The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) reported 1,051 new positive coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 71,015.

This is a new daily total record for the state’s case reporting; the highest daily total previously was 1,011 new cases on Friday, July 24.

Those new cases were reported to ISDH in the last 24 hours, following corrections to the previous dashboard total.

ISDH also announced an additional 6 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, bringing Indiana’s total to 2,811. Those deaths are reported based on when information is received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

New ISDH dashboard data indicated a 7-day positivity rate of 7.4%, with a total rate of 8.8% positive.

According to the data, 12,153 new individuals have been tested statewide, with the total number of individuals tested at 804,345.

As of Thursday, more than 32 percent of ICU beds and nearly 82 percent of ventilators are available across the state.

Washington County reported a total of 121 cases, which is a 16.3 percent increase from last week. 

A LOOK BACK

Here is a look back at the reported number of Covid-19 cases in Washington County. As of Thursday, August 6, there is a total of 121 cases reported. There is no information regarding recoveries. There has been one death reported. 

• March 23 – First Case
• March 26 – 1 case
• March 27 – 1 case
• April 1 – 3 cases
• April 2 – 3 cases
• April 3 – 2 cases
• April 4 – 2 cases
• April 5 – 2 cases
• April 8 – 3 cases
• April 9 – 2 cases
• April 12 – 2 cases
• April 13 – 1 case
• April 15 – 1 case
• April 25 – 9 cases
• April 29 – 1 case
• April 30 – 2 cases
• May 1 – 1 case
• May 3 – 1 case
• May 9 – 3 cases
• May 13 – 1 case
• May 14 – 1 case
• May 20 – 2 cases
• June 6 – 1 case
• June 8 – 1 case
• June 10 – 4 cases
• June 14 – 1 case
• June 15 – 1 case
• June 17 – 1 case 
• June 18 – 1 case
• June 19 – 1 case
• June 21 – 1 case
• June 26 – 1 case
• June 30 – 1 case
• July 2 – 1 case
• July 3 – 1 case
• July 4 – 2 cases
• July 10 – 1 case
• July 15 – 2 cases
• July 17 – 2 cases
• July 19 – 4 cases
• July 23 – 1 case
• July 24 – 4 cases
• July 25 – 2 cases
• July 26 – 3 cases
• July 27 – 1 case
• July 28 – 3 cases
• July 29 – 5 cases
• July 30 – 3 cases
• July 31 – 5 cases
• August 1 – 3 cases
• August 2 – 8 cases
• August 3 – 1 case
• August 4 – 1 case
• August 6 – 4 cases

The Washington County Commissioners voted 3-0 at their regular meeting Tuesday to have their attorney change the ordinance structuring the Washington County Ambulance Board to include all three of its members – Phil Marshall, Todd Ewen and Rick Roberts. 

Marshall is the President of both the Board of Commissioners and Ambulance Board. He was the sole commissioner member. 

Other Ambulance Board members include Washington County Council President Karen Wischmeier, who also serves as the ambulance board vice-president, Council member Rondale Brishaber and ambulance services director Nick Oleck and Washington County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Morgan, who are both non-voting members. 

Attorney Justin Howard serves as both the legal counsel for the commissioners as well as the ambulance board. He was asked at the last commissioners’ meeting to draft an ordinance that amended the composition of the ambulance board. 

Stephanie Yager, of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners, said typically all members of a board cannot attend meetings together unless specifically written in an ordinance. 

“In this case, with the ordinance re-written, then all three members of the Board of Commissioners will serve as members of the ambulance board and since that meeting is open to the public and legally advertised, then it is proper,” Yager said. 

“Despite their being on the board, and with two members of the county council also serving on the board, the full County Council is still the fiscal body of the county and can vote to control the budget. It should be a partnership between the commissioners and the council.”

However, Wischmeier objected to the addition of Ewen and Roberts and instead sought to have a medical officer added to the board with voting powers. 

Amy McClellan Whistler, a Family Nurse Practioner with LifeSpring Health Systems, told the board Tuesday morning that despite Morgan being on the board, he doesn’t attend meetings. 

“That’s true,” Marshall said. “Unless we need him. We call the board of health and the board of health contacts him for the answer [to questions we have].”

Ewen said he considered Oleck as the medical representative of the board. 

