The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Henderson County Highway plans daytime cleaning and maintenance work on the SOUTHBOUND lanes of the US 41 Twin Bridges on Wednesday & Thursday, August 1 & 2, 2012.

Maintenance crews are planning a daytime lane restriction on the SOUTHBOUND bridge starting at 8:30 a.m., CDT, on Wednesday for cdeck leaning and maintenance work.  Work should be completed and the southbound lane restriction removed by about 3:00 p.m.  The southbound lane restriction will continue on Thursday, if required.

Meanwhile, a contractor plans to continue NIGHTTIME lane restrictions on the SOUTHBOUND bridge from approximately 7:00 p.m., through about 6: 00 a.m., CDT, on Wednesday and possibly Thursday for ongoing deck patching work.  This work is being scheduled at night to reduce traffic disruptions and to avoid heat-related issues with special concrete being used in the patching process.

We will attempt to provide timely updates as this work progresses. 


SOURCE: KYTC

Very sad to news coming to us today from Mesker Park Zoo. Donna the hippo will be euthanized on Wednesday (August 1st) due to debilitating health issues. Here is the announcement posted on the zoo's Facebook page:Fans it is with heavy hearts we have to make this announcement. Tomorrow (Wed.) at the consultation from our vet, we will have to humanely euthanize Donna our hippo. Her quality of life is not where it should be, she is suffering from severe arthritis amongst other debilitating issues. She's the oldest hippo in the world and has led a great life and been apart of this community for a very long time. This is a very, very sad day for all of us that have been around her, grown up with her and love her. Thank you for your thoughts, condolences and understanding. 

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and State Senator Vaneta Baker were among the guests who helped break ground Thursday, July 26, on a $1.8 million expansion at Jacob’s Village.

The project involves the construction of 12 additional handicap-accessible apartments next to the current homes that comprise Jacob’s Village at 7400 Vienna Road. It is being funded with a $1.3 million grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. 
Officials said the construction is a response to the unique housing needs of low and moderate income disabled senior adults. They said the project will make it possible to offer more accessible and affordable housing for older resident as well as people with functional disabilities.

“For the past seven years, we have served adults with functional disabilities by providing homes, daily living assistance, and other supportive services,” said Jacob’s Village President and CEO Cheryl Kuchna. She said the award will allow Jacob’s Village to more than double the number of individuals served. The expansion will also continue to serve western Vanderburgh County along with Posey County.

Jacob’s Village was created in 2004 with the mission to provide a safe, walkable, neighborhood where people with disabilities and older adults can find meaningful relationships.

SOURCE: www.evansvillegov.org 

While most people have been focused on drought issues this summer, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews are still dealing with remnants of the Great Flood of 2011.

Crews across KYTC District 2 have remained busy replacing drainage tiles and repairing erosion damage along area highways.  Engineers were aware that a number of drainage structures such as cross drains and box culverts had filled in with silt during the flooding last year.  However, at several locations the silting was far more severe that expected.

The Union County Highway Maintenance Crew has resorted to using a robot excavator to remove the silt so drainage structures can function properly.  They have cleared several culverts along US 60 near the Union-Henderson County Line over the last several days.  Today, the crew is working with the robot excavator along KY 141, KY 492, KY 2101 and KY 130.  The robot can get into smaller structures where digging with hand tools would be difficult, if not impossible.

This week highway crews are also working to fix drainage and landslide issues along KY 281/Island Ford Road in Hopkins County and along KY 69 near the Hancock-Ohio County Line that are attributed to the residual impact of the heavy rainfall and widespread flooding from 2011.

Evansville, IN - Several people were arrested on Meth charges during an investigation by the Evansville Police Department and investigators with the Narcotics Joint Task Force Meth Suppression Unit. 

Patrol officers went to 2607 W. Illinois to follow-up on a stolen vehicle report. When they arrived, they could smell a strong chemical odor coming from inside the residence. When an officer knocked on the front door, several people ran out the back door. They were all apprehended by officers who were watching the back of the house. Two more people were found hiding in the house. Officers also saw numerous items used to manufacture methamphetamine in the house. Investigators from the JTF Meth Suppression Unit came to the scene to assist in the investigation and to dispose of the hazardous materials. All of the people in the home were arrested.

The following people were arrested:
Jim Causey 53 (homeowner) Manufacturing Meth CL-B Fel
James Moore 39 Manufacturing Meth CL-B Fel/ Resisting Law Enforcement CL-A Misd
Joshua Norton 29 Manufacturing Meth CL-B Fel
Jacqueline Thomas 19 Manufacturing Meth CL-B Fel
Angela Norman 34 Manufacturing Meth CL-B Fel 

Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office News Release - July 30, 2012
Arrest: Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm

On Monday, July 30, 2012 at approximately 4:30am, deputies were dispatched to Hornebrooke Apartments in regards to shots being fired. When Sgt. Chad Howard and Deputy Tony Toopes arrived, they located a male subject standing in the parking lot. The subject, identified as Jason Joshua Leasure, was bleeding from the right leg. Leasure had already taken first aid measures on his leg and had restricted the blood flow. I was determined the gun shot wound was not life-threatening.

