Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. plans to close S.R. 39 for up to 30 days starting on or after Tuesday, September 6, for a box culvert replacement project in Washington County.

Contractors will be working just north of S.R. 56 near Little York. Traffic will be detoured along S.R. 56, I-65 and S.R. 256. 

The $1.3 million contract was awarded to Dave O’Mara in January and also includes a structure replacement project on S.R. 56, located 1.75 miles east of S.R. 39, that is currently scheduled to begin later this year in Scott County.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, use caution and remain vigilant of workers and equipment in active construction zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. 

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors LP plans to close S.R. 58 over Branch Runt Run, on or after Monday, September 12, for a bridge replacement project in Jackson County.

The bridge is located just over two miles east of S.R. 258 near Spraytown. The closure will last up to 90 days with an official detour route that follows S.R. 135, U.S. 50 and I-65. 

Three additional projects are included on the $2.7 million contract:

• Small structure replacement, 1.95 miles west of I-65 in Bartholomew County (scheduled later this year, start date will be announced)
• Superstructure replacement project in Jackson County, 0.84 miles east of S.R. 258 at Runt Run (scheduled in 2023)
• Superstructure replacement project in Jackson County, 1.89 miles east of S.R. 258 at Branch Runt Run (scheduled in 2023)

The contract was awarded to Milestone in June. INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and be aware of workers and equipment when traveling through active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. 

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to close S.R. 356 early next week to replace a pipe in Scott County.

road will close to thru traffic from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, and Wednesday, September 7, weather permitting.

The pipe is located between Kinderhook Road and Emily Jane Road, west of Lexington. Access will be maintained for local residents, school buses and emergency vehicles.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and consider worker safety when traveling through active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

Friday night, September 2, at approximately 11:50 p.m., Trooper Vennekotter was patrolling First Avenue south of Diamond Avenue when he spotted a black 2019 Yamaha motorcycle traveling south at a high rate of speed and passing another vehicle.

Arrested and Charged was Charles Fairbanks, 23, Evansville, IN

1. Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
2. Reckless Driving, Class C Misdemeanor

The motorcycle was clocked by radar at 60 in the 45 mile per hour zone. Trooper Vennekotter attempted to stop the motorcycle, but the rider accelerated and turned east on Columbia and reached speeds of approximately 80 mph before turning north onto Main Street.

The rider disregarded multiple stop signs and eventually turned east on Bob Griese Pass, and then north on Heidelbach Avenue.

The rider then turned west on Diamond Avenue, north on First Avenue, west on West Buena Vista Road, and north on Fulton Avenue before crashing in the 7800 block of Darmstadt Road.

The rider was identified as Charles A. Fairbanks, 23, of Evansville. Troopers treated Fairbanks for his injuries until EMS arrived.

Fairbanks was transported to Deaconess Midtown for minor injuries. After Fairbanks was treated, he was released and transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Vennekotter, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Trooper Aaron Hadley, Indiana State Police

Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation after receiving information that a female, under the age of 14, had been molested.

Arrested and Charges was Bryce M. Robison, 25, Sullivan, IN

• Child Molesting where defendant is at least 21 years of age, Class 1 Felony 

The investigation revealed that Robison, age 25, of Sullivan, Indiana, allegedly molested a female under the age of 14.

After reviewing the investigation, Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler, requested an arrest warrant for Robison. 

Sullivan County Circuit Court granted an arrest warrant on September 2, 2022. 

Robison was arrested yesterday by Trooper Austin Robertson of the Putnamville State Police Post without incident. He is currently being held in the Sullivan County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Investigating Officer:  Indiana State Police Master Trooper Detective Angie Hahn of the Putnamville Post.

Assisting Agency:  Susie’s Place.

A Cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led to the arrest of a Scott County man for possession of child pornography.   

As a result of the investigation and search, the Scott County Circuit Court issued an arrest warrant for Craig Dalton Winchester, 27, of Austin, Indiana.

Officers from the Austin Police Department located and arrested Craig Winchester on the warrant Friday.  

Craig Winchester is charged with three counts of Child Exploitation, each a Level 4 Felony, and one count of Possession of Child Pornography, a Level 5 Felony.   

Officers from the Austin Police Department transported Craig Winchester to the custody of the Scott County Jail without incident.  

Detectives with the Indiana State Police – Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force in Sellersburg began an investigation in early August of 2022 after receiving a cyber tip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The cyber tip report indicated that a specific account was possibly used to transmit child pornography images or video files.

Investigators requested a search warrant based on information gathered during the investigation. As a result, on Thursday, September 1, 2022, members of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at a Spicer Drive address in Austin, Indiana.

Friday night, September 2, at approximately 6:33 p.m., Indiana State Police responded to a crash involving injuries on I-64 near the 42-mile marker, east of Lynnville.

Arrested and Charged was Justa Shinn, 33, Fort Wayne, IN

1. Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Class C Misdemeanor
2. Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 Felony
3. Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

When troopers arrived, they located a white 2008 Subaru Impreza off the roadway and on its top.

The driver, Justa Shinn, 33, of Fort Wayne, and her two children were still inside the vehicle.

The two children were removed, but the driver was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by Lynnville and Pigeon Twp. Fire Departments.

The driver and two children were properly restrained at the time of the crash. An odor of marijuana was detected inside the vehicle. Preliminary investigation revealed Shinn was traveling west on I-64 and for unknown reasons left the roadway, struck the wooded tree line on the north side of the interstate and overturned.

Shinn and her two children received minor injuries and were transported to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Boonville where they were treated and released. 

Troopers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Shinn, and she displayed signs of impairment. Shinn submitted to a blood test and the results are pending. 

Troopers searched Shinn’s vehicle and found alcohol, two clear baggies containing marijuana, and marijuana gummies. Shinn’s two children were taken into protective custody by the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Shinn was arrested and taken to the Warrick County Jail where she is currently being held on bond.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Trey Stewart, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officers: Sergeant Brown and Trooper Eaton, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Warrick County Sheriff’s Office