A Dubois man was jailed Sunday afternoon on OWI charges after planning to meet someone in the parking lot of the State Police Post in Jasper.

Arrested was Jacon A. Zehr, II, 41, 8412 North Crystal Road, Dubois. He was charged with Operating while Intoxicated with minor passengers, level 6 Felony and Neglect of a dependent (times 2) a Level 6 Felony.

Around 5:50 this afternoon, Zehr II, pulled into the parking lot of the State Police Post in Jasper, and parked his white 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier near the garage.

Noticing this was a strange place for someone to park, Senior Trooper Jarrod Lents, who was working as the District Duty Officer, approached Zehr and asked if he needed any help.

As Zehr was explaining that he was there as a meeting spot to drop off his two children with their mother, Senior Trooper Lents could smell the odor of alcoholic beverages.

After further investigation by Senior Trooper Lents and Trooper Ross Johnson, Zehr was found to have an alcohol level of .08%.

Zehr was lodged in the Dubois County Security Center on charges of Operating While Intoxicated with Minor Passengers and two counts of Neglect of a Dependent, all Level 6 felonies.

THIS WEEK IS SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN INDIANA.

EVERYONE HAS A CRITICAL ROLE IN SAFETY DURING SEVERE WEATHER. WE WILL DISCUSS ROLES OF KEY PLAYERS AND PLANNING FOR SEVERE WEATHER.

THOUGH SEVERE WEATHER CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR YEAR…IT OCCURS MOST OFTEN FROM APRIL TO JULY. SO…MANY PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES BEGIN DURING LATE WINTER PRIOR TO THE MAIN STORM SEASON.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES TRAIN VOLUNTEERS CALLED SKYWARN SPOTTERS. THESE SPOTTERS REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABOUT WHAT THE STORMS ARE DOING. THESE REPORTS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WARNING PROCESS. SKYWARN SPOTTERS LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY…REPORT AND STAY SAFE FROM SEVERE WEATHER. SEE YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE FOR SPOTTER TRAINING DATES AND LOCATIONS.

TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS ARE KEY PLAYERS IN WEATHER SAFETY BY BROADCASTING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATCHES AND WARNINGS TO THE PUBLIC. THEY ALSO PROVIDE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION IN PROGRAM SPECIALS…OUTREACH FUNCTIONS AND DURING THREATENING WEATHER. THE
MEDIA ALSO REPORTS ON RECOVERY EFFORTS AND WAYS TO GET HELP IN RECOVERY. STATIONS ALSO RELAY THE STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL WARNING.

NEWSPAPERS ARE INVOLVED TOO BY PROMOTING SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK AND CARRYING STORIES OF DAMAGING OR SIGNIFICANT WEATHER EVENTS.

STATE AND COUNTY HOMELAND SECURITY AGENCIES ALSO PREPARE FOR SEVERE WEATHER. THESE FOLKS PLAN AND PREPARE FOR DISASTERS AND HELP IN THE RECOVERY EFFORTS WHEN NEEDED. HOMELAND SECURITY WORKS WITH OTHER OFFICIALS TO COORDINATE ACTIONS FOR ALL TYPES OF HAZARDS. COUNTY
HOMELAND SECURITY ALSO HELPS ARRANGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING IN THEIR COUNTY AND SUPPORTS LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITIES…SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES WITH WEATHER SAFETY PROCEDURES.

STATE…COUNTY AND LOCAL HIGHWAY…LAW ENFORCEMENT…FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS ALSO PLAN AHEAD FOR WEATHER EMERGENCIES. COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARE CONSTANTLY MONITORED TO ENSURE PROPER
OPERATION. THE INDIANA STATE POLICE DISSEMINATES NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WATCHES AND WARNINGS TO THE COUNTIES. MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL RECEIVE SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING…PARTICIPATE IN STORM SPOTTING…AND AID CITIZENS WHEN DISASTERS OCCUR. ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS AFTER STORMS CAUSE PROBLEMS.

SCHOOLS…THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS. THAT ROLE IS TO KNOW HOW WEATHER MAY THREATEN…TO HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION…TO EXERCISE THE PLAN…AND THEN TO USE IT WHEN SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES.
EVERYONE MUST REMAIN AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER…ACTIVELY MONITOR SOURCES OF WEATHER INFORMATION DURING WATCHES…AND TAKE ACTION WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED OR STORMS THREATEN.

ON MONDAY…WE WILL DISCUSS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOKS AND WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD DO LONG BEFORE ANY HAZARDOUS WEATHER OCCURS.

Area police have been busy this week finding more than 150 one pot meth labs in the WSLM listening area.

Seven people were arrested in connection with a crystal methamphetamine operation in Jackson County, Indiana on Thursday.

Det. Ben Rudolph was contacted by detectives with the Bedford Police Department who provided information which led to the arrests of multiple individuals in Medora.

Det. Rudolph applied for a search warrant for a residence located at 114 N. Jackson St. in Medora, IN.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called to assist in the execution of the search warrant.

During the search of the residence a large amount of crystal methamphetamine was located, large amounts of US currency, and various other drug paraphernalia items throughout the home.

• Anthony Lane, 45, faces distribution of methamphetamine charges, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia charges.
• Ronetta Lane, 43, and Jennifer East are charged with possession of a controlled substance, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia.
• Joshua Lane, 23 – charged with maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia.
• Tucker Brewer, 19 – charged with possession of marijuana and visiting a common nuisance
• Joseph Blake, 40, faces charges of possession of paraphernalia and visiting a common nuisance and Talia Blake, 33 stands charged with visiting a common nuisance.

Detective Rudolph was assisted by law enforcement officers with the Bedford Police Department, Lawrence County Police Department, Brownstown Police Department and Medora Police Department.

This investigation is still ongoing and additional charges could be filed.

Wednesday morning, a French Lick man was arrested after police found more than 150 one pot meth labs, marijuana and drug paraphernalia at his home.

Indiana State troopers, Orange County deputies and an officer from the Paoli and French Lick police departments went to a home on Roosevelt Street in French Lick.

They arrested 36-year-old Frank Willyard.

The Indiana State Police Meth Suppression team secured the scene and disposed of an estimated 150 one pot meth labs and hazardous chemicals used to make the drug. The labs were found in the home and found in the woods near the home.

The investigation is ongoing and is now focused on the individuals that were or are purchasing or supplying items needed to manufacture meth, more arrest are expected.

Three people were also arrested Wednesday after a Bedford Police officer pulled over a vehicle at Steven and Michael avenues.

Police arrested:

• 41-year-old Christopher Huff of Medora on charges of possession of meth, possession of a legend drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance.
• 34-year-old April Hardy of Medora on charges of visiting a common nuisance, possession of meth, possession of a legend drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• 22-year-old Philip Walters of Orleans on charges of visiting a common nuisance, possession of meth, possession of a legend drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.