****Q-100 News***

An employee cleaning the floor of  the Walewboro NTN Plant in Columbus suffered serious burns this morning after slipping into a vat of hot oil.  The employee was cleaning the plant floor with a squeegee and slipped into the vat. Officials say the oil was between 580 and 660 degrees.  The injured employee was airlifted to a hospital for treatment. 

Monday, January 25th, 2010

A Medora home was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning, According to Fire Department reports, Jackson County fire crews responded to a blaze at a modular home at 855 South County Road 740 West in Medora at 3:27 a.m. Sunday. Upon arrival firefighters found the home fully engulfed. The homeowner 37 year old Sabah Kashkoul was able to escape from the home and call 911 from a nearby residence. Owen and Carr volunteer fire departments battled the blaze that totaled the home, an estimated $60,000 worth of damage. The State Fire arshal was called to the scene to help determine a cause of the blaze.

A crash on Interstate 65 claimed the lives of 2 people Sunday. Police say a semi tractor trailer struck a passenger van carrying 18 people. 16 people were taken to area hospitals. The crash occurred near the Edinburgh exit on I-65.

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

State and Local Police arrested two people on drug related charges yesterday afternoon. The arrests were just after 12 noon Thursday at a mobile home located at 3015 W US Highway 150 west of Paoli. State Police were called in following a request by child protective services. 32 year old Timothy Patton Junior and 28 year old Sarah Bryant were booked into the Orange County Jail and preliminarily charged with manufacturing methamphetamine. A 2 year old child and 9 year old child were both removed from the home and placed in the custody of child protective services. The incident is still under investigation.

State Police will be consolidating two Southern Indiana Police Posts. The Seymour Post will be consolidated into the Versailles Post. The Versailles Post serves, Dearborn, Decatur, Jefferson, Ohio Ripley and Switzerland Counties. After the consolidation, troopers will patrol Bartholomew, Jackson and Jennings County, previously patrolled by Seymour.

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Then Orange Superior Court has ruled against the Town of Paoli in a lawsuit filed by James L Qualkenbush. According to an article in this weeks Paoli News Republican newspaper, the court decided on December 23rd, that Paoli owed Qualkenbush $15,221.00 for lost rent. Qualkenbush filed the suit against the Town of Paoli, after the Paoli cou8ncil adopted an ordinance on September  4th of 2007 that limited how many mobile homes could be placed on lot. The ordinance trestricted the limit to one manufactured home per 10,000 square feet. On September 18th, 2007 the ordinance was amended to one manufactured home per 7500 square feet. At the time, Qualkenbush already had manufactured homes in place and had paid for utility taps. Paoli reportedly refused to place the taps and had offered to refund the money. The court determined that withholding the taps was improper.

Last Friday the DLGF, Department of Local Government Finance, certified Orange Countys 2010 budget and tax rates, which could lead the way for Orange County property Taxes to be on time for the first time in 3 years. If all goes well, Orange County Spring installments of property taxes may be back to the May 10th due date this spring.

Wednesday was the first day that primary candidates could begin filing their declarations of candidacy to run in the May 4th primary election. Candidates may file now until February 19th at 12PM. For more information contact the Orange County Clerks Office.

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Early this morning, police in Jasper were alerted to Jasper Rubber just after 2am where subjects had been seen entering vehicles. When officers arrived, four males fled on foot. A search of the area resulted in all four taken into custody. 18 year old Austin Schepers of Paoli, 18 year old Kyler Siscoe of Dubois were charged with unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, four counts of theft, mischief, trespass and resisting law enforcement. Two juveniles were interviewed and released to their parents.

A staff member from Congressman Baron Hill's office will be available to address concerns about issues regarding Southern Indiana and direct constituents to caseworkers for help with federal agencies.  It will take place on Thursday, January 21st from  4:30pm to 6pm EST at the Orleans Town Hall on Price Avenue. 

