Community News Archives for 2023-04

West Central Indiana Career & Technical Education hosts first welding cmpetition

West Central Indiana hosted its first ever welding competition on Saturday.

 

14 welding students from Area 30 Career Center, Wabash River CTE, and West Central Indiana CTE participated in the competition. The competition was designed to test the skill and knowledge of each student’s welding abilities.

 

Each student competed in Theory, SMAW, and GMAW during the first round.
The five students with the highest scores then advanced to the final round which consisted of a fabrication weld and a 4 ½” horizontal pipe weld. At the end of the competition, the top five students were awarded with trophies and prizes.

 

The sponsors for this competition were Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 157, B &
L Engineering, Inc, Buzzi Unicem, C&F Fabricating, LLC, Crown, Kiwanis, L & N Welding, Lincoln Electric, Newton Welding & Fabrication, Nucor, Perry Equipment, Smart Manufacturing and Runway Technologies, and Vincennes University.

 

“I am blown away by the skill and dedication of these welding students who participated in the competition. It was truly inspiring to witness the students showcase their abilities and knowledge,” said Jessica McClamroch, Program Coordinator for West Central Indiana CTE. “I am thrilled to have had the
opportunity to organize this event with Kelly Murphy and we look forward to continuing to provide welding students with such opportunities.”

 

 

2023 welding students
Kolby Harcourt, Area 30 Career Center
Thomas Laffoon, West Central Indiana CTE
Hayden Lambert, Area 30 Career Center
Corbin Lawson, Area 30 Career Center
Lucas Lighty, West Central Indiana CTE
Hunter McMasters, Wabash River CTE
Regan Remley, West Central Indiana CTE
Brent Runyan, West Central Indiana CTEConner Stinson Wabash River CTE
Colin Sturgeon, Area 30 Career Center
Andrew Sutherlin, Area 30 Career Center
Logan Walker, West Central Indiana CTE
Ethan Witwer, Wabash River CTE
Karson Wolf, Wabash River CTE

 

 

Top 5 placings

First Place - Thomas Laffoon, West Central Indiana CTE (pictured)

 

Second Place - AJ Hall, West Central Indiana CTE

 

Third Place - Karson Wolf, Wabash River CTE

 

Fourth Place - Lucas Lighty, West Central Indiana CTE


Fifth Place - Ethan Witwere, Wabash River CTE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Indiana Destination Development Corporation launches Home Again Campaign

The Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) in partnership with the Indiana Association of Realtors, is excited to announce the launch of their new "Home Again IN Indiana" campaign.

 

The campaign seeks to celebrate Hoosier pride by sharing the stories of those who were born and raised in Indiana and, after moving away, chose to return.

 

"Indiana has a strong sense of community, and many Hoosiers have a deep connection to the state that brings them back home," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. “We want to showcase those stories and inspire others to see all that Indiana has to offer."

 

Home Again Hoosiers credit Indiana's deep community values, the lively downtowns, locally owned businesses and so much more for drawing them back to Indiana. After moving back to Indiana, Home Again Hoosiers found the impact they can make in their communities to be overwhelmingly fulfilling. From business to civic, to culinary arts and hospitality, Home Again Hoosiers draw on their passions to become a part of their communities and improve them while doing so. "We believe that Indiana is a wonderful place to call home, and we're thrilled to showcase people who have returned to Indiana and the reasons why they love it here," said IDDC Secretary and CEO Elaine Bedel. "We want to hear from Hoosiers who have experienced life in other states or countries and have returned to Indiana."

 

To learn more about the "Home Again IN Indiana" campaign and to share your story, click here.

 

Follow Visit Indiana on social media at @VisitIndiana on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.


SR 234 closing for culvert project near Ladoga on or after April 26

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces State Road 234 will close on or after April 26 for a culvert replacement project near Ladoga.

 

It will be closed between South C.R. 650E and South C.R. 750E. It’s expected to reopen after mid-June, weather permitting.

