With the coming of warmer weather, off-road vehicle (ORV) enthusiasts are eager to ride. Indiana Conservation Officers reminds the public to operate ORVs responsibly.

remember to follow these safety rules:

• Always wear a Department of Transportation (DOT)-compliant helmet. All riders under 18 years of age are required by law to wear a helmet while operating an ORV. Goggles, long sleeves, long pants, and over-the-ankle boots are also recommended.
• Never operate or ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Never carry a passenger on an ORV designated for one occupant, and don’t ride with more than one passenger on an ORV specifically designed for two occupants.
• Children should only ride ORVs if they meet the minimum age designated by the manufacturer of that ORV.
• Riders younger than 14 years of age are required to be supervised by an adult at all times when riding an ORV.
• ORVs are primarily designed to be operated off-road and should be operated at a speed where the operator can control the ORV and stop in time to avoid a collision.
• On side-by-side style ORVs, in addition to helmets and other safety equipment, seat belts should be worn by the operator and any passengers.

To learn more about ORV safety visit offroad-ed.com/indiana and register for a comprehensive online off-road recreational vehicle course.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a new traffic signal is coming to the intersection of U.S. 36 and State Road 75 in New Winchester.

Beginning on or after Monday, April 29, crews will begin lane closures on U.S. 36, which will alternate between the eastbound and westbound travel lanes between County Road 775 W and C.R. 600 W. This will allow crews to install the signal at this location.

Work is expected to last until the fall but is weather permitting and subject to change.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces alternating lane closures will be coming to State Road 236 in Putnam County near Roachdale.

Beginning on or after Monday, April 29, crews will begin lane closures between County Road 425 E and C.R. 625 E. The closures will switch between the eastbound and westbound lanes as needed, with a temporary traffic signal directing traffic. The speed limit in this area will be reduced to 45 miles per hour during construction.

During the lane closures, crews will be doing small structure maintenance in the area. Work is expected to last until the end of May but is weather permitting and subject to change.

Greencastle will host Heavy Trash Day on Saturday, May 4.

Spring installment of the 2024 Putnam County tax statements is due Friday, May 10.

The fall installment is due Tuesday, November 12.

If you do not receive your bill, you can request a duplicate by contacting the Putnam County Treasurer’s Office via phone 765-653-4510 or e-mail treasureroffice@co.putnam.in.us . Failure to receive a statement will not relieve you of paying taxes and / or penalties that may be due.

Taxes may be paid at any of the following banks located in Putnam County: First Financial, First National, Old National, North Salem State, Everwise Credit Union, or Tri-County. You must bring your tax statement if you want to pay at the bank. The banks will not accept payment after the due date.

Taxes may also be paid online at https://enoticesonline.com/put or https://www.certifiedpayments.net/ using bureau code 3115129.

If you mail your payment, the envelope must be postmarked on or before the due date to ensure a penalty is not assessed. The Putnam County Treasurer’s Office will accept cash, check, money order, or credit/debit cards in the office. Payment by debit/credit card or electronic check will incur a processing fee. There is also a drop box located on the east side of the courthouse building to drop check or money order payments.

As Indiana’s planting season quickly approaches, the Indiana State Police emphasizes the importance of cautious driving and heightened awareness when encountering farm equipment on the roads.

With farmers preparing to work their fields, large agricultural machinery will soon become a common sight along rural routes and highways.

The presence of farm equipment on roadways poses unique challenges for both drivers and operators. These machines are often large, slow-moving, and may obstruct visibility. Therefore, it is imperative for all road users to remain vigilant and patient.

To ensure the safety of everyone on the road, the Indiana State Police offer the following tips:

1. Stay alert: Keep a lookout for slow-moving farm equipment, especially on rural roads. Be prepared to slow down or stop if necessary.

2. Maintain a safe distance: Keep a safe distance when following farm equipment. These vehicles may need to make sudden stops or turns.

3. Pass with caution: If you need to pass farm equipment, do so with extreme caution. Only pass when it is safe and legal to do so, ensuring there is enough room to maneuver safely.

