In Oregon, Thanksgiving dinners are to be held to under 6 people. Kentucky says to limit Thanksgiving dinner to no more than 2 households. Pennsylvania is requiring masks be worn indoors in people’s own houses.

Chicago is limiting turkey dinners to no more than 10 in one location. With US COVID-19 hospitalizations at an all-time high today and an ORANGE status for Floyd County.

What is a rational nonpartisan approach for our community?

The Center for Disease Control [CDC] has issued straight forward guidance: limit Thanksgiving celebrations to home events with the people you have lived with for the preceding two weeks.

This specifically doesn’t include a student home from college or those home from military service. The CDC recommends against Thanksgiving travel, noting that staying home is the safest option. “Amid this critical phase, the CDC is recommending against travel during the Thanksgiving period “says Dr. Henry
Walke, COVID-19 Incident Manager.

Many have expressed concerns and threats of noncompliance to the Floyd County Health Department [FCHD] and its Health Officer, Dr. Tom Harris, regarding Holiday gatherings restrictions.

While the CDC recommendations are correct and consistent with public health mitigation measures, many may find
these recommendations unpalatable. Fortunately, there are additional ways to limit the risk to families
and the medically vulnerable.

The standard protective measures are especially valuable during the Holidays. Wearing masks when not eating or drinking can lower the risk of spread, as can frequent hand washing or sanitizer use. Social distancing in the home, particularly for the elderly and medically vulnerable, is also essential. Limiting
traffic in the kitchen, avoiding buffet style food service, considering the use of single-use items like utensils and condiments, and spreading out diners are all specific feast related interventions that can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The American Automotive Association [AAA] estimates that 30 million Americans will travel during the Thanksgiving celebration. Public Health exists not to limit freedoms, but to limit disease and promote Community well-being. The FCHD encourages all citizens to include protecting their loved ones in their
Holiday planning.

For additional information contact the FCHD AT 812-948-4726, ext. 655 or online at floydcounty.in.gov.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb have tested negative for COVID-19.

The Governor and First Lady began quarantining Tuesday after several members of their security detail tested positive for COVID-19 and they were determined to be close contacts of the infected individuals.

The Governor and First Lady received both an Abbott rapid test and a nasopharyngeal PCR test, and had negative results on both. They are doing well and are not experiencing symptoms.

Per the advice of Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the Governor and First Lady will not be tested again unless they develop symptoms.

They will continue their 14-day quarantine and can resume a normal schedule with vigilance about masking and social distancing on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

A Jeffersonville woman was arrested on felony drug charges after investigators searched her residence Wednesday afternoon. 

Units with the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section (DES) began an investigation in October after receiving information about alleged drug activity at a Jeffersonville address. The Sellersburg Post All Crimes Policing Squad (ACP) assisted.

At the conclusion of their joint investigation, officers requested and received a search warrant. 

On Wednesday, DES and ACP units served the search warrant on 1420 Grubbs Avenue in Jeffersonville. During the search, officers discovered over 5 ounces of suspected methamphetamine, as well as marijuana and other drug-related items.  

As a result of the search and investigation, Christina E. Abbott, 49, of Jeffersonville is charged with the following: 

• Dealing in Methamphetamine – Level 2 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony 
• Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of a Syringe – Level 6 Felony 
• Possession of Paraphernalia – A Misdemeanor
• Possession of Marijuana – A Misdemeanor

.  

Christian Abbott was transported to the Clark County Jail without incident.  

On November 9, 2020, First Sergeant John Hartman began an investigation after Scott County School District #2 contacted the sheriff’s office because of a threat made to one of their bus drivers.

The investigation involved a parent of one of the students riding on the bus. The parent, Charles Linne, 35, of Austin, entered onto the bus while it was stopped on a county road in southern Scott County, dropping off children.

When he entered onto the bus to start a confrontation, he was told to exit the bus by the bus driver. Charles Linne then made verbal threats of violence towards the bus driver before exiting the bus.

First Sergeant Hartman concluded his investigation and turned it into the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office.

