Indiana Conservation Officers are confirming the recovery of two bodies from the White River in Lawrence County. 

At approximately 12:14 p.m. this afternoon, the body of Cung Hu, 38, of Indianapolis, was located approximately ½ mile south of the Williams Dam. 

At approximately 6:47 p.m., Conservation Officers located the second body, Hrang Mang, 42, of Indianapolis. 

Family notifications have been made.  This incident is still under investigation.

Indiana Conservation Officers were searching for two men who were swept away in the White River near Williams Dam on Monday. 

Conservation Officers along with members of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department responded to the East Fork of the White River just downstream of Williams Dam at approximately 10:00 a.m. Monday.

Witnesses reported seeing two males attempting to wade across the main river channel to an island, before being swept away by the current.

Indiana Conservation Officers utilized various sonar units, divers, and boats to search the area where the men were last seen. 

Both East Washington and West Washington Schools are planning to get students back to school on August 5. 

However, both schools (as many others around the country are doing) are opening a virtual option for parents and students to choose. 

East Washington’s RETURN TO LEARN plan can be found at https://sites.google.com/ewsc.k12.in.us/ewsc-return-to-learn/home?authuser=0

Enrollment is currently underway there for Elementary, Middle and High School students. 

West Washington’s Virtual Option enrollment can be found here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXk67dV-5Mv2YxPcqf_n5MPb6A4Q8u9pSxP34bULK7IDPKLg/viewform

“As we prepare for the beginning of school we need to make adjustments to transportation,” noted West Washington Superintendent Keith Nance. “We recognize that the social distance on a school bus will be difficult to achieve. As a part of our reopening plan, we are limiting the number of students allowed on a bus.”

Students will be required to wear a mask on the bus at most schools, including East and West Washington.

“In addition, we are asking parents that are able to transport their children to and from school to do so,” said Nance. “If you are going to transport your child to school please call us at 812-755-4872 to let us know so we can plan our transportation accordingly. We only need those that ARE going to transport their children to call.”

East Washington Superintendent Dennis Stockdale said mask would be required of all students and staff. 

“We require all students and staff to bring a mask to school to be used as necessary where social distancing is not possible (i.e. passing periods),” he said. 

Disposable masks, cloth masks, bandanas, and neck buffs are all-sufficient. 

Face shields are an acceptable alternative. 

Masks will be encouraged, but not required, in classrooms where social distancing can occur. 

Face masks will be required when being transported on a school bus for any activity.

Stockdale said any designs or wording on the masks must be school appropriate. 

In addition, the school day will be shortened with dismissals as follows:

• Elementary Students will be dismissed at 2:15.

• Middle School Students will be dismissed at 2:30.

• High School Students will be dismissed at 2:30.

No visitors will be allowed to come in the buildings during the school day until further notice.

West Washington will be having an open house for incoming 7th-grade students.

All other students grades 8 to 12 will have a virtual open house option. 

Here are useful videos from East Washington staff on what a day will look like for students — https://sites.google.com/ewsc.k12.in.us/ewsc-return-to-learn/traditional-option?authuser=0

Each school has its own list of instructions and frequently asked questions for parents and students. 

Monday at noon the Salem Community School Board of Trustees met in a special session to approve a recommendation to adjust the first-semester calendar of the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year.

The changes are listed below:

• August 3, 4, 5 (Monday-Wednesday) – Optional Teacher Technology Training Days
• August 6, 7 (Thursday and Friday) – Teacher Work Days
• August 10th (Monday) – First official Student Day
• October 16th (Friday) – Regular School day, NOT E-learning Day

“We’re only recommending a change for the first semester and we will monitor the Covid impact and the recommendations from health officials for the second semester,” said Salem Superintendent Jon Acton. 

Board member Dustin Davidson made the motion to approve and Mark “Bubba” Abbott gave the second. The motion was passed with all board members voting in approval, with two members voting via Zoom – Ericka Garloch and Becky White. 

RETURN TO SCHOOL CHANGING CONDITIONS

Acton said the Covid-19 situation was ever-changing and fluid.

