Purdue Extension – Washington County is hosting the 2023 Ag. Outlook Breakfast on Monday, February 13, 2023 from 8:30-10:30 am in the Meeting Room of the Washington County Government Building (806 Martinsburg Rd., Salem).  

Breakfast is provided through generous sponsorship from Premier Ag.  

The program is free to the public and is designed to help farmers, landowners, and agribusiness managers make better business decisions in the coming year. Dr. Michael Langemeier, Purdue University Agricultural Economics, will discuss grain and livestock market outlooks for the year ahead and factors impacting market trends.  Scott Sharp, Premier Ag., will discuss the supply/demand relationship to input availability.

RSVP’s are required by Wednesday, February 8, 2023 by contacting Purdue Extension – Washington County at dhowellw@purdue.edu or 812-883-4601.  Space is limited to 40 participants.

Individuals unable to attend the Washington County program are encouraged to participate in the Purdue Extension – Lawrence Co. Ag. Outlook Luncheon on Monday, February 13 from 12:30-2:30 pm at Premier Ag. (11955 St. Rd. 37, Mitchell, IN).  

RSVPS are required by Wed. Feb. 8 by calling 812-849-2464.

Four from Bedford were arrested for possession and dealing in meth after a lengthy investigation from the Indiana State Police Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) 

All adult suspects were arrested and transported to the Lawrence County Jail. 

Denna K. Cooper, a 53-year-old Female from Bedford was arrested for:

• Dealing Methamphetamine, a Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug, a Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor

Calvin Haddock III, a 49-year-old Male from Bedford was arrested for:

• Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony
• Possession of a Narcotic Drug, a Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C Misdemeanor

Colton Cooper, a 20-year-old Male from Bedford was arrested for:

• Possession of Methamphetamine in the Presence of a Minor, a Level 5 Felony
• Possession of a Handgun with an Altered Serial Number, a Level 5 Felony
• Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 Felony

Geneva N. Wilson, a 20-year-old Female from Bedford was arrested for:

• Possession of Methamphetamine in the Presence of a Minor, a Level 5 Felony
• Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 Felony

Over the past few months, Troopers received multiple tips and information that Denna Cooper, a 53-year-old from Bedford was allegedly involved in possessing and dealing large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Lawrence County.

Acting on these tips, Troopers launched an investigation that included a plethora of investigative techniques which helped establish probable cause into the dealing allegations. On Thursday, around 11:00 am, the Indiana State Police applied for and was granted a search warrant for Cooper’s residence.

As Trooper Chance Humphrey, Trp. Kent Rohlfing, Trp. Caroline Harding and Drug Enforcement Detectives arrived at the residence they located and detained Cooper and three adult individuals and one minor child. As the investigation continued, Troopers located several items of evidence that included glass smoking devices, hypodermic syringes, digital scales, approximately eight grams of suspected methamphetamine, approximately one gram of suspected heroin, and a loaded handgun that the serial number had been removed.

Troopers were assisted by the Indiana Department of Child Services and the minor child was removed from the residence and placed into the custody of Caseworkers of DCS. 

Anyone with information on illegal drug activity is requested and encouraged to call the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411, the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 812-545-4700, or send an email to drugactivity@lawrencecounty.in.gov. All calls are confidential.

The Washington County GOP has dominated in early filings for the 2023 City of Salem election, include the intention of Mayor Justin Green to seek a second term as Salem’s leader.

The following candidates were certified to run on their party’s ballot for the 2023 municipal election:

• Roger K. Pennington- City Council- At-Large- Republican
• Dan R. Libka- City Council, Dist. I- Republican
• Dylan M. Moore- City Council, Dist. II- Republican
• Justin Green- City of Salem Mayor- Republican
• Sally Hattabaugh- City of Salem Clerk-Treasurer- Republican
• Steve Crane- City Council, Dist. III- Republican

On Thursday, January 5, 2023, Paul J. Imhoff, a 29-year-old male from Bedford was arrested by Trooper Cody Brown and Trooper Tyler Trueblood and then transported to the Lawrence County Jail for the following charges,

• Four Counts of Possession of Child Pornography under 12 years of age, a Level 5 Felony
• Two Counts of Possession of Child Pornography, a Level 6 Felony

This is an active investigation and more charges in other jurisdictions may be forthcoming once reviewed. 

An investigation into a Imhoff’s alleged Possession of Child Pornography began in December of 2022 after a family member located suspected images on the electronic devices owned and utilized by the suspect.

Upon speaking to the complainant, Deputy Andrew Tillett of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department contacted Detective Robert Whyte of the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Section for assistance with the case. 

Deputy Tillett and Detective Whyte interviewed the man about the allegations along with performing forensic examinations of the suspected electronic devices.

Through those investigatory techniques, officers were able to confirm that the man was in Possession of Child Pornography.

A review by the Lawrence County Prosecutors Office resulted in an arrest warrant that was approved by the Honorable Judge Plummer III.

Anyone having any information related to crimes against children is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency or visit the NCMEC website at http://www.missingkids.com/home and find the link to make a CYBERTIPLINE report.

An arrest photo may be obtained from the Lawrence County Jail.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Troopers from the Indiana State Police post in Sellersburg are investigating a tragic fatal crash involving a semi-truck and a pedestrian on I-65 in Clark County.  

Around 8:30 pm Thursday, emergency units responded to the area of the 2.5 mile marker of I-65 southbound in Clark County.

The preliminary investigation by ISP Troopers and crash scene investigators found that a male pedestrian was attempting to run west across the I-65 southbound lanes when a southbound semi-truck struck him.

The driver of the truck immediately stopped and contacted authorities. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. 

As of the writing of this news release, no positive identification of the deceased has been made, and next-of-kin has not been notified.  

Investigators do not believe alcohol or drug use is a factor regarding the semi-truck driver.

This crash is still under investigation, and more information will be released when it becomes available.    

The safe room at the Bradie M. Shrum Elementary School has now opened as a warming station in Salem until further notice, according to Salem Mayor Justin Green. 

Green said the warming station at the First Christian Church in Salem is without power due to an outage from Duke Energy that currently has about 1400 Salem residents in the dark. 

And on the coldest day of the year so far. Air temperatures are -8 with wind chills hovering around -28 the high today of only 5 degrees which won’t come until about midnight.

A winter snow storm dipped down from the north last night bringing an inch or two of snow in places, which quickly drifted around causing small piles of snow and hazardous driving conditions over night. 

The menace now is the sub-zero cold which won’t leave the area until after the Christmas weekend.

According to WSLM Owner and General Manager Becky White, Saturday’s weather high will be about 15 with Christmas Day expected to reach about 20 degrees. 

“Temperatures won’t reach above freezing until Tuesday,” White said. “And by next weekend we’ll have rain and temperatures near 60 degrees.”

Green said City of Salem Police officers were on standby to take residents to the safe room, located at 1103 North Shelby Street. 

If you need a ride, call them at 812-883-5100.