A Lawrence County man was killed in a one-vehicle crash early this morning on Interstate 55 in southern Missouri. According to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at about 2:20AM a 1993 Dodge being driven by 76 year old Darrell Jack Bechner of Bedford, ran off the roadway and struck an embankment. The accident happened about 1.5 miles south Kewanee, Mo., which is about 45 miles north of the Arkansas state line. Bechner was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:20 a.m. this morning by New Madrid County Coroner Ralph Barnwell. The accident was investigated by Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Police are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a 14 year old Bloomington girl by a man posing as a modeling agent. The girl told police she was in the Crestmont area Tuesday afternoon when she got into the mans car. He then drove to an area near Vernal Pike and Howard Road and pulled off the road. Police say the man sexually assaulted her in the car as other vehicles drove by. The suspect is described as white, in his 50's abbout 250 pounds, with white hair and a white beard.

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

An Orange County man was killed and severely injured in a 3 vehicle pile up that occurred around 9:49PM last night on Valeene Road in Crawford County. According to the CRawford County Sheriffs Department, police received a 911 call from 39 year old TRonya Eliott of Marengo reporting the crash. 17 year old Gene Simpson Junior of Milltown was driving a 1993 Eagle Vision south on Valeene Road. The Eagle Vision was hit head on by a 1986 Chevy Cavalier Wagon driven by 47 year old Richard Moore of Orange County. Police say the Cavalier Wagon appeared to have been left of center. Following the initial crash, Simpson pulled himself out of the Eagle Vision, prior to the Chevy HHR hitting the Cavalier Wagon which was broadside in the road. The Chevy HHR was driven by Tonya Elliott. Richard Moore was pronounced dead at the scene by the Crawford County Coroner. Simpson was flown by Air-Evac helicopter to U of L Hospital. He was admitted to the intensive care unit with leg fractures and a lacerated spleen. The crash is still under investigation.

Two Mitchell men were arrested in Jackson County on preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit theft. Police say 24 year old Donald Carter and 28 year old Christopher Leatherman both of Mitchell were attempting to steal anhydrous ammonia from Kova Incoprporated alond St Rd 258 in Cortland, about 3 miles west of Seymour. Carter and Leatherman were booked into the Kackson County Jail. The incident is still under investigation. 

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 

A Jasper mother was sentenced to 30 years in prison for allegedly beating her 2-year-old son to death. 23-year-old Vadney Michelle Blake of Cannelburg was ordered to serve 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years on work release by a Dubois County judge Monday fter the woman pleaded guilty to a battery charge. Blake admitted to striking her son, Jalen, who remained in her care after the infant tested positive for methamphetamine, which investigators say lead to the infant’s 2008 death from head trauma. Jalen tested positive for methamphetamine weeks before his death, but a state case worker did not remove the child from his home. Blake's boyfriend killed himself in a Martin County cemetery during a police chase following questioning with Blake about her son's death.

The H1N1 flu virus has been found for the first time in a commercial swine herd. The US Department of Agriculture says the herd is located in Indiana, but both the pigs and their caretaker have fully recovered from the virus. Officials from the USDA says pork is safe to eat from previously infected animals because the H1N1 virus does not reside in muscle tissue.The USDA is not identifying the location or size of the herd. Indiana is the countrys fifth largest producer of pork. The pork industry has taken quite a hit lately due to the fear that pigs spread the H1N1 virus to humans.

Ninth District Republican candidate Todd Young was the featured speaker at the Orange Co. Republican Fall Dinner held last night at the Paoli High School Cafetorium. It was announced that 240 meals had been served at the event attended by Republican committee officials and party members. Young, who seeks the Republican nomination for the seat now held by Democrat Congressman Baron Hill, talked about the pending health care bill, House of Representatives Bill number 3962: . Young comments that “Our focus needs to be bringing down the cost of health care. The best way to do that, while preserving the world’s finest health care delivery system, is to allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines, and to give small businesses and the self-employed the same tax treatment on their health care benefits that employees of large corporations enjoy.”  Todd Young has served as a part-time deputy prosecutor for Orange County.