As the board and public begin to discuss the Return to School plans, most everyone sees that the plans change very quickly.

Several bus drivers have been tasked to create plans for their school buses, which need to be presented to acting transportation director Dee Dee Zink. 

The corporation has posted information online at https://sites.google.com/salemschools.us/scsbacktoschool2020

The corporation has asked that all parents capable of driving their students to school should do so. 

The school said it will train all drivers on Covid-19 related symptoms and prevention including:

1. Self-Screening of symptoms each day prior to the school day. 
2. Contact Corporation Nurse and health department provider as needed.
3. Stay home until symptoms/illness subsides.
4. Report any known or suspected illness of students to the school. 

Guidelines for student pickup and dropoff are:

1. Require staff and students to wear masks while on buses. 
2. Hand sanitizer will be available for use on all buses. 
3. All students should practice maximizing space at bus stops. 
4. Where practical, maximizing space should be practiced on the bus. 
5. Where practical, one student per seat. 
6. Siblings will be required to sit together. 
7. Assigned seats will be required to ensure contact tracing. 
8. Students will be required to keep their hands off the windows. 
9. Windows will be open to allow fresh air into the bus as weather permits. 
10. Where practical, the first student on the bus will go to the rear of the bus and fill the seats from the rear forward. Exceptions will be made for those students that must be seated in the front. 
11. When exiting the bus all students are to remain seated until the rows in front of them have exited. No standing in the aisles is allowed. 

Cleaning and Sanitizing of Buses

• Buses will be cleaned and sanitized according to the CDC Guidelines
• Buses will be cleaned and sanitized daily.
• Where practical, buses will be cleaned and sanitized between routes. 
• The areas to be cleaned will include those most commonly touched while entering and exiting the bus. Those areas are the handrails, stepwells, seat tops, and driver controls. 
• If we find that an infected student was on a bus, that bus will be completely cleaned and sanitized before being returned to service.

QUESTIONS FROM BUS DRIVERS

The biggest question came when asked if the student was going to be temperature checked prior to getting on the school bus. 

Acton said there was guidance from the local health department regarding not doing temperature checks. 

“If the student has a temperature and the parents decide to send them on [to school] with medication, they can probably lower the temperature as they get on the bus and in school and later on it could go back up. We have a wellness clinic and the symptoms clinic. On the bus, we don’t have two different areas. We have to be a partner with parents. If they are sick, keep them home. The reality is — if the child comes to school and is sick, we’re shutting down. If the child comes to school and tests positive for Covid, our corporation is shutting down for a minimum of 2 days, but in reality, it’s probably going to be longer.”

According to Alica Thompson, RN at the Washington County Health Department, the Indiana State Department of Health made the recommendation to have parents do their own temperature and Covid screen before allowing the student on a bus or into the school.

“This was not [a directive from] Dr. Jeff Morgan,” she said. “ISDH stated that was too time consuming and a money and social distancing constraint to have screens for every bus and entrance at the schools. They went on to say that it almost guarantees that the screeners would end up positive themselves and therefore in the best interest for the parents to screen daily and well before the child could potentially be in close proximity to others.”

Drivers were present to voice concerns on the return to school plans impacting them and students. 

Bus driver Tina Sorrells said at least five bus drivers have resigned due to health concerns and there could be a few more leaves before the start of school. 

“We’ve lost five drivers already and depending on what some of the outcomes are here,” said Sorrells. “It could double. Don’t know where that puts you. The safety aspect needs to happen before we even get to school.”

The bus drivers thanked the board and administration for paying their salaries from March until the end of school but had the question of whether or not they would be paid if the school corporation goes to an online-only situation. 

Acton said he would have to study on that and see where the corporation finances are with state funding. 

They left Acton with four concerns to study in the next couple of weeks – temperature checks, bus monitors to help make sure students are social distancing and wearing masks, pay for drivers in case school is switched from in-person to virtual and sick students riding on the bus. 

Acton said the requirement to ride the bus is to wear a mask. He said this was a requirement or suggestion from Dr. Morgan, Health Officer of the Washington County Health Department. 

