Road closure planned for State Road 57 in Gibson County

GIBSON COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure for State Road 57 in Gibson County.

Beginning on or around Tuesday, August 13, crews will close State Road 57 in Gibson County near Buckskin. This closure will occur between County Road 900 S and County Road 950 S.

This closure will allow crews to perform a culvert replacement project. Work is expected to take two days to complete, depending on the weather.

The detour for this project is State Road 168 to I-69 to State Road 68. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

Clancy returns from triumphant London tour

Local actor and playwright John Clancy is back home after premiering and performing in his latest play Just Like Hollywood at The Etcetera Theater in London.

Critics wrote 

"...a deeply affecting play...hard-hitting uncompromising drama."

and 

"The actors are totally committed to their roles and give riveting performances, they demand our attention."

Just Like Hollywood, directed by Melanie Stewart and featuring Kylie Westerbeck and Clancy, explores and explodes the institutional subjugation of women in today's world.

Future plans for the production include the Under the Radar festival in New York City this coming January, the Montreal Fringe Festival in June 2025 and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2025.

City Officials Issue Reminder On No Concrete Blocks In Trash Toters

City officials want you to know that putting concrete blocks, rocks, or stones in your Republic Services trash toter is prohibited. At Monday’s City Council meeting, City Clerk Ryan Turner said Republic had contacted him saying some residents have been placing stones and concretes into the toters. The weight of those are too much for Republic’s trucks to lift. Also, Turner reminded residents that the dumpsters at the city park and pool are for city use only and are not open to the general public.

Bleyer Explains Early Start To School Year

Tomorrow is the first day of school for students in Wabash District #348 and while many may think August 9th is early to start back to school, Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer says there’s a simple explanation in how the first day was determined….

CHUCK BLEYER STARTING EARLY 24

Bleyer said all Illinois schools are mandated this year to be closed on election day, November 5th…adding an extra day students won’t be in school. As far as having the first day on a Friday, Bleyer said…

CHUCK BLEYER 1ST DAY FRIDAY

And in case you’re wondering, the last day of school is set for May 16th.

Oakland City Man Killed In Officer Involved Shooting In Southern Illinois

GOLCONDA – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 7 was requested by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to investigate an officer involved shooting.

 On August 6, 2024, at approximately 9:26 p.m., deputies with the USMS and an officer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources were attempting to serve an arrest warrant issued from Indiana on 40-year-old Floyd D. Caudill of Oakland City, Indiana. Caudill was tracked to the Lake Glendale Campground in Golconda.  The officers made verbal contact with Caudill, but Caudill refused to exit his tent. A shot was fired from within the tent and a deputy marshal returned fire.  Caudill was subsequently located deceased in the tent.

 ISP is leading the open and ongoing investigation. An autopsy is pending. No additional information will be released at this time.

Council Ready To Formally Place Pool Referendum On Ballot

The Mt. Carmel City Council will meet in special session at noon Friday to approve an ordinance that would officially place a referendum before city voters on the November 5th ballot. At Monday’s city council meeting, City Clerk Ryan Turner explained what the referendum will look like….

RYAN TURNER ON REFERENDUM

Turner said if the referendum fails in November, the push for a new aquatics center would be dead and money set aside for the new pool from video gaming proceeds would be returned to the city’s general fund.

On the topic of the city pool, Turner said the state’s department of public health will be in town in the next couple of weeks to inspect the pool and determine whether it will be allowed to open in 2025.

Currently, the last day of the 2024 season is September 3rd with the shelter buddies dog swim.

WSJD File Photo

Indiana Troopers Investigate Fatal Crash Near Eckerty

Crawford County – Monday afternoon, August 5th, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Indiana State Police and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Road 37 just north of Bethany Church Road.

Preliminary investigation indicated Camiren J. Etienne, 20, of Tell City, was driving a 2003 Buick passenger car southbound on State Road 37 and Brian A. Humphrey, 50, of French Lick, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet SUV northbound on State Road 37. For an unknown reason, Humphrey crossed the center line of State Road 37 and hit Etienne head-on. Etienne died on the scene from his injuries. Humphrey was transported by helicopter to the University of Louisville Hospital.

This is an ongoing investigation and family members have been notified.