 The Indiana State Police and the Spencer County Sheriff’s Department are currently investigating the death of a fifteen year old girl from Rockport.  Preliminary investigation reveals that last night at approximately 7:44 p.m. CST the Spencer County Sheriff’s Department responded to a  report of a missing juvenile female.  Deputies and learned that the female was last seen on Sunday night  at around 10:00 p.m.  After talking with family members Deputy Jason Dunsworth began to canvas the immediate area around the residence for any possible clues as to where she might have been or gone. Around  9:30 p.m. the body of the fifteen year old was located behind a shed in the backyard.  The Spencer County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from State Police Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators.  “We are treating this as a death investigation at this time,” said Trooper Detective Rob Gardner.  “We have already begun interviewing friends and family members hoping to get some insight as to what happened.”  The Spencer County Coroner’s Office pronounced the female dead at the scene.  Spencer County Coroner Barry Schulte advised that an autopsy is scheduled for later today in Louisville, KY

The Columbus, Indiana father of a 2-year-old girl who was severely scalded in hot bathwater will serve 2½ years behind bars for placing his daughter in a situation that endangered her health. 26-year-old Carl Holt III had the remaining 7½ year prison term suspended Tuesday during his sentencing hearing. He pleaded guilty in January to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a class B felony.

The Orleans Volunteer Fire department along with members of the Orange County Rural District 2 Volunteer Fire Department responded to a garage and shed fire around 8:51pm last evening.  The structures were located on South 4th St. in Orleans.  The shed was destroyed by the fire.  Firefighters were out about an hour. 

A 60 year old Ohio man fell t his death Monday from his third floor apartment balcony. . Richard McCandless, died from blunt force trauma to the head due to the fall. A toxicology report will be administered. Police received a call from an apartment resident, reporting a man was laying on the ground and not breathing. Mcdandless is from Ohio and lived in the apartment during the week to be closer to his work.

The unemployment rate for Southern Indiana and the Louisville area down from the month before from 10.3 % to 10%. Indiana’s as a whole was 9.6%, down from 9.9%. Officials say the job market is getting better in manufacturing, professional and business services. New Albany may be getting a manufactuer of wind turbines. Windstream Technologies of California is negotiating with the city.

Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman met with business and community leaders Tuesday afternoon to introduce “Radius Indiana” a new economic development organization, which will include Orange, Martin, Washington, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Green, and Lawrence counties.. The meeting was held at the French Lick Resort Casino. During the meeting Skillman said that "radius” is the product of tremendous collaboration by our partners in this eight-county region and represents an opportunity to more closely align south central Indiana's economic development efforts with the state's emphasis on regional economic development." The organization is funded by both private sector money and tax revenues from the French Lick Casino, which have been directed by the Indiana General Assembly to support regional economic development.

The Indiana State Police had the following enforcement activity for September 2009.  The Jasper State Police Post covers Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry, and Spencer Counties.

·        Traffic Arrests (tickets)                                                            1020

·        Warnings                                                                                1704

·        Commercial Motor Vehicle moving arrests                               46

·        DUI Arrests                                                                            29

·        Total Criminal Arrests                                                 170       170

Condé Nast Traveler readers have chosen West Baden Springs Hotel for the magazine’s 22nd Annual Readers Choice Awards. In the November 2009 issue, on newsstands now, the Southern Indiana destination is ranked 15th in the list of large U.S. (Mainland) resorts, an impressive six places higher than its 2008 ranking. With a score of 89.9 (only 2.9 points away from 2nd place), West Baden outranked 55 other well-known resorts when it was evaluated on activities/facilities, food/dining, location, overall design, rooms and service. This year, 25,008 readers voted for more than 10,000 properties and destinations. 

