Today, Lt. Governor Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs awarded five communities a grant to help celebrate Downtown Development Week.  

“Having our communities take the celebrations to the Next Level through these grants really enables them to come up with creative, unique ways to showcase their downtowns,” Crouch said. “I look forward to visiting these towns in October.”

Downtown Development Week, taking place Oct. 7 – 12, 2019, will honor Indiana’s cities and towns’ commitment to preserve and invest in their downtown. Communities across the state will host various events and activities to showcase the uniqueness of their downtowns and city centers.

“Last year’s inaugural Downtown Development Week was warmly welcomed with more than 30 communities across the state hosting events,” said Jodi Golden, Executive Director of OCRA. “We are excited that these five awarded communities are working to make their downtowns a major stimulator for economic growth and talent retention.”

Five projects were selected from 16 submitted applications and will receive a grant to help fund the activities listed. For more information, visit www.in.gov/ocra/2896.htm

City of Bedford, $1,000 
Bedford Revitalization, Inc. has planned a week-long celebration on the Downtown Square to celebrate the heart of Bedford and highlight the completion of the Stellar Communities projects which began in 2014. The events feature city and county government, local merchants and the County Museum that will bring the entire community together.

Town of Edinburgh, $1,000
The Town of Edinburgh will celebrate the week with six days of specials and events that provide a positive impact to the downtown business district, celebrate the local harvest season and bring families together downtown for fun activities unique to Edinburgh.

City of Jeffersonville, $1,000
The Great Downtown Jeffersonville Scavenger Hunt Adventure is a one-day event during Downtown Development Week that Jeffersonville Main Street is organizing to celebrate the ongoing downtown revitalization. During the event, visitors will explore downtown Jeffersonville and learn about the businesses, history and sense of place found in the heart of downtown.

Town of Knightstown $1,000
Knightstown Main Street will hold an all-day event to celebrate the new businesses on the town square. The event will include a children pumpkin carving contest and a local favorite rock band, Dr. Rock and the Rollers, will entertain attendees.

City of Monticello, $550
The Streets of Monticello Association will celebrate the “We Love Our Downtown” event on October 8, 2019 to recognize and celebrate downtown businesses and gathering spaces. The community will enjoy food, fun, and fellowship while supporting the beautiful downtown Monticello

Early this morning emergency crews were dispatched to I-65 northbound near the 82-mile marker in Shelby County for reports of a single vehicle crash.

Around 2:45 a.m. 911 calls began coming in about a vehicle off the roadway and both occupants were severely injured.

Shelby County Sheriff Deputies along with medics were first on the scene, they immediately summoned a medical helicopter.

Despite life-saving efforts, 41-year-old Kenneth Cubbage Jr. of Freetown Indiana was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His mother, 62-year-old Connie Cubbage was a passenger in the vehicle, she was transported to Methodist Hospital by ambulance in stable condition. 

The investigating officer, Trooper Aaron Smith, is still unsure why the vehicle left the roadway, but evidence at the scene indicates the vehicle hit a tree and rolled several times.

The driver, Mr. Cubbage Jr. was wearing a seat belt, however, the passenger was unrestrained.

The Shelby County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene and recovered the remains of the deceased.

Both directions of I-65 were closed for a brief time, the northbound lanes were affected for approximately two hours while the crash was investigated and the wreckage was removed. 

Late last night at approximately 11:25, Indiana State Police received information that a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-64 from the 40-mile marker, which is east of Lynnville.

Arrested and Charged was Angela Ayer, 52, of Dale, IN

1. Driving While Intoxicated, Class A Misdemeanor 

Troopers Boeckman and Hurley immediately responded to the area to locate the vehicle.

Ayer had a blood alcohol content of .23%.

She refused medical treatment and was taken to the Warrick County Jail where she is currently being held on bond. Trooper Boeckman was not injured.

No other vehicles were involved in this incident.

At approximately 11:30, Trooper Hurley had his emergency lights and siren activated on his patrol car near the 35-mile marker, but the driver refused to stop and continued westbound in the eastbound lanes.

Approximately one minute later, Trooper Boeckman drove his fully marked patrol car into the eastbound lanes near the 33 mile-marker to warn eastbound motorists and to attempt to stop the wrong way driver.

Moments later, the wrong way driver failed to stop and struck Trooper Boeckman’s patrol car.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Tanner Hurley, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Trooper C.J. Boeckman, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Warrick County Sheriff’s Department

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

Brown County State Park will host Snake Fest on July 13.

 Educational booths from the DNR, the Indiana Herpetological Society, and Scaly Tales will be set up in the Friends Shelter at the Nature Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The booths will focus on snakes and give visitors a chance to get up close and personal with all kinds of reptiles.

 There will also be programs featuring snakes held throughout the day.

 For more information, email phaulter@dnr.IN.gov or call 812-288-5240.

 Park admission during the event is $7 per vehicle for in-state residents and $9 per vehicle for out-of-state vehicles. Annual passes will also be available.