Indiana Severe Weather Preparedness Week will run during the third full week of March. 

The Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA) in cooperation with the National Weather Service (NWS) is conducting a test of the state Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, March 16^th at 10:15 a.m. EDT (9:15 CT) that will include a Live Tornado Warning alert. 

The 15-minute alert is done to ensure the system is working properly in the event of an actual tornado.

“We’ve already seen extreme weather conditions across the country, recently, and with the season changing, Indiana is preparing for whatever may be in store, locally,” said IBA Executive Director Dave Arland. 

“Hoosiers depend on EAS alerts to respond appropriately and find safety.  With permission from the Federal Communications Commission, broadcasters will be listening for the Live Tornado Warning alert issued by the National Weather Service and alerting our listeners and viewers about the test.”
 
The test is part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week which runs March 14-20 and includes coordinated efforts to work with residents, businesses, and government agencies across Indiana on preparedness activities.

“Indiana averages over 20 tornadoes each year, along with hundreds of severe thunderstorms that produce damaging winds, large hail, and flash flooding. Hoosiers need to be prepared for all types of severe weather ahead of time and have a plan of action ready to be implemented when severe weather is imminent,” said Sam Lashley, Warning Coordination Meteorologist of the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

“Severe weather preparedness week is the time to think ahead and make plans for what you and your family would do, where you would go, and where you would meet if separated during actual severe weather. The test tornado drill conducted by the National Weather Service and Indiana Broadcasters Association is a great time to practice your plan and talk with your family about safety and sheltering options when actual warnings are issued.”

In the event of severe or inclement weather, the test will be rescheduled and held on the morning of Wednesday, March 17th.

Indian Creek Baptist Church, as part of its celebration of 100 years of ministry, will welcome Dr. Steve McNeil, Executive Director of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana, to speak on March 14, 2021.

The worship service begins at 10:45 am

The public is invited to attend.

 “Dr. McNeil has served in ministry for many years,” says Pastor John Knuckles.  “He will be retiring at the end of June and leaving the area.  Our church is fortunate to have him visit at this time.”

Tickets for the PBR Louisville Invitational on sale Wednesday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. EST

For the first time in eight years, PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) elite Unleash The Beast will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, holding the fan-attended PBR Louisville Invitational March 27-28, 2021 at the KFC Yum! Center.

For two nights only, the Top 30 bull riders in the world will battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man vs. beast in one of the most exciting live sporting events to witness. The fearless riders of the PBR are eager to bring back to Louisville the only sport that pits a lightweight against a heavyweight in epic 8-second confrontations. 

PBR will follow all local and state health directives, as outlined in the organization’s “Be Cowboy Safe” plan for both bull riders and PBR staff. Additionally the KFC Yum! Center, part of ASM Global, will be using its ”Venue Shield” best practices guide that enhances fan safety protocols. Those protocols for the event include:

• All fans, as well as staff and competitors, will be required to wear face masks inside the KFC Yum! Center.
• All fans, KFC Yum! Center staff, and PBR staff, riders, and stock contractors will be subject to daily temperature checks. In addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-informed screening, all PBR personnel will also undergo medical testing for COVID-19 (coronavirus).  
• PBR will only sell a limited number of tickets to separate fans. 
• All fans will be in POD seating, which increases distancing and minimizes fan crossover when entering and exiting their seats.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the venue to promote hand hygiene.
• Increased sanitization of high-contact areas including bathrooms, concourses, concession stands, elevators, and handrails.
• Pre-wrapped or packaged concessions item, individual packet condiments and packaged utensils along with sealed-container beverages will be available.   

While the KFC Yum! Center has hosted more than 20 University of Louisville men’s and women’s basketball games and the 11-game Wade Houston Tip-Off Classic with fans at limited capacity since November 2020, the upcoming PBR Louisville Invitational will mark the venue’s first touring event since the onset of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

In 2013, when the PBR’s premier series was last in Louisville, now 11-time PBR World Finals Qualifier Cody Nance (Paris, Tennessee) was dominant, going a perfect 3-for-3 to capture the event victory.

Having made two additional stops in the Derby City, 1996 PBR World Champion Owen Washburn (Lordsburg, New Mexico) won the elite tour event in 2002, while PBR Co-Founder Adam Carrillo (Stephenville, Texas) claimed the victory in 1999.

The PBR Louisville Invitational will mark the eighth Unleash The Beast event of the 2021 season. Prior to travelling to the Bluegrass State, the top tour in bull riding will have traveled to the like of Fort Worth, Texas, Glendale, Arizona, and Kansas City, Missouri.

With the new season already underway, the race for the 2021 PBR World Championship has gotten off to a feverish start.

Compliments of matching runner-up finishes at the tour stop and associated 15/15 Bucking Battle in Okeechobee, Florida, 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) surged to the world No. 1 rank for the first time in 2021, now leading No. 2 Junior Patrik Souza (Sonora, Brazil) by 130 points.

