Indiana Department of Natural Resources properties has been a safe place for Hoosiers to get fresh air, stretch their legs, and seek solace throughout 2020. But we have had to temporarily suspend some services for the safety of our guests and staff along the way.

Out of an abundance of caution, we are modifying all dining for the seven restaurants at our State Park Inns to carry-out only through Dec. 15.

Thanksgiving meals will be carry-out only for inn guests. Reservation holders will be notified.

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” the DNR noted in a press release. “If any additional alterations are needed they will be posted to the DNR COVID-19 Response page: on.IN.gov/DNRcovid19.

Hoosiers have gathered at our tables for Thanksgiving dinner for more than 60 years, and we look forward to restarting this annual tradition in 2021.

Similar to the spring school turn to virtual education, once again schools will be offering meals to students who are currently back at home with virtual learning. 

Washington County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Morgan ordered schools to move junior and senior high school classes online after the state designated the county as “Orange”.

Morgan said the elementary students could continue in-person. 

Salem and East Washington schools sent everyone home. West Washington is allowing the elementary students to continue while the older grades went home to take virtual classes. 

Salem and East Washington will be providing meals for those students. 

West Washington said it was making meals available to only those students who needed them. 

According to Joni Muchler, WW School Nutrition Director, “Unfortunately, we have not had a good response with the meals we have offered so far for our Virtual Wednesday learning days, participation has been extremely low.  So, we are not doing meal pickups. We do have some of our higher need students we are bringing in so they are getting meals and extra help.”

Muchler said anyone who contacts the schools will be taken care of.

She said two groups within the school were making food baskets for some students. 

Salem is distributing meals for students 18 and under who are not attending school in person. 

A second distribution day will be Wednesday, Nov. 18

Meal pickup will be at the Bradie M. Shrum Elementary gym doors on Wednesday from 11am – 12:30 pm (3 breakfast / 3 lunch)

Administration requests those picking up food please stay in their vehicle.

Children do not need to be present and another person may be designated to pick up meals.

All East Washington Students will be able to pick up free breakfasts and lunches from 9:45-11:00 a.m. on the following days: November 18, 19, 20, 23 and the 24th. 

Elementary students can pick up meals at the elementary and middle and high students at Eastern High School.

For more information, contact the schools at the following numbers:

• West Washington Administration – 812-755-4872
• East Washington Administration – 812-967-3926
• Salem Schools Administration – 812-883-4437

Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) discussed COVID-19 vaccine developments and reinforced the need to pass a targeted relief package for Hoosiers.

“I too want to celebrate American ingenuity and recognize the achievements of these two pharmaceutical companies that recently announced the development of, it appears, highly effective vaccines to the COVID-19 virus. They of course in the coming weeks will be seeking formal approval for emergency use from the FDA. And there are some other drugs online that are notable as well. Eli Lilly, out of Indianapolis, Indiana has a drug that is targeted towards those who are most at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus and it’s already been approved by the FDA. All of this is possible because of our innovators, our frontline scientists, and our incredible university system. But the Trump administration is also to be commended for its Operation Warp Speed, finding a new way to do business, and Republicans in the U.S. Senate, led by Roy Blunt, who helped author this initiative in the CARES Act. So I’m very proud of my colleagues and we need to build on that success here in Washington,” said Senator Young.

“… we as legislators need to build on our CARES Act success by passing the next round of assistance. Small business assistance is especially important as we hundreds and thousands of businesses having permanently closed on account of this pandemic. They require additional help. I have been talking about this for months and I’ll continue to talk about this,” Senator Young continued.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to close a section of S.R. 45 in Brown County this week to replace a structure under the roadway. The structure is located between North Street and 1st Street in Helmsburg.

This will be a continuous closure starting around 8 a.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 17) and ending by 8 a.m. on Thursday morning (Nov. 19), weather permitting. Motorists will need to utilize an alternate route while the closure is in place.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to close Eastern Blvd. and Veterans Pkwy. over I-65 this weekend in Clarksville for terminal joint repair.

Eastern Blvd. is scheduled to close overnight on Saturday (Nov. 21) and Veterans Pkwy. on Sunday (Nov. 22). Both closures will take place from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. 

On Saturday, U.S. 31 will be restricted to thru or right-turn movements only at Eastern Blvd. All ramps will remain open on Sunday at Veterans Pkwy., but traffic will not be allowed to cross I-65.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near work zones. Closures will be rescheduled if needed due to inclement weather.

A 41-year-old Austin man was killed in a house fire and Indiana State Police detectives and crime scene investigators are conducting a death investigation after the early morning blaze. 

The deceased has been identified as Paul Ray Collins, 41, of Austin, Indiana.

Next of Kin has been notified.

This investigation is ongoing, and no official cause for the fire or cause of death has yet been determined. 

Shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, the Jennings Township Fire Department and Austin City Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting a residential fire at 45 N. 4th Street in Austin. 

When firefighters and officers arrived, they found the front of the residence on fire and a utility shed located in the front yard completely engulfed. 

After extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered a body in the charred remains of the utility shed. 

ISP detectives and crime scene technicians responded and investigated the case throughout the morning and afternoon, along with investigators from the Indiana State Fire Marshall’s Office, the Austin Police Department, and the Scott County Coroner.  

ISP detectives and crime scene technicians were assisted by units from the Jennings Township Fire Department, the Austin City Police Department, The Scott County Sheriff’s Department, and the Scott County Coroner.