Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Milestone Contractors, LP plans to reduce the U.S. 50 WB to one lane between Holiday Square Drive and Agrico Lane in Seymour starting Friday morning (Sept. 10) while crews install a 16-foot by six-foot box structure under the roadway.

The structure will be installed in two phases. The south half will be placed this coming weekend (Sept. 10-12) and the north half the following weekend (Sept. 17-19), weather permitting. Westbound traffic will resume its normal configuration (two lanes) each Monday once work is complete. Two eastbound lanes will remain open.

Drivers should use extra caution in the area while lanes are restricted. Westbound lanes of U.S. 50 will merge to a single lane near Azul Tequila and also split so the left-turn lane can be utilized at Myers Lane.

To turn left, drivers should use the left lane, and use the right lane to continue west on U.S. 50. Two thru lanes will become available near Wal-Mart (Agrico Lane).

Changeable message boards will be placed on I-65 showing S.R. 11 as an alternate route.

The surface lift of asphalt will be placed toward the end of the project, along with final pavement markings by the end of October this year.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather dependent and schedules are subject to change.

A drug trafficking ring consisting of at least 24 people has been sentenced in federal court.

The organization operated in and around the historic Haughville neighborhood in Indianapolis from April 2018 to January 2019. A federal grand jury in Evansville indicted the members of this organization in January of 2019.

According to court documents, from April 2018 and continuing through January 2019, twenty- four members of a drug trafficking ring would sell large quantities of illegal substances in and around the near westside of Indianapolis.

Jfshaun Trice and Terrence Stum directed the illegal activities of the methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine-trafficking organization.

The other members of the organization would assist Trice or Stum by distributing the drugs, purchasing drugs for redistribution, prepare the drugs for distribution, transport the drugs for distribution, and conceal the drugs on other members’ behalf.

“This investigation is a great example of law enforcement working together to address citizens’ concerns about narcotics trafficking in their neighborhoods,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress. “Using combined resources to attack these criminal organizations works and I want to thank our federal, state, and local partners for their help in dismantling this high-level narcotics organization within Indianapolis.”

Below are the individuals who were indicted, prosecuted, and sentenced to federal prison.

• Jshaun Trice – sentenced to 210 months and 5 years supervised release
• Terrence Stum – sentenced to 262 months and 5 years supervised release
• Demetrick Holder – sentenced to 72 months and 3 years supervised release
• Gerald Hoskins – sentenced to 36 months and 3 years supervised release
• Darryl Allen – sentenced to 240 months and 5 years supervised release
• Eric Bard – sentenced to 262 months and 5 years supervised release
• Dustin Manuel – sentenced to 96 months and 5 years supervised release
• Kelvin Washington – sentenced to 60 months and 4 years supervised release
• Devin Jones – sentenced to 30 months and 3 years supervised release
• Adrian Myles – sentenced to 60 months and 5 years supervised release
• Christopher Hill – sentenced to 120 months and 5 years supervised release
• Robert Hadley – sentenced to 72 months and 4 years supervised release
• Danny Jenkins – sentenced to 118 months and 4 years supervised release
• Antonio McClure – sentenced to 160 months and 5 years supervised release
• James Gibson – sentenced to 124 months and 5 years supervised release
• Carlo Payne – sentenced to 160 months and 5 years supervised release
• Thomas Acord – sentenced to 108 months and 3 years supervised release
• Alton Brown Sr. – sentenced to 121 months and 5 years supervised release
• Steven Savage – sentenced to time served and 4 years supervised release
• Derrick O’Connor – sentenced to 60 months and 3 years supervised release
• Melissa Kidwell – sentenced to time served and 4 years supervised release
• Jacqueline Huffman – sentenced to 60 months and 4 years supervised release
• Jacob Jones – sentenced to 140 months and 5 years supervised release
• Allen Brown – sentenced to time served and 4 years supervised release

Multiple law enforcement agencies contributed to the prosecution of this case including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Peter A. Blackett and Michelle P. Brady prosecuted this case for the government.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

A Connersville man led law enforcement on a pursuit Wednesday evening before sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Detectives from the Indiana State Police Pendleton District have assumed the lead on the investigation.

