With lights and sirens and the beating of the drums of the Shelbyville High School marching band, the 2023 Homecoming parade pulled out of the Hendricks Elementary School parking lot Wednesday afternoon and pulled onto streets lined with people awaiting the annual tradition.

GIANT fm Real Radio teamed up with the sophomore student council to pull the sophomores’ float deemed, “Back to the 80s.”

Each of the four classes at Shelbyville High School selected a specific decade to celebrate for Homecoming week.

The sophomore class float featured a large boom box, Rubik’s Cube artwork, PAC-MAN and the ghosts and even multi-colored Slinky toys. GIANT fm provided musical selections from the 80s to tie in with the theme.

The grand marshals for the 2023 parade were Christie Nigh, Susan Wettrick and Gail Procell, who rode in a 1947 International owned and driven by Jeb Bass, father of SHS assistant principal Jason Bass.

The three grand marshals recently retired from the Shelbyville Central Schools administrative office. Procell served 32 years while Nigh and Wettrick served 26 and 23 years, respectively.

Kristiaan Rawlings photo for Shelbyville Central Schools of the grand marshalls

The International truck was originally owned by Jeb Bass’ great-uncle. Bass’ father borrowed the truck the night Jeb Bass was born to drive his mother to the hospital. Bass’ great-uncle eventually handed him the title and he has continued to restore the vehicle over the past 35-plus years.

The Homecoming parade featured floats from the four graduating classes, the marching band, representatives of the elementary schools, as well as various clubs and fall athletic teams from Shelbyville High School and Shelbyville Middle School.

The parade lasted approximately 50 minutes and went from Hendricks to the intersection at Miller St., in front of Shelbyville High School and then around to the parking lot on the school’s west side.

Friday’s Homecoming celebration starts early. Indianapolis television station WTHR-13 will be at McKeand Stadium for its early-morning “Operation Football” broadcast. SHS students are requested to be at the stadium at 5:40 a.m. to prepare for WTHR’s visit.

The students will then be served breakfast before the school day begins.

At 7:30 p.m., Shelbyville (3-2) hosts Yorktown (3-2) in a Hoosier Heritage Conference contest.

GIANT fm will have its pregame show on air from McKeand Stadium at 6:30 p.m. with the game and postgame show to follow.

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The Shelbyville Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Devon L. Parrish.

Parrish is wanted for his alleged involvement in the armed robbery of an elderly couple (87 and 84 years of age) in Shelbyville on August 18. In the early afternoon hours, Parrish, with an accomplice, allegedly entered the home of the elderly couple, shooting and beating the elderly male, and physically assaulting the elderly female, while they were home alone in their private residence.

On Aug. 28 an arrest warrant was issued for Parrish by Shelby County for Count I: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 2 Felony; Count II: Armed Robbery, a Level 3 Felony; Count III: Burglary, a Level 1 Felony.

Parrish is known to frequent the 2900 block of Olney St. in Indianapolis and the 1100 block of E. 106^th St., also of Indianapolis.

Anyone with information concerning Parrish is asked to contact Detective Mark Newman, Shelbyville Police Department, Criminal Investigations Division 317-392-5145 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477 (TIPS) or 800-222-TIPS.

While there is a current moratorium on considering solar farm requests to be located in Shelby County, one is ready to advance its already approved status into construction of the facility.

Shelby County Commissioner Don Parker says they were approached about the number of entrances to the fields that will house the facility in the northeastern part of the county.

Parker notes size and how the entrances would be constructed were a key part of the conversation.

The public had questions, as well.

There are several names of companies, from engineering on up, involved in the process.

Two Ohio men have been arrested on drug charges following an investigation in Bartholomew and Shelby counties.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team received information that Denzel Parish from Dayton had been delivering drugs in Columbus. Parish has a criminal history that includes firearms, drugs and violence.

Earlier this month, further information was gained that Parish, 30, was going to be in Shelby County to distribute drugs. 

