A hearing will be held on Wednesday, January 15 at Salem City Hall at 6p to discuss plans to construct a roundabout at the intersection of the bypass and State Road 60. 

The meeting will be hosted by the Indiana Department of Transportation and will offer all interested persons an opportunity to comment on current design plans for a proposed intersection improvement project at State Road (SR) 60 and the Salem Bypass in Washington County.

Specifically, the project proposes to convert the existing two-way stop control intersection into a roundabout intersection.

The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance safety at the intersection by reducing the frequency and severity of vehicular collisions at this location.

The preferred alternative is to reconfigure the intersection into a single-lane roundabout. The proposed project also will include replacing the pavement to full depth, as needed, to build new approach legs leading into the roundabout.

Existing guardrails along the south side of the intersection and a portion of the existing guardrail along the north side of S.R. 60 to the east of Salem Bypass will be removed and not replaced. New guardrail end treatments will be installed.

The project proposal will also include intersection lighting.

Proposed construction of the intersection improvement is anticipated to begin in 2021 and would be constructed utilizing phased construction.

The Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) for the project includes the closure of the Salem Bypass and S.R. 60 during phased construction. Access to properties will be maintained at all times during construction. The official Salem Bypass detour will utilize S.R. 135 through the City of Salem, S.R. 56 and U.S. 150. S.R. 60 will remain open as long as possible through construction but will be closed to complete curb work. The official S.R. 60 detour will utilize S.R. 56 and I-65.

Federal and State funds are proposed to be used for construction of this project. The environmental document is available to view prior to the public hearing at the following locations:

1. Salem Public Library, 212 North Main Street, Salem, Indiana 47167
2. INDOT Seymour District Office, 185 Agrico Lane, Seymour, Indiana 47274
3. INDOT Office of Public Involvement, Rm N642, 100 N. Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN        46204‑2216, Phone # (317) 232-6601

A project webpage will be created prior to the public hearing date to ensure project information is available on-line via the INDOT Seymour District web page https://www.in.gov/indot/2706.htm.

Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure. All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during and for a period of two (2) weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation. Written comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing and within the comment period to: INDOT Public Hearings, IGCN Room N642, 100 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204. E-Mail: rclark@indot.IN.gov. 

INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by Friday, January 31, 2020.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a fatal off-road vehicle (ORV) accident that occurred today at approximately 1:41 p.m. New Year’s Day in the 3300 blocks of south C.R. 600 East.

The victim has been identified as Chad J. Miller, 49, of Churubusco.

A side-by-side ORV with one occupant was traveling south on C.R. 600 East and lost control when it hit a patch of snow in the roadway.

The vehicle then went off the east side of the roadway and rolled multiple times.

The operator was not wearing a seatbelt, helmet, or any other protective riding gear and was pinned under the vehicle.

A passerby called 911 and reported the accident.

The Noble County Sheriff’s Department, Churubusco Fire Department, LaOtto Fire Department, Parkview Noble EMS, and the Noble County Coroner’s Office assisted on the scene.

The 2020 Beef Cow/Calf Improvement Seminar will take place on Saturday, January 18 at the Orange County Community Center (1075 N Sandy Hood Rd, Paoli, IN 47454) beginning
at 9:00 AM and ending at 3:30 PM.

The theme for this year’s seminar will focus on “Selection.”
This seminar will explore how selecting the right animals can impact a beef operation’s efficiency and profitability.

The day’s speakers have a wide range of expertise and will share their knowledge and experiences with beef cattle selection. University of Tennessee’s Dr. Justin Rhinehart will cover
three topics related to selection including “Nature vs Nurture: Heritability of Reproduction,”

“The Snowball Effect: Genomics & Reproductive Technology,” and “Adaptation vs Cultivation: Management Decisions for Your Environment.” Matt Claeys from Purdue University will
discuss “Structural Soundness as a Component of Selecting Cattle.” Retired Western Kentucky Animal Science Professor, Dr. Gordon Jones, will share his experience with “Selecting Cattle for
Optimal Production in Pasture Settings.”

Early registration on or before January 10 will cost $20. Students with paying advisors or parents will be $20 on or before January 10. All registrations received after January 10 will be $30.

Lunch is included in the registration fee. For a registration form or for additional information, please contact your county Extension office or the Purdue Extension – Lawrence
County Office at 812-275-4623 or email at odavis@purdue.edu.

On December 27, 2019, Deputy Johnney Coomer and Reserve Deputy Todd Hooker with the Scott County Sheriff’s office and Indiana State trooper Cameron Collins went to an address in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Deontre Robinson, 36, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding out of county warrant. 

