U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today announced that key components of his Tobacco to 21 Act passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee as part of the Lower Health Care Costs Act. the tobacco to 21 Act would prohibit the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to anyone under the age of 21.

“This is excellent news for Hoosiers and all Americans. Our bill to raise the tobacco age to 21 is now one step closer to becoming law,” said Senator Young. “I will continue working to ensure that this important life-saving legislation passes the full Senate and is signed by the President.”

“The nationwide epidemic of tobacco and electronic cigarette use among high school and middle school students can no longer be ignored. Roughly 95 percent of adult smokers began smoking before the age of 21, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that smoking-related illness in the United States costs more than $300 billion a year. More must be done at the federal level to prevent future smokers from starting, and experts consistently recommend raising the tobacco age as a top priority to protect our kids and reduce health care costs,” Senator Young added.

Senator Young recently introduced the Tobacco to 21 Act along with Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah). The bipartisan bill has received widespread support by health organizations and advocates, and recent polling shows that 75 percent of Hoosiers support raising the legal age.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for Thursday, June 27, 2019 in the following areas: 

• North Central Indiana – St. Joseph, Elkhart
• Northeast Indiana – Allen, Huntington
• Northwest Indiana – Lake, Porter, LaPorte
• Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Scott and Washington

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making simple changes to their daily habits. You can:

• Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
• Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
• Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above 

Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors. 

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit www.SmogWatch.IN.gov.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties. 

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.