Two Ohio residents were arrested recently in Shelby County, after an investigation into the sale of drugs in Bartholomew County. In coordination with the Shelby County Drug Task Force, Shelby County Sheriff's Office and Shelbyville and Edinburgh police departments, Parish was found and arrested.

An accomplice was also arrested, Justice Dungey, 30, also from Dayton.

Baggies of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and Xanax packaged for sale were also found during the arrest.

Police also arrested 30-year-old Justice J. Dungey,  from Dayton, Ohio who was allegedly assisting Parish.

Both are charged with dealing narcotics and cocaine.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has released a statement on the July death of Ron Sexton.

The comedian, known to many as character "Donnie Baker," died in Harrison, Ohio, while on tour.

The statement lists the cause of death as "combined toxic effects from fentanyl and ethanol (alcohol)."

The manner of death has been reported as accidental following the investigation by police in Hamilton and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.

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Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWH) (“Camping World”), announced that it is set to acquire Edmundson RV in Edinburgh.

The location currently operates 34 service bays and at closing will span nearly 18 acres and serve as the company’s first exclusive Forest River location in Indiana. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2024 and will increase the company’s Indiana location count to four.

“Edmundson RV has a strong presence in Indiana and helps widen our No. 1 position in the state. It remains our goal to increase our dealership count to over 320 locations over the next five years, through a combination of acquisitions, new store openings, and manufacturer exclusive locations,” commented Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of Camping World.

Camping World currently operates two sales and service locations in Greenwood and Richmond. In July, the company said it would acquire Mount Comfort RV in Greenfield. That deal is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of this year.

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Indiana’s unemployment rate in August stands at 3.4%, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. By comparison, the national unemployment rate for August stands at 3.8%.

In addition, Indiana’s labor force participation rate moved to 63.5% for August, remaining above the national rate of 62.8%. Indiana’s total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3,429,353 - a decrease of 714 from the previous month.

"The number of Hoosiers in the labor force remains near an all-time high, and the need for skilled workers has never been greater," said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. "Individuals looking for their next job are encouraged to visit a WorkOne office or utilize the online resources available through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to re-enter the workforce and fill one of the many open positions across the state. For many of Indiana's most in-demand jobs, there are resources available to obtain the necessary skills Indiana employers require. Qualifying workers may be eligible for free training to help them increase their earnings."

Private sector employment in Indiana decreased by 4,400 jobs over the last month, resulting in a gain of 45,800 jobs from this time last year. Indiana's August private employment stands at 2,843,100. 

Industries that experienced job increases in August included construction, which had 1,300 jobs added over the month, and manufacturing, which increased by 400 jobs.

As of Monday, there were 104,794 open job postings throughout the state. In August, 15,247 unemployment insurance claims were filed in Indiana.

Individuals looking for work, training or career information are encouraged to visit in.gov/dwd/job-seekers.

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Shelbyville High School’s Champions Together Plane Pull Challenge team was honored Tuesday by the Shelbyville Central Schools board for its first-place performance last month in the Indiana Special Olympics Plane Pull competition.

The 22^nd Annual “Plane Pull Challenge” was held at Indianapolis International Airport and featured approximately 70 teams attempting to pull an 82-ton FedEx jetliner down a marked track.

Shelbyville sent 15 Champions Together representatives, including Shelbyville High School athletes, and moved the jet from a dead stop to the finish line in 8.06 seconds to win its division.

Shelbyville’s Champions Together program raised $1,350 toward the event’s overall fundraising of $165,000 that will go to Indiana Special Olympics.

Shelbyville Central Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance presented the Champions Together representatives with certificates Tuesday during the meeting.

The group also was recognized for a runner-up finish in the recent state Bocce Ball tournament.

In other board business Tuesday:

• D.L. Sanders, organizer of the recent downtown Shelbyville Cornstock event, presented the school board with a check for $1,500 to go to the school system’s lunch program. Sanders informed the school board he planned to donate 20% of the proceeds from the day-long music festival but the event went so well, he upped the amount to nearly 30% of the proceeds.