A family of seven lost their home due to a fire Monday afternoon in Haysville. The wood frame two story house on West Haysville road belonged to Aaron and Tiffany Seitz and their five children age five and younger. The fire was discovered just after 2:30pm in a bedroom of the home by Tiffany. The State Fire Marshall’s office ruled the fire as accidental and electrical. Haysville Volunteer Firefighters fought the blaze assisted by the Dubois Fire Department.  

Tuesday, January 19th, 2009

Just after 2am Monday morning, the Owen Township Volunteer Fire Dept in Jackson County along with assistance from Lawrence County' Pleasant Run, Guthrie and Shawswick Volunteer Fire Departments responded to a fire at the vacant building formerly known as "The Pit Stop". located across the Lawrence and Jackson County Line.  Firefighters were called back to put out a rekindle around 10:12am Monday.  The Lawrence Co. Sheriff's Dept is investigating more than a dozen arson fires in vacant buildings recently in Eastern Lawrence County.  A $5,000 reward is being offered for information.  Call 275-3316 

Springs Valley High School will host a financial aid workshop for students needing help with the Federal Student Financial Aid Forms.  The workshop will be this evening at the High School at 6pm. 

Two students broke into the Elletsville High School and caused widespread vandalism  Sunday night. The two were recognized on security video by the principal of Edgewood High. The pair threw awards and basketball goals into the school’s swimming pool and covered the main gym with sports equipment, paper towels and bath tissue. A vending machine was destroyed and electronic devices were stolen. The two were arrested on charges of burglary and criminal trespass. The teens did not comment when police ask why they broke into the school.

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Two Amish brothers from Washington County were killed when the horse-drawn buggy they were riding in was struck by an SUV Saturday morning. According to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. 19 year old Noah Wengerd IV, and 7 year old Menno Wengerd, 7 were riding in a Amish buggy, when it was struck by a Ford Explorer driven by 31 year old Jetta Mull of Salem. Both vehicles were westbound on on State Road 160, 12 miles east of Salem. Both Noah and Menno died at the scene. The crash which occurred Saturday at 9AM and is still under investigation by the Washington County Sheriffs Department.

The Lawrence County Guthrie Township and Shawswick Township VFD's along with assistance from the Carr Township VFD in Jackson County responded to the report of a fire at 7:41PM at the old Fort Ritner store and post office. Fire fighters said Taffy Brown and her son had been living in the old Fort Ritner store, but were not at home at the time of the fire. The second floor was engulfed in flames when fire fighters arrived.

The 2 men who were arrested last year of charges relating to dog fighting are scheduled for court appearances Tuesday in the Orange Superior Court. 72 year old Eli Taylor of Louisville and 40 year old Brian Denny of French Lick were arrested following investigations by the Indiana Gaming Commission. Denny is scheduled for a pre trial conference at 9AM Tuesday. No trial date has yet been set. Taylor is also scheduled to appear in the Orange Superior Court, for the consideration of the disposition of 22 dogs that have not already been released to the State, that belonged to Taylor. The trial date for Taylor has been scheduled for April 7th. A totla of 109 dogs were confiscated in August from property owned by Denny in French Lick, and property owned by Taylor east of Paoli near Rego.

Friday, January 15th, 2010

The Paoli VFD along with the French Lick and West Baden VFD's responded to a fire at Kemples Quik Lube on North Gospel Street in Paoli. Firefighters were called to the fire at 11:22PM last night, and were out about 3 hours. The Indiana State Fire Marshal was called to the scene to determine the exact cause of the fire. A story on the Times Mail news website, said that Paoli VFD firefighter Steve Hankins had a medical problem and was taken to BHOC then transferred to Bloomington Hospital. He was listed in stable condition this morning.Firefighters believe the fire started in a storage area near the buildings furnace.

A former substitute teacher is accused of inappropriately touching a femal high school student. 21 year old Vincent Joseph Gucciardo the 3rd of Columbus was arrested Thursday and has been charged with child seduction. Gucciardo was a substitute teacher for Brown County Schools when the allegation surfaced against him.

