Early this morning, troopers, deputies, federal agents and city officers met at the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg to have a briefing before going out to arrest twenty individuals from Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Washington Counties on arrest warrants.

Ten of those arrested were from Washington County. 

The arrest warrants were the result of investigations conducted by Indiana State Police Undercover Units in the last several months with the assistance of officers from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Salem City Police Department.

During one of the arrests, at 5004 South Hardy Mill Road, Lexington, IN, Scott County, troopers seized over 100 grams of Crystal Methamphetamine with a street value of over $10,000.00.

This investigation is continuing with one of the local prosecutor’s, Dustin Houchin, from Washington County saying, “In Washington County, we are continually working to detect, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for dealing drugs in our streets.  Our community does not tolerate this kind of behavior, and these individuals will be held accountable for their actions”. 

Below are the people arrested, their charges and the jail they were incarcerated in.

1. Chad Anderson, 39, 3956 South Hickory Grove Road, Pekin, IN. *Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts). Washington County Jail. 
2. Corey Bohannon, 30, 22503 Daisy Hill Road, Borden, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts). Clark County Jail. 
3. Zane Bowman, 45, 4805 Walnut Ridge Road, Salem, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine.*Possession of Methamphetamine.Washington County Jail.  
4. Jonathan Chilton, 32, 5657 East County Road 400 South, Seymour, IN.* Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts).*Dealing in Heroin.*Possession of Heroin. Jackson County Jail. 
5. Gary W. Dent, 30, 381 South Park Street, Pekin, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine.*Possession of Methamphetamine. Washington County Jail. 
6. Christopher M. Hammill, 37, 21180 East State Road #362, Lexington, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts). Clark County Jail.     
7. Lucas Hatcher, 21, 101 Northern Avenue, Salem, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts).*Habitual Felony Offender. Washington County Jail. 
8. Robin R. Hodson, 46, 509 Colony Drive, Salem, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts). Scott County Jail.  
9. Jessica M. Lopez, 27, 1180 North Renee Court, Pekin, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine. *Possession of Methamphetamine.Washington County Jail.  
10. Timothy Mitchell, JR, 33, 506 Accrusia Avenue, Clarksville, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine.*Possession of Methamphetamine. Clark County Jail. 
11. Garry E. Morrow, 37, 5004 South Hardy Mill Road, Lexington, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts). Scott County Jail. 
12. Garry Lowery, 64, 5004 South Hardy Mill Road, Lexington, IN.*Possession of Methamphetamine.*Possession of Paraphernalia.*Maintaining a Common Nuisance.Arrested on new charges. Scott County Jail. 
13. Suzanne Wiesman, 36, 5004 South Hardy Mill Road, Lexington, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine.*Possession of Methamphetamine.*Possession of Stolen Property.*Possession of Paraphernalia.*Maintaining a Common Nuisance.Arrested on new charges. Scott County Jail.      
14. Mary Ruth Pierce, 38, 105 Teresa Street, Salem, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts).Washington County Jail  
15. Clarissa L. Roach, 33, 11190 South Green Mill Road, Hardinsburg, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Five Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts).Washington County Jail 
16. Kenneth R. Saylor, 58, 1886 West Morgan Lane, Pekin, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine. Harrison County Jail 
17. Constance M. Scanlon, 42, 4805 West Walnut Ridge Road, Salem, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine.*Possession of Methamphetamine.*Aiding, Inducing or Causing an Offense, Dealing in Methamphetamine.Washington County Jail 
18. Jamie R. Sheckles, 33, 1612 East Oak Street, New Albany, IN.* Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Four Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine.*Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, (Two Counts).*Possession of a Narcotic Drug.*Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon.*Possession of a Controlled Substance.*Dealing in Marijuana.*Possession of Marijuana.*Maintaining a Common Nuisance.*Possession of Paraphernalia. Floyd County Jail 
19. Leslie E. Spaulding, 37, 113 Hickory Avenue, Salem, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine, (Two Counts).*Possession of Methamphetamine (Two Counts).Washington County Jail 
20. Anthony Spencer, 35, 3578 Laughton Court, North Vernon, IN.*Dealing in Methamphetamine.*Possession of Methamphetamine.*Habitual Felony Offender. Clark County Jail

Agencies Assisting were Prosecutors from all counties involved, Sheriff’s Departments from all counties involved and Agents from the Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will overcoat its recent chip seal on State Road 160 between Salem and Henryville with a fog seal, weather permitting, next Monday and Tuesday (AUGUST 28 & 29).  

