Yesterday, at approximately 2:00 pm, the Indiana State Police arrested a Seymour man and cited a Seymour woman for drug charges following a traffic stop on I-65 in Jackson County.

The investigation began when Sgt. Stephen Wheeles conducted a traffic stop on a 2017 Hyundai SUV on I-65 Southbound near the 51 mile marker for a traffic offense. Upon speaking to the driver, identified as Timothy W. Shell, age 39, Seymour, Indiana, Sgt. Wheeles detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Sgt. Wheeles conducted a search of the vehicle and located approximately 8.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Shell was arrested on charges of possession of methamphetamine (over 5 grams), possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia. He was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he was incarcerated pending his initial appearance in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

A passenger in Shell’s vehicle, Kristen N. Brackemyre, age 37, Seymour, Indiana, was cited into court on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

Sgt. Wheeles was assisted at the scene by Trp. Seth Davidson.

Over 40 Salem High School Choir students are busy preparing for the annual “Bohemian Supper Club” to be presented Nov 8-11 at the school’s Presentation Room.

Shows are at 7:15 pm, Thursday-Saturday, November 8-10, followed by a special Sunday matinee performance at 2:00 pm on November 11.

The thirteenth in a series of original musical revues, this year’s theme is “Under
Cover”, and features performances of memorable “cover” songs by SHS vocalists and
instrumentalists.

All seats are $8, and tickets can be purchased from the Salem High School Bookstore
during school hours only (no telephone sales). Tickets can also be purchased online
at SalemChoirs.org.

Drinks and desserts are available for purchase during the events. All proceeds
benefit the Salem Choir program.

A two car crash on US 35, (the Muncie Bypass,) and E. McGalliard Rd. shortly before 5 p.m. this evening claimed the life of a Selma woman.  Troopers arrived to find a blue Ford station wagon in the north bound lanes of the bypass, and a red Toyota car in the west bound lane of McGalliard Rd. on the northeast corner of the intersection.

The preliminary investigation by Master Trooper Coley McCutcheon revealed that the blue station wagon, driven by Janet Bonham, age 65 of Selma, was turning east onto McGalliard from the south bound lanes of the Muncie Bypass, when it turned into the path of a north bound Toyota, driven by Curtis Bow Jr., age 47 of Muncie.

Bonham was transported from the crash scene by Delaware County EMS, but later succumbed to her injuries at IU Health’s Ball Memorial Hospital. Bow was not injured in the crash. The crash had the north bound lanes of the Muncie Bypass closed for over 2 hours.

Trooper McCutcheon was assisted at the scene by Sergeant Jeff Zeiger, Troopers Tom Harbison, Scott Beamon and Mark Hanna, as well as Muncie City Police, Delaware County Sheriff’s Department, Delaware County EMA and EMS and Northwest Towing.

Tuesday morning at 10:00, Indiana State Police Detectives from the Putnamville Post were contacted by the Parke County Sheriff’s Office regarding information of the stolen handgun from an Indiana State Police commission.

Arrested was Logan J. Blubaugh, age 19, of Rosedale. He was incarcerated in the Vigo County Jail

Blubaugh was charged with unlawful Entry of a motor Vehicle, Obstruction of Justice, and Theft.

The Parke County Sheriff’s Office received a tip earlier this morning regarding a stolen Indiana State Police firearm.

The Sheriff’s Office contacted the State Police Putnamville Post and advised them of information received. Deputies also advised the original tip was of a stolen vehicle.

Detectives from the State Police Putnamville Post responded to the address provided by the Sheriff’s Office. During the investigation, information was received and led to a suspect matching the description of the individual found on surveillance video.

Detectives along with deputies were provided with information of the suspect’s whereabouts. Once the suspect was located, information was received of the possible location of the handgun. The Indiana State Police Scuba Team was then contacted for assistance. The suspect was arrested and incarcerated in the Vigo County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.

The case was investigated by Indiana State Police Sergeant Detective Sam Stearley, and Detective Don Curtis. Assisting were Parke County Deputies, Sergeant Brad McNeil, Deputy Kyle Stonebraker, and Detective Mike Pivowar. Also assisting was Indiana State Police Scuba Team members Sergeant Chris Lambert, Sergeant Kris Fitzgerald and Detective Mike Taylor.

