The Salem High School Class of 2020 is currently scheduled to graduate on Saturday May 23rd, according to Superintendent Jon Acton. 

June 19th is an alternative date. 

“After input from our Senior Class and Parents, it is our desire
to maintain the originally scheduled date for an “in-person” graduation,” Acton said in a press release this evening. 

“To best accommodate social distancing guidelines we will look at an outdoor venue at Paul A Graves Athletic Field. We will follow the guidelines established by the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana and Washington County Health Departments on the ability to have a ceremony that is safe for the students, parents, and community,” Acton advised. 

He said that if by May 8th, Federal and State guidance indicates that May 23rd is not a viable date then the Class of 2020 Graduation ceremony would be postponed until
Friday, June 19th.

“We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2020!” said Acton. 

Troopers from the Indiana State Police Indianapolis District are investigating a citizen’s encounter with a possible police impersonator. An unidentified suspect pulled over a victim driving on I-74 westbound between the 99 and 103-mile markers, near the Shelby and Marion County line, on April 19, 2020.

The suspect was driving a black and tan Dodge Charger and activated a full-sized red and blue light bar ’emergency lights’ to conduct a traffic stop on the victim.

The suspect allegedly approached the vehicle from the driver’s side, tapped his flashlight on the window and identified himself as a State Trooper.

The man then requested the victim’s license and registration but never returned to his car with the documents. 

The suspect was described as a black male between five feet, eight inches and six feet, weighing 180 to 200 pounds with a buzzed haircut and mustache.

He was wearing a police uniform consisting of a dark blue long sleeve shirt, dark blue pants, a red tie, badge over the left shirt pocket, and gloves.

His badge was described as an oval with an eagle on top. The victim did not see any other identification, a hat, gun belt or a firearm.

Indiana law requires a police officer to either be in full uniform or a marked police vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. A police officer in plain clothes and an unmarked vehicle is not permitted to make a traffic stop for a traffic violation. 

Anyone with information about this suspect or suspect vehicle is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 317-232-TIPS (8477)

An Alexandria man was arrested last evening (4/24) around 7:30 p.m.on a Level 1 felony warrant by the Pendleton District All Crimes Policing Team.

Kirby McPhearson, age 48, was arrested on a 2 Count warrant for Level 1 Child Molestation after he was located at his home in the 400 block of CR 600 North.

The warrant was the result of an investigation conducted by Madison County DCS and Pendleton District Investigators that began in October 2018.

The charges allege that McPhearson had sexual contact with a juvenile victim that was under the age of 12 at the time the incidents began.

McPhearson was lodged in the Madison County Jail.

Yesterday, a Madison, Indiana man was arrested following the theft of an Indiana State Police vehicle from a trooper’s residence in Jefferson County, Indiana.

At approximately 10:30 am, on Friday, April 24^th, the trooper reported that the truck belonging to the Indiana State Police was stolen from his residence on State Road 62 in rural Jefferson County, Indiana. 

The trooper had been working on equipment in the vehicle used by a state police specialty team when the male suspect, later identified as Vincent L. Wiefling, approached the residence on foot. 

Wiefling then entered the vehicle without being seen by the trooper. 

He then drove it away from the scene northbound on State Road 62.  Two witnesses of the theft followed Wiefling in the truck until law enforcement could respond. 

Wiefling crashed the vehicle in a ditch less than two miles from the theft.  He then fled from the vehicle on foot. 

Numerous law enforcement agencies responded to the scene.  Wiefling was soon located hiding in a nearby wooded area. 

He was taken into custody and transported to the Jefferson County Jail.

Wiefling was incarcerated on preliminary charges of Auto Theft, Resisting Law Enforcement, Criminal Trespass, Operating While Intoxicated, Unlawful Entry of a Motor Vehicle, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

Investigators later learned that Wiefling was just released from the custody of the Jefferson County Jail earlier that morning.

Wiefling is being held at the Jefferson County Jail pending his initial appearance in court.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Hanover Police Department, and Madison Police Department.

In August 2019, the Crawford County Indiana Prosecutor’s Office, along with the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, requested that the Indiana State Police investigate allegations that three Indiana Conservation Officers shot and killed two dogs in the Crawford County Indiana area. 

The dog’s owner, and complainant, was Jason F. Young.

 The investigation was concluded in February 2020, and the findings were turned over to the Crawford County Prosecutor. 

As a result of the investigation, the Crawford County Prosecutor charged the dog owner and complainant, Jason F. Young with:

Count 1:

Obstruction of Justice

I.C. 35-44.1-2-2(a)(4)

A level 6 felony

Count 2:

Intimidation

I.C. 35-45-2-1(a)(2)(b(1)(B) &(C)

A level 6 felony

Count 3:

False Informing

I.C. 35-44.1-2-3(d)(5)

A Class A Misdemeanor

All further inquiries should be made to the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.

“The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty”

Tara Kritzer, Executive Director of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce announced this morning the spring edition of Friday Night on the Square has been canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

“After much consideration and guidance from the Washington County Health Dept, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has decided to cancel the upcoming Friday Night on the Square event on May 15,” said Kritzer in a release Friday morning.

Kritzer said those who have already paid for booth space will be receiving a refund very soon or we can just use it as a credit for booth space in the fall.

The next Friday Night on the Square will be Sept. 18^th.

“We look forward to a great event in the fall!” Kritzer said. 

April 23, 2019: A southbound semi-truck struck a stranded motorist on I-65 late Thursday night, killing a Henryville, Indiana man. 

Around 11:07 p.m. Thursday, the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg (ISP) responded to a crash on I-65 southbound near the seven mile-marker.  Responding units quickly shut down I-65 southbound at the nine mile-marker, and requested ISP crash reconstructionists and a commercial motor vehicle inspector to assist.   The interstate remained closed for approximately four hours. 

The preliminary investigation shows a brown, 2000, Buick La Sabre, driven by Cody William Whitehead, 24, of Henryville, Indiana, was stationary on the side of the roadway in the emergency lane with its hazard lights activated. 

Investigators believe Mr. Whitehead’s car ran out of gas, and he was waiting in his vehicle after calling for assistance.  Shortly after 11 p.m., a gray 2018 Freightliner semi-truck, driven by Matthew T. Zartman, 30, of Burnsville, North Carolina, crossed over the fog line for an unknown reason, striking the Buick and pushing it into the guardrail on the west side of I-65. 

The Buick came to rest partially in the right-hand lane and was then struck by a 2013 Ford Transit and a 2007 Freightliner who were both unable to avoid the collision. 

Mr. Whitehead was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.  Next of kin was notified by the coroner’s office and ISP.  No other drivers were injured.    

Alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in this crash; however, blood results are pending. 

No citations or charges have yet been filed, but the investigation is on-going.    

ISP was assisted by units from the Sellersburg Police Department, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, the Tri-Township Fire Department, and the Clark County Coroner’s Office.