Flaggers will direct motorists around crews and equipment.  

The fog seal along 40 lane miles of S.R. 160 in Washington and Scott counties will lock in aggregate chips and further protect the highway from moisture intrusion and ultra violet ray damage. 

Chip seal/fog seal applications are very cost-effective pavement preservation measures.  Every $1 spent saves $6 to $14 in subsequent expenditures.

The Old Settlers’ Days Committee and Volunteers would like to invite the public to come and join us on Saturday, September 16 & Sunday, September 17, at the John Hay Center, in Salem, Indiana, as we celebrate the 142nd Old Settlers’ Days Festival.

This free to the public festival was first held for our community in 1875.

It was established to commemorate, honor and celebrate the pioneer families who settled and civilized the wilderness lands
of the Indiana Territory that would become Washington County.

Thousands of visitors gather every year at the John Hay Center, where the celebration is appropriately centered on the Pioneer Village, which returns to functioning form and fills with demonstrators and re-enactors.

Here amongst the hewn-log cabins, guests can catch a glimpse into the daily life of a typical territorial era settlement and quickly find themselves transported back in time by an assortment of
reenactments reminiscent of how life in Washington County’s early days was.

This year’s main attraction will be 3 daily performances by Six Guns Entertainment, a Wild West Reenactment Group, based out of Corydon.

Their portrayals at our festival will include; a Pioneer Village
Shoot-out, a visit from the infamous train-robbing Reno Brothers, Annie Oakley target-shooting and a live, don’t-miss demonstration of Dr. Richard Gatlin’s devastating, revolutionary Gatlin-Gun, featuring the Doctor himself and President Lincoln!

Historical figures represented at this year’s festival, on both days, will be President Abraham Lincoln, iconic Indiana pioneer, Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman and a special tribute to one of Indiana’s founding fathers and Salem resident; Judge Benjamin Parke.

Some of our demonstrators this year will include; Rope making, blacksmithing, chair caning, spinners, quilters, knife making, pedal saw, broom making, fur traders, potters, cane carvers, corn husk dolls and a large variety of interactive pioneer era games.

A special distilling demonstration will be attempted on both days by the Hell’s Half Acre Hillbilly Burlesque Show, as long as they aren’t all arrested by the Washington County Sherriff’s Department!

Musical guests performing at this year’s festival are; the Corydon Dulcimers, local fiddler’ Brooklyn Thompson, local duo, Hoot Von Woot, Sharin’ Grace Bluegrass, the Capstone Band, and the Bradie Shrum Chime and Percussion Choir.

The grounds of the John Hay Center will be covered by artisan, food and vendor booths, offering an array of unique shopping opportunities.

Additionally, the Washington County Historical Society affords
the chance for the public to take free tours of both the Stevens Museum’s Main Gallery and The Depot
train museum, for the duration of the festival.

“Please do not miss this extraordinary opportunity to come out and join in the celebration of our pioneer heritage,” said Jeremy Elliott, Washington County Historian. “But Beware! There will be a substantial amount of LIVE black powder gun firing throughout
the festival, so we caution the very young, elderly or anyone with sensitive hearing to please bring your own hearing protection.”

In case you didn’t see the total eclipse in most of the WSLM Listening area earlier this week, you’ll have a good chance in seven years. 

On April 8, 2024, the moon will cross in front of the sun in the Kentuckiana area and give Hoosiers a taste of a total eclipse. 

Bloomington is right along the sweet spot and will experience more darkness than most everyone else around with 4 minutes 2.5 seconds of “Totality.”

First contact between the moon’s shadow and the sun is calculated to begin at 1:49p and totality is expected to occur at 4:22p. 

Salem will experience only 2 minutes and 3.7 seconds of total darkness, beginning at 1:48p and totality occurring at 4:22p. 

Those in Fredericksburg and New Pekin will have to watch closely. Fredericksburg will only get 59 seconds and New Pekin will get just over 30 seconds of total darkness. 

