After a series of brush fires have gotten out of control in Washington County due to dry conditions, the Washington County Commissioners have issued a burn ban, ordering residents to not burn anything outdoors until further notice. 

Salem Fire Department firefighters most recently responded to a field fire Sunday afternoon. The emergency order was signed by the commissioners by 6p Sunday.

In an emergency order was signed on Sunday, Nov. 13 by Commissioners Phillip Marshal and Preston Shell.

The declaration says the board finds that Washington County is at risk of widespread fire hazards because of the ongoing drought conditions. 

The commissioners determined that a county wide burn ban affecting certain activities is an appropriate public safety response to the fire hazards presented by the current drought conditions. 

As a result of the burn ban, the following activities are prohibited in Washington County:

1. Campfires and other recreational fires
2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane.
3. The burning of debris, such as timber for vegetation, incfuding such debris that results from building construction activities and other open air fires.
4. Fireworks; except under the Indiana Code 22-11-14-10.5

Indiana Code 22-11-14-10.5 prevents local ordinances from prohibiting the use of fireworks

• Between the hours of 5:00pm and two (2) hours after sunset on June 29, June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3, July July 6, July 7, July 8 and July 9,
• Between the hours of 10:00am and 12:00 midnight on July 4.

All residents are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures to cooperate with public officials and Emergency Management forces in executing emergency plans and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

This Declaration will remain in effect until further notice.

Governor Mike Pence has declared this week, Nov. 13 through 19, as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana. 

The Indiana Department of Transportation began preparing for the upcoming winter season soon after the snow and ice melted last spring.

INDOT’s top winter priority is removing snow and preventing ice on more than 11,000 miles of interstates, U.S. highways and state routes.

Salt in stock

Last winter, 211,428 tons of granular salt and more than 2.8 million gallons of salt brine were deployed on state and federal highways. INDOT continues to receive deliveries of salt and already has more than 225,000 tons on hand.

This year INDOT’s winter operations will benefit from four new salt storage structures built through its long-term facility replacement program. New facilities near Logansport and Monticello in northwest Indiana and near Loogootee and NSA Crane in southwest Indiana provide a higher storage capacity and much quicker and safer salt loading for improved efficiency during winter operations.

New plow equipment

Last winter, INDOT’s yellow plow trucks logged nearly 3.8 million miles – the equivalent of 152 trips around the earth or 8 round trips to moon.

INDOT will have more than 1,000 plow trucks available to clear roads of snow and ice this winter. INDOT purchased 72 new trucks to replace older equipment and 12 new tow plows – making 22 available for this winter. The tow plow is pulled behind and to the side of a INDOT plow truck, allowing one driver to clear two lanes at once.

INDOT recently completed inspections of its snow and ice equipment. Each year, INDOT’s yellow plow trucks undergo a full bumper-to-bumper examination as inspectors look for mechanical defects in need of repair. Special attention is paid to the trucks’ steering, engine and brakes. INDOT mechanics perform any needed repairs before the first snowfall.

Hiring, training snowfighters

Last year during winter operations, INDOT staff logged 202,168 hours—the equivalent of nearly 17,000 12-hour shifts. Mechanics, salt loaders and radio operators support INDOT’s snowfighters to keep the trucks running around the clock when needed.

INDOT has been holding job fairs and aggressively hiring seasonal and full-time workers over the past few months. Applications are still being accepted for some locations at www.in.gov/indot/3163.htm.

Both plow operators and supervisors attend classroom training to learn new technology and techniques. Plow operators are already familiarizing themselves with their snow routes. Operational planning meetings are being completed this month with Indiana State Police and local officials.

Preventing potholes

INDOT spent the warmer months resurfacing and sealing state highways to prevent water from seeping into the pavement and forming potholes. This year INDOT has repaved 580 miles and sealed more than 1,200 lane miles of interstates, U.S. highways and state routes.

Stay informed

Later this week INDOT will provide information about what motorists can do to prepare for winter weather. Subscribe to receive text and email alerts at http://bit.ly/INDOTsubscription. 

INDOT will also be posting to social media for Winter Weather Preparedness Week with posts tagged #INDOTWinterOps. Find links to INDOT’s regional Facebook and Twitter pages at http://bit.ly/INDOTsocial.

Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 4:00 pm, the Indiana State Police responded to a three vehicle crash on I-65 southbound near the 38 mile marker in Jackson County that resulted in six people being treated for injuries.

