The up-and-coming stars of INDYCAR got a chance to test out the track Thursday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The drivers in the Firestone Indy Lights Series participated in an open test at IMS less than a month away from the Firestone Freedom 100 on Carb Day.

Rookie Kyle O‘Gara of Indianapolis will make his Indy Lights debut in that race. He says driving at IMS is a dream he‘s had since he was two years old. O‘Gara got the chance to race through a partnership with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.

It‘ll be a busy weekend for him as he graduates from Roncalli High School the day after the race. He says about 600 of his classmates will be cheering him on during the race. Rookie Zach Veach, driving for Andretti Autosport also got the chance to drive at IMS for the first time.

He says it took some time to adjust to the track but he‘s had some help from his teammate Carlos Munoz. Munoz, the current championship points leader in Indy Lights, will be pulling double duty on race weekend. He‘ll also be making his Indianapolis 500 debut for Andretti Autosport, two days after the Freedom 100.

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles reports that the number of new and used car titles processed by the state continues to rise.

BMV statistics show that during the economic decline from 2007 to 2009, the number of processed titles dropped. However, from 2009 to 2012, the number of titles the state processed rose almost nine-percent from 1.81 million in 2009 to 1.97 million in 2012.

Auto Dealers Association of Indiana Executive Vice President Marty Murphy says dealers have definitely noticed an upswing in recent years. Murphy cites a combination of an improved economy, pent up demand and good, new products.

Murphy says dealers have also become better operators. He says sales are up across the board for all sorts of vehicles, but especially fuel efficient vehicles. Murphy says dealers still have some recovering to do, but they‘re nowhere near as bad as they were during the economic slide.

Jeffersonville-This morning at approximately 12:32 am, The Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg received a telephone call from 202 River Wood Drive in Jeffersonville. The caller stated that a vehicle had crashed into his home. He stated that the vehicle caused severe damage to his residence and then fled the scene. He described the vehicle as a black Nissan containing two females, with major front end damage.

A short while later the vehicle was located a few blocks away at 121 Webster Boulevard by an officer with the Jeffersonville Police Department. Trooper’s Patrick Stinson and Thomas Basham arrived on the scene and after an investigation of the events Trooper Patrick Stinson determined Shawna L. Fields was the alleged driver of the crashed vehicle and she had also allegedly battered a witness at the crash scene. Shawna L. Fields, 30, of Fort Myers, Florida was arrested and charged with Battery, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash, Interference with the Reporting of a Crime, Operating While Intoxicated and Operating with a BAC of .15% or Higher. All these charges are Class A Misdemeanors.

Shawna L. Fields was incarcerated in the Clark County Jail awaiting her first court appearance.

The latest surveys have shown that young people between the ages of 18 and 30 have veered away from organized religion.

However, one Indiana observer says that doesn‘t mean young people aren‘t curious about religion. Charlie Wiles is executive director of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation in Indianapolis.

Wiles says even though studies show only 50-percent of young people engage in organized religion, they remain aware about spirituality. Wiles says he sees more young people using their spirituality to address social ills rather than adhering to tradition and rituals of the church.

Wiles says organized religion tends to have a stronger impact on people as they age. He says as more churches of various faiths engage more in the issues and communities around them, it‘s likely to bring more young people back to organized religion.

I-U is home to the fastest university-owned supercomputer in the nation.

A dedication ceremony took place Friday for Big Red II which is 25 times faster than the original, which was acquired in 2006.

The university‘s vice president of information technology, Brad Wheeler, says it can crunch a quadrillion pieces of data per second.

It is fully available for faculty, staff and students on all the campuses of I-U via the state‘s I-light network. Wheeler says I-U is partnered with many parts of the public sector, as well as the private sector who will be able to take advantage of Big Red.

Democrats are crediting Republican leaders with improving the tone at the statehouse, but they‘re slamming the policy results as a “missed opportunity.”

House Minority Leader Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) says the five-percent tax cut deal between G-O-P legislators and Governor Pence represents the worst of both worlds. He contends the tax cut is too small to stimulate the economy, but will siphon off a quarter-billion dollars that could have been spent to help the state in other ways.

House Democrats had backed either Pence‘s original 10-percent tax cut or their own sliding-scale version, which would have limited the cut to people earning less than 200-thousand dollars a year. Pelath notes the final tax compromise doesn‘t kick in for two years.

