According to Washington County Clerk Stephanie Rockey, here are some important dates for the upcoming election:

• Absentee applications by mail requests are currently being accepted by calling Elections and Voters Services Office at 812-883-5748 x1128.
• Our Public Test is set for Tuesday, September 24^th at 10:30 AM, public and media are encouraged to attend.
• Voter Registration for those living in Salem 1, Salem 2, Salem 3, & Salem 4 ends on October 7^th.
• Early voting starts on Tuesday, October 8^th, 2019 through November 1^st, 2019 from 8am- Noon and 1pm-4pm and Monday, November 4^th, 2019 from 8am- Noon.
• Early Voting  Saturday date and hours are: November 2^nd, 2019 from 8am – Noon
• 2019 Municipal General Election Day is November 5^th, 2019, polls will be open 6am- 6pm, Salem Armory , 1100 N. Shelby Street.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), at the direction of Governor Eric J. Holcomb, today announced a three-pronged strategy to reduce vaping among Indiana youth. According to the 2018 Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey (IYTS), vaping has increased more than 300 percent since 2012, and recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) link vaping to more than 200 severe respiratory illnesses nationwide, including at least 24 in Indiana.

Governor Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, MD, FACOG, unveiled the plan today at Fishers High School among students, educators, administrators, health partners, and local leaders. Following an analysis of the new data, ISDH will increase awareness of the risks associated with e-cigarettes. The plan includes an educational toolkit for schools, parents, and students, a youth-focused text-to-quit program and a statewide vaping public awareness campaign to focus both on prevention and cessation.

“The number of new young Hoosiers vaping is alarming, and that’s why today’s announcement is critical to the health of our people,” Governor Holcomb said. “Under Dr. Box’s leadership, we will take an all-hands-on-deck approach to curb youth vaping by educating the public on health risks so that fewer young people start using e-cigarettes, while also providing resources to those who want to quit.”

The IYTS is a school-based survey of students in grades 6 through 12 that asks about all types of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, access to tobacco products, knowledge and attitudes, media and advertising, school curriculum, and tobacco cessation. The IYTS found that vaping has increased 387 percent among high school students and 358 percent among middle school students since 2012 and that between 2016 and 2018, nearly 35,000 more Indiana students used e-cigarettes.

The U.S. Surgeon General has labeled the rising use of e-cigarettes among youth an epidemic and called for action to protect young people from the dangers of nicotine addiction. Earlier today, the Surgeon General’s office announced that according to its records, 30 percent of youth who regularly vape also use marijuana.

“Vaping among Indiana’s youth is at an all-time high, and that’s putting thousands of Hoosiers in harm’s way of this epidemic,” Dr. Box said. “Many young people think vaping is harmless, but one e-cigarette can contain the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. As the number of hospitalizations rises, it’s clear that we need to help youth and parents better understand the health risks of these products before they become the next generation of smokers.”

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among young people, in part because they come in a variety of flavors, such as mint, candy, fruit, and chocolate. According to the IYTS, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among Indiana youth. The 2018 survey included questions about USB-type products, such as the popular JUUL, to help health officials better understand the current use of these products. The data show that while nearly 19 percent of high school youth reported current e-cigarette use, 24 percent reported JUUL use. About 22 percent of both high school and middle school students who currently use e-cigarettes also use traditional cigarettes, the survey found.

Parents and educators who want to view the full survey and learn more about ways to protect Indiana youth from the dangers of vaping can visit vapefreeindiana.isdh.in.gov.

For the latest on vaping-related illnesses nationwide, visit the CDC’s website.

The Indiana Secured Schools Board has approved more than $19 million in matching state grant funds, marking the largest ever single-year investment in safety initiatives at Hoosier schools.

This includes more than $70,000 for Washington County schools and nearly $1 million for surrounding Kentuckiana schools. 

The $19 million in awards allows the Board to partially or fully fund all top-priority projects identified by 429 schools in their applications to the Secured School Safety Grant program (SSSG).

In addition, the Board fully funded all eligible projects geared toward creating health and wellness support services for parents and students, a newly eligible grant request passed in April by the General Assembly.

Every school that applied for FY20 funds has received notification that their top priority requests were fully funded for all eligible items. With the matching funds required by schools, more than $35 million will be invested in school safety this year in Indiana.

“Indiana remains fully committed to ensuring the safety of Hoosier schools,” said Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb. “I’m proud this critical grant program can meet the top safety needs of school districts across the state. This is the latest evolution of how our state partners with local schools to address this issue and help parents, students, and staff feel safe and secure each day.”

The SSSG fund is administered by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Considering the funds committed this year, the SSSG program will have distributed more than $72 million in state matching grants to schools since the program became law in 2013. All of these funds focus specifically on school safety. Visit the IDHS website for a full breakdown of SSSG awards.

“The focus on school-safety initiatives in Indiana continues to grow each year, and thankfully the funding was on hand to support every school (applicant) in some capacity,” said Rusty Goodpaster, director of the Secured Schools Board. “Schools were asked to identify their top priority in their district, and the Board approved matching grants for all of those eligible projects.”

The SSSG issues matching grants for eligible items and then schools match those funds at a certain level, either 25 percent, 50 percent or 100 percent. The match requirement is based on average daily membership of the school district, the total amount of the project or what the request covers.

Eligible items in the grant include funding for school resource officers (SROs) and law enforcement officers in schools; equipment and technology; active event warning systems (no matching requirement), firearms training for teachers and staff that choose to allow guns on school property; threat assessments and to implement a student and parent support services program.

In addition, the Indiana Department of Administration operates a free metal detector program that has distributed more than 3,400 metal detectors to more than 420 Indiana schools since mid-2018.

