Two from Austin were arrested last night in an apartment complex for dealing meth.

Indiana State Police said Richard Hall, 57, and Dusty Kallembach, were both arrested and charged with the following:

Richard Hall, Austin 

• Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony 
• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony 
• Possession of Paraphernalia – C Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana – B Misdemeanor 

Dusty Kallembach, Austin

• Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony

Around 11:30 Tuesday night, Senior Trooper Mark LaMaster was working an off-duty security job at the Austin Village Apartments in Austin, Indiana.

While working this detail, Trooper LaMaster learned of possible drug activity in one of the complex’s townhouses.

Trooper LaMaster requested Trooper Kyle Taylor come to the complex to further the investigation.   

Once at the townhouse, both officers met the tenant, Hall.

Through the open door Trooper LaMaster also observed Kallembach, whom Trooper LaMaster knew had been issued a no-trespass order from the property.

While speaking with Hall, Trooper LaMaster also observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.  

As the investigation continued, officers eventually conducted a search of the apartment.

During the surch, officers located approximately 1 gram of methamphetamine, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and a syringe.

Approximately four grams of suspected methamphetamine was also located on Kallembach’s person.  

Troopers LaMaster and Taylor were also assisted by Troopers Tom Basham and Cameron Collins.  

After a two-year hiatus, the Salem High School Alumni Banquet is returning this Friday, April 29 at 7p at Brooks Memorial Gym. 

Tickets are on sale and available for $16 each and will be required for admittance. They can be purchased at LaGene Jewelers and Lincks Clothing. 

Monday, April 25 will be the final day for ticket sales. 

The 143rd, 144th, and 145th banquet will be honoring the Classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 along with 1997, 1996, 1972, 1971, and 1970. 

The meal will be catered by LaDonna Mitchell, a 1985 SHS graduate. 

Early Voting went live in early April at the Washington County Clerk’s office and will continue through May 2 

Those wishing to vote early should come to the Washington County Election & Voter Services Office, from 8 am-Noon and 1-to 4p Monday through Fridays. 

Voters can vote early on Saturday, April 30 from 8a-3p. 

There will also be early voting on Monday, May 2^{nd from 8 am} till Noon.

Polls open on Tuesday, May 3^rd– Election Day from 6a – 6p. 

Polling locations in Washington County include: 

After a two-year break because of the pandemic, the festival is back and will start today (Saturday, April 23) and continue until next Saturday, April 30 with amusement rides, a town-wide yard sale, music, vendors, food trucks, a 5K and the parade on the last day.

Orleans Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Robert F. Henderson has announced a last-minute addition to the 2022 Dogwood Festival lineup of events.

“We are really excited to play host to “Colts in Motion,” as part of the festivities this year,” said Henderson.

The special visitor experience will be in town for one day only on Parade Day, April 30^th, and set up in the Orleans Library Parking lot, adjacent to the Orleans Police Station.  

Everyone is encouraged to stop in and check out the interactive exhibit.

The Orleans Dogwood Festival has once again been named by Midwest Living magazine as one of its “Top Flowering Festivals in the Midwest.”

Here are some of the events to check out — 

• Dogwood Murder Mystery Dinner Theater with its show “Murder at the Art Show.” The dinner show is in partnership with The Orange County Players.  Tickets are still on sale from the Orleans Town Offices for all three performances on April 29, April 30, and May 1. 

The cost will be $12 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

• Little Miss and Queen crowning will take place on April 23 at the Orleans Elementary School. The 2022 “Mr. Dogwood” will be named during the intermission for the queen crowning ceremonies. The pageant will begin at 5 p.m.

• The Orleans American Legion will provide the midway, Brady’s Amusement, which will set up and operate the entire week.

• Euchre Tourney is April 28 at the old Leipsic School building

• Longtime Orleans Pastor Tom Bostic and 2022 parade grand marshal will lead the parade at 2 p.m. on April 30.  The chamber is still accepting last-minute entries for the event and everyone is being encouraged to participate.

Categories include floats, political, walking, equestrian, classic, and/or antique vehicles, bands, etc.

This year’s theme celebrates the resiliency of “Hometown Spirit.”  

The parade will start from the Orleans Jr-Sr. High School, is located on the north edge of town.

The school traditionally serves as the staging area for the event.  Line-up begins at 11 a.m. and continues until 1 p.m. Judging of units begins at approximately 1 p.m.

The parade travels down Maple St. (S.R. 37 S.) and through the historic downtown area.

Entry forms may now be obtained by visiting the Dogwood Festival website www.orleansdogwoodfestival.com  For more information on the Parade contact Chairperson Jennifer Blanton, 812-797-2847

• Live entertainment is planned for the Main Stage during the festival week with Lick Creek Bank, and a gospel concert with The Breeding Sisters with Worth the Journey.

Other festival favorite highlights include the Phi Beta Psi Styles & Salads, Photo Contest, Student Art Show, Pet Parade, Arts & Crafts in the park, Orleans Christian Church’s chili supper, and Kiwanis famous Creek Bank Potatoes.