 

This contract was awarded to Conexco Inc. for $1.1 million. It also involves additional culvert work on S.R. 234, approximately 3.54 miles west of S.R. 75 in Hendricks County and approximately 7.28 miles west of S.R. 75 in Montgomery County.

 

The entire contract is expected to be completed in June of 2024.

ATV safety to be taught at the Indiana Sheriff's Youth Ranch

Youth from all around Putnam County will have an opportunity to learn ATV safety this summer during the Indiana Sheriff's Youth Ranch.

 

The Indiana Sheriff's Youth Ranch will conduct numerous law enforcement / firefighter explorer academies this summer and will look to teach safety on ATV vehicles. The academies are free, specialized leadership cams for future law enforcement officers and firefighters. 

 

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, children account for more than one in five ATV deaths each year, with Indiana ranked in the top 20. 

 

Participating students will learn several things including: becoming familiar with all controls, especially the brakes; utilizing safety equipment; reviewing terrain; refusing to use drugs or alcohol; the importance of wearing a helmet, long pants, closed shoes, knee and arm pads; how to ride at a safe distance; and how to ride defensively.

 

Applications for the youth academy will be available starting May 1 through all Putnam County schools and at the Putnam County Sheriff's Department. 

 

For more information, email Scott Minier at scottminier@yahoo.com or call 317-460-4242. 


Understanding the basics of fence law

You may not be aware of this, but most states have laws regarding fences. We have a fence law in Indiana and there have been court cases related to issues surrounding fences throughout the United States.

In March, Roger McEowen, professor of Agriculture Law and Taxation at Washburn University School of Law, visited Putnam County and spoke to participants of The Legal Side of Agriculture program about fence laws and other legal topics. This article will highlight some of the key points Roger shared with participants related to fence law.

In general, individuals who own agricultural land that is adjoining are required to build and maintain all partitional fences in equal shares, unless the parties agree otherwise. This comes to play when we discuss the “right-hand” rule. The “right-hand” rule means that the landowners face each other at the mid-point of their fence and agree to build and/or maintain the portion of the fence that is to their right. This still applies when one landowner has livestock and the other landowner has crops or no type of agriculture production. This is because the landowner who has crops or no agriculture production still benefits from the fence since the livestock are kept off of their property. At the same time, the landowners could agree not to have a fence or maintain an existing fence if neither party has a need for it.

What might happen if the two landowners can’t agree to build or maintain their portion of the fence? History reveals that the landowner who wants to build the fence, should build their part of the fence, wait 20 days, and then contact the township trustee. The township trustee can then notify the adjacent landowner that they need to finish their portion of the fence within 20 days. If they don’t finish their portion of the fence, then the township trustee can have the remaining portion of the fence built and send the bill to the adjacent landowner who is refusing to build it. If they don’t pay the bill, there has been cases where liens have been put against that individual until it is paid. Of course, the best thing to do is talk to your neighbor before installing the fence and come to an agreement.

There is no clear answer as to what the fence needs to be made out of. In Indiana, the law says it should be sufficiently tight to hold hogs, sheep, cattle, mules, and horses. That means you could use barbwire, high tinsel fence, board fence, etc. The main point is that the fence has to be strong enough to keep the animals inside. 

What might happen if your livestock get out of the fence? Indiana is considered a “fence-in” state. That means if the livestock escape through an owner’s faulty fence, then the owner is liable for any resulting damages. However, if the fence is in good shape, the livestock owner is generally not liable as long as they can show they were not negligent when attempting to fence in their livestock.

This article highlighted a few key points related to fence laws in Indiana. If you have questions or concerns about fence laws, Purdue Extension recommends you contact an attorney who can look the laws up and help you better understand them. Purdue Extension is not providing any legal services by sharing the information provided by Roger McEowen. During Roger’s presentation, he shared with participants that he maintains a blog that covers a variety of legal and tax information for agricultural producers. If you would like to know more about legal and tax issues as they relate to agriculture, please view Roger’s blog at: https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/agriculturallaw/

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

April 26 – Exploring 4-H Program, 6 pm, Fairgrounds

May 6 – Extension Homemakers Garage Sale, 8am-2pm, Fairgrounds York Auto Building

May 6 – Plant Auction, Goat Barn, Auction starts at 10 am

May 15 – All 4-H livestock/animal registrations must be entered in 4honline (firm deadline)

May 15 – Last day sign up for 4-H Camp via 4honline

Cloverdale Township FD to hold two events Saturday

It will be a jam packed day for the Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department Saturday.