Saving Historic Orange County organization started a public fund this past summer to support preservation of the historic Mineral Springs Hotel on the south side of the Paoli Square. SHOC’s board of directors voted recently to augment the $525 in donations from the public by adding $500. Owners of the Mineral Springs now will have an additional $1,025 to be used to pay contractors for rehabilitation of the building. According to the Times Mail, This is the first time the organization has donated funds to a private building owner; however, the group considers the hotel a key element of the town square and Paoli’s National Register Historic District. “Saving this wonderful, historic building is vital to the future of the Paoli square,” SHOC president Terry Cornwell, said. The building has played a major role in Paoli, from offering the first electric power to the town to bringing tourists here on a daily basis during the era of bus travel when the hotel was a Greyhound Bus stop.”

Former Vice President Dan Quayle visited Bloomington Wednesday to promote the 9th District Challenger Todd Young. Quayle says the 2010 election could represent a GOP Resurgence in Congress. The Huntington Native echoed recent criticism of the Obama Administration, saying the high hopes of January have not translated into concrete accomplishments as the year has worn on. Quayle says he doesn't believe there's majority support in Washington for any of the health care plans currently in discussion, adding job creation is a bigger issue for the nation than reforming health care. Quayle says he's often asked when he'll return to political life, but prefers to keep his job with a New York Capital Management Firm and leave the lawmaking to younger colleagues.

Indiana State Police informed Q-100 News this afternoon that Thomas Hackney, the missing Orleans man has been found.  He was located by his uncle.  He is reported safe and unharmed. 

Friday, October 9th, 2009

A Lawrence County woman who died of a gunshot wound Wednesday evening, was shot multiple times. According to Lawrence County Coroner, John Sherrill, 48 year old Denise Caraway of Bedford was shot multiple times in head, chest and lower abdomen. The wounds were caused by a 22-caliber revolver which was recovered at the scene. Police arrested Caraways husband 47 year old Larry Michael Caraway on a preliminary charge of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting. He remains in the Lawrence County Jail on a $200,000 cash or $150,000 surety bond and is awaiting his first court appearance

Remains found in Rural Monroe County this spring have been identified. The remains of 59 year old Edward Smashey of Bloomington were found in April by a passer by about 100 yards from a Southeastern Monroe County road. Family members say Smashey had not been heard from in several months, but that was not unusual. A forensic pathologist says Smashey likely died of natural cuases and estimated the time of death as mid September of last year.

Thursday, Oct 8th, 2009

Bedford City Police repsonded to the 911 phone call last night reporting a woman was shot at a residence located at 3427 Washington Avenue in Bedford. The incident was reported at 7:23PM last night. Upon arrival police found 48 year old Denise M Caraway dead inside the home from an apparent gunshot wound. The coroner was called to the scene. An autopsy was scheduled for earlier this afternoon to determine the cause of death. 47 year old Larry Michael Caraway, who is the husband of the victim, was taken into police custody. He was charged with voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon. Lary Caraway was booked into the Lawrence County Jail around 10:40PM last night. Denise Caraway was a teacher at the Bedford Headstart, the half day classes that she taught were canceled today.

A teen riding a bicycle was hit by a PU truck in orleans last night. According to the Orleans Police Department, the accident happened around 6:42PM last night at the intersection of Second and Jackson Streets in Orleans. 42 year old William R Finney of French Lick was driving a 1995 Nissan PU truck north on Second Street. Police say13 year old Eric Corpus of Orleans was riding a bicycle east on Jackson Street, when Corpus failed to stop at the intersection and rode his bicycle into the path of Finneys PU truck. Finney was unable to stop and hit Corpus on the bike. Following the accident, Corpus was transported by ambulance to the Bloomington Hospital of Orange County in Paoli. His injuries did not appear to be serious. During their investigation police discovered that the bicycle did not have brakes. Finney was not injured.