Whistler countered that the medical representative on the board doesn’t have a vote. 

“If I’ve been told correctly, I don’t know of any instance where anyone on the board has gone against recommendations or the wishes of the ambulance director,” Ewen said. “I don’t think there have been any instances where the board went against what the director recommended.”

Marshall agreed. 

“What it comes down to is that everybody thinks the three commissioners are going to outrun the two council members and that’s not true,” he said. “It still comes back to our job as the commissioners to take care of the taxpayer and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Ewen said it would help with the commissioners all on the board so that everyone would hear first hand and be able to better spread the work between them. 

Both Wischeimer and Whistler pointed out that recent media reports had noted there wasn’t sufficient communication between the ambulance board and the commissioners. 

Whistler questioned how many meetings Ewen and Roberts had been to.

“We can’t go to the meetings,” said Roberts, because there would be a majority of the board of commissioners there, which would constitute a meeting that would not have been publicized.  

Ewen said, “This situation in my opinion is being blown totally out of proportion. I’m getting the impression that for some reason, we’re some sort of evil people wanting to do in the ambulance service. The last time I checked we’re all residents of Washington County. That this is some kind of power grab or take over of the ambulance service. Honestly, it’s wearing me out. There’s an old saying that many hands make the workload less. I have watched from a distance and heard bits and pieces. I’ve watched Karen and Phil work very very hard in making this ambulance service what it is. And Rondale. They’ve made some good decisions. The biggest decision was to hire a new director and he’s doing a fabulous job. We’re headed in the right direction. There’s lots of work to be done.”

Ewen said there were a lot of growing pains with the ambulance service.

“We can always do a little bit better,” Ewen said. “I honestly believe it’s in the best interest of the county to increase the size of the board to help distribute the burden of the work a little bit more. And maybe if we do that, this hearsay and gossip and he said and she said will cease because of the parties involved =– everyone will have their eyes open as to what is going on with the money. We have put hundreds of thousands of dollars when we moved to that new building. Remodeled it. Based on what the employees felt like what they wanted and needed. There will always be times when you don’t get things exactly right, but it’s a very good facility. We try to keep the ambulances up. Everyone is concerned about the health and welfare and safety of everyone in Washington county. There is a sense of pride in saying this is the Washington County Ambulance Service…we’re not subcontracting out to someone else. But we can all agree 100 percent that we want the Washington County Ambulance Service to remain viable and we don’t want to subcontract it out and then we lose control and we don’t have any control over prices or service….it kinda makes me feel a little bit better and peace of mind that the ambulance employees are people I know and those that know the county roads… I feel a little better and sleep a little better that these are local people who have a vested interest in my county and my life.”

Wischmeier was upset over one of the commissioners calling other county employees to get answers instead of calling Director Oleck. 

“I’m waiting for an answer,” she said. “Continually, all I get are calls about rumor after rumor after rumor about one said commissioner who can’t pick up the phone and call the ambulance director himself but calls other employees there, which creates a hostile work environment. So if it hasn’t gotten any better then, it sure as hell isn’t going to get any better when you step on the board.”

The board and Oleck oversee a budget that has increased from $1.1 million in 2019 to $1.5 million in 2020. 

Marshall said although the council is in charge of the fiscal situation for the county, the commissioners are in charge of the various departments. 

“We are going to be the ones to catch all the ‘H’ when something goes wrong,” he said. “And I feel like the commissioners need to be represented. I’d like to have both of the commissioners on the board to know everything about it. I feel like it would be the best decision for the county. We started this…[the ambulance board] wasn’t there. And I did….I started with Troy Nicholson…went to Scott…We all agree that Nick has done an outstanding job. You asked me in the budget [meetings] how I felt about it. I said it was a lot of money when it was $1.1 [million]…My concern has always been the return of the investment for the taxpayer of the county.”

Marshall said the ambulance service has had ups and downs.

“We’ve turned around…We’ve progressed forward as we’ve gone ahead. Now, I’m not saying we’ve done an outstanding job but we’ve tried to provide the best service for this county we could do,” said Marshall. “We’ve tried to be responsible to the taxpayer. We knew we were going to foot the bill to provide healthcare and emergency services to the county. Now, I at no time had ever tried to take anything away from Troy, Scott or Nick. I will do my darndest to make sure we continue on.”

