Washington County Chief Deputy Sheriff Brent Miller arrested a West Washington High School student for making a threat against the school on Monday. 

On Monday evening, West Washington School District Safety Coordinator Robert Batchelor made contact with Deputy Miller and advised of a possible threat that had been reported to the school administration. 

Miller investigated the incident and made an arrest. The student is being detained while juvenile proceedings are ongoing in the Washington County Circuit Court. 

Batchelor made a request for increased police presence on the campus for Tuesday, Feb. 20 and Sheriff Roger Newlon coordinated the law enforcement response. 

School officials acted appropriately and took extra precautions on Tuesday, while law enforcement officials were present on campus to help ensure the safety of the students and staff. School officials worked diligently throughout the day gathering information, which was turned over to the Sheriff’s Department for investigation.

Police have found no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the possible threat. 

Officials further believe this incident is no longer an active threat at West Washington School Corporation. 

Sheriff Newlon is dedicated to working with all three Washington County School Corporations to make our schools a safer place. 

“I’d like to remind everyone if you see something, say something. Together we can make a difference,” said Newlon. 

Assisting agencies included the Campbellsburg Town Marshall and Mark Blackman. 

Awareness Washington County and We the Youth invite the community to their second annual Chili Cook Off. Scheduled for March 10 from 4-7 pm at Southern Hills Church, the Cook Off will include great food, fellowship, and many different activities.

Chili cooks are invited to showcase their best chili and compete for cash prizes for Best Judged Chili, People’s Choice, and Best Decorated booth. There is no fee to enter.

The public is invited to sample the variety of savory bowls of chili and vote for their favorite. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children for chili, all the fixings, and a drink. Several dessert auctions will be held throughout the evening, so people can bid on tasty cakes, pies, cupcakes and other pastries.

The Cook Off will also feature a silent auction, a children’s activity table, and a bag raffle, a popular event at last year’s cook off.

Proceeds from the evening will help to support the servant leadership activities of the adult and youth programs.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact AWC at 812-896-1930 or 812-216-6505 for more information. Inquiries can also be made at info@awarenesswashingtoncounty.org .

Bedford Police determined a possible threat to North Lawrence Middle School was involving another school in another state.

A text alert was sent out early this morning to families of middle school students in the North Lawrence Community Schools system regarding a social media posting Wednesday night.

The alert this morning said: 

“Law enforcement personnel indicated that someone may have copied a post from another state, and once the post was activated, information may have become misconstrued. … We, along with our friends associated with the Lawrence County Police Department, the Bedford Police Department and the Indiana State Police, want to reassure you that we are working together to ensure the safety our young people.”

NLCS Superintendent Gary Conner said the Bedford Police Department notified him of the social media activity at about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Bedford Police determined the post pertained to a situation in another state, but generated confusion locally.

A similar situation happened last night to Salem High School. The threat came from a school in Oregon. 

Your Indiana State Police is joining law-enforcement agencies across Indiana this March to increase dangerous and impaired driving patrols for the NCAA Tournament and St. Patrick’s Day.

Last year, the weekend beginning St. Patrick’s Day had the highest number crashes involving impaired drivers. With March 17, 2018 falling on a Saturday, police are conducting random patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints intended to make our roads safer.

“This is when we celebrate a time honored Hoosier tradition, March Madness and basketball,” said Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter. “However if you drink, your plans should include a designated driver, ride sharing program, or taxi to get you home safely from your celebration. Troopers will be out looking for those drivers who fail to heed this advice and will provide another form of transportation to those drivers; but it won’t be to their home.”

The top causes of all Indiana traffic crashes are drivers following too closely and failing to yield the right of way. Aggressive, distracted and impaired driving reduce reaction times to unexpected slowed traffic, bicycles and pedestrians.

New impaired-driving equipment

In every state, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. In Indiana, drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02 are subject to fines and a license suspension for up to 1 year.

Last year the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) purchased 1,759 new portable breath tests for Indiana law-enforcement agencies. An additional 836 devices will be purchased this year.

But unlike alcohol, there is no quick field test for the legal and illegal drugs that can impair drivers. ICJI and NHTSA are issuing Android tablets and apps to assist 185 highly-trained police officers in the recognition and enforcement of drug-impaired driving.

If you’re taking a new drug or higher dose, talk with your doctor or don’t drive until you know how it affects you. Even over-the-counter medication such as cold medicine or sleep aids may cause impairment, especially when combined with alcohol or a second drug.

Experience different perspectives on an impaired-driving crash scene in 360 degrees at https://on.in.gov/nobigdeal.

Note for media: Indiana State Police has authorized news media to use clips and quotes from an ISP Road Show episode scheduled to air beginning March 4. The unlisted YouTube video features Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Richard Kivett, coordinator for the Marion County Traffic Safety Partnership, and ICJI Communications Director Will Wingfield.