Floyd County’s Health Officer mirrors Indiana’s mask mandate for the county, putting it in place before Monday’s statewide order and staying in place until Sept. 11

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to plague our community.

“In the last four (4) weeks we have seen an increase in cases, despite the current mitigating measures,” said Thomas M. Harris MD, FACEP, Floyd County Health Officer.

The State of Indiana has slowed the reopening stages; however, the daily rate of new illnesses continues to rise.

“There is currently no vaccine to prevent the illness. Measures such as hand hygiene, facial coverings, and social distancing are the most effective strategies to reduce the spread from infected persons to noninfected persons. Therefore, to protect public health and simply save lives, restrictions must be established to assist in the reduction of COVID-19 transmission,” said Dr. Harrris. 

With this understanding, and with the approval of the Floyd County Board of Health, as the Floyd County Health Officer, Harris hereby orders a facial covering mandate, pursuant to
Indiana Code 16-20-1 et seq. and 16-41-9 et seq.

This order took effect 00:01 (12:01 AM) EDT 24 July 2020. The order will remain in effect for six (6) weeks, expiring 00:01 (12:01 AM) EDT 11 September 2020.

The order may be extended depending on pandemic conditions.

Every individual must wear a facial covering over their nose and mouth when they are at:
 An indoor area open to the public including public transportation
 A private indoor or outdoor area where a social distance of six (6) feet from individuals
outside their households cannot be maintained
 An outdoor public area where a social distance of six (6) feet from individuals outside
their household cannot be maintained
 An enclosed public space or place of business.
A properly worn facial covering fully covers the individual’s mouth and nose fits snuggly against the sides of the face with no gaps, is secured to prevent slipping, and allows for breathing
with no restrictions. All face coverings that are not disposable should be washed each day before reuse. An adult should supervise the use of facial coverings by children age three (3)-twelve (12) to avoid misuse.
Exceptions to the policy include, but are not limited to:
 Any child age two (2) or less
 Any individual in respiratory distress
 Any individual who is hearing impaired and needs to remove facial coverings to communicate
 Any individual who has been advised, in writing, by a primary care provider that wearing a facial covering is detrimental to the individual’s health
 Any individual who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the facial covering without assistance
 Any individual who is directed to remove a facial covering by a law enforcement officer

 Any employee engaged in work where a face covering would be deemed a hazard by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
 Any restaurant or bar customer while they are dining
 Any individual not in an area open to the public and where a social distance of six (6) feet can be maintained from non-household members [Ex. A single person private office]

The intent of this order is to provide a safe environment for all people in Floyd County, whether engaged in work, social, or everyday activities, by mandating the use of facial coverings to
prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This will protect public health in Floyd County.

“Nothing in this order reduces or eliminates the requirements imposed by the executive orders by Governor Holcomb or orders from other regulating governmental agencies. This order is intended to be used to educate, encourage, and persuade people to wear facial coverings,” according to Dr. Harris. 

Citizens should continue to use frequent hand washing or sanitizing; maintain a minimum social distance of six (6) feet; avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and most importantly, stay home and isolate yourself if you are sick.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will host a public hearing on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 6:00 pm in the CW Mount Community Center & Banquet Facility, 341 West Jefferson Street, Tipton, Indiana 46072.

Prior to the official public hearing, the meeting room will be open for a project open house from 5:00-6:00 pm. Following the public hearing, a second project open house will occur from 6:30-7:00 pm.

The public hearing will adhere to State of Indiana Department of Health (ISDH) health and safety guidelines including face coverings, implementing social distancing practices and providing hand sanitizer. Attendees are encouraged to adhere to ISDH guidelines and safety protocols.

The purpose of the public hearing is to offer all interested persons an opportunity to comment on the environmental document and the preliminary design plans for the US 31 over the Norfolk Southern Railroad Grade Separation Project. This project is being developed using federal and state funds.

The purpose of this project is to improve the flow of traffic on US 31 across the Norfolk Southern Railroad, reduce traffic disruptions for those traveling on US 31 and to reduce vehicle collisions.

The need for this project stems from the frequency of traffic disruptions, the number of individuals impacted daily by the train crossing, and a history of vehicle collisions. Approximately seven trains utilize the existing rail facilities each day crossing this segment of US 31.

The train crossing stops traffic flow increasing the potential for vehicle collisions and results in delayed travel times.

The Indiana Department of Transportation proposes to construct single-span twin structures carrying US 31 over County Road 100 South and the existing Norfolk Southern Railroad.  The project limits are approximately 5,940 feet in length. 

The project begins 1,850 feet south of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and extends 4,120 feet north of the Norfolk Southern Railroad (to compensate for poor soil conditions). 

The proposed structures will be single-span twin bridges with a 44.5-foot out-to-out coping width and 41.58-foot clear roadway. The bridge cross-section consists of two 12.0 foot travel lanes and varying-width shoulders with a minimum width of 5.67 feet to the inside and 11.67 feet to the outside. F shaped truck height (Type FT) bridge railing is warranted along each coping.

The structures will provide a 23-foot minimum vertical clearance over the railroad tracks and a 14.5-foot minimum vertical clearance over County Road 100 South.

The proposed structures will consist of a 120-foot span from the centerline of bent to the centerline of bent.  MSE walls will be constructed to retain the proposed embankments. Additional details will be presented during the public hearing and also made available via the INDOT website.

Federal and state funds are proposed to be used for the construction of this project. INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have agreed that this project poses minimal impact to the natural environment. 

A Categorical Exclusion (CE) environmental document has been prepared for the project.