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Greenfield Police are asking for the public's help in locating Taylor Thomas.

Anyoone with details about where Taylor may be located, is asked to call the Hancock County 911 Center at 317-477-4400.

 Harvest season is officially underway for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers, which means more slow-moving farm equipment will be on Indiana’s rural roads and highways. To keep Hoosiers safe this year, state agencies are asking motorists to be alert and patient, as they share the road with farm equipment this fall.

“At least once each fall as I am traveling through rural Indiana, I find myself behind or crossing paths with large agricultural equipment,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “It is important to remain alert this fall and keep an eye out for these slow-moving farm vehicles, and if the opportunity allows, to safely navigate around them.”

In 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in two deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The fall harvest season is certainly an exciting and busy time for farmers and motorists,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “By working together to practice alert driving, we can all make it home safely to our families each night.”

Farm equipment during harvest season could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

• Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
• Be alert. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
• Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
• Do not try to pass a slow-moving vehicle on the left without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over for you to pass when it is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
• Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
• Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

“When you see farmers out working and moving from field to field, please be patient as they work to harvest their crops which are needed to help feed our communities and the world,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “Let’s all work together to help ensure everyone’s safety on our roadways.”

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The 37^th annual Our Hospice Summer Concert netted over $123,000 to Make Every Moment Count for people needing end-of-life care.

“Sister Hazel and Levi Riggs performed a great show! The weather was perfect, and it was exciting to celebrate with 5,000-6,000 of our friends and supporterstoraise money for the patients and families who need Our Hospice care. I am overwhelmed by the support we received,” said Steph Cain, President of Our Hospice.

Our Hospice is grateful to Title Sponsors, FORVIA Faurecia and Columbus Regional Health, and Partner Sponsors Dunlap General & Mechanical Contractors and My TruAdvantage, SIHO for supporting the concert with much-needed funds for the care of our community served by Our Hospice.

“Gathering the community for a live concert in Mill Race Park among the Exhibit Columbus art was exhilarating. Experiencing the show of support from our community energizes the team and encourages us to fulfill our mission,” said Cain.

“Funds raised from the Summer Concert activities will go directly to the care of patients and families cared for by Our Hospice, an end-of-life service that started in 1980. Our friends, supporters, and community members definitely responded positively, and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said Julie Davis, Event and Volunteer Services Manager for Our Hospice.

A total of 4,809 raffle tickets were sold which helped Our Hospice net over $123,000 exceeding the goal of $120,000.

“We are humbled by the tremendous support our communities demonstrated. We are grateful to those who donated directly or participated in our drive-thru event and purchased cookies, raffle tickets, and T-shirts. In fact, the winning raffle ticket was sold at the drive-thru event this year!” said Davis.

• The drive-thru cookie, raffle & t-shirt sale held at the Hospice Center raised $3,435 and sold 305 dozen cookies baked by staff and volunteers.
• Our Hospice is again grateful to The Tony London Company for their design of the 2023 Concert T-shirts and The Republic for the design of the 2023 Concert Poster.

Congratulations to the 2023 Raffle winners!

$10,000 Grand Prize – Lynette Hall– Columbus

$500 1^st Place – Heather Fruhner– Columbus

$250 2^nd Place – Jacklyn Strietelmeier – Columbus

$150 3^rd Place – Barb Krieg - Francisco, IN

$100 4^th Place – Candi Hyden-Cincinnati, OH

Prior Year’s Results

¹ During Covid (2020-2021) there were fewer expenses as we didn’t hold a live concert; so therefore net revenue was higher during this timeframe.

Caesars Entertainment Inc. alerted federal regulators Thursday that Caesars Rewards loyalty club members personal information was stolen in a cyberattack.

Caesars said in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it determined a copy of its Caesars Reward database was acquired that included the driver’s license numbers and/or Social Security numbers of many of its loyalty members.