4. Use signals: Signal your intentions early when approaching or passing farm equipment. This allows operators to anticipate your movements and adjust accordingly.

5. Be patient: Remember that farmers are working to feed our communities. Exercise patience and understanding, as delays caused by farm equipment are temporary.

6. Watch for turning vehicles: Farm equipment may need to make wide turns. Stay back and give them ample space to complete their maneuvers safely.

7. Obey traffic laws: Adhere to all traffic laws and regulations, including speed limits and passing zones. Avoid distractions and remain focused on the road.

 The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a temporary closure on U.S. 136 near New Ross. 

Beginning on or after Friday, April 26, crews will be closing U.S. 136 between County Road 1050 E and C.R. 600 S.

During the closure, crews will be doing bridge maintenance over Big Raccoon Creek. The closure is expected to last a couple of weeks but is weather permitting and subject to change. 

The Humane Society of Putnam County will host a free microchip clinic is back for Putnam County residents.     

The clinic is on May 11, 9 - 11 a.m. As in the past, it will be a drive thru event again.

If anyone is wanting to volunteer for this event, please email putnamcoanimalcare@gmail.com.

An area state trooper was recognized for his record and achievements.

The Indiana State Police held its annual awards ceremony in Indianapolis to recognize top-performing individuals.

Superintendent Doug Carter presented the Trooper of the District award to Trooper Tyler Turchi. Turchi is a 5-year veteran of the Indiana State Police and primarily patrols Vermillion and Parke County. He was also recognized as the top DUI arrest Trooper of the Putnamville District with 36 DUI arrests.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces temporary lane closures on U.S. 231 in Greencastle. 

Beginning on or after Friday, April 19, crews will be closing the southbound lane of U.S. 231 through town between Earp Street and Maple Avenue. This is part of a project that will be addressing road rehabilitation needs between Bloomington Street and North Jackson Street.

During this next phase of construction, crews will be working on a storm sewer installation, a new water main, paving, as well as curb and gutter work. Work on this part of the project is expected to run until late November but is weather dependent and subject to change.

The official detour around this project will be U.S. 231 to eastbound/westbound U.S. 40 or State Road 240 to northbound/southbound S.R. 75 to eastbound/westbound U.S. 36 to U.S. 231.

In coordination with National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, the Greencastle Police Department and Putnam County Sheriff’s Department will be taking unused prescription drugs at the Greencastle Police Department, 600 N. Jackson St, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces alternating lane closures on I-70 in Putnam and Morgan counties. 

Beginning on or after Monday, April 15, crews will have lane closures in effect on I-70 eastbound and westbound between U.S. 231 (Cloverdale) and County Road 1100 W (Little Point, Morgan County). 

During the closures, crews will be doing shoulder work and drainage ditch correction. Work is expected to last until the summer but is weather-dependent and subject to change.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces temporary lane closures coming to State Road 42 near Cloverdale, between County Road 1200 S and C.R.

1275 S.

Beginning on or after Tuesday, April 9, crews will be putting temporary lane closures in effect with flagging operations so pipelines can be replaced in the area.

Work is expected to last until the early part of July but is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Weather permitting, a test of the tornado sirens is planned for today, April 5, in Putnam County.

The test is scheduled for 11 a.m.

In observance of National Safe Digging Month in April, NIPSCO today shared results from a recent national survey of 1,000 U.S. homeowners revealing that more than half plan to complete an outdoor do-it-yourself project that involves digging in the next year.

However, over half of those planning projects do not intend to notify 811 ahead of time, putting themselves and their communities at risk.

Thousands of buried utilities are damaged each year due to digging activities. Safe Digging Month reminds homeowners and contractors that digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injuries, inconvenient service disruptions, and costly repairs when natural gas, electric, communications, water, and sewer lines are damaged.

Making a free locate request online at Indiana811.org or by calling 811 at least two full working days before digging will help maintain essential utility service while keeping excavators and their communities safe by reducing the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried lines.

After initial contact with 811, professional locators will mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint, or both. Each color of paint and/or flag represents a unique type of underground utility. The flags may be removed once the project is completed.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, in collaboration with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Aging, announced today that nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Golden Hoosier Award.

