The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) released the 2021 state graduation rates, with data showing 86.69% of students in the Class of 2021 graduating.

"Across our state, our educators, families and community leaders are working to be difference-makers in our students' lives, preparing them not only for graduation but for the rapidly-changing world that awaits,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Looking ahead into 2022 and beyond, we must continue to work together to ensure our students earn their high school diploma and have access to intentional post-secondary credentials in high school. This mission takes all of us as we strive to make an impact on our students' lives, now and well into the future."

State graduation rates in Putnam County:

South Putnam - 97.89%

North Putnam - 97.83%

Cloverdale - 90.24%

Greencastle - 90.65%

A spreadsheet with statewide-, corporation- and school-level graduation data is available here.

These graduation rates correspond with research that shows that the academic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are substantial. According to research from IDOE and the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, Inc., the academic impact ranges from moderate to significant across schools, academic subjects and demographic groups. In response, IDOE launched several accelerated learning programs, which are still underway and will be joined by additional efforts planned for next year.

This year, nearly 40% of Hoosier students graduated with a Core 40 honors diploma (academic, technical or both) or an International Baccalaureate diploma. Additionally, more than 78% graduated without requiring a waiver from passing the Graduation Qualifying Exam – an increase of nearly two percentage points from 2019.

Due to differences between federal and state accountability equations and standards, IDOE also released 2021 federal graduation rates. In 2021, Indiana’s federal graduation rate was 85.75%.

As the North Split Interchange closure progresses, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced today a series of closures and traffic restrictions to begin in January 2022.

Starting on or after January 3 through January 25, weather permitting, the ramp from Meridian/11th Street to Delaware Street will experience daytime lane restrictions Monday through Thursday from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. Both the right-hand and left-hand lanes at the intersection of Meridian and 11th Street will be closed as crews work to improve overhead traffic signals. Motorists will be directed to the center lane to progress through the intersection. Minimal traffic impacts are anticipated throughout the duration of these restrictions.

Also starting on or after January 3, Michigan Street will close through January 17 and 10th Street will close through January 15, all weather permitting. Michigan Street will close under I-65 between Davidson Street and Pine Street for overhead structure demolition. Motorists traveling west on Michigan Street will be detoured to Rural Street, then directed west on Washington Street to College Avenue.

10th Street will close under I-65 and I-70 between College Avenue and Highland Avenue for overhead structure demolition and beam erection. Throughout the duration of this closure, motorists traveling eastbound and westbound will be detoured to 16th Street.

INDOT further reminds motorists the ramp from Delaware /11th Street to I-70 eastbound is scheduled to close on or after January 11. This closure will be in effect for approximately 60 days. Traffic will be detoured to West Street onto I-70 eastbound, or New York or Ohio streets to Pine Street onto I-70 eastbound.

Access to downtown Indianapolis will be maintained via: 

• I-70 westbound collector/distributor (C/D) ramp exit ramp to Michigan Street (13-ton declared vehicle weight restriction in effect) 
• Pine Street entrance ramp to I-70 eastbound from Ohio Street, Michigan Street and New York Street  
• I-65 northbound/I-70 eastbound exit ramp to Washington Street (13-ton declared vehicle weight restriction in effect) 
• I-65 northbound and southbound to Martin Luther King. Jr./West Street 
• I-65 southbound to Meridian Street 

• I-65 northbound to Meridian and Pennsylvania Streets 
• All existing ramps on I-70 west of the South Split 

INDOT encourages drivers to slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

Stay informed

For up-to-date project information, visit northsplit.com or text “NORTHSPLIT” to 468311. Follow the North Split project’s progress on social media at:

• Facebook: Facebook.com/NorthSplit

• Twitter: @NorthSplit
• Instagram: @IndyNorthSplit

Motorists can monitor road closures, road conditions, traffic alerts and see traffic cameras anywhere throughout the state by visiting INDOT’s Cars 511 website.

Starting Monday, January 10, through Friday, January 21, the City of Greencastle’s Department of Public Works will pick up Christmas trees for recycling.

Residents are asked to place trees out the day before their normal trash pickup  and to make sure the trees are free of lights, wires, decorations, strands, and plastic bags and to place the tree on the lawn next to the curb. For residents without a sidewalk or curb near their property, they should place the trees close to the street, not in the street.  Plastic or artificial trees will not be picked up.

Tree pickup will follow regular trash routes, running once each week. In the event of snow or ice, pick-up may be delayed while crews plow snow.

City residents who miss pickup or county residents wishing to recycle their trees can do so at the Yard Waste site located at 2363 South County Road 250 West. The Yard Waste site will be open from December 26 through January 31 during normal business hours and on Saturdays.

As the Indiana legislature returns to the Statehouse next week for the upcoming session, the lawsuit between the governor and lawmakers hangs over Indianapolis after the legislature overrode Governer Holcomb’s veto of a bill that allows lawmakers to call themselves into a special session to deal with an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The legal fight over the increased power Indiana legislators gave themselves to intervene during public health emergencies will be going before the state Supreme Court.  But that's months away.

Previously, only the governor could convene a special session. Holcomb's lawsuit argues that the Legislature is "usurping a power given exclusively to the governor" under the state constitution.

A Marion County judge upheld the new law.  After reviewing the ruling, Holcomb's lawyers filed an appeal asking the Indiana Supreme Court to take up the case in order to get “clarity and finality on this important issue.” 

