Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed a new Executive Order on Thursday, that allows events and gatherings to be held at venues based on percentages of their overall capacity.

Previously, Gov. Holcomb’s order limited gatherings and events to a certain number of attendees based on each county’s current color on the state health department’s COVID-19 County Metrics Map, with 25 individuals allowed to gather in Red Zone counties and 50 in Orange counties.

After most of Indiana was in the Red for the past couple of weeks, the rate of Covid-19 spread has slowed and now most of the state is in the Orange, with a few counties in Yellow. 

The new Executive Order signed Thursday allows for the following amount of individuals to gather at events:

• Red Counties: 25% of a facility’s capacity
• Orange Counties: 25% of a facility’s capacity
• Yellow Counties: 50% of a facility’s capacity
• Blue Counties: 100% of a facility’s capacity

The order says that for the above conditions to be permitted, the host of the gathering or event must submit a plan to their local health department, which addresses multiple factors like venue capacity.

That plan must also outline what steps will be taken to mitigate the spread of the virus during the event, and the host must enforce those steps.

While Indiana’s COVID-19 County Metrics Map is showing steady progress with most counties scored as Orange and some as Yellow on Wednesday’s latest update, most local counties are still under the Red Zone advisory level.

That’s because a county must meet the metrics/score of a less-restrictive category for two consecutive weeks before being allowed to move to that category.

Should COVID-19 conditions continue to improve, many local counties could be under the Orange advisory level as of Wednesday, Feb. 3, with the state health department’s next update to its County Metrics Map.

The Executive Order signed Thursday by Holcomb will go into effect on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., and continue through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28

Here is a link to read the entire executive order – https://www.in.gov/gov/governor-holcomb/newsroom/executive-orders/

Two from Lawrence County and one from Daviess County were arrested Thursday on drug-related charges after a US Marshall Service search for a missing juvenile from Indianapolis led police to a home in Oolitic.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Indiana State Police made the following arrests:

Dakota Stinson (26 years old of Mitchell, IN)

• Possession of Methamphetamine Over 5 Grams, Level 5 Felony
• Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia with a Prior Conviction, Class A Misdemeanor

Skyler Shoemaker (26 years old of Bedford, IN)

• Possession of Methamphetamine Over 5 Grams, Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Tory Thompson (19 years old of Washington, IN)

• Possession of Methamphetamine Over 5 Grams, Level 5 Felony
• Possession of Paraphernalia, Class C Misdemeanor

Indiana State Police Sergeant Greg Day and Trooper Robert Whyte were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service which led officers to the 800 block of Smith Avenue in Oolitic.

While there, officers observed items of drug paraphernalia and suspected methamphetamine inside of a detached garage in plain view.

Three adult males, who were in the garage, were detained.

Sgt. Day applied for a search warrant and the Honorable Judge Robert Cline of Superior Court 2 signed the warrant. 

Officers executed the search warrant and recovered approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine, numerous methamphetamine smoking devices, digital scales, and other drug-related items.

All three were incarcerated at the Lawrence County Jail.  The original missing juvenile was not located at the residence.  ISP was assisted by Oolitic Town Marshal Jon Jeffries and Lawrence County Sheriff Department Officers Andrew Phillips, Lonnie Johnson, and Robin Compton.

Anyone with illegal drug information is encouraged to contact the Indiana State Police Bloomington Post at 812-332-4411.

Nightly lane closures originally scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 1, on I-65 NB and SB in Bartholomew County have been canceled.

Once rescheduled, closures will be in place for two-to-three nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. at Denois Creek, Opossum Creek and the Deaver Rd. overpass, located south of Columbus.

The lane closures will protect crews placing temporary barrier wall in the median and outside shoulders prior to bridge work as part of the added travel lanes project between Walesboro and Columbus.

Additional lane closures and restrictions will begin as early as mid-March as construction gets underway on the $65 million contracts that includes the addition of a third travel lane on I-65 between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46, bridge widening and rehabilitation, structure replacement, and resurfacing between the Driftwood River Bridge and U.S. 31 at Taylorsville.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free through all work zones. 

The House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee voted this week to advance State Rep. Steve Davisson’s (R-Salem) legislation helping Paoli Junior-Senior High School students continue to sell their pork and lettuce to the school.

As the state lawmaker representing the Orange County school in the General Assembly, Davisson, a member of the committee, authored legislation allowing youth agricultural education programs throughout the state to sell up to $7,500 worth of products to schools without going through a competitive procurement process.

He said local students like those who are raising hogs and growing hydroponic lettuce, and then selling their products to the cafeteria, are learning many valuable lessons about agriculture and business.

And now, they can also learn about changing laws.

“This is another example of how government can work to help local Hoosiers, and hopefully we can make a change so these programs can continue to teach our students important, hands-on lessons,” Davisson said.

“Sourcing inexpensive local, fresh food sets a great example for students. When we create a legal avenue for this to continue, more schools around the state should pursue similar programs for their students.”

Davisson said after the committee voted unanimously to advance House Bill 1119, it now moves to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.

To learn more and watch legislative proceedings, visit iga.in.gov.