The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) is accepting applications through Wednesday, Nov. 22, from state and local governments for Title II Formula Grant funding. The grant is to fund improvements to the juvenile justice system, and prevention and intervention programs for youth. The amount available for distribution is approximately $1.9 million.

In the State’s Three Year Plan, Indiana’s Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group identified five funding priorities. All Title II applications must fall under only one of these program areas listed below, and more information is in the request for proposals posted at https://egrants.cji.in.gov/Base/Public/OpenAnnouncements.aspx.

1. Diversion: Programs to divert youth from entering the juvenile justice system, including restorative justice programs such as youth or teen courts, victim-inmate mediation, and restorative circle. 
2. Gender Specific: Services to address gender-specific needs, especially for female youth who commit offenses and become involved in the juvenile justice system.
3. Mental Health: Programs providing mental health services for youth in custody in need of such services, including assessment, development of individual treatment plans, and discharge plans.
4. Mentoring, Counseling, and Training: Programs to develop and sustain a one-to-one supportive relationship between a responsible adult age 18 or older (a mentor) and an at-risk youth, a youth who has offended, or a youth who has contact with a parent or legal guardian who is or was incarcerated and contact is on a regular basis (a mentee). These programs may support academic tutoring, vocational and technical training, and drug and violence prevention counseling.
5. Rural: Prevention, intervention, and treatment services outside a metropolitan statistical area designated by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Apply for ICJI grants using the online Egrants system. To receive ICJI grant opportunity notifications by email, subscribe athttps://egrants.cji.in.gov/Base/Public/Subscribe.aspx.

The passenger killed in a two vehicle crash Wednesday morning on US231 near Boggs Lake has been identified.

35-year-old John Brett of Shoals was the passenger in the 2008 Dodge Avenger that was struck on US231 near County Road 700 North. 

Brett was transported from the scene to Memorial Hospital in Jasper, and later transferred to St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, where he died as a result of his injuries.

At 8:20 A.M. Wednesday, 60-year-old Kevin Sears of Odon was northbound on US231, when for an unknown reason, his 2002 Honda Civic veered into the southbound lane and into the path the Dodge, driven by 29-year-old Zachary Greene of Loogootee.  Sears’s Honda struck Greene’s Avenger, coming to a stop almost immediately.

Sears was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Martin County Coroner.  Greene was being treated for injuries to his legs and ankle.

All three vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The Indiana State Police Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) have continued to be extremely busy battling the drug epidemic in our local communities. 

This team, led by Sgt. Greg Day, is a group of highly trained and motivated troopers who are extremely skilled at detecting criminal activity. 

Team members include Senior Trooper Chris Griggs, S/Trp. Allen Deel, his K-9 Drogos, Trp. Richard Klun and his K-9 Loki, Trp. Riley Nungester, Trp. Zach Parker, Trp. Matt Harris, Trp. Caleb Garvin, and Trp. Gabe Bault.

The A.C.E.S. respond to calls for service, investigate crashes and criminal cases, and are involved in the communities like all Indiana State Troopers.  However, their patrols specifically target criminal activity. 

They work closely with the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section (DES) and local agencies, identifying high crime areas and drug suspects. 

The A.C.E.S. conduct both targeted patrols of these areas, as well as random patrols throughout the Bloomington District in an attempt to deter the rampant drug use and dealing that plagues our nation. 

They also assist in warrant services and lengthy, ongoing drug investigatons.

During the course of the first 10 months of 2017, the A.C.E.S. have generated the following activity: 4,473 traffic contacts (tickets and warnings), 58 OWI arrests, 84 crashes investigated, 1,241 police services, 1,508 criminal arrests including 649 felony arrests, and 362 criminal cases investigated.

The Indiana State Police recognize that although enforcement is a key component in the fight on the opioid problems, it is not the only one. 

The Bloomington District partners with other law enforcement and judicial agencies, the healthcare community, and treatment facilities in an attempt to make the biggest impact possible.  

In 2017, Bloomington District Troopers began supplying those they encounter who are affected by the drug epidemic with an extensive list of treatment options and facilities in the area. 

It is hoped that with all components working together, we can one day overcome this current opioid crisis.

If you are concerned about possible drug activity in your community or have specific drug information, you are asked to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington District at 812-332-4411.

The Indiana State Police Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) have continued to be extremely busy battling the drug epidemic in our local communities.  This team, led by Sgt. Greg Day, is a group of highly trained and motivated troopers who are extremely skilled at detecting criminal activity.  Team members include Senior Trooper Chris Griggs, S/Trp. Allen Deel, his K-9 Drogos, Trp. Richard Klun and his K-9 Loki, Trp. Riley Nungester, Trp. Zach Parker, Trp. Matt Harris, Trp. Caleb Garvin, and Trp. Gabe Bault.

The A.C.E.S. respond to calls for service, investigate crashes and criminal cases, and are involved in the communities like all Indiana State Troopers.  However, their patrols specifically target criminal activity.  They work closely with the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section (DES) and local agencies, identifying high crime areas and drug suspects.  The A.C.E.S. conduct both targeted patrols of these areas, as well as random patrols throughout the Bloomington District in an attempt to deter the rampant drug use and dealing that plagues our nation. 

They also assist in warrant services and lengthy, ongoing drug investigatons.

During the course of the first 10 months of 2017, the A.C.E.S. have generated the following activity: 4,473 traffic contacts (tickets and warnings), 58 OWI arrests, 84 crashes investigated, 1,241 police services, 1,508 criminal arrests including 649 felony arrests, and 362 criminal cases investigated.