The fire department is hosting its annual pancake and sausage breakfast at American Legion Post 281 in Clovedale from 6 a.m. until noon.

The all you can eat breakfast features pancakes, whole hog sausage, coffee, juice and milk and is $7.50 for adults and $3.50 for children 12 and younger. In addition, there will also be a bake sale.

In addition, the Cloverdale American Legion Riders will be hosting a motorcycle ride for the fire department.  Registration begins at 9:45 a.m. and lasts until 10:45 with kickstands up at 11 a.m. 

Riders are $20 and passengers are $5. 

 


Restrictions on US 40 starting on or after May 2 for bridge work near Putnamville

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces ongoing restrictions on U.S. 40, between State Road 243 and S. County Road 25 E. for a bridge work near Putnamville.

 

U.S. 40 will be down to two lanes. Traffic will be maintained by a temporary barrier wall. These restrictions will last through early September, weather permitting.

 

This contract was awarded to Milestone Contractors, LP for over $7.9 million. It also involves a bridge replacement project over Mill Creek in Hendricks County, along with culvert work at various locations along U.S. 40 in Putnam, Clay and Montgomery County.

 

There will be future restrictions connected to this project. INDOT will provide updates prior to any closures or restrictions.

 

The entire project is expected to be completed in November 2024, weather permitting.

National Lineworker Appreciation Day illuminates the people behind the power

For lineworkers, weathering the storm is just another day on the job. On Tuesday, Duke Energy celebrates National Lineworker Appreciation Day – an acknowledgement of the challenging work of utility lineworkers nationwide who are committed to keeping the lights on and readying the grid for a low-carbon future.

Line teams support daily customer needs as well as projects that will help modernize and strengthen the grid to improve reliability and resiliency, enable the connection of more renewables and help protect it from cybersecurity and physical threats.

Lineworkers also perform the work that they’ve become known for – ensuring power flows to vital infrastructure such as hospitals and water treatment facilities and to everyday home conveniences – always keeping safety top of mind. Through lightning, wind, ice, and even extreme heat and cold, they diligently perform hands-on work through high-stress situations and the aftermath to serve customers.

“Our line teams are the calm before, during and after a storm. They maintain our systems and serve our communities in their greatest time of need – going head-to-head with storms and emergencies to deliver safe and reliable service,” said Scott Batson, senior vice president and chief distribution officer at Duke Energy. “Being a lineworker isn’t for everyone, but it’s certainly a job that impacts everyone.”

Ten years after the U.S. Senate passed a resolution in 2013 designating April 18 as National Lineworker Appreciation Day, the role of lineworkers is more important than ever before – in maintaining and growing energy infrastructure, protecting public safety and making sure communities have power.

“Our lineworkers continue to do the important work of ‘keeping the lights on’ – whether it’s our transmission techs working on high-voltage transmission lines that carry electricity from power plants or our distribution techs working on the lines that carry power to homes and businesses,” said Harry Sideris, executive vice president of customer experience, solutions and services for Duke Energy. “I’m proud that our line teams prioritize safety and taking care of our customers and of each other.”

The more than 7,700 Duke Energy and contract lineworkers who make up the Duke Energy line team are responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining equipment and more than 300,000 miles of power lines in Duke Energy’s service territories – enough to circle the Earth 12 times.

As Duke Energy continues to launch new grid and infrastructure improvement projects to modernize, harden and technologically advance the power grid, the need for skilled workers – especially entry-level lineworkers – is also on the upswing. Lineworkers play an integral role in a more efficient, more reliable digital grid.

