A Lanesville mother was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges after a search uncovered methamphetamine and meth lab materials at her residence.
Amanda Berkley, 33, 7426 Main Street in Lanesville, was arrested on the following charges: Possession of Precursors with the intent to Manufacture – Level 6 Felony, Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony, Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony, Neglect of a Dependent – Level 6 Felony, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor.
On April 1, 2015 troopers from the Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Section assisted officers from the Harrison County Probation Department while conducting a home visit at Berkley’s home in Lanesville.
During their investigation troopers obtained a search warrant for the residence and methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and precursors to manufacture methamphetamine were located.
Berkley’s minor children were removed from the residence in accordance with Indiana’s Drug Endangered Children Policy and were placed in the custody of a family member.
Living with a disability can be a real challenge, Kevin Burk said Thursday in a press conference announcing a new emergency form that could help save the lives of those disabled.
“It takes heart, takes spirit, a lot of courage…the most important thing it takes is the help of a good support team,” said Burk, who is the Washington County Coordinator for the Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living.
Washington County Emergency Management Director Desi Alexander, Police Chief Troy Merry and Fire Chief Tom Day will work with Kevin Burk, the Washington County Coordinator for SICIL develop a form that will provide additional information for disabled residents. The information will help emergency personnel be able to act quicker to save these residents in times of emergencies.
“We came up with this idea – the emergency ADA form…. that hopefully will help those with disabilities become more independent and get help in the need of an emergency,” said Burk.
He’s doing that by working to come up with an information database for those disabled residents in the community. The form is to assist Washington County Emergency Services in more effectively responding to an emergency situation that a disabled person may experience.
“All our lives we’ve been taught what to do In case of a fire,” Burk noted. “We’ve been taught there is a place you can meet outside. Those who are disabled can’t easily do that. What would that plan entail if you physically could not get out of the house in case of a fire? Or if you could not mentally process what was going on? This form will help get information to those who can help you.”
The purpose is to ensure that 911 dispatches and emergency response personnel are aware, in advance, of any information the public feels would be helpful.
Information includes the name, age and physical description of all those in the household as well as telephones numbers, emails, etc.
Burk said he contacted Salem Police Chief Troy Merry and Salem Fire Chief Tom Day after a city council meeting last year and quickly sold them on the idea.
“Kevin had a great idea when he came up with this,” said Day. “I don’t know why we didn’t think of this years ago, but sometimes it takes someone from a different outlook. It’s going to help the disabled community and I’m so happy that it’s information that’s going to help us. We only know what [information] we’re given through that radio.”
The four-page form is available at the Salem Police Department, City Hall, Salem Fire Department and the Washington County Detention Center. (A digital copy is also available at wslmradio.com – linked from this story)
Disabled residents in the community are asked to fill out the forms and return them to the Sheriff’s Department where the information will be made available to 911 dispatchers.
Another important feature of the form is letting 911 dispatchers know what room in the house a particular person likes to be in.
Day said he immediately saw a huge benefit. “When we’re on the way to an accident scene, this information is what we normally are trying to track down on the way,” he said during a meeting in City Hall on Thursday. “Everything like this helps us prepare for what we will find on the scene of a fire, accident or some other scene. “
Kevin said he had heard about it in a meeting and began thinking of his families own emergency plan.
“I’ve had this conversation with my wife. What would happen if our house caught fire? I was born with muscular dystrophy. My wife would have to make a decision to leave me and go save our kids. I would be waiting for the emergency personnel to come and save me,” said Burk. “Any information they had about where I was at in the house, would help them find me and get me out quicker.”
Day was quick to point out the form is not mandatory – “This is strictly voluntary,” he said. “And we’re not saying you’re going to get a better service if you fill this information out….but it will give us more information which can help us help you more.”
Merry added that any information is great information in the face of the unknown.
“The best time we have for information is on the way to a scene. This right here is going to fill us in on a lot of information,” said Merry. “When we get to the scene, there isn’t a lot of time to find out information. This is going to help us a lot.”
Merry said the Salem Police Department responds to a lot of calls where friends, relatives and neighbors request a safety check on residents.
“A neighbor hasn’t seen someone in a few days,” said Merry. “If this tells us what room someone is regularly found in, then it’s going to help us track them down. Or if we have someone who likes to wander off, then we’ll be able to know they might not be in a house during a fire and expand our search elsewhere. Dispatch is going to have a wealth of information now.”
Day said the database information will work well for the EMS, too.
“There is an increase in those who are obese and if the EMS has to deal with an obese person, sometimes they need to call the fire department for help. With this, they might be able to know what the situation is and call us out at the same time which is going to save time.”
