The following have filed and been certified to run in the upcoming May 5 Primary election. 

• Dustin Houchin- Precinct Committeemen, Washington 2- R
• Dustin Houchin- State Convention Delegate, At-large- R
• Erin Houchin- State Convention Delegate- At-large- R

Local candidates will file with the county clerk’s office in the Washington County Justice Center. 

Filing will remain open until 12:00 pm local time on Friday, February 7, 2020.

The following have filed and been certified to run in the upcoming May 5 Primary election. 

• Joseph (Joe) Keltner for Precinct Committeemen- Vernon, Rep.
• Rondale Brishaber for County Council, At-large- Rep.

Thursday, just before 3pm, ISP Bloomington District ACES Trooper Caleb Garvin was conducting routine patrols in Bedford. After observing a traffic infraction, Trooper Garvin stopped a black Chrysler near 7^th and “I” Street for a turn signal violation. 

The driver, James Tincher (36, of Bedford), was found to be wanted on an active “Failure to Appear” Warrant through Lawrence County. 

Trp. Garvin then placed Tincher into custody.

Bedford Police Captain Jeremy Bridges arrived on the scene to assist and subsequently deployed his canine.

The K9 gave a positive alert for the presence of controlled substances and officers then found that Tincher was in possession of small amounts of both methamphetamine and marijuana.

Trp. Garvin arrested Tincher for the active warrant, plus additional offenses of Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony) and Possession of Marijuana (B Misdemeanor). 

Tincher was incarcerated in the Lawrence County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police at the Bloomington Post at (812) 332-4411. Your tip can remain anonymous and could save a life. 

Wednesday at approximately 11:40 p.m., Trooper Brad Fyfe was patrolling in the area of 2nd Street and Turner in Terre Haute, when he stopped a small pickup truck for failing to signal a turn. 

Arrested and Charged:  

Brittany J. Seegmiller, 23, Terre Haute, IN 

• Domestic Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Felony 6 (warrant)
• Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Felony 6 (warrant)
• Battery Against a Public Safety Official, Felony 6 (warrant)
• Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, Felony 6 (warrant) 
• Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony 6 (new charges)
• Possession of Hypodermic Syringe, Felony 6 (new charges)

Brady A. Michel, 26, Terre Haute, IN

• Possession of Methamphetamine, Felony 6, (warrant)
• Possession of Hypodermic Syringe, Felony 6, (warrant)
• Possession of Hypodermic Syringe, Felony 6 (new charges)
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor (new charges)
• False Informing, Class B Misdemeanor (new charges) 

Two passengers in the pickup truck were identified as Seegmiller of Terre Haute, IN, and the other passenger provided a false name to Trooper Fyfe. 

However, a state identification was located on this passenger and he was identified as Michel of Terre Haute. 

Suspicious activity and a free air sniff by ISP K-9 Czar was conducted, indicating illegal activity.  A search of the vehicle was performed. 

Trooper Fyfe located a backpack that belonged to Michel and found 2 hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia. 

During a search of Seegmiller’s purse, methamphetamine and a hypodermic syringe were discovered.  Further investigation also revealed that both Michel and Seegmiller had active warrants out of Vigo County for their arrest. 

Both subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Vigo County Jail on their active warrants, and the new additional charges, without incident.  

Assisting:  Several Troopers and ISP K-9 Czar of the Putnamville State Police Post.

All criminal defendants are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Photo:  Brittany J. Seegmiller

Wednesday afternoon, detectives from the Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post concluded a criminal investigation of a local massage business in Butler, which resulted in the owner being arrested on a charge of rape.

Arrested was James (Jim) Whitman (57) of Butler, Indiana. He was arrested and charged with Rape, a Level 3 Felony

The Indiana State Police began investigating Butler Creative Touch Massage in Butler after a female made an allegation of non-consensual sexual activity when she was receiving a massage earlier this month. 

During the investigation another female came forward to provide information that she experienced a similar event at the Butler Creative Touch Massage 2 years prior. 

Detectives conducted a consensual interview with the owner/massage therapist Whitman, the alleged perpetrator of the sexual activity.

The investigation showed that Whitman has practiced massage therapy for over 10 years in Butler. 

He is not licensed through the State of Indiana, but holds a certificate from the Center for Vital Living School of Massage Therapy.  

The complete investigation was turned over to the DeKalb County Prosecutor’s office for review, who in turn was then able to secure an arrest warrant for Whitman.

Whitman was taken into custody by ISP detectives around 3:30pm Wednesday afternoon without incident.  He was transported to the DeKalb County Jail where he was booked into custody and awaits an initial hearing.

The Indiana State Police was assisted in this investigation by the Auburn Police Department, Butler Police Department, and the DeKalb County Prosecutor’s Office.

*All criminal suspects are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The following have filed and been certified to run in the upcoming May 5 Primary election. 

Washington County Clerk

Washington County Treasurer

Shirley Batt – Democrat

Washington County Commissioner – District 1

Phil Marshall – Republican 

Washington County Commissioner – District 3

Rick Roberts – Republican 

Washington County Coroner

Peg Shell – Republican 

Steven A. Tye – Republican

Precinct Committeemen, Salem 1

Danny R. Libka – Republican

State Convention Delegate, At-Large

Ken Armstrong – Republican

Precinct Committeemen, Posey

Ken Armstrong – Republican

Precinct Committeemen, Jackson

Tonya Deremiah – Republican

State Convention Delegate, At-Large

Tara Coats Hunt – Republican

Precinct Committeemen, Washington 3

Tara Coats Hunt – Republican

State Convention Delegate, At-Large

Stephanie K. Rockey – Republican

Jimmy (JD) Rockey – Republican

Here is a list of offices open for election in the Primary and General elections this year:

Primary 2020
Clerk
Treasurer
Coroner
Surveyor
Commissioner- Dist. 1
Commissioner- Dist. 3
County Council- At Large- 3 seats
Rep. Precinct Committeemen
Rep. State Delegates- 9 delegates- At- Large
Dem. State Delegates- 7 delegates- At-Large
Congressional District 9
Representative, District 73

General Election 2020
Governor
Town of Pekin
Council, At-large- 2 positions
Town of Campbellsburg
Council, At-large- 2 positions
Salem Community Schools, At-Large- 4 positions
East Washington School Corp.- 2 positions: Polk and Town of Pekin
West Washington School Corp.- 3 positions: Madison, Posey, & Vernon Township

Local candidates will file with the county clerk’s office in the Washington County Justice Center. 

