The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane restrictions for State Road 37 in Bedford and Oolitic as crews add lanes to the existing pavement.

Beginning on or around Monday, Sept. 18, contractors will begin pavement work on an acceleration lane at 16th Street/State Road 37 in Bedford and a left turn lane at Ingram Road/State Road 37.

During this operation, one lane will be open on the north bound side at both locations. Restrictions will be in place around the clock.

The additional lanes are expected to take until mid to late November depending upon weather conditions.

INDOT urges motorists to slow down and avoid distractions, especially in work zones.

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Washington County will hold a free kickoff for the annual event on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 6:00pm at St. Vincent Salem Hospital, 911 N Shelby St.

Last year, 300 people participated in the Relay For Life of Washington County and raised over $80,000.

“This is our community’s opportunity to help save lives from cancer by taking our message to more people and raising more dollars to fund the fight,” said Stacey Gilbert. “Together, our efforts can make a big difference.”

Everyone is invited to the kickoff to learn about how to help the American Cancer Society save more lives from cancer.

The program will highlight how the community has benefited from funds raised and will honor cancer survivors and caregivers.  Guests will have the opportunity to register a team for the Relay For Life event, which will be held on June 8th at Salem High School.

The Relay For Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action to finish the fight once and for all. Relay For Life events are community gatherings where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Teams participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.

The Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to fight every cancer in every community, with four million participants in 6,000 events worldwide in 2017. 

Visit relayforlife.org or relayforlife.org/washingtoncountyin to learn more about the event, or contact Kathy Miller or Stacey Gilbert at 812-893-0708, 812-620-6029 or Kmiller@R1RCM.com sgilbert@salemschools.com.

A Bedford man is being held in the Orange County Jail after fleeing from police, escaping, and fleeing again.

At 6:45 PM this evening, Trooper Mike Allen initiated a traffic stop on a car for speeding and not using a turn signal along State Road 37 near Vincennes Street.

Arrested and Charged was Martin Dale Robbins, 54, Bedford, IN

– Operating while Suspended, Habitual Traffic Violator – Life, Level 6 Felony

– Theft, Level 6 Felony

– Operating While Intoxicated, Level 6 Felony

– Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor

Charges from Orleans Police Department:

– Escape, Level 5 Felony

– Residential Entry, Level 6 Felony

As the car came to a stop, the driver, Robbins of Bedford, jumped out of the car and began running away from Trooper Allen. Allen chased and caught Robbins, placing him into custody.

Robbins was placed into an Orleans Police Department police car, which had a transport cage in the back seat.

As Allen went nearly a block away from the police car to get a statement from a witness near the location of the foot pursuit, Robbins slipped his handcuffs from behind his back to his front, and climbed out of the cage into the driver’s seat of the police car.

Robbins then ran a second time, attempting to hide from police.

Police set up a perimeter in the area until Trooper Stephen Sexton and his K-9 partner, Magill, could arrive and begin tracking Robbins.

After a short time, Sexton and Magill found Robbins hiding in a shed at 325 South Second Street, Orleans. He was placed into custody.

Robbins was transported to the Orange County Jail where he is being held on numerous charges. Robbins was additionally wanted on warrants through California for burglary and through Lawrence County, Indiana for driving as a habitual traffic violator.

John Hay was a great American statesman, diplomat, author and poet, whose political career spanned over 50 years.  

He was born in a small brick home, on College Avenue, in Salem, Indiana, on October 8, 1838.  John was the fourth of five children, born in the house, to Dr. Charles Hay and the former Helen Leonard. 

A graduate of Brown University, (whose library is named in his honor), Hay worked on the presidential campaign of Abraham Lincoln and once elected became one of his private secretaries in the White House, assisting with speech writing, including the Gettysburg Address, he also served as a major and colonel in the Civil War. 

He was at the bedside of Lincoln when he passed away the morning after Booth shot him. 

Afterwards, John Hay worked for presidents’ U.S. Grant, James Garfield, Rutherford B. Hayes, and served as Secretary of State for both William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt.  3 of these great men were assassinated during his service. 

While in service he authored and orchestrated the Open Door Policy for China and was the driving force behind pushing legislation through Congress that allowed our country to build the Panama Canal. 

Additionally, he served 10 years as the Editor of the New York Tribune, working for Horace Greely, he also authored over 20 books and was close personal friends with Mark Twain.  

If you would like to know more about this impressive native of Salem, the Stevens Museum at the John Hay Center, has several selections available for sale. 

Please stop by 307 E. Market St. during normal business hours to view these books or to learn more, Tues – Sat,9am to 5pm.