One driver said she drove a bus with special needs students and she said they would not be able to wear masks, referring to the rule of all students wearing masks on the buses. 

“Each one of your questions leads to a unique problem,” said Acton. “They are going to require some unique solutions. What I need today from each of you, is your concerns so we can address them.”

“We’ll work with the individuals, students and parents. We’re going to be asking parents a lot….so knowing which individual students on your bus, we’ll start working out that with individual communications,” said Acton. 

Acton said he wanted to hear concerns so “we can begin working out a plan to keep everyone healthy and safe.”

Sorrells also pointed out that if a parent leaves a child at the bus stop and the child gets sick and can’t get on the bus — “who’s responsible for the child?” 

Acton said he would be meeting with bus drivers and school officials to work through some of the issues before the start of school. 

On the returning student registration forms that the corporation currently having parents fill out, there is a transportation form.

According to Erin Humphrey at SCS, the form asks parents to choose if they are willing to help by bringing their child to school or if they need a bus route.

She said the school would be sending a SchoolMessenger call Thursday night to alert everyone the forms are available.

“My test group of about 75 parents who responded to Friday’s social media post and our staff who have children at SCS was completing the forms yesterday and this morning to test and find out if we had any issues,” Humphrey said. 

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Louisville Paving and Construction Inc. plans to close two intersections along S.R. 62 in Clark County this weekend to perform full-depth patching as part of a $4.8 million asphalt resurface contract that began late last month. 

The intersections of Logistics Ave. and River Ridge Circle at S.R. 62 are scheduled to close at 7 p.m. on Friday (July 24) through 6 a.m. on Monday (July 27), weather permitting. The signed detour route for Logistics Ave. will follow Patrol Rd. to River Ridge Pkwy. (eastbound) and Patrol Rd. to S.R. 62 (westbound). The route for River Ridge Circle will follow Patrol Rd. to Executive Dr. (eastbound) and Patrol Rd. to Trey St. (westbound).

Patching, milling and paving will continue along S.R. 62 from just north of Charlestown to S.R. 265 through early October. Nighttime work will take place under lane closures during the week, with possible daytime closures on weekends. 

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather dependent.

Indiana is celebrating the impact of internships and work-based learning opportunities on the state’s workforce and the K-12 and higher education landscape during the second annual Indiana Intern Day on Thursday, July 30.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education, in partnership with Indiana INTERNnet, is encouraging employers to take to social media and other virtual mediums to celebrate and recognize interns and meaningful internship experiences.

Modeled after National Intern Day, the Commission and Indiana INTERNnet are encouraging employers, educators and intern supervisors to fill out this pledge form to recognize interns on Indiana Intern Day. A digital media kit is available for employers and educators to use to show how they are celebrating interns on social media and by using the hashtag, #INinternDay.

Interns are also encouraged to take to social media and share how employers are recognizing their contributions.

“Internships provide the practical experience and professional connections that not only give students a competitive advantage in the job market but also equip students with the confidence and know-how to excel once they’re hired,” said Indiana Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers.

Indiana INTERNnet, managed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, provides a free internship matching platform for students and employers. It also provides resources directly to employers on how to start or enhance internship and work-based learning programs. Indiana INTERNnet and the Commission partner on the state’s work-study program, EARN Indiana, which provides 50 percent matching funds to employers for qualifying internships.

“So many people found their career or favorite employer through an internship experience, and strong support of interns can result in a positive impression that lasts a lifetime,” said Mike Slocum, executive director of Indiana INTERNnet. “Sharing our stories online is a great way to encourage more high school and college students to find internships in the future, even as soon as this fall. Indiana Intern Day will celebrate a great 2020 summer internship season.”

The Commission is focused on measuring career relevance and preparation in Indiana’s postsecondary programs as it relates to the state’s educational and economic goals, as outlined in its new strategic plan, Reaching Higher in a State of Change.