The Orange County Benefit sing will be held tomorrow beginning at 3PM at SV High School auditorium in French Lick. The concert proceeds will benefit the McKim family of Orleans. The family suffered a recent house fire that claimed the life of 37 year old April McKim. Glenn McKim has been disabled since 2004. They have 2 children ages 14 and 9. At the sing there will be many Gospel artists performing and everyone is invited. 

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Indiana State Police's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division discovered two violations during an inspection of the semi truck, trailer and the cargo of the rig involved in the fatal crash that happened around 7:20PM Monday night on State Road 37 north of Orleans. The Motor Carriers inspection report indicated that the total chain weight capacity was about 1,9000 pounds short of the working load limit for the steel coil. The second violation was reported as a broken anchor point where the chains attached to the trailer. The driver of the semi truck and trailer - 33 year old Israel Rankin was not cited, however the violations on the inspection is expected to prompt a federal compliance review of the leasing company, which is Kendall Transportation LLC of Paoli. Rankin owns the truck and trailer but leases the truck to Sonnys Truck Sales owned by Sonny Kendal of Paoli. Because of the state budget shortfall, the number of Indiana Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers that patrol the highways was cut from 83 to 41 at the beginning of this year.

A staffer from Congressman Baron Hills office to visit Orange County Thursday January 21st.  The staffer will be at Orleans Town Hall on Thursday January 21, from 4:30PM-6PM.

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Police report a chain that was used to secure the heavy steel coil to the trailer broke and caused the Monday night crash that killed three people and injured an 11 year old girl. 33 year old Israel Rankin of Paoli was driving the tractor trailer loaded with 43,960 pound steel coil. The chain broke, allowing the steel coil to slide off the trailer striking two vehicles, an S-10 Chevy pickup and a Chevy Aveo following behind the S-10. The accident occurred on a curve about a mile north of Orleans around 7:30pm Monday evening. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Rankin was initially cited following the accident, then the ticket was rescinded or withdrawn by the Indiana State Police. According to the Courier Journal, the deaths Monday night marked the second fatal crash in less than two years for the Paoli based Kendall Transportation. State Police Sergeant Tyler Utterback stated that a Kendall Transportation driver was killed in May of 2008 when his truck ran off the road and overturned on I-65 in Hardin County, Kentucky. The trucking company has referred calls concerning the Monday crash to it’s insurance carrier. The only survivor in the S-10, 11 year old Mackenzie Taylor, was flown by helicopter following the accident to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville and was listed in fair condition Tuesday evening. Funeral Services for 41 year old Michael Daugherty of Mitchell will be held at 11am Friday at McAdams Mortuary in Paoli. Friends may visit from 3 to 8pm. Services for 22 year old Zachery Staggs of Bedford and 21 year old Shannon Steele Jasper are pending at the Ferguson Lee Funeral Home in Bedford.

 Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the water related death of 38 year old Donald C. Venters, of Loogootee. According to the investigation, Mr. Venters and his father were logging off of Haw Creek Road, along the east fork of White River, in Martin County during the mid-afternoon, this past Tuesday. The victim was operating a log skidder which is a tractor type vehicle with a caged cab used for loading timber. For reasons not clear at this time, the skidder entered the river on it’s side trapping Mr. Venters inside the cab. Hearing Mr. Venter’s cries for help, Mr. Venter’s father, who was working nearby, jumped into the river and climbed onto the cab and attempted to get the cab door open but was not able to do so due to a broken latch. He then got back to shore and drove to a nearby residence for help where 911 was called. The Martin County Sheriff’s Department, the Haysville Volunteer Fire Department, the Martin County Civil Defense, and Indiana Conservation Officers arrived at the scene. A Haysville diver and ICO diver extricated the victim from the cab. Mr. Venter had been under water approximately 40 minutes. The victim was transported to Jasper Memorial Hospital by the Martin County EMS. Mr. Venter was pronounced dead at 9 PM, EST. The accident is still under investigation. An autopsy is scheduled today in Loogootee.

