This year’s Women in Ag Lunch ‘n Learn focuses on “K.I.S.S.” — Keeping It Straight, Sis. 

The 2021 Women in Ag. Lunch ‘n Learn is planned for Thursday, August 26 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Otis Park Bath House (607 Tunnelton Road, Bedford, IN).

The featured speaker will be Bec Wicker, recent Women in Agriculture Achievement Award recipient.

The program will include lunch and feature an insightful and lighthearted presentation from Bec that includes her techniques to keep farm, family, work – basically everything – all straight and together!

All women in agriculture are invited to attend the Lunch ‘n Learn which is generously sponsored by Purdue Extension and Farm Credit Mid- America making it free for participants, however, RSVPs are required by Wednesday, August 18, 2021.

RSVP to Purdue Extension-Lawrence County at 812-275-4623. For more information contact odavis@purdue.edu or dhowellw@purdue.edu.

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, along with the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), announced the new Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) at Ivy Tech in Evansville Tuesday.

Lt. Gov. Crouch says HELP is designed for local units of government to optimize their American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

Officials say HELP will include thorough training on ARPA, the introduction of a community coordinator position, and the creation of an online dashboard that includes high-quality data about the selected city or town.

To help carry out the year-long program, OCRA is partnering with the Purdue Center for Regional Development, the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, the Ball State University Indiana Communities Institute, and Ivy Tech Community College.

A Springville man was arrested on drug charges by the Indiana State Police at Bloomington.

William Cory Thompson, 34, of Springville was arrested and incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail for the following charges,

• Possession of Methamphetamine Over 5 Grams with Intent to Deal (Level 3 Felony)
• Possession of Methamphetamine Over 5 Grams (Level 5 Felony)
• Habitual Traffic Violator (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class C Misdemeanor)

On Wednesday afternoon, around 2:15 pm, Indiana State Police Sergeant Greg Day, was on duty in his police car, completing paperwork in the shaded, secluded parking lot of the Popcorn Christian Church north of Springville.

He noticed a blue, 2002 GMC Envoy driving at a high rate of speed off of Popcorn Road and then pull into the church parking lot.

As the GMC rounded around the building, it came to an abrupt stop.

Sgt. Day observed Thompson looking at him, wide-eyed, and appearing as if he was trying to figure out what to do.

Thompson was then observed getting out of the GMC and then leaning into the back seat.

Sgt. Day approached Thompson and asked if everything was alright and if he needed any assistance.

Based on extreme nervousness, indicators of criminal activity, and Thompson’s own statements about the fact he should not be driving, Sgt. Day developed reasonable suspicion that criminal activity was taking place.

A check of Thompson’s driving status revealed he was a Habitual Traffic Violator.

It was also learned that Thompson was on parole for possession of methamphetamine. Sgt. Day placed Thompson into handcuffs for the HTV violation.

A search of Thompson revealed he was in possession of over 7 grams of methamphetamine, packaged in smaller baggies. During a search of the GMC, another small baggie of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe with methamphetamine residue was located.

Further investigations, including an interview, revealed that Thompson was delivering the methamphetamine to another individual.

Sgt. Day was assisted at the scene and with the investigation by Troopers Chance Humphrey and Caleb Garvin.

Lt. Paul Bucher, Commander of the Bloomington Post commended the alertness of Sgt. Day, “The public should know that even when doing something as routine as a lunch break or paperwork, ISP Troopers are still observant of criminal activity that affects our community.”

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.

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

A cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has led to the arrest of a southern Indiana man for possession of child pornography.  

Investigators with the Indiana State Police – Internet Crimes Against Children task force began an investigation in March 2020 after receiving information of possible illegal activity from NCMEC. 

Based on information gathered during the investigation, investigators wanted to speak with Joshua R. Little. 

Although Little had a previous address in Sellersburg, Indiana, investigators could not find a current address for Little.   

On Wednesday, August 11th, with the assistance of the Sellersburg Post All Crimes Policing squad, investigators conducted surveillance and spotted Joshua Little traveling on Eastern Boulevard in Clarksville. 

Officers conducted a traffic stop and served the search warrant at that time. 

As a result of the investigation and search, Little was arrested on ten (10) counts of Possession of Child Pornography. 

Each charge is a Level 5 Felony. 

Joshua Little was transported and remanded into the custody of the Clark County Jail without incident. 

Yesterday, detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post arrested a Madison, Indiana police officer on a charge of domestic battery following an incident that occurred in July in Ripley County, Indiana.

On July 11, 2021, a woman went to the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post and reported that she was battered by her live-in boyfriend, Brian M. Ashcraft, age 36, a police officer with the Madison Police Department. 

The alleged incident occurred at the residence they share in Versailles, Indiana.

The investigation by Detective Grant Martin determined that Ashcraft and the woman allegedly got into an altercation on July 10, 2021. 

During the altercation, Ashcraft put his hands on her and pushed her while making threatening statements. 

The argument continued on July 11 where Ashcraft again grabbed the woman’s face.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was presented to the Ripley County Prosecutor’s Office for review. 

As a result, an arrest warrant for Domestic Battery, Class A Misdemeanor, was recently issued for Ashcraft. 

Yesterday, Ashcraft was arrested without incident. 

He was transported to the Ripley County Jail where he was incarcerated.