Tuesday, September 28 is National Voter Registration Day, a civic holiday celebrating our democracy. Indiana makes it easy for new voters to register for the first time or for existing voters to update their information.

“Government works best when its citizens are active and engaged,” said Secretary Sullivan. “I encourage all Hoosiers to use this day to make sure they are registered and that their voter information is up to date. Registering only takes a few minutes and can be done online at any time.”

Sullivan will be a guest on WSLM’s Coffee Club this morning to discuss her role in Indiana and talk about how voters can make sure they’re registered. 

Citizens can register to vote by visiting IndianaVoters.com, or can submit an application to register in person at their local county clerk’s office.

IndianaVoters.com also allows Hoosiers to confirm their voter registration, look up their polling place, get driving directions to their polling location, find out who’s on their ballot, track their absentee ballot application, and contact local election officials.

To be eligible to register to vote, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
• Have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the election
• Not currently be imprisoned after being convicted of a crime.

As of this month, there are 4.7 million registered voters in Indiana.

Voters with questions can call the Hoosier Voter Hotline at 866-IN-1-VOTE.

On Sunday afternoon, around 4:30 pm, Sgt. Greg Day of the Indiana State Police Bloomington District ACES (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) was assisting Bedford Police Officers with a drug investigation in the 300 block of R Street.

While at this residence, officers obtained information that Justin A. Nelson (38 years old of Louisville, Kentucky) was on his way to that residence to deliver a large amount of methamphetamine.

Bedford Police arrested the individuals at the residence, while Sgt. Day remained on R Street to watch for Nelson. A few minutes later, Nelson turned northbound onto R Street from 4th Street, driving a 2003 Ford Escape.

As Nelson pulled up in front of the residence, Sgt. Day pulled in front of him and activated his emergency lights. However, Nelson put the car in reverse, backed up a few feet, put it back in drive, then accelerated off-road and around Sgt. Day.

Sgt. Day turned around and initiated a very short vehicle pursuit on Nelson in the Ford Escape. 

Less than a block north, R Street ends and an alley then runs eastbound toward Lincoln Avenue. Nelson drove to the end of R Street then began to drive through the backyard of a residence. Sgt. Day traveled down the alley, onto Lincoln Avenue, and observed Nelson driving through a yard in the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue. When Nelson saw Sgt. Day, he turned around (causing minor damage to a plastic downspout pipe and the yard), then accelerated back westbound around the residence.

Sgt. Day pulled into the driveway and was able to pursue Nelson a very short distance into a driveway in the 200 block of S Street. Nelson then turned south onto S Street and immediately into a driveway in the 300 block of S Street. Sgt. Day stopped at the end of this driveway, while Nelson drove his Ford over a small rock wall and into the yard of this residence. Due to the configuration of the yard and the woods that surrounded it, Nelson had no place to go. He then exited his Ford and began to flee on foot. 

Sgt. Day was able to chase and quickly apprehend Nelson on the side of the house.

Bedford Police Officers Robert Looney, Sgt. Kody Emmons, and Capt. Jesse Crane, along with Trp. Chance Humphrey then arrived on the scene. Capt. Crane deployed his canine, Max, who gave a positive alert on the Ford. 

Approximately 3 grams of methamphetamine and several controlled substance pills were located. Sgt. Day checked the area that Nelson had ran and discovered a plastic baggie containing approximately 23 more grams of methamphetamine.

Sgt. Day arrested Nelson for the following offenses incarcerated him at the Lawrence County Jail:

1. Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony
3. Obstruction of Justice, Level 6 Felony
4. Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Level 6 Felony
5. Resisting Law Enforcement by Fleeing on Foot, Class A Misdemeanor
6. Possession of Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor
7. Criminal Recklessness, Class B Misdemeanor
8. Criminal Mischief, Class B Misdemeanor

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

Anyone with illegal drug activity information is requested 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.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced four Indiana communities have been awarded Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grants totaling $939,900. The grants will be used to empower these Indiana communities to directly fund homeowners of low-moderate income to make needed repairs on their homes.

“Congratulations to these four Hoosier communities on receiving this grant,” Crouch said. “It is important we continue to look out for all Hoosiers in our cities and towns. This funding will aid these efforts by providing necessary financial assistance to homeowners who need repairs but may have a hard time affording them.”

Communities awarded will set up a program to fund low- and moderate-income homeowners to make repairs on their homes. Eligible repairs include roof repair or replacement, ADA accessibility, heating, and cooling replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades, and water heater replacement.

“Home repairs can add up quickly, and for some Hoosiers, these costs could be devastating financially,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “Through this grant, communities can provide financial assistance to these homeowners and allow them to stay in their homes and raise their families in a safe environment.”

These four Hoosier communities received the following amounts: 

• The City of Austin is awarded $225,000; 
• The City of Connersville is awarded $250,000; 
• The City of Mitchell is awarded $250,000; and
• The City of Rushville is awarded $214,900.

The State of Indiana distributes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects.

The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program is a pilot program to explore OCRA’s capacity to implement a yearly granting program. 

For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg/owner-occupied-rehabilitation-pilot-program.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a two-phased paving project for State Road 66 between Hardinsburg and Milltown.

Beginning on or around Monday, Sept. 27, INDOT maintenance crews will begin the first phase of this project. Workers will be replacing nine culvert pipes on S.R. 66 in advance of the contract paving project. During this phase, maintenance crews will be working between U.S. 150 and S.R. 64.

In the areas where the pipes are being replaced, the road will be completely closed for pavement cuts, excavation, pipe replacement and backfill. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in various locations near the following intersections:

• North Liberty View Road
• East Totten Ford Road
• Baylor Road
• East North Ridge Road
• West Johns Lane
• Pirtle Road

Each culvert pipe is expected to take a few hours and during operations, local traffic will have access up to the point of closure. Through traffic should use the official detour following S.R. 64, S.R. 135, and U.S. 150.

Following the pipe replacements, beginning on or after Monday, Oct. 4, contractors will begin paving between U.S. 150 and S.R. 64. Workers will perform milling and paving while also replacing shoulder stones. This project will be done under lane closure with flaggers to control traffic.

The pavement project is expected to last until mid-November, depending upon weather conditions. Lane width will be restricted to 11-feet. Wider loads should use the official detour following S.R. 64, S.R. 135, and U.S. 150.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.