The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the temporary closure of State Road 46 near Cory.

Starting on or after October 31, S.R. 46 will be closed between Dearborn Street (Vigo/Clay County line) and County Road 525 W.

During the closure, crews will be replacing culverts in this area.

The closure will run from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily and is expected to last through early to mid-November, weather permitting.

The official detour for this closure will be I-70 to U.S. 40 to S.R. 59, which runs for around 20 miles.

Greencastle's Robe Ann Park will be off limits to vehicular traffic Saturday from 2 p.m. -  8 p.m.

The Greencastle Parks & Recreation Department will be preparing for and hosting the Boo Bash Trick or Treat on Saturday.

Handicap accessible parking ONLY will be available on a limited basis. In those cases, drivers should enter the Wood Street entrance.

Boo Bash booth participants will also enter via Wood Street with parking pass.

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The annual Indiana Horticultural Conference and Expo (IHC) will take place Jan. 22-23 at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds.

Vegetable and fruit growers are invited to join Purdue Agriculture specialists for two days of educational sessions and networking with fellow Indiana and Midwestern farmers and vendors.

Scheduled educational session topics will cover fruit and vegetable production, food safety, controlled environment agriculture and business marketing. IHC’s annual event will also include a cider-tasting contest and a silent auction to benefit the fruit and vegetable Extension and research fund.

Stephen Meyers, IHC chair and assistant professor of weed science in the Purdue Agriculture Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, said attendees will notice a more streamlined program in 2024, with fruit and vegetable tracks each occurring in a single day. The Hendricks County Fairgrounds will offer a larger venue for the event, giving attendees further opportunities to meet with additional vendors.

 “With all of this, we hope to return to the historical core mission of this conference by bringing fruit and vegetable growers, researchers, extensionists and allied industry members from all different parts of the state together to learn in a spirit of fellowship and improve the lives and livelihoods of Hoosier farmers,” Meyers said. “We look forward to building on the success of the 2023 conference.”

Credits will be available for private pesticide applicators, commercial pesticide applicators and certified crop advisors. Certified private pesticide applicators can attend recertification sessions for an additional $10 on-site fee by cash or check only. Participants will need a private applicator license number to receive recertification credit.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at https://www.indianahortconference.org/sponsorship/.

Registration is open online through Jan. 15. Attendee registration is $125, which will include lunch, coffee and dessert breaks, and an evening social. The Hendricks County Fairgrounds are located at 1900 E. Main St., Danville.

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The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) highlights the need for all Hoosier children younger than age 7 to be screened for lead exposure during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, recognized Oct. 22-28.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, House Enrolled Act 1313 requires that all Indiana healthcare providers determine whether children age 6 and younger have been tested for lead poisoning and to offer screening. Through August 2023, there has been a 21% increase in unique children tested compared to the same period in 2022 and a 393% overall increase in confirmed cases of elevated blood lead levels. This has led to 81.9% more children receiving resources and support from lead case managers than in all of 2022.

“Lead poisoning can look like a lot of other things like attention deficit disorder, ADHD or even autism because it doesn’t present in a specific way,” said Paul Krievins, director of the Indiana Department of Health Lead and Healthy Homes Division. “Testing is critical to identifying and removing sources of lead and ensuring children exposed to lead receive needed care and treatment.”

Data show that no amount of lead in the blood is safe, and children age 6 and younger are most vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure because their bodies use the toxic lead in brain and bone development. Young children are also more likely to be exposed to lead through placing their hands which may be contaminated by lead dust into their mouths. Lead dust often originates from deteriorated lead-based paint in older homes, but lead can occur naturally in soil and can be found in drinking water fed through lead pipes. Signs of lead exposure can include damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavior problems, developmental delays and hearing and speech problems.

Visit Indiana Lead Free at https://indianaleadfree.org for more information about the effects of lead poisoning and the importance of testing, or the Indiana Department of Health Lead and Healthy Homes Division at https://www.in.gov/health/lead-and-healthy-homes-division/home/.

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For the Cloverdale Lions Club, Monday evening was a moment of reflection of the past and towards the future during its 26th Annual Appreciation Dinner. 

