Ripley County Health Department is seeking resumes from individuals for a temporary part time position (2 Years) as a Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for Ripley County.

The purpose of this position is to recruit and organize both individuals and organizational representatives from the community to form a coalition representing diverse interests and backgrounds; lead the coalition to strategize action to reduce tobacco use in the county through policy and programs; fully engage community and coalition members, including specific task force groups, in the business of tobacco control.

Preference will be given to those with a public health and or tobacco prevention experience.

The full Job Description may be viewed on our Web Site: www.ripleyhealth.com

Resumes may be sent to Vicky Powell, Administrator/PHN via email: nurse@ripleycounty.com or Vicky Powell, Ripley County Health Department, P.O. Box 745, Versailles, IN 47042

The Salem Community Schools Board of Trustees will hold a special board meeting Friday, June 30 at Noon at the administration building. 

There will be two topics on the agenda. 

One will be to get a board recommendation to award a bid for a temporary loan from a local bank to pay for clean up and repair from the May flooding. 

The second item is for the board to approve the hiring of Troy Albert as the new Salem High School Principal. Albert previously was principal of Henryville High School. 

There will be a public reception for Albert after the next regular school board meeting on July 10.

A traffic stop for a violation turned into a pursuit along Interstate 69 Monday, ending with the driver behind bars.

Arrested and Charged was Ryan M. McGill, 27, of Indianapolis, IN

– Resisting Law Enforcement, Class A Misdemeanor

– Hendricks County warrants (x3)

At 8:32 A.M. Monday, Master Trooper Scott Miller pulled over a white 1999 Dodge mini-van for speeding along Interstate 69 at the 82.5 mile marker.  This is less than two miles south of the Daviess/Greene County line. 

As Miller began walking up to the Dodge, the driver accelerated and fled the stop.

As the pursuit traveled north, objects were being thrown from the vehicle, including a pistol near the 93.5 mile marker.  Another trooper in the pursuit recovered the weapon.

As the pursuit continued, a passenger in the Dodge was waving their hands and arms outside the window.  Near the 106 mile marker, the Dodge abruptly pulled to the shoulder, allowed the passenger to get out, and continued to flee northbound.

At the 106.5 mile marker, a tire deflation device was deployed across the roadway.  The Dodge drove over the strips, effectively beginning the deflation of the Dodge’s tires.  The van continued northbound until reaching the 112 mile marker, at which point it pulled off the right side of the roadway and into a steep ravine, where it stopped.  A female passenger exited and was detained; the driver, later identified as 27 year old Ryan McGill of Indianapolis, fled on foot prior to officers reaching the van.  McGill was located and placed into custody at 10:03 A.M. by the Bloomington Police Department and with the help of their K9 unit.

McGill was charged through Monroe County for Resisting Law Enforcement on foot, with additional charges pending through Daviess, Greene, and Monroe Counties.  He was additionally arrested on three outstanding warrants through Hendricks County, Indiana.  He was lodged in the Monroe County Jail.

Tuesday morning, at approximately 12:30 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a two vehicle crash on I-65 southbound at exit 50 which claimed the life of a Louisville, Kentucky man.

The initial investigation by Trp. Korry Clark and the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team determined that a 2014 Freightliner truck pulling a box trailer being driven by James H. Foster, age 65, Louisville, Kentucky was traveling southbound in the right lane of I-65 approaching exit 50. 

For an unknown reason, Foster did not change lanes to avoid an Indiana Department of Transportation 2008 International dump truck that was parked in the right lane of southbound I-65. 

The Indiana Department of Transportation truck was unoccupied and was providing lane blockage for crews who were doing repairs to the I-65 overpass over US 50.  The INDOT vehicle had red and yellow flashing lights as well as a flashing arrow board at the time of the crash. 

After striking the INDOT vehicle, Foster lost control of his vehicle.  His vehicle overturned and came to rest partially on the roadway.  Foster suffered fatal injuries in the crash.  He was pronounced deceased at the scene by Jackson County Coroner Michael Bobb. There were no other injuries in the crash.

Foster, who drove for Summit Trucking, was hauling approximately 35,000 pounds of frozen food at the time of the crash.  The southbound lanes of I-65 were closed for approximately six hours for crash investigation and cleanup.  Crews had to offload the frozen food from the trailer by hand prior to up righting the vehicle.

I-65 southbound traffic was diverted at exit 64 in Bartholomew County over to US 31 to Seymour before being able to return to I-65 at exit 50.

The investigation is ongoing.  Foster’s family has been notified.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Seymour Fire Department, Jackson County EMS, Jackson County Coroner’s Office, and 31 Wrecker Service.

At approximately 2:15 AM Trooper Hansen was working in the area of I-65 northbound near Ridge Road. Trooper Hansen was assisting a construction company conducting road repairs with traffic direction and protecting the crew from passing traffic.

Trooper Hansen was sitting in the middle of an area where the roadway is divided with his emergency lights activated.

This area is marked by an arrow board, multiple signs, construction barrels, and a temporary concrete barrier wall. A black 2007 Toyota Camry driven by Rosa Sawyer, 33,  of Marion, Iowa ran over multiple construction barrels next to Trooper Hansen and then drove into the closed off area where workers were doing repairs.

Trooper Hansen immediately gave chase to the Toyota which failed to yield to his emergency lights and siren.

Sawyer lead Trooper Hansen on a pursuit at speeds of 80 miles per hour, drove over holes in the concrete about 5 inches deep and up to 2 feet wide, and nearly struck a street sweeping vehicle head all while traveling at 80 miles per hour.

Sawyer came to a stop after approximately a one mile pursuit voluntarily about 40 yards from the construction crew, many of whom had their backs to Sawyer’s vehicle. 

At one point during the pursuit, Trooper Hansen thought he was going to have to ram the suspect vehicle in order to stop it and potentially save the worker’s lives.  Sawyer was taken into custody without incident.

Trooper Hansen’s main objective was to warn the construction crew of the oncoming vehicle by using his lights and siren in a hope that the workers would see the vehicle and be able to run for safety.  No workers were injured.

After an investigation, Sawyer was transported and remanded to Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana. Multiple charges will be presented to the Lake County Prosecutors Office to include Resisting Arrest with a Vehicle, Operating While Intoxicated (Endangerment), and Leaving the Scene of a Crash.

There were approximately 20 workers in the area at the time. This is the same area where a worker lost his life last fall. The Indiana State Police would remind drivers to please slow down, read and comply with the warning signs, and do not drink and drive.

Assisting at the scene was Sgt. Dillahunty, Troopers Partyka, Carlson, Walton, and Brasseur, Lowell Regional Dispatch and Midnight Blue Towing.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. 

A 55-year old Crothersville woman was killed by a drunk driver in Salem on Saturday night. 

Jerry Elliott, 52, Salem, was traveling south on State Road 39 and lost control of his vehicle and struck an embankment on the west side of the road and flipped over. 

Passenger Imogene Hall, 55, Crothersville was ejected from the 2000 Jeep Cherokee and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police responded after a 911 call at 8:48p to the area of Power Line Road. 

Elliott was transported to St. Vincent Salem Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. 

Elliott was then transported to the Washington County Detention Center where he was booked in under alcohol-related charges. 

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Sheriff Roger Newlon, Washington County EMS, Gibson Township Fire Department, Salem Fire Department, Wilcox Towing and the Washington County Coroner’s Office and the Indiana State Police and Scott County Sheriff’s Department.