Governor Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) gathered today at the Clay County Courthouse with cities, towns, and counties from across west central Indiana receiving portions of the $207 million awarded through the Community Crossings matching grant program, a component of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Roads program.

The City of Salem received $451,683.75 and Washington County Received $1.5 million for road projects. 

Here are a list of area cities, towns and counties in the WSLM Listening Area that received funds. 

• Bedford $535,077.09
• Clarksville $892,789.42
• Crothersville $222,079.50
• Harrison County $1,500,000.00
• Jackson County $1,458,024.00
• Jasper $336,115.80
• Jeffersonville $1,500,000.00
• Jennings County $1,362,844.57
• Loogootee $1,455,930.75
• Milltown $93,827.80
• Mitchell $152,872.50
• New Albany $895,898.42
• North Vernon $970,405.50
• Orange County $1,500,000.00
• Orleans $146,125.06
• Patoka $100,808.81
• Perry County $1,500,000.00
• Salem $451,683.75
• Scott County $1,396,124.59
• Seymour $1,500,000.00
• Washington County $1,500,000.00

“Year after year Indiana’s local Community Crossings program enables hundreds of critically important infrastructure improvements to happen,” said Gov. Holcomb. “I cannot overstate the transformative significance of this program and the positive impacts it has throughout our cities, towns and counties across the Hoosier State known as the Crossroads of America.”

Communities submitted applications for funding during a highly competitive call for projects in January. Funding for Community Crossings comes from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. The Community Crossings initiative has provided nearly $1.7 billion in state matching funds for local road improvement projects since 2016.

“Partnership with our local communities is vital to enhancing our state’s transportation network,” said Commissioner Smith. “Community Crossings is just one of many ways INDOT is working with local agencies to improve safety, mobility and connectivity in the places they call home.”

State legislators identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April 2017. 

A list of all 252 communities receiving matching funds in the 2024 spring call for projects is available here.

The next call for projects will open in July.

Yesterday evening, April 9, 2024, Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post began investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred in North Vernon, Indiana.

The initial investigation indicated that shortly after 7:00 pm, Officers with the North Vernon Police Department and Jennings County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance at an address on Thomas Street in North Vernon, Indiana.

Upon arriving at the residence, the officers encountered a 23-year-old female, Rachel Blake, inside a bathroom of the home. 

Blake was holding a large knife. 

The officers repeatedly told her to drop the knife and they also used electronic control weapons (tasers) in an attempt to disarm her. 

She soon advanced towards the officers with the knife. 

Two officers from the North Vernon Police Department fired their issued handguns, striking Blake at least once.

Officers immediately began administering first aid to her. 

EMS was immediately called to the scene to provide advanced medical treatment.

Blake was soon pronounced deceased at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s Office.

The North Vernon Police Department and Jennings County Sheriff’s Office requested Indiana State Police Investigators respond to the scene to conduct the investigation.

All involved officers have been placed on administrative leave per their department policies.

The investigation is ongoing.  At the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be presented to the Jennings County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

 Rachel Blake’s family has been notified.        

Detectives with the Indiana State Police in Sellersburg are investigating an apparent “road rage” stabbing off I-65.

Around 10:45 Saturday morning, 911 dispatch learned of a possible road rage incident between the drivers of a purple Freightliner semi and a white Volvo semi and trailer. 

The two semi-trucks were reportedly passing and “break checking” each other on I-65 northbound a few miles south of the Henryville exit. 

A short time later, ISP troopers responded to the northbound rest area near the 22 mile marker when it was reported one of the drivers pulled into the rest park after being stabbed.

Once at the scene, officers immediately called for a medical helicopter to transport the driver to University Hospital in Louisville for stab wounds. 

Officers identified the driver as Daniel Andrews of Springfield, Missouri.  

Troopers also learned the description of the other truck and driver allegedly involved in the incident. 

Scottsburg City officers stopped that vehicle a short time later. 

The second driver was identified as Lyndon Smith of Gadsden, Alabama.

After the initial investigation, detectives believe that both drivers pulled off at the northbound Henryville on-ramp and were involved in a physical altercation. 

As a result of the investigation, detectives arrested Lyndon Smith for False Informing, a class A misdemeanor.  Smith was driving the white Volvo semi pulling a white trailer. 

ISP detectives arrested Daniel Andrews after his release from the hospital.  Andrews is charged with Battery by means of a Deadly Weapon (level 5 felony), Battery resulting in Bodily Injury (level 6 felony), Criminal Recklessness (level 6 felony), and Aggressive Driving (class A misdemeanor).  Andrews was driving the purple or marron colored Freightliner semi-truck. 

This case is still under investigation, and detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the physical altercation to call the Sellersburg Post.  The incident occurred around 10:45 Saturday morning on the ramp from SR 160 to I-65 northbound near the 19 mile marker. 

Anyone who witnessed the physical altercation should contact the Sellersburg Post at (812) 246-5424.