Cover photo: Cloverdale Lions Club President Dakota Lanham, left, and Jenna Lanham, right, present Vivian Whitaker, center, with the Cloverdale Lions Club Civic Award during Monday's Appreciation Dinner.

The night featured guest speaker, Nick Xinopoulos, past International Director of Lions Club, who reminded those in attendance of the work they do daily, especially when it comes to vision screenings. 

Nick Xinopoulos, past International Director of Lions Club

He told a story about an interaction he once had with a third grade student at an elementary school in Danville, who had eyesight of 20/200.

"She couldn't even see anything. I asked her if she can see the blackboard and she said her teacher moved her to the front of the class. From what I've seen, there is no way possible she could see that. I asked her if she ever told her mommy and daddy she has a hard time seeing and she said, "yes, but my mommy told me we can only afford one pair of glasses and that's for my daddy to go to work," Xinopoulos told the audience. 

The Cloverdale Lions recently received an $11,500 donation from 100+ Men Who Care of Putnam County and those funds were used to do vision screenings and purchase vision charts, according to president Dakota Lanham.

Lanahm said the Cloverdale Lions Club was able to screen 1,075 students in four days. 

The evening was capped with the announcement of the annual Civic Award, which was awarded to Vivian Whitaker, whose father, Charlie Whitaker, was one of the founding members of the club. 

In introducing Whitaker, Jenna Lanham, said the award began in 1995 as a way for the club to say thank you to individuals for their efforts in helping maintain and improve the quality of life in the Cloverdale area. 

Whitaker is a 1968 graduate of Cloverdale and a retired educator, principal and serves as principal of the Cloverdale School Board. 

Whitaker recalled the first time she ever attended a Lions Club meeting with her father. 

"It was with my dad on Father and Sons Night, and it was out at the Legion. He took me because the guest speaker that night was Carl Erskine. He is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. I was never a Dodgers fan, but I've always been a Carl Erskine fan. Dad said, at that time, you know more about baseball than any of the other little boys who are going to be there, you're going," Whitaker said. 

Whitaker said she hasn't done much, but it is the little things that have added up that make the impact. 

"It is always the little things. I look around at what people have said I have done around here. I haven't done much. I've done a lot of little things and those little things start to count at some point in time. If we can make our world a little better, than that's what we were put on this Earth to do. I am incredibly humbled, incredibly honored and the group I have joined tonight, I look at that list and there is only one person I do not know, but all of you have done something in your life to make my life better and those around us better," Whitaker said. 

The next meeting for the Cloverdale Lions is November 27. 

Since announcing a national blood and platelet shortage a month ago, thousands of donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to help rebuild the American Red Cross blood and platelet supply.

As that generosity continues, the Red Cross is working around-the-clock to ensure patients have access to lifesaving transfusions and must collect 10,000 additional blood and platelet donations – over and above expectations – each week over the next month to sufficiently meet hospital needs.

Donors of all blood types are urged to book a time to give now, especially those with type O blood or those giving platelets. 

To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visitRedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

To encourage more blood and platelet donations, the Red Cross is offering new incentives to donors over the next month. All who come to give through Nov. 9 will receive a $10 gift card by email to a restaurant merchant of their choice to enjoy lunch on the Red Cross. They’ll also be automatically entered to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners – one chosen at random each week. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Lunch.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines don’t affect donor eligibility

As cold and flu season quickly approaches, the Red Cross is reminding donors that they can still give blood or platelets after receiving a flu vaccine, so long as they are feeling healthy and well on the day of their donation. Likewise, there is no deferral or wait time for those receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Spencer

10/25/2023: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Owen Valley High School

_______________

Greencastle

11/6/2023: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Student Union Building

A free math and science homework help tutoring service provided by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students has expanded its evening hours and added Spanish-speaking tutors on Tuesday nights to help even more Indiana students during the 2023-24 school year.

The AskRose Homework Help program is now available as early as 5 p.m. and until 10 p.m. (Eastern Time) Sunday through Thursday for tutoring sessions with students in grades six through 12. Assistance can be provided through computer screenshare, telephone call, email, or chat. Tutors can be accessed via the AskRose website, AskRose.org, or by calling 877-ASK-ROSE (877-275-7673).