Caesars says it’s still investigating to determine exactly what was obtained by the hacker.

Caesars said it has no evidence that any member passwords or personal identification numbers, bank account information or payment card information were stolen.

The parent company of Shelbyville’s Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino in Shelbyville says the cyberattack has been traced to an attack on an outsourced information technology vendor used by Caesars.

Bloomberg News reported Caesars paid millions of dollars to the group behind the attack to have the information deleted. But there is no guarantee of that taking place.

Caesars is offering credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to loyalty program members who enroll by calling 888-652-1580 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.

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Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced seven Indiana communities will receive $318,310 in Planning Grants through the Community Development Block Grant program.

The communities will use the funds to develop plans for the implementation of community and economic development projects.

The Planning Grant program strives to encourage communities to plan for long-term community development with the aid of subject matter experts and community input. The applications being funded this quarter address utilities, public facilities and comprehensive planning efforts.

Comprehensive Planning Grants are designed to aid communities in evaluating assets and identifying opportunities to address current needs in the following areas: land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, broadband access and historic resources.

Edinburgh was chosen to receive a Comprehensive Planning Grant for $50,000.

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The April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse could double the population of Shelby County.

Shelbyville and Shelby County will experience nearly four minutes of “totality” that Monday in early April which has city and county leaders in full preparation mode for an onslaught of eclipse enthusiasts.

On Wednesday at the Shelby County Courthouse Annex, a community eclipse meeting was held to inform area businesses and residents what to expect in the days leading up to the solar eclipse, where the moon will completely block out the sun, creating darkness in the mid-afternoon.

“The reason not everyone can see totality is because of the relative size of the moon compared to the sun,” explained Cyrus Screwvala, an Ivy Tech Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Physics, to the large crowd in attendance. “The shadow of the moon isn’t big enough to engulf the entire part so only certain places get to see totality which is why what will happen in April (in Shelby County) is so special.”

The eclipse will cross southern Indiana from the southwest to the northeast and include such communities as Linton, Bloomington, Indianapolis, Muncie, New Castle and Connersville as well as Shelbyville.

The timeline presented Wednesday has the start of the partial eclipse at 1:50 p.m. The start of the total eclipse will occur at 3:06 p.m. The maximum effect of the eclipse will be at 3:08 p.m. with the end of the total eclipse two minutes later at 3:10 p.m.

Still nearly seven months from the event, all hotels in Shelbyville are sold out. And the Shelby County Fairgrounds has been rented by a group from Napierville, Illinois, that will be bringing astronomy equipment to view the eclipse.

The last total eclipse in this part of the United States came in 2017. City officials have been in contact with counterparts in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which experienced totality that year.

Preparations are being made for tens of thousands of visitors to Shelbyville and Shelby County the weekend before the eclipse. Rachel Ackley, Executive Director of the Shelby County Tourism & Visitors Bureau believes that estimation will reach upward of 50,000 visitors which would double Shelby County’s population.

By comparison, nearby Johnson County is preparing for one million visitors. Hamilton County on the northeast side of Indianapolis is estimating up to 1.5 million visitors.

The celestial event offers local residents an opportunity to host visitors but to do so comes with cautionary tales. Security and restroom facilities are encouraged for large viewing parties but many of those services are already booked up.

Residents in attendance Wednesday also were encouraged to look into event insurance in case of incidents surrounding the viewing of the event.

A website has been created to provide local information and answer questions about the eclipse. That website can be found at www.eclipseinshelbycountyin.com.

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Over the next 30 days, the Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department will have new basketball courts available at Morrison Park, newly-created pickleball courts at Blue River Memorial Park, and a Bike Share program up and running in Shelbyville.

The Bike Share program has been a project parks director Trisha Tackett has been pursuing for months.

“Back in March, I was looking at opportunities in other communities to see what they have and what they offer and decided why can’t Shelbyville do it,” said Tackett after Wednesday’s parks department board meeting. “At that point, I went on a mission to decide how can we do this because budgeting is always an issue. I started seeking partners to see who would help us bring this to the community.”