Oleck addressed the disconnection.

“I think a lot of these rumors and issues are starting because I’m not the one that’s being asked these questions,” he told the board. “And you’re getting false information. That’s why I don’t have faith in this. If you can’t approach me, how am I supposed to trust you? I’ve done nothing but bust my butt since I’ve been here.”

Oleck said in his five months as director, the board has seen “something that should have taken a year to take place.”

“There is trust between each one of us,” Oleck said referring to his department. “But if you can’t talk to me and you go behind my back to get [answers to questions] because you don’t think I’m going to get it to you, that’s why I don’t have faith.”

Ewen made a motion to expand the commissioner’s presence on the ambulance board. Roberts seconded the motion and it passed 3-0. 

OTHER BUSINESS

Ewen said he had approached a local contractor to get quotes on window repairs at the courthouse. 

“We have lots of windows in this courthouse,” said Ewen. “Some of them are in dire need of repair. It will have to be window by window. We won’t do all of them. Most of them are in really good shape for the shape of the structure. We do have some that are showing some deterioration and rotting out that need some attention.”

Ewen said he would bring more information back in September.

County highway superintendent Rick Graves reported that 44.3 of paving is expected to be completed this year.

“2020 has not been exactly an ideal,” said Graves. “19.7 miles have been completed in county paving…2.1 miles of Community Crossing paving with 4.6 miles of county road paving ready to be paved. That will be a total of 44.3 miles. Last year was the record at 45 miles. I think that’s pretty good.”

Ewen also explained that some additional hours worked in the health department could be paid for through the federal CARES Act funding for Covid-19. 

The next meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 1 

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced 24 rural Hoosier communities will receive more than $15.3 million in federal grant funding to improve water infrastructure.

“By investing in our state’s water infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for regional growth and prosperity,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch. “These grants are supporting projects that are crucial to rural communities’ continual economic development and improving the quality of life for its residents.” 

The State of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities, which assist units of local government with various community projects such as: infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development.

“The leadership of these grant recipients embodies strategic planning, hard work and dedication to improving their communities,” said Matt Crouch, Interim Executive Director of OCRA. “Proper planning is necessary to ensure Hoosier’s quality of life can grow as we are coping through a pandemic.”

The second round of the 2020 CDBG program begins on August 24, 2020, with proposals due on September 24 and final applications due November 20. Additionally, the suspension of the Blight Clearance Program, Main Street Revitalization Program and Public Facilities Program will continue. Therefore, only Wastewater/Drinking Water and Stormwater Improvement Program applications will be accepted for round two.

Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA. For more information, visit www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg.htm.

The Stormwater Improvement Program strives to reduce flooding, to cut stormwater treatment and energy costs, to protect rivers, lakes and vital landscape and generate jobs to spur economic revitalization. Types of activities that are eligible for this grant funding include stormwater improvements, as well as demolition and/or clearance. The following communities are the beneficiaries of this program:

Brown County is awarded $600,000 for flood drainage improvements. This project will aid the Town of Helmsburg by replacing old storm sewers along Helmsburg Road, Main Street and First Street with new piping. Storm sewers along the eastern portion of North Street will also be extended along with drainage ditch improvements in several areas. Finally, new street inlets will be installed in areas where none exist. 

The City of Shelbyville is awarded $600,000 for flood drainage improvements. This project will construct a relief sewer for the undersized storm sewer main running through the City. This will help to reduce flooding and surcharge that happens in short, heavy rain events, as well as help reduce residential and street flooding.

The Town of Coatesville is awarded $600,000 for flood drainage improvements. This project will assist in correcting widespread flooding in the town, improving water quality within the resident’s water wells, alleviating property damage and removing safety hazards due to failing ditches and culverts.

The Town of Knightsville is awarded $600,000 for flood drainage improvements. This project will add more than 1,400 linear feet of stormwater piping to the current system, including increasing the capacity of the pipes with new 15-inch and 48-inch piping. Additionally, roughly 1,600 lineal feet of drainage related structures will be installed to help increase the drainage capacity of the current system.