A Dubois County woman and her grandson were believed to have died instantly as a result of a van accident Tuesday. Pike county Sheriff Deputies were called to CR 1000E on Hwy 64 near the Dubois-Pike County Line. A 2001 Dodge Caravan had apparently became airborne striking an embankment. 48 year old Theresa Christmas and 7 year old Timothy Christmas were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were wearing seat belts. The 7 year old was also in a booster seat in the front seat. Theresa was traveling to Vincennes to visit a sister. The accident is under investigation.

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Police have identified the three victims killed in Monday evening’s car wreck on Highway 37 north of Orleans. Police say that a semi tractor trailor carrying a 42,000 pound metal coil was traveling on State Road 37 at around 7:20PM, just south of the Lawrence and Orange County line, when the metal coil became unattached and struck a northbound pickup truck, killing two people. The metal coil then continued to slide across the highway, eventually striking a small car traveling behind the pickup killing that driver. 22-year-old Zachary Staggs of Bedford, 21-year-old Shannon Steele of Jasper and 41-year-old Michael Daugherty of Mitchell were killed in the wreck. 11-year-old Mackenzie Taylor, a front-seat passenger in the Staggs vehicle reportedly suffered serious injuries and was flew by chopper to a Louisville Hospital.

Last Sunday morning, State Police Trooper Steve Sexton conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at SE 2d St and US 50 in Loogootee. Two female occupants in the vehicle became verbally abusive and the officer called for assistance. State Trooper Jarrod Lents responded and removed Shonna Greenwell from the Vehicle. Greenwell was intoxicated and became verbally abusive when the officer attempted to hand cuff her. Another female in the vehicle, 32 year old Melinda Burris of Loogootee and the driver of the vehicle, 55 year old Garth Greenwell of Shoals were also arrested and lodged in the Martin County Jail. .

 A new study by the Indiana fiscal Policy Institute, shows that urban counties get back fewer tax dollars from the state than they generate, while rural counties reap the benefits. In an article in the Indianapolis Star this morning, a study of the state's 92 counties, the 46 considered "metropolitan" paid 82.5 percent of taxes, while getting back 76.7 percent of revenue. The top 10 donors counties, the study found, were Vanderburgh, Hendricks, Hamilton, Bartholomew, Monroe, Dubois, Marion, Steuben, Clark and Kosciusko. The top 10 recipients, getting back more dollars than they paid in, are Cass, Sullivan, Parke, Miami, Clay, Union,  Crawford, , Perry, Jennings and Jefferson.  Legislators from rural districts frequently complain in the General Assembly, that the urban counties, and Marion in particular, get all the attention. That resentment was particularly strong as the state put together a funding package for the Lucas Oil Stadium and Convention Center in Indianapolis. But John Ketzenberger, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, said the report is evidence that lawmakers should consider before making such complaints.

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Opposition to a wood burning power plant in Crawford County has gained a new supporter. Forrest Lucas owner of Lucas Oil Co. is backing a citizens group Concerned Citizens of Crawford County in southern Indiana that is fighting plans for a wood-burning power plant. The developers have projected burning 300,000 tons of wood chips and lumber a year to generate electricity they would sell to a utility. Lucas' daughter's family lives near the site and calls the project a waste of money through government grants and tax incentives. Lucas has hired lawyers to help the in their opposition to the proposed plant near Milltown to be operated by Liberty Green.

The head lawyer for former State Trooper David Camm is stepping down from the case, citing family obligations and increasing demands at her law practice. Katherine Liell became the primary defense attorney for Camm after he was first convicted of killing his wife and two children in 2002. She successfully appealed that conviction in 2004. Camm was later convicted in 2006, but the Indiana Supreme Court overturned that verdicty last June. Attorney Stacy Uliana will be joined by Richard Kammen of Indianapolis as members of his defense team.