The Indiana State Police recognize that although enforcement is a key component in the fight on the opioid problems, it is not the only one.  The Bloomington District partners with other law enforcement and judicial agencies, the healthcare community, and treatment facilities in an attempt to make the biggest impact possible.  In 2017, Bloomington District Troopers began supplying those they encounter who are affected by the drug epidemic with an extensive list of treatment options and facilities in the area. 

It is hoped that with all components working together, we can one day overcome this current opioid crisis.

If you are concerned about possible drug activity in your community or have specific drug information, you are asked to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington District at 812-332-4411.

Robbery team terrorized stores around the Midwest.

United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of two men convicted of robbing cell phone stores in the Midwest.  

Jeffrey A. Kemp, 41, Dolton, Illinois, was sentenced to 384 months (32 years) and Lawrence D. Adkinson, 28, Hazel Crest, Illinois, was sentenced to 346 months (over 28 years) before U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.

The defendants were found guilty at a jury trial in August 2017, of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to brandish a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, robbery, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

“This group used violence to terrorize retail store employees around the Midwest,” said Minkler.  “Putting the safety of shoppers, employees and law enforcement in jeopardy will never be tolerated. They will many years in the Bureau of Prisons to contemplate their actions.”

The investigation began when a T-Mobile store in Clarksville, Indiana, and a Verizon store in Lexington, Kentucky, were robbed at gun point on successive days in July 2015. The investigation led by the FBI and a coalition of state and local law enforcement agencies and offices determined that Kemp and Adkinson led a group of ten men who committed armed robberies of cell phone retailers in various cities and towns in Illinois, including Orland Park, Joliet, Bloomington, Batavia, and DeKalb, and in St. Louis, Missouri, and Waterloo, Iowa, in addition to those in Clarksville, Indiana, and Lexington, Kentucky.  The defendants were ultimately arrested in Iowa, while still in possession of phones stolen from many of the other locations.

The robberies were violent in nature. The robbers often held firearms to the faces of the victims before ultimately restraining them in the back rooms of the retail stores.  Kemp and Adkinson, as the leaders of the group, provided all the vehicles, guns, and other instrumentalities of the robberies, selected all of the stores to be robbed, and decided who would rob each store. The other eight defendants have all pled guilty for their roles in the offenses.

“These men victimized the Midwest over the course of four months, traumatizing employees who were simply trying to do their jobs and had no idea their ‘customers’ were really violent criminals out do to them harm,” said W. Jay Abbott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “This conviction is a testament to the dedication of our agents and our partners whose hard work on this investigation ensured this group is no longer a threat to the community.”

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley Shepard and Pamela Domash who prosecuted this case for the government, both defendants face 3 years of supervised release after serving their sentences.

The route of Salem’s annual Christmas parade will change this year after many requests from the public.

The parade, with the theme of an Old Fashion Christmas, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. and will start at the corner of Homer and North Main streets and travel down Main Street, around the square and disperse on East Market Street.

2017 Christmas Parade entry form

Santa will make the full lap around the square and then visit with youngsters at his house set up behind Fox Purlee’s business. Santa’s reindeer will be available for photos at Cheddar Depot from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Washington County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Director Tara Kritzer says this is the route the parade used to take years ago and does not know why it was ever changed.

There will be four trophies awarded this year: Best Overall Float, Best Business Float, Best Civic Float and Best Walking entry.

There will be no lighting on the courthouse this year, but the city will be putting up lights around the square.

Homeowners along Main Street are asked to decorate their homes for “Light Up Main Street.”

Several businesses have volunteered to decorate home for anyone who is willing to sponsor to take care of the decorations. Residents are asked to leave their homes decorated from Dec. 2 until Jan. 2. Homes will be decorated

Salem and West Washington school corporations have groups who are going to decorate a home in school colors.

Anyone who would like more information or to sponsor a house or to have your house sponsored, can call Kevin Stewart at (812) 620- 2710.

The Purdue Extension Service of Washington County will present a program titled “Agricultural Outlook 2018” in the Meeting Room of the Washington County Government Building (806 Martinsburg Rd., Salem) on Monday, December 11, 2017 at 11:00 am.

Lunch will be provided through generous sponsorship.

The program is free to the public and is designed to help farmers, landowners, and agribusiness managers make better business decisions in the coming year.

The program will be presented by Chris Hurt an Agricultural Economist from Purdue.

Where is U.S. agriculture headed in 2018? Will low crop prices finally “turn the corner” and begin to recover, or are we locked in a period of low-for- long?

Indiana’s crops had a rugged start last spring but most regions recovered. This program will discuss the latest local and national USDA yield estimates along with price prospects and potential marketing strategies for corn and soybeans.

Crop farmers have been facing weak margins since 2014. Are profit prospects for the 2017 crops going to improve? Early income prospects for the 2018 and 2019 crops will be discussed as well.

Farmers have been trying to push costs per bushel lower. How much progress have they made and what are the prospects for lower input costs in 2018? How can crop farmers adjust to tighter,
or even negative margins?

How will acreage shift among corn, soybeans, and wheat in 2018. What farm and agribusiness management strategies will work best in the current economic environment?

A new Farm Bill is expected in 2018. What are some of the early prospects for that legislation?

The animal industries continue to expand with lower feed prices. Will larger production mean lower animal product prices and margins in 2018?

What about land values and cash rents? How much did they change in 2017 and what might be the direction for 2018 and beyond? Are land values and rents going to adjust a little bit more, or a lot more? What will be the drivers to watch?

RSVP’s are needed by Friday, December 8, 2018 by contacting Purdue Extension – Washington County at dhowellw@purdue.edu or 812-883- 4601.