A 34-year-old French Lick man apparently shot himself after a standoff with police at a home in West Baden Springs. 

Dead is Angel L. Pagan, 34, French Lick. 

Monday evening at approximately 6:00 P.M., the Orange County Sheriff’s Department was called by Destiny Mitchell the homeowner of 10090 West County Road 160 North, West Baden Springs, to report that she believed Pagan. 

She had earlier reported that Pagan had threatened to kill her as the result of a domestic dispute and was afraid to return home by herself with her two-year-old child.

As a result of the homeowner’s concern members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and West Baden Springs Police Department responded to the residence and entered the home with a key provided by the homeowner.

The responding officers were also aware of an unrelated misdemeanor warrant for Resisting Law Enforcement that had been issued for Pagan’s arrest.

When they entered the home the officers discovered Pagan was, in fact, in the home.

The officers asked Pagan to surrender himself and he immediately displayed a handgun and retreated into a bedroom and locked the door.

The officers did not immediately confront Pagan, opting to leave the home and establish a perimeter and summon additional assistance.

Within the following hour additional members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and members of the Indiana State Police, inclusive of SWAT team members and state police Hostage Crisis Negotiators arrived at the scene and spoke with Pagan through the evening and early morning hours trying to encourage Pagan to peacefully surrender.

As the morning of Nov. 6th drew near, Springs Valley School officials were notified to arrange for an alternate school bus route to assure safe transportation of school age children that lived within the area.

Negotiations continued through the day and into the afternoon, even as Pagan made efforts to obstruct the view into the home by placing a mattress in front of a window.

Despite this, the Orange County Sheriff, Josh Babcock, offered to move to a place of personal jeopardy to speak with Pagan and implore him to surrender.

When it became apparent Sheriff Babcock was not going to be successful in convincing Pagan to surrender, members of the state police SWAT team removed the door from the opposite side of the home. This action was taken since it was known Pagan was on the other side of the house, and if necessary to enter the home it would make entry tactically safer for law enforcement.

It is believed when Pagan heard the door being removed he retreated back into the house and one gunshot was heard from within the home.

Troopers then quickly entered the home where Pagan was discovered incapacitated with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.

Officers at the scene began rendering first-aid to Pagan as an ambulance that was already near the scene as a safety precaution responded as well.

Paramedics from the ambulance, along with a state police officer, and medical personnel from an Air Evacuation helicopter that had been summoned to the scene worked for more than 30 minutes to try and stabilize Pagan while he was in the ambulance. Despite everyone’s efforts Pagan was pronounced deceased in the ambulance.

Orange County Coroner Aaron Kempe arrived at the scene and preliminarily ruled Pagan’s death as a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy for Pagan has been scheduled for Nov. 7th.

Further comments about the official cause of death will be made by the Coroner at a future date once the results of the autopsy have been finalized.

Here are totals for the Washington County mid-term election. These results are not certified. 

The total number of votes cast was 9,541. Nearly 2,000 of those were early voters.

There were 2,056 Republican Straight Ballots cast. 

Only 776 Straight Democrat ballots were cast. 

54 Straight Libertarian ballots were cast. 

US Senator

• Republican Mike Braun – 6,126
• Democrat Joe Donnelly – 2,805
• Libertarian Lucy M. Brenton – 448

Secretary of State 

• Republican Connie Lawson – 6,307
• Democrat Jim Harper – 2.509
• Libertarian Mark Rutherford – 386

Auditor of the State  

• Republican Tera Klutz – 6,180
• Democrat Joselyn Whitticker – 2,573
• Libertarian – John Schick – 350

