Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a boat accident that occurred this afternoon on the White River at the Rockford Dam in Seymour.

At approximately 2:08 p.m. this afternoon, officers were dispatched to the area of the White River near the Rockford Dam in reference to a boat about to go over the dam that was occupied by two subjects.

Two Jackson County deputies were first to arrive on scene and quickly went into action.  Deputies Joey Francis and Dustin Steward were able to utilize a throw bag to reach the boat and pull it close enough to shore for the occupants to evacuate.  The boat then washed over the dam.

Indiana Conservation Officer Robert Klakamp’s initial investigation has revealed that the two occupants were fishing just above the dam when for an unknown reason, they lost power to their trolling motor.  The subjects then tried to start their main engine, but their efforts were to no avail.

It was also discovered that both subjects possessed the required life jackets, but were not wearing them at the time of the incident. The events that led up to this incident are still under investigation.

Both Subjects were transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour in good condition and treated for mild hypothermia.
 
Agencies responding to the scene were Indiana Conservation Officers, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Brownstown Police Department, Indiana State Police, Seymour Fire Department and Jackson County EMS.

Indiana Conservation Officers would like to encourage everyone to wear their life jackets and always be mindful of the dangers when operating near or around any type of dam in Indiana waters.

By Erin Houchin

Keeping criminals off our streets, and continuing to make Indiana a safer place to live, work, and raise our families is a top priority for me in the state Senate. This session, I have authored several law enforcement bills which are at various stages in the legislative process.

One of these bills, Senate Bill 405, deals with individuals who are already incarcerated.

Currently, if an individual commits a misdemeanor or a level 6 felony, he or she is sent to the local county jail to serve the sentence. If an individual commits a higher level crime, he or she is sent to an Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) prison. 

If an inmate commits a misdemeanor or a class 6 felony while incarcerated in an IDOC facility, he or she is sent back to the county jail to serve the additional sentence.

This is an inefficient practice which burdens law enforcement, and leads to overpopulation in our county jail facilities. 

If passed, SB 405 would require a person convicted of a misdemeanor while incarcerated in an IDOC facility to serve any additional time in that same IDOC facility instead of being transferred back to the county level.

This will help to prevent overcrowding in our local jails, and alleviate taxpayer costs to transfer these inmates.

SB 405 was approved by the Senate, and now moves to the House of Representatives for their consideration.

This is common sense legislation aimed at making our criminal justice system more efficient, and I look forward to seeing it continue to move through the legislative process.

You can track this bill and others at www.in.gov/iga.

If you have any thoughts or questions on issues affecting Indiana, please contact me by email at Senator.Houchin@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.

Fly A Kite Workshop at the Patoka Lake Nature Center on Saturday, March 18.

Kid’s bring your parents to the Patoka Lake Nature Center on Saturday, March 18 at 12:30 p.m. to build your very own kite.

Participants will create a one of a kind kite using materials provided. Once all kites have been constructed, join a car caravan to the beach for some high flying fun.

The cost for this program is $5 per kite. Pre-registration is required for this event.

Call the Patoka Lake Nature Center at 812-685- 2447 to register or inquire for more details.

The entrance fee of $7 per vehicle for Indiana residents ($9 out of state) is required for the Newton Stewart State Recreation Area, Patoka Lake located north of Wickliffe Indiana, Highway 164.

For more information regarding this program or other interpretive events, please call the Nature Center at (812) 685-2447.

Patoka Lake (stateparks.IN.gov/2953.htm) is at 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513.