So, what effect, if any, on the session that will begin and conclude before that?   

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch doesn’t think it will get in the way of lawmakers duty during the session.

Crouch says unprecedented times sometimes lead to disputes such as this one.

The Lt. Governor says it’s good the issue is going before the state’s highest court.

The Supreme Court's order sets an April 7 hearing for oral arguments in the case.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a potential scam where unsuspecting Hoosiers are being duped when booking campsites.

The public’s assistance is being sought in the investigation where a third party fraudulently advertises and rents campsites to Hoosiers, who then upon arrival, find the site they paid for not available.

Instances of this scam could date back as far as July 2021. 

If you have utilized a third party on social media for reserving a site for this upcoming year, you may be a victim of this scam.

State properties of interest include Trine State Recreation Area, Spring Mill State Park, Morgan-Monroe State Forest, Greene Sullivan State Forest, and McCormick’s Creek State Park.

If you believe you have been or are currently a victim of this scam, please contact our Indiana Conservation Officer Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536.

Hoosiers are reminded to only make reservations for DNR properties via the official DNR website at Camp.IN.gov or the DNR Reservation Line at 866-622-6746.     

Details of the armed robbery near Camby are steadily coming in as the investigation continues.

The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department now confirms a shot was fired in the Key Connection Real Estate office. No one was injured during the robbery.

The original call came in around 3:20 pm Monday afternoon. It was reported there was a shot heard in the vicinity of 8000 block of South SR 67 near Camby at Key Connection Real Estate. 

Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department is still actively investigating the incident.

There have been no reports of injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

Few details have been made available as of this report about an armed robbery in Hendricks County.

The Hendricks County Sheriff's Department has confirmed they are investigating the report of an armed robbery in the area of in the 8000 block of South SR 67 near Camby at Key Connection Real Estate. 

The call came in around 3:20 pm, Monday as well as fired in the vicinity of the business.

There have been no reports of injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

Few details have been made available as of this report about an armed robbery in Hendricks County.

The Hendrick's County Sheriff's Department has confirmed in a press release that about 3:20 pm Monday a report of a robbery came in.  The Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the report of an armed robbery and that a shot was fired in the vicinity of a business in Camby.

There have been no reports of injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

See live bald eagles and other birds of prey and learn about their behavior during Turkey Run’s annual Eagles in Flight Weekend Jan. 28-30.

Events include live birds of prey demonstrations, songbird banding, eagle nest driving tours, and an owl prowl. There will also be an online auction supported by the Friends of Turkey Run and Shades State Parks at 32auctions.com/EIF22 that will end at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 29. Auction bidders do not need to attend the Eagles in Flight Weekend. All proceeds go to supporting the parks.

Register for the event at eagles_in_flight_2022.eventbrite.com. Reservations at Turkey Run Inn can be made by calling 877-LODGES1 or by going to IndianaInns.com and using discount code 0128EF.

Standard park entrance fees of $7 per in-state vehicle and $9 per out-of-state vehicle apply.

Turkey Run State Park (on.IN.gov.turkeyrunsp) is at 8121 East Park Rd. Marshall, 47859.

The 8-unit apartment complex at 409 East Franklin Street in Greencastle suffered a structural fire Thursday morning.

A call came in just after 10:30 am due to smoke in a bathroom wall. When the Greencastle Fire Department arrived, smoke could be seen coming from a first floor apartment.

Several agencies assisted at the scene; Cloverdale Fire, Madison Fire, Fillmore Fire, Putnam County EMS, Greencastle Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, Duke Energy and Greencastle Municipal Utilities.

Bainbridge Fire and Reelsville fire covered the Greencastle station.

While the fire was quickly contained, it did damage four of the apartments, with the occupants of two units needing assistance from the American Red Cross as they could no longer occupy their apartments.

No injuries were reported.

Area airports will share in a portion of nearly $34 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration from funding made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

63 Indiana airports received funding that can be invested in runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects.

Putnam County Regional Airport - $159, 000

Crawfordsville Regional Airport - $159, 000

This is the first of five annual rounds of funding Indiana airports will receive.

Most Indiana tax forms for the 2022 Individual Income Tax season are now available online. However, the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) is reminding Hoosiers to wait until they receive their official tax documents and statements before filing their 2021 tax return.

All employers are required to provide Form W-2’s to employees by Jan. 31, 2022. Other forms may be needed to file an accurate tax return, including documents on freelance or gig income, business income, investments, interest, or prize winnings.

Employers may continue to adjust annual wage and deduction amounts before sending the official Form W-2 to employees and related wage information to the IRS and DOR. Customers who use the information on their last paycheck of the year or other unofficial sources of information for tax purposes risk having to file an amended tax return with adjusted numbers. This can delay any tax refund due, cause the taxpayer to repay a tax refund received in error, or pay penalties and interest on any additional amount owed.

To download tax forms and find more information on what documents are required to file an Indiana Individual Income Tax return, visit DOR’s website, dor.in.gov.

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) announced that it has detected the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus in a specimen collected from an unvaccinated Indiana resident. No additional details about the patient will be released due to privacy laws.

The variant was detected through the IDOH Laboratories’ variant surveillance program. The specimen was collected Dec. 9, and the patient was notified of the positive test. The sequencing to detect a variant was then conducted, and the Omicron variant was detected this weekend.

