Two hikers from Indianapolis were rescued Saturday night after they got lost in the Hoosier National Forest.

It took crews several hours to get Alyssa Broughton and Cynthia Broughton and their two dogs out of the forest because of the rough terrain and both were extremely exhausted.

According to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, officers began their search around 6:17 p.m. after a report of two hikers lost in the northwestern part of the forest.

Dispatcher Mitch Ray took the initial call and was able to get a general location by talking with the women.

County officers Dustin Steward and Adam Nicholson and county reserve officers Kevin Settle and Joe Francis then responded to the area of county roads 1400W and 1000N.

Nicholson was the first to arrive and he turned on the siren on his patrol car to see if the Broughtons could hear it.

Ray, who had remained on the telephone with the two hikers, told Nicholson that the women could hear the sirens.

At that point, Settle walked down into the woods and found the two women. He and other officers then had to help the two climb up a steep hill in the Maumee area to get them and their dogs to safety and back to their car so they could return home.

Pershing Township and Owen Township volunteers help with the search.

Salem Police say a man died after a house fire Friday.

Bradley Wright, 23, 522 Colony Drive was pronounced dead at the scene.

Salem Fire Department, Salem City Police and emergency personnel responded to a 911 call at 11:31a on Friday, Oct. 28.

The 911 call advised that they thought someone was inside.

Firefighters found Wright’s body inside a bedroom were the fire originated. The fire appears tohave started in the bedroom.

An autopsy on Wright’s body was completed at the Washington County Coroner’s Office on Saturday morning those results are pending.

According to Salem Fire Chief Tom Day, the investigation is continuing. Authorities are working to determine what caused the fire. The Indiana State Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate the fire.

 Kent Abernathy, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), reminds Hoosiers that in advance of election day, BMV license branches will extend hours of operation on Monday, Nov. 7 and on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to issue ID cards and driver’s licenses that may be used for identification at a polling place.

All branches will be open on Monday, Nov. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

License branches will only process new, amended or replacement ID cards, and renewed, amended or replacement driver’s licenses and learner permits. New driver’s licenses and learner permits will be processed provided the customer has previously completed all required testing.

The Indiana BMV provides free, state-issued ID cards for voting purposes to any unlicensed Hoosier that is a U.S. citizen as long as he or she can provide proper documentation and will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next General or Municipal Election.

The following documents are required to obtain a new state ID card or driver’s license (a complete list can be found at myBMV.com):

• Proof of Identity document, such as a birth certificate or passport
• Proof of Social Security document, such as a Social Security card, pay stub that contains the full SSN or W-2
• Proof of lawful status, such as a birth certificate or passport
• Proof of residency, two documents such as a voter registration card, utility bill or bank statement

All license branches will resume regular business hours on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

A 48-year-old Ripley County man was shot by a member of the Indiana State Police yesterday during a standoff.

Yesterday, at approximately 5:00 pm, officers with the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, and Indiana Excise Police responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence located at 4756 North County Road 850 West, Holton, Indiana. 
 
When the initial officers arrived on scene, the homeowner, Timmy Wayne Bowman, age 48, barricaded himself in the residence with a firearm. 

At one point, Bowman exited the residence and fired at least one shot at the officers who were positioned outside. 

A four year veteran of the Indiana State Police returned fire, striking Bowman.  Bowman then retreated back inside the residence.
 
The Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team and Crisis Negotiators responded to the scene and attempted to negotiate with Bowman. 

At approximately 10:00 pm, Bowman surrendered to members of the Emergency Response Team without further incident. 
 
Officers immediately administered first aid to Bowman.  He was then treated on scene by paramedics before being flown to the University of Cincinnati Trauma Center. 

His condition is unknown at this time.  At the conclusion of the investigation, this case will be turned over to the Ripley County Prosecutor’s Office for review for possible charges.
 
The investigation is ongoing.  Nothing further will be released at this time.