A dump truck lost control this morning, losing his load of asphalt grindings through the windshield of a passing Honda Civic injuring the driver,

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Nate Wolfe revealed at approximately 8:53 a.m., this Sunday, August 27, 2017, morning, a 1999 Ford F450 dump, owned by Gough Construction Company out of Merrillville, IN and driven by Kyle Lemons, 35 of Michigan City was east bound on I-94 in the left lane at the 37.1 mile marker (this is three miles east of the Michigan City exit) when a tire blew out on the Ford. 

This caused the truck to lose control, spin out and strike the concrete median barrier wall.  The truck’s load (asphalt grindings) spilled over the concrete barrier wall and hit three vehicles on I-94 that were going east bound in the left lane.

 Christopher R. Rzab, 29 of Tinley Park, IL, was east bound in the left lane in a 2016 Ford car when his car sustained approximately $2,000 in damages from the asphalt grindings. 

A 2002 Honda Civic, driven by Youa Jee Xiong, 18 of Sheboygan, WI, was behind Rzab when the asphalt grindings went through his windshield  and covered the inside of his vehicle from front to back. 

Xiong was injured (non-life threatening) and taken to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City.  A 2004 Honda Civic, driven by Yang Pao Vue, 19 of Sheboygan, WI, was behind Xiong and sustained approximately $1,000 in damage.

Lemons, Rzab, and Vue were not injured.  Lemons was cited for Leaky Load and alcohol may be a factor in this crash.  Lemons also allegedly left the scene of the crash returning later. Charges are pending with the La Porte County Prosecutor.

Agencies assisting: Springfield Fire and EMS, Cloverleaf and Ace Towing

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The Indiana State Police Putnamville District conducted traffic patrols on both Friday and Saturday evenings of the Scheid Diesel Event held at the Vigo County Fairgrounds.

The extra patrols were in place to ensure the safety of those attending the event as well as the motoring public.

The troopers utilized both marked and unmarked cars, pickup trucks and SUV’s.  

The 2017 ISP Results were:

Traffic Citations…………………………………………….353

Traffic Warnings……………………………………………576

Seatbelt Citations……………………………………….……82

Vehicle Crashes Investigated………………………………….4

Child Restraint Violations……………………………………..0

Truck Citations………………………………………………103

Suspended Driver Citations………………………………….27

DUI Arrests……………………………………………….…20

Criminal Arrests……………………………………………..77 Misdemeanor/ 4 Felony

Police K-9 Searches………………………………………….8

Police Services in General……………….………………….134  

The 2017 criminal arrests were for miscellaneous drug and alcohol violations and persons wanted on warrants. The increase in numbers is a combination of more troopers working the detail, troopers working the federally funded operation pull over currently ongoing, and it appears there were less calls for service which allowed troopers to focus more on traffic/criminal enforcement. Other factors such as driver behavior and more attendees may play a part as well. 

Below are the 2014, 2015, and 2016 ISP results for media review. 

The 2016 ISP Results were:

Traffic Citations…………………………………………….179

Traffic Warnings……………………………………………308

Seatbelt Citations……………………………………….……51

Vehicle Crashes Investigated………………………………….2

Child Restraint Violations……………………………………..0

Truck Citations……………………………………………….35

Suspended Driver Citations…………………………………18

DUI Arrests……………………………………………….…21

Criminal Arrests……………………………………………..49 Misdemeanor/ 2 Felony

Minor Consuming Citations………………………………….8

Police Services in General……………….………………….64

The 2015 ISP results were:

Traffic Citations……………………………………………… 320

Traffic Warnings…………………………………………….. 562

Seatbelt Citations……………………………………………. ..81

Vehicle Crashes Investigated……………………………………1

Child Restraint Citations………………………………………. 2

Truck Citations………………………………………………..105

Suspended Driver Citations…………………………………. ..21

DUI arrests……………………………………………………….9

Criminal Arrests……………………………………………….36 Misdemeanor/12 Felony

Drug Arrests…………………………………………………… 7

Police Services……………………………………………….117

2014 ISP results were:

Total Traffic Citations Issued….…………………………….. 167

Driving Under the Influence Arrests……………………….…… 9

Traffic Warnings Issued……………………………….…….. 338

Motor Vehicle Crashes Investigated…………………….….….. 3

Criminal Arrests………………………………………………. 27

Seatbelt Citations…………………………………………..…. 55

Portable Breath Tests Administered…………..……………….56

Truck Citations…………………………………..…………….75

The threat from Hurricane Harvey is far from over as extremely dangerous flooding continues in Texas and parts of Louisiana.

Getting help in some areas will be challenging for some time due to devastating floodwaters and closed roads.

The Indiana region of the American Red Cross has deployed 40 volunteers, along with six emergency response vehicles.

“This is a heartbreaking and tough situation for those in the storm’s path,” said Duchess Adjei, regional communication director for the Indiana Regional of the American Red Cross. “We are proud of so many Hoosiers, hearing the call to support those who have been impacted by the destruction and devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide safe shelter and comfort for the hundreds of thousands of people impacted.”

This is a time for communities to come together and support one another. The Red Cross is working closely with the entire response community – government agencies, other non-profit groups, faith-based organizations, area businesses and others – to coordinate emergency relief efforts and get help to people as quickly as possible.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Individuals are encouraged to call: 1-888-684-1441 to find out ways to volunteer locally with the Red Cross. The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or on 1-800-RED CROSS.

