Saturday night, October 31, at approximately 9:18, Indiana State Police responded to a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on US 41 south of Hess Road involving a Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The investigation revealed the sheriff’s deputy was responding to a crash with unknown injuries in the area of US 41 and Cottonwood Lane.

The deputy was south of Vincennes and traveling north on US 41. The sheriff’s deputy had his emergency lights activated. As the deputy approached the area of Hess Road, a male wearing dark clothing walked from the median into the deputy’s lane of travel. The sheriff’s deputy braked but couldn’t avoid striking the pedestrian.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene by the Knox County Coroner. The pedestrian is a 68-year-old male from Vincennes. His identity will be released after his family has been notified.

Further investigation revealed the 68-year-old male had been traveling on US 41 and for unknown reasons drove off the roadway near Cottonwood Lane and struck a tree and fence.

McGiffen left the scene of the crash and was attempting to cross US 41 when he was struck. The original crash was approximately ¼ mile away from the crash involving the male pedestrian and the sheriff’s deputy.

The investigation is continuing.

Investigating Officer: Trooper Nick Hatfield, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Sergeant Kylen Compton, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agencies: Knox County Coroner’s Office and Knox County Sheriff’s Office

You can read the order here.

Indiana has remained in “Stage 5” of Gov. Holcomb’s reopening plan for some time, despite skyrocketing numbers that are now in the 3,000-plus per day range.

A statewide mask mandate remains in effect. 

Indiana is grappling with record-high COVID-19 cases as we settle into the fall season.

For the past five days in a row, Indiana State Health officials have noted at least 2,000 new coronavirus cases each day.

On Wednesday, the state broke an all-time-high record of newly reported COVID-19 cases at 3,649.

The Indiana State Department of Health announced 3,205 new cases of the virus on Friday and 26 additional deaths.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to conduct intermittent closures next Tuesday night (Nov. 3) on southbound I-65 in Clark County to complete repairs on the bridge over Caney Fork. Closures were originally planned for Friday, but have been rescheduled due to heavy rain and possible flooding expected later this week.

Closures will take place for up to 20 minutes at a time from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. between MM 22.5 and MM 17, from south of Scottsburg to near Memphis. 

Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route or allow extra travel time to avoid delays, in addition to watching for slowed and/or stopped traffic. The $683,000 project is part of a district-wide bridge maintenance contract.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor MAC Construction plans to close the S.R. 56 WB to I-65 SB ramp on Monday, Nov. 2, for concrete patching underneath the S.R. 56 overpass in Scottsburg (Exit 29).

During the closure, motorists should use the S.R. 56 EB ramp to access I-65 SB. The ramp is expected to reopen Tuesday evening (Nov. 3), weather permitting. 

This work is part of a $494,000 patching contract on I-65. Single-lane closures are expected to continue between Seymour and Memphis through late November. Motorists should watch for slowed and/or stopped traffic as work progresses.

Are you ready to get moving, improve your health, and enjoy life more?

Get WalkIN’ is a free e-mail based walking program being offered through Purdue Extension in Washington County.

Participants can sign-up, walk on their own, and receive e-mailed support and information.

It is designed to encourage individuals to learn more about the health benefits of walking and encourage individuals to get moving.

Walking is a popular form of physical activity—and good for your health! Only half of all American adults get the recommended amount of physical activity.

Lack of physical activity is directly related to the occurrence of adult obesity and overweight. Regular physical activity can lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, and falls in older adults.

Walking is an excellent way for most people to increase their physical activity. It is an easy way to start and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

Walking is accessible to almost anyone, doesn’t require specific skills or abilities to perform, can be performed alone or with others, and is adaptable (i.e., can be performed at any chosen intensity, and is inexpensive).

Walking can serve many purposes. It can be a way to exercise, have fun, or get to school, work, or other nearby destinations. Importantly, making walking easier can help communities by
improving safety, social cohesion, and local economies and reducing air pollution.

Do you know that you need to get more active but lack the initiative to get started? Do you make excuses like “I do not have time, I don’t want to walk alone, or where would I walk?” Have you started to walk and lost interest or motivation? Get WalkIN’ is just for you!

You will receive e-mails that provide encouragement, motivation, provide information about health and wellness, and more!
Participants will be asked to complete two short online surveys.

For more details and to register, contact Sonya H. Mitchell at shmitche@purdue.edu.

The first series starts November 2, registration preferred by
November 1, 2020.

Before you know it, you will be walking, feeling better, having more energy, and a new healthy habit!

Do you have questions about poinsettias, Christmas trees, and other plants that are used during the holidays? If so, you should plan to join the Holiday Plants Webinar presented by Richard Beckort, Purdue Extension Ag. & Natural Resources Educator in Jackson County on Thursday, November 12 beginning at 11:30 am.

Beckort will be available to answer your holiday plant questions.

To join the webinar and/or to receive the webinar recording, pre-
registration is required by Tuesday, November 10 by visiting http://bit.ly/2020holidayplants.

For questions about the webinar, contact Purdue Extension –
Decatur Co. at jhermesch@purdue.edu or 812-663-8388, Purdue Extension – Jackson Co. at rbeckort@purdue.edu or 812-358-6101, Purdue Extension – Lawrence Co. at odavis@purdue.edu or 812-275-4623, or Purdue Extension – Washington County at
dhowellw@purdue.edu or 812-883-4601.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and to make the annual cheese ball sale a little safer, the Washington County Purdue Extension Office and 4-H Junior Leaders are taking orders for Thanksgiving cheese ball kits.

Get everything you need to make Jr. Leader cheese balls at home!

The kits include supplies to make two cheese balls and cost $15 per kit and can be ordered by calling 812-883-4601 or by contacting a 4-H Junior Leader!

Cheese ball kits will be made on:

Monday, November 16th – Pick up orders between 5:00-7:00 p.m. in 4-H Building at the fairgrounds. Call in order by Monday, November 9th.

All cheese balls must be picked up at the 4-H Building if ordered through the Extension Office.

If ordered through a Junior Leader, the Junior Leader will deliver the cheese ball kit to you.

A portion of the sales price of this product will be used to promote Washington County 4-H Jr. Leader educational programs.