Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews will begin chip sealing a 10-mile section of S.R. 258 in Jackson County, from S.R. 58 to the bridge over the east fork of the White River (west of S.R. 11/Seymour), on or after Monday, July 1, weather permitting.

Motorists should expect delays in the area due to lane closures in the work zone. Flaggers will be present to manage traffic.

Chip sealing coats existing pavement with liquid asphalt, sealing cracks and providing waterproof protection.

This extends the service life of the roadway and lowers maintenance costs. Small chips of limestone are used to cover the asphalt, preventing it from spraying vehicles or sticking to tires.

The chips also restore surface friction for improved skid resistance, maneuverability, and driver safety.

Chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique, saving $6 to $14 in taxpayer expenditures for every $1 invested in extending the life of a roadway.

Beginning Monday, July 8, 2019, the City of Salem will be
draining the water tower on reservoir hill due to painting and
maintenance of the tower.

The tower project is anticipated to be completed by Monday, August 26, 2019.

Citizens of the City of Salem may experience low water pressure during this time.

Please be patient and know that the pressure will be restored
as soon as the project is completed.

Feel free to call the office
with any questions, 812-883-3937. Thank you for your patience.

At approximately 9:37 this morning, Indiana State Police responded to a serious crash on US 41 south of Camp Arthur Road that seriously injured a Washington man.

Preliminary investigation revealed Kayden Riggins, 21, of Washington, was driving a 2005 Nissan at a high rate of speed while traveling southbound on US 41 near Camp Arthur Road. While traveling southbound, Riggins approached a 1996 Mercury driven by Nelda Rae Eaden, 83, of Vincennes.

She was traveling in the right lane of US 41 approximately 300 feet south of Camp Arthur Road. Riggins lost control of his vehicle when he moved into the passing lane to pass the Mercury. Riggins’s vehicle re-entered the driving lane in front of the Mercury and then struck the guardrail on the west side of the roadway.

Eaden observed the vehicle strike the guardrail in front of her and attempted to avoid striking the vehicle by driving into the passing lane. Riggins was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his vehicle after striking the guardrail.

Riggins was thrown into the passing lane where Eaden’s vehicle drove over Riggins and dragged him nearly 160 feet before she was able to stop her vehicle in the median.

Riggins was airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville where he is currently being treated for serious injuries. Eaden was not injured. Riggin’s front seat passenger was buckled up and was not injured.

The investigation is continuing.

Investigating Officer: Master Trooper Jim Dotson, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officers: Sergeant Kylen Compton, Sergeant Bill Gadberry and Master Trooper Randy Huddleston

Assisting Agencies: Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Knox EMS and Vincennes Twp. FD.

Early this morning, Indiana Conservation Officers (ICOs) helped rescue a teenager who fell from a cliff in Hoosier National Forest last night.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. last night, ICOs Zach Howerton and Logan Hodges responded to the 4000 block of South Hatfield Road in Crawford County regarding a missing juvenile who had not been seen for an estimated four hours.

ICOs determined the juvenile had left the area on his ATV and possibly traveled to Hoosier National Forest to explore caves.

This morning at approximately 1:05 a.m., responders formed a search team and set out in attempts to locate the juvenile near Messmore Cliffs in Hoosier National Forest.

While searching, Hodges made verbal contact with the juvenile, learning that he had fallen 50-60 feet from the cliffs.

At approximately 3:57 a.m., search crews removed the juvenile from the area, and he was flown to University of Louisville Hospital for head, lower back and leg injuries.

“There is no doubt the officers’ knowledge of the area and expertise from being members of the Indiana Conservation Officer Cave Rescue Team played a huge role in locating, securing and transporting this juvenile to safety,” said Maj. Tim Beaver of DNR Law Enforcement.

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted by the Indiana State Police, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Crawford County EMS, English Fire Department, Crawford County EMA, and the English Police Department.

Senate Enrolled Act 141, authored by State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) was ceremonially signed into law today by Gov. Eric Holcomb. SEA 141 aims to combat the opioid epidemic by establishing modest regulations for Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) programs, which offer Suboxone as a treatment for opioid addiction.

