Stories from Tuesday, August 14, 2012

An old sinkhole believed to be caused by an abandoned coal mine shaft has closed a county road to enable repairs to be made. Greene County Highway Department Superintendent Brent Murray said County Road 1100W ---- between County Roads 100S and 200S in Stockton Township -- was closed on Monday...

For the second time since late April a 41-year-old Jasonville man has been arrested on multiple charges relating to stalking and violating a protective order. Darin Coverstone was arrested Sunday by Jasonville Police Officer Brian Pilant on a warrant charging him with stalking -- a class C felony; and three counts of invasion of privacy (violation of a protective order) -- all class A misdemeanors...

A Jasonville man faces a class D felony charge after he allegedly battered a 5-year-old boy. Kevin E. Hatfield, 35, was arrested Saturday on a preliminary charge of battery on a minor. He was released on $4,000 appearance bond on Aug. 12 and is scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Friday...

Linton Fire Department is among departments from 39 counties to be awarded Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants. The Linton department will receive a $3,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry's Fire Control Headquarters and are made available through the USDA Forest Service...

Communication between law enforcement agencies and the sharp eye of a Worthington police officer helped catch a suspected bank robber Monday evening. According to a press release issued by the Washington Police Department, a suspect -- described as a tall, slender white male wearing a black sweatshirt and dark sunglasses -- allegedly entered the Crane Federal Credit Union shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday in Washington and slipped the bank teller a note demanding an undisclosed amount of money. The male fled on foot to the nearby Save-A-Lot, where the press release states he disappeared. Further investigation identified the suspect as Dustin R. Green, 23, and information alleged he was possibly in a white 2000 Pontiac Grand Am headed to Worthington. "It all started around 5:55 (p.m. on Monday). Washington PD had called us (Worthington Police Department) and gave us the information he may be in this area," Worthington Town Marshal Don Richardson told the Greene County Daily World on Tuesday morning. Richardson said Worthington Police Officer Wayman "JR" Blazier soon after spotted the vehicle at a gas station in Worthington, and followed the alleged suspect to a local trailer park. Richardson, Blazier and Washington Police Department detained the suspect, issued the warrant and recovered evidence. Green was transported to the Greene County Sheriff's Department, where he was interviewed by Washington Police Dets. Trent McWilliams and Daniel Christie. He was then arrested and transported to the Daviess County Sheriff's Department where he is being held on the charge of robbery. Richardson said it is important for law enforcement agencies to work together. "They (Washington Police Department) were unfamiliar with our territory, so we extended our helping hand and made sure everything came together," Richardson said. He added he was pleased with the Worthington Police Department's most recent addition to the police force for keeping an eye out for the suspect. "He (Blazier) did a real good job, with only being on (the police department) three months. Luck had something to with it I'm sure, but he did a real good job with it," Richardson said. Richardson also stressed the suspect is not the same Dustin Green known locally. "I was told he (the suspect) was originally from Bloomington. We have another Dustin Green here (in Worthington), that everyone thinks it is him," Richardson noted. Agencies assisting in the investigation included the Washington Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff's Department, Worthington Police Department, Indiana State Police, Linton Police Department, Jasonville Police Department, Greene County Sheriff's Department, Martin County Sheriff's Department, Knox County Sheriff's Department, Vincennes Police Department, Loogootee Police Department and the FBI.

Gubernatorial candidate John Gregg unveiled his first campaign ad Tuesday morning. The ad, entitled "Hobo," features Gregg and some longtime friends from his hometown of Sandborn. Hobo is the nickname of Gregg's close friend Wesley Cook who is fighting a battle against cancer...

The Southern Indiana Aces 17U AAU basketball team coached by Rick Crynes, finished their season with a record of 25-7. On July 14 and July 15, the Aces won 62-56 over Hoops from St. Louis, 64-60 against Illinois, 63-35 over Tennessee and wrapped it up to win the tournament over Evansville All-Stars 58-50...

Cody Kocher came up with the lone victory as the Linton-Stockton High School boys tennis team opened the season with a 4-1 loss at Barr-Reeve Tuesday. Kocher ended up winning when Trevor Steiner had to retire because of injury after losing the first set...

The Union High School volleyball team opened play in the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference with a 25-20, 25-12, 25-13 loss at Clay City Tuesday. The Lady Bulldogs slipped to 1-1 overall, 0-1 in the SWIAC. "Clay City is a big, strong team," said Union coach Mike Voigtschild. "We spent a lot of time on defense tonight...

JASONVILLE -- It took them a set, but the Bloomfield Lady Cardinals shook off any lasting effects from a loss to Terre Haute South on Monday night with at the expense of host Shakamak on Tuesday. After dropping the opening set to their hosts, the Lady Cardinals won the next three sets and collected a 14-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-18 Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference victory...

Norma Witherspoon's painted the town for four decades. This week, Linton formally thanked her. On Monday, the City of Linton honored her for providing a rich pictorial history, preserved in watercolor paintings which hang throughout countless homes, businesses and civic offices around the area...

Worthington police officers are now officially required to wear their protective bullet-proof Kevlar vests at all times when they're on duty. The Worthington Town Council passed the measure during their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening. Nobody said they had not been wearing them. The new rule is to protect the town's liability, just in case...

The Lyons Town Council learned of a rash of car break- ins and criminal mischief taking place around the town at its monthly meeting Tuesday. Lyons Town Marshal Ron Sparks said along with the car break-ins, there have been homes and property damaged with spray paint as well as slashed tires on vehicles...

Thursday, Aug. 16 Friday, Aug. 17 Saturday, Aug. 18 Sunday, Aug. 19 Monday, Aug. 20 Tuesday, Aug. 21 Thursday, Aug. 23 Friday, Aug. 24 Saturday, Aug. 25 Sunday, Aug. 26 Monday, Aug. 27 Thursday, Aug. 30 Friday, Aug. 31 Saturday, Sept. 1 Monday, Sept. 3...

Luann Kohler-Shonk, who passed away last week, was praised by Mayor John Wilkes and civic officials during Monday's City Council session. "We lost another one of our citizens last week," the mayor said. "Lu Shonk was very instrumental in many city projects and grants, particularly when her husband Tim was city attorney."...

NEWBERRY ---- Indiana State Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials along with project designers unveiled preliminary plans Tuesday evening for the new $15.5 million State Road 57 bridge over the east fork of the White River. About 40 residents attended a public hearing at the Newberry Masonic Lodge to hear about plans for the construction of the new bridge that is slated to begin in the spring of 2013...