The company’s lineworker hiring strategy is transforming to fast-track and hire more aggressively, collaborate with community colleges to identify lineworker talent, shorten new hire onboarding process and deploy new hires more rapidly.

“It’s a great time to be working in energy – and we’re fortunate to be able to source great talent through community colleges,” said Batson. “Individuals who fill these roles join our other lineworkers as ambassadors for the company when they’re in the field.”

Over the past six years, Duke Energy and its Foundation have provided more than $2.8 million in funding to support lineworker programs in states where the company operates.


What does processed food mean?

Have you watched the news lately talking negatively about processed foods blaming them for the rise in obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes? What exactly are processed foods, and are they really that bad for your health?

Processed foods are defined by the USDA as any raw agricultural commodities that have been washed, cleaned, milled, cut, chopped, heated, pasteurized, blanched, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, dehydrated, mixed, or packaged. Anything done to them that alters their natural state. This may include adding preservatives, flavors, nutrients, other food additives, or substances approved for use in food products, such as salt, sugars and fats.

Which foods are more highly processed? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ranks processed foods from "minimally processed" to "highly processed". Examples of minimally processed foods, are fresh blueberries, cut vegetables and roasted nuts, which are simply prepared for convenience. Foods processed at their peak of ripeness to lock in nutritional quality and freshness include canned tomatoes, tuna, and frozen fruit or vegetables.

Foods with ingredients added for flavor and texture, such as sweeteners, spices, oils, color and preservatives, include jarred pasta sauce, salad dressing, yogurt and cake mixes, all considered processed foods. Ready-to-eat foods, such as crackers, chips, and deli meat, are more heavily processed. The most heavily processed foods often are frozen or premade meals, including frozen pizza and microwaveable dinners.

Minimally processed foods have a place in healthy diets. For example, low-fat milk, whole-grain, or wheat breads, precut vegetables and fresh-cut greens are considered processed foods. Also, milks and juices may be fortified with vitamin D and calcium, while breakfast cereals may have added fiber. Canned fruits packed in water or natural fruit juice can be part of a healthy diet when fresh fruit isn't easily available. Remember, products that list "natural" or "organic" doesn't mean they are healthier products.

Eating processed foods on occasion is fine. However, look for hidden sugar, fat, and salt, especially those added during processing. Most Nutrition Facts labels now include added sugars. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends getting less than 10% of total calories from added sugars.

When it comes to sodium, people often comment they don't put salt on their food. As it turns out, manufacturers have already added salt for you—and much more than needed. The Dietary Guidelines recommends less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. Look for low-or reduced-sodium foods. Also, try rinsing canned vegetables with water to remove some of the sodium. Eat minimally processed foods or fresh foods as often as possible.

Screening the type of fat you consume is important. Stick to unsaturated fats such as olive oil or peanut oil, monounsaturated fats. Some polyunsaturated fats include canola, vegetable oil, corn oil, safflower and sunflower oils. Keep away from hydrogenated, and saturated solid fats like lard, stick margarine, butter and trans-fat. Educate yourself on what to look for and talk with your health care professional or nutrition expert to discuss a food plan that works best for you. The key to healthy eating starts with you.

Source: Karen Ensle, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Upcoming Events

April 20, 27, & 29 – Forestry Management Workshop Series, 6-8pm, Ivy Tech, $10, register at https://tinyurl.com/ForestyMgmt23   

April 22 – Urban Soil Health & Local Farmers Market Intro, 9am-12pm, Brazil, IN, RSVP to 812-446-8986 ext. 3 by April 20th

April 26 – Exploring 4-H Program, 6 pm, Fairgrounds

May 6 – Extension Homemakers Garage Sale, 8am-2pm, Fairgrounds York Auto Building

May 6 – Master Gardener Plant Auction, 10am, Fairgrounds Goat Barn

May 15 – All 4-H livestock/animal registrations due in 4honline (firm deadline)

May 15 – Last day sign up for 4-H Camp via 4honline


Early filers who reported certain state tax refunds as taxable should consider filing amended returns

The Internal Revenue Service said that taxpayers who filed their federal income taxes early in this year’s filing season and reported certain state 2022 tax refunds as taxable income should consider filing an amended return.

