A New Albany man died in a rollover crash that occurred late Tuesday night along I-65 in Clark County.

Around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, Indiana State Police (ISP),  Clark County Deputies, and local ambulance service responded to a single-vehicle crash with entrapment on I-65 northbound near the 5.2 mile-marker. 

When officers arrived, they observed a black, 2010 Ford Fusion rolled onto the driver’s side.  The driver was unresponsive. 

Trooper Jared Ferguson assumed the investigation and also contacted ISP reconstruction units to assist.  The preliminary investigation shows the Fusion was going northbound on I-65 and left the east side of the roadway for an unknown reason. The vehicle traveled down a small embankment and overturned before striking a fence and two semi-trucks parked at the nearby Ryder Truck Sales.  The driver, Paul E. Barksdale, 61, of New Albany, Indiana, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.  There were no other occupants in the car. 

This crash is still under investigation.  Next of Kin was notified by the Clark County Coroner’s Office and the Indiana State Police. 

ISP units were assisted by the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, The Clarksville Fire Department, The Clarksville Police Department, and the Clark County Coroner’s Office. 

As COVID-19 continues to impact communities across the nation and globe, individuals and companies are stepping in to support their local communities. Kimball International and its employees have bee n working together over several weeks to donate their time and resources to support the communities in which we operate, including Salem.

Kimball International has been leveraging its core business of manufacturing healthcare furniture solutions, in addition to using existing talent and resources to manufacture Personal protective equipment (PPE), for those in need.

The company reached out to local hospitals to offer support – and were met with an enthusiastically positive response.

Kimball International employees in Salem rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

They uncrated, unpackaged, unboxed, assembled and delivered a total of 50 of the company’s Mascot mobile bedside tables, along with 50 face shields, to St. Vincent Ascension last week on April 14.

The medical staff was very grateful.

Lonnie Nicholson, Shannon Campbell, and Dave Campbell deliver face shields and tables to St. Vincent Ascension.

And it’s not just medical professionals benefitting from these efforts. The Kimball International-HabigFoundation made a $2,500 donation to the Hoosier Helpers non-profit in Salem to help fund their mission to provide meals to the homebound.

“I am inspired and humbled by these giving stories,” said Lonnie Nicholson, Kimball International’s Chief Human Resources Officer, “because it truly demonstrates our purpose as a company– to be makers of possibility. We are proud to have been a part of helping the Salem community during this time of need.”

A Jeffersonville man has been arrested after theft of items from a vehicle at Charlestown State Park in Clark County.

Aaron Wallen, 47, faces charges of theft, in addition to outstanding arrest warrants, after Indiana Conservation Officers witnessed him stealing items from a parked vehicle near a trailhead at the state park this afternoon.  

In response to multiple reports of thefts from unattended parked cars at the state park during the past week, conservation officers and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department set up and observed a “bait” car.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. a conservation officer observed Wallen open the unlocked door of the car and remove items. After a conservation officer made contact, Wallen fled on foot into the woods but was apprehended shortly thereafter and arrested without incident.

It was later determined that Wallen was on parole and had multiple outstanding felony arrest warrants.

The investigation is still ongoing by DNR Law Enforcement and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with further information concerning this investigation is encouraged to call Indiana Conservation Officers’ Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or anonymously call 1-800-TIP-IDNR, or call the Clark County Sheriff’s Department at 812-283-4471.

Indiana Conservation Officers routinely patrol the state’s DNR properties in an effort to ensure their safe use. Citizens are urged to report suspicious or criminal activity by the numbers listed above.

All charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today commended the Senate’s passage of additional coronavirus relief funding, including renewed funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, hospitals, and expanded testing.

The agreement also clarifies that farmers with under 500 employees are eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The agreement must next pass the U.S. House of Representatives before it can be signed into law.

“Although this funding was needed a week ago, I’m glad the Senate was ultimately able to come together once again to provide critical aid for Hoosier families, small businesses, hospitals, and farmers. Expanded testing and hospital aid will help us get through this pandemic faster. Until then, the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans are going to help our businesses survive so that Hoosiers have jobs to go back to when it is safe to re-open the economy. Our work is far from over, but I’m grateful this next round of relief is on the way to those who need it most,” said Senator Young.

The relief package approved by the Senate today includes:

• $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program
• $50 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans
• $10 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance grants
• $75 billion for hospitals
• $25 billion for testing
• Clarification allowing farmers with under 500 employees to seek Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The Paycheck Protection program has helped tens of thousands of Hoosier businesses make it through this challenging time and keep their employees on the payroll. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), 35,990 Paycheck Protection Program loans have been approved in Indiana to-date totaling nearly $7.5 billion. 

Yesterday, Senator Young sent a letter to the SBA requesting that lenders be permitted to submit applications for the Paycheck Protection Program despite the program’s funding lapse. Enabling lenders to continue processing applications until additional funding is made available will help alleviate the already developing backlog that will be problematic for SBA lenders once additional PPP funding is approved. More HERE.

Last week, Senator Young was selected by President Trump to serve on the Opening Up America Again Congressional Group. The bipartisan Congressional Group will provide counsel to the President on the re-opening of America in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.