Indiana Conservation Officers’ two-year investigation into the owner of Kimberly Pay Lake in Commiskey has resulted in a felony charge being filed with the Jennings County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Billy G. Campbell, 80, of Commiskey, has been charged with illegal sale or shipment of wildlife that are protected by law but have an aggregate market value of at least $500 but less than $5,000, which is a level 6 felony. 

The investigation into Campbell, which began in 2019, documented multiple violations, including purchasing sport-caught catfish to be placed in the pay lake. A person may not sell, barter, or exchange, or offer to sell, barter, or exchange, or purchase or offer to purchase fish protected by law in Indiana.   

All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

To report hunting or fishing violations, call Indiana Conservation Officer Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or 1-800-TIP-IDNR.

Indiana DNR’s Division of State Parks is seeking volunteer hunters to participate in deer management hunts at 17 locations this fall.

Properties, where hunting will be allowed with firearms only (i.e., any firearm legal to take deer on public land in Indiana), are Chain O’Lakes, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles, and Whitewater Memorial state parks, and Cave River Valley Natural Area.

Properties where hunting will be allowed by archery only (i.e., any archery equipment legal to take deer in Indiana) are Clifty Falls and Fort Harrison state parks, and Trine State Recreation Area. 

The dates on which hunting will be allowed on these properties are Nov. 15–16 and Nov. 29–30.

Volunteers can apply online at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt, where additional guidelines can be found under State Park Deer.

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 9.

Management hunts are carried out exclusively to achieve an ecological objective — to ensure balanced and healthy natural communities for all plants and wildlife within park boundaries.

Successful applicants are allowed to take up to three deer, only one of which can be antlered. Deer harvested at a state park management hunt are not counted toward regular statewide bag limits.

“Trophy hunting”, i.e., passing on does or smaller bucks to wait to take a larger buck, is counter to the ecological objective of state park management hunts and is strongly discouraged.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to begin chip seal operations as early as Thursday, August 5, on S.R. 362 in Scott and Jefferson Counties. Work will take place between S.R. 3 and S.R. 62 along the Clark County line. The work was originally scheduled for mid-May but was moved to later in the season.

Chip seal operations typically last around three to four days per location depending upon the weather.

Work is completed under lane closures with flagging to prevent damage to both vehicles and the roadway. During operations, the existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the service life of the roadway and lowers maintenance costs. Once the seal coat is complete, loose aggregate is applied and swept from the road. After a curing period, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings.

Chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique that is utilized across the state of Indiana, saving an estimated six to 14 dollars in taxpayer expenditures for every dollar invested in extending the life of a roadway.

Motorists should slow down, watch for stopped traffic, and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

The short-term bridge closure on State Road 135 over South Fork Blue River has been postponed due to weather concerns over the past weekend, including possible rain and high humidity, which would cause project delays.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. now plans to close this stretch of State Road 135 from approximately 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 5 to 5 a.m. on Monday, August 9. Traffic will be rerouted along U.S. 150 and State Road 56 during the closure.

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

The work on State Road 135 over Bear Creek was completed as scheduled last weekend. 

Indiana State Police Detective Brian Maudlin initiated a criminal investigation on March 6, 2021, after receiving information from a family member that Josie M. Huff, age 31, of Robinson, Illinois, had allegedly misused and misappropriated funds for self-gain from the estate of her son, in the amount of $248,653.81.

Huff is the Guardian of the Estate for her child, who is the son of fallen Terre Haute Police Officer Robert Pitts. 

Officer Pitts was killed in the line of duty on May 4, 2018. 

After reviewing the investigation, Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler issued a warrant for Huff’s arrest. 

Earlier this evening, Huff was arrested by the Robinson Illinois Police Department and transported to the Crawford County Illinois jail. 

Huff will be transported to Sullivan County, where she will be held on a $15,000 bond with 10% allowed.