Brown County State Park has created a way for guests to experience Brown County State Park’s unique cultural and natural history from the comfort of their own vehicles.   

 The park’s Auto Tour guides guests to five stops along the park’s south loop. Signs will be posted at each location. Guests will start at the Nature Center and journey along the main park road to learn about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp area, the two nature preserves in Brown County State Park, the state-endangered yellowwood tree, and Kelp village. There are several vista overlooks along the drive.  

 To access this tour, go to the Brown County State Park website (on.IN.gov/browncountysp) and click on Photos, Video & Audio at the bottom of the page. The link includes audio for the tour as well as a map to help you navigate.

 In total, the tour should take about an hour, longer if you decide to get out and look around at each stop. Please adhere to park speed limits and other park signage throughout the tour.

 This tour can also be completed on a bicycle if you’re looking for more exercise.

 Brown County State Park is at 1405 S.R. 46 W., Nashville, IN 47448.

Indiana Conservation Officers have identified those involved in Saturday night’s incident at Paynetown State Recreation Area at Monroe Lake.

They are Estella Huerta (67), Alejandro Hernandez-Huerta (31), and an adolescent juvenile, all of Lawrence, Indiana. 

An investigation into the events that led up to the incident is still underway. More information will be released as it becomes available.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday, witnesses reported seeing a vehicle drive down the Paynetown State Recreation Area boat ramp and enter the water. 

The driver called out for help and attempted to exit the vehicle. 

The witnesses were not able to rescue the occupants before the vehicle became submerged. 

Monroe County Dive Team responded and were able to locate and remove an adult male and female as well as a male child from the vehicle. 

The adults were declared deceased at the scene.  The child was transported to IU Health Bloomington and was declared deceased upon arrival.

Conservation Officers are working with Monroe County Coroner’s Office to identify the deceased and notify the next of kin.

Additional agencies assisting at the scene include: Perry Clear Creek Fire, IU Health EMS, and Monroe Fire.

A Washington County corrections officer was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with sexual misconduct with a female inmate. 

On Monday morning, Sheriff Brent Miller learned of possible sexual contact between a female inmate housed at the Washington County Jail and Jacob E. Silverthorn, who was employed as a corrections officer. 

The contact was alleged to have happened a few days prior, while Silverthorn was working at the jail and responsible for overseeing inmates in the facility. 

Sheriff Miller immediately contacted Indiana State Police Detective Travis Baker and requested an independent investigation into the allegations. 

It was also alleged Silverthorn provided liquid nicotine to the inmate.

As a result of Detective Baker’s investigation, Jacob Silverthorn, 27, Salem, was arrested and charged with one count of Sexual Misconduct with an Inmate, a Level 5 Felony, and one count of Trafficking with an Inmate, also a Level 5 Felony. 

Silverthorne was arrested without incident and is being held at the Scott County Jail.  There is no bond set for his release. 

This case is still under investigation, and all information will be turned over to the Washington County Prosecutor upon completion. 

Detective Baker was assisted by members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

Indiana State Police Superintendent, Douglas Carter, announced today that Jasper District Trooper Ryan Conrad has been promoted to the position of Detective at the Jasper Post. Conrad, a 20-year member of the Indiana State Police, was chosen for his new position based upon a competitive selection process that included written testing, oral interview, seniority, education, and past job performance.

Conrad, who is from Marengo, Indiana, graduated from Crawford County High School in 1993 and then from Vincennes University in 1995.  He then graduated from the Indiana State Police Academy on December 13, 1999, and was assigned to the Versailles District.

In 2001 Conrad transferred to the Jasper District, where he has served as a road trooper assigned to Crawford County. Conrad is an ILEA Certified Instructor as well as a Field Training Officer. Conrad will start in his new position on August 23, 2020.

Saturday at approximately 11:25 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-74 near Greensburg, Indiana that claimed the life of an Indianapolis man.

The initial investigation by Master Trooper Jason Hankins, Indiana State Police-Versailles, indicated that the westbound lanes of I-74 were slowed near the 134-mile marker due to two separate crashes that had occurred in the area and caused a traffic backup. 

A 2017 Volvo truck pulling a tanker trailer, driven by Jason M. Cranfill, age 41, Seymour, Indiana had stopped in the right lane of I-74 near the 135.5-mile marker. 

A 2018 International box truck being driven by Kevin J. Porter II, age 37, Indianapolis, Indiana failed to stop for the slowed traffic.  Porter’s vehicle collided with the rear of Cranfill’s trailer. 

Both vehicles came to rest in the westbound lanes of I-74. 

Porter sustained fatal injuries in the crash.  He was transported to Decatur County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Indiana where he was pronounced deceased. 

Cranfill sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Toxicology results are pending and the investigation is ongoing at this time.

The westbound lanes of I-74 were closed for approximately three hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

Kevin Porter’s family has been notified.

M/Trp. Hankins was assisted by numerous troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles District, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Greensburg Police Department, Greensburg Fire Department, Decatur County EMS and Decatur County Coroner’s Office.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the death of three individuals at Monroe Reservoir late last night.  

At approximately 10:30 p.m., witnesses reported seeing a vehicle drive down the Paynetown State Recreation Area boat ramp and enter the water. 

The driver called out for help and attempted to exit the vehicle, according to police.

The witnesses were not able to rescue the occupants before the vehicle became submerged. 

Monroe County Dive Team responded and was able to locate and remove an adult male and female as well as a male child from the vehicle. 

The adults were declared deceased at the scene. 

The child was transported to IU Health Bloomington and was declared deceased upon arrival.

Conservation Officers are working with Monroe County Coroner’s Office to identify the deceased and notify the next of kin.

Additional agencies assisting at the scene include Perry Clear Creek Fire, IU Health EMS, and Monroe Fire.