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This January, we join the nation in recognizing National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This is a time to raise awareness about human trafficking, honor the resilience of survivors, and promote efforts to prevent this rampant global crime.

According to a 2024 report from the International Labour Organization, profits from forced labor have surged to $236 billion annually, a 37% increase over the past decade, with nearly 50 million people living in modern slavery. Often concealed in plain sight, modern slavery is a pervasive issue that affects every part of the world.

In the United States alone, thousands of cases are reported each year, but there are many more that go unreported. Trafficking can involve forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other forms of coercion. National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month emphasizes the importance of education, vigilance, and collective action to protect those at risk and hold perpetrators accountable.

"Human trafficking is a violation of basic human rights and dignity,” said Sheriff Brent Miller. “With millions of people impacted, including children, it is critical that we raise awareness and take action.”

Key Statistics to Know:

70% of trafficking victims are women and girls.
Forced labor accounts for 86% of human trafficking globally.
In the U.S., more than 10,000 cases were reported in 2022, with California, Texas, and Florida reporting the highest numbers.

What You Can Do to Help:

Learn the signs of trafficking, such as restricted freedom of movement, fear of authority figures, and signs of physical abuse.
Share educational materials to raise awareness in your community.
Support organizations working to end human trafficking through donations or volunteerism.

“Human trafficking is a problem that isn’t getting better with time – in fact, crimes involving human trafficking are increasing annually,” said Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt. “I urge residents to educate themselves about this crime and to alert authorities if you suspect someone may be a victim.”

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888. For more information, visit the website http://humantraffickinghotline.org.

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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

On the west side of the Salem town square was a minor accident on January 2. Two Ford trucks collided while one was backing out of a parking spot. The truck adorned with Eddie Gilstrap decals was driven by Steve Motsinger, and the gray truck by Mike Hobson.

The Salem Fire department was called to clean up the debris consisting of a trail of plastic and metal parts, and the Salem Police Department was present to write the report for the accident. Thankfully, no one was injured despite the damage done to the vehicles.

Photos by Jerry Curry.

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A two-day manhunt of the shooter of an Orange County deputy sheriff has concluded Saturday night in Louisville, Kentucky.

Indiana State Police investigators and officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department were led to a home in the 3700 block of Wheeler Avenue in Louisville, attempting to locate Austin Schepers for his involvement in the shooting of Orange County Deputy Sheriff Zac Andry early Friday morning. During the investigation on Wheeler Avenue, officers located Schepers. While details regarding the confrontation remain under investigation, the confrontation resulted in Schepers being shot and killed at the scene by law enforcement.

The Louisville Metro Police Department will be providing additional information as to the involvement of their officers during the encounter with details as they can per their investigation.

There is no longer a threat to public safety regarding the manhunt for Schepers.

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JANUARY: Kevin Palmer, 57; Kathleen M. Sarver, 98; General G. Potter, 86; Carolyn Anderson Wetzel, 73; Roslee F. (Rosie) Motsinger, 86; Gareth Merlin “Buck” Rodman, 95; James “Jim” Tomes, 91; Ralph Davidson, 81; Fannie J. Girod, 85; Leslie “Earl” Zollman Sr., 58; Ronald Lee Martin, 64; Ruth M. Nolan, 73; Melanie “Gale” Bright, 68; Paul “Bob” Rutherford, 87; Sharon Bradford Naugle, 76; Barbara L. “Barbie” Spicer, 65; Daniel Charles Roberts, 68; Don Edward Colglazier, 88; David Hurst, 86; Kimberly Baker, 60; Lawrence “Larry” Dean Golden, 75; Doris Mae (Puckett) Sansbury, 88.

FEBRUARY: Betty Hattabaugh; Carol Jeanne Shafer Bedwell, 79; Donald Fitzgerald Wilson, 59; Brenda K. Calloway, 62; Vickie Lynn McClellan, 64; Larry “Bub” Cleo Jackson, 83; Linda Gater Yousefivand, 68; Carolyn Hiser, 89; Sarah “Catherine” Gleitz, 92; Patricia Ann Curtis, 78.