More festival details, entry forms, and event chairmen contacts are available on the festival’s website, www.orleansdogwoodfestival.com.

Friday evening, April 22, at approximately 5:10 p.m., Trooper Boeckman was outside his patrol car at a residence on County Road 300 N near Jasper when he observed a sportbike pass the residence traveling west at a high rate of speed.

Arrested and Charged was Sterling Kiefer, 20, Jasper, IN

1. Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
2. Aggressive Driving, Class A Misdemeanor

Trooper Boeckman proceeded west on CR 300 N for approximately one mile and finally observed the motorcycle.

Trooper Boeckman attempted to stop the motorcycle, but the rider immediately accelerated and continued west on CR 300 North into Pike County. Due to the high speed and danger to other motorists, the pursuit was terminated.

Moments later, a motorist who observed the motorcycle stopped Trooper Boeckman and identified the rider as Sterling Kiefer, 20, of Jasper.

Troopers located Kiefer and his motorcycle at his residence. He was arrested without further incident. Further investigation revealed the motorcycle was not registered and Kiefer did not have a motorcycle endorsement.

Kiefer was taken to the Pike County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arresting Officer: Trooper C.J. Boeckman, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Trooper Dustin Stein, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Pike County Sheriff’s Office

The Indiana Department of Transportation and contractor Midwestern Electric plans to close Veterans Parkway on the west side of I-65 in Clarksville next Thursday night (April 28) for the removal of a damaged overhead sign structure.

The road will close at approximately 10 p.m. Thursday evening and reopen by 6 a.m. Friday morning. Motorists should use an alternate route during the closure.

INDOT reminds drivers to use extra caution, avoid distractions, and consider worker safety when traveling near active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

Planting season is quickly approaching for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers. With the warm weather and sunshine, Hoosier motorists will also see more large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana’s rural roads and highways. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police and Hoosier Ag Today want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on rural roadways this spring.

“Our farmers have an enormous job to do, feeding us and the rest of the world,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture. “And with that job comes a tremendous responsibility; let’s help our farmers out where we can. When you see large farm equipment traveling our Hoosier roadways slow down and give them space so everyone can get where they are going safely.”

In Indiana, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment, which resulted in two deaths.

“During the spring and fall seasons Indiana sees a drastic increase of large farm equipment on our rural roads and highways,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “In our strong agricultural state, it is critical that Hoosier motorists know the steps to take when approaching farm equipment on the roadways to ensure we all make it home safely to our families.”

While the term “farm equipment” encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

• Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
• Be patient. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
• Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
• Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensuring that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over to allow a pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
• Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
• Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

“Moving farm equipment on the roadways is one of the most dangerous parts of my job. It takes time to find a safe space for me to pull over and allow other motorists to pass safely. Please be considerate when you drive behind farm equipment, drivers and I have the same goal in mind each time we take a trip on Hoosier roads- to get our work done and make it home safely to our loved ones,” said Brent Bible, Tippecanoe Co. farmer.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler wants to remind motorists farmers work hard to ensure they are being as safe as possible.

“Hoosier farmers are trying to get to their fields safely and quickly, just like our Hoosier motorists are trying to get to work safely and quickly,” said Kettler. “I want to encourage motorists to be aware during this spring season and know that encountering farm equipment is likely and to slow down when approaching.”

At the request of the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and the Nashville Police Department, the Indiana State Police Bloomington District has been called to investigate an incident that led to an officer-involved shooting.

The preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police detectives revealed that on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Nashville Police Department responded to a residence about a suicidal subject in rural Brown County.

As officers made contact with the male outside of the residence, the man purportedly pointed a handgun toward the officers.

One of the officers fired at least one shot from their department-issued handgun hitting the subject.

The subject was flown to an Indianapolis hospital for potentially life-threatening injuries and his current medical condition is unknown.

No one else was injured in the incident.

The identity of the subject as well as the identity of the officers involved will be forthcoming.

This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation by the Indiana State Police. Once the criminal investigation is complete, the investigation will be turned over to the Brown County Prosecutor for review and determination of charges, if any, to be filed.

There is no further information to release at this time.

Special Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks Training Starts Saturday, April 23 from 7:30-7:45 a.m.

Between Saturday, April 23 and Wednesday, May 4, Churchill
Downs will be open free of charge daily from 7-10 a.m. so guests can watch the nation’s top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds train toward their engagements in this year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

Horses train on Churchill Downs’ main track daily from 5:15-10 a.m. Beginning Saturday, there will be an exclusive training window only for Derby and Oaks participants from 7:30-7:45 a.m. following the 7-7:30 a.m. renovation break.

Those horses will be identified by special saddle towels which include their names: yellow saddle towels for Derby horses and pink saddle towels for Oaks contenders.

Kentucky Derby Morning Works presented by TwinSpires.com will begin Monday and air on www.kentuckyderby.com/works, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Fans in attendance will be able to watch the show on the track’s Big Board and infield televisions.

The first two days of Kentucky Derby and Oaks training (Saturday and
Sunday) also will be live-streamed on the Kentucky Derby’s social media channels, but without commentary.

