Yesterday, November 19th, at approximately 12:30 pm, the Indiana State Police and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle head on crash on State Road 56 near State Road 62 (west junction) that ultimately claimed the life of a Borden woman.

Dead is Patricia Farmer, age 68, Borden, Indiana. 

The Farmer family has been notified.

The initial investigation by Trp. Andrew Garrett, Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team, indicated that a white 2014 Toyota Camry being driven by Jason Tucker, age 35, Lexington, Indiana was traveling westbound on State Road 56. 

For an unknown reason, Tucker’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the path of an eastbound gray 2010 Nissan Sentra being driven by Farmer.  The vehicles collided in the eastbound lane of State Road 56.

Both vehicles came to rest in the roadway.  As a result of the collision, Farmer sustained fatal injuries in the crash. 

She was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. 

Tucker sustained non-life threatening injuries in the crash although he was flown from the scene to the University of Louisville Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor in this collision although toxicology results are pending.

The investigation is ongoing.

Trp. Garrett was assisted by troopers from the Indiana State Police Posts in Versailles and Sellersburg.  He was also assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Hanover Police Department, Hanover Fire Department, King’s Daughter Hospital EMS, Air Methods Medical Helicopter, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, and All Around Towing.

SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–Christmas comes early in the town of Santa Claus as Holiday World announces a package full of goodies for their 2018 season.

“We’re adding a fun elephant-themed water-play area for younger children,” says park president Matt Eckert. “When we discovered the Swahili word for elephant is Tembo, we named our new slide complex Tembo Falls and the junior wave pool Tembo Tides.”

Holiday World will invest a total of $3.5 million in new attractions and other improvements for 2018, including:

• Tembo Falls – a water slide complex with eight junior slides, including twisters, a helix, a mini-bowl, and two racing slides
• Tembo Tides – a junior wave pool plus spray features for younger children
• Huge Themed Maze for Happy Halloween Weekends
• All new entertainment, including a stunt show, musical magic show, and strolling brass band
• Track improvements for The Voyage, the world’s second-longest wooden roller coaster
• Riverside Retreats – mini cabanas in Splashin’ Safari 
• Electric Car Charging Station 

“Tembo Falls and Tembo Tides are designed for children who are under 54 inches tall,” says Eckert, “but their older siblings and parents are welcome to enjoy the slides and wave pool with them.”

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari will open for the season in May. Season Passes for 2018 are currently discounted for holiday gift-giving. On-line applications for seasonal employment will be available in January. For more information, visit HolidayWorld.com or call 1-877-463-2645.

This morning at 10:36, Indiana State Police and Vigo County emergency agencies responded to an RV (Recreational Vehicle) crash in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the two mile marker.

The crash left the elderly driver deceased at the scene. 

The victim was identified as 77-year-old Richard D. Harris of Herrin, Illinois. His family has been notified. 

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2006 RV was eastbound on I-70 near the 2mm, when the RV suddenly left the roadway on the south side and struck a guiderail.

During the impact, the driver was ejected through the front windshield and pronounced deceased at the scene.  

Early indications have led investigators to believe that a right front tire failure caused this crash. 

The crash was investigated by ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Master Trooper Matt Ames. Assisting were multiple ISP troopers, Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Vigo County Coroner’s Office, Sugar Creek Fire/Rescue, Terre Haute Fire Department, Riley Fire/EMS, and Edington’s Wrecker Service. 

The right lane was closed most of the day for recovery efforts. The left lane remained open. All lanes expected to be open this evening. 

Last Friday, just before 10:30 am, the Indiana State Police Bloomington District investigated an anonymous tip they had received on heroin use on Old Richardson Road in Monroe County. 

Upon speaking with the resident of the home, Danielle Morris, troopers observed a loaded hypodermic syringe sticking out of Morris’s pocket.

Arrested was Danielle Morris, 23 of Bloomington and charged with:

• Possession of Heroin – Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Hypodermic Syringe – Level 6 Felony
• Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
• After obtaining consent to search the residence, approximately 7 grams of heroin, hypodermic syringes, and drug paraphernalia were located. 

Morris was arrested and incarcerated at the Monroe County Jail.

Investigating Troopers included S/Trp. Chris Griggs, S/Trp. Allen Deel, Trp. Julie Deel, and Probationary Trooper Matt Hatchett.

Most drug busts happen on the outside of a jail but today, a Jackson County jail sargent made a bust on the inside.

On Monday November 20, 2017, Jackson County Jail Seargent Josh Clark located a large amount of drugs on an inmate during the booking process.