About 100 Rose-Hulman students, attending the nation’s No. 1-ranked undergraduate engineering college, serve as tutors during each school year. They are specially selected upon faculty recommendations for their technical knowledge and ability to communicate with students of all skill and comprehension levels. Approximately 20 tutors are available each night and they have access to textbooks and many other resources to lend valuable assistance. The AskRose Homework Help program is certified by the National Tutoring Association.

Rather than give students the answers, AskRose tutors guide students through homework problems to help them better understand math and science concepts, the way they are taught in schools today.  

Student privacy is always protected, and students are never asked for their last name or telephone number.

The AskRose.org website also offers more than 500 resources available through videos and downloadable reference materials.

All AskRose Homework Help services are available at no cost to students and parents through Lilly Endowment Inc. support and financial assistance from Rose-Hulman.

Calcium is an essential mineral found in great abundance inthe body. 99% of all the calcium in the body isfound in the bones and teeth.

The remaining 1% is inthe blood.

How much calcium is too much?It is recommended that you do not take more than the UL (tolerable upper limit) ofcalcium per day. UL for adult males and females is2,000-2,500 milligrams/day. High calcium intakes can lead to constipation,an increased chance for developing calcium kidney stones, andmay inhibit the absorption of iron and zinc from food. Consider talking to a medical provider to determine how much calcium consumption is best for you.

How should I get my calcium?The best way to get your calcium is from the foods you eat.A good source of calciumcontributes at least 100 milligrams of calcium in a standardserving. Some good food sources of calcium are: milk and yogurt (300-450 mg), and dark green leafy vegetables (100-200 mg).

For people who cannot consume enough calcium from foodand beverages, and areunable to make changes in their eatinghabits, calcium supplementation may be necessary to obtainadequate calcium intakes.

What increases calcium absorption?The calcium you consume from your diet or as a supplementis absorbed by the body in the small intestine. Not all the calciumyou eat will be absorbed, some will pass through your bodyand be excreted as waste. A few ideas to increase the chance of absorption include:

• Acidic conditions in the intestine-Calcium carbonate requires an acidic environment in order to be dissolved in the intestine and absorbed into the blood. Stomach acid production increases in the presence of food, creating an acidic environment. Therefore, calcium carbonate supplements should be taken with a meal. Calcium citrate does not require the presence of extra stomach acid to dissolve and be absorbed, and can be taken on an empty or full stomach.
• Vitamin D-Calcium absorption is dependent on an adequate level of the active form of vitamin D. Often vitamin D is supplemented, along with calcium. Vitamin D supplements are usually not necessary because vitamin D is available from vitamin D fortified milk, foods such as fish and egg yolks, and exposure to sunlight.
• Estrogen-Estrogen is a hormone that plays an important role in helping increase calcium absorption. After menopause, estrogen levels drop and so may calcium absorption.
• Low calcium intakes-Your body absorbs calcium less efficiently as your intake increases, therefore it is best to take your calcium in smaller doses throughout the day to aid absorption. You should not take more than 500 mg of calcium at one time and allow 4-6 hours between doses.
• Type of supplements-One factor affecting calcium absorption from supplement tablets is how well the calcium tablet dissolves. To ensure you are taking a supplement that will dissolve in your intestine, take one that meets the U.S. Pharmacopeia’s (USP) standards for dissolution. The USP letters on the label indicate that the supplement meets the USP standards for the amount of elemental calcium in a tablet and how well the tablet dissolves. According to USP standards, a calcium tablet must contain 90-110% of the amount of elemental calcium listed on the supplement label and must dissolve in 30-40 minutes.

What type of calcium supplement is best?Try to consume calcium from foods or beverages. If youtake calcium supplements, calcium citrate and calciumcarbonate are the best choices because they are easyto find, contain relatively large amounts of elementalcalcium, and dissolve well in the body.