Guests can enter Churchill Downs through the Paddock Gate and should park for free in the nearby White Lot for convenient entry.

Guests will be directed to Sections 115-117 to watch the morning workouts.

No outside food and beverages are allowed.

Churchill Downs’ Paddock Grill will be open each morning with
breakfast food and beverage options.

Also, the Churchill Downs Store will be open daily featuring all of the best official race merchandise, collectibles, drinkware, party supplies, gifts, apparel, and gear for men and women in advance of the Kentucky Derby.

On Sunday, May 1, and Monday, May 2, fans can enjoy a premium breakfast in Millionaires Row or the Stakes Room for Dawn at the Downs.

Tickets start at $41 and can be purchased on www.KentuckyDerby.com/tickets.

The 148th runnings of the $1.25 Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) will be held Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, respectively.

Opening Night of Derby Week and the 44-day Spring Meet is Saturday, April 30.

In anticipation of this Saturday’s Thunder Over Louisville’s return to the Waterfront, Thunder Officials ran their first soundcheck of this year’s fireworks soundtrack in the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Command Center at the Galt House this morning.

This year’s theme – “The Legend Returns” – will feature a musical playlist that has a little something for everyone.

Songs spotlighting a variety of artists over multiple music genres will entertain guests as they view one of the largest fireworks displays in the nation.

“We are excited to be back and in-person at the Waterfront for Thunder Over Louisville to officially kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival,” said Matt Gibson, President & CEO of the Derby Festival.

“We’ve got a special soundtrack this year to turn up the volume as we celebrate one of our favorite Festival traditions with the community.”

Thunder fans can enjoy music from Ray Charles (“America the Beautiful”); Elton John and Dua Lipa (“Cold Heart”); LeAnn Rimes (“God Bless America”); Miley Cyrus (“Party in the U.S.A.”); Pink (“We Are the Champions”); Bruce Springsteen (“Dancing in the Dark”); Coldplay (“My Universe”); The Weeknd (“Take My Breath”); Panic at the Disco (“The Greatest Show”); Outkast (“Hey Ya”); Lil Nas X and Louisville’s own Jack Harlow (“Industry Baby”); and many more.

“It is nothing like we have ever done before,” said Wayne Hettinger, Producer of Thunder Over Louisville, about this year’s soundtrack. “The excitement level is through the roof, and I am expecting the community will feel the same. It’s going to be the greatest show yet.”

Thunder fans don’t have to worry about hearing this year’s fireworks soundtrack loud and clear. Shepherd Insurance is the Official Sound Sponsor for Thunder Over Louisville. Their sponsorship helps offset the costs of the sound towers and the sound feed throughout the venue.

“We are excited to return as the Official Sound Sponsor for the 2022 Thunder Over Louisville celebrations. It is our honor to partner with the Kentucky Derby Festival and the amazing volunteers that help make this event happen,” said Trent Hunt, Executive Partner at Shepherd Insurance.

With multiple sound tower locations throughout the venue, fans can enjoy the narration of the air show, event announcements and the fireworks soundtrack.

Towers are located at the Belvedere, Thunder Chow Wagon, North Great Lawn, South Great Lawn, and Big Four Bridge Lawn. Plus, on the Southern Indiana side, the Festival provides a sound feed to Upland Brewing Company.

The launch sequence to start the fireworks and the soundtrack are all orchestrated in the Command Center.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is sharing its name with the Command Center again this year as the Title Sponsor of the show’s communication hub.

“We are pleased to continue our support of the Kentucky Derby Festival and Thunder Over Louisville as the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Command Center,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority.

“Not only is this iconic and well-known event a great way to celebrate our community, but we’re glad to play such a key role at both Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and Bowman Field supporting the Thunder Air Show. We look forward to this year’s event as the festivities return to the Waterfront.”

Thunder’s fireworks show is choreographed to an original soundtrack each year. Over time, those soundtracks have included a broad range of music from Top Ten and country, to urban and contemporary, even rock’n’roll and Broadway show tunes.

Anywhere from 25 to 60 different tracks or sound effects are used to build the musical score each year.

This is the 32nd consecutive year that UPS has been a presenting sponsor of Thunder Over Louisville. Caesars Southern Indiana has been a presenting sponsor for 23 consecutive years.

LG&E and Meijer have both been Thunder sponsors for the past 16 years in a row. This is Humana’s first year as a presenting sponsor of Thunder.

In addition to the presenting sponsors, Ford Motor Company returns as the title sponsor of Ford’s Thunder on the Ground. Shepherd Insurance is the Official Sound Sponsor, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport returns as title sponsor of the Command Center, and The Galt House is the Official Hotel of the event.

Official Boat and RV Sponsor is My Financing USA. Thunder Over Louisville’s 2022 Official Broadcast Partners are WLKY and SummitMedia’s MIX 106.9.

Thunder Over Louisville is one of the more than 70 events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. It provides an estimated impact of $56 million to the area’s economy.

The Derby Festival is an independent community organization. It entertains more than 1.5 million people annually every spring and is one of the leading community celebrations in the world.