Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fire that damaged or destroyed twenty-two boats at Hoosier Hills Marina located at Patoka Lake.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., smoke from a boat in the “A” dock was observed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshalls Office. No injuries were reported.

During the initial investigation, it was determined that after the fire started efforts were made by Hoosier Hill Marina staff to put out the fire.  Two boats were moved from the docks, creating a fire break.

The marina is closed at this time while fire crews continue to monitor for potential hot spots.  Staff from the marina are working to contact the affected boat owners.

Responding agencies included the Celestine Fire Department, Schnellville Fire Department, Dubois Fire Department, Memorial EMS, Dubois County Sheriff’s Department, Dubois County Dispatch Center, Indiana State Police, Army Core of Engineers, IDEM and the State Fire Marshals Office.

Indiana is home to thousands of Hoosiers who make their living by selling homegrown, homemade, and locally produced goods. Home-based vendors make everything from baked goods to honey, jams, and jellies. Right now, they can only sell their products at farmers’ markets and roadside stands, which limits their customer base and timeframe. To help them expand and succeed, I am authoring legislation this session so home-based vendors can sell their goods in person, remotely, or through a third party. 

House Bill 1103 would open more avenues for home-based vendors to sell their products directly, online, or through a third-party vendor like a delivery service, retail shop, or grocery store. Vendors would be able to sell shelf-stable, non-hazardous goods and items such as baked goods, whole, and uncut fruits and vegetables, tree nuts and legumes, and syrups. The Indiana Department of Health, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, industry groups, and food safety experts would also provide lawmakers with recommendations for expanding what home-based vendors could sell through these new avenues.

These changes will provide home-based vendors across the state more opportunities to connect with consumers, who are also demanding more locally sourced and produced goods. This is also a great opportunity to keep our hard-earned, Hoosier dollars in our communities.

House Bill 1103 recently passed out of the House of Representatives and is now on its way to the Senate for further consideration. As the demand for locally made products continues to increase, this is a common-sense bill benefiting Hoosier producers and consumers across the state. Small businesses, such as our home-based vendors, are critical to our state’s and local communities’ economic health. To connect with more Hoosier vendors and small businesses, visit indianagrown.org or marketwagon.com.

A traffic stop on Thursday afternoon ended with the arrest of both the driver and passenger on drug and weapons charges. 

Around 3:45 Thursday afternoon, Trooper Clay Boley stopped a driver for failing to signal his turn and having an obscured license plate.

After stopping the car, Trooper Boley learned that the driver, Dustin Todd Shackleford, 39, Henryville, Indiana, was wanted out of Clark County for an Invasion of Privacy charge.

As Shackelford was detained, Trooper Boley also learned of a firearm in Shacklefords’ backpack.     

As a result of the investigation, Trooper Boley conducted a vehicle search.

During the search, over 60 grams of suspected methamphetamine was located in a purse belonging to the passenger, Lara Lee Gater, 31, of New Albany.

Digital scales, unused plastic bags, pills, and paraphernalia were also located. Both Gater and Shackleford had firearms in their possession.  

Shackleford and Gater were arrested on the following charges:

Lara Lee Gater:

• Dealing in Methamphetamine over 10 grams with a firearm – Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony
• Possession of a Legend Drug – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana – B Misdemeanor
• Possession of Paraphernalia – C Misdemeanor

Dustin Todd Shackleford: 

• Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon – Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Marijuana – B Misdemeanor
• Possession of Paraphernalia – C Misdemeanor
• Warrant Service: Invasion of Privacy – A Misdemeanor

Trooper Boley was assisted by officers from the Charlestown Police Department.

A Floyd County man was arrested at his home for dealing drugs and was in possession of over a pound of Meth, as well as Heroin. 

Indiana State Police Troopers and investigators served a search warrant on his New Albany residence on Thursday. 

Rudy Rodriquez, 30, New Albany was arrested without incident following a search and was charged with the following:

1. Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony 
3. Possession of Narcotic Drug – Level 5 Felony
4. Possession of Firearm by Serious Violent Felon – Level 5 Felony 
5. Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony 

Rodriquez was booked into the Floyd County Jail. 

Trooper Zachary Smith, a K9 officer with the Sellersburg Post All Crimes Policing (ACP) squad, began an investigation approximately two months ago after receiving reports of possible drug activity involving Rodriquez.

Trooper Smith worked alongside fellow ACP units and ISP Drug Enforcement Sections units, as well as officers from the Charlestown and New Albany Police Departments.

On Thursday, officers were granted a search warrant for Rodriquez’s residence.

As a result of the investigation and subsequent search, officers located over a pound of suspected methamphetamine in the home.

Officers also found over ten grams of suspected heroin along with other controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and guns.