When 911 was established in the early 90s in Washington County, officials collected information from residents about who was in their homes, what kind of hazardous chemicals or flammable materials might be at their homes, in garages or barns.
Desi Alexander, Washington County Emergency Management Director said in many cases this information is outdated. “People have moved and the information hasn’t been updated. We are working to update that information.”
The National Weather Service serving Louisville and Washington and Orange Counties will host a weather spotter class at the Washington County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, April 9 at 6:30p.
It will take place in the Superior Court Room.
To register, please call 812.883.2834 or 812.883.49
An early morning traffic stop ended with a Louisville, KY man being jailed on drug and weapons charges.
Tyler A. Martin, 18, 1134 Lehigh Avenue, Louisville, KY , is in the Spencer County Jail on charges of Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor and Possession of a Handgun without a Permit, Class A Misdemeanor.
At 12:31 this morning, Trooper Ross Johnson was patrolling Interstate 64 east of the Dale exit when he observed a red Dodge Charger traveling westbound at 88 mile per hour.
Trooper Johnson pulled over the vehicle and, while speaking Martin, Johnson smelled the odor of marijuana.
During a search of the vehicle, small amounts of marijuana were found on the front floor board. Additionally, a glass jar containing approximately 34 grams of marijuana and a loaded .22 caliber handgun were found in the trunk. Martin did not possess a permit for the weapon.
Martin was placed into custody without incident and was transported to the Spencer County Jail.
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Saving future nursing students nearly $5,000 is one benefit of the University of Louisville School of Nursing’s revamped RN-to-BSN online program. Some courses have been restructured and others, such as population health and nursing leadership and health policy, are new to the program and reflect the evolving nature of health care.
“In Kentucky, only 33 percent of the nursing workforce is baccalaureate-prepared. The Institute of Medicine has recommended that 80 percent of nurses receive a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020,” said Marcia J. Hern, Ed.D., CNS, RN, dean, UofL School of Nursing. “It is well documented that baccalaureate-prepared nurses have decreased patient deaths and better outcomes in caring for patients with complex diseases.”
The online RN-to-BSN program provides a flexible, cost-effective opportunity for nurses with an associate’s degree or a nursing diploma to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at their own pace. Students can finish the program in as few as 16 months, although they may take more time if needed.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the RN-to-BSN program requires 31 core credits plus 30 portfolio credits. The portfolio consists of a resume’, goal statement, professional development documentation, and other materials to support practice as a professional nurse. These 30 tuition-free credit hours count toward graduation requirements – a value of more than $14,000 in tuition costs.
“The affordability and convenience of the online education platform combined with the strong support of award-winning faculty and access to all university support services makes the online RN-to-BSN program ideal for nurses seeking a baccalaureate degree,” Hern said.
July 1 is the application deadline for classes beginning in Fall 2015.
The investigation into the March 12, 2015 charter bus crash on I-65 has concluded with investigators saying driver error was to blame for the crash which sent 20 passengers and the driver to local hospitals.
The charter bus was carrying 16 members of the Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) men’s and women’s bowling team to Smyrna, Tennessee to compete in a United States Bowling Congress Sectional Competition when it overturned near Henryville, Indiana.
Most of the passengers were released from the hospital on the day of the crash; however, the driver and a few passengers remained hospitalized for several days before being released.
The investigation included interviewing bus passengers and witnesses but also included more in-depth procedures such as attempting to gain information from the Event Data Recorder (EDR), as well physical inspection of the bus by Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement officers, and computerized photographic reconstruction of the scene by crash reconstructionists. The investigation lasted approximately three weeks.
Investigators were hopeful that onboard recording equipment would also shed light on to the cause of the crash; however, the camera stopped recording approximately two miles before the scene of the crash.
The pre-crash recording did not reveal any unusual driving behavior but did confirm that the bus was travelling the posted 70 mph speed limit.
To date, attempts to gain information from the Event Data Recorder have also been unsuccessful. A physical inspection revealed no mechanical issues with the bus.
Taking all available data into account, investigators said the driver, Rex Altenburg, 76, Fort Wayne, Indiana, drove the bus off the left side of the roadway for an unknown reason.
No medical or physical conditions have been attributed to his actions.
Investigators said the driver then over-corrected, putting the bus into a lateral skid back across both southbound lanes of the interstate.
The charter bus rotated clockwise and was facing north before traveling off the east side of I-65. The bus overturned after striking a rocky ditch line approximately 36 feet off the east side of the roadway.
