The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Thursday, June 17, 2021, in the following regions – including Brown, Clark and Floyd Counties in the WLSM Listening Area.

• Central Indiana – Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Madison, Shelby 
• Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd
• Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Warrick 

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone while remaining safe during the COVID-19 health crisis by making changes to daily habits. You can:

• Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, walk, bike, or work from home when possible
• Combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)
• Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above 

Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combined with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations. 

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. Air Quality Action Days generally occur when weather conditions such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, and lower atmospheric inversions trap pollutants close to the ground.

To learn more about ozone or to sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.

The Washington County Farmers-Merchants Fair Baby Contest was held today for the first time since 2019.

The event yielded nearly 60 entries with about 100 in attendance at the Bradie M. Shrum Elementary School Safe Room. 

Becky White, Baby Contest Superintendent said it was a great turnout. “It was so nice to see all the babies here today and their parents and families,” she said. “And to have the fair, in general, is something for our community to look forward to.”

2019 Miss Washington County Teen Bailey Hardwick helped with the presentation of trophies. 

Winners were:

• 0-6 Month Girl – Ava Stone
• 0-6 Month Boy – Kase Fulkerson
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• 7-12 Month Girl – Greycen McKinley
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• 7-12 Month Boy – Tierlan Campbell
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• 13-18 Month Girl – Everleigh Bowers
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• 13-18 Month Boy – Ryan Liuzzi
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• 19-24 Month Girl – Jorgalynn Stalker
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• 19-24 Month Boy – Ellison Karr
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• 25-30 Month Girl – Haizlee Arnold
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• 25-30 Month Boy – Maverick Davis
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• 31-36 Month Girl – No Entry
• 31-36 Month Boy – Grantley Bush 
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• Multiples – Remington and Ryder Porter
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In the late evening hours of June 6, 2021, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office responded to a crash on Taylor Mill Road involving a single motorcycle. 

As a result of the crash Michael D. Goodin, 38, of Underwood, IN, was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

This is the only information that can be released at this time.