 

On Feb. 10, 2023, the IRS provided details clarifying the federal tax status involving special payments made to taxpayers by 21 states in 2022. During a review, the IRS determined that in the interest of sound tax administration and other factors, taxpayers in many states did not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns. Consequently, the IRS will not challenge the taxability of state payments related to general welfare and disaster relief.

 

This means people in the following states don’t need to report these state payments on their 2022 tax return: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Alaska is in this group as well, but the determination applies only to the special supplemental Energy Relief Payment received.

 

Taxpayers can see a listing of individual states and the federal tax treatment of their special state refunds or rebates listed on this online chart.

 

In addition, many people in Georgia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Virginia will not include special state 2022 tax refunds as income for federal tax purposes if they meet certain requirements. For these individuals, state payments will not be included for federal tax purposes if the payment is a refund of state taxes paid and the recipient either claimed the standard deduction for tax year 2022 or itemized their tax year 2022 deductions but did not receive a tax benefit.

 

Taxpayers who filed before Feb. 10 in these areas and meet these requirements should check their tax return to make sure they paid tax on a state refund before filing an amended return. In addition, taxpayers in this situation who used a tax professional can consult with them to determine whether an amended return is necessary.

 

If an amended return is needed, taxpayers who submitted their original 2022 tax return electronically can also file their amended return electronically and may select direct deposit for any resulting refund. Filing electronically cuts out the mail time and including direct deposit information on an electronically submitted form provides a convenient and secure way to receive refunds faster.

 

Taxpayers also have the option to submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X, Amended U.S Individual Income Tax Return, and receive a paper check. They should follow the instructions for preparing the paper form, but they should mail it to:

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

Austin, TX 73301-0052

 

Direct deposit is not available on amended returns submitted on paper.

No matter how a taxpayer files the amended return, they can still use the "Where's My Amended Return?" online tool to check its status.

 

Food survey: Consumers trust and value product labels

Americans tend to trust food labels, especially the ingredient list, expiration date and nutrition fact label, according to the March Consumer Food Insights Report. The most distrusted labels include low-calorie, naturalness and health claims.

 

The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources. Purdue experts conducted and evaluated the survey, which included 1,200 consumers across the U.S.

 

“Generally, consumers trust — or, at least, don’t distrust — the labels on their food. This trust is significantly lower for claims about the health or naturalness of food, claims which may often be more nebulous or more clearly motivated by marketing objectives,” said Jayson Lusk, the head and Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue, who leads the center.


Utilitarian labels appear to be viewed more favorably. These labels are also the most important to consumers, according to the report.

 

“Among these important labels, the ingredient list and nutrition fact label are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, while expiration dates are not,” Lusk said. “Considering that of all of the information on a food product, the expiration date is one of the primary labels that consumers read, there is an important conversation to be had about standardizing this information.”

 

More in-depth responses to the new food-labeling questions will appear in next month’s report. This month’s report also looks at the employment status of respondents, comparing adults of working age and of retirement age.

 

The report’s month-to-month food insecurity rate remains effectively unchanged at 14%. Lusk called attention, however, to the 27% of adults who are not working and who are facing some degree of food insecurity, compared to 12% among those with a job.

 

“This finding is not surprising, but it drives home the point that more people losing their jobs in the event of a recession could lead to a precipitous drop in the number of food-secure households,” Lusk said. “The incredibly low rate of food insecurity among 65-plus households also demonstrates how people generally accrue a number of advantages through their lives, and those who make it to old age also enjoy fairly robust entitlement programs.”

