The House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee voted this week to advance State Rep. Steve Davisson’s (R-Salem) legislation helping Paoli Junior-Senior High School students continue to sell their pork and lettuce to the school.

As the state lawmaker representing the Orange County school in the General Assembly, Davisson, a member of the committee, authored legislation allowing youth agricultural education programs throughout the state to sell up to $7,500 worth of products to schools without going through a competitive procurement process.

He said local students like those who are raising hogs and growing hydroponic lettuce, and then selling their products to the cafeteria, are learning many valuable lessons about agriculture and business.

And now, they can also learn about changing laws.

“This is another example of how government can work to help local Hoosiers, and hopefully we can make a change so these programs can continue to teach our students important, hands-on lessons,” Davisson said.

“Sourcing inexpensive local, fresh food sets a great example for students. When we create a legal avenue for this to continue, more schools around the state should pursue similar programs for their students.”

Davisson said after the committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1119, it now moves to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.

To learn more and watch legislative proceedings, visit iga.in.gov.

Nightly lane closures are scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 1, on I-65 NB and SB in Bartholomew County.

Closures will be in place for two-to-three nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at Denois Creek, Opossum Creek and the Deaver Rd. overpass, located south of Columbus.

The lane closures will protect crews placing temporary barrier wall in the median and outside shoulders prior to bridge work as part of the added travel lanes project between Walesboro and Columbus.

Additional lane closures and restrictions will begin as early as mid-March as construction gets underway on the $65 million contract that includes the addition of a third travel lane on I-65 between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46, bridge widening and rehabilitation, structure replacement, and resurfacing between the Driftwood River Bridge and U.S. 31 at Taylorsville.

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

January 26, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Trooper Daniel Organ was patrolling near US 41 and Hasselburger Avenue when he observed suspicious activity, followed by a passenger vehicle traveling in and around abandoned buildings with no headlights activated. 

Trooper Organ proceeded to stop the vehicle, a 2007 Toyota. 

The driver was identified as Ryan Roberts, age 30, of Terre Haute, Indiana. 

Roberts was arrested and charged with:  

• Possession of Stolen Auto Parts, Felony 6
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony 6
• Possession of Narcotics, Felony 6
• Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Felony 6
• Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Felony 6
• Possession of Counterfeit Currency, Felony 6
• Criminal Mischief, Class B Misdemeanor
• Criminal Trespassing, Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of a Controlled Substance, Class A Misdemeanor 

Trooper Organ inquired from Roberts why he was traveling around the buildings with no headlights. Roberts stated that he didn’t want to be seen. 

Trooper Organ ran the plates on the 2007 Toyota and discovered that the plates were stolen. Roberts was immediately taken into custody. 

While searching Roberts and the vehicle, Trooper Organ discovered methamphetamine, heroin, syringes, counterfeit money, and car keys. 

Further investigation discovered that Roberts was also in possession of a stolen vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. 

The keys located on Roberts also led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle that was reported to the Terre Haute Police Department earlier in the week. 

The stolen vehicle was located in one of the abandoned buildings, where Trooper Organ had earlier observed Roberts exiting from. 

Roberts was arrested and taken to the Vigo County Jail where he is currently being held on bond. 

Arresting Officer:  Trooper Daniel Organ

Assisting Agencies:  Terre Haute Police Department, Vigo County Central Dispatch Center, several troopers of the Putnamville State Police Post.

A 24-year-old Shoals man was arrested by the Indiana State Police on charges of child molesting. 

Ashton V. Pottorff, age 24, of Shoals, was charged with one count of Child Molesting, a Level 1 Felony.

In late December 2020,ISP was made aware of child molesting allegations against Pottorf.

The ISP began an investigation into the allegations and Trooper Steve Nolan, of the Jasper Post, was assigned the case.

After an investigation, Trooper Nolan submitted charging information to the Martin County Prosecutor’s Office.

On January 25, 2021, Martin County Circuit Court issued a felony warrant for the arrest of Pottorff.

On January 27, 2021, at 10:05 am, Trooper Nolan took Pottorff into custody on the warrant at his residence and transported him to the Martin County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

Assisting in the arrest were Indiana State Police Detective Jarrod Lents and Martin County Sheriff Travis Roush.

Assisting agencies: Department of Child Services, Martin County Sheriff’s Office, and SWIACC (Southwestern Indiana Child Advocacy Center Coalition).