This is the 17th year of the program.

“Our state is filled with generous Hoosiers who are constantly giving back to their neighborhoods and communities,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "The Golden Hoosier Award is an amazing opportunity to honor those who have dedicated their lives to serving Indiana communities." 

The award began in 2008 and annually honors senior Hoosiers for their lifetime of service and commitment to their communities. Since the start of the program, more than 200 Hoosiers have been honored. 

To be eligible, the nominee must currently be an Indiana resident, age 65 or older and have been a volunteer in the community for the past three years.

The deadline for submitting applications is Sunday, July 14. Nomination forms can be accessed electronically by visiting in.gov/lg/lt-governor-initiatives/golden-hoosier-award.

A ceremony honoring those selected will be held later this year.

Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) announced the beginning of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for students grades 7 through 12.

The competition is open to all qualifying students in Indiana’s 4th Congressional District who are looking to display their artistic passions.

“I’m pleased to announce that my office is currently accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition,” said Rep. Baird. “This is an amazing opportunity for aspiring young artists to showcase their talents and display their original work in our nation’s capital. I hope every student in the fourth district with an artistic background will send in a submission, whether they’re preparing for art school or just beginning to develop their skills.”

The winner of the 2024 competition will have their artwork on display in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year and earn a free trip to Washington, D.C. to see their work on display. The winning artwork is also featured on the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Art Competition Page.

How to participate:

Students, teachers, and parents are encouraged to submit one piece of original art to the district office in Danville, along with their student release form.

All entries MUST include the Student Information and Release Form for the competition.

The submission deadline is Monday, May 6, 2024, at 4 PM EST.

Please visit the website for more information and to download the student release form.

Submissions can be mailed or dropped off at the office. As the winner will be displayed in Washington, D.C. for a full year, students should submit a piece that will not be needed for other purposes.

Office of Congressman Jim Baird
355 S. Washington St
Danville, Indiana 46122

The Student Information and Release Form can be found here.

Eligibility requirements:
All students in Indiana’s 4th Congressional District grades 7 through 12, are eligible to submit their work. Artwork must be two-dimensional. Each framed artwork can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. Even when framed, it must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds.

Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork include:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

• Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (it is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed).

• Collages: must be two dimensional.

• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints.

• Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

• Computer-generated art.

• Photographs.

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement) that was created by someone other than the student is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting, drawing, etc.).

It's that time of the year again -- Kindergarten Roundup activities are being planned for several Putnam County schools. 

At South Putnam Schools, kindergarten roundup will be held at both Fillmore Elementary and Central Elementary School.

Fillmore Elementary will hold its event Thursday and parents can register for timeslots by reaching out to Jayna Haldeman at 765-246-6136 or emailing jhaldeman@sputnam.k12.in.us. Central Elementary's event will be April 4 and parents can register by contacting Tina Cook at 765-653-6175 or emailing tcook@sputnam.k12.in.us. 

Students who turn five on or before Aug. 1 will be eligible to attend kindergarten and at both events, tours will be given, parents and students can meet staff and screenings will also be conducted. 

Greencastle Schools to hold Kindergarten Roundup

Greencastle Schools will also hold kindergarten roundup at Deer Meadow Primary and Ridpath Elementary. 

The festivities will take place April 2 and APril 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at both school. Those attending will be able to meet teachers, tour the building, receive a free book and shirt. 

Parents are asked to bring student's birth certificate, two proofs of residency and shot records with them. 

As the weather starts to usher in spring conditions, things are changing outside the Greencastle City Hall when it comes to landscaping. 

According to mayor Lynda Dunbar, an urban pollinator garden is coming to the outside of the facility, and Dunbar believes the changes will be a welcomed addition. 

"There's been a lot of trash and poison ivy. A lot of plants have found a new home at the cemetery. It's not popular with some folks, but it is in the best interest of city hall. It will be more park like," Dunbar told the city council earlier this month at its meeting. 

Dunbar said it will have the same effects as other pollinator gardens, and is something she is excited about. 
 

The first year mayor said it is important city hall looks attractive to the residents of Greencastle.