Pelath and Senate counterpart Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) also contend the decision not to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law forfeited the session‘s best chance to create jobs. Pence and legislative Republicans have insisted on tying expansion to federal approval for using the Healthy Indiana Plan as the vehicle for operating the program.

And Lanane says 70-million dollars set aside for job training in the new budget is a fraction of what‘s needed.

Many counties across Central Indiana are under a flood warning through this weekend and some beyond.

Jackson, Lawrence and Washington Counties are included in that flood warning.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Ryan says in the past week, parts of Central Indiana have seen upwards of eight inches of rainfall. He says the White, Wabash and Ohio Rivers are all within flood stage and could remain so for the next week or two.

Ryan says Indianapolis alone could tie or break an April record precipitation this weekend. Ryan says Indianapolis may see another half-inch of rain which could get the area close to the record 8.60 inches of April precipitation back in 1893.

Ryan says Indy is at currently at 8.23 for April rainfall. He says measurable rain will likely come Saturday through Saturday night. In short, Ryan says Indiana has seen above normal rainfall for April.

For the first time in 60 years, WSLM aired LIVE COVERAGE of the 2013 NFL Draft. The show centered around the Indianapolis Colts and their pick throughout the four hour broadcast.

The Indianapolis Colts spent last year’s draft loading up on offensive talent, so there was little surprise that they would address a defensive need in the first-round.

When the Colts were on the clock with the No. 24 pick, they selected Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner, who was at one time a projected top ten selection. He will play outside linebacker in the Colts 3-4 scheme.

Werner is a hard-working kick that never shuts off his motor.

While he is not elite in any one category, he is an all-around solid player and was one of the most consistent pass rushers in college football just a season ago.

It will be interesting to see if he turns up his intensity and level of play in the NFL, but with his work ethic I would never count him out.

Here are the current draft results:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan 2.  Jacksonville Jaguars — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M 3. Miami Dolphins (via Oakland Raiders) — Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker, Oregon 4. Philadelphia Eagles —  Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma 5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU 6.  Cleveland Browns — Barkevious Mingo, outside linebacker, LSU 7. Arizona Cardinals — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina 8. St. Louis Rams (from Buffalo Bills) —  Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia 9. New York Jets —  Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama 10. Tennessee Titans —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama 11. San Diego Chargers — DJ Fluker, offensive tackle, Alabama 12. Oakland Raiders (from Miami Dolphins) — DJ Hayden, cornerback, Houston 13. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri 14. Carolina Panthers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah 15. New Orleans Saints — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas 16. Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis Rams) —  EJ Manuel, quarterback, Florida State 17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia 18. San Francisco 49ers (from Dallas Cowboys) — Eric Reid, safety, LSU 19. New York Giants — Justin Pugh, offensive tackle, Syracuse 20. Chicago Bears —  Kyle Long, guard, Oregon 21. Cincinnati Bengals — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame 22. Atlanta Falcons (from St. Louis Rams) — Desmond Trufant, cornerback, Washington 23. Minnesota Vikings — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida 24. Indianapolis Colts —  Bjoern Werner, defensive end, Florida State

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

The Dogwoods are blooming and the Dogwood Festival kicks off this morning with town-wide yard sales.

Orleans Chamber of Commerce executive director Robert Henderson says the theme chosen for the 2013 Dogwood Festival is “In Spring, Dogwoods Beckon Us Home.”

This year’s festival begins on April 27 and continues non-stop through May 5th.

Henderson says, the Chamber will again play host with over 40-plus events including the popular Town-Wide Yard Sale on the opening weekend and the main “Fun-raiser” of the year, the Silent Auction.

Follow all the festival happenings on-line at www.orleansdogwoodfestival.com or on Facebook.

Congrats to longtime businessman and hometown barber Elmo Wolfe for being named as the 2013 Dogwood Parade Grand Marshal. The parade is May 3. everyone’s favorite parade.

