Indiana Department of Transportation officials urge motorists to plan for traffic congestion expected to occur in southern Indiana before and after the total solar eclipse on 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 14states 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.

Wednesday afternoon, troopers from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg along with the Washington County Probation Department, did a probation check and served an arrest warrant on Kevin Wynn, 37, at 9240 East Saylor Road in Salem.

Once officers were inside of the residence they developed enough information to obtain a search warrant to search the home.

During the search officers located suspected Methamphetamine, Paraphernalia and Marijuana.

Wynn was arrested and incarcerated at the Washington County Jail on the charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Neglect of a Dependent, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.

This investigation is continuing.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close State Road 256 at its Muscatatuck River bridge located 1.92 miles east of S.R. 39 near Austin along the Scott-Washington County line.  

Contracted crews will be onsite beginning Monday to set barricades and begin making minor repairs in advance of installing a thin bridge deck overlay.  

Motorists will be detoured around the S.R. 256 closure via Interstate 65, S.R. 56 and S.R. 39. 

Ragle Inc. is the state’s contractor for this $300,000 2-bridge project.  The Evansville contractor will place a 3/8-inch polymeric overlay atop the Muscatatuck River bridge’s deck—restoring the driving surface, sealing it from weather degradation and ultra violet ray damage.  

In addition, approaches to the bridge will be milled and repaved. 

INDOT officials anticipate S.R. 256 reopening to traffic later in the month. 

A deck overlay at the S.R. 258 White River bridge in Jackson County has recently been completed near Seymour under this contract.      

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews will chip seal 40 lane miles of State Road 160 in Washington and Scott counties next week—weather permitting—placing surface treatment material on the east-west highway between Salem and Henryville. 

On Monday and Tuesday (AUGUST 14 & 15), pavement preservation operations will proceed along the eastbound lane of S.R. 160 from S.R. 60 to Interstate 65.  Wednesday and Thursday (AUGUST 16 & 17), chip seal will be placed in the westbound lane from I-65 to S.R. 60. 

Flaggers will be onsite to direct motorists around crews and equipment. 

The S.R. 160 chip seal will coat the highway’s surface with liquid asphalt—sealing pavement cracks and protecting the roadbed from harmful ultraviolet rays.   Small chips of limestone will be used to “choke” the asphalt’s fluidity and minimize adhesion to tires.  These aggregate chips also restore surface friction—optimizing maneuverability and stopping capabilities.   

Chip seal applications are highly cost-effective as a pavement preservation measure.  Every $1 spent saves $6 to $14 in subsequent expenditures.

On yesterday’s date shortly after 2:15 pm, Troopers Jackie Smith, Andrew Taylor, Brandon Farias, Carey Huls and Katrina Smith from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg served an arrest warrant on Jamie Ray Scheckles, 33, from 1612 East Oak Street in New Albany.   

The arrest warrant was out of Clark County, IN for a Probation Violation.

This was followed by the arrest of three others who were charged with:

1: JAMIE RAY SHECKLES, 33, from 1612 East Oak Street in New Albany, Clark County Jail.

1. Dealing in a Controlled Substance(Cocaine) – Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Cocaine – Level 6 Felony
3. Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Meth) – Level 2 Felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony
5. Possession of Schedule I,II, III, IV, V, Controlled Substance, – Level 6 Felony
6. Controlled Substance, Dealing Marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor
7. Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
8. Possession of Paraphernalia – Class B Misdemeanor
9. Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Class 6 Felony

2:  BRITTANY LYNN PRATHER, 26, from 1612 East Oak Street in New Albany, Floyd County Jail.  

1. Dealing in a Controlled Substance(Cocaine) – Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Cocaine – Level 6 Felony
3. Dealing in Controlled Substance (Meth) – Level 2 Felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony
5. Possession of Schedule I,II, III, IV, V, Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
6. Controlled Substance, Dealing Marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor
7. Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
8. Possession of Paraphernalia – Class B Misdemeanor
9. Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Class 6 Felony

3:  KEVIN MARTIN, 34, from 1612 East Oak Street in New Albany, Floyd County Jail.

