State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) recently welcomed local FFA students to the Statehouse where they served as pages.

As House pages, these students toured the governor’s office, the House and Senate chambers, and the Indiana Supreme Court. They also helped staff with their daily tasks and met with Davisson to learn more about the legislative process:

• Samantha Albertson, from Salem, attends Salem High School;
• Mason Armstrong, from Fredericksburg, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Hayden Cress, from Salem, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Aryann Dennis, from Paoli, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Molly Guetig, from Campbellsburg, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Mason Guthrie, from Salem, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Arina Hardy, from Salem, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Rian Russell, from Campbellsburg, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School;
• Chloey Sabens, from Salem, attends Salem High School; and
• Elliott Wade, from Campbellsburg, attends West Washington Junior-Senior High School.

“Serving as House pages is a great way for students from our community to learn more about our state government,” Davisson said. “Through the program, young Hoosiers have an opportunity to watch the legislative process and experience a day at the Statehouse.”

Students between the ages of 13 to 18 who are interested in paging this legislative session can learn more and sign up atwww.indianahouserepublicans.com/pageprogram. Participants receive an excused absence from school and groups can request to page together.

Last night between 10:00 and midnight, Indiana State Police participated in Operation Pull Over and conducted a sobriety checkpoint on SR 62 at Owen Street in Mt. Vernon. During the two-hour period, 72 vehicles passed through the checkpoint resulting in three drivers being arrested for driving while intoxicated. Troopers also made five arrests for possession of marijuana.

Arrested and Charges:

Jinny L. Snelling, 47, Mt. Vernon, IN

1. Driving While Intoxicated – Refusal (Controlled Substance), Class C Misdemeanor
2. Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor
3. Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Logan G. Ellison, 20, Norris City, IL

1. Driving While Intoxicated (Controlled Substance), Class C Misdemeanor
2. Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Terah K. Carlton, 20, Marion, IL

1. Driving While Intoxicated (Controlled Substance), Class C Misdemeanor
2. Possession of Marijuana, Class B Misdemeanor

Arresting Officers: Trooper Hunter Manning, Trooper Taylor Fox and Trooper Daltyn Backes

The Indiana State Police are committed to traffic safety and will continue to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to apprehend impaired drivers and to deter others from drinking and driving.

A traffic stop Wednesday morning on I-70 yielded over $3 million in drugs.

Arrested and Charged were:

•     Danny J. Luttrell,  Indianapolis, Indiana

               Dealing Marijuana Level 5 Felony

•    Brandon M. Pierson, Indianapolis, Indiana

               Dealing Marijuana Level 5 Felony

An Indiana State Trooper stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 eastbound, near the 66 mile marker, for a traffic violation of following too closely.  

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Danny J. Luttrell II, 27, Indianapolis, Indiana, and a passenger in the vehicle was identified as Brandon M. Pierson, 27, also of Indianapolis, Indiana. 

During the trooper’s conversation with Luttrell and Pierson, he detected the aroma of, and observed criminal indicators.

 A subsequent search of the vehicle discovered that Luttrell and Pierson were transporting approximately 250 pounds of marijuana and 50,000 vape cartridges that were filled with THC. 

The items were discovered in the cargo storage area of the box truck.

The street value of the marijuana is estimated at 2.5 million dollars and the vape cartridges estimated value is one million dollars.

Luttrell and Pierson were returning to Indianapolis, Indiana, from Burbank, California.

Both Luttrell and Pierson were taken into custody and transported to the Hendricks County jail.

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