred to the House Education Committee.

The certification program will facilitate young Hoosiers in gaining skills that employers are looking for when they are hiring and will enhance their ability to be hired in the future while learning values that are necessary for a work environment. It is important that children learn these skills early so that before they get out into their higher-education or professional environment they understand what is expected of them.

Under this bill, school corporations who wish to participate would develop a program in which students develop work ethic skills necessary in higher education corporations and the workplace. The school corporations would work with local employers or the local Workforce Board, or both, to develop the program. Some of the suggested skills could include: attendance and punctuality, academic success, organization and efficiency, initiative, teamwork and dependability. Schools would be encouraged to create this program and award the students who exemplify these attributes to receive the Work Ethic Certificate at graduation.

The Center of Workforce Innovations was selected by Indiana Workforce Development in 2005 to pilot the Work Ethic Certification program for high school students. In fact, 10 schools in Northwest and Southeast Indiana award Work Ethic Certificates to students who have near-perfect attendance in school, perform community service and demonstrate other workforce attitudes like initiative and responsibility.

As we work through session, I will continue to keep Indiana’s budget, education, ethics and public safety at the forefront of my decisions. I encourage you to continue tracking legislation using http://iga.in.gov and please feel free to contact my office at 1-800-382-9841. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, and I am eager to continue to facilitate with the legislative process.

Rep. Davisson congratulates local families on long-standing farms

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State Representative Steve Davisson (R-Salem) congratulates two local families for receiving the Hoosier Homestead Award. The awards were presented by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann in the Farm Bureau Building at the Indiana State Fair.davisson farm

The Hoosier Homestead Award Program recognizes farming families that have owned and operated the same farm for 100 years or more. Centennial awards were given for 100 years of ownership, while sesquicentennial and bicentennial awards were given for 150 and 200 years of ownership respectively.

The following list includes the local families that received Hoosier Homestead Awards:

The Roger L. Spurgeon Farm, located in Washington County, has been operated since 1864 and received the Sesquicentennial award.

The Charles Michael Boling Farm, located in Washington County, has been operated since 1906 and received the Centennial award.

“Family farms provide a significant contribution to Indiana’s agriculture industry,” said Rep. Davisson. “The Spurgeon and Boiling Day families are deserving of recognition for their hard work and significant role in shaping Indiana’s economy.”

In 1976, the program was first established to acknowledge the contributions made by these long-standing, farming families to Indiana’s economy, reputation and overall advancement. Since the program’s inception, roughly 5,000 farms have been recognized for their dedication to Hoosier agriculture.

“These families’ dedication to our state keeps Indiana growing,” said. Rep. Davisson “They are active community members who provide agriculture and economic gain that are vital to their hometowns and our nation as a whole.”

Each year, two award ceremonies are held; one at the Statehouse in March and the other at the State Fair in August. For more information on the Hoosier Homestead Award Program or to nominate a family for the award, visit www.in.gov/isda/2337.

Trooper Jason Dunsworth Promoted to Detective

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On Monday, March 16, Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter promoted Trooper Jason Dunsworth as a Trooper Detective to serve the Jasper Post.

Dunsworth is a native of Spencer County and a 1999 graduate of Heritage Hills High School. After high school, Dunsworth enlisted in the United States Air Force. After returning home from the Air Force, Dunsworth began his law enforcement career with the Santa Claus Police Department from 2004 until 2007, and served the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office from 2007 until 2012.

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Dunsworth graduated from the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy as a member of the 72nd Academy in 2012. He was assigned to the Jasper District, where he patrolled Crawford and Spencer Counties. As a member of the Indiana State Police, Dunsworth has served as a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon and has had training on child forensic interviews.

Detective Dunsworth and his family reside in Spencer County.

Branchville man arrested

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A Branchville man was arrested on Felony OWI charges late Monday evening.

In custody is Cody T. Winkler, 21, 12820 East Bandon Road, Branchville, IN. He is charged with operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a Level 6 Felony.owi-arrest_nbc15

Around 9:36 P.M., Trooper Charlie Johnson observed an eastbound Jeep SUV on State Road 66 in Cannelton. The vehicle matched the description of a dispatch broadcasted by the Tell City Police Department as a possible reckless driver. After observing the Jeep make multiple traffic violations, Trooper Johnson pulled over the vehicle. While speaking with the driver, Cody T. Winkler, 21, Branchville, Trooper Johnson detected the odor of alcoholic beverages and signs of impairment.

Trooper Johnson later learned that Winkler had a blood alcohol content of .192%, more than twice the legal limit. Winkler had previously been convicted for Operating While Intoxicated, which enhances this charge to a felony. Winkler was lodged without incident in the Perry County Jail.

The Indiana State Police remains committed to removing impaired and dangerous drivers from Indiana’s roadways. As in this case, if you observe what appears to be a reckless or dangerous driver, call 911 and inform the dispatch operator of your location, the vehicle description, direction of travel, and in what manner the driver is operating recklessly.