After review, an arrest warrant was issued for Charles Linne on November 16th. He was charged with two counts of Intimidation and Escape/Flees from Lawful Detention with a Prior. 

Charles Linne was arrested on the same day the arrest warrant was issued by the Austin Police Department on separate charges and is currently incarcerated at the Scott County Jail. 

Sheriff Goodin stated, “Threats towards others will not be tolerated, especially in the presence of children and anyone who does this should expect the same outcome as happened to Charles Linne.”

On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, an investigation led by the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children task force (ICAC) resulted in the arrest of a Charlestown, Indiana man for possession and dissemination of child pornography. Two counts of child molesting were added Thursday as the investigation continued.  

The investigation began in October of this year when Indiana State Police Investigators received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That investigation led investigators from the Sellersburg ICAC Task Force to interview Justin Allen Freytag, 36, of Charlestown. Officers also requested and were granted a search warrant for his residence. 

As a result of the initial interview and investigation, Freytag was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography, a level 6 felony, and Dissemination of Child Pornography, a level 5 felony. Officers then requested a second search warrant based on information gathered during the initial search. Justin Freytag was remanded into the Clark County Jail on Wednesday; however, the investigation continued. 

On Thursday, November 19, 2020, acting on new information gathered during the search warrants, officers charged Justin Freytag with one count of Child Molestation, a level 1 felony, and one count of Child Molestation, a level 4 felony.  

This investigation is ongoing. Freytag’s bail has been set at $100,000 full cash.  

The Washington County Health Department has seen a recent rapid spread in Covid-19 cases within our community.

Washington County has had 187 cases since November 1 and the State of Indiana has 90,318 total cases in that same time. 

Currently, the county falls in the orange zone, which means the community spread is approaching high levels and a county point score of 2.0 – 2.5, according to the health department.

The health department would like the residents and businesses of Washington County to continue to follow the Executive Orders, Governor Eric Holcomb signed on Nov. 13 regarding wearing mask and the enforcement by businesses. 

All Indiana businesses are expected to display signage alerting employees and customers that masks are required to be worn, according to Gov. Holcomb’s new pandemic-related executive order that went into effect on Sunday.

The latest order, which Holcomb signed Friday, requires all businesses to place “clearly visible signage at their public and employee entrances notifying that face coverings are required for all individuals entering the business.”

Businesses are also required to re-evaluate any existing COVID-19 response plan and “update it to reflect current business practices and safeguards,” the order says.

In May, Holcomb initially ordered businesses to create COVID-19 action plans, which were expected to include an employee screening process, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and the availability of hand sanitizer or hand-washing supplies.

Businesses are also encouraged to suspend any sick leave policy that requires a doctor’s note.

The new restrictions and recommendations from Holcomb replace the five-stage reopening plan his administration unveiled in May and are in place through Dec. 12.

Most of the restrictions are based on the level of infection in each county. The state has developed a color-coded system that assesses the rate of infection and assigns one of four colors to each county.

Executive Order 20-48 (# 3 Section e. Face Covering Requirements)

• Every individual within the State of Indiana shall wear a face-covering over the nose and mouth when:
  • i) Inside a business, a public building, or other indoor places open to the public. This does not extend, however, to private offices, private workspaces, or meetings in which six (6) feet of social distancing can be achieved and maintained between individuals not in the same household;
  • ii) In an outdoor public space wherever it is not feasible to maintain six (6) feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household; or
  • iii) Using public transportation or while in a taxi, private care service, or ride-sharing vehicle  

This means that when customers come into a business, they should be wearing a mask properly. 

All of Washington County, Indiana businesses shall follow the directives of the Indiana Executive Orders.

Executive Order 20-48 (# 4 Section b. Face Covering Requirements)

• • i) Signage: All Hoosier businesses are required to place clearly visible signage at their public and employee entrances notifying them that face coverings are required for all individuals entering the business.
  • ii) Employees: Businesses shall require employees to wear face coverings,
  • iii) Customers, Clients and Visitors: Businesses should only admit those customers, clients, vendors, and other visitors who wear face coverings. 