Recording a Top-10 finish at each of the three tour stops held to date, Davis has also notched two 90-point rides, led by a 91.25-point score aboard YETI World Champion Bull contender Ridin Solo. Chasing history, should Davis win the gold buckle again in 2021, he would become just the seventh multi-time PBR World Champion in league history.

Making history of his own, current world No. 5 Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado) has also had an electric year to date. Going a perfect 3-for-3 during his first-ever appearance on the elite Unleash The Beast in Okeechobee, Fritzlan became just the 10^th rider in league history to win their rookie debut on the premier series. He follows in the footsteps of three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil), reigning PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), Australian sensation Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, New South Wales, Australia) and surging sophomore rider Cole Melancon (Paris, Texas).

The bull riding action for the PBR Louisville Invitational in Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center begins at 6:45 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 27, and at 1:45 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 28. Each of the world’s Top 30 bull riders will get on one bull in Round 1 on Saturday, and Round 2 on Sunday. The 12 bull riders with the top combined ride scores will advance to the championship round on Sunday.

Tickets for the two-day event go on-sale Wednesday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m. EST and start at $15, taxes and fees not included. Positioned closest to the action, and including a Q&A session with top talent from the PBR, Elite Seats will also be available for $350. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the KFC Yum! Center Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

For an enhanced PBR experience in a socially-distanced environment, fans can now purchase the add-on PBR Elite Experience on both Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 in Louisville.

The Elite Experience, available for $75, will include a Q&A session with a select group of the league’s top riders, bullfighters, and stock contractors, a merchandise voucher, a limited edition poster, and a commemorative lanyard.

For more information on PBR Premium Experiences and to purchase the Elite Experience for the PBR Louisville Invitational in Louisville visit https://pbr.com/tickets/premium-experiences/.

People all around the world are affected by scams every single day. This program will
cover some common types of scams, provide you with proactive steps you can take to
protect yourself and your information, and show you where you can go to report scams or
frauds that have taken place.

Join us for this free, educational program presented by Sonya Mitchell, Purdue University
Health and Human Sciences Extension Educator in Washington County.

This program is being offered on March 18 at 11:30 am via zoom. Registration is required and can be completed at http://bit.ly/StayingScamSafe.

If you need further assistance or would like more information, contact Sonya Mitchell at (812)883-4601 or via email at shmitche@purdue.edu.

A Jasper County man is in the Steuben County jail Monday evening after leading troopers on a lengthy vehicle pursuit earlier this afternoon. 

Arrested was Mark Allen Cates, 57, of DeMotte, IN

He was charged with:

• Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony
• Operating as a Habitual Traffic Violator– Level 6 Felony
• Possession Stolen Property – Level 6 Felony (2 Counts)
• Possession of Marijuana – Class A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Paraphernalia – Class A Misdemeanor
• Reckless Driving – Class B Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief – Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Recklessness – Class B Misdemeanor

The incident began at approximately 1:30 pm Monday near the I-69 / SR-120 interchange after Senior Trooper Chris Kinsey (Fort Wayne Post) identified a black GMC Sierra pickup truck displaying a stolen license plate. 

Trooper Kinsey and Trooper Kody Buell initiated a traffic stop on Old 27 near SR120 to investigate the criminal matter. 

Prior to identifying the male driver, he sped off, initiating a vehicle pursuit that would run through central Steuben County for nearly a half-hour, running off-road several times through fields and wooded areas around Crooked Lake, crashing through a fence, running over a mailbox, and nearly striking one of the troopers.  

Trooper’s John Silver, Dave Poe, and Jacob Bill, along with deputies from the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department were able to join in the pursuit at various locations to assist with apprehending the driver. 

Officer’s smartly coordinated their efforts, taking every opportunity to employ de-escalation tactics to confine and attempt to safely end the pursuit. 

Stop sticks were deployed at several different locations, but the driver managed to avoid each attempt.    

Officers ahead of the pursuit were finally able to successfully deploy stop sticks on County Road 600 West north of US20, which deflated the truck tires. The driver continued driving on flat tires for a short distance, but eventually, his vehicle became inoperable near CR650W and US20.  A felony traffic stop was conducted and the driver, identified as Mark Allen Cates (57) was taken into custody without further incident.

Cates was transported to the Steuben County Jail, where he was booked into custody on numerous related charges, and will remain held pending an initial hearing.

Senior Trooper Kinsey was assisted by troopers from the Fort Wayne Post, Toll Road Post, deputies with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, and Countryside Towing Service.  

The Indiana Department of Health announced today that more than 1 million Hoosiers have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since late December.

A total of 1,000,321 individuals have received at least one dose, and 569,465 are fully vaccinated.