Friday, January 8th, 2009

Indiana State Police Road Conditions:Snowy road conditions within the Jasper District of the Indiana State Police, including the following counties.   Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry and Spencer Counties, are as follows:

- I-64 driving lane is mostly clear with the passing lane snow covered and slick.
- State and U.S. highways are snow covered.
- Secondary roads (county roads) are snow covered.

 a few property damage crashes and slide-offs have occurred  throughout the district and there may be lane restrictions at various

A Semi driver was killed yesterday morning on I-65 near Columbus.  58-year-old Terry L. Ingle of Greentown was delivering freight north from Louisville, KY to Plainfield when, for an unknown reasons, the semi left the slick and snow covered roadway, crossed a median and left the roadway and crashed into a large brush pile. 

This coming year's Indiana State Fair is for the pigs.  The fair will feature Indiana's most important agriculture products.  The state's pork producers are experencing a perfect storm of economic factors and hope the campaign will be as beneficial as last year's "Year of Tomatoes" was for tomato producers. 

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Since earlier this morning, Bloomington Troopers were kept busy with slide-offs and crashes throughout the District.  All available Bloomington District troopers were assigned to work and assist area agencies with those traffic details. By 4:30 p.m. today, troopers worked 29 traffic/weather calls in the district, with no calls involving personal injury.  Troopers cited the main reason for the slide-offs and crashes today was speed too fast for the slick roadways.

Wednesday, January 6th, 2009

... Winter Storm Warning in effect from 4 am to 7 PM EST Thursday...   The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a Winter Storm Warning for significant snow... which is in effect from 4 am to 7 PM EST Thursday.     Snow will likely begin during the pre-dawn hours Thursday west of Interstate 65     Snow will end or taper off to flurries by mid to late afternoon. Additional light snow may linger through the evening hours across southern Indiana.
* Main impact: total snowfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches are likely across and southern Indiana. With temperatures remaining well below freezing... this snow will readily stick.
Expect deteriorating Road conditions and difficult travel Thursday morning.
Very cold Arctic air will arrive by early  evening Thursday. Northwest winds up to 15 mph will bring  blowing and drifting snow that may reduce visibilities. Wind
chill readings will likely fall to between 0 and 10 above  during the evening hours.

Cancellations due to the Winter Storm Warning:
--No Services at the Little Mission Church on Oak Grove Road in Paoli
--Paoli Inc. in Orleans will be on a two hour delay Thursday morning

Average retail gas prices in Indiana have risen nine cents per gallon in the past week.  The statewide average is now at $2.69 per gallon unleaded regular.  Triple "A" Motor club says several factors are to blame"  crude oil cost have risen, a cold snap also raised prices for heating oil.  Prices are about 85 cents higher then a year ago. 

Tuesday, January 5th, 2009

A Orlean’s mother of two died in a house fire last night. At around 2:15AM, fire fighters located the body of 37-year-old April McKim . The woman's two children, ages 8 and 13, escaped the fire and went to a neighbor's house to seek help. The Orange County Sheriff Department says fire crews were called to the scene of the rural fire at around 12:21am Tuesday morning, fighting the fire for more than an hour. One fireman was treated at the Bloomington Hospital of Orange County after receiving injuries while fighting the blaze. The state fire marshall's office has labeled the cause of the fire as undetermined, due to the severity of the damage. The building, which was a complete loss, ignited again later in the morning. The home was then allowed to burn itself out to prevent any further injuries among fire officials.

An 18 year old Marengo girl was injured in a one crash last night just after 9:30.  State Police say Michelle Johnson was driving a 98 Dodge north on 237, ran off the roadway and over an embankment, then hitting a tree.  Johnson was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital with possible neck and chest injuries.  State Police say she was not wearing a seat belt.  Her condition is listed as stable.   

Master State Trooper David Henderson of Orleans has been promoted to "Detective".  David is a native of Orleans, a 1989 graduate of the Orleans High School with an Associate degree in Law enforcement from Vincennes University.  He graduated from the State Police academy in 1993.  Henderson has worked in the Problem Oriented Policing squad, as a crime scene investigator, and a defensive tactics instructor.  The Trooper and his wife, Heather, reside in Orleans with their two children.