Source: Arizona Cooperative Extension (2017)

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:

Nov. 5 – Putnam 4-H Member Awards/Volunteer Recognition Program, 2pm, Fairgrounds

Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 – Dining with Diabetes, 12pm, Virtual, Register at 765-653-8411

Nov. 10 – Office Closed for Veteran’s Day holiday

Nov. 16 – Staying Health as you Age, 6pm, Fairgrounds York Auto Building

There are many things that make fall time in Indiana great. One of those things is the drastic change in leaf color that can be seen while driving down the road. Another is the sweet, homemade goodies that can be made from fall time fruits. Persimmons are a great fall fruit that many use to make pudding.

Persimmons are native to the southeastern United States. They grow wild over much of southern Indiana. The native persimmon variety is known as Diospyros virginiana. It is a small tree that can reach up to 50 feet high. It is a slow growing tree that can be kept smaller if you prune it. Often, you will find the native variety growing in abandoned fields and fence rows. They prefer well-drained soil. 

The overall shape of a native persimmon tree is pleasing to the eye. However, the most beneficial part of a native persimmon tree is the fruit. The fruit of the native persimmon is oval and has tiny leaves called calyx that surround the location where it attaches to the tree. The calyx is considered to be decorative. Once the fruit is ripe, it will become orange in color and be about 1/2 inch in diameter. 

If you eat the fruit before it is ripe, it will make your mouth pucker. Once it is ripe, it will be a sweet, mellow taste. There are myths that suggest you should never pick persimmons before it frosts. Those myths suggest the fruit will be inedible until they feel the effects of a frost. However, many varieties of persimmons are actually ripe long before frost has a chance to occur. If you wait until the frost comes, you are liable to lose the fruit to wildlife who like to consume them. If you would pick persimmons before they are ripe, they will continue to ripen if you allow them to sit out.

I’ve been asked a few times, “Why does my persimmon tree not have any fruit?” Well, there are two possible explanations. The first is the persimmon tree is not mature enough. Some varieties will not produce fruit until they are at least 10 years old. The other reason is a little bit more complicated.

Native persimmon trees are dioecious which means the tree produces only male or female flowers. However, both male and female trees are necessary to produce a fruit crop. Only the female tree bear fruit once it has been pollinated by the male flowers. Therefore, you need both male and female trees. In cases where you have only one tree or a few trees but don’t get any fruit, it could be related to a pollination problem. To see if this is the case, in late May or early June, look at the blooms. If the blooms on all your trees have only stamens (or pistils), then you have only male trees (or female trees), which will not be able to produce any fruit.

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

Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 – Dining with Diabetes, 12pm, Virtual, Register at 765-653-8411

Nov. 16 – Staying Health as you Age, 6pm, Fairgrounds York Auto Building

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a temporary closure of around two miles of State Road 42 in Clay County.

Starting on or after Monday, October 23, S.R. 42 will be closed from County Road 300 W to S.R. 59.

During the closure, crews will be working on replacing culvert pipes.

The closure will run from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.

Crews expect to be finished with the work by early November, weather permitting.

The ballots are set for municipal elections across Putnam County, as voters will decide city and town councils in Bainbridge, Fillmore, Cloverdale, Greencastle and Roachdale. 

Early voting kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 11 and will continue until noon on Nov. 6 across Putnam County ahead of election day on Nov. 7. 

Early voting is open to any registered voters living in the city or town limits of the areas having a municipal election and voting is taking place on the second floor of the Putnam County Courthouse Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. In addition to the courthouse, the vote center at the Bainbridge Community Center will be open both Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. until noon. 

In order to vote, voters will have provide a government issued photo ID. 

Furthermore, anyone wishing to vote must be registered by Oct. 10.

If anyone wishes to request an absentee ballot be mailed, they have to fill out an application for an absentee ballot, which can be obtained at the Voter Registration Office or online at www.in.gov/sos/elections/. The deadline to receive an application for an absentee ballot to be mailed is midnight Oct. 26. 

On election day, voters can cast a ballot at the following vote centers: 

Putnam County Courthouse, National Guard Armory in Greencastle, Bainbridge Community Building and the Cloverdale American Legion. Anyone registered to vote can vote at any vote center across the county. 

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A temporary closure was announced for State Road 157 in Clay County between Clay City and Coal City. 