 

Additional key results from this month’s report include:

  • 13% of consumers experienced a stockout, or absence, of one or more items at the grocery store, down from 22% in January.
  • Total food spending is up 5% from this time last year, while food inflation expectations for the next year sit at around 4%.
  • Unemployed adults have the lowest rates of diet happiness, while retirees have the highest.
  • Unemployed adults less readily pursue food behaviors that are viewed as sustainable or ethical.

Consumers are accurately perceiving a slow decrease in food inflation, noted Sam Polzin, a food an agriculture survey scientist for the center and co-author of the report.

 

“Though their estimate of 7.1% remains below the official government figure of 9.5% for February, both estimates of inflation are following similar trends,” Polzin said. “Part of continuing to see inflation decline will depend on securing food supply.”

 

As egg shortages struck the country in December and January, consumers experienced the rate of grocery stockouts to jump along with the consumer estimate of inflation.

 

lusk-buying

Rate of Household Food Insecurity in Last 30 Days, Jan. 2022 - March 2023 

 

“We will continue to feature this stockout measure, as we see it as a unique indicator of the food supply,” he said.

 

Similar to the food security story, Polzin attributed some of the differences in food satisfaction to income factors as well as life-cycle explanations. While the reasons for this are unclear, other measures of general happiness show it dropping as people enter adulthood and middle age before rising again in old age.

 

“However, there does appear to be some discrepancy in our data between rates of diet happiness and life happiness, except for among retirees, which opens up some interesting questions about how these two concepts are related,” Polzin said.

 

Lusk and Polzin also noted differences between employed and unemployed adults. This begins with how often they eat at home versus eating out. They would expect those who work regularly and presumably have a higher income to change their food consumption.

 

“The behaviors of retirees are also fairly different from every other group, which raises a lot of interesting questions about what changes when someone leaves the labor force,” Polzin said. “There is other research showing that behaviors like healthy eating can decline after retirement. We would like to investigate this demographic segment further.”

 

Lusk further discusses the report in his blog.

 

The Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability is part of Purdue’s Next Moves in agriculture and food systems and uses innovative data analysis shared through user-friendly platforms to improve the food system. In addition to the Consumer Food Insights Report, the center offers a portfolio of online dashboards.

Greencastle to host a Main Street 101 training session

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and
Rural Affairs announced OCRA’s Indiana Main Street team will host eight in-person Main Street 101 trainings across the state. 

 

One of those will be in Greencastle.

 

The trainings will take place from May to August in each region of the state, with two of the trainings held in Indianapolis. Attendance at a Main Street 101 is required to apply for OCRA’s Downtown Affiliate Network in the 2023-2024 application cycle.  

 

"Main Street 101 will help ensure that Hoosier communities have the resources they need to start their Indiana Main Street journey,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I hope cities large and small from across Indiana will take the initiative to begin improving the quality of life in their communities.”

 

The training provides in-depth details on the Indiana Main Street program and the Main Street America Four-Point Approach. During the training, attendees will learn about changes to the Indiana Main Street program as well as application information for prospective communities.  

 

“Communities interested in pursuing downtown revitalization should attend a Main Street 101 and learn about the many benefits the Indiana Main Street program offers,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “The program offers a road map to success, as well as resources and strategies to encourage community and economic development.”

 

The training dates and locations include:

 

Northwest: 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 120 W Washington Street, Monticello, IN 47960.

Northeast: 4 p.m. Thursday, June 29, 2023, 2545 Silveus Crossing, Warsaw, IN 46582.

West Central: 4 p.m. Thursday, June 15, 2023, The Tenzer Hub For Entrepreneurship, 19.5 S Indiana Street, Greencastle, IN 46135.

East Central: 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Lizabuth Ann's Kitchen at the Riley Home and Museum, 250 W Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140.

Southwest: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2023, The Indiana Theater, 419 E. Main Street, Washington, IN 47501.

Southeast: 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Dearborn County Library Sally Stegner Depot Room, 150 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025.

Indianapolis: 11 a.m. Monday, August 7, 2023, Indiana Government Center South, 302 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Indianapolis: 11 a.m. Thursday, August 17, 2023, Indiana Government Center South, 302 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

 

To register for a training session, visit in.gov/ocra/mainstreet.