Investigating Officer: Master Trooper Darryl Terrell , Indiana State Police

Assisting Officers: Captain Rob Priest, Sergeant Robert Lambert, Sergeant George Wooten, Master Trooper Tim Weisenberger, Master Trooper Daniel Smith, Detective Josh Greer, Trooper Andrew Watson, and Trooper Austin Collins

Assisting Agencies: Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Crawford County Coroner, English Fire Department Crawford County EMS, and Air Evac (Louisville)

Welfare check nets impaired driver

On August 7, 2024, at 2:06 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Bates pulled into the Huck’s parking lot located at 78 East State Road 168 near Fort Branch and observed a female slumped over the front seat of a Silver 2006 Chevrolet Impala.  At that point Deputy Bates knocked on the window of the vehicle to conduct a welfare check.  Upon waking the female up Deputy Bates identified the driver as 29 year old Melanie O’Brien of Cynthiana.  While speaking with Ms. O’Brien Deputy Bates detected multiple clues that she was under the influence of an unknown intoxicant.  At that point Deputy Bates began a roadside OWI investigation.  Upon completing the investigation Ms. O’Brien was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where she was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated. 

Deputy Bates was assisted in his investigation by Sgt. John Fischer and Fort Branch Officer Louis Jerrell.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

I-69 connection becomes reality between Evansville and Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Vice President Mike Pence and Governor Mitch Daniels Tuesday joined INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith to celebrate the opening of the Interstate 69 corridor connecting Evansville to Indianapolis.

“This historic milestone, completed three years ahead of schedule, is the culmination of decades-long conversations, planning efforts and progress,” said Gov. Holcomb. “The opening of the I-69 Finish Line corridor completes not only a direct connection between Evansville and Indianapolis, but also to and through Kentucky and Michigan all the way ultimately to our important Canadian and Mexican supply chain trade markets.”

Construction on the Finish Line project, the final segment of I-69, began in 2019 in Martinsville. Since then, the $2 billion project has upgraded more than 26 miles of State Road 37 to interstate standards, constructed ten new interchanges and built more than 35 lane-miles of local access roads through Morgan, Johnson and Marion Counties.

The new interchange at I-69 and I-465 consists of two flyover ramps just west of the existing SR 37/Harding St. interchange. South of I-465, the newly constructed I-69 diverts from the current path of SR 37 north of Edgewood Ave. From the interchange, I-69 will run concurrently with I-465 to the I-69 interchange on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

“The transformation that has occurred along the I-69 Finish Line corridor over the past four-to-five years has been amazing to witness,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “I cannot overstate the gratitude I have for the thousands of men and women in our industry who have worked countless hours to bring the nation’s newest interstate to fruition.”

The I-69 southbound ramps to and from I-465 eastbound and westbound were scheduled to open to traffic last evening (Aug. 6), followed by I-69 northbound ramps to and from I-465 eastbound and westbound on or after Friday, Aug. 9. Click here to learn more about the new system interchange.

The area near I-465 will remain an active construction zone after the interchange opens to traffic. Drivers can expect temporary lane closures and reduced speed limits as crews complete bridge and pavement work prior to moving I-465 into its permanent configuration later this year. This includes construction at the existing Harding St. interchange. More information is available here.

Most remaining work will take place on I-465 between I-65 and I-70 on the southwest side of Indianapolis through the remainder of 2024. Once complete, an additional lane will be available for travel in both directions. 

I-69 Finish Line is the sixth and final section of the I-69 connection between Evansville and Indianapolis, beginning in Martinsville and ending at I-465. With the opening of the interchange, I-69 runs continuously from the Canadian border at Port Huron, Mich. to Evansville, Ind. Lean more about the project at I69FinishLine.com.

Motorcycle Crash Results In DUI Arrest Of Mt. Carmel Man

On 7/30/24, Mt. Carmel Police arrested Andrew W. Piller, age 52, of Mt. Carmel for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Leaving the Scene of a Vehicle Damage Accident following a motorcycle vs. curb traffic crash.  Upon arrival to the reported vehicle collision in the 100 block of N Market Street officers located a black Honda motorcycle laying on its side in a nearby yard.  No driver was located but officers were able to locate the owner by license plate, Piller, at his residence in the 700 block of N Walnut Street.  Officers found evidence to indicate Piller was the driver and that Piller had been picked up by another vehicle following the motorcycle crash.  Piller showed significant signs of impairment from alcohol but declined to submit to field sobriety testing.  Piller was placed under arrest and transported to the Wabash County Jail where he was processed for DUI and later released on a notice to appear.