Those areas to the south like Palmyra, Corydon, Clarksville, Jeffersonville and New Albany will only get to see 99 percent of the eclipse – with a sliver of sunlight showing. 

Those in Louisville will experience a little more than they did this week – getting 98 percent coverage, compared to 94 percent coverage this week. 

Here is a list of the other cities and towns in the area and their duration and start times (in universal time) 

Bedford – 3 minutes 43.6 seconds

C1: 17:48:42.2 UT
C2: 19:04:40.5 UT
C3: 19:08:24.1 UT
C4: 20:22:16 UT

Mitchell – 3 minutes 28.8 seconds

C1: 17:48:31.5 UT
C2: 19:04:40.5 UT
C3: 19:08:09.3 UT
C4: 20:22:11.8 UT

Jasper – 3 minutes and 15.4 seconds

C1: 17:47:20.7 UT
C2: 19:03:46 UT
C3: 19:07:01.4 UT
C4: 20:21:26.3 UT

Medora – 3 minutes and 14.8 seconds

C1: 17:49:07.6 UT
C2: 19:05:20.6 UT
C3: 19:08:35.4 UT
C4: 20:22:38 UT

Brownstown – 3 minutes 12.9 seconds

C1: 17:49:22.7 UT
C2: 19:05:35 UT
C3: 19:08:47.9 UT
C4: 20:22:48.3 UT

Vallonia – 3 minutes 11.4 seconds

C1: 17:49:16.7 UT
C2: 19:05:30.6 UT
C3: 19:08:42 UT
C4: 20:22:44.6 UT

French Lick – 3 minutes 12 seconds

C1: 17:48:03.1 UT
C2: 19:04:25.5 UT
C3: 19:07:37.5 UT
C4: 20:21:55.3 UT

Seymour – 3 minutes 9.8 seconds

C1: 17:49:46.1 UT
C2: 19:05:57.3 UT
C3: 19:09:07.1 UT
C4: 20:23:04.2 UT

Paoli – 2 minutes 54.3 seconds

C1: 17:48:18.2 UT
C2: 19:04:49 UT
C3: 19:07:43.2 UT
C4: 20:22:07.4 UT

Campbellsburg – 2 minutes 50.5 seconds

C1: 17:48:45 UT
C2: 19:05:14.6 UT
C3: 19:08:05.2 UT
C4: 20:22:25.7 UT

Plattsburg – 2 minutes 43.9 seconds

C1: 17:49:07 UT
C2: 19:05:37.7 UT
C3: 19:08:21.6 UT
C4: 20:22:41 UT

Livonia – 2 minutes 25.7 seconds

C1: 17:48:34.5 UT
C2: 19:05:19.2 UT
C3: 19:07:44.9 UT
C4: 20:22:20.8 UT

Little York – 2 minutes and 4 seconds

C1: 17:49:21.6 UT
C2: 19:06:12.4 UT
C3: 19:08:16.4 UT
C4: 20:22:53.6 UT

SALEM – 2 minutes 3.7 seconds

C1: 17:48:56.1 UT
C2: 19:05:50.1 UT 
C3: 19:07:53.8 UT 
C4: 20:22:36.6 UT 

English – 1 minute 40.9 seconds

C1: 17:47:59.1 UT
C2: 19:05:12 UT
C3: 19:06:52.9 UT
C4: 20:21:59.4 UT

South Boston – 1 minute 21.5 seconds

C1: 17:49:05 UT
C2: 19:06:20.3 UT
C3: 19:07:41.8 UT
C4: 20:22:44.4 UT

Leota – 1 minute 19.3 seconds

C1: 17:49:23 UT
C2: 19:06:37.2 UT
C3: 19:07:56.5 UT
C4: 20:22:56.4 UT

Milltown – 1 minute 15.4 seconds

C1: 17:48:14.2 UT
C2: 19:05:38.7 UT
C3: 19:06:54.1 UT
C4: 20:22:10.5 UT

SOUTHERN MOST TOTAL ECLIPSE VIEWING

FREDERICKSBURG – 59.8 seconds

C1: 17:48:33.4 UT
C2: 19:06:03.7 UT
C3: 19:07:03.5 UT
C4: 20:22:23.8 UT

PEKIN – 35.1 seconds

C1: 17:48:55.1 UT
C2: 19:06:35.4 UT
C3: 19:07:10.5 UT
C4: 20:22:38.7 UT

OUTSIDE OF THE TOTAL ECLIPSE AREA

Milltown – only 99 percent magnitude

Palmyra – only 99 percent magnitude

Borden – only 99 percent magnitude

Underwood – only 99 percent magnitude

Louisville – 98 percent

Sometimes a t-shirt can say it all.