MARCH: Shawna Lynn Bell, 50; Sheila Callaway, 89; Dallen Paul Hardwick, 92; Juanita M. Gladden, 91; Neva Simpson Melton, 90; Max Eugene Winslow, 91; Mae Richardson, 100; Timothy Russell Fleming, 65; John S. Apple, 71; Delilah E. Byler, 7; Carolyn A. Sullivan, 89; Marvin W. “Butch” Graves, 85; Jo Ann Green, 77; Norma Jane Baham, 75; Paula Ann Martin, 69.

APRIL: Travis Dewayne Scott Pittman, 37; Marjorie Walker, 86; Beverly Mariam Kennedy, 69; Edith Robinson, 83; Tanya Lynn (Goodlett) Spaulding; Ms. Virginia Gale Jackson, 83; Nancy Dowell, 91; Wilma Mae (Beavers) Smith, 78; Shirley Ann Nale, 81; Todd Suyemasa, 61; Harry Eugene Hattabaugh, 99; Clarence “Brad” Johnson, 78; Michael Glenn Barton, 79; Thomas James Walther, 63; David Charles Rexroat, 69.

MAY: Annette Kalich, 77; Marvin W. Parrott, 81; Harold Von Humphrey, 88; Mr. Don “Donnie” Marshall Deremiah, 67; Walter Johnson, 93; Stacey Luce, 56; Barry “Stretch” Grover, 63; Charles “Eb” Anderson, 86.

JUNE: Lynn Allen Pelfrey, 57; Gary L. Haag, 76; Alyse Nash, 38; Pauline Reyman, 100; Sharon Ann McElroy, 72; Sally Ann Shaffer, 78; Kerri Ann Williams, 41; Alan Wade Dornbush Heeke, 45; Dexter M. Smedley, 77; Judith K. Judd, 72; James Kent Day, 84.

JULY: Roger “Bean” G. Fleenor, 90; Joanne Hudson, 82; Catherine Marie (Naylor) Likens, 82; Gary Douglas Combs, 70; John Owen “Johnny” Cozart Sr., 67; Richard Lee Doan, 71; Virginia Durbin, 82; Rosalyn May Spurgeon, 88; Jerry Donald Noel, 82; Judy Nale, 85; Rose Marie Albertson, 85; James Boyd Apple, 81; Jayden Ryan Clark, 20; Phyllis Ilene Sons, 85; Michael Wayne Albin, 71; Ann Camden, 53; Mark Edward Fleenor, 51; Jerald R. Engleman, 79.

AUGUST: Joyce D. “Joy” Bennett, 94; Jacqueline Kaye Demlow, 78; Wilma Jean Jarvis, 81; John Robert Sherman, 59; Steven Hoke, 72; Mary Margaret (Martens) Dufour, 73; Donald Joe Pickerill, 69; Dale Leslie McCauley, 66; Dennis R. Simpson, 83; Rita M. Elliott, 82; Paul Edwin Martin, 89; Rebecca Ann Schamber, 73; David Loyd Wiseman, 85; Norma L. Eisert, 97; Tim R. Davidson, 64.

SEPTEMBER: Mark Allen Danser, 59; Irvin Howard Brough, 88; Cecil Dean Shrout Jr., 73; Stephen G. Cole, 61; Linda Sue (Webb) Tucker, 57; Jo Ann Carty, 89; Eulah Kay Mills, 79; Wanda Mae Davis, 99; Nathan J. Worley, 64; Phillip W. Harrell,72; Felecia Maxine Letzeisen, 58; Dorothy Casey, 85; Gaius Weathers, 101; Michael Haddon Dohoney, 83; Jackie L. Sullivan, 84; Byron Ernest Short, 94.