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, beginning on or after Monday, October 16, S.R. 157 will be closed between the 14 and 23-mile markers during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

INDOT crews will be working in the area to replace multiple pipes and expect the project will be finished within a week. 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced several appointments to various state boards and commissions.

One of those appointed people is from Putnam County.

Board of Trustees of Vincennes University

The governor made four reappointments to the board including:

• Gayle Baugh (Greencastle), elementary and special education major, who will serve until October 6, 2024.

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The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles reminds that BMV branches have new hours.

This change enables the BMV to provide service six days a week in many areas across the state. The shift in operating hours is in response to increasing customer preference to use out of branch transaction options as well as to provide BMV team members opportunity to participate in critical on the job training to ensure efficient and accurate transaction processing.

You can visit BMV: New Branch Hours (in.gov) to plan your visits on or after Monday. This page provides a list by location with new operating hours. Customers can complete an online transaction or visit a BMV Connect kiosk 24/7.

To login to myBMV.com or find the nearest kiosk, please visit IN.gov/BMV.

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Feeling the pressure of busy schedules yet? Give your mealtime motivation a boost by trying the following tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

Keep it simple. On extra busy nights, prioritize recipes with fewer ingredients. With input from your children, create a small collection of family favorites to help you get in and out of the kitchen in less than 30 minutes. Cycle through these recipes regularly, and pretty soon both grocery shopping and meal prep will be a snap.

Choose ingredients that do double duty. Save shopping time by stocking up on ingredients you can use for more than one meal throughout the week. Cook two pounds of lean ground beef, instead of one. Use half for sloppy joes on whole grain buns one night, and reheat the other half to throw in a casserole the next night.

Drive past the drive-thru. A trip to a favorite take-out place is lovely, on occasion. Depending on your menu choices, however, it could be taking away from your family’s health in more ways than one. A semi-homemade meal that includes lean protein, whole grains and vegetables will provide great nutrition, and hopefully leftovers (Oh, hello savings!). Keep it semi-homemade by using canned or frozen vegetables and store-bought sauces or spice packets. The key is to read labels in order to choose the versions low in extra salt, added sugar, and saturated fat.

Make family meals an expectation. Whenever your schedules do ease up, tell every family member to be home for dinner at a set time on days when it works. The hope is that everyone will start to look forward to this time together, making it easier to prioritize.

Make it enjoyable. Add some excitement to family meals with theme dinners. Use a checkered tablecloth for an Italian-inspired meal, and bust out the chopsticks when serving an Asian-inspired dish. Dine al fresco (that’s in the open air) on the back patio, and bring a cheat sheet of fun conversation starters to liven up your family discussions. You might learn something new about one another.

Start small. You don’t have to drive past the drive-thru every time to make family meal gains. Set a goal to limit take-out to a couple times a week. If you have a set schedule, designate your busiest couple days for these meals each week. Make a commitment to prepare a semi-homemade meal at home at least one night per week. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a new tradition and setting new, bigger family meal goals.

Conversation Starters for Family Fun

Does mealtime seem so busy with your young children that sometimes you forget to "talk" as a family?Pick a “starter” question to begin mealtime conversations that will create great memories, too! You can write these on index cards or slips of paper and place them in a jar. Then take turns drawing a card at a meal and have all family members answer the questions – even the adults. Be creative!

• Whom did you have fun with today? What did you do?
• If you could be any type of animal, what would you be and why?
• What family tradition would you like for us to start?
• What is your favorite family tradition we already do?
• If you could be president, what is the first thing you would do?
• What was the nicest thing you did for someone today?
• What was the nicest thing someone did for you today?
• Tell us about your favorite food without using the name.
• If we had a time machine, where would you go and why?
• Would you rather be a dog, a bird, or a horse? Why?
• When you feel sad, what cheers you up?
• What crunchy food do you like the best?
• Share something new you learned today.

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 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm. 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

Oct. 9 – Extension Office Closed, County Holiday

Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 – Dining with Diabetes, 12pm, Virtual, Register at 765-653-8411

Nov. 16 – Staying Health as you Age, 6pm, Fairgrounds York Auto Building

Get the most recent Putnam County Post headlines delivered to your email. Go to putnamcountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.