Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to implement daily closures next week to replace two culverts in Jackson County.

The road will close from approximately 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, and Thursday, March 17, weather permitting.

State Road 135 will close between C.R. 300 N. and C.R. 400 N. on Wednesday, and between C.R. 475 W. and C.R. 540 N. on Thursday. Both are located between U.S. 50 and S.R. 58. Local access will be maintained for residents within each closure; thru traffic should use an alternate route.

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

S.R. 56 to close this month for $13.2 million Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors LP plans to close S.R. 56 in Salem on or after Monday, March 14, to begin work on a $13.2 million roadway reconstruction project that also includes a bridge replacement over Brock Creek and asphalt resurfacing on S.R. 135.

“We certainly understand road closures can make travel difficult, and we ask for patience from the public as we make these much needed improvements to our infrastructure. I appreciate the investment of INDOT in our community,” said Salem Mayor Justin Green.

“We will do our very best to assist with detours and help to ensure local businesses maintain smooth operations throughout the project,” said Mayor Green. “I want to urge all motorists and residents to please have patience and exercise caution during these projects. Safety is the utmost concern for all involved.”

In mid-March, S.R. 56 will close between S.R. 135 (Main Street) and Harrison Street in Salem for utility relocations, followed by reconstruction work. Nearly a mile and a half of S.R. 56 will be reconstructed in sections between S.R. 60 and S.R. 135. Traffic will be detoured onto S.R. 135 and U.S. 150 through Palmyra and Paoli. Local access will be maintained. The reconstruction portion of the project is scheduled to be complete in fall of 2023.

Later this spring or early summer, construction will begin to replace the S.R. 56 bridge over Brock Creek, located 0.2 miles west of S.R. 135. The bridge will close once construction begins; an official start date will be announced. State Road 56 is expected to reopen in late November 2022.

Patching, milling and paving is also scheduled to begin this spring on a short section of S.R. 135, north of S.R. 56. State Road 135 will remain open to traffic throughout the project, but with lane closures and flagging. The completion date for paving work on S.R. 135 is in late June 2022.

The contract was awarded to Milestone last December for a total of $13,292,500. Drivers are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near construction zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

Additional information about the project can be found here. 

Scott County is partnering with Purdue Extension – Washington County to host a four-week D-I-Y (Do It Yourself) Lawncare program series on Thursday evenings in April.

The program can accommodate 20 in-person participants with additional participants joining virtually via Zoom from 6:00-8:00 pm on April 7, April 14, April 21, and April 28. In-person participants will meet at the Heritage Station/Train Depot (90 N. Main St., Scottsburg, IN 47170).

Virtual participants will receive a Zoom link.

DIY Lawncare is a four-week, two hours per session course designed for homeowners, property renters,
and homeowner associations. Session topics include: Basics of Taking Care of Lawns; Lawn Pests and Problems; Weed Identification and Management; and Seeding Establishment and Lawn Renovation.

Whether new or experienced at lawncare, understanding the basics of turf management will help create a lawn that others will look at with envy!

Participants will receive the turf management skills and
knowledge needed to lay the groundwork for creating, establishing, and maintaining a lawn.

Participants must register by Thursday, March 31.

Program fees are $20 per participant, or $30 for two
family/business members sharing program materials.

The link to register is https://bit.ly/3thnrbN.

An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon to determine the cause of death of a man found dead in his vehicle yesterday in Brownstown.

At approximately 2:30 pm yesterday, the Brownstown Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive man in a vehicle near the address of 917 South Main Street in Brownstown. 

Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post began conducting a death investigation after an adult male was found deceased in a vehicle in Brownstown, Indiana.

Officers responded and located the man in a vehicle parked along the street near the residence. 

Jackson County EMS and the Brownstown Fire Department also responded to provide medical aid. 

It was soon determined that the adult male had already passed away. 

He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.

The identity of the deceased man is also expected to be released later today after the identity is confirmed and the family is notified.

Indiana State Police Detectives are being assisted in the ongoing investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Brownstown Police Department, and Jackson County Coroner’s Office.   

A Louisville man was arrested on several felony drug charges Wednesday morning after being stopped for speeding.  

Shortly after eleven Wednesday morning, Master Trooper Jackie Smith with the Sellersburg Post All Crimes Policing squad stopped a black 2017 Nissan Maxima for speeding on I-64 near the Georgetown exit.

Trooper Smith had clocked the Nissan going 79mph in a 55mph zone. While speaking with the driver, 26-year-old Cornelius Eugene Langston Jr. of Louisville, Kentucky, Trooper Smith observed a Glock 9mm handgun lying in plain sight. Further investigation revealed that Langston did not have a firearms permit and was also in possession of marijuana.

Eugene Langston was then taken into custody on the firearms violation and transported to the Floyd County Jail.  

While at the jail, Floyd County Corrections officers found Langston was also concealing approximately 12 grams of Fentanyl and 7 grams of Methamphetamine. He was also carrying $3,000.00 in cash.  

As a result of the investigation, Eugene Langston is charged with the following: 

1. Dealing in a Narcotic Drug over 10 grams – Level 2 Felony
2. Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony
3. Possession of a Narcotic Drug – Level 3 Felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony
5. Possession of marijuana with a prior drug conviction – A misdemeanor
6. Possession of a handgun without a handgun license. A misdemeanor

Trooper Smith was assisted by Floyd County Corrections officers, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department, and fellow officers from the Sellersburg Post All Crimes Policing Squad.

Two men were killed this morning in a three-car accident on State Road 60 West of Salem while a third driver remains in the hospital.

Jerod Dotts, 41, Campbellsburg was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wyatt Batchelor, 62, Campbellsburg died on the way to the local hospital.

Police were called to West State Road 60 at approximately 5:46 A.M. after a 9-11 call.

Washington County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to  a report of a multiple vehicle crash.

According to Sgt. Lucas Gray, the preliminary investigation indicated that a 2006 Chevy Colorado pickup truck, driven by Dotts was west bound on State Road 60 when it collided head-on with an east bound 2014 Ford F-150, driven by Batchelor.

After the crash occurred, a west bound 2017 Toyota Tacoma, driven by Brent Ingram of Campbellsburg, crashed into the Chevy Colorado which was stationary in the roadway. 

Ingram was transported to St. Vincent Hospital in Salem for what is believed to be minor injury. 

Crash scene reconstructionists from the Indiana State Police were called to the scene to assist.

Traffic was rerouted around the area along with local school buses while officers worked at the scene. 

The road was closed for most of the morning. The crash is still under investigation at this time.