“We know work-based learning increases student satisfaction and the likelihood of employment after graduation, as well as the retention of our talented graduates in the state of Indiana,” said Lubbers. “Our most recent Gallup-Indiana survey shows almost a third of alumni were employed at a company they’d interned with or worked for during college. A 2019 national survey found graduating college seniors who had an internship are more likely to receive a job offer as those without an internship.”

As of 7/22/20, a total of 90 employers and community partners have taken the pledge to recognize their interns on Indiana Intern Day.

On July 22nd, 2020, at approximately 06:27 A.M., the Washington County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash with injury on U.S. Highway 150, near the intersection of State Road 66, according to Deputy Lucas Gray. 

The crashed vehicle was a GMC Sierra pickup truck that flipped over and was resting on its top.

The driver was identified as Scott Jones of Paoli.

Jones advised he was driving Eastbound on U.S. 150 when the rear tires of his vehicle lost traction causing him to lose control of the vehicle.

The vehicle then ran off of the north side of the roadway and flipped onto its top. There was heavy rain in the area at the time and hydroplaning is believed to have been a factor.

Jones was transported to IU Health in Paoli for a complaint of pain.

Jones was wearing his seatbelt.

Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Posey
Township Fire Department, Washington County EMS, and Wilcox Wrecker Service all responded to the accident. 

Earlier this week, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced that twelve properties will receive funding through the Historic Renovation Grant Program.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars will go to 12 historic Hoosier properties, including two in Southern Indiana.

The Historic Renovation Grant Program is designed to help rehab and preserve historic properties in order to further downtown economic developments.

The Shipman-McCord House located in downtown New Albany and the Masonic Temple for the Clark Lodge #40 Freemasons in Jeffersonville both will receive $100,000.

“Join me in congratulating these 12 business owners for receiving funds from the Historic Renovation Grant Program,” said. Lt. Gov. Crouch. “Preservation efforts like this ensure a future for our many vacant, neglected or historic properties that might otherwise be lost.”

The Historic Renovation Grant Program, in its fourth year, is a comprehensive grant program designed to preserve and rehabilitate historic properties in order to further incentivize downtown economic development. The funding for this year has been exhausted through the projects listed below and the program is now suspended until more funding is allocated next legislative session.

“We are excited to fund projects that stretch across the state, from New Albany to Wabash, both small and large projects,” said Matt Crouch, Interim Executive Director of OCRA. “These projects help preserve pieces of Indiana’s rich history to be enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come.”

Eligible properties for this grant program must be at least fifty years old and either listed on the register of Indiana historic sites/structures, be listed or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or be listed as a contributing resource in a National Register District.

Eligible applicants include non-profit, individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, limited liability company, corporation, or non-profit affordable housing organization. Applicants with an eligible historic commercial structure can apply for project funding between $5,000 and $100,000 at a maximum request of 50 percent of the total eligible project cost. For more information, visit www.in.gov/ocra/hrgp.htm.      

Each property received funding for the renovation and preservation of exterior features. Such renovations include roof replacement, masonry restoration, repair and replacement of doors and windows, façade renovation, and/or chimney improvements.

KSTD Development, LLC is awarded $100,000 to rehabilitate and rebuild portions of the Shipman-McCord House, located in the Mansion Row Historic District of Downtown New Albany. The 1866 brick three-story building was built with extensive Italianate detailing, representing the city’s mid-19th century prosperity. The property was converted to government apartments during WWII and will remain as such after the renovation’s completion.

Christ the King Parish is awarded $100,000 to preserve the Chapel of Our Sorrowful Mother, an 1877 gable-front Romanesque style church located on Chapel Hill Drive in the Town of Ferdinand. Restoration efforts include restoring and protecting stained-glass windows, refurbishing art glass windows, installing new protective coverings, and repointing masonry.

LCF Properties LLC is awarded $58,908 to preserve the exterior of the IORM building in the Town of Lagro. Located in the historic downtown, the funding will be used for repairing and preserving the windows, doors, storefront, and exterior brick walls. Plans for the building include hosting a business that will complement other local enterprises: coffee shop, bistro, Airbnb, and possible river recreational opportunities.

