On behalf of all Public Safety organizations and First Responders, the Indiana State Policeexpress our combined thanks and appreciation to Governor Holcomb for declaring in Indiana the week of April 14 – 20, 2019 as “Public Safety Telecommunicator Week”

In 1991 Congress proclaimed the second full week in April to be National Public Safety Telecommunications Week to recognize the importance of those special individuals who coordinate the efforts of police, fire, and EMS workers. Governor Eric J. Holcomb has proclaimed the week of April 14-20, 2019 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Indiana. Indiana has recognized this week since 1999.

Telecommunications operators are the unsung heroes of public safety. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are the men and women who collect the initial information and pass it along to the first responders in the field. Often they are able to give immediate lifesaving directions to the caller during medical emergencies or can be the calming voice to reassure the victim of a violent crime that help is on the way.

All Indiana State Police Telecommunications Operators must pass a written test, a typing test, appear before an interview board, and go through a background investigation before being hired. Once employed they must endure several weeks of training and continuous in-service training throughout their careers to maintain certifications on the latest communications technology and procedures.

Telecommunications Operators working from Regional Dispatch Center III at the Bloomington State Police Post, are responsible for dispatching troopers working in 19 counties across central Indiana that include the Bloomington, Jasper and Evansville Posts.

A huge thanks to all the dispatchers and supervisory staff at the Bloomington Regional Dispatch Center for all you do!

Region III Telecommunications Operators;

Regional Manager – Kathryn Haley

Regional Shift Supervisor – Leesa Slover

Regional Shift Supervisor – Paula Summitt

Regional Shift Supervisor – Bryce Viehweg

Regional Dispatcher – Paul “Doug” Brassine

Regional Dispatcher – Lloyd “Scott” Wilkerson

Regional Dispatcher – Tonya Beck

Regional Dispatcher – Tracy Young

Regional Dispatcher – Hunter Sanders

Regional Dispatcher – Mitchell McKinney

Regional Dispatcher – Taylor Howell

Regional Dispatcher – Tyler Williams

Regional Dispatcher – Bailey Fears

Regional Dispatcher – Andrew Thompson

Regional Dispatcher – Shelby Brown

Following an autopsy on April 15^th, the victim has been identified as a 17 year-old juvenile from Louisville, KY. 

The victim was reported missing last month.  No foul play is suspected.  

The Louisville Fire Department recovered the body of an unidentified male shortly before 6:00 p.m., on April 12 near the New Albany Amphitheater on April 12.

Assisting agencies at the scene included the New Albany Fire Department, New Albany Police Department, Louisville Fire Department, Floyd County EMS, and the Floyd County Coroner’s Office. 

On March 28, 2019 an investigation began after an overdose occurred in Scott County. A thorough investigation and assistance from the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office led to an arrest warrant for Harold “Matt” Kemp, 45, of Scottsburg.  

Kemp has been charged with the following, DEALING SCHEDULE I, II, III CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE – AT LEAST ONE GRAM LT FIVE, POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE, and MAINTAINING A COMMON NUISANCE.

Sheriff Goodin wants the community to know this is the second recent arrest involving overdoses in Scott County. These types of investigations will continue to ensure a drug free community.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office received several tips of alleged illegal drug activity taking place at a local national chain fast food restaurant in Scottsburg.

After receiving this information Deputies Joe Baker, Darin Marshall and Phil Thomas were assigned to begin surveillance on the restaurant.

After conducting a traffic stop, Deputy Baker, along with deputies Marshall and Thomas went to the restaurant.

After the investigation was complete at the restaurant, Deputy Baker arrested Linda Smith, 32, of Scottsburg for Possessing a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, False Informing, Trafficking with an Inmate, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Also arrested away from the restaurant was James Smith, 28, of Austin, for Possession of a Schedule I, II, III or IV Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Driving While Suspended, Prior.

The restaurant is currently closed and is cooperating with the Scott County Health Department.

All information regarding the restaurant should be directed to the Scott County Health Department at 812-752-8455.

Ten years after a fire burned the Little Nashville Opry, live music is set to return to Historic Brown County Indiana.

The Brown County Music Center will feature seating for 2,000 and host its grand opening event on Saturday, August 24^th with a concert by legendary country artist Vince Gill and unveiled a list of other national acts scheduled to perform at the new venue.

The Brown County Music Center also today announced its agreement to have Live Nation assist with programming the venue and that Ticketmaster will handle the ticketing. The venue will program local and regional entertainment as well.

• Vince Gill – Saturday, August 24^th (tickets on sale this Friday)
• *Tesla – Saturday, September 7^th
• *Clint Black – Friday, September 20^th
• *Home Free – Sunday, October 6^th
• *George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Sunday, October 13^th
• Peppa Pig Live! – Wednesday, October 16^th (tickets on sale this Friday)
• *Here Come The Mummies – Saturday, October 26^th
• *Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox – Thursday, December 12^th

*Tickets on sale at a later to be announced date

Tickets for the Vince Gill and Peppa Pig Live! shows will go on sale this Friday, April 19^th at 10:00 a.m. at www.browncountymusiccenter.com and at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets will also be available for purchase in person at the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitor’s Center and also, eventually, at the venue box office.

Tickets for all other events listed above with an *asterisk will go on sale at later, to be determined times.

Located in Nashville, Indiana, the Brown County Music Center will be a visual and auditory masterpiece with cutting edge design that will bring in nationally known performers and host local events. The new venue will offer an incredibly intimate experience for each show. The farthest seat from the stage will only be 106 feet away.

Dana Beth Evans, the Director of Events for the new venue said, “This is an incredibly exciting time for Brown County and you can feel the anticipation growing as we get closer and closer to opening day. We’ve all put an incredible amount of time and effort into this place to make sure that it is nothing short of amazing for all who attend, including the artists. We hope people are able to take in all the beauty of the venue, the nature around it and the love and care of the people in this community when they visit us.”

The Brown County Board of Directors have banded together to make sure that the Brown County Music Center is both an incredible destination for music lovers and also a central part of its community. The commitment to its community has been shown by making plans to locally source and display local works of art, highlight local restaurants and breweries as part of their concessions, and have partnered with the local Live Nation office based in Indianapolis to book all national touring artists. 

“We are thrilled to be part of the Brown County Music Center and their team to bring some of the best national touring artists into Nashville, Indiana.” said Dan Kemer, Live Nation’s VP of Midwest who will be responsible for booking the venue.  “Brown County is already a great arts destination, and the music center is the next logical step as the Nashville market and tourism business continue to grow.”

Regional and local performances will be mixed in with the Live Nation booked events to keep the venue’s schedule full of great entertainment.  The Brown County Music Center will also be available for rent for community related activities and special events on non-concert days, and they have also partnered with Ticketmaster as its official ticketing agency.

The Washington County Sheep Association, the Washington County Goat Association, and Purdue Extension invite sheep and goat producers to a Body Condition Scoring Workshop
beginning at 6:30 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at the Washington County Fairgrounds (118 Fair St.) in Salem.

This workshop will focus on determining body condition scores of sheep and goats and how to utilize these scores to manager your flock or herd.

In addition to body condition scoring, grading of lambs and kids will also be discussed. Local sheep and goat producers will be providing examples of their livestock for workshop participants to practice scoring and grading.

Dr. Beth Johnson, Field Veterinary for Kentucky Department of Agriculture and a representative from Brewer Livestock in North Vernon, IN will be the workshop presenters.

The workshop is free, thanks to generous support from the Washington County Sheep Association and Washington County Goat Association, but RSVP’s are appreciated by
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 by contacting the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at dhowellw@purdue.edu or 812-883-4601.