Earlier this week,  shortly before 2:15 pm, a white 2007 Dodge utility truck driven by Kenneth A. Downey, 52, from Corydon, IN, was travelling south on Crosby Road just south of State Road 64 in Ramsey, (Harrison County).

When the driver approached the rail road tracks that cross Crosby Road going east and west he failed to yield to an oncoming west bound Norfolk Southern Locomotive, pulling several train cars. The train and truck collided and the driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene by the Harrison County Coroner’s Office. His death was due to the injuries he received from the impact of the locomotive. No one on the locomotive was injured.

The truck Kenneth A Downey was driving belonged to the Ramsey Water Company, where he was an employee.

“Forests at Work,” a video collaboration of the DNR Division of Forestry and WFYI Public Television has received a first-place “Best in Indiana Award” in the category of environmental reporting for 2012.

The award was presented by the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The SPJ awards recognize the most outstanding work of the year in Indiana print, broadcast and online journalism. Submissions from Indiana are judged by SPJ members from throughout the United States to maintain impartiality.

In 2011 the DNR Forestry started working with WFYI to produce the hour-long show as part of WFYI’s “Indiana Expeditions” series. The show aired in April 2012.

“It is evident that great preparation and research went into this report,” said SPJ’s announcement of the award.  “Wonderful storytelling and very informative.”

The SPJ award is the second first-place award the video has won. Last year, the national Society of American Foresters named Indiana a first-place winner for the video as a “State Society Success Story” of 2012.

Copies of the DVD can be purchased for $10 with checks made out to “IFEF-PLT” and sent to “Forests At Work” Video, Division of Forestry, 402 W. Washington, Rm. W296, Indianapolis, IN  46204.

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