The environmental documentation and preliminary design information are available to view via the Greenfield District webpage https://www.in.gov/indot/2704.htm and the Tipton County Public Library, 127 East Madison Street, Tipton, Indiana 46072 (765) 675-8761. 

Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure. All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during, and for a period of two (2) weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered, and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation. Written comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing and within the comment period to United Consulting, Room 848, 8440 Allison Pointe Boulevard Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46250.

E-Mail: mike.oliphant@ucindy.com.  INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by August 14, 2020.

With advance notice, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons with disabilities with regards to participation and access to project information as part of the hearings process including arranging auxiliary aids, interpretation services for the hearing impaired, services for the sight-impaired and other services as needed. 

In addition, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requiring auxiliary aids including language interpretation services and document conversion.  Should accommodations be required, please contact Rickie Clark, INDOT Public Involvement (317) 232-6601.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Emily Evans. 

Emily is approximately 5 foot 4 inches weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. 

Emily was last seen near the Scott Memorial Hospital on July 23, 2020 in the evening hours. 

It is believed that Emily could be in danger and needs to be located.  If you have any information on the whereabouts of Emily please contact the Scott County Sheriff’s Office immediately. 

According to the sheriff’s department, callers with information as to her whereabouts can remain anonymous. 

Today troopers responded to a personal injury crash between a motorcycle and a passenger car that sent two to the hospital.

Around noon today, Trooper Jon Hart observed that traffic was coming to a stop on US 31 near 12 B Road in the northbound lanes. As Hart arrived he saw that a motorcycle was laying on its side near the center median and a silver passenger car was pulled to the side of US 31.

Preliminary investigation by Hart indicates that a silver 2007 Chevrolet driven by Michael Hall, 66 of Vicksburg, MI, was driving westbound on 12 B Road when he stopped at the stop sign at the intersection with US 31.

Hall then began to cross the northbound lanes of US 31 to attempt to turn left to go south on US 31 when he pulled into the path of a northbound blue and black 2013 Harley Davidson being ridden by Tyler Swihart, 23 of Plymouth, IN causing the Harley Davidson to collide with the Chevrolet in the driver’s side door.

Swihart was thrown over the handlebars of the motorcycle, landing in the center median.

Swihart was flown from the crash scene to Memorial Hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Swihart was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Hall was transported to St. Joseph Plymouth Medical Center with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Both northbound lanes of US 31 opened at approximately 1:20 p.m.

The Indiana State Police was assisted by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Lutheran Air, Plymouth Fire Department, and Hammels’s Towing.

Washington County Sheriff Brent Miller released a statement earlier this afternoon reminding residents that the Governer’s mask mandate will go into effect on Monday, July 27. 

According to Gov. Holcom’s office, the order will be in effect until at least August 26. 

Miller said officers will not be enforcing the mandate and no officers will be dispatched for the sole purpose of an individual failing to wear a mask in public. 

“It is a stance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department that the refusal of the individual to wear a mask does not constitute a crime enforceable by the Sheriff’s Department,” said Miller, who noted the department has received voluminous calls about this topic in the past 48 hours. 

Miller said if anyone wants to report a violation of the mask mandate, they need to call the Indiana State Health Department at 877-826-0011 between 8a and 5p daily. 

“Whether or not you support the mask mandate is not a factor in our enforcement of the law,” Miller wrote in the statement. “However, certain laws may apply in the situation.”

Miller said in the State of Indiana, any business or private organization may ask a person to leave the premises at any time, for any reason. 

“I would encourage you to keep in mind that if you are asked to leave a business, you are bound by law to do so under the Criminal Trespass statute of the State of Indiana,” Miller added. “Deputies will enforce the Criminal Trespass statute and will respond to complaints of Criminal Trespass and deal with issues that arise from this situation.”

Miller said he would remind all residents to be respectful in their interactions and treat each other with respect and to respect the laws of the State of Indiana. 

“Doing so will avert any such incidents,” said Miller. “Please work together so that we may get through this as trouble-free as possible. Thank you for your cooperation and God Bless everyone.”

Holcomb’s office said state and local health departments will be responsible for enforcing compliance through education about the importance of wearing face coverings.

The executive order does not include criminal penalties although he said during a press conference on Wednesday that not wearing a mask would result in a Class B Misdemeanor. 

The executive order also outlines the requirements for mask-wearing in schools.

Gov. Holcomb has used data to drive decisions since the state’s first case of the novel coronavirus in early March. At this time, the state faces:

• An increase in overall hospitalizations from approximately 600 a day near the end of June to approximately 800 now
• The highest number of cases in a single day with 1,011 Hoosiers reported positive today
• A rise in COVID-19 positivity across the state from a low of 3.6% a month ago to nearly double that percentage now
• Some counties, which early on had minimal positive cases in some instances, now reporting regular double-digit positive cases

Orleans Town Marshal Richard Dixon is reminding residents Orleans students will resume classes on Wednesday, August 5.

“Please be alert to the presence of children walking to and from school along with the increased traffic from students who drive to school,” Marshal Dixon added.

“As winter approaches darkness will become a factor for students who ride the buses in the morning hours. We also ask motorists to be alert and cautious to the stop arms on the school buses as they stop to load or unload passengers. Please help make this a safe school year by diligently driving in a safe and alert manner to avoid a tragedy that can happen in a matter of seconds when drivers are distracted or inattentive.”

Marshal Dixon also reminds motorists the law changed on July 1 making it a violation to drive with an electronic device in your hand. Everyone is required to use hands-free technology to communicate while driving.