The Indiana State Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) , (State Lodge, not local lodge), which is made up of nearly 15,000 members, recently held elections for the positions of President and Vice President. 

As a result of the election,  Chief Deputy Toby Deaton was successful in winning and retaining the office of Vice President.

Deaton stated, “he was humbled and honored by the support he received”.

He credits his winning to being accessible to FOP members and the strong work conducted in the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of the police officers in Indiana.

Specifically pointing to a “Police Officers Bill of Rights, pension enhancement and increased benefits for the families of officers killed in the line of duty.

Sheriff Goodin was excited about Chief Deaton’s election win because of the benefits of his contacts he has state-wide. Just recently Chief Deaton secured over $100,000.00 in police equipment.

That savings of taxpayer dollars is the tip of the ice berg of the benefits Scott County taxpayers and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Austin City Police and Scottsburg City Police will have as Chief Deaton as the Vice-President of the State F.O.P.

December 18, 2020, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Vermillion County 911 Dispatch Center received an emergency call about a fire in a detached garage.  

The preliminary investigation by Putnamville State Police Post detectives indicates that emergency personnel responded to a fire in a detached garage fire located at 18055 South Rangeline Road in Universal.

Upon emergency personnel’s arrival, they discovered a detached garage fully engulfed in flames. 

The Black Diamond Fire Department worked diligently to put an end to the fire. Once the fire was extinguished, a body was discovered inside the detached garage.  

Vermillion County Prosecutor Bruce Aukerman then requested that the Putnamville State Police Post take over the investigation.  

The identity of the body cannot be released at this time, pending positive identification. 

An autopsy has been scheduled for December 19, 2020, at Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

This is an active and ongoing criminal investigation by the Indiana State Police.  Information will be updated as the investigation proceeds.

There is no further information to release currently. 

Assisting Agencies:  Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department, Vermillion County Coroner’s Office, Cayuga Town Marshall, Black Diamond Volunteer Fire Department and Indiana State Fire Marshal. 

Washington County gets a second chance at free Covid-19 testing.

After a public outcry led to the cancellation of a Covid-19 free testing site at Salem High School, second free testing has been planned for the Washington County Fairgrounds beginning next week.

There will be no cost for the test and children as young as two years old can be tested (with parental consent).

This testing facility is being sponsored by the Indiana Department of Health and will be set up in the 4H building located at the top of the hill.

The testing clinic will be held:

• Tuesday, December 22nd from 9 AM-6PM
• Wednesday, December 23rd from 9AM-6PM
• Thursday, December 24th from 9AM-1PM
• Friday, December 25th CLOSED
• Saturday, December 26th from 9AM-6PM

Testing will be available to all members of the public regardless of symptoms.

Once tested, all individuals are to remain at homes in isolation until they receive their test results.

Hoosiers will not be charged for testing and insurance is not required. If you have private health insurance, please bring that information with you.

The previously scheduled testing site was to have been at Salem High School from Dec. 8 thru the 12th. 

Just a few days after being selected by the Indiana Department of Health and the Washington County Health Department, Salem High School was canceled as a Covid-19 testing site due to public outcry. 

“Due to numerous complaints made to the State by community members, the ISDH strike team has canceled the testing for next week at the Salem High School,” according to a statement released to the school today through the local health department. 

Washington County has been listed for several weeks as an “Orange” county which is the second-highest level of spread of the Coronavirus. It turned “Red” two weeks ago and has since went back to “Orange.”

Schools in the community are currently operating in a virtual format with students at home until after the first of January. 

Washington County has had 348 total cases since December 1 and three deaths.