With the help of the Blue River Community Foundation, the Shelby County Tourism and Visitors Bureau, MHP Major Health Partners and Duke Energy, the parks department is purchasing 15 custom bicycles from Dynamic Bicycles, a provider of custom-branded bicycles for bike share systems, that will be available for use in the city.

There will be three bicycle checkout stations located at Blue River Memorial Park, the Public Square and the Trailhead building at the North Harrison St. bridge. A total of 24 docking stations will be available.

The checkout process is controlled by the On Bike Share App where personal information and a valid debit or credit card must be on file to borrow a bicycle.

There is no fee to rent the bicycles. Renters must be at least 18 years of age.

The traditional bicycles will have a custom paint scheme matching the parks department colors.

“All of our partners have been awesome and absolutely think this will be a lot of fun for our community,” said Tackett. “And this helps promote our trails (system) too.”

The order for custom bicycles has been completed with a turnaround time of approximately three weeks, according to Tackett.

The mounting brackets for the new basketball goals at Morrison Park will be installed this week. Once finished, the return of dedicated basketball goals to Morrison Park will be complete.

Located at the former skate park, the goals will be available during normal park hours. The gated area will be locked overnight.

The second layer of asphalt is going down today at the new pickleball courts at Blue River Memorial Park. Once completed, the pickleball court playing surface can then be installed with the goal of making the courts available in October.

The parks department will once again host Halloween Fun at the Park on Oct. 27. Wristbands to participate in the event are on sale now -- $8 for children 12 and under or $10 at the event.

Call a parks department representative at 317-392-5128 for more information.

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The City of Shelbyville is defining the process to transform a stretch of State Road 9 to make it more attractive and functional.

In 2019, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) relinquished control of a portion of State Road 9 from Rampart Road near Interstate 74 through downtown Shelbyville to the intersection of Harrison St. and Broadway to the City of Shelbyville. That allowed the city to control the downtown traffic pattern as it redeveloped the Public Square.

Now the city wants to improve the gateway stretch of State Road 9 from Rampart St. to the North Harrison St. bridge with a Build-Operate-Transfer project that should limit the overall cost to $7 million.

Adam Rude, Plan Director for the City of Shelbyville, presented early details on the project Monday to the Common Council at City Hall.

“We’ve been talking about the aesthetics and the safety of this corridor for a very long time … about 13 years ago in our comprehensive plan and every planning exercise since then,” said Rude. “We started work on this specific project before the Public Square itself got done because we knew we would have this beautiful, public plaza space and then an entryway that was not befitting for such a space.”

Original design work for improving the corridor came in at approximately $11 million. The city has reconfigured the design to get the total cost of the project under $7 million – a target price the city believes it can afford.

The new design, not yet finalized according to Rude, will include creating two roundabouts along the corridor, a sidewalk on the west side of the four-lane road and a trail path along the east side.

The first roundabout will replace the stop light at Michigan Road and Knauf Drive (photo). The second roundabout will be at the entrance to the new subdivision being built by Arbor Homes called Isabelle Farms.

One goal of the project is to slow traffic along the busy route which averages 17,562 daily trips. The sidewalk and trail path will make pedestrian traffic in the area much safer.

“Safety wise, it is a very large road where drivers feel comfortable driving well in excess of 60 miles per hour no matter what it is marked,” said Rude. “There is no pedestrian infrastructure out there so from a connectivity standpoint there is no pedestrian connectivity to the north side of town. You see people walking on the shoulder all the time.

“From a character standpoint, this is one of the major entryways and gateways to our community but I don’t think it says what we want it to say … to be blunt.”

The project also will include decorative signage and medians that will include landscaping.

The goal is to complete the project in the 2024 calendar year.