Indiana was one of just seven states in which Omicron had not yet been detected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Omicron variant is the latest mutation of the virus that causes COVID-19. The World Health Organization labeled it a variant of concern on Nov. 26. Studies have shown that the variant spreads more easily and faster than the Delta variant.

The CDC says COVID-19 vaccines are expected to continue to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death from the Omicron variant. Evidence shows that individuals who are fully vaccinated and have received a booster dose are best protected against this variant.

State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, said the latest mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus underscores the importance of getting vaccinated and taking other steps to prevent the spread of illness, especially as Hoosiers move indoors during the colder winter months and gather for the holidays.

“COVID-19 cases are on the rise across Indiana, and we do not want this variant to increase the burden on our already stressed healthcare system,” Box said. “While we are still learning about Omicron, we already have the tools and knowledge we need to protect ourselves and the people we love from COVID-19. I urge eligible Hoosiers to use those tools as soon as possible to limit the further spread of disease.”

The following steps can help protect Hoosiers from COVID-19, including the Omicron variant:

• Get fully vaccinated if eligible, and get a booster if you are age 16 or older
• Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth in indoor public settings and crowded outdoor settings
• Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
• Stay home if you are sick
• Wash your hands frequently
• Avoid crowds

Individuals aged 5 and older are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To find a vaccination site, visit www.ourshot.in.gov. Pediatric sites are marked with a red pin on the map. For testing information, visiting www.coronavirus.in.gov.

Information about the Omicron variant will be added to the COVID-19 dashboard at www.coronavirus.in.gov this week.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced an estimated 4.3 million taxpayers will receive a $125 refund after they file their 2021 taxes.

“Despite a pandemic, Indiana exceeded all expectations and closed the state fiscal year with an unprecedented amount in reserves,” said Gov. Holcomb. “We have an obligation to put this money back in the hands of taxpayers instead of leaving it in the hands of government.”

An estimated $545 million will be returned to Hoosiers after taxpayers file their 2021 state taxes. The Governor is working with leaders of the general assembly on legislation that will streamline the process and make an additional 910,000 taxpayers eligible for the credit. The typical taxpayer liability is approximately $1000. This payment represents a 12-13% one-time tax cut.

Once legislation passes, the Department of Revenue (DOR) will begin processing payments for taxpayers.

The form of taxpayer payments will be based on how the 2021return was filed. Taxpayers who apply for an extension will receive the payment after filing their return.

DOR expects to complete refunds for taxpayers filing by the April 18, 2022, filing deadline by May 1, 2022. Once the details are finalized DOR will provide additional information in 2022.

17 regions presented gameplans to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation with $500 million in READI funds on the line to help fund and bring investment to attract residents and businesses.

On Tuesday, the grants were unveiled, including:

180 Alliance – awarded $20 million
Boone, Hendricks, Johnson, Putnam, Montgomery, Morgan

Wabash River RDA - awarded $20 million
Clay, Knox, Parke, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo

The maximum a region could was receive was $50 million.  Five regions received the max including a region of northwestern Indiana and clusters in the Evansville, Fort Wayne, South Bend and New Albany areas.

"Our economy is roaring after shaking off the effects of the pandemic, and now is the time to really put our foot on the gas and help our communities grow. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee that crafts the state's biennial budget, I supported the funding for the READI program, and I'm impressed by the number of communities that have come together to invest in our state. The depth of teamwork in these proposals demonstrates that Indiana is preparing for the jobs of tomorrow and the quality of life needed to continue growing," said State Rep. Beau Baird (R-Greencastle).

Free Breakfast with Santa takes place Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Sheriffs’ Lodge & Conference Center, located on the ISYR property south of Brazil, 5325 N. State Road 59.

The wind cannot stop Santa! Santa was supposed to visit the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch this past Saturday, but the tremendous wind from the weekend storms downed the power lines and interuped the water pumps at the ISYR. Both Santa and the Sheriff’s decided to postpone the breakfast until this Saturday, to ensure the safety of the children and their families.

This is ISYR’S first time hosting Santa Clause and special thanks goes to the organizers; Clay County Sheriff Paul Harden, Greene County Sheriff Michael Hasler, former Marion County Sheriff John Layton, Owen County Sheriff Sam Hobbs, Parke County Sheriff Justin Cole, Putnam County Sheriff Scott Stockton, Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom, Vermillion County Sheriff Mike Phelps, Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse and others.

Students, parents and grandparents from across Indiana are invited to attend and children are encouraged to bring an appetite and a smart phone or camera for selfies with Santa.

The free breakfast, which is sponsored by the ISYR Chaplain’s Fund, includes pancakes, cereal, turkey sausage links, juices, and milk.

Tax-deductible ISYR Chaplain’s Fund donations provide needed clothing, toiletries and food for young visitors to the 62-acre not-for-profit training retreat for future law enforcement officers, at-risk kids, young witnesses and victims of crime.

All parking is free. Handicapped spots are available.

Hand sanitizer and an electronic thermometer will be available. Face masks and social distancing are encouraged when possible. Guests will be asked to respect one another’s pandemic precautions.

For more information about the “Breakfast with Santa” or to donate to the ISYR Chaplain’s Fund, call 317-460-4242, go online to Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch GoFundMe page or write to the ISYR Chaplain’s Fund, 5325 N. State Road 59, Brazil, IN 47834.

Brazil Police are requesting information from the public as to the whereabouts of Bradley Eaglin.