The best way to ensure your donation will go to a specific disaster is to write the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check. We also recommend completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with your check.

The Indiana Region serves 87 Indiana counties consisting of six Red Cross chapters: Central Indiana (Indianapolis headquarters), Northern Indiana (South Bend headquarters), Northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne headquarters), Northwest (Merrillville headquarters), Southern Indiana (Evansville headquarters) and West Central Indiana (Terre Haute headquarters).

For more information on the Indiana Region: www.redcross.org/local/in. Follow the Indiana Region on Twitter at: @INRedCross, on Instagram at: @indianaredcross or www.facebook.com/INRedCross.

The 72-year-old Jackson County funeral home has ceased operations after its annual state license expired.

Without the license the funeral home can not stay open. The last funeral posted on the funeral home’s website was back in April. 

James D. Weesner Jr. has owned and operated the funeral home at 320 North High Street, since the death of his father James Weesner Sr., in October 2006.

Weesner attempted to renew the funeral home’s license, but when he did he found out he had become the subject of a complaint over the sale of prearranged funeral services.

Weesner will appear before the State Board Of Funeral & Cemetery Services on October 5th to answer the complaint.

Meredith Lizza, director of communications and legislative affairs for the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency says Weesner’s license to be a funeral director does not expire until the end of 2018, but his license to operate the funeral home is issued separately by the state.

The complaint filed Feb. 10 by Deputy Attorney General Timothy Weber says Weesner did not have a certificate of authority to sell prepaid services since 2004. A certificate of authority has no cost to renew, while the funeral home and funeral director licenses cost $50 annually to renew, all Weesner had to do was renew it.

The state filed the complaint after a woman entered into an Indiana Irrevocable Prepaid Funeral Plan Trust Agreement with Winklepleck-Weesner for $14,315.15 on March 9, 2016.

She contacted the Attorney General’s Office after discovering Weesner cashed her check but did not place the money into an irrevocable trust within 30 days of entering the agreement, which is required by state law.

The woman discovered the incident after her husband’s own prepaid funeral on Aug. 26, 2016 at Winklepleck-Weesner.

The woman asked Weesner to transfer ownership of her funeral arrangements and trust agreements to a Seymour funeral home.

More than 45 days after her request, which was made on Sept. 12, 2016, the woman contacted the local bank where the trust was to be placed and found it had not been established in her name.

Weesner returned the money to the woman with a cashier’s check for $14,411.87 on Nov. 3, 2016.

Officials says others who have prepaid funerals with Winklepleck-Weesner can get their money back, through the consumer protection fund if they have their paperwork. Clients who have questions or wish to file a complaint may contact the attorney general’s office or the state licensing agency.

They can contact the attorney general’s consumer protection division at (800) 382-5516 or (317) 232-6330 to speak with a representative regarding a consumer scam or consumer complaint or visit in.gov/attorneygeneral

They can contact the State Board of Funeral & Cemetery Service at (317)234-3031, email pla12@pla.in.gov or visit in.gov/pla/funeral.htm

Indiana Conservation Officers arrestedtwo males for the possession of ginseng out of season, along with additional drug and alcohol charges.
 

Daniel D. Craig, 67, of Dupont was arrested and jailed at Jennings County on the following charges: Possession of Ginseng out of Season, B Misdemeanor; Theft of Ginseng, Level 6 Felony; Transporting Untaxed Liquor, Level 6 Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony; Possession of Paraphernalia, A Misdemeanor; Trespassing, A Misdemeanor; and Cultivating Marijuana, A Misdemeanor.
 
Jacob Smith, 32, of Dupont was arrested and jailed at Jefferson County on the following charges: Possession of Ginseng out of Season, B Misdemeanor; Possession of a Wild Animal Without a Permit, C Misdemeanor; Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony; Possession of Paraphernalia, A Misdemeanor; Cultivating Marijuana, A Misdemeanor; Possession of Stolen Property, Level 6 Felony; Unlicensed Still Equipment, C Misdemeanor; and Possession of Untaxed Liquor, C Misdemeanor.
 
On Wednesday August 9, 2017 around 3:40 p.m. Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Daniel near the 4000 block of South 380 East in Dupont. 

Three pounds of green ginseng, methamphetamine and un-taxed liquor was located in Daniel’s vehicle and consent to search his residence was given.
 
ICO’s, ISP, and Excise conducted the search of Daniel’s residence where they located drug paraphernalia and marijuana plants at the residence as well.
 
On Thursday August 10, 2017 an interview was conducted with Jacob following information obtained during the search the previous day. Jacob gave consent to search his residence.
 
ICO’s conducted a search of Jacob’s residence where they located a coyote pup and a whiskey still.

After a search warrant was obtained for the residence, ICO’s located ginseng inside the residence.

Officers also located stolen property, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, marijuana plants, and un-taxed liquor.
 
The investigation is still underway at this point.
 
The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
 
Ginseng may be lawfully harvested in Indiana starting on September 1 of each year through December 31.

Ginseng must be sold prior to the beginning of the following year. Indiana Conservation Officers encourage citizens to contact 1-800-TIP-IDNR or ICO Central Dispatch at 812-873-9536 to report any ginseng violations.