Washington County will offer Youth Mental HealthFirst Aid training in the Meeting Room of the Washington County Government Building. This groundbreaking eight-hour training course gives people the tools to identify when someone is struggling with a mental health or substance use problem, and to connect them with appropriate support and resources when necessary.

The Mental Health First Aid program is open to any adult.

One in five Americans has a mental health condition, but many are reluctant to seek help or may not know where to turn for care. Unlike physical conditions, mental health and substance use issues can be difficult to detect. For friends and family members, it can be hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, those in need of mental health services often do not get them until it is too late.

Just as CPR helps those without clinical training assist an individual having a heart attack,
Mental Health First Aid prepares participants to interact with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropriate support until professional help is available.

“Through this program, we hope to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems,” says Linda Rosenberg President and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, which helped bring Mental Health First Aid to the U.S. in 2008. “When more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more people can get the help they may need.”

In just ten years, Mental Health First Aid has become a full-blown movement in the United
States—more than 1 million people are certified Mental Health First Aiders, and that number grows every day.

Further information regarding Purdue Extension’s delivery of Mental Health First Aid courses, Continuing Education information, featured stories related to the course, and registration links for upcoming courses can all be found at: www.extension.purdue.edu/mhfa.

To register for this course in Washington County, please visit http://www.cvent.com/d/mhqpxc, email mcbrough@purdue.edu, or call 812-883-4601. The cost of the course is $20 per person and includes the workbook and lunch. Please enroll by February 11 th.

Advance sign-up is required.

To learn more about Mental Health First Aid USA, visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

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.