The OC Sheriffs Department has released their statistics for the month of September. Last month the sheriffs department served a total of 346 Court Papers, Made 28 arrests, Issued 5 traffic tickets, gave out 34 traffic warnings, conducted 141 public service duties, 632 courtesy checks, investigated 34 traffic accidents, 33 crimes and 15 incidents. Orange County dispatchers answered a total of 6,633 phone calls that includes emergency and non emergency calls

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

State Conservation Officers have recovered the body of 84 year old Robert Osmon of Washington, Indiana. He had been fishing at Dogwood Lake on Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area in Daviess County Monday night. According to the investigation, Osmon had left his residence around 2PM to go fishing at Dogwood Lake. His family had made several attempts to contact him because of a recent illness. Knowing Osmon fished the lake often, the family discovered his boat trailor and pickup at the boat ramp. Osmon's boat was found on the east side of the lake. The body was found floating several yards away shortly after 10PM. Osmon was not wearing a lifejacket. The Daviess County Coroner's Office has ruled the death an accidental drowning

Flu-like illnesses were significantly higher on the IU Bloomington campus during September with 237 cases compared to just two during the same month a year ago, according to the Indiana University Health Center. Indiana Universty Bloomington's Health Center reported 237 cases of influenza-like illnesses during September, up from just two during the same period a year ago. Tips for preventing exposure, future vaccination plans and treatment are available at both state and IU websites.While following recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control that hospitals and clinics not routinely test for H1N1 and instead diagnose and count "influenza-like illnesses," officials at the health center said the increase follows a trend seen across the country. "Twenty-seven states, including Indiana, are now reporting widespread flu activity, which is very unusual for this time of year," said IU Health Center medical director Diana Ebling. "The change (from last year) is definitely significant."

A Well-known Patoka Lake bald eagle died yesterday. Bald Eagle C52, which appeared in Department of Natural Resources shows at the State Fair for the past eight years and with the DNR's Patoka Lake Interpretive Services for the past 20 ½ years, died yesterday while undergoing surgery. "Thousands of people became aware of the life of bald eagles through the program with C52," said Maria Abel-Crecelius, the park's interpretive naturalist in Birdseye. C52 came to Indiana from his nest in Tongass National Forest in Alaska in July 1988. He was a symbol of our country, an ambassador for the species and a celebration of the successful re-introduction of eagles to Indiana. C52's death occurred during the exploratory procedures in Louisville due to one wing not expanding. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife and other agencies have been notified. The remains were sent to the National Eagle Repository in Commerce City, Colo., per federal law

An experienced logger was killed Wednesday when a log fell off a truck and rolled over him. Dubois County Sheriff's officials say 70 year old Norman Keller was preparing to unload some logs at Hoffman Sawmill near Portersville when one of them rolled onto him. No one had witnessed the accident and Keller was found on the ground by other sawmill workers. Keller had worked for the company for 20 years.

State Police officials are asking farmers, hunters and other outdoorsmen to look for out for meth trash and cultivated marijuana as they begin into their fall harvest and hunting seasons. In the fall of the year , marijuana growers would normally begin to harvest their crop Marijuana plants, will most likely be green or just beginning to turn yellow . Farmers, hunters and hikers should also be alert for evidence of methamphetamine operations during fall activities. Police say producers of meth usually throw their their trash along country roads. Meth trash may consist of battery casings, Ziploc-style bags, empty blister packs of cold medicines and containers, such as pop bottles and jars. Anyone who thinks they may have located marijuana plants or "meth trash" is asked to call the Indiana State Police at (812) 246-2509 or (800) 872-6743

There has been some hope expressed of rebuilding the Little Nashville Opry which was destroyed in an arson fire September 19^th. Co- owner and manager Jim bowyer has expressed interest. There is also talk on the streets of Nashville in Brown county of raising funds to assist in rebuilding the theater. Fire investigation have recently labeled the 3 million dollar fire as arson. The Opry was reportedly behind over $60,000 in back taxes.   