The initial investigation by Trooper Matt Holley indicated that a 2015 Kia Forte being driven Ernest J. Pagels, Jr., age 53, Waukesha, WI, was traveling southbound on I-65 near the 38 mile marker when, for an unknown reason, Pagels’ vehicle suddenly slowed.

A southbound 2012 Dodge van, being driven by April K. Bickel, age 41, Elwood, IN swerved to avoid striking Pagels’ vehicle. Bickel’s vehicle was then struck in the rear by a 2004 Mercury passenger car being driven by Jeffery L. Ireland, age 59, Concord, NC.

As a result of the collision, Ireland was treated for minor injuries.

Bickel was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of her injuries.

The extent of her injuries is unknown at this time.

The four children in Bickel’s vehicle all suffered serious injuries.

An 8 year old female, 6 year old female and a 2 year old male were all air lifted to Kosair Children’s Hospital, Louisville, KY for treatment of critical life-threatening injuries.

A 4 year old female in Bickel’s vehicle was transported to Kosair Children’s Hospital by ambulance for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash at this time.

The southbound lanes of I-65 near the 38 mile marker were closed for approximately two hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

The investigation is ongoing.

Trp. Holley was assisted by numerous troopers from the Indiana State Police Versailles and Sellersburg Posts, the Jackson Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Fire Department, and Jackson County EMS.

Salem will be kicking off the holiday season with a winter edition of Salem’s Downtown Alive.

This Old Fashioned Community Christmas will be a gathering on the Salem Square featuring our local businesses on Friday Evening December 2 from 5-8:00PM

The even includes the Salem Square businesses as well as those two blocks off the square. 

WSLM will be there playing Christmas music during the event.

According to Salem Mayor Troy Merry, Downtown Alive is aimed at “encouraging people to shop at local businesses.”

‘We want to showcase their goods and services,” said Merry. 

Luminaries will be given to each business marking participation.

Please call Merry’s Office at 812-883- 4265, to let him know your business intentions of participation by Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Each participating business is encouraged to donate a gift or gift card for the grand prize drawing and encouraged to offer light refreshments.

The drawing will be held Monday, Dec. 5 for the prizes.

Shoppers wanting to participate in the drawing, may pick up a card listing participating businesses the evening of the event. Once the card is signed by businesses, it can be entered into a drawing. 

Heathe L. Barnes, age 23, was arrested Wednesday, November 9th, 2016, by authorities with the Indiana State Police and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

Prior to the arrest of Barnes, authorities with the Indiana State Police and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office had conducted an investigation which resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for Barnes for two level 1 felony counts of child molesting and one level 4 felony count of child molesting.

On Wednesday, November 9th, 2016, Detectives from the Indiana State Police and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office followed up on an anonymous tip received through the Scott County Sheriff’s Office Website regarding the possible location of Barnes. The tip led authorities to 2638 N. Jeffery Street in Scottsburg, Indiana.

Upon investigating, authorities learned that it was likely Barnes was hiding inside of the residence. After learning this, additional officers from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police were called to the scene to assist.

Barnes was located hiding in the attic of the residence and was talked down by authorities without further incident. Barnes was taken into custody and transported to the Scott County Jail.

Sheriff Dan McClain would like to remind and encourage the citizens of Scott County to report any suspicious activity, including drug activity and the suspected locations of individuals with arrest warrants, to the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff McClain reminds the citizens that the Sheriff’s Office maintains several options for reporting criminal activity anonymously including the department’s website, facebook page, and a tip line. The links to these options are listed below.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close State Road 335 in southern Washington County this Thursday (NOVEMBER 11) beginning at 8:30 a.m.   

INDOT maintenance crews from the Salem Unit will replace several drainage pipes—weather permitting—between Dutch Creek Road and Bush Road where the pipes cross under S.R. 335 at a location just north of Martinsburg.  

Three 49-inch X 33-inch pipes measuring 40 feet in length will be installed to satisfy drainage requirements.   

Operations should be completed by Thursday evening.  Motorists are advised to consider U.S. Highway 150, S.R. 135 and S.R. 60 as alternate routes.

Motorists can learn about highway work zones and other traffic alerts at indot.carsprogram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone. For highway information, monitor social media sites: www.Facebook.com/INDOTSoutheast and Twitter @INDOTSoutheast.  Subscribe to receive text and email alerts at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/INDOT/subscriber/new.