On March 7, 2018, school leaders from across the nation traveled to Beaumont, Texas, to share their recovery experiences with educational leaders whose districts were impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Troy Albert, Salem High School Principal and Dr. John Reed, West Clark Superintendent joined other volunteer mentors to share experiences and discuss important recovery related topics. Both were involved in the recovery efforts and rebuilding project after the destruction of Henryville’s High School by a tornado. 

Among issues discussed were current mental and behavioral health challenges, how school district leadership can best support educators and students through recovery, effective communication strategies and other topics pertinent to school districts in the Region 5 Education Service Center in Beaumont, Texas.

Volunteer mentors worked with local school leaders to problem solve current and potential future challenges and in the development of action plans to guide recovery efforts going forward.

In addition to a number of collaborative activities, Troy Albert Salem High School Principal and Dr. John Reed, West Clark Superintendent, participated on an expert panel to share lessons learned from their personal recovery experiences to provide valuable insight on issues Harvey-impacted leaders may encounter post disaster.

In discussing what did the panel learn after six months after a tragedy, “The greatest
lesson learned was the people matter and their feelings and emotional well-being is vital.The teachers lost items and the need for more outside support was really the greatest item that need a to change. Listen to the needs of the teachers and support staff.” said Albert.

The seminar was part of an ongoing effort to strengthen local resiliency and build system-wide capacity in areas across the Hurricane Harvey impacted region.

The Indiana State Police were called to investigate a double homicide on Friday that occurred in Pulaski County.

Friday, March 9, 2018, evening detectives with the Indiana State Police were called to a residence in the 3900 block West County Road 200 North in Pulaski County. 

A family member had went to this residence for a well-being check as the relative living there had not been heard from in approximately two days. The family member found two people dead in the house.  Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department were notified and responded.

Pulaski County Sheriff Department secured the scene and called for ISP detectives and ISP Crime Scene Investigation personnel.  The two deceased have been identified as Loss Stacy, 59 (resident) and Mary Kurek (Loss Stacy girlfriend), 56 of Gary, Indiana.  The manner of death and cause of death are pending the results of an autopsy and toxicology.  Family has been notified.

Evidence from the investigation has lead to the arrest early Saturday, March 10, 2018, of Ross Stacy, 32 of Winamac.  Ross Stacy is being held in the Pulaski County Jail and has been formally charged with Murder.

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

On Friday, March 9, 2018, at approximately 7:50 pm, the Indiana State Police responded to a report of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle on State Road 56 at Lincoln Street in Rising Sun.

The initial investigation by Trp. Kyle Stovall indicated that a blue 2012 Chevrolet Cruze being driven by Gary Turner, age 77, Rising Sun, Indiana was traveling eastbound on State Road 56 at Lincoln Street. 

Turner’s vehicle struck a pedestrian, identified as Onlie Gulley, age 83, Morrow, Ohio who was in the roadway.  Further investigation revealed that Gulley was walking southbound across State Road 56 when he was struck.      

Gulley was transported to the Dearborn County Hospital where he died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash.  Turner was not injured in the collision.

Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.  However, toxicology results on Turner are pending at this time.

The crash continues to be under investigation by the Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team.  The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Rising Sun Police Department, Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, Ohio County EMS, and the Ohio County Coroner’s Office.

Early Thursday morning at approximately 1:15, Trooper Tyler Widner was patrolling US 41 near Veterans Memorial Parkway when he observed the driver of a 2005 Chevrolet following another vehicle too closely.

Arrested and Charged was: Tony Hall, 31, Henderson, KY

1. Dealing Marijuana, Level 6 Felony
2. Possession of Meth, Level 6 Felony
3. Possession of Meth, Level 5 Felony
4. Possession of a Handgun without a Permit, Class A Misdemeanor
5. Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor
6. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor

The vehicle was stopped on Veterans Memorial Parkway near Shawnee Avenue. 

During a search of the vehicle officers found a revolver inside the center console. Hall does not have a permit to legally possess a handgun.

A further search revealed five grams of meth, 65 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  

Hall was also driving on a suspended driver’s license. He was arrested and taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Tyler Widner, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Evansville Police Department    

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

Thursday, March 8, 2018, the Indiana State Police arrested a 34 year old North Vernon man following an eight hour standoff with law enforcement.

The investigation began at 10:00 am when members of the Indiana State Police All Crimes Policing Team responded to 2710 Coventry Gardens, North Vernon, Indiana to serve an arrest warrant on Jonathan Snyder, age 34, North Vernon, Indiana.  Snyder was wanted on felony domestic battery warrants out of Jennings and Bartholomew Counties.  He was additionally wanted on a parole violation warrant.

Upon arriving at the residence, troopers determined that Snyder was inside the residence but refused to come out of the home.  Troopers then secured a search warrant for the residence.  Upon attempting to enter the residence, troopers found that Snyder had barricaded all the doors from the inside.  The Indiana State Police-South Zone SWAT team was then called to the scene.  Numerous attempts were made to get Snyder to willingly exit the home.

At approximately 6:00 pm, troopers entered the residence.  Snyder was found hiding in the attic above a bedroom.  He was then taken into custody.  In addition to being taken into custody on the arrest warrants, Snyder was additionally charged with one count of resisting law enforcement.  He was incarcerated in the Jennings County Jail pending his initial court appearance.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department