The Department of Natural Resources is seeking private landowners to allow limited public gamebird hunting opportunities on their properties in exchange for financial incentives and technical assistance through a program called APPLE.

APPLE stands for Access Program Providing Land Easements. In its second year, APPLE provides hunters with an opportunity to hunt ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, and American woodcock, while also providing landowners with significant benefits.

With nearly 96 percent of Indiana privately owned, public gamebird hunting opportunities are limited.

Participating landowners are eligible for incentives of up to $25 per acre. Additional financial assistance is also available for creating or improving habitat.

DNR biologists will work closely with each landowner to develop a wildlife habitat management plan. Biologists will also help landowners plan the number and timing of hunts on their land.

The DNR is targeting landowners of 20 acres or more within five focal regions across the 

state. For more information, including a description of the five focal regions, visit wildlife.IN.gov/9572.htm.

Hunters will be selected for the program using Indiana’s online reserved hunt draw system.

Landowners can continue to hunt all other species on their land during the duration of the APPLE hunts, and may hunt gamebirds after the APPLE hunts.

With two arrests on Monday, it brings the total to four the number of truckers who have been arrested on drug charges on Southern Indiana Interstates, according to Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Jerry Goodin. 

Since February 20th, troopers from the Sellersburg State Police Post have arrested four commercial vehicle drivers for drug related charges while they were operating a commercial motor vehicle.

The latest two happened Monday, a trooper made a traffic stop in the morning hours on Interstate #64 East Bound near the 119 Mile Marker in Floyd County.

As the trooper was investigating during the stop he could smell burnt marijuana. The driver, Theodore Lee Sauders, 23, from Louisville, KY, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated. He was incarcerated at the Floyd County Jail.

Later Monday afternoon, another trooper made a traffic stop on a semi-tractor and trailer in Scott County, on U. S. #31 South, near the Clark County line. He made the stop for failing to maintain the lane of traffic.

As the trooper conducted his investigation, he found evidence of drug use.

The driver, Benjamin M. McDaniel, 33, from Blue Mountain, MS, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia.

He was incarcerated at the Scott County Jail.

The Indiana State Police urges anyone who sees an impaired driver to contact 911 and report the vehicle description, to include the license plate, the location and direction of travel and the type of driving behavior that is not normal.

“Do not attempt to call in the information while driving,” said Goodin. “Either have a passenger call or pull off the roadway and make the call.”

The body of a missing Perry County Kayaker was found this morning after being reported missing for the past week. 

Indiana Conservation Officers, along with the Perry County Sheriff’s Department, resumed their search for a missing kayaker this morning. 

An Indiana Conservation Officer located the body of a male in approximately 3 feet of water, in the vicinity of his capsized kayak just before 9:30 a.m. 
 
The Perry County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a missing person on the afternoon of March 1, and located the victim’s truck parked near the floodwaters of Poison Creek, south of Derby. Shortly afterward, the victim’s partially submerged kayak was located in the water. 
 
Indiana Conservation Officers responded with SCUBA Divers, sonar, and a Remote Operated Vehicle (R.O.V.) with submersible camera. 

Multiple agencies searched by boat, kayak, and foot, however their efforts were hampered by flood debris and thick vegetation. 
 
An autopsy is planned to determine cause of death and identify the body this week.  Assisting agencies at the scene included the Troy, Central Perry, and Anderson Township Fire Departments, Perry County Rescue, Perry County EMA, and Indiana State Police.   

Washington County Traffic Safety Partnership which consists of deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and officers with the Salem Police Department 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.

“If you’re watching March Madness or celebrating St. Patrick’s Day from a bar or pub, draft a sober driver, cab or ride-sharing service to get home safely,” said Chief Deputy Brent Miller. “Our officers are trained to spot – and there will be zero tolerance for – impaired and dangerous drivers.”

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.

Over the weekend, Indiana State Troopers Andrew Beaver and Ross Johnson arrested former Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Danny R Salmon, 33, of Shoals, IN, for an outstanding Martin County arrest warrant for Dealing Schedule II and IV Controlled Substance.

Late last year, Martin County Sheriff Travis Roush contacted the Indiana State Police Jasper Post and requested a special investigation after they had received information that Salmon was possibly involved in illegal drug activity.

During his investigation, Sergeant Greg Ashby determined that Salmon had dealt hydrocodone and tramadol on multiple occasions during the fall of 2017.

After the Martin County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed Ashby’s investigation an arrest warrant for Salmon was issued for the following charges:

• Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance, 1 Count, IC 35-48-4-2, Level 6 Felony
• Dealing in a Schedule IV Controlled Substance, 1 Count, IC 35-48-4-3, Class A Misdemeanor 

 Salmon bonded himself out of the Martin County Jail with $2,500 cash.