Eaglin is wanted for several warrants in Clay County and is considered to be violent and dangerous.

If you see this man, do not approach.  Please call your local law enforcement authority immediately or when it is safe to do so.

The Brazil Police Department asks you to please not give comment information directly on the Brazil Police Department Facebook post. Facebook messages will be treated as anonymous.  The department does ask for people to share the post which contains the picture of Eaglin.

A Putnam County woman was seriously injured in a Monday one-car accident.

Indiana State Police troopers from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department responded to the single vehicle crash on County Road 650 West near US 40.

The preliminary crash investigation revealed that Sharon Brown, 78, of Reelsville, was driving a 2012 Mazda on County Road 650 West and was southbound near US 40.  For an unknown reason, Brown lost control of her vehicle and struck a concrete bridge, causing her vehicle to rollover and come to a stop on its roof. Due to Brown not wearing her seat belt, the force of the collision pinned her between the steering wheel and windshield. 

Brown was transported to a hospital in Indianapolis via Lifeline for a complaint of pain throughout her entire body.

Brown was cited for no seatbelt.

Turkey Run State Park is bringing back its ice hikes in 2022. They will be offered each Saturday and Sunday in January and February beginning Jan. 8 except Jan. 29 and 30, which are the dates of the park’s Eagles in Flight weekend.

All hikes will begin at 11 a.m. and last until approximately 12:30 p.m.

Hikers will have four options. Naturalists will lead participants through Rocky Hollow and the Punchbowl, Box Canyon and Gypsy Gulch, the Ice Box and Bear Hollow, or Turkey Run Hollow and the canyon along Trail 7. Advance registration for the popular hikes can be completed at turkeyrunicehike.eventbrite.com.

Boot spikes will be available for free during the hikes if needed. Participants need to be able to lift both legs to a 90-degree angle. The spikes are also available to rent throughout the winter from the Nature Center for $3 for two hours, and adult and youth sizes are available. A naturalist will be available to help hikers put the spikes on.

The hikes and routes are subject to change due to weather.

Standard park entrance fees of $7 per in-state vehicle and $9 per out-of-state vehicle apply.

Greencastle city residents will notice a change on their water bill for the cost of their trash services. Starting January 1, 2022 the cost of trash services with Republic will go from $10 to $15. However, due to billing in arrears, residents will not see this change reflected until their February bill.

The contract with Republic Trash services ends this month, December 2021. Republic has agreed to a three-month extension of the contract, while the city works on obtaining a new contract, which could still be with Republic if their bid satisfies the Greencastle Board of Public Works.

This rate change is considered temporary due to this being an extension and not a new contract. However, the Board of Public Works has asked for bids from a variety of trash service providers with prices for both recycling included and recycling not included. They have a goal of choosing a provider that would cost residents close to the $15 the extension is costing.

This will be the first change in trash service cost since 2004.

Indiana State Police arrested a Greencastle woman for driving with a blood alcohol content at four times the legal limit.

Just after 7:00 pm Thursday, Master Trooper Todd Brown was patrolling near US 40 and County Road 350 East when he stopped a Chevrolet passenger vehicle for unsafe lane movement.  The driver was identified as Blaze A. Bottorff, 24, of Greencastle.  Trooper Brown detected the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Bottorff.  Several field sobriety tests were administered, and Bottorff failed each test.  Bottorff was then read implied consent by Trooper Brown, in which she agreed to take a certified chemical test.

Upon arrival at Clay St. Vincent Hospital Bottorff was administered a certified chemical test, which showed that she had a BAC of .40% (Blood Alcohol Content).  The legal limit in Indiana is .08%. 

Due to her high level of alcohol, Bottorff was required to wait for medical clearance from a doctor.  Once Bottorff was medically cleared, she was placed under arrest and taken to the Clay County Jail where she is currently being held on bond.

Charges:  

Operating a vehicle with a BAC .15 or more, Class A Misdemeanor 

Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, Class C Misdemeanor

Shortly after midnight, a structure fire in Russellville destroyed the home of a family of five.  Their vehicles were destroyed, as well.

The Russellville Fire Department posted that there is no word yet on what caused the fire.

There are no reported injuries. 

References to Indiana county - coded reds and oranges and coronavirus dashboards have been fewer in recent days.  That appears to be changing as half of Indiana’s counties are now in the highest-risk level of COVID-19 spread and hospitalizations are reportedly up 25% in the past week.

The Indiana Department of Health says 46 of the state’s 92 counties are in the highest-risk red category.  All other counties in the state are listed as orange except for Crawford in extreme southern Indiana which is in the lower-risk yellow.

Putnam County remains orange with border counties Morgan and Parke.  Owen, Clay, Hendricks and Montgomery have gone red.

It's the largest number of high-risk counties since last winter when 73 had red ratings in early January.  Indiana only had three counties in red when the month of November started.

Nine years ago today, 85 year old, retired farmer, Lowell R. Badge of Sullivan County was found murdered.

Indiana State Police and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office have tirelessly worked the case since Badger’s death in 2012. Detectives have investigated more than 275 tips, conducted nearly 170 interviews, and searched the areas of land and water in the Sullivan County area not only on foot, but also with aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, boats, and SCUBA divers.

It is believed someone in the community knows something related to this case. Investigators are still urging and asking anyone with any information to come forward.  If a person or persons are in fear of reporting what they know, law enforcement has the means to mitigate those concerns. They are asking that you help bring some closure to the Badger family.