The Town of Oaktown is awarded $600,000 for flood drainage improvements. This project will increase the size of three storm drainage infrastructures within the Town, extends two existing storm sewers and adds one new storm sewer in an area that currently has no drainage infrastructure

The goals of the Wastewater/Drinking Water Program are to protect the health and environment, reduce utility rates for low-to-moderate-income communities and improve rural infrastructure to enable long-term economic growth. Eligible Wastewater/Drinking Water Program projects include many aspects of wastewater improvements and drinking water system improvements.

The Town of Bloomfield is awarded $700,000 for improvements to the wastewater collection system and treatment plant. Twenty-five manholes will be coated with a new lining application to address excessive infiltration, and approximately 1,900 feet of gravity sewer will be replaced. Improvements to the wastewater treatment plant will consist of building a lab/chemical feed building and clarifier improvements, among others.

The Town of Chrisney is awarded $700,000 for water supply and distribution improvements. This project will install a new disinfectant residual analyzer at the master meter and new upsized water lines on the west side of the system. Additionally, eight hydrants will be replaced throughout the system, the elevated tank will be refurbished and the water utility laboratory building will be renovated.

The City of Connersville is awarded $700,000 for improvements to the City’s water system. This project will address a general lack of water pressure being experienced in the City and reduce the number of line breaks.

Crawford County is awarded $600,000 to construct a new water tank to supply customers served by the Patoka Water Company. The new tank will be built adjacent to the existing tank site, hold approximately 100,000-gallons of water and stand approximately 110 feet tall.

The Town of Crothersville is awarded $700,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will build a new wet weather overflow main, install an in-line hydrodynamic stormwater separator, construct a duplex wet weather pumping station and force main, modify existing plant surge basins with concrete wall cores and many other key improvements.

The City of Delphi is awarded $596,233 for water and sewer improvements. This project will reconnect 56 services, replace various lengths of two-inch galvanized piping and add eight new hydrants to six different service areas.

The Town of Fountain City is awarded $700,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will replace all the existing cast iron water lines with new PVC lines and replace all the associated water infrastructure.

The Town of Galveston is awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will improve water pressure, flows and fire protection throughout the service area. The Town will replace more than 3,900 linear feet of eight-inch water mains and more than 2,500 linear feet of six-inch water mains.

The Town of Goodland is awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will replace 3,200 lineal feet of failing water lines and install nine new fire hydrants.

The Town of La Crosse is awarded $700,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will build a new water treatment plant, construct a distribution system, and install new customer meters.

The Town of Ladoga is awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will install a wastewater collection pipe and disconnect two newly discovered non-wastewater sources. Additional improvements include rehabbing a secondary clarifier sludge line and adding an influent flow meter at the wastewater treatment plant.  

Lawrence County is awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will construct a new wastewater treatment plant and build an activated sludge wastewater treatment system. Additionally, the plant will replace the existing 1970s steel tank.

The Town of Lewisville is awarded $700,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will build a new water treatment facility, eliminate dead ends within the system and replace several water meters. This will improve water quality, pressure, fire flows, reduce regular maintenance and allow for efficient water use.  

The City of Monticello is awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will upgrade 4,000 lineal feet of four-inch and six-inch water mains, replace seven fire hydrants, and add eight new six-inch water valves.

The Town of Morgantown is awarded $700,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will improve the wastewater system treatment, add new gravity sanitary sewers, rehab existing manholes and upgrade the sanitary sewer system. Additionally, the lift stations will be replaced.

Ripley County is awarded $550,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will install a chlorine disinfection system at the wastewater treatment plant, install an updated contact tank and construct a chemical building to house the feed pumps and storage tanks. Additionally, plant electrical improvements will be installed to include lagoon alarms and upgrading the plant’s electrical system to accommodate chlorine disinfection.

The Town of Universal is awarded $550,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will install a raw water well, build standby power for all wells and the wastewater treatment plant and replace the iron filter package treatment unit. Furthermore, twenty hydrants will be replaced along with the installation of a booster pump station.

The Town of Vevay is awarded $700,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will rehabilitate the lift stations at the high school, the library and Ohio Street, as a well upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.

The Town of Warren is awarded $700,000 to build a new water tower and to demolish the old tower. Additionally, the Town will rehabilitate an additional water tower, build a new well house and convert a submersible pump into a vertical turbine pump.

On August 5th, 2020 Martin County Deputies were called to the residence of 14623 State Road 450, Shoals, in reference to a shooting that had occurred.

