Today, Indiana State Police Detectives served an arrest warrant on Blake Coombs, age 19, on numerous charges related to a fatal crash that occurred in January of this year as a result of him fleeing from police in a vehicle.  Two passengers in his vehicle were killed in the crash.

The initial investigation by detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post indicated that on January 9, 2020, at approximately 3:45 pm, a Madison, Indiana police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on 2005 Toyota passenger car.  The vehicle, being driven by Coombs, fled from the officer northbound on State Road 7 from Madison.  The Indiana State Police and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Madison Police Department in pursuing the vehicle.  The vehicle turned westbound on State Road 250, southbound on State Road 3, and then eastbound on State Road 256 back towards Madison, Indiana.

Coombs lost control of the vehicle on SR 256 at Thompson Road.  The vehicle left the roadway, striking two utility poles on the northeast corner of the intersection.  A front-seat passenger in the vehicle, Tyler Cooley, age 18, Hanover, Indiana and a backseat passenger, Brooklyn James, age 19, Madison, Indiana sustained fatal injuries in the crash.  They were both pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.  Coombs was airlifted from the scene to a Louisville area hospital where he was treated for serious injuries. 

While hospitalized, blood test results showed Coombs had controlled substances and marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.  Coombs, who also goes by the name Blake Eisenhower, was unlicensed at the time of the crash.

At the conclusion of the investigation, a warrant was issued for Coombs out of the Jefferson County Circuit Court for two counts of Resisting Law Enforcement Causing Death-Level 3 Felony and two counts of Reckless Homicide-Level 5 Felony.  The warrant was served today on Coombs who has been held at the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility on an unrelated charge since being released from the hospital following the crash. 

Coombs will soon be given an initial appearance in the Jefferson County Circuit Court.  

Two testing locations for Covid-19 are now open in Salem with 17 others around the Southern Indiana area. There are 103 testing locations around Indiana at this time. 

Testing is available at the Schneck Family Care and Salem Community Medical Services. 

SCMS is located at 1321 Jackson St, Salem, IN 47167. You can call at 812-883-3095. 

To be tested you have to meet one of these criteria:

• Essential worker
• Exposure
• Healthcare worker
• Pregnant
• Symptomatic
• After evaluation and based on provider discretion

Other locations are 

Clark County (6)

• Clark Primary Care – Clarksville
• Family Health Centers of Southern Indiana 
• Foundations Family Medicine
• ISDH/Optum Test Site
• LifeSpring Community Medical Services
• North Clark Medical Group

Floyd County (1)

• Floyd County Health Department

Harrison County (1)

• ISDH/Optum Test Site

Jackson County (3)

• First Care Clinics – Seymour
• ISDH/Optum Test Site
• Schneck Urgent Care

Lawrence County (2)

• First Care Clinics – Bedford
• ISDH/Optum Test Site

Scott County (4) 

• Austin Medical Center
• Foundations Family Medicine
• ISDH/Optum Test Site
• Schneck Family Care Scott County

To register for ISDH/Optum Test Sites, go to https://lhi.care/covidtesting

WHO NEEDS A COVID-19 TEST?

Healthcare providers may order a test for any patient who needs one based on their clinical evaluation. ISDH will continue to focus on testing close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 positive patients when it is imperative that the contact continues to work and/or have close contact with at-risk populations and our highest-risk Hoosiers even if they don’t have symptoms. Those individuals include:

• Anyone who is admitted to the hospital whose physician is concerned that their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19.
• Symptomatic healthcare workers (inpatient, outpatient, nursing home, and other long-term service facilities) and first responders who provide direct care to at-risk patients. 
• Symptomatic long-term care facility residents or staff who have direct contact with patients.
• Persons experiencing homelessness.
• Patients who expire with suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
• Patients and staff at correctional facilities
• Patients age 65 and older with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
• Patients with underlying health conditions with symptoms of COVID-19, including lung or heart disease, or who are immunocompromised, obese or pregnant women.

Frequently Asked Questions about testing:

Q. What should I do if I think I need a test?
A. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office or emergency department, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients. You can also consult a healthcare provider through telehealth if that is an option.

Q. How can I get tested at a drive-thru or ISDH/Optum clinic?
A. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) continues to expand its ability across the state to test Hoosiers for COVID-19. 

