Indiana Conservation Officers with the assistance of Indiana State Police arrested three on drug charges in the Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area.

Joseph P. Reed, 30, Columbus, was arrested on charges of possession of meth, possession of a controlled substance, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, possession of drug paraphernalia along with several other charges.

Alex R. Lawson, 21, Texas, is facing charges of possession of meth, possession of a syringe and maintaining a common nuisance.

Kristen L. Fields, 18, Columbus, was arrested on charges of possession of meth, possession of a syringe and visiting a common nuisance.

According to police at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday, an Indiana State Police K-9 search a vehicle in Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area and alerted police there was drugs in the vehicle.

Police found approximately 65 used syringes, various drugs, scales, and other items associated with drug use. They also found that Reed had a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun.

Indiana Conservation Officers encourage citizens to contact 1-800-TIP-IDNR or ICO Central Dispatch at 812-873-9536 to report any violations on DNR property or any suspicious activity.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari hosted the park’s tenth annual “Walk to Cure Diabetes” today, raising more than $350,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Holiday World donated tickets to JDRF for today’s event; those tickets were “earned” by more than 1,300 individuals, families, and teams who raised donations for the Walk.

Holiday World has helped raise nearly $3 million for JDRF since the park’s late president, Will Koch – who was diabetic – started the event in 2006. Koch’s daughters, Leah and Lauren, were on hand this morning to thank the walkers.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari are open daily beginning Wednesday. New this year is Thunderbird, America’s first launched wing roller coaster. For more information, visit HolidayWorld.com or call 1-877-463-2645.

The Honorable Richard L. Young, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is pleased to announce the appointment of New Albany attorney Van T. Willis as part-time United States Magistrate Judge.

Judge Willis took his oath of office in a private ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2015. Judge Willis fills the vacancy created by the passing of the Honorable Michael G. Naville, who served the court from November 1995 to September 2014.

Judge Willis presides over preliminary criminal proceedings in the New Albany Division of the Southern District of Indiana. He also continues to practice civil law as a senior partner with the firm of Kightlinger & Gray, LLP.

He has been with the firm since 1991, and his primary areas of practice are civil rights, corporate and business law, employment, insurance defense litigation, trademark and copyright infringement, and worker’s compensation. From 1989 to 1991,

Judge Willis served as a law clerk to United States District Judge Gene E. Brooks.

Judge Willis was born and raised in Franklin, Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky for both his undergraduate and law degrees.

Judge Willis was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1988 and is also admitted to practice before the Indiana Bar; the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Indiana, Western District of Kentucky, and Eastern District of Kentucky; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Judge Willis is also engaged in many civic activities, currently serving as president of the Governing Board of Floyd County Head Start; vice-president of the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of Providence High School; and as a member of the Board of Directors of Goodwill of Southern Indiana. Judge Willis and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 26 years and have four children.

Part-time Magistrate Judges are appointed by the Judges of the United States District Courts for terms of four years and are eligible for reappointment to successive terms.