Do you have questions about utilizing trees and shrubs in your landscape? If so, you should plan to join the Trees in the Landscape Webinar presented by Richard Beckort, Purdue
Extension Ag. & Natural Resources Educator in Jackson County on Thursday, December 17, 2020, beginning at 11:30 am to learn about the selection, planting, and care of landscape trees and
shrubs.

Richard will be available to answer your tree and shrub questions.

To join the webinar and/or to receive the webinar recording, pre-registration is required by Tuesday, December 15,
2020 by visiting https://bit.ly/treecarelandscaping101.

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.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Beatty Construction Inc. plans to activate new traffic signals at the intersection of U.S. 421 (Harrison Street) and 2nd Street, near the Madison-Milton Bridge, on Friday, Nov. 20, weather permitting.

The new signals will be controlled by in-pavement loop sensors and feature three-section signal heads. 

Most work on the nearly-$10 million bridge approach project will be complete by the end of 2020. The new alignment opened to traffic in June. Second Street is planned to reopen in the next two to three weeks following the placement of temporary pavement markings. Crews will return to the site next spring to finish final surface paving and striping.

Motorists are reminded to slow down and use extra caution as traffic adjusts to the new signals. All work is weather dependent.

Attorney General Curtis Hill today urged Hoosiers to visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com and file a claim for a restitution payment in light of the massive 2017 Equifax data breach. The last day for Hoosiers to file claims is Dec. 16, but Attorney General Hill said Hoosiers should file their claims as soon as possible.

The Equifax data breach occurred from May 2017 to July 2017 and impacted approximately 147 million Americans, including roughly 3.9 million Indiana residents. The breach compromised Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers and credit card information. Attorney General Hill sued Equifax following the data breach and secured a settlement with the company, which agreed to pay the state of Indiana $19.5 million. 

Indiana was one of two states that opted not to participate in a multistate settlement with Equifax in July 2019. Instead, the Office of the Indiana Attorney General opted to file its own lawsuit against the company. As a result, Indiana received more money than any of the states that participated in the multistate settlement, which distributed $175 million among the participating states.

All the nearly 4 million Indiana residents impacted by the data breach are eligible for a portion of the $19.5 million Equifax paid the state of Indiana. Many eligible Hoosiers have yet to file claims on IndianaEquifaxClaims.com, Attorney General Hill said.

“We structured our settlement with Equifax so that we could give Hoosiers the opportunity to claim money they may have lost due to Equifax’s failure to protect personal information,” Attorney General Hill said. “That money is just waiting to be claimed. Now, it’s up to Hoosiers to visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com and secure their rightful portion of the settlement.”

Attorney General Hill encourages all Hoosiers who were Indiana residents between March 2017 and July 2017 to visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com and enter the required information to file a claim. You will be able to select whether you would like your payment digitally or in the form of a paper check. Payments will be distributed after the Dec. 16 claim deadline.

Visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com for more information about filing a claim and for answers to frequently asked questions about the settlement.

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.