Indiana has entered a new phase of county-based restrictions after positivity rates saw a drop as vaccination rates grew.

Governor Eric Holcomb announced during last week’s coronavirus briefing a new executive order would be signed Sunday. It’s based on Indiana’s color-coded county advisory levels.

The executive order will be in effect until February 28 and strongly recommends social gatherings and events be limited based on a county’s color-coded metric.

Red counties can have up to 25 people present, orange can have 50 people, yellow can have 100 people and blue can have up to 250 people at a gathering.

Governor Holcomb also said that the state will be adding to a capacity limit instead of a total attendees limit.

Overall attendance at social gatherings or events will be based on the county’s color-coded metric.

Red and orange may not exceed 25% of the facility’s capacity, yellow counties may not exceed 50% of the facility’s capacity and blue counties may reach 100% of the facility’s capacity.

Despite the changes, Holcomb stressed Hoosiers need to continue to physically distance while wearing face coverings.

For safety reasons, a section of popular Canyon Road at Clifty Falls State Park will convert to one-way traffic only starting Feb. 8.

The section of Canyon Road that will change runs from the T intersection of Tunnel Falls to the T intersection at the park’s nature center.

With the change, only southbound traffic will be allowed on that stretch.

The rest of Canyon Road will continue to be two-way. 

The scenic road attracts large numbers of hikers, joggers, road walkers, and bike riders. 

More than half of the park’s trailheads are on Canyon Road, and the parking lots by those trailheads fill up every weekend, complicating staff efforts when they need to make rescues and recoveries from some of park’s rugged trails.

“By making this section one-way, we can add a pedestrian/bike lane to that stretch,” said property manager Brad Walker.

“Although the change will take some getting used to for driving, it will be an overall improvement of our guests’ experience and make the park a safer place.”

On January 29, 2021, The Scott County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office and the Seymour Police Department, served a search warrant at 3705 Lovers Lane, Scottsburg, (rural Scott County). 

The search warrant was the result of ongoing drug investigations by the Sheriff’s Office.  As a result of the search warrant, three arrests were made. 

Mason Steinkamp, 57, from the above-listed address, was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for four counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine At Least One Gram but Less Than Five Grams.

He received additional charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine At Least 10 Grams, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

Natasha Prosser, 34, of Austin was arrested for Maintaining a Common Nuisance. 

Jordyn Combest, 20, of Madison, IN, was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Syringe, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

During the service of the search warrant over 55 grams of Methamphetamine was located along with several types of legend drugs, (pills). 

Over $400.00 in U.S. currency was also seized. 

During an additional search warrant that occurred this past Wednesday evening, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Scottsburg Police Department. 

In that search warrant Leroy Whitaker, 54, of Scottsburg was arrested for an outstanding warrant, (Scott County Sheriff’s Office investigation), for Dealing in Methamphetamine at Least One Gram but Less than Five Grams. 

Sheriff Goodin continued to praise the hard work of the deputies and commented, “At this time, you would think drug dealers would know they cannot deal drugs in Scott County and get away with it.

Those who choose this type of lifestyle will surely end up in the same fate as the folks we arrested today”.

Sheriff Goodin also praised the public for all the tips the Sheriff’s Office receives.