The State Road 56 highway closure will be relocated after Easter weekend to a section of east-west highway between Jim Day Road and the bypass. The closure allows Temple & Temple, prime contractor for the Indiana Department of Transportation’s $4,216,800 S.R. 56 project at Salem, to excavate at a box culvert installation site.
Motorists will continue to use the bypass to circumvent construction. The closure at Jim Day Road will be in place for up to four weeks.
Over the past several weeks, Temple & Temple has been relocating sewer and water lines between High and Anson Streets.
The scope of INDOT’s S.R. 56 project is from High Street to Heritage Chapel Road.
The state highway is being completely reconstructed through Salem—including placement of new sidewalks, curb ramps, retaining walls and storm sewers. In Washington County, S.R. 56 is being repaired and resurfaced. Shoulder widening, construction of passing blisters and replacement of drainage structures is part of that work.
Ladies and gentlemen…Start your engines for the Stones.
The band has announced that they will kick off their new 15-city North American stadium, ZIP CODE tour, in San Diego onMay 24at Petco Park. The band will visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on July 4. The tour will make stops in Columbus, Minneapolis, Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Raleigh, Detroit and Buffalo before wrapping in Quebec onJuly 15at Le Festival D’Été de Québec.
Tickets for Indianapolis will go on saleMonday, April 13 at 10amlocal time. For ticketing information please visitrollingstones.com.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginningWednesday, April 8 at 10amlocal throughSunday, April 12 at 10pmlocal for select markets.
“The Rolling Stones concert on July 4 will mark the first time the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has hosted a concert on a non-race weekend,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president. “The biggest band in the world playing at the biggest sporting venue in the world will provide an unbelievable experience for our fans. It doesn’t get any better than the Rolling Stones on Fourth of July Weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
“We are excited to be back in North America playing stadiums this summer! We are looking forward to being back on stage and playing your favorite songs.” – Mick Jagger
“We love being out on the road and it is great to come back to North America! I can’t wait to get back on the stage!” – Keith Richards
The Rolling Stones ZIP CODE tour will see Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood head back out on the road after their critically-acclaimed 14 ON FIRE tour in Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 2014. The iconic band will treat their generations of fans to special one night only shows, with a set packed full of classic Stones hits such as “Gimme Shelter”, “Paint It Black”, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, “Tumbling Dice” and “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll”, as well as special gems from their extraordinary catalog.
The Rolling Stones ZIP CODE tour will be the first time the rock legends have played North American stadiums since 2005-2007’s “A Bigger Bang Tour.”
The stage design for the stadium shows includes a thrust that extends deep into the audience allowing the Stones to interact directly with their fans. Known for their ground-breaking sets and use of cutting-edge technology, the Stones’ set design will feature video screens and special effects that will enhance the high-octane experience of attending a live Stones’ show.
The National Day of Prayer is coming up on Thursday, May 7 and a prayer gathering and prayer chain is being planned by Salem coordinator Mike Ray.
There will be a conference call from 6a until Noon where pastors and Christians can call 712-775-7031 and pray and receive prayer. To access the number, enter the code 775179009 followed by the # (pound) key. The call costs approx. seven cents per minute.
After the call has ended at noon, there will be a public prayer gathering at Noon in Purlee Plaza, just off the square.
This will be a public gathering of local Christians expressing their faith and hearing various speakers and musicians. The event will be broadcast live on WSLM 97.9 FM and WSLM 1220 AM during the hour.
“If you plan on participating in the conference call, plan on dialing in 10 minutes early,” said Ray. “We will open the call at 6a with The Lord’s Supper and we will be in prayer from 6a and noon. When you call in, you can stay with the call for 1 to 5 minutes or the entire time.”
Ray encourages churches and National Day of Prayer teams to participate.
For more information, you can contact Ray at 812.967.2015 or by email at mike.ray1943@gmail.com
Indiana University men’s basketball coach Tom Crean has announced that freshman forward Max Hoetzel has requested a release from his athletic scholarship to transfer to a program where he can compete for more playing time.
“We were always impressed with Max’s upside and potential but unfortunately in his view it did not turn into the extended minutes he wanted,” said IU Coach Tom Crean. “He would like to find a clear cut opportunity to play more and we hope he finds that. He is a hard worker who we hope will fulfill his potential and have the chance to play closer to his family.”
Hoetzel, a 6-8 forward from Calabassas, California, played in 31 games and averaged 7.7 minutes and 2.4 points per game.
“I loved my time here at Indiana and can’t thank Coach Crean enough for this opportunity,” said Hoetzel. “I want to find a school where I can have a bigger impact on the court. Hopefully, it will be somewhere my family can see me play more often.”
He will continue to have use of the team’s facilities and academic support during his remaining time at IU.
