On January 31, 2018, at 4:52 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Ben Kiesel was dispatched to the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office to speak with a female. Upon arriving Deputy Kiesel and officers Dan Goedde and Chelsea Jones of the Princeton Police Department spoke with 56 Juliette Lagneau of Princeton. While speaking with Ms. Lagneau officers believed that she was under the influence of an unknown substance and cautioned her against driving. Ms. Lagneau then got into her car and began to drive away. At that point she was pulled over at the corner of Main and Embree (in front of the jail) and officers began a roadside DUI investigation. At the end of the investigation Ms. Lagneau was transported inside the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated/Controlled Substance. She remains in custody on a $450 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Driver Seriously Injured After Load Shifts and Semi-Tractor Trailer Rolls
Martin County: Wednesday at approximately 4:36 p.m. emergency personnel responded to the Singing Hill area of US 150 , which is just north of Roland, for the report of a semi-tractor trailer on its side blocking the roadway.
Preliminary investigation reveals that the 2016 Peterbilt semi pulling a box trailer loaded with skids of bricks, was traveling south on US 150. The skids of bricks were not secured inside of the trailer. As the semi traveled around the curves on US 150 the load shifted which caused the semi-tractor trailer roll onto its driver's side and come to rest blocking both lanes of the roadway.
The driver, Jeffrey M. Laine, 56, Louisville KY was transported from the scene by IU Health Ambulance Service. He was then airlifted to U of L for treatment of his injuries, which are unknown at this time.
US 150 was closed for four hours while Storks Service Center of Jasper up righted the semi and cleared the debris from the road.
Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is investigating the crash and conducting a post-crash inspection. The investigation is continuing and at the time of the release no charges or citations have been filed.
The semi-tractor is owned by NRW, Inc from Louisville, KY and was being operated by Tom Wantye Trucking LLC, Mt. Washington, KY.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Orange and Martin County Sheriff’s Departments, Lost River Fire, Shoals Fire, Orange County Rural District 1 Fire, IU Health and Martin County Alert 1 Ambulance.
Investigating Officer: Master Trooper David Qualkenbush
Oakland City man arrested on DUI charge
On January 31, 2018, at 10:37 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith stopped a Blue 2004 Yamaha ATV in the 8000 block of State Road 64 for an equipment violation. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of alcohol on the driver 55 year old Greg Lytle of rural Oakland City. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside DUI investigation which resulted in Mr. Lytle being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail. At the Gibson County Jail Mr. Lytle was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (DUI). He has since posted a $450 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Jay Purvis To Retire As WGH CEO At The End Of 2018
Wabash General Hospital CEO Jay Purvis informed WSJD News yesterday of his intentions to retire at the end of this year.
Mr. Purvis was a regional vice president with Alliant Management Service when he came to Wabash General in 2002. Not so coincidentally, 2002 was the last year the local hospital lost money. Since that time, WGH has seen unprecedented growth as a critical access hospital expanding their services to include a new orthopedic facility, oncology services, the return of pediatric services, along with several others.
In addition, under Mr. Purvis’s guidance, Wabash General has expanded its’ offerings into other communities such as Carmi, Fairfield, and Lawrenceville. Also during his tenure, the hospital became Wabash County’s largest employer with 375 employees currently.
In a statement, Mr. Purvis said, "It is with a heavy heart that I leave this position, but I have decided the time has come for me to start my retirement and spend more time with my family and to pursue personal interests. I have been affiliated with Wabash General Hospital for over 20 years, first as a regional administrator with Alliant Management and the last 16 years as President and CEO. I have been blessed to have been given the chance to provide leadership and direction for our hospital. For the services we offer, we are as good as or better than any other provider regardless of size. We have a superior hospital here in Mt. Carmel and good things really are happening everyday at Wabash General. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this journey for the help, support, and opportunity I have had throughout these past years. It has been a remarkable experience and I have enjoyed the time spent working in this community. The hospital is doing well and is positioned to explore our options from a stable high performance platform. I’m sure our ability to make a difference in our service area will continue.”
Mr. Purvis will turn 77 this summer and said the time is right to retire as the hospital just completed its’ best year ever financially. He and his wife Shari will move to North Carolina after his retirement to be close to their family.
Alliant Management has a process in place to find a successor.