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Multiple injuries reported in a two-vehicle accident on I-74 at Shelbyville early Monday evening.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department says a 2012 F250 driven by Mathew Hackworth, 51, of Harrison, Ohio, struck the back of a 2006 Chevy van driven by Jean Venick, 57, of Indianapolis.

Picture: Traffic routed off the interstate onto SR 44 and prevented from entering the interstate during Monday's I-74 accident

Both vehicles rolled following the impact. The van came to rest on the eastbound on-ramp.  The truck rolled off the roadway and knocked down a light pole.

The sheriff's department report says there were two people transported to IU Methodist while the remaining injured were treated at MHP Medical Center.

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The Indiana Department of Workforce Development will host 12 regional town hall meetings across Indiana in the coming weeks to inform instructional providers about a funding opportunity to serve Hoosiers communities through Adult Education.

Each session will be led by DWD adult education team members and will include an overview of the grant application process, including: what funds are available, who is eligible to apply and what is required of grant recipients.

A list of dates, times and locations of the upcoming information sessions can be found here.

DWD is seeking applications and proposals for adult education grant funds for program year 2024 and beyond from entities eligible to receive Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds.

The grant funds programs that assist working-age adults with obtaining a secondary school diploma, such as a high school equivalency, and with transitioning to post-secondary education and training. The programs also assist migrants and other individuals through English language classes.

To be eligible for funding, an adult education provider must fall under one of the following categories: local education agency; community-based organization; volunteer organization; institution of higher education; a public or private not-for-profit; a library, or a public housing partner.

Adult Education programs currently service all 92 Indiana counties with more than 250 locations. Indiana is among the nation's top states in multiple adult education categories:

• No. 1 for student achievement and growth
• No. 2 for the number of high school equivalency diplomas awarded
• No. 4 for certificates earned through Integrated Education and Training

The WIOA grant provides the necessary funding to continue to increase employment opportunities for Hoosiers.

Interested providers can email the DWD Adult Education team with questions at adulted@dwd.in.gov.

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The VA Community Clinic in Shelbyville, Indiana is moving to a larger building. Beginning September 18, patients will start seeing their health care team at 2158 Intelliplex Drive, Suite 200. The new space expands the clinic area to 8,000 square feet, which is about 2,000 more than the previous location. Two additional exam rooms are being added, bringing the total to 13.

The leased clinic space will help the VA expand services as more Veterans seek health care. Services offered are primary care, optometry, physical therapy and mental health.

“We are excited about this new facility, giving our Veterans and their care teams more space,” said clinic manager Amanda Davis.

Veterans with appointments on the start date and after are being notified directly about the new location. Veterans who have questions should contact the Patient Response Center at (317) 988-1227.

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An Indiana State Police detective was in the right place at the right time Friday afternoon to arrest an alleged interstate shooter near Greenwood.

Just after 11 a.m. Friday, Indiana State Police dispatchers received an emergency 911 call about shots being fired on I-65 northbound near the 97-mile marker. The victim was able to provide a good description of the suspect's vehicle.

Multiple troopers rapidly deployed to the area and strategically positioned themselves to intercept the suspect vehicle. An ISP detective happened to be on I-65 in an unmarked vehicle near the location of the call. The detective located the suspect vehicle, a white Nissan, on I-65 northbound at the 107-mile marker. He followed the vehicle until other troopers caught up and together they pulled over the suspect. The Nissan was occupied by a driver and a passenger, who were both taken into custody. 

Preliminary investigation determined the driver of the Nissan allegedly fired shots at the occupants of a Subaru while driving on I-65. There were no injuries reported however investigators located damage consistent with bullet holes in the victim's vehicle.

Investigators requested a search warrant for the suspect's vehicle and it was granted by a Johnson County judge. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun and marijuana. 

The driver, Nasier Johnson, 24, of Lorain, Ohio, was arrested on the preliminary charges of Criminal Recklessness, Intimidation and Possession of Marijuana.

The passenger, Armani Crooks, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana.

Both suspects were transported to the Johnson County Jail and incarcerated.