Treasurer of the State

• Republican Kelly Mitchell – 6,502
• Democrat John C. Aguilera – 2,537

US Representative, District 9

• Republican Trey Hollingsworth – 6,361
• Democrat Liz Watson – 2,968

State Senator, District 47

• Republican Erin Houchin – 6,568
• Democrat Nicholas A (Nick) Siler – 2,785

State Representative, District 73

• Republican Steve Davisson – 7,778

Washington County Prosecuting Attorney

• Republican Dustin Houchin – 7,483

Washington County Auditor

• Republican Kyra Stephenson – 6,859
• Libertarian Rhonda Greene – 1,746

Washington County Recorder

• Republican Terri L. Graves – 5,903
• Democrat Lindsey Robbins – 3,238

Washington County Sheriff

• Republican Roy Overshiner – 4,228
• Democrat Brent Miller – 5,170

Washington County Assessor 

• Republican – Greg Ball – 7,418

Washington County Commissioner, District 2

• Republican Todd Ewen – 7,516

Washington County Council, District 1

• Republican – Ben Bowling Jr. – 1,653
• Libertarian – Tommy Brown III – 393

Washington County Council, District 2

• Republican – John Revels – 1,815

Washington County Council, District 3

• Republican – Preston Shell – 1,652
• Libertarian – Max Greene – 573

Washington County Council, District 4

• Republican – Karen Wischmeier – 1,696
• Libertarian – David Norton – 372

Township Trustee, Brown Township

• Republican Sharon Roberts – 330

Township Advisory Board, Brown Township (3)

• Republican Randy Roberts – 285
• Democrat Gary Chastain – 156
• Democrat Tom Guthrie – 142

Township Trustee, Franklin Township

• Republican Steve Anderson – 555

Township Advisory Board, Franklin (3)

• Republican Scott Applegate – 448
• Republican Barry Durbin – 413
• Republican RV Meadors – 482
• Democrat Sandra Cottingim – 230

Township Trustee, Gibson Township

• Republican Rachel Wischmeier – 322

Township Advisory Board, Gibson Township (3)

• Republican Raymond Scott Browning – 237
• Democrat Dorothy Fleenor – 185
• Democrat Steve Fleenor – 170
• Democrat Steve Johnson – 214

Township Trustee, Howard Township 

• Democrat Kathleen Zelivetz – 237

Township Advisory Board, Howard Township (3)

• Republican Sheila Stone – 239
• Democrat David Duff Jr – 129
• Democrat Earlene Silverthorn – 168

Township Trustee, Jackson Township 

• Republican Matthew Incantalupo – 603

Township Advisory Board, Jackson Township (3)

• Republican William Craig Martin – 549
• Democrat Roy Dick – 214
• Democrat William R Yates – 222

Township Trustee Jefferson Township

• Democrat Marnie L. Bennett – 148

Township Advisory Board, Jefferson Township (3)

• Republican Jamie Bennett – 194
• Republican Landon Sullivan – 168
• Republican Shannon Sullivan – 198

Township Trustee, Madison Township

• Republican Lee Badger – 161

Township Advisory Board, Madison Township (3)

• Republican Brian Blevins – 135
• Republican William R. Van Cleave – 121
• Democrat Patricia Keator – 75
• Democrat Tammy S. Worley – 85

Township Trustee, Monroe Township

• Republican Susan Boling – 151
• Democrat Chris Spurgeon – 95

Township Advisory Board, Monroe Township (3)

• Republican Amy Cornett – 152
• Republican Ruth Gay – 131
• Republican Kay Mills – 124
• Independent Angie Wilson – 126

Township Trustee, Pierce Township

Republican Dennis R. Flemming Sr – 694

Township Advisory Board, Pierce Township (3)

• Republican Scott K. Miller – 504
• Republican Jeffrey Pickerill – 481
• Republican Stephen Purlee – 540

Township Trustee, Polk Township

• Republican Clair Sullivan Jr – 677

Township Advisory Board, Polk Township (3)

• Republican Eric Albertson – 495
• Republican Geneva Bagshaw – 473
• Republican Jeremy Souder – 531
• Democrat – Doris J. Rickard – 375

Township Trustee, Posey Township

• Republican Ken Armstrong – 354
• Democrat Gary L. Roll Jr – 231

Township Advisory Board, Posey Township (3)

