In January 2021, Indiana State Police Detective Jarrod Lents began an investigation into an allegation of Rape involving a male suspect and a female victim, both from Martin County.

The investigation by Det. Lents resulted in an arrest warrant for Waylon Wininger, age 33, of rural Shoals.

On March 20, 2021, Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Lents and Trooper Steven Nolan located Wininger walking on Progress School Road in Martin County. Wininger was taken into custody and transported to the Martin County Jail.

• Rape level 3 felony 35-42-4-1

Former Indiana National Guard soldier promoted to major general and took the support reins of V Corps, headquartered at the U.S. Army installation situated south of the Ohio River about 40 southwest of Louisville, Kentucky.

Maj. Gen. Robert D. Burke, most recently the Deputy Chief of Staff Multinational Corps Northeast based in Poland, received his two-star rank during a ceremony attended among others by Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Dale Lyles.

“This role that Bob is about to undertake, as V Corps deputy commanding general for support, couldn’t be awarded to a more worthy and accomplished individual,” said Lyles in his speech. “There isn’t another soldier in the National Guard, or perhaps anywhere, who has accrued his specific background and qualifications. Bob’s can-do attitude and his ability to employ a command philosophy of integrity, honesty, hard work and lifelong learning make him, in March Madness lingo, a slam dunk.”

V Corps organizes, prepares, develops strategic understanding, establishes an enduring rotational headquarters capability in Poland, and builds capability and capacity to shape, deter, fight and win in Europe.

On Order, V Corps, alongside allies and partners, competes forward in Europe to promote interoperability, counter malign influence, and deter aggression. When directed, commands and controls Army, joint and combined forces in response to crises or, should conflict occur, fights and wins in large-scale combat operations.

Prior to serving overseas, Burke led the Indiana National Guard‘s 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Lawrence, Indiana. During his tenure, the 76th was the first National Guard brigade to lead Pacific Pathways in 2018. The team’s soldiers also participated in high-profile exercises including the eXportable Combat Training Capability program in 2016 and Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana in 2017.

“There were two significant things for which I came to truly appreciate over my now 31 years as a citizen-solider, traditional Guardsman,” said Maj. Gen. Robert D. Burke, V Corps deputy commanding general – support “One is being able to not only do your second job as a soldier but able to balance the dual-career required by the military which on top of it has a military education requirement for every grade in order to be promoted.”

While a traditional Indiana National Guardsman, Burke also served as an Indiana State Police Officer, and several troopers made the trip south to support one of their own.

“The second and potentially one could argue the most important is having a civilian employer that is completely committed to supporting their National Guard employee,” Burke said.

During his military career, Burke has received the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal among many others. He’s served as the 38th Infantry Division’s operations officer and has commanded two battalion-sized formations.

Burke and his wife, Tina, have four children: Tyler, Kayli, Macy and Kyle.

National Poison Prevention Week is celebrated March 21st-27th.  This week is used to draw attention to poison control centers and the Poison Help Hotline (1-800-222-1222).  While we hope this phone number is never needed, storing this nationwide phone number in your phone or a prominent location in your home could help save a life in the future. 

Poisoning is an issue that unfortunately affects every age group.  While almost half of all poison emergency calls involve children under age six, it is not uncommon to receive calls from adults – especially seniors according to www.poison.org.  Frequently we think of poisoning as something we ingest, but there are a variety of ways besides ingesting that a person can experience poisoning, including breathing in a toxin, splashing in the eyes or on the skin, and through a bite or sting.  

Due to COVID-19, many homes have increased the number of common household items that contribute to the poisoning of adults and children.   In order to keep the virus out of our homes, we are using more disinfecting wipes, cleaning supplies, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  These items are often left within reach of small children as adults are trying to keep everyone safe and clean, giving young children the opportunity to explore items they have previously not had access to leading to more poisoning concerns.  Other items that frequently cause poisoning:

1)      Prescription medicine

2)      Pain reliever both over the counter and prescription

3)      Alcohol

4)      Pesticides

5)      Antihistamines

6)      Vitamins

7)      Foreign Bodies/Toys (glow sticks, silica gel)

8)      Batteries

9)      Antidepressants

10)   Fumes/Gases/Vapors

Although most poisonings are accidental, we can take extra precautions to keep our families safe at home.   The National Capital Poison Center provides the following prevention guidance for children, adults, and seniors. 

Preventing serious poisonings in children:

– Read the label before you give medicine to a child.  Use the right dosing cup, measuring spoon or syringe.  Put the cap back on tightly.

– Lock medicines and household products up high, where children can’t see or reach them.  Child-resistant closures are not child-proof!

– Keep button batteries where children can’t reach them.

– Store medicines and products in their original containers.

– Watch children carefully outdoors.  Some plants and wild mushrooms are poisonous.

– Install Carbon Monoxide Alarms in the hallway near every sleeping area in your home.

Preventing serious poisonings in adults and seniors:

– Always read the label and follow the directions.

– Take only your own medicine.  Take the right amount at the right time.

– Never mix cleaning products.  Poisonous gases, explosions, burns, or fires may result.

– Keep household products away from food and medicine so they do not mix.

– Store products in original containers.

– Install Carbon Monoxide Alarms in the hallway near every sleeping area in your home.

– Never burn charcoal or use gas-powered tools or engines indoors.

– Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even if the garage door is open.

If you need to call the Indiana Poison Center, they will provide helpful resources to guide you in the next steps on how to treat the person suffering possible poisoning symptoms.  When calling the Indiana Poison Center, you will be met with: 

1)      Immediate advice from experts.

2)      Money and time-saving care.

3)      A specialist that will help you decide if you need to go to a hospital or if the poisoning can be handled at home (most poisonings can be handled at home with help from the poison center.)

4)      A specialist will call ahead if you do need to go to a hospital, so ER staff are ready if you need treatment. 

Remember calling the Poison Center will not delay your treatment.  They are prepared to help you over the phone. 

While we hope you never need to use this information, we want you to be prepared to both prevent and attend to any poisoning situations that might arise. 

Remember, keep dangerous items out of the reach of children. 

Put these items away in a safe and secure location to help keep your family and friends safe.   If an emergency arises, call the Poison Center hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

Hoosiers ages 40 and older will be eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, the Indiana Department of Health announced today. This expansion of eligibility to include those ages 40 to 44 will make the vaccine available to more than 400,000 additional Hoosiers.

Additional groups will be added as more vaccine becomes available.

Vaccine appointments for this newly eligible population will be available starting Monday and will extend over the next several weeks to align with expected vaccine deliveries to the state. Individuals seeking an earlier appointment are encouraged to look at openings in surrounding counties.

To schedule a vaccine, visit https://ourshot.in.gov and select a location from one of more than 450 clinics around the state. Hoosiers who do not have a computer or cell phone or those who need assistance scheduling an appointment can call 211 or contact one of Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging or AARP. Nearly 70 libraries around the state also are helping Hoosiers schedule their appointments.

Vaccination clinics that are part of the federal vaccine program, including those at Meijer and Kroger, appear on the clinic map at https://ourshot.in.gov but are scheduled through those retailers’ platforms, not through the state centralized system.