Swap Shop Podcast 02-05-2014
Swap Shop Podcast 02-05-2014
Washington County “Emergency” continues until Thursday AM
Washington County Sheriff Claude Combs met with Washington County Commissioners, highway foreman and determined that the State of Emergency for road conditions will remain in effect through today and until at least 9a on Thursday, Feb. 6.
“We’ll meet again then and re-evaluate how things are,” said Combs. “We’ve got 60 percent of the county roads cleared but there is ice forming on the roads now as the temperatures drop. We’re supposed to be in the Teens tonight and it’s not going to be warming up anytime soon.”
The State of Emergency was finally determined last night just before midnight and continues through today.
Combs said although people will be out on the road, driving is harzardous and motorists should be cautious.
“As far as what we’re doing now. We want emergency traffic only on the road. We’re not penalizing people who are on the road trying to get food, etc. But a State of Emergency does pertain to emergency vehicles only – ambulance, highway and street workers, police…those people whose job it is to take care of the welfare of the people,” said Combs. “We’re dealing with vehicles off the road and medical emergencies, too. We take care of those folks who need dialysis or those who need to get to a hospital for a surgery or who have run out of medicine. We’ll make sure they get transported. Call 911 and we’ll take care of that.”
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will dip into the teens and will be about 7 degrees by daybreak on Thursday.
“We’re prepared to open shelters in case we lose power and if people need heat,” Combs said. “The City [of Salem] and County have coordinated that and we’re prepared to move to that level in case we need to. All of that has been taken care of.”
Commissioner Phil Marshall talked about how hard county employees are working to clear the roads and the amount of roads in Washington County. “It’s a big area for 26 trucks to try and cover,” he said. “They will continue throughout the day into the evening, then come in and warm up and rest. We’ll start all over in the morning.”
Combs commented on the many hours city and county employees are putting in during these weather events. “We all knew that when we took the job,” he said. “Safety of the people of our county is first and foremost on our minds. We thought we might not need to go there, but the weather didn’t change. Here’s where we’re at and where we’ll stay until at least 9a Thursday.”
Stay tuned to WSLM for weather conditions and any official reports from the City of Salem and Washington County.
Coffee Club Podcast 02-05-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 02-05-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 02-05-2014
Coffee Club Podcast 02-05-2014
St. Vincent plans free community health screening
Join St. Vincent Salem Hospital for a FREE COMMUNITY HEALTH SCREENING DAY on Saturday March 8th from 8:30 to 11 a.m., where they will be offering various health screenings including cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, blood glucose and head and neck cancer. They will also be providing free health information, fun giveaways and much more.
Health screenings are available to the first 200 attendees. Registration is not required for this event, but screenings are provided on a first-come, first served basis.
For more information, call 812-883-5881, extension 1366.
MDWise to Host Affordable Care Act Information Session at St.Vincent Salem Hospital
If you have questions about the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) and the options they may have for insurance beginning in 2014, then plan to attend one of three information sessions at St.Vincent Salem Hospital over the next few weeks.
The deadline to sign up for insurance through the ACA has been extended until March 31, 2014. Those who choose to go without health insurance after the March 31 deadline will face a penalty on their 2014 income taxes.
Licensed Indiana Navigators will be available to do on-site screenings to see if a potential applicant may qualify for Medicaid first, then will assess them for the Health Insurance Marketplace plans and help guide them through their available options. **Licensed Indiana Navigators have the responsibility of remaining neutral when advising people about their options; they will present all of the available options to the individual, then leave it to the person to make their own choice about which insurance carrier and plan they wish to choose, if any.
Representatives from MDWise will be there to assist with specific questions about their plans which are being offered in Washington County and surrounding counties where people may see specialists or other providers.
Sessions are:
Wednesday, February 5 3 – 6 p.m. – Still planning to happen weather pending.
Tuesday, February 11 Noon – 3 p.m.
Schneck offering free mammograms
Schneck Medical Center has received a grant from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust to provide 40 free screenings mammograms to low and middle income women in the communities it serves.
A mammogram is one of the best tools for the early detection of breast cancer and life-saving early detection.
To qualify for the screening mammogram, women must be 40 years of age or older and need a mammogram but unable to afford one.
“This grant provides a much-needed service in our region. Many women do not have sufficient insurance coverage, or no coverage for screening mammograms,” said Rita Baker, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Schneck. “We know early detection of breast cancer is key, and our Women’s Diagnostic Imaging program can help save the lives of women who otherwise would not be able to have a mammogram.”
If you or someone you know needs a screening mammogram and does not have insurance or is under-insured, please contact Schneck Patient Financial Services at 812-522-0413.
Steele to help preserve Hoosiers’ right to hunt and fish
Legislation authored by State Sen. Brent Steele (R-Bedford) to protect Hoosiers’ right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife passed the full Senate Monday by a 43-4 vote.
Senate Joint Resolution 9 is a proposal to amend Indiana’s constitution to guarantee residents the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife.
“Fishing and hunting are not only important parts of our Hoosier culture and history, but they enrich our economy,” Steele said. “An estimated 5,000 jobs revolve around the two sports, and they have a positive fiscal impact of more than $700 million to the State of Indiana. To preserve these pastimes, we must take action to protect these fundamental rights for generations to come.”
If passed by the General Assembly this year, the proposed amendment will have to pass the General Assembly again in the 2015 or 2016 legislative session. Then the amendment would go before voters statewide in the 2016 general election.
SJR 9 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Sheriff, commissioners declare State of Emergency in Washington County
Just before midnight on Tuesday, Washington County Sheriff Claude Combs and the Washington County Commissioners issued a State of Emergency in Washington County.
There are only two other Indiana Counties who have thus far issued a State of Emergency – Parke and Marshall counties. Most of the rest of the state is under a Travel Advisory or a Travel Watch, which is the second of three status indications.
A State of Emergency effectively closes all roadways to travel except in emergency situations.
Commissioner Phil Marshall contacted WSLM earlier Tuesday and informed us that he would be using WSLM as the official media source with which to announce closings and other weather information.
Marshall said all Washington County Government agencies would be closed on Wednesday, including those in the courthouse.
Earlier in the evening, a web post from a Louisville TV Station indicated Mayor David Bower had issued a state of emergency and closed roads in Washington County. This created a lot of buzz on social media regarding whether or not many factory workers could or should try to get to work last night.
Calls to Salem Police Chief Troy Merry indicated that there was no state of emergency issued at that time.
Bower only has the authority to issue that statement for the City of Salem, not the county, although he would have insight in making a county determination.
According to the Indiana State Emergency Management Department, a State of Emergency indicates the following:
A State of Emergency is the highest level of local travel advisory, means that travel may be restricted to emergency management workers only. During a “warning” local travel advisory, individuals are directed to:
- (A) refrain from all travel;
- (B) comply with necessary emergency measures;
- (C) cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans; and
- (D) obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers
Here is a link to the State page where you can get up to the minute information on road conditions and traffic information from around the state – http://www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/#Jasper