When Deputy Toopes questioned Leasure on how he was injured, Leasure initially stated an unknown black male dressed in black, came into his apartment and shot him. Sgt. Howard then questioned Leasure about the empty gun holster on his belt. Leasure again stated he did not have a gun and was shot by a black male. Sgt. Howard then went to the apartment where the shooting occurred.

Sgt. Chad Howard then questioned some of the individuals who were inside the aparment when Leasure was shot. Two of the witnesses stated Leasure had been playing with the handgun and was demonstrating a "quick draw" movement when the handgun went off and shot Leasure in the leg. One of the witnesses then took the handgun and hit it under a mattress in the bedroom. The witness was afraid Leasure would hurt someone else with the handgun because he had been drinking. This was confirmed by others in the apartment that had seen Leasure drinking. 

When Deputy Toopes questioned Leasure again regarding the information he received from witnesses, Leasure admitted he was playing around with the handgun when he shot himself in the leg and there was no other suspect involved.

After Leasure was treated at an area hospital for a non-life threatening gunshot wound, he was transported to the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center where he was arrested for Criminal Recklessness - Class C Felony and False Reporting - Class B Misdemeanor. 

Offender:
Jason Joshua Leasure
w/m 28 years of age
Evansville, Indiana

EVANSVILLE, Ind. –The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is announcing there will be a temporary lane restriction on Interstate 64 (I-64) in Gibson County.

On Tuesday, July 31, crews will be performing pavement inspection activities on I-64 at mile marker 28.1, just west of the I-164 interchange.  The east bound driving lane will be closed to allow crews to perform their work activities.  Work is scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. local time and to be complete by the end of the day, weather permitting. Inclement weather will postpone the operation to the following day. 

INDOT encourages motorists to slow down and pay special attention while traveling in work zones throughout Indiana.  For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit www.in.gov/indot and www.trafficwise.in.gov 

Traffic Advisory from KYTC:
The KYTC Union County Highway Maintenance Crew is working along US 60 in Union County near the Union-Henderson County Line on Monday. This work zone is between the 24 and 26 mile marker between Waverly and Corydon. Lane restrictions will be required in this work zone. Caution is advised due to equipment and personnel working along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. 

This crew is cleaning culverts and completing additional work to prepare for a future paving project along this section of US 60.  

It's a bit early, and hot, to be thinking of Christmas, but there are going to be some changes to this years Christmas parade in Evansville and I wanted to share them with you. Personally, I like them! 

Info from 2012 Christmas on North Main Executive Committee:
GAGE is no longer involved in the event, it has been taken over by the 2012 Christmas on North Main Executive Committee. 

The new route will run from the Civic Center Parking lot, down North Main, under the Lloyd and will proceed to Columbia Street, then Columbia to Heidelbach, and Heidelbach back to the Civic Center Parking lot. This year’s parade will be held on Sunday, November 18th beginning at 3:00pm and ending at approximately 5:00pm.
 
At the corner of Columbia and Main there will be Santa’s Workshop, food vendors with hot dogs, hamburgers, cookies and hot cocoa, music and a petting zoo. There will be a review stand for parade participants and judges on Main Street in the IGA parking lot facing Main Street. This years Emcee will be Johnny Kincaid. 
 
 
More information is available on their website,  www.NorthMainChristmasParade.com

Knox County – Friday afternoon, July 27th, at approximately 2:12 p.m. Senior Trooper Bill Gadberry and Trooper Doug Francis stopped a 1995 Nissan pickup truck at 4th Street and Barnett in Vincennes after receiving information the vehicle had been trespassing in a cornfield south of Vincennes near the Wabash River. When troopers approached the truck they immediately detected a strong chemical odor associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine. When troopers searched the vehicle they found a small baggie containing meth behind the passenger seat. Troopers also determined that liquid meth had been dumped on the front passenger floorboard just before the traffic stop. The driver was identified as Robert C.W. Getchell, 35, of Bicknell, and the passenger was identified as Brandon Parish, 25, of Vincennes. The property owner of the cornfield later showed troopers where he spotted the vehicle. When troopers searched the area they found a tank of anhydrous ammonia and other items commonly used to manufacture meth. Troopers were able to determine that Getchell and Parish had been manufacturing meth in the cornfield. Getchell and Parish were arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail where they are currently being held on bond.

ARRESTED AND CHARGES:
• Robert C.W. Getchell, 35, Bicknell, IN
• Brandon Parish, 25, Vincennes, IN
1. Manufacturing Meth, Class B Felony
2. Possession of Precursors, Class D Felony
3. Possession of Meth, Class D Felony
4. Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia, Class A Misdemeanor

Arresting Officers: Senior Trooper Bill Gadberry and Trooper Doug Francis
Assisting Officer: Trooper Ryan Johnson
Assisting Agencies: Vincennes Police and Knox County Sheriff’s Office 


SOURCE/PICTURES: Indiana State Police