In celebration of Indiana’s bicentennial anniversary and the recent celebration of our County’s bicentennial, the Washington County Historical Society is proud to announce, the upcoming release of a commemorative 12 coin collection, celebrating the history of Washington County, Indiana.

Each coin in the set will honor people, places, events or institutions specifically commemorating our territorial County’s historic past. These finely crafted coins would be a beautiful  addition to any coin collection, a wonderful gift for local history buffs and are a beneficial investment towards safeguarding the preservation of our county’s heritage and ancestry.

Proceeds will benefit the John Hay Center.

The first in the series is the 2.5 inch coin of the county courthouse, available now at the Stevens Museum.

Subsequent coins will be; the Lion Statue, Old Settlers’ Days, John Hay / the Hay House, The Depot, the Salem National Guard and several others to follow.

A Jackson County man was listed in stable condition at a Louisville hospital after a Monday night ATV crash.

According to a Department of Resources police report, Jackson County Police report, Justin Donnells, 18, of Vallonia  he was injured in an all-terrain vehicle wreck on County Road 375W near Vallonia.

He was not responsive when the first officers arrived at the scene of the wreck Monday night in Driftwood Township.

Donnells was treated for possible head injuries by emergency personnel with Jackson County Emergency Medical Services before being flown by StatFlight to University of Louisville Hospital.

By the time Donnells was loaded on the helicopter, he was able to answer questions from emergency personnel.

Donnells was injured when the ATV he was driving left a farm lane, entered a wooded area and hit a tree.

Donnells had just purchased the ATV earlier in the day.

This years marks the 24th year that Hoosier Uplands has given scholarships to local graduating high school seniors from Crawford, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Washington counties.

“One $1,300 scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from each of the 11 high schools in the five counties we serve,” says Ginger Knight, Director of Administrative Services/Coordinator of Hoosier Uplands Scholarship Program.

This year 11 scholarships were awarded bringing the total scholarships since 1993 to 198 with a total of $261,150 awarded.

Winning Hoosier Uplands scholarships for 2016 are:

Crawford County

• Crawford County HighSchool – Emily Cox

Lawrence County

• Bedford North Lawrence – Aedan Anderson
• Mitchell High School – Madison McNeely

Martin County

• Loogootee High School – Alexis Willis
• Shoals High School – Britney Cooper

Orange County

• Orleans High School – Olivia Jenkins
• Paoli High School – Mason Deaton
• Springs Valley High School – Tyler White

Washington County

• Eastern High School – Jacob Lewis
• Salem High School – Taylor Alexander
• West Washington High School – Kirsten Davenport

Several people were arrested Sunday on drug charges after a Mitchell police officer police spotted some suspicious activity in the 900 block of Lawrence Street.

Arrested and charged were:

• Shanon N. Hardin, 30, Mitchell, was arrested on a charge of maintaining a common nuisance.
• Christine L. Riggs, 42, Mitchell, on a charge of visiting a common nuisance and an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in Brown County.
• Trent E. Grissom, 37, Orleans, was cited into court on a charge of visiting a common nuisance
• Ethan R. Terrell, 24, 532 F St.,was cited into court on a charge of visiting a common nuisance.

Around 6:30 p.m. the officer noticed a person sitting in a vehicle. When the officer stopped to see what was going on 34-year-old Travis Barlow came out of a home at 916 Lawrence Street.

During a conversation with Barlow, he gave the officer permission to search his home and garage.

During that search police found baggies, marijuana cigarettes, white pills, a grinder and marijuana, a zipper pouch that contained eight syringes, a tie off, spoon and a baggie meth with residue, Suboxone, a scale with meth residue and a weight counter.

Barlow was arrested on charges of dealing meth and marijuana, possession of meth and marijuana, possession of legend drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance.

Orleans Town officials have received several complaints in recent weeks about local property owners who have not cut their grass and weeds as well as numerous unkempt properties around town.

Residents are reminded that lawns and lots in town must be kept mowed, and trash and debris picked up.

Residents are also urged to refrain from blowing grass clippings into the streets and roadways as prohibited by local ordinance. This practice clogs the storm drains and contributes to the town overall flooding problems during periods of heavy rainfall.

The town annually contracts services of Ron Taylor to spray for mosquitoes and is again asking townspeople to assist in those efforts for general health and safety by keeping all yards and lots mowed off, any brush type items removed, and any type of standing water removed.

Old tires should be discarded and rain gutters and downspouts should be checked and cleaned regularly to allow water to flow freely.

The 50th annual Grassy Fork Volunteer Fire Department truck and tractor pull and fish fry in Tampico will begin Thursday night and continue through Saturday.

Thursday night’s schedule includes a pedal tractor pull that begins with registration at 6 p.m., an antique tractor pull (1958 and older) and a garden tractor pull sanctioned by the Southern Indiana Pulling Association.

Friday’s action begins at 7 p.m. with the 11,500-pound farm class (no P-pump allowed) followed by the hot farm tractor class, the 10,000-pound pro stock class and the 11,500-pound farm class (P-pump allowed).

Saturday’s event, which also begins at 7 p.m., features an 11,500-pound farm class (P-pump allowed), a pro-modified four-wheel drive trucks class, a limited pro stock tractors class and an 8,000-pound open diesel truck class.

The Pro Pulling League Champions Tour has sanctioned the hot farm tractor and the 10,000-pound pro stock tractor classes Friday and the pro-modified four-wheel drive trucks and limited pro stock tractor classes Saturday.

Admission and parking are free.

Information: 812-358-2123.

The first annual mud volleyball tournament will be held at the Washington County Farmers Merchants Fair on Thursday, June 23, in the grandstand.

Games will start at 8 p.m. There will be a team meeting at 7:30p.

The cost is $30 per team (minimum of six players, maximum of 10 players). The age divisions are 18 and under and 19 and over. Teams may be co-ed, all male or all female.

Rosters and money may be mailed to: Washington Co. Fair Board Office, c/oMud Volleyball Tournament, P.O. Box 86, Salem, Indiana 47167

*Rosters MUST include each player’s name, age, and team name

*Checks may be made out to Washington Co. Farmers-Merchants Fair

For information, email wcmudvolleyball@gmail.com or call 812-675-1157.

Detectives with the Indiana State Police continue to ask for the public’s assistance with an investigation into the death and recovery of two bodies found last month in the Ohio River.

On May 11, 2016, the body of 30 year old Sarah Lindsay Ipock was found in the Ohio River along theIndiana shore just west of Troy in Perry County. A mere six hours later, a second body was found further west, along the Kentucky shoreline near Owensboro, KY. Autopsies conducted on both Ipock and the unidentified male concluded that both bodies were murdered.

Detectives have learned that Ipock was last seen on May 4, 2016, at the Dairy Queen along Veterans Parkway in Clarksville, Indiana.

Tips and information have been called into the Indiana State Police, as well as with Kentucky law enforcement officials; however, we are asking for more. Investigators are asking for any information about Ipock, not only related to this case, but simply related to her. Having information regarding who she associated with, places she frequented, or activities she participated in might be enough to lead detectives to not only find her killer, but possibly help in naming the still unidentified male as well.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jasper Post of the Indiana State Police by calling 1-812-482-1441.