2013 Dogwood Festival Calendar of Events

All Week

• **First Aid Station – South side of Congress Square first responders from Orleans Fire Department will provide treatment along with a IU Health Paoli ambulance Crew
• Carnival – Congress Square – 5 -10 p.m. nightly
• Photo Contest – OCC Unity Hall
• Student Art Show – Orleans Public Library
• Vendor Arts & Crafts – Congress Square
• Dogwood Festival Headquarters – Chamber of Commerce

Friday, April 26

• ALL DAY-Town wide Yard Sale

Saturday, April 27 (Opening Day)

• ALL DAY – Town Wide Yard Sale
• 8 am 1st Annual Dogwood 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney -Congress Square (basketball court).
• 9 am Baby Contest- Orleans Elementary
• 11 am Fire Department Pork Roast- Congress Square
• Noon Kiwanis Bubble Gum Contest- (Bandstand)
• 1 pm Horseshoe Tourney- Airport
• 1 pm Pet Parade – Congress Square (Bandstand)
• 6 pm Queen Contest – Orleans Elementary
• 6 pm Citizen of the Year – OES

Sunday, April 28 

• 2 pm Tiny Miss & Little Miss Blossom – Orleans Elementary
• 5 pm Little Miss Petal & Little Miss Dogwood – OES 

Monday, April 29

• 4 pm – 7:30 pm Student Art Open House- Library
• 5:30 pm OES/OHS Choir performance- Main Stage
• 6 pm OHS Pep Band performance- Congress Sq.
• 7 pm WUME Lip Sync contest- Main Stage 

Tuesday, April 30

• 6 pm Phi Beta Psi Style Show & Salad Supper- OES
• 6 p.m. Tumble Time/OC Fitness-Main Stage
• 7 pm Acoustic Jam- Library North Lawn 

Wednesday, May 1 (Church Night)

• 4:30 pm “Knitting Witness” – Prayer Shaw Ministry Orleans UMC – Congress Square
• 6 pm Community Gospel Sing- Sponsored by the Orleans Ministerial Association – Festival Main Stage 

Thursday, May 2

• 11 am – 8 pm Silent Auction- OCC Unity Hall
• 11 am – 8 pm Photo Contest – OCC Unity Hall
• 4:30 pm – 7 pm Art Walk- TBA
• 6:30 sign in/ 7 p.m. Game Starts Euchre Tourney- Fire Department
• 5 pm Registration /6 pm Races – Cub Scout Rain Gutter
• Regatta- Congress Square (North Side)
• 5:30-6:15 pm – Sam Vernon’s Martial Arts & Fitness
• 6:30-8:30 pm .50 Caliber Band – Concert- Main Stage
• TBA Local observance of National Day Prayer – Congress Sq. 

Friday, May 3 (Youth Night)

• 11 am – 8 pm Silent Auction – OCC Unity Hall
• 11 am – 8 pm Photo Contest – OCC Unity Hall
• 4:30 pm – 7 pm Art Walk- TBA
• 5 – 7 pm Orleans UMC Ham & Bean Supper-Orleans Ele.
• 5 – 6 Brendan Batman (2012 Dogwood Idol) Main Stage
• 6:30 pm OHS REDLINE Dance team – performance- Basketball Court
• 7 pm Moore Monsters Band – Main Stage
• 8 – 10 pm Pet Monkey Band- Main Stage

Saturday, May 4

• 6:30 am – 9:00 am Kiwanis Breakfast- Orleans Elementary
• 9 am – 12 pm Tri County Tractor Club Classic Tractor Exhibit,DP Grain Parking Lot
• 9 am – 6:00 pm Silent Auction- OCC Unity Hall
• 9 am – 5:00 pm Photo Contest Display – Unity Hall
• Noon PARADE- Theme “In Spring, Dogwoods Beckon Us Home”
• 2 pm (approx.) Sweet Water – Main Stage
• 5 pm – Carnival Rides Close 

Sunday, May 5

• 9:45 am – OCC “Be the Church” Community Clean-up (to clean up litter along the route of the parade and Congress Square
• 6 pm – Vesper Service – Orleans United Methodist Church

Some events subject to change or cancellation due to weather. Main St. Entertainment will be moved to Orleans Elementary, SR 337 E in the event of bad weather.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department  is warning the public of a scam involving fraudulent U.S. Postal Service money orders.

The scammer will initially attempt to make contact with subjects through email.

Once contact is made, the scammer attempts to persuade the person to cash postal service money orders for the company he represents.

The recipient is sent the money orders through Fed Ex or another courier.

The recipient is told to keep about 10% of the money for their services and to wire back the remainder of the cash.

Police ask that you contact them at 812.883.2834 if you encounter a similar scam.