State Fire Marshal, Local Partners Seek Help Following Dec. 31 Vincennes Fire
Investigators with the Indiana State Fire Marshal are seeking the public’s help with the investigation of a fire in Vincennes. The Vincennes Fire Department responded to a house fire at 316 Broadway Street in Vincennes, IN in the early morning hours on December 31, 2017. Two occupants were found deceased inside the house.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal, Vincennes Police Department and Vincennes Fire Department are asking anyone with information about the fire to call the Indiana Arson Hotline at 1-800-382-4628. A reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest is being offered.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal oversees the Division of Fire and Building Safety within the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Lawmaker Looks To Block VMT Legislation
An Illinois state lawmaker wants to put an end to a vehicle miles traveled, or VMT, tax before the conversation starts to rev up.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, floated the idea in 2016 of putting a transponder on passenger vehicles to tax per mile as a way to find more revenue for infrastructure, but he abandoned the idea after immense public opposition. Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker recently floated the idea as a policy position.
State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, said it’s not a workable solution and filed a resolution opposing a VMT. She said such a tax will be more punishing for rural drivers.
“A lot of us have to drive many, many miles to our workplace or to drop kids off at school or whatever the case may be,” Bourne said. “It’s very different than city life where they may not be driving many miles at all.”
Americans for Prosperity Director of Federal Policy Mary Kate Hopkins said a VMT tax, like other user fees, might sound like a good idea at first, but it hits the least fortunate the hardest.
“The problem is not a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem, and we’ve got to address out-of-control spending,” Hopkins said.
Others have said a VMT tax could lead to double, if not triple taxation, let alone the privacy concerns that would be raised.
Hopkins also said some in the federal government may be thinking of increasing the federal gas tax by 25 cents as a way to generate more revenue for the country’s infrastructure.
Raising the gas tax is a knee-jerk reaction, she said, and policy makers should instead ensure gas tax revenue goes toward what drivers actually use like roads and bridges, not bike trails. She also said the prevailing wage needs to be addressed for a couple of reasons.
“No. 1, increased costs,” Hopkins said, “and No. 2, it kind of creates these problems where you want to do a project, but you can’t afford the labor and people are willing to do the work for less but because of prevailing wage requirements, they can’t.”
Proponents of the VMT tax or increasing the gas tax say there’s a need because of more fuel efficient and electric cars paying little to no gas tax.
Fort Branch man arrested on DUI charge
On January 28, 2018, at 3:43 p.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of an intoxicated driver on Tara Lane near Fort Branch, Indiana. The caller reported that a man was driving a Dodge pickup through yards in the area, and upon arriving Deputy U.B. Smith opened an investigation into the complaint and began his investigation. During the investigation Deputy Smith located the driver 37 year old Michael Hill of Fort Branch and the Green 1995 Dodge truck that Mr. Hill was driving. At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Smith placed Mr. Hill into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail. At the Gibson County Jail Mr. Hill was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (DUI) and Operating While a Habitual Traffic Violator. He has since posted a $750 bond.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Deputy Loren Barchett and Haubstadt Officer Jeremy Volk.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffic Stop Lands Four in Jail on Drug Related Charges
Daviess County: Last night at approximately 6:50 p.m. Trooper Ross Johnson was conducting traffic enforcement on US 50 near State Road 57. While conducting a traffic stop, with emergency lights activated, an oncoming vehicle failed to move over or yield the right-of-way, to his stationary emergency vehicle. Trooper Johnson quickly ended that traffic stop and stopped this violator just north of the US 50/State Road 57 junction in Washington. Upon talking with the occupants Trooper Johnson suspected that illegal drugs maybe in the vehicle.
Washington Police Officer Case Cummings and his K-9 partner Diesel arrived to assist. Officer Cummings and Diesel conducted a free air sniff around the vehicle and Diesel indicated to the presence of narcotics. A search was then conducted to which, methamphetamine, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and other items commonly associated with illegal drug use were located. All four occupants were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Daviess County Jail.
As a reminder, under Indiana law, when approaching an authorized stationary emergency vehicle that has emergency lights activated, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:
(1) proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four (4) lanes with not less than two (2) lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or
(2) proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed at least ten (10) miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.