Hopkinsville, Ky – the point where the sun, moon and earth align perfectly to create the best two minutes and forty seconds in astronomy.

WSLM and WRLW TV was in Hopkinsville, Ky Monday for the Total Eclipse in an area deemed as the point of greatest eclipse by NASA.  

It was a big day for a small Western Kentucky town that saw the unveiling of an eclipse-themed moonshine from a local distillery, an eclipse-theme stamp unveiled by the US Postal Service and visits by the Governor and Lt. Governor of Kentucky, as well as other local and regional officials. 

Check out this link for photos from the day – ECLIPSE PICTURES

The point of greatest eclipse is actually a point in time, not a physical place, said Renee Weber, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. 

Actually, it’s when “the axis of the moon’s shadow is pointed most directly at the center of the Earth,” Weber explained on NASA TV. Weber explained the point of greatest eclipse is when the shadow of the moon, or umbra, is more circular there than anywhere else in the world.

Hopkinsville happens to be the place on the surface of the Earth where that alignment occurs.

Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks said that’s why the town earned the nickname “Eclipseville.”

“We got a phone call 10 years ago from a scientist who told us about this and asked if we were already booking our rooms,” said Hendricks. “Four years ago NASA designated us as the point of greatest eclipse. And that’s when everything started falling into place that this was going to be a significant event – bringing in visitors from all over the world.” 

Folks came from Wisconsin, Japan, England, New York, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas and all over the midwest. 

In fact, the Voodoo Bone Lady travelled from New Orleans to be at the eclipse. 

She is the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and travelled over 9 hours by car to get to Hopkinsville. 

She had along with her a bag of bones as well as her Chinese-Mandarin Rat Snake. 

“I’m here in Kentucky,” she said, “to pray for peace. What’s happening the last few weeks, I’ve realized the country’s going towards division. So much hatred and bigotry. I just want there to be unity. I’ll be doing a ritual today for unity and peace.” 

NOVA was following a group who travelled from the east coast to see the eclipse. 

The New Yorker sent a couple to experience the eclipse along with many other media outlets from around the country and overseas. 

Thousands of people descended upon the Hopkinsville area; their original estimate was about 150,000. 

Although those people were spread out in virtually every field and open space around the area, the throngs tied up outlets leaving Hopkinsville for hours afterwards. 

The eclipse experience only lasted 2 minutes and 40 seconds and a darkness descended on the area much like a pre-sunset. 

The moon moved ever closer to blocking out the sun, leaving only a sliver of light and then – darkness and the corona bursting out from around the edge of the moon. 

Special lenses and eclipse glasses were removed and sounds of people gasping, cheering and hooting filled the fields. 

As the moon – moving at 1500 miles per hour – slipped to the east, the sun’s glare burst back into view, requiring the replacement of glasses and lenses. 

Within another couple of minutes, everything was back to normal except the feeling that everyone had experienced something unique and special and extremely galactic. 

Here are some tips from WSLM and WRLW to make your solar eclipse viewing spectacular and galactic:

– Be prepared for hot weather. Temps in mid-to-late August can be in the 90s.
– Bring plenty of water – about a gallon a day per person.
– Bring sun screen, insect repellant, and first aid items.
– Bring picnic or snack items. Restaurants and grocery stores may experience long lines.
– Pick a viewing location with rest rooms and easy access to restaurants or other source of food.
– Do not stop along highways. Vehicles on the shoulder hinder traffic flow and create a traffic hazard.
– Be prepared for long lines at fuel pumps. Access to fuel may be limited.
– Be aware that heavy traffic congestion may interfere with delivery of food, fuel and other supplies along the total eclipse corridor.
– Be careful – while local agencies are gearing up for large crowds, heavy traffic may hinder the ability of emergency agencies to respond.
– Be patient – you are likely to encounter slow-moving traffic at some point during your visit.
– Bring a GPS based navigation unit as cell phone navigation may be sketchy due to heavy cell and data traffic.
– If your group is traveling in several vehicles consider communicating with two-way radios as cell service near the total eclipse corridor may be limited due to heavy demand.