Filing will remain open until 12:00 pm local time on Friday, February 7, 2020.

Washington Circuit Court Judge Larry Medlock has set an emergency order for a hearing to sort out several motions filed by Mayor Justin Green in his ongoing battle against former Mayoral candidate who has questioned his legitimacy to be mayor.

Green’s attorney, Larry Wilder, filed several motions on January 21.

Wilder requested the Court conduct an Emergency Hearing on his request for an Immediate Motion to Quash Non-Party Subpoenas; Motion for Finding of Contempt and his request for Attorney Fees. 

Medlock approved the order on the same day and set the emergency hearing for February 4 at 3p.

In December, Medlock set two dates for a trial to settle the issue of whether or not Mayor Green can serve as Salem’s first Republican Mayor in 34 years.

Trial dates were set for Feb. 27 and 28 2020 as a result of the Democratic candidate in the Nov. 5 election William “Bill” Ackerman’s November 18 suit that alleges Green wasn’t a resident of Salem and therefore not eligible to run in the election for mayor. 

Green lives at 509 East Tucker Street in Salem but also owns property east of Salem, outside the city limits.

Twice in 2019, the local Democratic party challenged that Green didn’t live in the City of Salem election district.

However, Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey said Green was certified to run in the 2019 General election and beat Ackerman by 572 votes. 

Ackerman is being represented by former Washington County Democratic Chair and attorney Doug Leatherbury. 

If you’re doing some spring cleaning and find some old prom dresses, shoes, and purses – don’t throw them out. You can donate your “gently used” prom dresses and accessories to the 6th Annual WSLM SAY YES TO THE PROM DRESS event set for Sunday, Feb 9 from 1-3p at Salem High School.

WSLM RADIO is collecting prom dresses and gowns as well as all accessories — purses, shoes, gloves, jewelry and hair accessories — for the upcoming event for girls in the WSLM listening area. 

There will be dresses from a variety of department stores as well as items donated from individuals all over Kentuckiana. 

“Prom season is upon us and I want all the girls in the Kentuckiana area to experience the prom,” said White. “They can use the money they would normally spend on a dress for other things.”

The event is free and open to teen girls in the Kentuckiana area.

“We have many beautiful dresses that are new or gently used items that have been donated. They will help make your prom night affordable and unforgettable,” said White. “This year’s event will be held at Salem High School to accommodate more people.”

WSLM won the Indiana Broadcasters Association Cardinal Community Service Award in 2018 for the event among all radio stations in the 9th Congressional District. The event began in 2015. 

The event has collected over $20,000 worth of dresses and accessories and has given away more than half of that to girls in the Kentuckiana area. 

For more information about donating items, call 812.883.3401 or 812.620.7271 or email at wslmradio@gmail.com to make arrangements to have your items picked up or you can arrange to drop your items to WSLM RADIO, 1308 East Hackberry Street during regular business hours. 

Lawrence County Sheriffs Department deputies arrested 20-year-old Noah Dotts, of Salem, formerly of Bedford, on Saturday after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of cruelty to animals and torturing/mutilating an animal, possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a Superior Court probable cause affidavit, on April 30th around 6:16 p.m. Bedford Police officers were called to the storage units in the 3100 block of P Street after a report of multiple dogs being locked inside of a storage unit.

When officers arrived they spoke to a male reporting he could hear the dogs barking inside of unit 87.

When Officer Clint Swanson approached the unit “I could hear barking and squealing from unit 87.”

Offices Swanson alerted animal control.

Bedford Police officer Sgt. Jesse Crane arrived with bolt cutters and they attempted to open the unit.

“Sgt Crane and I could not get the bolt cutters around the lock,” Swanson wrote. “I got a crowbar out of my patrol vehicle and physically bent the latches on the door until Sgt. Crane could get the bolt cutters around the lock. Once the lock was removed Sgt Crane stood by with the door cracked while waiting on animal control to arrive on the scene. An excessive amount of heat was exiting the crack in the door along with the odor of feces. The storage unit did not have any form of ventilation, windows or any AC unit.”

While waiting for animal control Sgt. Crane cracked the door and they could see multiple adult dogs, puppies and blood all over the floor of the storage unit.

Officers and animal control removed 8 adult dogs and 9 puppies. One of the adult dogs was injured and bleeding.

“One brown adult canine was hurt extremely bad and bleeding, As officers attempted to get the dog to stand it couldn’t. Officers had to physically pull the dog over to a blanket and carry it to the animal control truck. Each dog removed from the storage unit appeared to be malnourished and you could see their ribs bones and the hip bones of each canine. Officers were unable to locate any source of food or water for the canines inside the storage unit,” Officer Swanson wrote.

While removing the dogs, officers located a metal smoking device, and a small container covered in black duct tape the container contained meth.

Officers later determined the storage unit was being rented by Noah Dotts. Officers contacted him and requested he come to the department to speak to officers. Dotts told police he was in Evansville and would come to the station when he was back in town. 

A warrant was issued for Dotts arrest.