After arriving at the residence, a male juvenile was discovered deceased inside the residence. Detectives with the Indiana State Police and Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office then began an investigation into the events that occurred.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that another juvenile male, who had been at the residence, had shot the deceased juvenile male.

The juvenile was taken into custody and preliminarily charged with Reckless Homicide.

Assisting at the scene were Martin County EMS, Shoals Fire Department, Martin County Coroners Office, and the Martin County Prosecutors Office

The investigation is currently ongoing.

United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today, Anthony T. Leonard, 53, Clarksville, Ind., was charged with twenty-two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. His misrepresentations and false promises caused investors to invest over $1 million in his companies, nurseVersity LLC, Versity Edu, Versity Inc., and VersityU. 

“The false and fraudulent misrepresentations and promises Leonard made to unsuspecting investors is shameful.” said Minkler. “His lies and deceit caused a lot of pain and mistrust to the victims while he enriched himself with luxury. His fraud has come to an end and the victims can begin healing from this fraudster’s pain.”

Leonard developed a software product called nurseVersity, which was designed to assist nursing students in passing their nursing board examinations. My

From approximately 2013 through at least 2019, Leonard sought out investors to his companies, and in doing so, made numerous false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises pertaining to the financials of the companies, customer information, and ownership interests.

Leonard also misrepresented his qualifications, education, medical history, personnel issues, and provided many other false and fictitious reasons for needing money. All this was done for his personal benefit.

As a result, investors paid Leonard over $1 million for purported ownership interests and other rights to alleged sham companies. The majority of the funds received from these investors were used by Leonard and his wife for their personal enrichment. He purchased property in New Albany with a lake and buildings. He also enjoyed expensive dinners, trips, and other unrelated business expenses.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and United States Secret Service. These agencies were also assisted by the Indiana Secretary of State.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service, investigates any fraud in which the U.S. Mail is used.” said Acting Inspector in Charge Richard Sheehan. This investigation was an excellent example of a partnership between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and the Indiana Secretary of State working together to combat those willing to defraud innocent customers and businesses from their money through illegal or nefarious means.”

“Today’s announcement is a direct result of the extraordinary cooperation and partnership among law enforcement agencies at all levels,” said Eric Reed, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “The defendant abused his position of trust for his own personal benefit by deliberately stealing millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors. This case represents the core of the Secret Service’s commitment to protecting the United States financial infrastructure and is a testament to the strong partnerships between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Indiana Secretary of State.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who is prosecuting this case for the government, Leonard could face up to 20 years’ imprisonment, if convicted.

An complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. All defendants are considered innocent until proven otherwise in federal court.

If anyone has invested money with or feels they might be a victim of Anthony T. Leonard, they are encouraged to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution sentencing demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to partner with federal and local law enforcement agencies to prosecute complex and large-scale fraud schemes that undermine faith in the markets. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Sections 5.1)

Today, Salem Community School Superintendent Jon Acton announced the school will delay the start of both in-person and virtual school until August 17 due to a staff member testing positive for Covid-19.

Acton said this employee was not in contact with any students but was in contact with fellow staff members. 

East and West Washington began in-person classes today (Aug. 5) and Salem had intended to go back as well but delayed the start date until August 10 so new Director of Convergence and Innovation John Skomp could help train teachers on the new online learning system. 

“In accordance with state and local guidance, all employees that were in direct contact with this individual are self-quarantining for 14 days,” Acton wrote in a release this afternoon.

“In order to deep clean facilities and maintain the safest environment for all students and staff, we have made the decision to delay the start of school from Monday, August 10th, until Monday, August 17th.  We will begin our school year on Monday, August 17th for both in-person and Online Lions students!”

All activities scheduled this week for middle school and elementary will be pushed back one week. 

High School athletics will proceed as originally scheduled.  Salem’s varsity boys are scheduled to play North Harrison at Paul A. Graves Athletic Field on Friday, August 21 at 7p. 

Acton said the school will provide additional updates by Friday, August 7th. 

“We thank you for your patience and understanding as we execute our safety protocols to create the safest learning environment possible for the students and staff of Salem Community Schools,” said Acton. 

Washington County’s number of Covid-19 cases has dramatically increased in the last week by 37 cases.