Even the Indiana Department of Transportation has thought ahead to provide some road safety rules.

INDOT officials urge motorists to plan for traffic congestion expected to occur in southern Indiana before and after the total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21.

Approximately 200 million people live within a day’s drive of the total eclipse path. Many will be on the road to get a closer view.

INDOT officials offer the following advice:

Be prepared for traffic congestion before and after the August 21 eclipse.

Interstate 69, U.S. 41, and U.S. 231 are expected to experience increased traffic in southbound lanes before the event as caravans of motorists head for Western Kentucky where the moon’s full eclipse of the sun can be viewed within a 70-mile-wide swath encompassing Hopkinsville, Paducah, and Madison, KY. After the event, transportation planners anticipate a “mass exodus” from total eclipse regions. Expect heavier than normal northbound traffic on these routes.

Interstate 65 will also see increased traffic – going to and returning from – total eclipse vantage points that begin at Bowling Green, KY and extend beyond Nashville, TN. Again, southbound traffic is expected to rise before the solar eclipse. Northbound lanes will experience congestion after the eclipse.

If you want to drive toward the eclipse path for better viewing, allow extra time.

If skies are clear, August 21’s solar eclipse promises to be an unforgettable celestial phenomenon, the first that has been visible to all 48 contiguous states in several hundred years. Beyond the total eclipse’s 70-mile-wide path–which arcs across 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina–a partial eclipse will provide a sky show that becomes more and more pronounced the closer spectators get to the sun’s full black-out. The partial eclipse can be well seen throughout Indiana, but traveling south improves the view. For example, Evansville is situated to experience a partial eclipse of 99 percent and Jeffersonville will see 96 percent. This mid-day event waxes and wanes over a period of several hours.

Make plans now for overnight accommodations – overnight camping is prohibited at rest areas.

If planning to view the eclipse, wear safety glasses. They are available on-line or from many popular retailers costing from $2 to $70; some are being given away by organizations. DO NOT look at the partial eclipse without proper filtration. Visit the NASA website at http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

Do’s & Don’ts:

• Don’t take pictures while driving.
• Don’t wear eclipse glasses while driving.
• Don’t stop along the interstate or park on the shoulder.
• Do turn your headlights on during the eclipse event.

Plan Ahead and Stay Informed

Motorists can learn about highway work zones and other traffic alerts at indot.carsprogram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for Sunday, August 20, 2017 in the following areas: 

• Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Scott, and Washington
• Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick 

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making simple changes to their daily habits. You can:

• Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
• Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
• Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above 

Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors. 

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit www.SmogWatch.IN.gov or download our iPhone App: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smogwatch/id882860480?mt=8 

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties. 

Troopers from the Indiana State Police Jasper Post will be conducting a sobriety check point at an undisclosed location in Crawford County on Friday, August 25, 2017.  Those drivers passing through the checkpoint area should have their licenses and registrations ready to present to troopers, and will only be detained briefly while troopers determine whether further investigation is necessary. 

The purpose of the sobriety checkpoint is to remove those motorists from the highways who are alcohol and/or drug impaired and poses a danger to all who use the roadways.  Impaired drivers are responsible for billions of dollars in property damage, personal injury, and death annually.   

Reminders so motorists do not find themselves “Over the Limit and Under Arrest”:

• Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before consuming alcohol.
• Don’t drive your vehicle if you’ve been drinking alcohol.  Call a taxi or sober friend. 
• Take care of your friends.  Never let a friend drive while impaired. 
• If you are hosting a party, always offer non-alcoholic beverages.  Make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.
• Never provide alcohol to anyone under the legal drinking age of 21.

Motorists encountering another vehicle being operated erratically are encouraged to dial 911 or call the Jasper Indiana State Police Post at (812) 482-1441 or (800) 742-7475.  Be prepared to give a description of the vehicle, location, and direction of travel.