• Republican Beth Armstrong – 363
• Republican Marvin Butch Jenks – 366
• Democrat Melissa Farmer – 243
• Democrat Jerome P Jacobi – 251

Township Trustee, Vernon Township 

• Democrat Marsha Guthrie – 187

Township Advisory Board, Vernon Township (3)

• Democrat Tommy L. Green – 129
• Democrat David A. Routh – 141
• Democrat Earl Williams – 154

Township Trustee, Washington Township

• Republican Brice Robinson – 2,823

Township Advisory Board, Washington Township

• Republican Joshua G. Anderson – 2,120
• Republican D. Jack Mahuron – 2,226
• Republican Norman E. Souder – 2,057

Clerk-Treasurer Town of Campbellsburg

• Anita M. Collins – 91

Town Council Member, Town of Campbellsburg

• Tim Chastain – 72

Clerk-Treasurer Town of New Pekin

• Sherry Clem – 237

Town Council Member, Town of New Pekin

• Thomas Bricker – 226

East Washington School Board, Franklin Township

• Linda McClellan – 2,007

East Washington School Board, Jackson Township

• Theresa Gottbrath – 1,976

East Washington School Board, Pierce Township

• Christina McGinnis – 1,274
• Heath Hector Nale – 1,007

Salem School Board (3)

• Rodney Brough – 2,332
• Jeff Johnson – 785
• Tim Nice – 1,836
• Cathy Boulet – 782
• Rebecca Becky White – 1,907
• Richard Trueblood – 1,905
• Rhett Huffaker – 1,028

West Washington School Board, Brown Township

• Adam Brown – 705
• Douglas Brown – 677

West Washington School Board, Howard Township

• Forrest Joe Walker Jr  – 1,266

West Washington School Board, Town of Campbellsburg

• Claude C. Combs – 1,278

West Washington School Board, At Large

• Tim Barksdale – 1,155

Brent Miller celebrated his birthday Tuesday evening by winning the Washington County Sheriff’s race over Republican Roy Overshiner by nearly 1,000 votes. 

Miller, a Democrat, has worked at the Washington County Sheriff’s Department for the past 29 years. 

Overshiner ran four years ago and was defeated by Sheriff Roger Newlon. He won the Republican primary to face off against Miller in today’s election. He was a former City of Salem Police Officer and a Washington County Reserve Officer. He currently works at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Indianapolis. 

“This is a great way to spend my birthday,” said Miller. 

Miller captured 5,170 votes or 55.01 percent of the vote, despite there being 2,056 straight Republican ballots cast. 

Approximately 2,172 Republicans broke party ranks and voted for Miller. 

Overshiner took 4,228 votes or 44.99 percent. 

These are unofficial results until certified. 

“I couldn’t be anymore proud of him. He worked for me for 16 years,” said former Sheriff Claude Combs. “He’s worked hard for this job. I want to say thank you to all the voters who seen that Brent was the right man to lead us forward with the Sheriff’s Department.”

Current Sheriff Roger Newlon said he was proud of the work Miller has done and is excited about the future. “I think he’ll be great for the county,” Newlon said. 

“I was really proud of the voters,” Combs said. “This this was a heavy Republican vote. People took the time to switch over for what was right in my opinion. [Brent is] the next man to lead the sheriff’s department…to lead the officers.”

Combs said Miller will continue to work hard and dedicate himself to Washington County. 

“I think Brent’s prepared to do that,” said Combs. “When you spend your career watching this…he’s seen the mistakes we’ve made, he’s seen the good things. Brent and I are close. I love him like a son. I’ve told him more than once….look at what you’re doing, see what’s out there and make the right choice for the situation you’re in. He’ll do that. I have every confidence he is going to be better than a good sheriff…he’s going to be a great sheriff.”

Both candidates have campaigned heavily in the county since the summer, with large showings at polling locations around the county today. 

“I want to thank God for making me the man I am today,” said Miller. “I want to thank all the voters of Washington County. I couldn’t have done this without them. I’m a police officer – not a politician and I’m ready to get back to work and continue moving Washington County forward.”

WSLM will have precinct totals as soon as they are released by the Washington County Clerk’s office.