Items taken from Mr. Badger’s home included a 46” Sony Bravia LCD screen television and a light to medium-dark gray John D. Brush and Company safe, measuring 23 ½” tall, 17” in depth, and 17” wide. While the picture below is similar to the one stolen from the Badger home, it should be noted the one stolen was in pristine condition.

A safe and television were taken from Lowell’s home. The safe was a light to medium dark gray, in pristine condition and manufactured by John D. Brush and Company. The television was a black 46” Sony Bravia LCD screen.

A reward of $50,000 has been established and available for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Lowell’s death.

Law enforcement and the Badger family continue to solicit help from the public. Anyone with information is strongly urged to call Indiana State Police Senior Trooper BJ Patterson or First Sergeant Jason Fajt at the Putnamville Post (765) 653-4114 or Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom or Chief Deputy Jason Bobbitt at the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line 1-800-589-0805. This is a very active investigation, and all tips will be investigated. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced I-70 eastbound lanes are scheduled to reopen Wednesday, December 8 overnight. During this time the State Road 267 on ramp to I-70 eastbound will open. This work is weather dependent.

Once the traffic switch has occurred the contractor will remove the temporary lane markings within the area eastbound traffic was utilizing and remove the concrete barrier wall. This work is anticipated to last through Sunday, December 12.

Milestone Contractors, L.P. was awarded this $43.9 million project that rebuilt the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-70 from one half of one mile west of S.R. 267 to Ronald Reagan Parkway and patched the interstate from just west of S.R. 267 to S.R. 39. The project is scheduled for completion in early summer of 2022.

INDOT encourages drivers to slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced U.S. 231 (Washington Street) in Crawfordsville will close at the railroad tracks on Monday, December 13 for repairs beginning at 8 a.m.

The closure is scheduled to last through Friday, December 17 at noon. CSX Railroad will be repairing the crossing at Franklin Street.

The detour follows U.S. 231 south to east on Wabash Ave. and then south on Mill Street and west on South Boulevard and back to U.S. 231. Traffic traveling in the opposite direction will use the same detour in reverse.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced the placement of Indiana’s first-ever naloxone vending machine at the St. Joseph County Jail in South Bend. The machine is one of 19 to be placed statewide and will be available for use by the public.

“There is no single solution to ending this epidemic that has taken the lives of thousands of Hoosiers,” Gov. Holcomb said. “We can, however, take thoughtful steps to help shake the scourge of addiction from our communities. Naloxone vending machines are a practical tool to prevent overdoses and save lives.”

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication approved to reverse an overdose from opioids and is given when a person is showing signs of opioid overdose to block the deadly effects of the overdose.

The vending machines are manufactured by Shaffer Distribution Company and programmed to dispense free naloxone kits. Each kit includes a single dose of naloxone, instructions for use, and a referral to treatment for substance use disorder. The machine holds up to 300 naloxone kits and is free to access.

Overdose Lifeline, Inc., an Indiana nonprofit dedicated to helping those affected by substance use disorder, is partnering with the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to identify jails, hospitals, and other community sites interested in a vending machine to distribute the lifesaving medication. Machines are confirmed to be placed in public areas of the Wayne and DuBois County jails.

Overdose Lifeline will purchase the vending machines using federal grant funds totaling $72,600 made available through DMHA. There is no cost to entities that implement a vending machine.

Douglas Huntsinger, executive director for drug prevention, treatment, and enforcement for the state of Indiana, unveiled the vending machine at a public event Tuesday. Huntsinger was joined by St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman and Overdose Lifeline Executive Director Justin Phillips.

“We must continue to ensure widespread access to naloxone, given the lingering impact of COVID-19 and the increased supply of fentanyl in our 92 counties,” Huntsinger said. “Every life lost to a drug overdose is one too many. Naloxone offers the opportunity to get individuals with substance use disorder on the path to long-term recovery.”

Indiana reported a 32% increase in fatal overdoses during the 12-month period beginning in April 2020 and ending in April 2021, according to provisional data released in November by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This machine gives St. Joseph County residents and our recently released inmates zero-barrier access to a medication that could mean the difference between life and death,” Sheriff Redman said. “St. Joseph County Jail is proud to be the recipient of the state’s first naloxone vending machine, and we applaud Governor Holcomb’s commitment to address the drug epidemic.”

To learn about Overdose Lifeline’s naloxone distribution opportunities or to request a free naloxone kit, visit www.overdoselifeline.org.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), in partnership with Conexus Indiana, announced the fifth round of awards totaling more than $3.6 million in Manufacturing Readiness Grants to 44 Indiana businesses to support a projected $23 million in technology-based capital investment across Indiana.

"Historically, manufacturing has been the bedrock of Indiana’s economy, and Hoosier manufacturers continue to prepare for the future by investing in smart technologies," said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. "Supporting advancements in the manufacturing industry through the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program, Indiana is accelerating our state’s digital transformation, preparing for the economy of the future and creating more opportunities across the state."

Launched in 2020, the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program was created to stimulate private sector investments to modernize Indiana’s manufacturing industry. Based on the program’s success, the Indiana General Assembly appropriated $20 million in additional funding to the two-year state budget that runs through June 30, 2023, to help position Hoosier operations for future growth and prosperity. Availability of the new funding on July 1, 2021, has enabled a total of 169 awards to date totaling more than $13.4 million in grants to Hoosier companies in 54 counties, supporting technology-based capital investment projected to be nearly $93 million.

