A New Castle woman was arrested Monday evening after she caused a three-vehicle crash on State Road 3 at the intersection of Riley Road in New Castle.

Trooper JT Burns responded to the area and found three cars blocking the right two northbound lanes of State Road 3. Trooper Burns began to assess the scene and was approached by a local ER doctor who had witnessed the crash. The doctor instinctively began to triage the drivers of the damaged vehicles. She informed Trp. Burns that two of the drivers appeared to be uninjured however, the driver of one vehicle appeared to be non-responsive and was fading in and out of consciousness. The female driver was transported to the Henry Community Health Hospital for treatment.

During his investigation, Trp. Burns learned Melissa K. Terry, 48, New Castle, IN was driving a 2012 Mitsubishi northbound on State Road 3. She later admitted she was reaching for a bag on the passenger side floorboard. She didn’t see two cars which were stopped at the stop light at the intersection of Riley Road. Terry’s vehicle struck the rear of a 2017 Fiat driver by Lisa Kimmey, 52, New Castle, IN causing it to strike a 2017 GMC truck driven by Gerald Creager, 73, Eaton, OH.

During his investigation Trp. Burns found a rock like substance, a powder like substance, and paraphernalia associated with drug use in Terry’s vehicle.

Terry was found to be wanted on active arrest warrants from both North Carolina and Virginia.

Terry was evaluated and released by the ER staff before being transported to the Henry County Jail.

Arrested and Preliminary Charges:

• Melissa K. Terry, 48, New Castle, IN

1. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
2. Possession of Narcotic Drug – Level 6 Felony
3. Operating While Intoxicated (Endangerment) – Class A Misdemeanor
4. Public Intoxication – Class B Misdemeanor
5. Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (Controlled Substance) – Class C Misdemeanor
6. Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
7. Virginia Warrant – Full Extradition (Possession of Dangerous Drugs)

Trp. Burns was assisted by the New Castle PD, Henry County SD, New Castle EMS, New Castle FD, Henry Community Health Hospital ER, and Affordable 24 Hour Towing

Hunters looking to chase gobblers on public land this spring can find plenty of opportunity in Indiana’s forests. All 15 state forest properties and 204,000-acre Hoosier National Forest are open for walk-in hunting.

Youth wild turkey season is April 17 and April 18, Adult hunters can take to the fields beginning April 21 through May 9.

Hunters will need a valid turkey hunting license and gamebird habitat stamp to participate.

It’s important to remember that these forests are managed for multiple types of recreation, which means you may encounter more people than just other turkey hunters.

Hikers, foragers, horseback riders, campers, and many others enjoy these spaces, too. This openness also allows you to do more than just turkey hunts, so it’s a great excuse to bring the family along.

Hoosier National Forest, Deam Wilderness, and the surrounding area is popular for camping and hunting. Remember, there is no parking along Tower Ridge Road except at the designated spots.

When hunting any public land, remember that property lines are not always clearly marked. Carrying a map that shows property boundaries is important to avoid straying onto private land nearby.

You can find these maps at state and federal forest offices and online.

Indiana’s state forests and Hoosier National Forest are public lands for your use. If you’ve never experienced what these easy-to-access properties offer, turkey season is a great time to start.

Find out more by clicking here. Find resources including the Department of Resources’ Where to Hunt Map, regulations, spring harvest data, processing videos, and more on the DNR website.

The Indiana Department of Health is proactively notifying all vaccination clinics using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to pause its use following news reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has called for additional review of its safety.

The state has not received official notification of a directive to pause but is doing so out of an abundance of caution.

The health department will be sending the two-dose Moderna vaccine to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is conducting mass vaccination clinics today so that Hoosiers can continue to get vaccinated without interruption.

The department is also working with other clinics that were scheduled to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the immediate future.

On April 9, 2021, Clarence Johnson, 37, of Austin, appeared in court.  He was arrested on Failure to Comply and was booked at the Scott County Jail. 

On April 9, 2021, Deputy Zach Brown initiated a traffic stop in Scottsburg.  The driver was identified as Shannon Barger, 39, of Crothersville.  Barger was not compliant and refusing to cooperate.  He was arrested and charged with Refusal to Identify, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Law Enforcement.  He was transported to the Scott County Jail. 

On April 9, 2021, Corporal Charlie Morgan responded to Mariann’s Motel on a female slumped over in a vehicle.  Upon arrival, Corporal Morgan made contact with Victoria Howard, 31, of Crothersville.  Howard was evaluated by EMS.  Further investigation revealed she had an active arrest warrant in Jackson County.  Howard was arrested for an Out of County Warrant, Possession of Marijuana/Hash Oil/Hashish or Salvia, Possession of Cocaine or Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug – At Least 5 to 10 Grams, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.   

On April 10, 2021, Corporal James Ward and First Sergeant Keith Hartman responded to a dispute in a vehicle on Highway 31.  Upon arrival, Corporal Ward and First Sergeant Hartman made contact with Brittany Rose, 30, of Scottsburg, and Jonathan Barger, 31, of Lexington.  Further investigation resulted in the arrests of both Rose and Barger.  They were arrested and charged with Domestic Battery. 

On April 11, 2021, Corporal James Ward and First Sergeant Keith Hartman responded to a trespassing call on Hardy Mill Road.  Upon arrival, Deputy Ward made contact with Corey Smith, 27, of English.  Further investigation revealed Smith was occupying a stolen vehicle.  Smith was arrested for Criminal Trespassing and Auto Theft.  He was transported to the Scott County Jail. 

Legislation to fully fund public school students attending classes virtually this academic year due to COVID-19 is now law, according to State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem).

Without this new law, public schools would receive 85% of tuition support per virtual student, which is defined as a child learning 50% or more of their instruction online.

Davisson said this law provides 100% of the state’s tuition support for students at public schools who have gone to virtual instruction for part or all of the 2020-2021 academic year, so long as those students weren’t already learning virtually prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our schools continuously made adjustments to help protect students, staff and families during the pandemic, and that included online learning,” Davisson said. “Education remains the state’s largest investment, and this commonsense law makes sure our public schools are fully funded as they focus on providing high-quality instruction to young Hoosiers.”

Senate Enrolled Act 2 is effective immediately. Visit iga.in.gov to learn more.