MH Properties is awarded $39,568 to preserve 706-708 Main Street in the Downtown Historic District of the City of Jasper. The 6,400 square foot structure has undergone several renovations dating back to 1888. The building was utilized as an express office in 1920 with coach buggies built on the second floor. The preservation will restore the building to its former luster showing the pride of the community. The building has multiple tenants including Primierica, Yourstory Photography, and Miligan Communications.

511 Inc. is awarded $30,000 for a roof replacement of 511 Wabash Ave, which is a neoclassical building in the City of Terre Haute. This 1892 building was originally constructed as a bank but in 1993, it underwent a historic rehabilitation to house the law firm of Cox, Zwerner, Gambill, and Sullivan. That firm will continue to occupy the building.

The Lagro United Methodist Church is awarded $45,860 to preserve twenty-two windows, of the Gothic Revival style building built in 1915. The largest windows each tell a story and are titled “Come Unto Me”, “The Good Shepherd”, “Christ in Gethsemane”, and “The Sower”. Early church members paid $650 to have the windows created and installed by artists of Empire Glassworks in Columbus, Ohio.

The Friends of Ward Township No. 5 Randolph County are awarded $7,350 to assist in recreating the missing bell tower as it appeared in the 1891 one-room school construction. Located in the City of Winchester, the building has been under renovation since 2015 and is nearing completion. The restored school will host elementary students during field trips who will experience education as administered during the one-room school era and will also be available for special events.

Jason Long is awarded $18,421 to preserve the Sherman Row House located in the Town of Vernon. This building was built in 1830 and was eventually used as part of the Underground Railroad to assist in helping enslaved peoples gain their freedom in the mid-1800s. Slaves were once brought up from the Muscatatuck River and hidden in the tunnels dug underneath the building. Originally used as a hotel, the main level part is currently in use as a liquor store.

Brandon Denton of Denton Floyd Real Estate Group is awarded $100,000 to preserve the Masonic Temple for the Clark Lodge #40 Freemasons. Located in Jeffersonville, the neoclassical style masonic temple built in 1926, was designed by the notable Louisville-area architecture, Arthur Loomis. It was preserved from demolition by a joint effort between the City of Jeffersonville and Denton Floyd. The property will be utilized as the Denton Floyd Development Team headquarters.

The Children’s Museum is awarded $12,500 to preserve the Stutz House’s tile roof. Located in Indianapolis, the Craftsman resident was built in 1923 for the Stutz family. The Stutz House currently houses the not-for-profit organization, the Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation. This project will help to continue this use and preserve the historic building.

Dickos Peterson & Metz Real Estate is awarded $68,754 to rehabilitate and revitalize two buildings located in the center of the commercial district of the City of Wabash. Built in 1900, it was originally designed as a hardware store but now houses the real estate office.

Bryan Van Duyne is awarded $8,639 to renovate the Reeve Building, in the City of Plymouth.
Constructed in 1910, and currently a jewelry store since 2006, the existing roof of the Reeve Building will receive new rigid insulation, new flashing, and a new liquid membrane roof.

Signing in to buy hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses will look different the next time you do so because of a new state online portal called Access Indiana.

The new portal is a safe, secure and easy to use way for citizens to interact with all facets of state government through a single login instead of many. Presently, there are 18 services that users can enter from Access Indiana – a full list is available at https://www.in.gov/access/available-services.html.

Individuals who already have an Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) account to purchase licenses should watch for an email from the DNR that will provide helpful login information. New DNR customers will be directed to create an Access Indiana account first, before supplying additional DNR-specific account information.

To prepare for the transition, customers can create an Access Indiana account today at https://access.IN.gov. For help getting started with Access Indiana, go to: https://www.in.gov/access/getting-started.html. If a user needs additional assistance with their username or password, call 800-457-8283, for Access Indiana customer support. The DNR is unable to assist with usernames and passwords.

More information about the Access Indiana portal, answers to FAQs and other helpful information is at https://www.in.gov/access/faqs-help.html.