The 44 grant recipients in this round include companies from 24 Indiana counties and cover a variety of specialties, including entertainment and decor, industrial applications, injection molding and medical devices.

"As Indiana continues its march toward Industry 4.0 technology adoption, we are seeing a lot of momentum with companies implementing cobots, machine vision, advanced sensor technologies and automation to increase quality, flexibility and agility, employ lights-out manufacturing and launch digital plant initiatives. There have really been some impressive digital investments," said Mitch Landess, vice president of innovation and digital transformation for Conexus Indiana. "At the same time, we are collecting and publishing substantial data on the technologies and their positive impact on the workforce and business growth to the Conexus Indiana website and later as part of a detailed study measuring the effectiveness of the program." 

Recipients include:

Metal Forming Industries (Putnam County; $85,000 grant award) is a manufacturer that performs custom, cold-forming and precision machining of custom-designed industrial components. The company is purchasing a new, custom-built, 200-ton hydraulic forming press with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) capability as part of its migration to cobots.
 

Creative Works Inc. (Morgan County; $75,000 grant award), a company that designs, fabricates and installs immersive amusement experiences such as escape rooms, virtual reality, esports venues and indoor miniature golf courses, is investing in advanced equipment to manufacture products compatible with mixed, augmented and virtual reality technologies.
 

SHIELDS (Morgan County; $60,000 grant award) is a plastic parts manufacturer and post-coater offering a line of windscreens, windows, shields and canopies for heavy machinery, racecars and boats. The company is entering a multiphase growth strategy, starting with IT upgrades, including commercial Wi-Fi, mobile tablet deployment, production software implementation as well as 3D product scanner installation.
 

Indiana companies are encouraged to review eligibility requirements and submit applications online.

Grants must be matched by the applicant on a minimum 1:1 basis. Grants undergo a rigorous peer review and recommendation process by a statewide committee of manufacturing professionals representing industry, academia, private equity and more.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in partnership with the Indiana Health Care Association and the Indiana Center for Assisted Living, is hosting a virtual job fair featuring four long-term care providers that are hiring statewide.

Long-term care providers American Senior Communities, CarDon, Gardant Management Solutions and TLC Management will be participating in the job fair that will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

Human resources professionals from each company will discuss the qualifications needed, pay and benefits, and how to apply for current job openings. They are actively hiring administrators, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, personal care attendants, certified nursing assistants, dietary managers and more.

“Long-term care is a critical industry for the state of Indiana, and fully staffing these facilities is of utmost importance to the state’s well-being,” said DWD Commissioner Fred Payne. “We are pleased to partner with the Indiana Health Care Association and four of its member providers to announce these important opportunities to potential jobseekers.”

Every day, more than 2 million Americans are cared for in long-term care facilities nationwide. More Americans are expected to need long-term care services over the next couple of decades as the Baby Boomer generation ages.

Accordingly, the number of high-demand, high-wage job opportunities in the health care sector are expected to follow this growth in Indiana, with thousands of health care jobs currently posted across the state. Wages in the long-term care sector have grown approximately 20 percent in recent years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The long-term care industry offers rewarding careers with tremendous growth potential for dedicated health care workers who want to make a difference in the lives of Hoosier seniors. Our providers have numerous vacant positions that they are looking to fill across the state, offering great starting wages and competitive benefit packages,” said IHCA/INCAL President Zach Cattell. “I value our partnership with the state and appreciate Commissioner Payne and DWD for hosting this virtual job fair with us on Dec. 14, so we can hire more Hoosiers in the industry.”

Individuals who are interested in the virtual job fair but unable to attend should still register, as all registrants will receive a link to the recording.

To register, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8907215583945992975.

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing information about joining the webinar.

The Cloverdale Township Volunteer Fire Department responded overnight into Saturday morning to a working barn fire on US 231, south of Millgrove.

Upon arrival, firemen found the building was fully involved with fire and the roof had collapsed.

Cloverdale firefighters were assisted on scene with tankers and manpower from Cataract, Gosport, Reelsville and Jefferson Twp Fire Departments.  Crews were on scene for about three hours.

No injuries have been reported and no word on a cause of the fire at this time.

The Indiana State Police Putnamville Post welcomes to their rank and file a new patrol K-9 team, as Trooper Brad Fyfe and K-9 partner (Jett) graduated December 3, 2021, from the Indiana State Police K-9 Academy in Indianapolis. 

Together, Trooper Fyfe and Jett successfully completed the demanding 12-week training program, which includes certifications in areas such as drug detection, tracking, article searches, building searches, obedience, and apprehension.  In total, more than 400 hours of training takes place, both day and night, and in all weather conditions, before the handler and K-9 trainees are certified to begin patrolling together. 

Trooper Fyfe and Jett were one of eleven K-9 teams to complete the training. The other ten teams are assigned to other districts around the state. The Indiana State Police currently has (36) patrol K-9 teams and (6) explosive detection K-9 teams. The Putnamville Post will now be staffed with two patrol K-9 teams.

Trooper Fyfe has served with the Indiana State Police for six years, and has been primarily assigned  patrol duties in Vigo County.  He serves on the District TIP Team (Riot Control) and is a Field Training Officer (FTO).  Jett is a one year old German Shepherd that came to the Indiana State Police from a select breeder in the Czech Republic.