On December 28, 2019, Deputy Kenton Makowsky conducted a stop of a bicyclist in Scottsburg.  An investigation led to the arrest of Jeremy Mcintosh, 41, of New Albany, In. for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana. 

On December 30, 2019, Deputies Kenton Makowsky, Johnney Coomer and Skylar Thompson went to a local business in Scottsburg in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Jeff Graham, 51, of Scottsburg was arrested on an outstanding out of county warrant. 

The Scott County Commissioners mandated that the Scott County Sheriff’s Office take over security from the existing security company at the Scott County Courthouse. Beginning January 2nd, the Scott County Courthouse will be changing the way people enter and exit the courthouse.

As part of the changes, everyone, including employees, entering and exiting the courthouse will have to enter and exit on the east side of the courthouse, (side containing the handicapped accessible ramp). Every person to include any purse or bag they are in possession of will be subject to a search and walking through a metal detector, looking for weapons or instruments of harm to others.

The Scott County Courthouse already has an existing Local Rule that was ordered by the Scott County Courts known as LR72-AR00-15. This local rule states:

No guns, knives or weapons of any kind shall be allowed in the Scott County Courthouse except those in possession of law enforcement or other persons duly authorized by the Judges or the Scott County Commissioners to possess the same in the Courthouse. Law enforcement, Courthouse Security or Court Staff are authorized to conduct searches of anyone in the Courthouse to ensure compliance with the rule.

Security cameras, in keeping with professional judicial standards, are authorized within the Courthouse and under such terms and conditions as approved by the Judges. The provisions of this rule apply to the security devices with the Courtrooms. No recordings or reproductions from such security cameras shall be made without the approval of the Judges and no recordings made from such cameras shall be used for any purpose without the approval of the Judges.

We know it may be confusing or frustrating at first but, as time goes on, it will become as commonplace as the way things operate now. Actually, most courthouses across the United States and Indiana already have this style of security in operation and it was mandated by the Indiana Supreme Court. The Indiana Supreme Court adopted Administrative Rule 19, Court Security Plans, which was effective January 1, 2014.

If anyone has a question about how to access the courthouse for any reason, you can call 812-722-0905, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, (regular courthouse hours).

Sergeant Curt Durnil was recently recognized in a ceremony in Indianapolis for achieving 25 years of service with the Indiana State Police.

Durnil graduated from the 51st ISP Recruit School on December 4th, 1994.

For reaching this milestone, he received an award from Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter that consisted of a framed certificate and a longevity pin to be worn on the uniform.

A native of Monroe County, Durnil grew up in Ellettsville and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1989. Durnil attended Bethel University in McKenzie TN from 1989-1991 and then graduated from Indiana University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Sgt. Durnil also served at the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office from 1991-1994 in various positions including Director of the Check Deception Division.

Upon his graduation from the ISP Academy, Durnil was assigned to the Connersville Post where he served as a road trooper until ultimately transferring to the Bloomington Post in 1997. Sgt. Durnil was then promoted to his current position as Public Information Officer in 2007 where he is primarily responsible for coordinating and facilitating department public education and information programs.

Durnil can be heard mornings and afternoons on local Bloomington radio stations with updates on area traffic and construction. Sgt. Durnil also co-hosts the award winning call in radio show “CopTalk” on Friday’s at 1pm on WHCC 105.1 FM.

Sgt. Durnil is the son of ISP Captain Jimmie Durnil (Ret) and the brother of Master Trooper Todd Durnil, who also serves the Bloomington District. Durnil, his wife Lori and their seven children reside in rural Monroe County.

Last year during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, more than 900 crashes occurred throughout Indiana resulting in 174 injuries and four fatalities.

To help ensure everyone’s safety last night and early this morning, Indiana State Police increased their patrols and targeted dangerous and impaired drivers.

Troopers at the Evansville District arrested three impaired drivers overnight. One of those impaired drivers had a blood alcohol content of .35%, which is four times over the legal limit.

The following were arrested for Driving While Intoxicated:

Pike County:

• Robert W. Daugherty, 32, Petersburg, IN (BAC .14%)

1. Driving While Intoxicated with a Prior DUI Conviction, Level 6 Felony

Gibson County:

• Kenan J. Bajzath, 27, Elberfeld, IN (BAC .13%)

1. Driving While Intoxicated with a Prior DUI Conviction, Level 6 Felony

Knox County:

• Isaac W. Schmitt, 36, Vincennes, IN (BAC .35%)

1. Driving While Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officers: Trooper Johnathan Lukeman, Trooper CJ Boeckman and Trooper Brock Buchanan