• Law & Justice
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By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

On Tuesday November 19, the New Albany Police Department had a news conference about the arrest of four men regarding the murder of 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach. He was a student at Corydon Central High School, and his father Scott is employed in Salem at Salem Crossing.

The shooting took place behind the Scribner House fountain during the Harvest Homecoming Festival. Attending the conference was Prosecutor Christopher Lane, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Elizebeth Stigdon, and Chief of Police Todd Bailey. They indicated the arrest of four suspects in the shooting on October 12th at 9:53 p.m.

There were several law enforcement groups involved, and Bailey said, “The investigation was one of the most complex the department has ever been involved with. Those charged were Joshua Smith with 11 counts, Shermichael Smith 8 counts, Darius Tuff 6 counts and Isaiah Page 4 counts. Some of the charges included Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed robbery, Aggravated Battery, Criminal Recklessness, Obstruction of Justice, Resisting Law Enforcement and Criminal Mischief. Some of these charges are double counts for the aggression against the three victims.

Other victims include a 22-year-old male and a 42-year-old female. Both are said to be in good condition. Bailey stated that it was an ongoing investigation and more could potentially be charged. Tuff was identified as the driver of the car and was accompanied by his roommates Joshua and Shermichael Smith, who live in Louisville, as his passengers.

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Some Indiana State Parks will be temporarily closed to the public for deer hunts on Dec. 2-3, 2024. The properties will be closed on the evening before the hunt and reopen the morning after. Only individuals selected from the draw may participate at any site.

Participating properties include:

Brown County State Park

Chain O’Lakes State Park

Charlestown State Park

Clifty Falls State Park

Fort Harrison State Park

Harmonie State Park

Lincoln State Park

McCormick’s Creek State Park

O’Bannon Woods State Park

Ouabache State Park

Pokagon State Park and Trine State Recreation Area

Potato Creek State Park

Prophetstown State Park

Raccoon State Recreation Area

Shades State Park

Shakamak State Park

Spring Mill State Park and Cave River Valley Natural Area

Summit Lake State Park

Tippecanoe River State Park

Turkey Run State Park

Versailles State Park

Whitewater Memorial State Park

Deer hunts in Indiana State Parks are carried out to ensure balanced and healthy natural communities and are a necessary management tool that reduces damaging state park deer populations. The hunts manage the impact white-tailed deer have on natural ecosystems, including on rare plants like the Yellow Lady's Slipper. Biologists from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources determine the need for a reduction annually on a park-by-park basis. Reducing deer populations ensures habitat for many sensitive species of flora and fauna protected in our state parks. Information about these hunts can be found at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.

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Holiday shopping truly starts in earnest as soon as the Thanksgiving Day meal is over. Save yourself a lot of time and fuel by beginning your gift buying close to home! Many local businesses are pulling out the stops to accommodate shoppers with outstanding Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales and events.

Below is a sampling of the offerings from local merchants:

Borden Bargains at 555 East Water Street, Borden, is featuring a Black Friday Blowout featuring everything from toys, NIKE, Nerf, Disney, Hot Wheels, clothing, furniture and more. Doors will open at 10 a.m.
Stock up on Power Wheels, scooters and battery-operated toys and receive $10 off purchases over $50.
Receive $20 off a $100 purchase of NIKE shoes, shirts, pants or hoodies.
Clothing from Target, Walmart, Wrangler and more are Buy-One-Get-One Free (BOGO).
Purchase cube shelves, desks, dressers and drawers and get 1/2 off your second item.
The store is also open Wednesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m.—7 p.m. and Sundays 12 noon—6 p.m.

3 Stories Trading Company, located on the northwest side of Salem Public Square, will be open Friday, 10 a.m.—6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. This is the place to find all things child-related.
The store is featuring a secret scratch-off sale where lucky shoppers could save up to 20% off their total purchase!
Popular brands include Melissa & Doug, Ruffle Butts and Rugged Butts.
Join in the fun on Saturday to celebrate the arrival of Pipp & Spaulding from 3—5 p.m. Kids can have their picture taken with Pipp & Spaulding, and they can also register to win a Woodlands Wonderland Seek-and-Find Blanket and their very own copy of “Pipp & Spaulding Face Summer.”