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Twenty-one individuals were charged in a federal indictment alleging trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; money laundering; illegally possessing firearms; and dog fighting.

The charges follow an extensive law enforcement operation in which 18 of the 21 individuals were arrested and federal agents seized over 40 firearms; quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; over $55,000 in cash; and approximately 90 dogs. 

The following lists the individuals indicted and the charges they face:

This was a multiagency operation, involving over 300 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, who executed arrest and search warrants at 25 locations in Central Indiana on the morning of August 31, 2023. Eighteen individuals were arrested and are in federal custody. Two remain fugitives: Gregory Henderson, and Jr. Maurice Ervin

In particular, law enforcement has asked the public for assistance in locating fugitive Gregory Henderson Jr. The FBI is providing a $5,000 reward for information leading to Henderson’s arrest. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or they can submit tips online at www.tips.fbi.gov.

According to court documents, Gregory Henderson Jr. and Ramiro Rico De Leon worked together to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States from Mexico. Henderson served as the main source of supply to lower-level dealers, Vicencio, Foster, Taylor, Smith, Gilbert, Bennet, Easter, Eggert, and Stewart, who dealt the drugs to buyers in Indianapolis and surrounding communities. Vicencio and Taylor were responsible for driving controlled substances from Kentucky to Indiana. Henderson and De Leon used wire transfers to pay for the costs of drug distribution and Henderson paid his dealers using CashApp.

During the course of this investigation, law enforcement agents uncovered a significant dog fighting and illegal gambling ring based in Indianapolis. Gregory Henderson Jr., Christopher Norfolk, Maurice Ervin, Michael Sanders, James Croons, Charles Richardson III, Landon Jones, Edward Bronaugh, Donovan Tipler, and Marvin Johnson Jr. were identified as dog owners who maintained dogs for the purpose of fighting. Maurice Ervin also participated as a referee, weighing the dogs and holding the money until fights were complete. Ervin, Tipler, and Croons served as handlers, responsible for motivating the dogs to fight. Jones and Norfolk served as sponsors, providing a space for the fights to be held.

Members of this group have a long history of dog fighting. In 2001, IMPD officers found seven pitbulls in need of medical attention due to lack of food and water and fresh wounds consistent with dog fighting located at Michael Sanders’ Indianapolis home. In 2005, Christopher Norfolk was convicted for torturing an animal after officers seized four dogs from his home. On more than four occasions, officers found Richardson III and Ervin engaging in dog fighting activities. Both Richardson III and Ervin have sustained multiple convictions for animal torture and promoting dog fighting.

This investigation began in 2022, and in 2023 multiple search warrants were executed and the following evidence was seized:

• 537 grams of methamphetamine
• 459 grams of heroin
• 667.3 grams of cocaine
• 532.8 grams of fentanyl
• Over 230 grams of marijuana
• 16 scales
• 43 firearms

• Over $55,650.00 in cash
• Approximately 90 dogs (including puppies)
• Dog fighting training paraphernalia including treadmills, bite sticks and weights.

If convicted, each defendant charged with conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture faces up to 5 years in federal prison. Each defendant charged with conspiracy to traffic controlled substances faces up to life. The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant execution possible:   

• Federal Bureau of Investigation- Indianapolis
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation
• Indiana Gaming Commission
• Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department

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The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) awarded more than $2.8 million to 46 public and nonprofit organizations through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. “STOP” stands for services, training, officers and prosecutors. 

The program is designed to support communities in their efforts to develop and strengthen law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violence against women, as well as enhance victim services and safety. 

“This funding is focused on empowering survivors of violence and ensuring that those who commit these heinous acts are brought to justice,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Every project funded by this grant is a step towards building stronger, safer communities for all Hoosiers." 

Established by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program promotes a coordinated effort to improve the criminal justice system's response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The funds are provided by the Office on Violence Against Women under the U.S. Department of Justice.  