The Indiana Department of Education has supported its nationally recognized School Safety Specialist Academy since 1999 to train personnel to address safety concerns. The Indiana School Safety Hub also provides schools with a wealth of resources, training opportunities and other information designed to give schools the tools they need to keep students and staff safe.

Local School Awards:

Washington Couty

East Washington School Corp Washington 27,425
Salem Community Schools Washington 34,060
West Washington School Corp Washington 10,000

Crawford County

Crawford County Community Sch Corp Crawford 50,000

Clark County

Clarksville Community School Corp Clark 19,000
Greater Clark County Schools Clark 100,000
St John Paul II Catholic School Clark 35,832
West Clark Community Schools Clark 50,000

Floyd County

Christian Academy of Indiana Floyd 60,000
Community Montessori Inc Floyd 3,500
New Albany-Floyd Co Con Sch Floyd 100,000

Harrison County

Lanesville Community School Corp Harrison 50,000
North Harrison Com School Corp Harrison 50,000
South Harrison Community School Corporation Harrison 87,499

Jackson County

Brownstown Cnt Com Sch Corp Jackson 62,910
Crothersville Community Schools Jackson 39,122
Immanuel Lutheran School Jackson 10,735
Medora Community School Corp Jackson 17,700
Seymour Community Schools Jackson 100,000

Lawrence County

Mitchell Community Schools Lawrence 37,500
North Lawrence Com Schools Lawrence 100,000

Orange County

Orleans Community Schools Orange 50,000
Paoli Community School Corp Orange 45,000
Springs Valley Com School Corp Orange 44,000

Scott County

Grace Christian Academy Inc Scott 4,500
Scott County School District 1 Scott 30,000
Scott County School District 2 Scott 99,900

On September 3, Troopers with the All Crimes Policing (ACP) stopped a vehicle in regards to an ongoing Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section (DES) Investigation. 

The DES Detectives investigation identified Cody Hobbs, 33 of Bloomington as a large scale, multiple pound methamphetamine dealer. Information gathered from the investigation further showed that Hobbs was supplying methamphetamine in Monroe, Lawrence, Greene and Morgan Counties. 

Trooper Chris Griggs was assisted by the Lawrence County Prosecutors Office Highway Interdiction Team (HIT) member and Mitchell PD Officer Shaun Cabral and his K-9 “Jack” during the traffic stop. The driver was identified as Jennifer Dotson, 32 of Bloomington and the passenger was identified as Hobbs.

K-9 “Jack” alerted to the presence of controlled substances inside the vehicle. DES Detectives were assisted in searching the vehicle by ISP Sergeant Ryan Miller and Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section (ACES) Sergeant Greg Day and Trooper Caleb Garvin. 

Inside the vehicle, troopers located over 2 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin, a firearm and a large amount of U.S. Currency.

Jennifer Dotson was incarcerated on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine over 10 grams (Level 2 Felony) and Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 grams (Level 3 Felony).

Cody Hobbs was incarcerated on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine over 28 Grams (Level 3 Felony) and Dealing Methamphetamine over 10 grams while in possession of a firearm (Level 2 Felony).

On Wednesday, September 4, 2019, Investigators and Troopers from the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg arrested a Palmyra man on several counts of Child Molestation.

Detective Chris Tucker launched an investigation in August of this year after he was contacted by the Indiana Department of Child Services and learned of possible inappropriate or illegal conduct involving a minor.  

As a result of the investigation, Detective Tucker requested an arrest warrant for Chester Leroy Fetz, 61, of Palmyra, Indiana, along with a search warrant for his residence.  C

Fetz is charged with five counts of Child Molestation, a Level One Felony, and one count of Child Solicitation, a Level Five Felony. 

This case is still under investigation. 

After his arrest, Chester Fetz was transported and remanded into the custody of the Harrison County Jail without incident. 

Indiana State Police investigators were assisted by the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.   

Indiana State Police arrested a 29-year-old Orleans man for fleeing police and reckless driving.

Arrested and charged was Brandon Pool, 29, Orleans, IN

1. Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle, Class 6 Felony
2. Theft (Firearm), Class 6 Felony
3. Reckless Driving, Class B Misdemeanor
4.  Auto Theft, Class 6 Felony

Yesterday at approximately 6:00 p.m., Trooper Chase Eaton was patrolling SR 57 near College Street in Oakland City when he observed a white 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck matching the description of a stolen vehicle reported earlier in Warrick County.

The owner of the stolen vehicle also reported he had left a .22 caliber rifle inside his truck.

Trooper Eaton checked the license plate and was able to confirm the vehicle was reported stolen.

When the driver of the pickup truck turned south onto North Main Street in Oakland City Trooper Eaton attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver accelerated to a high rate of speed traveling on several different city streets before driving west on SR 64.

The driver then drove south onto Franklin Street passing Wood Memorial High School before leaving the city limits and driving east on CR 200 South.

The driver continued east at speeds in excess of 85 mph before driving north into a disked field approximately a quarter of a mile west of CR 1300 East.

Trooper Eaton continued to chase the vehicle through the field for approximately ¼ mile until the driver crossed CR 1300 East and continued driving into a bean field.

Trooper Eaton stayed on CR 1300 East while Gibson County Deputy Loesch and Oakland City Police Chief Tim Gaines continued pursuing the vehicle through the bean field with their SUV patrol vehicles.

The driver of the pickup truck continued traveling north through the bean field for approximately ½ mile to CR 150 South where he attempted to enter a cornfield, but came to a stop after getting stuck.

The driver, who was identified as Pool, was arrested without further incident.

Further investigation revealed Pool had three outstanding warrants out of Lawrence County Indiana. Pool was taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Chase Eaton, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agencies: Gibson County Sheriff’s Department and Oakland City Police