1. Dealing in a Controlled Substance(Cocaine) – Level 2 Felony
2. Possession of Cocaine – Level 6 Felony
3. Dealing in Controlled Substance (Meth) – Level 2 Felony
4. Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 5 Felony
5. Possession of Schedule I,II, III, IV, V, Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony
6. Controlled Substance, Dealing Marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor
7. Possession of Marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
8. Possession of Paraphernalia – Class B Misdemeanor
9. Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Class 6 Felony

4:  TIA LANETTE EDELEN, 37, from 1612 East Oak Street in New Albany, Floyd County Jail.

1. Warrant, Failure to Appear
2. Warrant, Failure to Appear  

Troopers were assisted by the Washington County Drug Task Force. 

When troopers entered the home to serve the arrest warrant there were several other people in the home and drug paraphernalia was located. This lead troopers to apply for and obtain a search warrant for the residence.

A search of the residence resulted in troopers finding Heroin, Methamphetamine, Schedule I, II, III, IV and V Controlled Substances, Marijuana, Paraphernalia and over $1,200.00 in U.S. Currency. All four persons in the home were arrested.

A 36-year-old Cannelton man was back behind bars after Troopers found narcotics in his possession while trying to serve him with an arrest warrant.

Arrested and Charged was Charles A. Cronin, Jr., 36, of Cannelton, IN

• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony

• Warrant, Perry County
• Domestic Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Level 5 Felony
• Intimidation, Level 6 Felony
• Warrant, Perry County
• Dealing in a “Look-alike” Substance, Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Felony
• Warrant, Perry County
• Invasion of Privacy, Violation of a Protective Order, Class A Misdemeanor 

New Charges:

• Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony

• Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Members of the State Police “All Crimes Policing” unit, Sergeant George Wooten and Master Trooper Trey Lytton, attempted to serve Cronin, Jr. with multiple arrest warrants at 15370 Dexter Magnet Road. 

Troopers, along with Perry County Deputy Daymion Marsh and members of Community Corrections, found Cronin inside the residence, and watched him attempt to hide an item between the cushions of the sofa he was sitting on. 

As Trooper Lytton placed Cronin into custody, Deputy Marsh found a glass smoking pipe and white baggies, both with white residue.  The white, crystal-like substance field tested positive as methamphetamine. 

Cronin was transported to the Perry County Corrections Center where he was held on his prior warrant, as well as possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia charges.

The Indiana State Police has released the names of four police officers who were involved in an incident that took place in Dyer on August 10, 2017.  The officers involved are as follows:

1) Victor Zamora, 37, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, 13 years of service

2)  Luke Schreiber, 41, St. John Police Department, 10 years of service (18 total)

3)  Jacob Patzschke, 25, St. John Police Department, 1 year of service (3 total)

4)  Daniel Kolodziej, 31, Dyer Police Department, 1 year of service (5 total)

The officers remain on paid administrative leave per their respective departments policies.

This incident remains under investigation by the Indiana State Police. Upon completion of the investigation, the results will be turned over to the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office for review. 

On August 10, 2017, at approximately 5:38 a.m., officers with the Dyer Police Department, St. John Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Department were involved in a vehicle pursuit of a stolen car in the area of 9300 Sheffield Ave. in Dyer.  

During the initial pursuit, the suspect vehicle struck a pedestrian in Saulk Village and continued to flee.  

Indiana officers were able to locate the vehicle in Indiana and pursued the vehicle north into the gas station at the intersection of 81st and Hart Street where it struck another white vehicle before coming to rest on Hart Street, north of 81st Ave.  

What occurred between the suspect and the officers is under investigation, but the interaction resulted in multiple shots being fired.  The suspect died at the scene.  

The suspect has been identified as Mark P. Coffey, 33, of South Chicago Heights, IL.  Coffey had an active warrant for Battery/Robbery and was considered to be armed and dangerous.  

Coffey also had an ankle monitoring bracelet on his person issued by the Illinois Department of Corrections.  

The Indiana State Police is being assisted by the Northwest Indiana Major Crime Task Force.  The Indiana State Police Crime Scene investigators processed the scene.