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.

The body of a missing Seymour man was found last night near Little York, ending a Silver Alert that had been issued yesterday. 

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of Harold L. Wilson, 89, of Seymour.

Wilson was discovered by fishermen outside of Little York in Washington County yesterday.   

According to Indiana Conservation Officer Jim Shreck, the fishermen saw Wilson’s body along a small tributary adjoining the Muscatatuck River, and Wilson’s car was found a short distance away, near State Road 39.  

Indiana State Police divers recovered Wilson’s body shortly before 6 p.m. yesterday. 

“His truck was located and he drove there. His vehicle was found along Old State Road 39 in the Austin Bottoms area and his body was near the waterline of a little creek,” he said. 

Shreck said the vehicle appeared to have been stuck in the mud and at some point, he exited the vehicle. 

How he ended up in the water is still being investigated, said Shreck.

Wilson was the subject of a Silver Alert issued by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department on April 19.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said Wilson was last seen driving a red 2003 Chevrolet Silverado.

He was last seen on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 6:11 am.

He was believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. 

An autopsy is scheduled for later today to determine the cause of death.

No foul play is suspected at this time. 

Other assisting agencies at the scene included the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County EMS, and the Gibson Township Fire Department.

On April 19 at 11:33a, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single-vehicle crash on State Road 311 in Elizabeth near Glass Sand Road.

Witnesses said that a dark blue van was traveling East toward Highway 111 when it sideswiped a guardrail for an unknown reason. 

The van then traveled left of center, over-corrected, and rolled multiple times off the roadway. 

The female driver was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A juvenile passenger was transported by ambulance to Norton Children’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition. 

Harrison County Deputies and the Harrison County Coroner have notified the driver’s immediate family but her identification is being withheld until all family has been properly notified. 

The crash is still under investigation.

Indiana State Police are releasing new details about a young black male child found dead in the woods between East Washington School Corporation and South Boston Saturday evening.

According to Sgt. Carey Huls, the body was found stuffed in a closed, hard case suitcase that was approximately 30 inches tall, with an image of Las Vegas on the front. 

Huls said police hope the image will lead to more specific tips and the identification of the child. 

An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday; however, no information as to the cause of death was determined.

Results of the toxicology report are still pending, and investigators are hopeful that information will shed more light on the cause of death.  

Based on the information provided by the autopsy, Investigators believe the child is approximately 5 years old.

He is described as a black male, approximately four feet tall, with a slender build and short haircut. 

A mushroom hunter reported the discovery to police on Saturday evening and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department sent a tone to the Pierce Polk Volunteer Fire Department at 7:53p to investigate a possible death at 7629 East Holder Road. 

The location is just northeast of East Washington School Corporation and south of South Boston and just a few miles from three local churches — Blue River Baptist, Olive Branch Church, and Mt. Zion Church.

The fire department was asked to call the sheriff’s department for further information. 

A second tone was issued at 7:54p and Washington County EMS was also called to the scene. 

However, EMS was told to disregard a dispatch for Medic 2 at the scene at about 8:11p. 

Police are still asking for those with information to reach out to a dedicated national tip line that was set up Monday. 

Detectives with the Indiana State Police continue to ask for the public’s help in identifying a deceased child located in rural Washington County on Saturday.  

A toll-free tip line was established on Monday, and Investigators have received approximately 200 calls from the public.

Unfortunately, none of those calls have led to the identification of the deceased child.

Many of those calls are related to information about children already documented as missing.

Investigators are thankful for all the tips that are coming in but ask that the public does not send information on children already documented as missing at this time.

Investigators say those cases are already being looked into.  

Anyone with information is asked to call the toll-free number established for this case: 1-888-437-6432.  

Indiana State Police have set up a national tip line in hopes of discovering evidence or leads in the death of a young black male child found in the woods of Washington County on Saturday night. 

Anyone with information has been asked to call 1-888-437-6432. 

ISP Sgt. Carey Huls announced today in a press conference at the Sellersburg Post that no new leads have been generated in the past 48 hours and that police are hoping an upcoming autopsy will shed some light on who the boy is and how he ended up where he was found. 

A black male child between the ages of 5 to 8 years of age was found Saturday evening by an area resident mushroom hunting in Eastern Washington County. 

Huls said the child is approximately four feet tall and has a slim build and a short haircut. Investigators believe the child’s death occurred sometime within the last week.  

In a press release issued by the State Police on Sunday afternoon, Huls noted that the boy’s body was found near the road. 

There was no information released about the state of the body or what the boy was dressed in. 

An autopsy is scheduled with the Washington County Coronoer’s Office for Tuesday, April 19.

The resident immediately called 911 and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department responded by sending a tone to the Pierce-Polk Volunteer Fire Department regarding a possible 10-0 or death.

The Washington County Ambulance Service was called to the scene and later a second squad was called off around 8:11p.

Detectives with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg were then called to investigate.   

“[Our] number one goal is to find the identity and name of this child,” said Huls this afternoon. “We’re continuing to ask the public’s help to get that call. This was a 5 to 8-year-old young man. Someone was taking care of him. Someone had him in their home for his daily care. We still haven’t received a report of a child missing that would match his description.”

Huls said no local schools or residents had reported him missing. 

“We have received numerous tips and calls in the past 24 hours. We ask that if you do have information, social media is not the way to give us a tip,” he said. 

Huld did say some calls had referenced a 4-year-old boy named Codi Bigsby that has been missing since January 31 from Hampton, Virginia. 

“We’ve received several calls on that and have been in contact with the Hampton Police Department. Until we have the specific information, we’re not being led in that direction,” Huls noted. 

“We originally thought [the boy] might be from the local area…but because nothing has happened — we’ve been in contact with schools and other agencies [and there have been] no matches that would answer that question. This could be a child from any location in the US. We’re not going to stop looking until we find the answers,” Huls said. 

“He obviously wasn’t taking care of himself.” said Huls. “Someone out there knows something. They’re either choosing not to come forward or someone hasn’t heard this information. We want to give him a voice.”