ISP Detectives learned that at approximately 7:24 pm, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a female victim reporting she had been engaged in a domestic dispute with her estranged husband, Kevin Fehl, 31, of Connersville, Indiana. Local law enforcement officers were familiar with Fehl from previous interactions and knew of his propensity to carry weapons. A decision was made to utilize the Connersville Police Department SWAT Team.

SWAT officers staged at a nearby location at approximately 8:24 pm. While officers were preparing to contact Fehl, one of the officers recognized him as he drove by their location. Officers transitioned back to their police cars and a short pursuit began.

At 8:31 pm, officers advised Fehl’s vehicle had struck a tire deflation device. Fehl stopped on West Johnson School Road near County Road 710 West. As officers attempted to conduct a high-risk traffic stop, they heard a single gunshot.

Officers approached the vehicle and observed Fehl suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. There were no shots fired by any law enforcement officers during the initial contact nor the pursuit.  Fehl was flown by medical helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis where he is still listed in critical condition.

Fehl has active arrest warrants in Rush County and Shelby County for multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. The charges range from resisting law enforcement to various drug and weapons charges.

The investigation remains active however, detectives have no further information to release at this time.

Gov. Eric Holcomb joined Brig. Gen. Dale Lyles, Indiana National Guard adjutant general, in a visit to Camp Atterbury on Wednesday to learn more about “Operation: Allies Welcome” and visit with some of the evacuees located there. As a part of this federal mission, evacuees are staying at Camp Atterbury with the support of the Indiana National Guard.

“I’m so proud to see the work being done by the Indiana National Guard and our federal partners in such a short time to help these evacuees,” Gov. Holcomb said. “There has been an outpouring of kindness from Hoosiers to welcome those who aided and protected us.”

Camp Atterbury is located 40 miles south of Indianapolis and recently began housing Afghan evacuees.

Task Force Atterbury, consisting of active-duty and National Guard service members supporting this federal mission, is providing housing, medical, logistics, and transportation to the Afghans.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plans to close S.R. 160 in Washington County starting Monday, September 13, for a culvert replacement project.

On or after Monday, S.R. 160 will close to traffic between South New Salem Road and Bunker Hill Christian Church.

Motorists will need to utilize an alternate route during the closure. The road is expected to reopen by end of the day on Wednesday, September 15, weather permitting.

Drivers are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

On Wednesday, Indiana’s Department of Health (IDOH) updated the weekly metrics map, which details the level of community spread by county. As of now, the map is used as a reference point for local health departments to determine if action should be taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

This week, 21 counties are in “red,” the highest category for community spread. 68 counties are in the next tier, “orange,” with three in yellow.

Locally, Brown, Lawrence, Jackson, Jennings, Orange, and Scott Counties are Red. 

Washington, Clark, Floyd, and Harrison remained Orange. 

On Wednesday, Indiana’s Department of Health reported an additional 2,863 new COVID-19 cases and 451 new deaths. Washington County reported 22 new COVID-19 cases and 1 additional death on Wednesday. There were 32 new tests given. 

See daily Covid stats here – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063068118228

In 2020, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb implemented certain measures and restrictions for Indiana counties based on which color they were. As counties progressed from blue to yellow to orange to red, the restrictions were progressively tougher. 

However, in 2021, Holcomb hasn’t acted against Covid as aggressively as last year and left most decision-making to County Commissioners and local Health Departments. 

When asked today if there were going to be addressed at the state level, the response was this — “We continue to provide the color coding to counties so that they are aware of the level of COVID-19 transmission in their areas. The decision on whether to take action in counties based on their current color is a local one.”