“Getting 1 million vaccines in arms in just over two months is a game changer, and it brings me indescribable hope. I am incredibly proud of our Indiana Department of Health, and how they and our local partners have rolled out the ‘It’s Our Shot, Hoosiers’ vaccination plan,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “We are so fortunate that our health leaders had the foresight to build a centralized appointment system and companion 211 call center to schedule and vaccinate Hoosiers in an orderly, reliable manner.”

Currently, Hoosiers age 60 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211 if you do not have access to a computer or require assistance.

State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, encouraged any eligible Hoosier to sign up now at one of nearly 400 vaccine clinics around the state.

“The vaccine is a simple, safe and effective way to protect yourself and those you love against COVID-19,” she said. “It’s an easy process that only takes a few minutes, and it could be the difference of a lifetime for vulnerable Hoosiers.”

To date, 69 percent of Hoosiers age 80 and older, 70 percent of those ages 70 to 79 and 49 percent of Hoosiers ages 60 to 69 have scheduled a vaccine appointment or received their first dose.

Additional locations and appointments are being added as more vaccine becomes available.

Yesterday, February 27, 2021, the Indiana State Police investigated a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on I-65 near Austin, Indiana that resulted in the death of a 47-year-old Tennessee man. 

A 24-year-old Paris Crossing, Indiana man was arrested on charges of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death as a result of the investigation.

At approximately 11:55 pm last night, troopers with the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Post, along with officers and other first responders from numerous other agencies responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-65 Northbound near the 33-mile marker, just south of Austin, in Scott County, Indiana.

The initial investigation by the Indiana State Police-Sellersburg Crash Reconstruction Team indicated that a black 2013 Dodge Avenger was driven by Cooper A. Hensley, age 24, Paris Crossing, Indiana was traveling northbound in the left lane of I-65. 

The evidence indicated that Hensley was exceeding the speed limit when he collided with a 2006 white/red Ford F-250, being driven by Scotty R. Hoosier, age 47, Altamont, Tennessee, that was also traveling northbound on I-65.

The force of the initial collision caused Hoosier’s vehicle to leave the east side of the roadway where it collided with a tree and came to rest. 

Hensley’s vehicle entered the median of I-65 where it struck the median cable barrier and overturned. 

As a result of the crash, Hoosier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Scott County Coroner’s Office. 

Two passengers in Hoosier’s vehicle were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.  Hensley was uninjured in the crash.

During the investigation, officers located drug paraphernalia in Hensley’s possession. 

Further investigation indicated that Hensley showed signs of being intoxicated at the scene of the crash. 

A search warrant was obtained for Hensley’s blood to conduct toxicology testing. 

Those results are pending at this time. 

Hensley was then transported to the Scott County Jail where he was incarcerated on a preliminary charge of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Death.

The investigation is ongoing.

I-65 Northbound was closed for approximately four hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Scottsburg Police Department, Austin Police Department, Scottsburg Fire Department, Jennings Township Fire Department, Scott County EMS, Scott County Coroner’s Office, and Coomer’s Towing.

Holiday World officials have announced Saturday, May 15 as the opening day for the 2021 Season.

Tickets will be available on the Holiday World website at 8 AM on Monday, March 1.

Season Passholders will get early access to Holiday World the weekend of May 8 & 9. The world-class water park, Splashin’ Safari, will open for the season on May 21.

“For 75 years, four generations of my family have grown this park with slightly differing visions, but always with the same goal: to give families a break from reality. We are eager to open our gates and welcome back our Kids World and Happy Halloween Weekends events in 2021,” said Leah Koch, Director of Communications and Fourth Generation Owner.

While the park has not announced its formal Covid-19 Safety Policy for 2021, in a statement online Koch shared that the park will continue to follow recommendations provided by the State of Indiana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). Guests will no longer use the inLine Reservation System to reserve rides. 

In addition to free parking, free sunscreen, free soft drinks, free wi-fi, guests can also expect the return of freehand “Santa-tizer.” 

“Travel sentiment studies are overwhelmingly turning positive as Covid-19 case studies drop across the country. We could see an average summer, but we could have a huge wave of pent-up demand waiting for us by July,” said Koch. 

To meet the rising demand, Holiday World will be hiring 2,200 team members. Those interested can apply at HolidayWorld.com/jobs. 

“If my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father ever pictured our 75th Birthday, I’m sure they didn’t foresee these challenges. But I’m also sure they’d be proud to see that we’ve weathered a year of enormous uncertainty with grace and humility while keeping people safe and that we’re ready to do it again this season,” added Koch

As Holiday World prepares to celebrate its 75th Anniversary they want to hear from past Guests and Team Members.

Park officials are finalizing plans for the special season and working on a commemorative 75th Anniversary book.

Please send pictures and memories to holidayworld.com/memories.

Guests can purchase Pick Your Day tickets after 8 am on Monday, March 1 at holidayworld.com/tickets