ISP Gives Safe Winter Driving Tips
Indiana’s next blast of winter weather is upon us.
Warnings about hazardous driving conditions will be issued by city, county and state law enforcement as well as by local and national media. Many will heed the warnings. Many more will ignore the warnings. With another major storm approaching, the Indiana State Police, again, remind motorists to limit travel when possible.
If travel is not necessary, then stay home. Most calls for service received by the Indiana State Police and other police agencies during winter storms are for crashes and motorists that slide off state roads and interstates. It is important to remember that snow and ice covered roads do not cause crashes.
The crashes are caused by unsafe driving on the snow and ice covered roadway.
If you choose to drive during poor or hazardous driving conditions you must:
- 1. Leave sooner and expect your travel time to be twice as long as normal
- 2. Drive slower
- 3. Increase the following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you by at least five times greater than normal
- 4. Approach intersections with great care; other drivers not paying attention will slide through red lights
- 5. Signal all lane changes and turning movements
The posted speed limit may be more than twice as fast as the reduced speed drivers should travel to reduce the possibility of a collision or loss of control that puts a vehicle into a retaining wall, ditch or another motorist.
Indiana code 9-21-5-1 specifies “Speed shall be restricted as necessary to avoid colliding with a person, vehicle, or other conveyance on, near or entering a highway.” Motorists losing control of their vehicle or who are involved in a crash resulting in a police report should expect to be cited for this offense, which carries a maximum fine of $500.
If you are involved in a crash, are uninjured and all vehicles are drivable, involved drivers should move to a safe place completely off the road, be it the next exit or to the parking lot of a business to await law enforcement response for a police report.
It is important to remember crashes involving injury or lane blockage receive priority attention ahead of property damage crashes. So, keep in mind, it may be an extended period of time before law enforcement arrives. The reason and purpose for moving drivable vehicles off the road is to avoid secondary crashes of other inattentive motorists crashing into your scene or sideswiping you if you’ve only moved to the side of the road.
Something else to keep in mind, crash scenes with vehicles disabled in the roadway and state police presence may have the state police vehicle facing the wrong way with emergency lights and headlights on. This is to warn approaching motorists of impending danger.
Remember, Indiana’s Move Over Law states motorists MUST change lanes away from the emergency or utility vehicle if they can do it SAFELY. If not possible to move away from the emergency vehicle, motorists must SLOW DOWN and proceed with caution. Please give us room to work. We are asking motorists to SLOW DOWN and/or MOVE OVER WHEN SAFE TO DO SO.
Vehicles included in the Move Over law are: • Police vehicles • Ambulances • Fire trucks and rescue equipment • Highway incident-response vehicles • Highway work vehicles-including snow plows • Vehicle recovery equipment (tow trucks)
The point of not calling police agencies for road information during snow emergencies cannot be overstressed. Calling police departments about road conditions may delay action on critical life emergency 911 calls.
Road conditions are likely the same for the area you want to know about as it is looking out your front window.
Citizens calling state police facilities to ask for road conditions will be directed to either call the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Road and Weather automated system at 800-262-7623 or visit the INDOT traffic map at http://indot.carsprogram.org/
The 800 phone service is voice activated and updated with timely road conditions across Indiana. The INDOT web link allows users to check on specific locations for current closures and other road information.
For Indiana County Travel Status Reports, visit this link: http://www.in.gov/dhs/
Coffee Club Podcast 02-04-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 02-04-2014
Winter Storm Warning for the WSLM Area
The latest weather event has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning for much of Indiana.
National Weather Service Meteorologist John Hendrickson says a couple of inches of snow will begin to fall this (Tuesday) afternoon, with a total of 5-8 inches along the I-70 corridor. Some areas in northern Indiana could get 7-10 inches of snow.
Hendrickson says the southern part of the state will see some different weather in this storm. He says Bloomington, Columbus and other cities in the southern part of the state will see more of a wintry mix.
Freezing rain/sleet will mix with the snow and will change over to all snow by late tonight (Tuesday). Hendrickson says 3-5 inches of snow will fall in southern Indiana. He wind speeds will pick up and temperatures will drop after the snow and ice.
He expects a high of 10 in northern Indiana, 14 in Indy and closer to 20 degrees in the southern part of the state.
