The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in the following regions:

• Central Indiana – Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Madison, Shelby 
• Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd
• Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick 
• West Central Indiana – Vigo, Carroll, Tippecanoe 

And an action day has also been called for Clark and Floyd Counties on Wednesday, July 28. 

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone while remaining safe during the COVID-19 health crisis by making changes to daily habits. You can:

• Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, walk, bike, or work from home when possible
• Combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)
• Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above 

Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations. 

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. Air Quality Action Days generally occur when weather conditions such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, and lower atmospheric inversions trap pollutants close to the ground.

To learn more about ozone or to sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.

On Thursday, July 22, 2021, Dalton Morris, 26, North Rinkers Creek Road, was sentenced after being convicted of Intimidation, a level 5 felony, and a probation violation. 

Special Judge, Joseph Claypool, from Harrison County sentenced Morris to 7 years of incarceration with 2 years suspended to supervised probation. 

According to the police report, a relative of the defendant informed police on March 4 that Morris told her and a man who was present that he planned to kill Circuit Court Judge Larry Medlock and other individuals at the Washington County Justice Center.

According to police, Morris said he planned to go to the Justice Center and start shooting.

The man who was present works as a jailer and told police Morris looked him in the eye and said, “I don’t care who is there.”  

The two left the home where they were talking with Morris and reported the incident to law enforcement.

The report states the two relayed that Morris believed he was treated unfairly by Judge Medlock and complained about how much he had spent on court costs and attorney fees.

A female witness said she believed Morris’s threats were real, noting Morris said if he were to be pulled over he would start shooting.

Police were able to locate Morris via cell phone location at Cobblestone Hotel.

There, they found the vehicle registered to his girlfriend with a rifle in plain view inside. The hotel clerk advised Morris and his girlfriend had checked in.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers called the room. Morris spoke with them and agreed to step out of the room.

He was arrested without incident.  

Morris said he felt he had been treated unfairly by Judge Medlock, but denied making any threats.

The police report noted Morris became angry when talking about his court cases.  

Morris first told police he didn’t have any weapons and denied knowing about the rifle, but finally admitted he was aware the gun was in the car.

During the search of the room, officers located a .38 caliber round and additional rounds were found in the vehicle.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Medlock testified about the impact the threat had on him, his family, and his staff.  He noted, however, that he believed it was important to stand up as a crime victim and testify because that is what crime victims go through every day in his court. 

Washington County Prosecutor Dustin Houchin, argued at the sentencing that, “this was a terrible crime against Judge Medlock and the other direct victims here, but it was also an attack against our entire system of justice.  Anything short of the maximum punishment chips away at the very foundation of safety and justice in our community.” 

After the sentencing, Houchin noted, “I am pleased with the strong sentence Judge Claypool handed down in this case.  I thank him for his service to the people of Washington County.”    

Milestone Contractors, L.P. is implementing full closures along State Road 129 in Switzerland County to perform subgrade stabilization work as part of an $11 million full-depth pavement reclamation contract that began earlier this year. 

The road closed to thru traffic between Pleasant and Vevay in April, but local access has been maintained for residents in the area. During their current work, sections of State Road 129 are closed to all traffic for work to take place across both lanes of the highway. Upcoming closures are scheduled as follows, but may change based on weather and other factors:

• Monday, July 19 to Wednesday, July 21 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.): S.R. 129 closed to all traffic between Bursot Road and Long Run Road
• Thursday, July 22 to Saturday, July 24 and Monday, July 26 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.): S.R. 129 closed to all traffic between Jackson Road and Cooper Road
• Tuesday, July 27 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.): S.R. 129 closed to all traffic between Detour Road and Emmich Road
• Wednesday, July 28 to Saturday, July 31 (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.): S.R. 129 closed to all traffic between Emmich Rd and State Road 56.

The contract is currently expected to be complete by late September. The official detour will continue to follow State Road 56 and State Road 250.

Motorists 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.