Trooper Fyfe and Jett will immediately begin their work together in the Putnamville District, which covers Putnam, Clay, Vigo, Sullivan, Vermillion and Parke Counties.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff to honor the life of Senator Bob Dole.

Flags should be flown at half-staff at the Indiana Statehouse immediately until sunset on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021.

Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff.

Purdue University’s Board of Trustees on Friday approved housing rates for 2022-23, including a 10th consecutive year with no increase in University Residence Hall rates on the West Lafayette campus.

Trustees also ratified six professor positions and approved a Doctor of Technology degree at Purdue University Northwest, as well as the naming of the Electrical Engineering Building on the West Lafayette campus.

Also Friday, university officials announced a series of benefits for students, faculty and staff at its West Lafayette campus, including an 11th consecutive year of tuition unchanged at 2012-13 levels; an appreciation award for faculty, staff and graduate student staff; and a 4% salary merit pool for faculty and staff for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2022.

Detectives from the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post have been requested by Sheriff Paul Harden of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department to investigate a shooting that took place on Friday at approximately 10:00 am, near State Road 59 at County Road 1250 South, just south of Clay City.

Three Clay County deputies were attempting to locate a male suspect that was wanted on several felony warrants out of Vigo County.  The deputies had received information that the male suspect was possibly residing in a tent located in the woods near State Road 59 and County Road 1250 South.  Upon the deputies arrival to the area they observed a tent in the woodline.  Assuming the suspect was in the area, they attempted to make contact.  It was at this time that the suspect then began to shoot at the deputies while he was concealed in the tent, ambushing them. One shot struck Deputy Brison Swearingen, a seventeen year veteran, in the lower leg.  Deputy Eric Oberholtzer, an eleven year veteran of the Sheriff's department, returned fire while deputies retreated, taking cover. This is when the suspect exited the tent and attempted to engage Deputy Oberholtzer, but quickly retreated back into the tent.  

Deputy Swearingen was then moved to a safe area where first aid was administered to his wound.  He was later transported to a hospital in Indianapolis via air ambulance, for medical care.  Deputy Swearingen is expected to make a full recovery.

The Terre Haute Special Response Team and two Indiana State Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams arrived at the scene with armored vehicles.  Through a collaborative effort, at approximately 2:30 pm, the suspect peacefully surrendered to officers.

The suspect has been identified as Joe L. Hofmann, 42, of Jasonville.  The original warrants for Hofmann out of Vigo County were for escape, resisting law enforcement, theft (6 counts), possession of syringe, and auto theft.  Hofmann was taken into custody and was transported to the Clay County Jail.    

Clay County Deputy Eric Oberholtzer has been placed on administrative leave.  This is customary in officer-involved shootings. 

The investigation is being conducted by Indiana State Police Putnamville detectives Michael Feartherling, Don Curtuis, Ryan Winters, and Jason Schofstall, with the assistance of First Sergeant Jason Fajt, Sergeant Sam Stearley, and CSI Sergeant Michael Organ of the Putnamville Post.   

This is an active and ongoing Indiana State Police Investigation.  There is no further information to release at this time.  Upon the completion of their investigation, Indiana State Police detectives will submit a full report to Emily Clark, the Clay County Prosecutor, for charges to be filed. 

Assisting agencies:  Clay County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police Central and South SWAT teams, Terre Haute Police Department,  Alcohol Tobacco Firearms (ATF), Clay City Police Department, Brazil Police Department, Clay City-Harrison Volunteer Fire Department, and Starr Ambulance.

The suspect, who shot a Clay County Sherriff’s Office deputy, has now been apprehended.

What started around 10:00 am Friday as deputies served a felony warrant to Joe Hoffman in a tent near State Road 59 and 1250 South, just south of Clay City, turned into an officer being shot and a near five hour standoff.

The deputy who was shot is a 17-year veteran.  His identity has not yet been released. He sustained non-life threatening injuries to his lower leg. He is currently in an Indianapolis-area hospital, with his wife.  He is expected to make a full recovery.  

During the standoff, the suspect had retreated to his tent. Indiana State Police used flash bangs to entice Hoffman to surrender. They also utilized heat seeking technology in an overhead helicopter to maintain a visual on the armed suspect.

Just before 3:00 pm, Hoffman finally came out with his hands over his head and was taken into custody.

An officer in Clay County has been shot.

Few details are available as of this report.  The incident occurred on State Road 59 in the Brunswick area about 10:00 am.  Drivers are advised to avoid the area.

At last report, the officer had been taken to the hospital and was listed in stable condition.  He suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The suspect has not been apprehended as of this time. Clay Community Schools were placed on lockdown as a safety precaution.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

The Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is encouraging all Hoosiers who purchased consumer products that were recalled in October and November to take advantage of the remedies available to them.

“With the holiday season approaching, Hoosiers want to ensure that their hard-earned money is being spent on gifts that are safe and work correctly,” Scott Barnhart, director and chief counsel for consumer protection, said. “If you purchased a faulty good or item in October and November that has been recalled, then you should immediately see what forms of reimbursement the company that sold or manufactured the product is offering.”