“In 2018, more than 100 new OBOT providers popped up across Indiana, bringing the total number of Suboxone clinics and practitioners in the state to around 650,” Houchin said. “By contrast, the number of methadone clinics allowed to operate in Indiana is strictly capped by state law at 27, and the clinics are highly regulated. SEA 141 establishes similar guidelines for Suboxone clinics so those who need help fighting addiction can rest assured knowing they are receiving quality treatment.”

From 2014 to 2018, the amount of Medicaid dollars spent annually on Suboxone increased from $7.8 million to more than $29 million. Companies have been able to easily open OBOT facilities and some begin using Medicaid dollars without the intention of actually helping addicts through the full process of recovery. 

The framework of regulations in SEA 141 will help ensure Indiana’s Medicaid dollars are being used to treat patients holistically, with the long-term goal of recovery. 

SEA 141 requires providers to, among other things, do the following:

• Search INSPECT, Indiana’s prescription drug monitoring program, for each patient before prescribing to them and four times per year during treatment;
• Perform mental health assessments on each patient;
• Provide ongoing supportive therapy, such as counseling, to each patient; and
• Outline a specific treatment agreement with each patient prior to treatment.

“The opioid epidemic has been ruining Hoosiers’ lives for too long, and it is time for us to fight back,” Houchin said. “By taking a three-point approach of prevention, treatment and enforcement, the state of Indiana is working to fight against this crisis and improve the mental and physical health of Hoosiers, and I am proud to contribute to this effort.”

At Brown County State Park, the campgrounds, cabins and Abe Martin Lodge closures have been extended another day through at least Wednesday, June 26. Campers and lodge guests with reservations have been contacted directly. 

The park will continue with day use activities and services only on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 25 -26. This includes such activities as sight-seeing, fishing and picnicking. Gates are staffed, but no admission is charged. The Saddle Barn is also open for guided horseback rides. 

Abe Martin Lodge remains closed, and the pools, and drinking fountains remain closed. Modern restrooms are closed, but vault toilets are available. Guests who visit for permitted activities must bring their own drinking water, although bottled water and packaged snacks are now available at the park’s Country Store near the campground. 

The nature center and park office remain open, but restrooms in those buildings are closed. Hiking trails 1 and 3 are fully open; trails 2, 8, 9, and 10 are open but with some washouts so please use caution. Hiking trails 4, 5, 6, and 7 are closed. Mountain bike trails and horse trails remain closed. 
The park vistas, for which Brown County is so well known, are beautiful and green as they always are in summer. 

Park staff, working together with DNR’s Division of Engineering, consultants and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) are making daily progress in removing the excess sediment from water from Ogle Lake to produce a potable water supply. Park staff are also continuing the process of evaluating the more than 116 miles of trails of all types and conducting initial repairs.

Closure of overnight facilities beyond Wednesday night will be evaluated as we watch lake conditions and rainfall, and as we receive water test results.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a boat accident on Geist Reservoir in Marion County in which one boat left the scene.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Randy L. Mathis, age 66 of Charlottesville, was anchored and fishing south of Geist Marina.

He said he saw a boat exceeding the nighttime speed limit of 10 mph coming toward him from the rear. The other boat failed give way to Mathis’s boat, and a collision occurred.

Mathis was thrown to the bottom of his boat and suffered bumps and bruises.

He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance for precautionary measures.

His boat sustained damage to the rear port (left) side. The boat that caused the collision fled the scene. Responding officers’ efforts to locate the fleeing boat were unsuccessful.

Due to the dark conditions, investigators have been unable to obtain a good description of the other vessel. They are looking for a boat that has damage toward the front, with black or maroon paint transfer. Anyone with information that could be useful to the investigation should contact Indiana Conservation Officer Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536.

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted by Fishers Police Department.

To learn more about Boating Education and Safety, see: dnr.IN.gov/lawenfor/8678.htm