The Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Fourth Annual Becky Skillman Leadership Institute.

The Bedford Chamber would like to invite you to attend the Becky Skillman Leadership Institute on Friday, July 22nd at the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County.

Registration is at 9 am. Opening remarks begin at 9:30. There will be an amazing lineup of speakers including Retired Brigadier General Jonathan D. George, General Motors Past Plant Manager Lamar Rucker, and former Indiana Lieutenant Governor and current Ivy Tech Community College President Sue Ellspermann.

The Leadership Institute was started to encourage leaders to aim higher, inspire others, and maximize their potential. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County.

For more information about sponsorships and to purchase individual tickets, contact the Bedford Chamber at 812-275- 4493 or email bedford@bedfordchamber.com.

You can provide anonymous tips for the City of Salem Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department by phone and online.

“An anonymous tip line has been set up to allow those with information to aid us in serving the public without direct involvement,” noted Sheriff Roger Newlon.

The number is 812.883.6566.

Tips for both departments can be made on this line, said Newlon.

The City of Salem also has a web portal where tips can be made online —  http://cityofsalemin.com/crime-tip

“The TIP line was initially planned exclusively for drug tips but has been expanded to allow for tips of any nature,” explained Newlon.

Other Tip Lines for Southern Indiana Counties are:

Clark County – 812-280-2276

Crawford County – 812.338.2802

Floyd County – 812-948-FCSD

Harrison County – 812-738-8477(TIPP) or go to http://www.hcsdin.net/index.php/crime/anonymous-tip-information

Jackson County – (812) 358-2141

Jefferson County –  812-265-2648

Lawrence County -812-277-2020

Orange County – (812) 723-2836

Scott County – call 911 or submit information on this website – http://www.scottcountysheriff.org/crime_tip.php

Kentuckiana Crime Stoppers – 502-582-CLUE

A traffic stop for driving with excessive speed ended with an Indiana State Trooper jailing the driver on reckless driving and neglect of a dependent charges.

Arrested and Charged was Lauren E. Marks, 27, Henderson, Kentucky.

Marks faces charges of:
– Operating While Suspended – Habitual Traffic Violator for Life, Level 6 Felony
– Neglect of a Dependent, Level 6 Felony
– Reckless Driving, Class B Misdemeanor

At 9:40 P.M. Friday, Trooper Ross Johnson observed a 2015 Kia Sportage traveling north along Interstate 69, south of the Washington exit.

Johnson activated his speed radar unit and clocked the Kia traveling 95 miles per hour in a posted 70 mile per hour zone.

Johnson stopped the Kia and spoke with Marks.

Further investigation found that Marks was listed by the Indiana BMV as a Habitual Traffic Violator for Life, meaning she is prohibited from driving. Marks also had an eight year old child in the front passenger seat with her.

Marks was placed into custody and transported, without incident, to the Daviess County Jail.

The eight year old was cared for by the Department of Child Services until Marks was released from custody.

Gone are the days or parking on the square on a friday night, getting out of your car and walking around to shop at local businesses, enjoying the fellowship small town life brings.

But City of Salem Mayor Troy Merry is wanting to bring that back to Salem.

Merry is hosting an old fashioned community gathering on the square in Salem on Friday, July 22 from 6-9p.

“I remember as a kid coming up to the square on Friday nights and the businesses were open and people would just park and get out and walk around, talk and visit and do their shopping,” said Merry. “With big changes ahead for Salem, it’s important we support our local businesses and do things like this.”

Merry said free cold watermelon and free waters would be provided for visitors.

Also, he said on WSLM’s Coffee Club Thursday morning that the Short Notice Band would be playing that night.

“We want people to come out and bring a blanket or their lawn chairs and have a great night,” said Merry.

He also said there would be a card that patrons would take around to the local businesses on the square to have punched and upon completing the card, it would be entered into a drawing for a nice prize.

“The key is to bring our small businesses and the community together,” he said. “We used to do that many years ago and it’s time we started doing it again.”

Merry said if the event is successful others would be planned in other seasons of the year.

The Paoli Police Department arrested seven on drug charges, including a 16 year old who was dealing marijuana.

Charges were filed on the following:

There have been several hundred debit card fraud cases reported in the area of Paoli in the last few days, possibly due to someone using a skimming device to hack into accounts.

The Paoli Police Department is currently investigating the situation.

“We would encourage people to try and use cash as much as possible until the source of the fraud is located,” noted the Paoli Police Department Facebook page.

At the Hoosier Hills Credit Union, things looked like a scene from “It’s A Wonderful Life” as customers flooded in to withdraw cash and put a freeze on their debit cards.

“You just stop breathing and think, ‘Now, I got hit again,’” Joanne Pielemeier, a victim of the latest scheme, told a Louisville TV station.

Pielemeier and her husband were the victim of 20 instances of fraudulent use of their debit cards. They feel assaulted and robbed, Pielemeier said, but they aren’t alone in their frustration.

“When we showed up this morning, this parking lot was completely packed and we (were) searching for a spot to park in. It’s been coming and going, and coming and going, and everybody’s here for the same thing,” said Angie Howard, another victim.

While the Hoosier Hills Credit Union appears to be the hardest hit, police said customers at the Springs Valley Credit Union and other Paoli banks have also been hacked.

The problem is so widespread, police posted on the department’s Facebook page that they are encouraging people to try and use cash as much as possible until the culprit is found.

According to victim,  their fraudulent charges were mostly made at Walmart stores in Texas and California.

In many cases, thieves are putting $50 on a gift card or spending $100 on groceries.

Credit union executives said they are trying to work as quickly as they can to shut down debit cards that are affected, but they urge members to take a look at their charges as frequently as possible, and if they see anything suspicious, to immediately call the bank.

Hoosier Hills Credit Union said if they call a member about fraud they will not ask for a card number and will cite specific charges that are suspicious.

Messages to Walmart about the investigation have not been returned.