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (CPD) serves to safeguard Hoosiers from predatory business practices and will take legal action in response to violations of the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, and other consumer-related statutes.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in October and November:

• Olympic Dumbbell Handles from Impex Fitness
• AmazonBasics Memory Foam Mattresses from AmazonBasics
• Honda Pioneer and Talon ROVs from Honda
• VidaXL Steel Pool Ladders from VIDAXL
• Hart 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailers from Hart Consumer
• ABUS MountZ Youth Helmets from ABUS
• Turbo Racer, Cloud Racer, Captain’s Fort and Fort Highlander Outdoor Playsets from Backyard Play Systems
• Lambeth Outdoor Metal Torches from RH
• White Wood Stools from Hobby Lobby
• Glass Cabinet Knobs from Liberty Hardware
• MyCharge Powerbanks from MyCharge
• Zoom 360 Ultralight jogging strollers from Joovy
• Husqvarna and GASGAS Off-Road Closed Course Competition Motorcycles from KTM
• Lightform Projectors from Lightform
• Specialized Tarmac SL7 Bicycles and Framesets from Specialized

If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice (linked above for all aforementioned products). Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product, how to get the product fixed, how to dispose of the product, how to receive a refund for the product, or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product.

To view recalls issued prior to October and November, visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in partnership with the Indiana Health Care Association and the Indiana Center for Assisted Living, is hosting a virtual job fair featuring four long-term care providers that are hiring statewide.

Long-term care providers American Senior Communities, CarDon, Gardant Management Solutions and TLC Management will be participating in the job fair that will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

Human resources professionals from each company will discuss the qualifications needed, pay and benefits, and how to apply for current job openings. They are actively hiring administrators, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, personal care attendants, certified nursing assistants, dietary managers and more.

“Long-term care is a critical industry for the state of Indiana, and fully staffing these facilities is of utmost importance to the state’s well-being,” said DWD Commissioner Fred Payne. “We are pleased to partner with the Indiana Health Care Association and four of its member providers to announce these important opportunities to potential jobseekers.”

Every day, more than 2 million Americans are cared for in long-term care facilities nationwide. More Americans are expected to need long-term care services over the next couple of decades as the Baby Boomer generation ages.

Accordingly, the number of high-demand, high-wage job opportunities in the health care sector are expected to follow this growth in Indiana, with thousands of health care jobs currently posted across the state. Wages in the long-term care sector have grown approximately 20 percent in recent years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The long-term care industry offers rewarding careers with tremendous growth potential for dedicated health care workers who want to make a difference in the lives of Hoosier seniors. Our providers have numerous vacant positions that they are looking to fill across the state, offering great starting wages and competitive benefit packages,” said IHCA/INCAL President Zach Cattell. “I value our partnership with the state and appreciate Commissioner Payne and DWD for hosting this virtual job fair with us on Dec. 14, so we can hire more Hoosiers in the industry.”

Individuals who are interested in the virtual job fair but unable to attend should still register, as all registrants will receive a link to the recording.

To register, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8907215583945992975.

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing information about joining the webinar.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed Executive Orders 21-31 and 21-32 to continue the public health emergency and the executive order for provisions that address the impact of COVID-19. Extending the executive orders allows key items to remain in place that protect Hoosiers.

Gov. Holcomb has outlined three provisions that necessitate the extension of a public health emergency and executive order. First, Indiana is eligible to receive enhanced federal funding for Medicaid programs to help cover the increased costs of 500,000 Hoosiers who have enrolled in the programs because of the pandemic. So far, the state has received $972 million in enhanced funding. The state would lose more than $175 million in future funding through March 2022 and about 250,000 Hoosiers would lose partial or full Medicaid coverage if the state public health emergency ends before the federal public health emergency.

The executive orders allow 200,000 eligible households to receive an additional $95 per month in federal food assistance. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotment provides nutrition for more than 600,000 Hoosiers.

In addition, the state’s public health emergency allows the state health commissioner to serve as the statewide ordering physician for those who choose to be vaccinated, including children five and older. This offers easy access to vaccines through pharmacies, local health departments and other health facilities.

All directives in executive orders which have continued throughout the public health emergency will expire on Dec. 31. A continuation of the public health emergency and the executive order beyond Dec. 31, 2021, may be deemed necessary to preserve the specified provisions.

Click here to see the executive orders.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is urging residents along state roads and U.S. highways to prepare their mailboxes prior to the start of winter weather.

Snow and ice removal is INDOT's top priority during winter months. While the agency's yellow plow trucks generally travel slower than the posted speed limit and drivers are careful to avoid mailboxes, the weight of snow thrown from plows can cause damage to mailboxes that are not properly secured or have weak supports.

Property owners are responsible for installing and maintaining mailboxes on state right of way. To mitigate possible damage, INDOT recommends placing a mailbox as far from the edge of the roadway as a mail carrier can reach. 

By placing a mailbox as far from the edge of the roadway as a mail carrier can reach and mounting the mailbox on a sturdy support, it should withstand the force of snow thrown from a plow.

Clearing snow from the access area near a mailbox can ensure safer delivery of mail and reduce the amount of snow coming off a plow.

Below are tips to help reduce the risk of mailbox damage:

• Place a six-to-eight-inch piece of reflective tape on the mailbox to help it be seen at night.
• Remove snow from around your mailbox, but avoid throwing snow back onto the roadway.
• Inspect your mailbox. Make sure it is firmly supported in the ground and make sure it is securely mounted to the post. Check for deteriorated/rusted posts and/or mounts.
• Avoid plastic mailboxes if possible. Some tend to shatter in cold temperatures.
• If your mailbox is continually damaged or knocked down, consider changing the location, even if just by a few feet.