A Woman fell asleep at the wheel Thursday  night while driving on State Road 446 and eventually crashed into a gas station in Lawrence County.  The gas station is located at the end State Road 446 and joins Hwy .  48-year-old Christine K. Craig of Norman was traveling on State Road 446 at around 10:00PM last night when she crashed into the Farmer's Market Gas Station. The driver stated she must have fallen asleep and did not remember anything.   Craig was hospitalized for cuts and back pain.  

State Rep.  Sandy Blanton of Orleans announced today that Spring Mill Inn will soon have funding for renovation.  The money will upgrade the public restroom and elevator, ensuring that both are in compliance with Disability standards.  The worn carpet in the Oak Room banquet facility will be replaced as well.  The State Budget Committee approved the funding. 

The 2009 "Pumpkin Festival" kicks off tomorrow (Saturday) in the Valley.  A Poker run at 8am, Scholarship Walk and Prettiest Baby Contest, both at 8:30am.  On Sunday, a celebration of the West Baden Church at noon, horseshoe pitching at 1pm, and Queen Cronation at 6pm.

The Emerald Ash Borer is destroying  trees throughout Indiana. The insects lay their offspring inside ash trees which, once hatched, tunnel throughout,living on the nutrient-rich sap, which results in the tree dying in just a few years.  The beetles have been spotted in six Indiana counties. Anyone who suspects beetles have attacked their ash trees is asked to call the Department of Natural Resources.

The Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco and Firearms will assist the The Indiana Department of Homeland Security  in the investigation a weekend fire in Nashville, Indiana.  The Little Nashville Opry Music Hall in Brown County was deemed a total loss following the fire. A spokesman for Homeland Security, which oversees the State Fire Marshall's office, says the ATF will send about 20 agents to investigate. The ATF was called in due to the circumstances of the fire.   

A meeting will be held on September 30th at 7pm at Agan's market for the people of Prospect.  You must be a property owner in Prospect City limits.  PLease bring your property tax statements.  We will be talking about the future of Prospect.  Bring a lawn chair.  Our future should be decided by the people of Prospect.  Call Mark at 936-2303,

According to the Times Mail, A juvenile referee has decided 17-year-old Bedford resident Casey L. Garrison will be tried on an aggravated battery charge as an adult. The charge stems from the death of Jamison Essick on July 16. Garrison was dating Jamison’s mother, Kaitlin “Erin” Essick. Jamison’s father is Steven Tolbert who lives in Greencastle. According to court documents, the autopsy showed Jamison died as a result of multiple skull fractures consistent with blunt force trauma. . After waiving Garrison to adult court, his bond at $50,000 cash or $37,500 surety and ordered him to the Lawrence County Security until bond is posted.

The first railway trip of the Spirit of Jasper is facing a delay as the train operators deal with federal regulations. The City of Jasper and the Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick, which will operate the train that connects the two cities, are waiting on an inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration. . The administration will inspect safey measures, due to the age of the cars. However, sometimes tourist trains are granted waivers due to the short length of the railroad tracks. They were built before the Federal Railway Administration set the requirements for modern-day trains. .

Heavy equipment was brought in today to help determine the cause of the Little Nashville Opry Fire in Brown county Saturday night. . The structure had a sprinkler system, but it’s not known if it was activated. The owner reportedly has insurance. Brown County Volunteer Fire Department spokesman Mark Imhoff confirmed that Saturday night’s fire was the third blaze the department has responded to since 2002 at properties owned by Esther Hamilton, who with her late husband husband had started the Opry with three other couples in 1975. . According to records in the Brown County Treasurer’s Office, Hamilton owes more than $68,000 in back taxes: $43,000 in property taxes, $14,000 in entertainment and personal property taxes and another $11,000 in taxes for undeveloped land