The locations of drive-thru clinics change frequently, so please check the map above to see if there’s a drive-thru clinic near you. One test per vehicle, Indiana residents only (please bring proof of residency).

ISDH has also partnered with OptumServe to provide test sites across the state. Registration for testing at an ISHD/Optum site is required and can be completed at https://lhi.care/covidtesting or by phone at 888-634-1116. Hoosiers will not be charged for testing, and insurance is not required. If you have private health insurance, please bring that information with you.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, come get tested. If you are at high risk because you are over age 65, have diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or another underlying condition, or if you are a member of a minority population that’s at greater risk, please come get tested – even if you don’t have symptoms. This also includes close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 positive patients when it is imperative that the contact continues to work and/or have close contact with at-risk populations.

Q. How can I get my results from a drive-thru clinic test?
A. You’ll receive either an email or text message depending on which option you selected.

Q. Should I have a serology/antibody test?
A. We don’t know yet if the presence of antibodies are neutralizing and protective or not.  Because the antibody test does not give information on the infectious status. People can still infect others even though they have an antibody response. It also doesn’t mean that they are immune because we don’t know if their antibodies are enough to keep someone immune or for how long.  

Q. Where can I get more information?
A. Questions about COVID-19 may be directed to the ISDH COVID-19 Call Center at the toll-free number 877-826-0011 (available 8 a.m. to midnight).

Governor Eric Holcomb signed an Executive Order on Friday, May 8, to further extend the Bureau of Motor Vehicles renewal deadlines. Driver’s licenses, identification cards and vehicle registrations that expire prior to June 4 will now be valid through June 4.

The executive order also extends the BMV’s deadlines for title transactions, salvage titles, and off-road vehicle and snowmobile titles.

Additionally, the executive order provides an extension to June 4 for anyone who has an expiring state-issued professional license or permit.

In an effort to recruit poll workers for Indiana’s upcoming primary election, the executive order also ensures election workers are able to collect their stipend without reducing their unemployment benefits.

The executive order also extends specific individual and business tax deadlines to match federal law.

Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

WSLM will host a Washington County Political Forum scheduled for May 12 at 6:30p at City Hall in Salem.

Due to COVID-19, the forum will be held virtually.

Those invited to participate in the event include the following candidates:

• Washington County Clerk – Stephanie Rockey
• County Surveyor – Emily Rodman
• Commissioner District 1 – Phillip Marshall
• Commissioner District 3 – Rick Roberts 
• Treasurer – Nancy Coats and Shirley Batt
• Coronor – Peg Schell and Steven Tye. 
• Council At-Large – Mark “Bubba” Abbott, Rondale Brishaber, Jason Cockerill, Gerald Fleming, Duane Malloy, Keeley R. Stingle. 

The forum will be broadcast live on WSLM 1220 AM, WSLM 97.9 FM, and LIVE at wslmradio.com via stream or on our Facebook page.

The purpose of the format is to offer both Republican and Democratic candidates the opportunity to express and discuss their positions and views on matters of importance in the upcoming Primary Election on June 2. 

The event will be held at Salem City Hall Council Chambers.

Rebecca White of WSLM and Attorney Alex Ooley will moderate a question and answer session beginning at 6:30 p.m.

This event is intended to present the opportunity for local candidates to introduce themselves and to present their ideas for the office each is seeking.

“So many times quoted statements are misinterpreted,” said White. “This is a chance to hear the candidates in their own voice and you can determine exactly what they mean and stand for.”

This event is not intended to be a back and forth style debate.

While some questions and answers may draw out differences in point of view, this is not intended to be a confrontational style debate.

Each candidate will be given 3 minutes for opening statements.

The order will be set by how candidates are placed on the ballot prior to the start of the event.

A timer will be provided to keep track of the time used and to provide notice to speakers of time limits.

The moderators will ask prepared questions of each candidate, and each candidate will have 2 minutes to answer each question.

The public can submit a limited number of questions, which, if selected, will be read to the candidates by one of the moderators. Each candidate will be given 2 minutes to answer.

These questions will be submitted by email at wslmradio@gmail.com and vetted before being read to the candidates.

No one will be given the floor to simply start “firing” questions at the candidates.

The questions must be relevant to the discussion. Candidates will have no prior knowledge of the questions beforehand.