OCTOBER: Loran G. Roop Jr., 89; Charlene “Kay” Brown, 68; Vonda Carol Carthy, 57; Brittany Reane Morris, 45; Billy H. McBride, 78; Linda Rae Meadors, 75; Donald “Donnie” Baker Jr., 61; Shirley Ann (Gettelfinger) Jones, 89; Rita Ann Padgett, 68; David Eugene Souder, 71; Robert LaRue Maudlin, 85; Ruth Sparks, 84; Jeffrey Thomas, 67; Betty Lou Bradley, 80; Cinda Lou Sizemore, 66; Helen F. Marshall, 99; Connie Lea Hubacher, 68; Charles Sturdevant, 71; Shirley Rose King, 84; Janice Fleenor, 62; Marla Kay Byrd, 66; Craig Thomas Baumann, 66; Larry E. Nicholson, 83; Gerald Hardy, 79; Mitchell “Mickey” G. Taylor, 72; Rhonda Trainor, 83; Dwayne Taylor, 87; Roger Irvin Hopkins, 87; Glenda B. Keith, 84; Robert “Bob” Mitchell Elder, 71; Garilou Graves Crane, 64.

NOVEMBER: Debra Ann Sturdevant, 60; Vernon Lee Bell, 64; Brenda Kay Reed, 79; Leslie “Les” Arnold Burnett, 76; Laura June Marshall Stickels, 91; Betty Jane Routh, 93; Bonnie L. Mosley, 91; Douglas Hoskins, 57; Carl Robinson Jr., 64; Ralph Pickerill, 86; Robert V. (“Bob”) Ferguson, 83; Barbara F. Richardson, 83; Ethel Lucille Martin, 99; Sheryl Ann Rudder, 72; Larry Joseph Schneider, 74; Clara Marie Shell, 81; Robert Lee Johnson, 85; Dennis E. Hollen Jr., 48.

DECEMBER: Larry Joe Allen, 81; Sharon Rose Nelson, 85; Edward “Ed” Quite, 47; Elizabeth Diane Taylor, 70; Iona Ruth Toliver, 95; Jeffrey Banet, 59; William Allen “Woody” Naugle, 65; Jason S. Bowling, 45; Bryan Snyder, 47; Joyce Ann Trueblood, 78; Jerry Hurst, 80; Dustin K. Hubbard, 31; Carolyn Ruth Haag, 105; Emma Joyce Westmoreland, 84; Cynthia Ann House Womack, 64; Vicki Jackson, 68; Leland Kent Hattabaugh, 76; Diana Seybold, 70; Brooke Nicole Naugle, 41; Michael Lynn Beanblossom, 60; Bert William Ayres, 75; Garry “Tuff” Sears, 80.

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By Sgt. Carey Huls, Public Information Officer, Indiana State Police Sellersburg District

Floyd County– January 5, 2025: A Charlestown, Indiana man was killed when the car he was operating drove off the roadway and struck a pole early Sunday morning.

Around 1:40 Sunday morning, the New Albany Police Department requested assistance from the Indiana State Police with a single-vehicle, serious-injury crash that occurred after Midnight in the 1800 block of Klerner Lane in New Albany. Trooper Ben Davis with the Sellersburg Post crash reconstruction team responded.

The driver, 23-year-old Isaiah Cole Lamkin, of Charlestown, Indiana who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported to U of L Hospital in Louisville for severe injuries. Sadly, Mr. Lamkin passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The preliminary investigation reveals that the Silver 2007 Toyota Highlander operated by Mr. Lamkin drove off the left side of the roadway for an unknown reason. The car struck a mailbox and utility pole before coming to rest. Investigators are attempting to determine why the vehicle left the roadway. No signs of drugs or alcohol were observed at the scene, and weather was not a factor in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing. Trooper Davis was assisted by members of the New Albany Police Department.

The family of the deceased has been notified.