 

Main Street 101 will benefit those looking to participate in the Indiana Main Street program. Additionally, it will help current Main Street board members, volunteers and city officials who want to learn more about the principles of Main Street and best practices for a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization. 

 

For questions on the Main Street 101 trainings, email indianamainstreet@ocra.in.gov.

Purdue Fast Start remains an opportunity

Students are in the process of signing up for classes next year at local high schools while college and post high school education option visits have been in full swing for many high school juniors. In 2020, a new program called Purdue Fast Start kicked off that provided a means of guaranteed admissions to Purdue University.

A website https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/purduefaststart/ provides full details of the free program, where promising Indiana students have the opportunity to take first steps toward a Purdue degree with Fast Start. Purdue’s partnership with Modern States, a philanthropy and online learning program for earning college credit, provides free courses and textbooks online in addition to vouchers to pay for credit bearing exams. Passing five courses, the corresponding CLEP exams and meeting Purdue’s standard admissions requirements assures admission into Purdue. The partnership creates new opportunities for Indiana students to take giant leaps in their post high school education plans with a new pathway to Purdue University.

To get started earning admission into Purdue, Indiana students can take the Modern States online courses for free. Those who pass a minimum of five corresponding College Board CLEP exams and meet Purdue’s standard admission requirements, become Klinsky Scholars being assured Purdue admission. Links to Modern States and College Board CLEP exams as well as others are found with the Purdue Fast Start URL previously shared.

What is the impact of completing the free Purdue Fast Start program other than earning assured admission to Purdue University? While completing this in high school, the completion of the Modern States five courses and the College Board CLEP exam equates to 15 credit hours, equivalent to one semester, for free; an $11,000 value for in state students. But wait, there’s more, one can complete up to ten Modern State courses and pass the associated CLEP exams to earn $22,000 of value with 30 credit hours, which is typically two semesters or the entire freshman year at Purdue. Youth who will be entering or are currently in grades 9-11 are strongly encouraged to check out the Fast Start program. Visit https://www.admissions.purdue.edu/purduefaststart/ for a list of next steps and FAQ’s with clickable links to take your next giant leap.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-4:00 pm. Evening and lunch appointments are available, upon request. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

Upcoming Events

April 7 – Extension Office closed for Holiday

April 13, 20, 27, & 29 – Forestry Management Workshop Series, 6-8 pm, Ivy Tech, $10, register at https://tinyurl.com/ForestyMgmt23 

April 16 – Camp Counselor Applications due for 4-H Camp register via 4honline account

April 17 – Supermarket Sweep (Community, DePauw, 4-H shop at Kroger for pantry benefit)

April 18 – Basics of Home Food Preservation (Freezing and Dehydrating), 6pm, Hendricks Co. Fairgrounds, register at 317-745-2555 ext. 3

April 26 – Exploring 4-H Program, 6 pm, Fairgrounds

May 15 – All 4-H livestock/animal registrations must be entered in 4honline (firm deadline)

May 15 – Last day sign up for 4-H Camp via 4honline

Motorists should remain cautious on rural roads this Spring as they share the road with farm equipment

Planting season is quickly approaching for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers.

 

With the warm weather and sunshine, Hoosier motorists will also see more large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana’s rural roads and highways.

 

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on roadways this spring.

 

“Indiana is the eighth largest farming state in the country and a national leader in the production of traditional row crops like corn and soybeans,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Whether you live in rural, urban or suburban Indiana, remain alert on the road this spring as you may encounter large farm equipment moving between fields.”

 

In 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in two deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration*.

 

“During the spring, Indiana sees a drastic increase of large farm equipment on our rural roads and highways, and it is important for Hoosiers to know how to safely navigate around them,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “Patience, courtesy and understanding, along with the undivided attention of motorists and farmers will help ensure a safe 2023 planting season.

 

While the term “farm equipment” encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

 

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

 

Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.