The grants will be used to support a diverse range of  local initiatives, including those to provide legal advocacy, counseling, training for law enforcement and court personnel, and victim support services. Funding will also help pay for special prosecutors and investigators who are dedicated to handling cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 

Receiving grants locally:

Shelby County Prosecutor's Office - $124,341.22

Rush County Prosecutor's Office - $1,021.08

Hancock County Prosecutor's Office - $63, 836.17

"Our strategy is to build partnerships with community organizations to break the cycle of violence and provide more support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Indiana,” said Kim Lambert, ICJI Victim Services Division Director. “Partnerships are essential to addressing these issues, as they allow us to pool our resources and expertise to provide survivors with the help they need." 

The grants were approved by the ICJI Board of Trustees in September and will be made available to organizations starting October 1.  

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Beginning Oct. 1, the Indiana Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program contracted formula brand will transition from Gerber products to Enfamil products for infant formula issued to WIC participants.

Clients who are currently issued a Gerber formula will receive a similar Enfamil formula for benefits beginning on or after Oct. 1. More than 24,000 clients will be affected by the change.

Because WIC benefit periods are on different timeframes, some clients may still have Gerber benefits through the end of October. Any WIC client who has questions about their family’s benefits are advised to check the INWIC Mobile App or ask their local WIC clinic.

“Our WIC team is prepared to help all impacted families through this transition with support, guidance, and resources.  WIC Nutritionists in the clinics will ensure that all babies whose infant formula is transitioning will still receive the same level of benefits and nutrition,” said Laura Chavez, director of Indiana WIC, which is administered by the Indiana Department of Health.

State WIC staff will continue to partner directly with grocery and pharmacy vendors to ensure that stock levels support demand for benefits issued for both Gerber and Enfamil through the transition period from Oct. 1 through Oct. 30.

More information about this change is available at wic.in.gov. Click here for

WIC clinic locations:  https://bit.ly/3TQ0UyQ.

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It would be a sin to miss the shows scheduled for The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville

this weekend.

The sin is in the name of the event, the SIN Film Festival.

The premiere independent horror film festival features a collection of short and feature length films from around the world.

David Finkel says The Strand is excited to host the event for the first time.

Anyone looking for that Halloween-type feel ahead of October's holiday will want to check out the film festival that runs Friday night through Sunday afternoon.

The schedule of films opens Friday and wraps with an awards presentation Sunday at 5 p.m.

Friday 9/8
6pm: Mind Leech, Canada Dir: Chris Cheeseman, Paul Krysinski
8pm: Ghosts of the Void, United States Dir: Jason Miller
10pm: SPOOKIE DOOKIE, United States Dir: Brian J Papandrea

Saturday 9/9
12pm: Tattoo Contest
1pm: World of Woe International Shorts
3pm: AGATHA, United States Dir: Roland Becerra, Kelly Bigelow Becerra
4:30pm: The Gravedigger, United States Dir: Erynn Dalton
7pm: GUILLOTINE, United States Dir: Ray Izad-Mehr
9pm: 6 Wheels from Hell!, United States Dir: Evan Allen

Sunday 9/10
1pm: WOMAN IN THE MAZE, United States Dir: Mitesh Patel
3pm: Fear No Weevil: Hauntings in the City of Progress, United States Dir: Ericka Boussarhane
5pm: Awards Ceremony

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Beginning October 2, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches will have new hours.

This change enables the BMV to provide service six days a week in many areas across the state. The shift in operating hours is in response to increasing customer preference to use out-of-branch transaction options as well as to provide BMV team members opportunity to participate in critical on-the-job training to ensure efficient and accurate transaction processing.

Please visit BMV: New Branch Hours (in.gov) to plan your visits on or after Oct. 2. This page provides a list by location with new operating hours.

As a reminder, customers can complete an online transaction or visit a BMV Connect kiosk 24/7. To login to myBMV or find the nearest kiosk, please visit IN.gov/BMV. 

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