Persons arrested for alleged criminal acts are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
EMMA K. SHORE, 20, BICKNELL (Driver)
Possession of methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
Maintaining a common nuisance – Level 6 Felony
Possession of marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
Fail to change lanes for stationary emergency vehicle – Infraction
ALLISSIA D. HEACOCK, 18, VINCENNES
Possession of methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
Visiting a common nuisance – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
KALEB M. SHEREN, 23, VINCENNES
Possession of methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
Visiting a common nuisance – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
Possession of synthetic drug – Class A Misdemeanor
Dealing in Marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor
DAKOTA L. WOOLARD, 23, VINCENNES
Possession of methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
Visiting a common nuisance – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of marijuana – Class B Misdemeanor
Possession of paraphernalia – Class C Misdemeanor
ACTIVITY PROGRAM AWARDS PRESENTED TO WVC STUDENTS
WVC Activity Program Awards are available to high school seniors within the College District #529 region who demonstrate a potential to excel in their area of study. This award helps provide assistance with tuition costs for fall and spring semesters at Wabash Valley College for one year as long as the student remains enrolled full time and fulfills the Activity Program requirements. These scholarships are valued at up to $2,000.
This year’s recipients are pictured, left to right, back row: Dylan Rankin, Jaxon Walston, Elias McVaigh, Drayke Cowling, Raymond Jarvis; front row: Paige Harvey, Ashley McGill, Kaylea Hout.
WVC FOUNDATION HOSTING CRYSTAL BALL FEBRUARY 10
The Wabash Valley College Foundation will host its annual Crystal Ball on Saturday, February 10 in the Eagles Banquet Hall. Social Hour will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by an elegant dinner. Providing an evening of wonderful music for dining and dancing will be The Scott Mason Band.
This annual fundraiser by the Foundation to assist Wabash Valley College offers an evening of elegant dining, beautiful decorations, and great music. While offering the community this opportunity to attend “the social event of the year,” the Foundation has raised over $300,000 with the Crystal Ball to help with WVC projects through the years. The Foundation’s contributions to the capital development of the College include: Purchase of the site for the WVC Campus, Applied Arts Building, Student Center, Bookstore, Physical Plant, Indoor Pool, Tennis Courts, Valley Gardens Dorms, International Building, Parking Lots, Building Improvements, Athletic Fields, Vehicles, Library Security System, Fitness Center, Electronic Marquee, Scholarship Program, Administration/Foundation Building, Amphitheatre, and many ongoing projects.
Tickets are $150 per couple, and single tickets are also available. In order to plan for the dinner and table reservations, tickets should be purchased no later than February 5. Tickets are available from any Foundation Director or from Louise Acree in the Administration/Foundation Building on the WVC campus.
Foundation Directors include: Kate Ackerman, Louise Acree (Secretary), Bob Bethards, Toni Brines, Leann Burton, Rob Coleman, Patsy Dean, Robin Dean, Glenn Decker, Tom Dersch, Jane Evans, Tom Ford, Trudy Fowler, Mike Gill, Tracy Gill, Cassandra Goldman, Bob Hocking (Treasurer), Karin Hodgson (President), Jim Homan, Jo McPherson, Harold Mobley, Bob Mundy, Don Price, Jim Price, Rod Rodriguez (Past President), Rachael Smith, Jackie Summers, Phil Summers, Lyle Weber, and Tommy Young. Alsoserving on the board are: Ex-Officio members WVC President Dr. Matt Fowler, Faculty Representative Brenda Phegley, Arts Council Representative Jerry Bayne. There are 12 Lifetime Associate Directors: Becky Andrews, Bill Hackler, David Hurlbut, Jim Kieffer, Mary Ruth Kieffer, Donna Kline, Steve Lovellette, Janice Raibley, Peggy Seybold, Leta Sue Williams, Elizabeth Wonsetler, Mary Lynn Young.
Photo Caption: Front row, left to right: Karin Hodgson, Jackie Summers, Louise Acree, Leann Burton; Middle row: Toni Brines, Rachael Smith, Patsy Dean, Jane Evans, Cassandra Goldman; Back row: Glenn Decker, Jim Homan, Harold Mobley, Tom Dersch, Mike Gill, WVC President Dr. Matt Fowler, Don Price.
Not pictured: Kate Ackerman, Bob Bethards, Rob Coleman, Robin Dean, Tom Ford, Trudy Fowler, Tracy Gill, Bob Hocking, Jo McPherson, Bob Mundy, Jim Price, Rod Rodriguez, Phil Summers, Lyle Weber, Tommy Young, Faculty Representative Brenda Phegley, Arts Council Jerry Bayne.