 

Be patient. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.

 

Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.

 

Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensuring that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over to allow a pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.

 

Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.

 

Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

 

Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb wants to remind motorists that farmers work hard to ensure they are being as safe as possible.

 

“Indiana’s corn and soybeans are utilized for a magnitude of products we depend on every day, such as food products like corn chips and sweeteners, livestock feeds so we can enjoy our favorite meats, fuel for our cars and more,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “It is critical that farmers get their crops planted in a timely manner to ensure a successful crop. If you encounter farm equipment on the roads, be patient and courteous so everyone can make it home safely to their families.”

Cloverdale FFA Greenhouse opens for the season on Friday

The Cloverdale FFA Greenhouse is set to open on Friday.

 

The greenhouse is located on the south side of Cloverdale High School. The hours this spring will be 2:30 - 5 p.m. Monday - Thursday and Saturday 9-12. 

 

Students will be offering customized planting, so customers can bring pots and they do the planting.

 

Greenhouse hours starting the first of May will be Monday-Friday 2-5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 

 

Hoosiers encouraged to call 211 with storm damage reports

Hoosiers impacted by the severe storms that occurred overnight on March 31-April 1, 2023, are asked to contact Indiana 211 to report damages and help with a damage assessment. 

 

To help establish a comprehensive assessment of damages, residents can call 211 or visit the Indiana 211 website.

 

Agricultural damage should be reported to the Purdue Extension. 

A glance at forestry management

There are many benefits to having a healthy forest. Some of these benefits include being a habitat for wildlife, watershed protection, recreational space, and timber income. However, a lot of forest are not managed properly and suffer from neglect. Forest that are neglected may not have ideal plant species growing in them, may not be a suitable habitat for wildlife, is a stressful environment for plant life, can be overly dense and populated with slow growing trees, and does not provide the owner with a source of income.

A common way to protect, sustain, and improve forest health is through timber stand improvement (TSI). TSI involves a combination of tree thinning, girdling and pruning for multiple resource benefits with an emphasis on timber and wildlife values depending on stand location and site-specific management objectives. To start doing TSI, you should begin by developing a forestry management plan where you identify your goals and/or objectives for your forest. Some potential goals and/or objectives include:

  • Improve overall forest health
  • Increase potential timber income
  • Enhanced hunting
  • Control soil erosion
  • Develop alternative income enterprises such as maple syrup, forest herbs, etc.

If you would like to know more about developing a forest management plan, timber stand improvement, or ways to improve the health of your forest, please consider participating in the Forestry Management Workshop Series. This program series will be on April 13, 20, and 27 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Ivy Tech Community College in Greencastle, IN. The final session will take place on April 29 from 9:00-10:30 am at a local forest near Cloverdale, IN. The sessions include:

  • Session 1 – Forestry Management Plans
  • Session 2 – Controlling Invasive Plants
  • Session 3 – Timber Management & Sales
  • Session 4 – Timber Stand Improvements in Action

The cost to participate in this 4-session program is $10 per person. To register call 765-653-8411 or go online at https://tinyurl.com/ForestMgmt23 Presenters include Purdue Extension staff and industry representatives. This program is sponsored by Purdue Extension and the Putnam County Soil & Water Conservation District.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming Events:

April 4 – Exploring 4-H, 6pm, Putnam County Fairgrounds

April 13, 20, 27, & 29 – Forestry Management Workshop Series, 6-8 pm, Ivy Tech, $20, register at https://tinyurl.com/ForestyMgmt23

April 16 – Camp Counselor Applications due for 4-H Camp register via 4honline account

April 18 – Basics of Home Food Preservation (Freezing and Dehydrating), 6pm, Hendricks Co. Fairgrounds, register at 317-745-2555 ext. 3

May 6 – Plant Auction, Goat Barn, Auction starts at 10 am

May 15 – All 4-H livestock/animal registrations must be entered in 4honline (firm deadline)

May 15 – Last day sign up for 4-H Camp via 4honline

 

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