Outdoor Indiana magazine’s May-June issue features a cover article on the state’s historic fire towers.

With modern technology, the fire towers have emerged as a tourist attraction rather than a fire-detection tool.

The 48-page full-color magazine also includes a removable eight-page insert on Versailles State Park, one of the state’s top mountain biking destinations. That article continues the magazine’s series in which one state park or reservoir property will be portrayed through 2016, the 100th anniversary of Indiana state parks. To view a short video on fire towers and Versailles State Park, see the Outdoor Indiana playlist at youtube.com/idnrvideos.

Outdoor Indiana is available now at most DNR properties and Barnes & Noble stores in Indiana for $3 a copy. Save 33 percent off the cover price when you buy a one-year, six-issue subscription for $12.

To subscribe or read excerpts from the May-June magazine, go to OutdoorIndiana.org. Subscriptions also can be purchased by calling (317) 233-3046.

This morning the start of the flushing area will be at Kimball Blvd working toward E. Market Street.

The National Weather Service had issued a frost advisory for the WSLM listening area for in the morning.

Today shortly after 3:00 p.m., Larry Motsinger, 66, from Pekin, IN, turned himself into the Washington County Jail after an arrest warrant was issued from the Washington County Circuit Court for Animal Cruelty, Class A Misdemeanor, (14 Counts) and Improper Disposal of a Dead Animal, Class D Felony, (Two Counts).

IN CONJUNCTION WITH INDIANA STATE POLICE AND INDIANA STATE VET JODI LOVEJOY, HARRISON COUNTY PROS. OTTO SCHALK, ACTING AS A SPECIAL PROSECTUOR, FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES ON WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY LARRY MOTSINGER TODAY.

MOTSINGER WAS CHARGED WITH 2 COUNTS OF FAILURE TO DISPOSE OF A DEAD ANIMAL, CLASS D FELONY AND 14 COUNTS OF ANIMAL NEGLECT, CLASS A MISDEMANORS.

MR. SCHALK WAS APPOINTED SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO HANDLE THE CASE DUE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY PROSECUTER’S OFFICE.

IN EARLY MARCH, ISP TROOPER KEVING BOLWING AND INDIANA STATE VET JODI LOVEJOY CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO CLAIMS OF ANIMAL NEGLECT

REGARDING OVER 30 CATTLE ON MOTSINGER’S PROPERTY ON EASTERN SCHOOL ROAD AND CATTLE THAT HE CARED FOR ON HIS MOTHER’S PROPERTY, LOCATED ON FARABEE RD.

IT WAS FURTHER NOTICED THAT THERE WERE DEAD COW CARCASSES ON THE PROPERTY.

IF CONVICTED, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE EACH FELONY CARRIES IS THREE YEARS.

MR. SCHALK STATED:  “REGARDLESS OF MR. MOTSINGER BEING A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY, HE WILL BE TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY. THAT IS WHAT THE PEOPLE EXPECT AND JUSTICE REQUIRES”

A drug drop will take place on Saturday, April 27, 9 – 11 am at Salem City Hall.  All unused, outdated medications will be taken and disposed of, no questions asked.

This event is sponsored by:  The Washington County Substance Abuse Council, City of Salem, Hoosier Hills PACT, Salem Police and Fire Depts, Washington Co. Prosecutor’s Office, Washington Co. Sheriff’s Dept and The Wash Co Prevent Child Abuse Council

The City of Salem will be flushing fire hydrants in the following area today:

This morning we’ll be in the neighborhoods behind the high school — Cauble, Berkey, Northern, Bruce, Spurgeon, Mitchell Streets just to name a few

This afternoon we will be in the area of the Ball Park – High, College, Hayes and the neighborhood Behind the ball diamonds.

Excise officers arrested a record 235 people at Indiana University’s Little 500.

Indiana State Excise Police officers say those 235 people were arrested on 285 charges during the events in Bloomington this weekend – this is up 29 from 2012.

Police say in the last several years, the majority of tickets issued were for alcohol offenses.
This year, officers also made arrested for possession of ecstasy, operating while intoxicated, theft, criminal conversion, criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, resisting law enforcement, false informing, indecent exposure, furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor, open container violation and public intoxication, according to a press release.

Only one individual was taken to the hospital for a high blood alcohol concentration, testing a .29 percent. The man opened the back of an unmarked police car and got in the back seat, thinking it was a taxi cab. He was taken to the Monroe County Jail after medical evaluation.

Police say about half of those cited were not Indiana University students and were visiting from other schools.

Bloomington police also report one person was taken to a hospital by ambulance and four other people were treated by medics after falling when the floor of a porch and its steps shifted away from an apartment building Saturday night. Eight to 10 people were on the porch at the time.

Hoosiers are invited to participate in National Volunteer Week by helping Indiana’s State Parks & Reservoirs.  

 Jody Heaston, volunteer coordinator for the DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs, says there are many opportunities from maintaining trails to entering computer data.   

Heaston hopes many volunteers from National Volunteer Week will “catch the giving-back spirit” and continue to volunteer throughout the year.   Information about volunteer opportunities at specific properties can be found by calling the office at those properties

Legislators meet this morning (Monday) to try to find common ground on a casino bill. But a proposal to allow live table games at Indiana‘s two racetrack casinos faces long odds.

Supporters argue Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand in Shelby County already have electronic table games, so live dealers would add jobs without representing an expansion of gambling. The Senate went along, but House Public Policy Chairman Bill Davis (R-Portland) stripped the table-game provision and one to allow riverboat casinos to move inland.

Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) named Davis as House Republicans‘ negotiator on the bill, and says the effort to help casinos fend off out-of-state competitors should concentrate on proposals to revise casino taxes. Both chambers have passed differing versions of a bill changing an admissions tax to a surtax on revenue, and exempting some “free play” promotional vouchers from taxes.

But Bosma says table games or land-based casinos would represent a “massive expansion” of gambling, and predicts neither provision will reach the floor.

Supporters could try to put the table-game language in another bill. But Bosma notes Governor Pence has also expressed opposition. The speaker says he believes the governor‘s stance is firm enough to produce a veto.

Succession planning, which includes estate and family business transfer planning, is often dropped to the bottom of to-do lists due to hectic schedules, work and family responsibilities.  It is common for families to put off this important process because family members do not want to hurt others’ feelings, do not like conflict, think it is expensive, time consuming and do not know where to start.  Fortunately, succession planning allows families to make clear decisions under relatively low stress circumstances which reduces conflict now and in the future.  It is also more cost effective to plan now rather than later.

To help farm families begin planning, Dr. Angela Gloy, Purdue University Agricultural Economics Specialist, and Nick Held, Spencer County Ag. & Natural Resources Extension Educator, both members of the Purdue Farm Succession Planning Team, will be in Washington County on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 to meet with individual farm families to discuss succession planning.  Appointments for 1 hour sessions can be made by calling the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at 812-883-4601.

Dr. Gloy will speak on Succession Planning at the Salem High School Presentation Room at 6:00 pm on Monday, April 22, which is open to the public.

These programs are made possible through cooperation by Purdue Extension – Washington County and Washington County Farm Bureau Incorporated.  For more information, to make an appointment or to let us know you will be attending the program on Monday evening, contact Danielle Walker at the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at 806 Martinsburg Rd., Suite 104 in Salem, 812-883-4601 or dhowellw@purdue.edu.