News Articles - 2015

August 16, 2015

Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5Sunday August 16th, 2015 :: 11:39 a.m. EDT     

AdvisoryMissing hunter located after search (Sullivan County)
DNR NEWS 
Division of Law Enforcement 

Indiana Department of Natural Resources 
Division of Law Enforcement 
402 W. Washington St. 
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2748 


For immediate release: August 16, 2015 

Missing hunter located after search (Sullivan County) 

Pleasantville, IN- Richard Wiseman, 74, of Dugger, became disoriented and suffered injuries which hindered him from finding his way out of the woods. 

An Indiana Conservation Officer received a phone call from a concerned hunter, who stated his hunting partner had never returned from the woods. Multiple agencies responded to the area to begin a search, along with several K-9 tracking teams. 

Mr. Wiseman was located, and had suffered a leg injury which prohibited him from walking. He was transferred to the Sullivan County Hospital. 

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted in the search by the following agencies: Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Vigo County Sheriff’s Department, Sullivan County Emergency Management Agency, Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, Vigo County Emergency Communications Team, Indiana Department of Corrections, Vigo County Search and Rescue, Dugger Town Marshals, and the Sullivan County Ambulance Service. 


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Media contact: Indiana Conservation Officer Nathan Lutz, Law Enforcement Division, 
Cell (317) 619-9222


Address/Location
Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5
1317 West Lieber Road
Cloverdale, IN 46120

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1 
Non-emergencies: 765-795-3534 

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Video of story

Helping Public Safety at the Fair

By Brett Edwards | bedwards@wtwo.com

Published 07/17 2015 10:46PM

There are many ways that volunteers give back at the fair, whether it's helping out with the 4H events, with food, tickets, rides, etc. But there's another area of volunteers that work hand in hand with local agencies to keep the fairgrounds safe.

John Bell, otherwise known as "John T," is a volunteer with the Vigo County Emergency Communications team. "We keep our eyes and ears open and work safety."

He's 76 years old and loves being apart of EmCom. "Well I can sit in a chair and fall apart or I could move around and keep going."

The Emergency Communications team helps support Vigo County EMA and the Sheriff's Department in facilitating the fairgrounds, acting as a sort of middle-ground for emergency responders.

"If they need medical, we radio in. If we see anyone suspicious trying to get in a car and we don't think they belong there, we radio it in," said John T.

In most cases, these volunteers are the first faces you'll see when entering the fairgrounds and likely the last. They're crucial to getting people in, parking them, and getting them out.

"If you don't really know that we're here then we're doing our job properly," Nick Vinardi said, Director of Vigo County's EmCom team. "We're like one of those gears in a watch. It's not pretty to look at but hey, without it, it would function roughly."

"Emergency management and public safety in our communities could not operate without these types of volunteers," added EMA Deputy Director J.D. Kesler.

The efforts of EMA, the Sheriff's Department, and the EmCom team are run out of the command center.

"All this communication helps support them and give them a better resolution of what's going on in the park," Vinardi explained.

As for John T, he's been coined a legend. He always can be seen with a cigar in his mouth. "Keeps my mouth from drying out my throat," Bell remarked.

Students from Harrison College even take pictures with him to receive extra credit, which John T doesn't quite understand. "I haven't got a clue."

But his personality radiates when you talk to him and his willingness to give back is irreplaceable. And when the sun is beating down on him, that personality may need a break.

"I know how to take care of myself. If I get in trouble, I radio in and they send a replacement," John T explained.

The Vigo County Emergency Communications team is always looking for volunteers to join the team. For more information on the agency, visit: http://www.vigocountyemergencycommunications.org/.

Copyright 2015 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Vigo County EMCOM was deployed to Greene Co. with the Vigo County K9 SAR team.

ISP: Search for Marina Boelter continues in Greene CountyStaff Reports Published: June 30, 2015, 7:49 am             GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) – Over the past month, local and state officials along with volunteers have conducted three searches for Marina Boelter who has been missing since New Year’s Eve of 2014.

Those involved in the searches have included Indiana State Police, Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Vigo County Search and Rescue Team and volunteers from the community.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil stated volunteers have come as far away as Kentucky and Wisconsin with K-9 to search for Boelter. Members of the Mineral United Methodist Church also invited all law enforcement and search party members to utilize their facilities for the duration of their stay.

This weekend they searched the area near Bloomfield including woods, fields and wells. Not only were K-9’s used during this search but also drones.

“The Vigo County Search & Rescue Team is a very professional, well organized and highly trained group,” explained Detective Brad Stille. “I hope to be utilizing their services in the future as we continue to search for Marina.”

Detectives and Troopers are still following up on leads and information regarding this case. Please call 812-332-4411 and speak to the Post Commander or contact ISP Bloomington via Facebook (Curt Durnil, Indiana State Police or Twitter @ISPBloomington) with any new information.

Tips can remain anonymous.

Link to story: http://wishtv.com/2015/06/30/isp-search-for-marina-boelter-continues-in-greene-county/

November 30, 2012

Vigo EMA named top program in District 7

Lisa TriggThe Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — For the second straight year, the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency has been recognized as the top EMA program in District 7 by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
Vigo EMA Director Dr. Dorene Hojnicki recently received notice of the IDHS Director’s Award recently, which comes with a cash reimbursement from the state as well as an equipment grant.
Hojnicki recently received additional congratulations for the award from District 7 coordinator Jerry Sears, who said the Vigo County team is a good example of multiple local agencies working together to keep county residents safe.
“We appreciate the county commissioner for allowing the staffing to happen,” Hojnicki said of local government support of EMA, “and putting that energy and effort into it has allowed us to have this success.”
Vigo EMA is not just the staff that works in the headquarters located on the 181st Tactical base at Hulman Field. Along with police and fire department partnerships, the EMA team has good relationships with the local ministerial associate, American Red Cross, ham radio operations, and many community volunteers.
“We wouldn’t be successful without our local responders and community partners, such as the county-based fire and rescue units and the ham radio operators,” said assistant EMA director J.D. Kelser.
Of the eight counties that comprise District 7, Vigo County has the largest staff, Sears said. Seven of the eight counties received funding as a result of their IDHS assessment scores, but Vigo received the highest score.
Hojnicki said the EMA team has learned a lot through the years in dealing with local disasters -- most memorable being the flood of 2008. But other issues have brought together the EMA team, sometimes in areas that would not have been so obvious prior to 9/11.
For instance, Vigo County Search and Rescue is based at the EMA office, and that team has worked on locating lost adults and children, as well as searching areas for crime scene evidence.
The ham radio operators have become essential in handling large events, such as recently immunization clinics, where mobile communication skills are crucial to keep lines moving and supplies available.
Hojnicki said that a new project for EMA is establishing a volunteer medical reserve corps, where health care professionals are included in trainings in case of events where triage skills and treatment are needed. Another volunteer area is a citizen corps for community policing, to take some of the burden off EMA and the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Greg Ewing said the EMA’s planning events have helped prepare the county for future disaster events.
“It is about being proactive, rather than reactive,” Ewing said.
Having multiple agencies working together is good testimony about the cooperation among local public safety agencies, he said.
“We are all on the same page, and trying to achieve the same goals, and that is the safety of Vigo County residents,” Ewing said.
All of the participating agencies fill a niche that allows resources to be delivered where they are most needed in the most efficient way, he said.
Hojnicki said Vigo EMA plans to use its equipment funding to purchase a pre-stocked cart with traffic cones, gating, tables and other equipment that will allow a safety perimeter to be set up at emergency scenes.

Vigo County EMA

 ARES News