Heaven Sent Gifts on the west side of Salem Public Square will be open 9 a.m.—1 p.m. Saturday.
Everything in the store will be 25% off!
Heaven Sent Gifts carries a truly vast array of gifts for everyone on your list, including books, jewelry, shirts, decor, throws and lots more—“Unique Christian Gifts That Will Touch Hearts.”

Lincks Clothing & Shoes is having three days of big sales! They are located on the north side of Salem Public Square.
There will be a special three-hour Thanksgiving Night Sale, 5—8 p.m., featuring school spirit apparel and accessories, women’s footwear, jewelry, purses, outerwear, wallets, socks and $10 off on holiday sweaters and tops; men’s cold weather gear, knives, hats, camp, new Rick’s Underground Outdoors and special pricing on guns and ammo.
During the Black Friday Sale, 9 a.m.—5 p.m., the first 25 shoppers will receive a free gift with purchase. Special savings will include progressive discounts—beginning with $5 off a purchase of $25 to $20 off a purchase of $100.
Earn Lincks’ Cash during Small Business Saturday, 9 a.m.—3 p.m. For every $25 spent, receive $5 in Lincks’ Cash to be used on a future purchase.
Lincks also offers gift certificates and free gift wrapping.
Regular hours are Tuesdays through Fridays 9 a.m.—5:30 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.—3 p.m.; and Sundays 1—4 p.m.

Nana’s This N That Shop on the southwest side of Salem Public Square will be open. 10 a.m.—5 p.m. on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
This charming store features a very large selection of Old and New “This N That.”
Owner Tina Lee said, “Bring your friends and family to find the perfect treasure! We have something for everyone.”

Wishing Well Thrift Store, 2916 Grant Line Road, New Albany, will be open for holiday shopping.
The store will be donating the majority of their profits to the Make-A-Wish foundation, in addition to NAFCS students in need and foster care families. In addition to finding great holiday gift bargains, shoppers will be supporting worthy community programs.
The store offers clothing, household items, books, furniture—you name it!
The Wishing Well is accepting donations of items Mondays through Saturdays 9 a.m.—7 p.m. and Sundays 12 noon—5 p.m.
Please call 812-920-0150 for more information.

Why Supporting Local Small Businesses Matters

Let's take a look at the many ways it pays to shop small businesses during the holidays and all year long.

The holiday season is a time of year when shopping takes center stage. While online giants and big box retailers seem to be everywhere, offering an endless array of products with the convenience of low prices, small businesses provide a range of benefits that go far beyond the ease of a mouse click or mountains of merchandise.

Shopping local retailers is more than just a transaction - it is crucial for maintaining the economic foundation of local communities. Let's take a look at the many ways it pays to shop small businesses during the holidays and all year long.

· Strengthen the local economy: A large percentage of the money spent at small businesses stays in the community. That's because these businesses often are owned and operated by local residents who are invested in the community themselves. Various studies indicate that for every $100 spent at a small business, roughly $70 stays in the community.

· Enhanced customer service: Owners and employees of small businesses have a keen interest in keeping customers happy. They often do so by providing superior customer service. Tailoring recommendations, exhibiting a willingness to accommodate special requests, offering a more engaging shopping experience, and being more friendly and connected with regular customers sets many small businesses apart.

· Support the community: Small businesses serve the community through the products and services they offer, and many give back in other ways as well. Small, locally owned businesses often sponsor schools, sports teams and charities. This helps foster a sense of belonging in the community.

· Innovative offerings: Small businesses are not beholden to corporate policies or franchise restrictions, so they can more readily bring new life to existing ideas and trends. Small businesses can offer customers different options that larger retailers cannot match.

· Job creation: Small businesses employ a significant percentage of the workforce and frequently provide jobs that might not be available in larger corporate settings. The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy says small businesses have generated 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years, accounting for two out of every three jobs added to the U.S. economy. Keeping residents working helps strengthen local communities.

There are numerous benefits to shopping at small businesses this Small Business Saturday and throughout the year. Such firms help to establish a more resilient, diverse and bustling local community.