Morning News: Friday March 17th 2023

Posey County Radio News and Sports

News:

An Evansville man will serve prison time after being convicted on drug and gun charges in Posey County. According to a release, 46-year-old Christopher Monks was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges. Officials say those charges include unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of meth and possession of paraphernalia. A release shows at sentencing Monks admitted to possessing a gun, less than five grams of meth and a smoking pipe in Posey Co. back in October of 2022. Monks also admitted that he is classified as a “serious violent felon” under Indiana law due to a prior conviction. This all stems from October 6, 2022, when the Mount Vernon Police Department was called to Port and Bluff Road for a 911 hang-up call. When officers arrived, they say they found a vehicle occupied by Monks and a passenger. Officers say during the investigation they discovered Monks had an active arrest warrant out of Vanderburgh County. According to a release, a gun, meth and drug paraphernalia were all found inside the vehicle. Officials say Monks will be taken to the Indiana Department of Correction to serve his sentence.

Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office say 41-year-old Jeremy Novak, of Illinois, and 37-year-old Cesar Herrera, of California, have been charged in a federal criminal complaint with distribution of methamphetamine in Posey County. They say it’s following a months’ long investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies. According to court documents, in February of 2023, the Posey County Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration initiated an investigation into Novak and Herrera. They say Herrera served as the supplier, obtaining the meth from California, which Novak then distributed in and around Posey County. Officials say on three separate occasions between February 27, 2023, and March 10, 2023, investigators say Novak sold four pounds of crystal methamphetamine to someone for a total of $19,000. They say the drug deals happened in a parked vehicle at a Dollar General Store. On March 10, 2023, members of the DEA, Posey County Drug Task Force, Posey County Sheriff’s Office, Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, and Indiana State Police took Novak and Herrera into custody. During a search of the vehicle officials say Novak used for dealing, officers found $11,100 and three vacuum sealed bags containing a total of over three pounds of methamphetamine. If convicted on all counts, both Novak and Herrera face up to life in prison. The driver of the vehicle, Christina Alumbaugh, was also arrested and charged in Posey County Circuit Court with Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 Felony. Alumbaugh is being prosecuted by the Posey County Prosecutor’s Office and faces 10 to 30 years in state prison.

The Indiana Department of Transportation reports that SR68 and SR65 is scheduled to be closed in the town of Cynthiana starting this coming Monday, March 20th. They say the project should be completed by June of this year. Town streets should not be affected and will be available for emergency responders.

Today is the last day that the Posey County Auditor’s Office will be accepting resumes for the position of part-time deputy Auditor. This position will work Monday through Friday approximately 30 hours a week. Duties will include basic clerical work, including greeting customers, answering phones, and assisting other deputies. Please submit all resumes to The Posey County Auditor’s Office by the end of the business day today. The office is located at 126 E Third Street Room 220 in Mt. Vernon.

Today is Saint Patrick’s Day, and for those who plan on celebrating a little extra for the holiday, an Evansville-based law firm wants to offer a free ride to get home safe. Gerling Law says anyone that needs to take a ride in Evansville through rideshare or taxi, the law firm will reimburse people for the cost of the ride up to $30. People will just need to submit a photo ID, a copy of the receipt and an email address.

Sports:

March Madness got underway in full force yesterday with a handful of games in the round of 64. The Illinois Fighting Illini who was a #9 seed in the West Region saw their season come to a screeching halt as they bowed out in the first round. They lost to #8 seed Arkansas yesterday, 73-63. Illinois season ends at 20-13. There were two big upsets from day one. The first of which was #13 seed Furman beat #4 seed Virginia in the final seconds, 68-67. #15 seed Princeton shocked #2 seed Arizona, 59-55. Coming up later tonight, Purdue who is a #1 seed in the East Region will play at 5:50 PM against Fairleigh Dickinson. The Indiana Hoosiers are a #4 seed in the Midwest Region and will battle #13 seed Kent State this evening at 8:55 PM. You will be able to hear that game on 106.7 FM WMVI. The Kentucky Wildcats was awarded the #6 seed in the East Region and their first game will be tonight at 6:10 PM against #11 Providence.

In the NBA....the Indiana Pacers (32-38) picked up an impressive road win at the Milwaukee Bucks, 139-123. The Pacers scored 84 points in the 2nd half. Andrew Nembhard poured in 24 points.