While Clark was performing a clothing exchange and search on Shannon Donte Lewis, 34 of Knoxville, Tennessee, he located several bags of drugs hidden on Lewis’ body.

Lewis then started to run toward a restroom in an attempt to flush the drugs down the toilet.

Seargent Clark quickly deployed his Taser on Lewis and it stopped him instantly.

Lewis began to scream loudly while being Tasered which alerted other jail staff to come to Clark’s aid.

All of the drugs were recovered.

Lewis was initially remaindered to the jail by the Indiana State Police on other drug related charges, as well as Operating While Never Receiving a License.

Seargent Clark has filed a request for additional charges of Trafficking, a Level 5 Felony, Dealing Cocaine and Dealing Heroin, both Level 2 Felonies, Dealing a Schedule I Controlled Substance, a Level 6 Felony, and Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A-Misdemeanor.

Clark was assisted by Jail Officer Joe Barnes, Seargent David Ridlen, Jail Nurse Ed Rutan, Jail Commander Charlie Murphy, and Detective Ben Rudolph.

Indiana Conservation Officers need help identifying a man that went over a low head dam in Shelby County. 

At approximately 1:00 this afternoon, witnesses saw a male in a Bass tracker Bantam boat go over the low head dam on Flatrock River in the Vandalia/Geneva area. 

The man was pulled from the water by Shelby County Swift Water Rescue Team. 

He is currently in critical condition at Methodist Hospital.  Indiana Conservation Officers are currently trying to identify the man.

He was described by witnesses as being a white male in his thirties and dressed in an orange jacket.  

If you know who this man may be, please call Indiana Conservation Officer Dispatch at 812-837-9536.

Indiana true freshman running back Morgan Ellison collected his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor, the conference announced today. He shared the accolade with Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.
 
This is the third time the league has recognized a Hoosier freshman in 2017 (Whop Philyor at Maryland). Ellison claimed his first award after he rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia Southern on Sept. 23.
 
The Pickerington, Ohio, native recorded the second 100-yard game of his career with 149 yards on 15 attempts (9.9 average) in IU’s 41-0 whitewashing of Rutgers. Ellison added two TDs, his second career multi-score game, and a career-long 45-yard scamper.
 
Overall, he paces the Hoosiers with 688 yards, 134 attempts, a 5.1 average and six touchdowns. Ellison’s 688 yards stand third among true freshmen running backs in the Big Ten (10th overall) and fifth among Power Five running backs nationally. His six TDs are second in the Big Ten and tied for fifth nationally. 
 
Indiana (5-6, 2-6 B1G East) closes out the 2017 regular season at Purdue (5-6, 3-5 B1G West) on Saturday, Nov. 25. Kickoff is set for noon EST at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., on ESPN2. 
 
Saturday’s meeting marks the 93nd meeting for the Old Oaken Bucket and the 120th overall meeting between the long-time rivals. 

As the holiday season approaches, I want to take this time to acknowledge our staff and thank them for their important contribution to this office and our community. I want to thank each and every one of our deputies and civilian staff for their hard work and encourage you to do the same when you see them.

I would also like to acknowledge our community for their tremendous support and efforts in helping to make our County a safer place to live and raise a family. We appreciate your input and assistance and are happy to know our website is so important to so many of you.

We look forward to the holiday season, and we hope you do as well. My commitment to the citizens of this County remains strong, and I will continue to work with the members of our community to improve the quality of life for each of you.

Sheriff Dan McClain

Indiana Conservation Officers arrested a man yesterday in rural Crawford County while investigating an illegal hunting complaint. 

Peter Jacobs (36) of English, was charged with Possession of a Firearm by Serious Violent Felon, Possession of Handgun by Domestic Batterer, Carrying Handgun without License, and Possession of Marijuana.    
 
Just after 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, ICO Dispatch received a report of illegal deer hunting involving shots fired from a blue Dodge Dakota in the Mitchell Creek area of the Hoosier National Forest, outside of Eckerty. 

The caller identified the suspect as Peter Jacobs.
 
The following day, Indiana Conservation Officer Dennis Talley observed Jacobs driving the same vehicle with false and fictitious plates on Oak Hill Road near Eckerty, and initiated a traffic stop.  Jacobs was taken into custody, and a male passenger was found to have a loaded 12-gauge shotgun between his legs. 
 
Additional inventory of the vehicle revealed another loaded 20-gauge shotgun, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia.  Jacobs was incarcerated, and additional criminal charges are pending.
 
Indiana Conservation Officers encourage citizens to report illegal hunting activity by calling ICO Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536, or their anonymous tip line at 1-800-TIPIDNR (monetary rewards offered).
 
All charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.