Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, who oversees the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) and chairs the Indiana Tourism Council announced that $470,000 in matching grants were awarded.

Indiana Tourism’s grant program rewards large, unique projects that enhance the destination appeal of communities and regions across the state,” said Crouch. “I am inspired by the collaboration and commitment the recipients of this year’s grants that helps take tourism and economic development in the state to the Next Level.”

The Indiana Railway Museum, Inc. was awarded $250,000 to restore and refurbish two historic first class passenger cars. Completion of the project will allow the museum to increase train service between French Lick and Jasper. The museum will be able to provide regular dinner train service, corporate and private dinner trains, expansion of special events, such as The Polar Express Train. The project is expected to provide new services and economic benefit to Orange and Dubois counties.

The City of Jeffersonville was awarded $220, 000 for the development of its Arts and Cultural District. The money will be used to create a home for artists, makers, historians, inventors and others to have workspace in underutilized buildings and green-spaces. The District will become a regional draw for citizens and visitors alike. The matching grant will allow shipping containers to become artisan cubes and rail cars to become restaurants. The Arts and Cultural Districts links to others tourism assets in area.

“The Indiana Railway Museum and the City of Jeffersonville are both committed to the development and the improvement of their respective areas,” said IOTD executive director, Mark Newman. “That’s why IOTD’s Destination Development Grant Program was created, to make destinations more desirable to visit and to live.”

You can find more information about IOTD’s grant programs by clicking here.

The President of a youth football program in Paoli was arrested today on several counts of child pornography.

Gavin Brown, 37, of Paoli, IN, turned himself in to officials this afternoon at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department without incident and later bonded out.

Brown is charged with:

Possession of Child Pornography:  1 Count, IC 35-42-4-4(d), Level 6 Felony

Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors: 1 Count, IC 35-49-3-3(a)(1), Level 6 Felony

Inappropriate Communication with a Child: 1 Count, IC 35-42-4-13, Class A Misdemeanor

On February 21st, 2018, Indiana State Police Detective Shane Staggs initiated an investigating on Brown after a complaint was generated.

As a result of his investigation, Staggs determined that Brown was using a social media platform where he attempted to obtain nude photographs of a female juvenile under the age of 14 in exchange for nude photographs of himself.

Staggs presented his case to Orange County Prosecutors Office for review and the Orange County Superior Court issued an arrest warrant for Brown for the following charges.

A 21-year-old Lebanon man is suspected of shooting a Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The Deputy was shot while pursuing a suspect on foot. The Deputy was flown by medical helicopter to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition. 

The Lebanon Police Department was originally on Yates Street to serve an active arrest warrant on Hillary Williams, wanted for residential entry. She was not located.

While there they spotted John Baldwin Jr. who was known to have an active arrest warrant for Violation of Probation for Possession of a Syringe

Anthony Baumgardt, 21, who was shot by police, is the suspect believed to have shot Deputy Pickett. 

A Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy has been shot while pursuing a suspect on foot. The Deputy was flown by medical helicopter to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition. 

The incident began when police officers from the Lebanon Police Department were attempting serve an outstanding warrant on Yates Street, in Lebanon on a female suspect.

At 9:32 a.m. the officers noticed a male subject in the area who they visually identified as 28 year old John D. Baldwin Jr.

Baldwin Jr. was known to have an outstanding warrant as well. When ordered to stop Baldwin Jr. and two other people got into a silver Ford Focus and fled the scene.

The officers began to chase the vehicle as it fled through the streets of Lebanon.

A deputy from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit to assist the officers.

At approximately 9:39 a.m. the vehicle came to a stop on Indian Springs Road and the occupants fled on foot. While chasing one of the suspects the Boone County Deputy was shot. 

One suspect, 21 year old Anthony Baumgardt of Lebanon was wounded by officers.

Another occupant of the vehicle, 55 year old John Baldwin Sr. fled on foot.

Baldwin Jr., the driver, fled again in the silver Ford.  He was later apprehended by officers on I-65 after another pursuit. 

At the request of Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielson, the Indiana State Police has taken the lead investigation in this case. Currently crime scene investigators, detectives and tactical officers remain in Lebanon to continue the investigation. 

The Mitchell Jay C store will permanently close on March 31st at 6 p.m. but reopen as a remodeled Ruler store this fall. 

According to Tim McGurk, Regional Director of Corporate Affairs at Kroger, the store has lost more than $1 million during the last 5 years.

“Financial projections show that the store would suffer even greater losses in future years if left open,” said McGurk.

“Despite this news, our company remains committed to the Mitchell community,” said McGurk.

“We are excited to also announce that after the closing, our Ruler team will immediately begin a $600,000 remodel that will transform the current Jay C facility into a new and modern Ruler grocery store. When the remodel is complete, Ruler will move from their current location across the street into the updated facility.”

The newly remodeled facility is expected to be complete by the fall of 2018.

The 70 employees of the Mitchell Jay C will be offered similar employment opportunities at other area Jay C or Ruler stores. There will be full-time opportunites made available at Kroger locations in southern Indiana and Louisville, specifically New Albany and Jeffersonville.

“Jay C opened this store in 1999 and the company appreciates the 18 years that we were able to serve the Mitchell community from this location. Fortunately our customers will be able to choose to shop at the new, modern Ruler store when it opens soon or at one of nearby Jay C stores in Bedford or W[est]. Baden.”

There are also locations in Corydon, English, Shoals, Brownstown, Seymour, Salem, Scottsburg, Sellersburg and Floyds Knobs. 

The Washington County Farmer’s Market will have their annual meeting on Thursday,
March 15, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Washington County Farm Bureau Inc. Building (813 S.
Jackson St., Salem).

All current, past, and potential market vendors are invited to attend.
Discussion will include market dates/times, location, product availability, promotion, and more.

Input is needed to continue improving the market. Please RSVP if planning to attend by
emailing dhowellw@purdue.edu or calling the Extension office at 812-883- 4601.