ST. VINCENT-SALEM HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
ST. VINCENT-SALEM HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
The Auxiliary of St. Vincent -Salem Hospital will meet on Tuesday, February 4, at 2:00 PM in the hospital classroom. The guest speaker will be a respresentative of the Washington County Food Bank. Members or guests,please bring a donation either cash or a non-perishable food item for our local food bank.
TIME TO JOIN 4‑H IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Any youth in Washington County interested in joining 4‑H, who has not already done so, should get enrolled by March 1st. Youth may enroll online, at a 4-H club meeting, or at the Extension Office. There will also be two 4-H Sign-Up Open Houses scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, and Thursday, February 27. Youth and a parent may stop by the Purdue Extension Office any time before 7:00 p.m. on these two dates to enroll, pay the 4-H enrollment fee ($20 for regular and $5 for mini) and pick up their 4-H materials. 2013 4-H members who have not re-enrolled should can also enroll at one of the 4-H Sign-Up Open Houses.
To view the 2014 4-H Handbook or obtain 4-H enrollment forms, visit the Purdue Extension – Washington County website at https://www.extension.purdue.edu/washington and click on the 4-H Youth Development page.
Youth may also be enrolled online and pay their fee by credit card. To enroll online go to https://www.four-h.purdue.edu/enroll/ and follow the directions. It is best if a parent does this so they can also fill out the online consent form. Online enrollment instructions can be found on the Washington County Extension website listed above.
Youth are encouraged to sign up for 4-H and pay their enrollment fee by March 1st. The enrollment fee will be an additional $5 per person for those enrolling after March 1.
Regular 4‑H is open to anyone currently enrolled in grades 3 thru 12. Anyone who is currently in Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade is eligible to join Mini 4‑H. Youth unable to attend club meetings can still join 4-H as an independent member by signing up and getting their materials directly from the Extension Office.
For further information concerning 4‑H, call Purdue Extension – Washington County at 883‑4601 or stop by their office located on the lower level of the Washington County Government Building at 806 Martinsburg Road in Salem.
It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or disability. PurdueUniversity is an Affirmative Action\ Equal Opportunity employer. If you have a disability that requires auxiliary aids or special assistance for your participation, please contact the Purdue Extension – WashingtonCounty office at 883-4601.
Swap Shop Podcast 02-03-2014
Swap Shop Podcast 02-03-2014
Relay Team Has Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day
Want a sweet treat for someone (or even yourself) for Valentine’s Day? “SHC Friends” Relay for Life Team has just what you need – sprinkled white chocolate pretzel rods and white chocolate heart suckers (ones made with sugar free chocolate will also available).
They will be available for a $1 donation that will benefit the American Cancer Society. Also available are Chocolate (foil covered) Red Roses for $1.50 and Strawberry & Cream Heart Pops for 50 cents each.
To pre-order you sweet treats, call Pam Hawes at 620-1559. The sweet treats will be available for pickup next week from Pam Hawes at the Extension Office located on the lower level of the Wash. Co. Government Building, as well as from various team members.
Treat your loved ones for Valentine’s Day and help raise money for the American Cancer Society at the same time.
Two Arrested in Scott County
Two from Scott County have been arrested by the Indiana State Police on drug charges.
Late Sunday evening, trooper Rob Caudill from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg stopped a black SUV on U.S. Highway #31 near S.R. #56 for no headlights.
During the traffic stop the driver, Kevin N. Smith, 43, from Seymour, IN was found to be driving on a suspended drivers license. Smith and his passenger, Kevin C. Lucas, 38, from Scottsburg, IN, got out of the vehicle so it could be inventoried before being impounded.
KEVIN LUCAS
KEVIN SMITH
The Scott County Police Department assisted.
When Kevin Lucas exited the vehicle, a small zipper bag fell from his person on to the floor of the vehicle. Upon further investigation, two hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia were located in the bag. Both subjects were arrested and incarcerated at the Scott County Jail.
Kevin N. Smith was charged with Driving While License Suspended, Prior, A Misdemeanor and Kevin C. Lucas was charged with, Possession of Hypodermic Needle With a Prior Conviction, C Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, A Misdemeanor.