This means that businesses should have a sign on the outside of the business asking the public to wear a mask when entering the business and the businesses should also require the customers to actually wear the masks. 

When drafting a legal document (such as an executive order) the term shall is used to say that something must be done, as opposed to the term may which simply means that something is allowed (i.e. that it can be done, but does not have to be done)

“Until vaccines are available, we are requesting every business/ individual within Washington County to do their part in slowing down the spread of Covid-19 within our community,” said Maggie Bordon of the Washington County Health Department. 

Please refer to the full document for the rest of the Executive Order 20-48. https://www.in.gov/gov/files/Executive_Order_20-48_Color-Coded_County_Assessments.pdf

Refer to this link for an in-depth description of the requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties based on color code metrics:  https://www.in.gov/gov/files/Coronavirus_Response_Requirements.pdf

SpeechVive Inc. announced Thursday (Nov. 19) it is making its remote calibration software and training available free during the COVID-19 global health crisis. The software and training are available to all speech-language pathologists and their patients, as well as Veterans Affairs medical centers and veterans with Parkinson’s disease.

Jessica Huber, a professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences and associate dean for research in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, decided to investigate the use of remote technology to calibrate the SpeechVive, an ear-worn device that provides immediate speech volume and clarity improvement for people with Parkinson’s disease. Huber wanted to find a way to serve patients in rural and remote areas. 

“We would get calls from people in rural communities who had to travel over two hours each way to find a qualified clinician,” Huber said. “I wanted to make communication more accessible.”

Ashleigh Lambert, vice president of clinical development and co-principal investigator for the telehealth trial, said, “In no way was a pandemic a reason we ever considered for use of our telehealth platform.”

The remote calibration software platform was developed and studied with funding from a National Institutes of Health small business innovation and research grant. Huber’s Purdue Motor Speech Lab studied the use of calibrating the SpeechVive remotely as compared to programming the device in-person.

The research showed that remote calibration is just as effective as in-person device programming sessions.

SpeechVive now partners with speech-language pathologists and neurologists to provide training and remote device programming for people with Parkinson’s disease.

 “We’ve found that many people with Parkinson’s disease have delayed intervention for their speech during COVID-19 because the clinics are closed or have limited capacity to see patients as a social-distancing precaution,” Lambert said. “We’re providing our software platform free-of-charge to clinicians and customers to access SpeechVive from their homes. We believe communication is more important now than ever for people with Parkinson’s, and we are part of the solution.”

SpeechVive is an Indiana startup company based on Huber’s research. The company has developed a wearable medical device to improve the speech clarity of people with Parkinson’s.

“The SpeechVive device, which fits behind the patient’s ear, detects when a patient is speaking and elicits louder and clearer speech through an involuntary reflex known as the Lombard Effect,” said Huber, inventor and co-founder. “Approximately 89% of people with Parkinson’s disease will have speech issues. Access to SpeechVive for those patients will make a significant improvement in their quality of life.” 

A lengthy investigation by the Indiana State Police, with assistance from the South Bend Police Strategic Focus Unit, culminated with search warrants and the arrest of a South Bend, IN man on charges of dealing a narcotic drug and methamphetamine.

The Indiana State Police executed a search warrant at 207 North Dixie Way Apartment 320 Roseland, IN on the morning of November 18, 2020.

This warrant was the result of a lengthy investigation that began after the Indiana State Police received a citizen tip concerning drug dealing throughout St. Joseph County, IN.

As a result of this investigation, William Pollard, 40 of South Bend, IN was arrested preliminarily for Dealing Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug, Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug, and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Troopers located two handguns, numerous items associated with drug dealing and distribution, United States Currency, and plastic bags containing suspected heroin.

Pollard was transported to the St. Joseph County Jail following his arrest.

Citizens can report suspected drug activity by calling the Indiana State Police Bremen Post at 574-546-4900