After closing its facilities on March 17 due to Governor Holcomb’s
stay-at-home order surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the Washington County Family YMCA will reopen its facility on May 24, 2020.

The reopening will be conducted under the guidance of
state and local health authorities and will take place in phases.

“The Washington County Family YMCA has served the community for nearly 20 years, during which we have made it through many challenging times together, none perhaps as impactful
for our community and our Y as this COVID crisis,” said Kristy Purlee, CEO, Washington County Family YMCA.

“We are thrilled to begin reopening our facilities, welcoming back our members and the community, and getting back to what we do best – helping everyone reach their full
potential.”

In preparation for reopening facilities, Washington County Family YMCA has been following guidelines from health experts and local officials to ensure all components of facilities, including
fitness equipment and areas, locker rooms, child care, visitor areas, and office spaces, are cleaned and sanitized to meet the highest standards for hygiene and safety.

The Y has also modified policies and programs to facilitate safe social/physical distancing practices.

“When we closed our facilities in March, we did so to protect the h staff, volunteers, members, and participants. As we now reopen our facilities, we do so with that same commitment to keeping everyone who enters our doors safe,” said Purlee.

According to Purlee, the first phase of reopening will include altered facility hours and limited capacity in the Wellness Center and in Group Exercise classes.

Day Camp, in a limited capacity will open on May 26, and Child Watch will reopen on Wednesday, May 27th.

No visitors or guests will be permitted in the first phase.

Senior group exercise classes will remain virtual through the month of June.

All Y staff will be screened daily and required to wear a face mask. 

The Indiana Gaming Commission approved Spectacle Jack’s application for a new casino in Terre Haute.

Spectacle Jack filed an amended application, with two executives of Spectacle Entertainment removed, after the commission started an investigation into them regarding charges related to campaign finance violations in Virginia.

The Terre Haute casino is planned to be a Hard Rock Casino, just like the casino that Spectacle is building in Gary.

Spectacle Jack LLC, a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Spectacle Entertainment plans to build a 100,000-square-foot casino that would offer a total 1,200 machines and gaming tables.

The application spells out how the Rocksino at Terre Haute would be built on more than 25 acres at the southwest side of the intersection of Bill Farr Drive and Joe Fox Street, immediately south of the Walmart supercenter along U.S. 40/Indiana 46 on the east side of Terre Haute.

The plan calls for the casino to be built in the middle of the property with more than 1,500 parking spaces surrounding the building.

Upon entering the casino, the plan calls for guests to be greeted by a bifurcated gaming area, separated by the “yellow brick road” walkway running between the main entrance and the center bar.

The pair of gaming areas on either side of the walkway will have a mix of slot machines and table games. The plan, as submitted to the state, features 1,150 slot machines and 50 table games.

Around the perimeter of the gaming floor, a number of amenities are planned, including:

• A Hard Rock Cafe, the centerpiece of the Hard Rock brand. The cafe is planned to have seating for 125 guests and feature the customary accouterments.

• A steakhouse, described as the casino’s fine dining option, with seating for 60.

• A buffet with seating for 175 guests.

• Hard Rock branded center bar and sportsbook. The “energetic space” is planned to seat 75 guests and is to be considered the center of activity for the casino floor, according to the application.

• A Hard Rock branded coffee shop, the Constant Grind, that serves up to 25 guests a variety of food, beverages, and convenience items 24-hours a day.

• A 300-seat entertainment venue, Velvet Sessions, capable of hosting live music, comedy events and other events. The application says space can be transformed to host any type of event from a poker tournament, to business events and meetings, to a cocktail reception or a wedding.

• A high limit lounge complete with a private bar and light snack service.

• A Rock Shop, Hard Rock’s gift shop, that will sell branded merchandise alongside snacks and sundries.

Overall, the building has an estimated maximum occupancy of 5,900 to serve a projected 1.2 million guests per year.

Spectacle leadership projects the casino will generate $120 million in gaming revenue in its first full year and $840 million in its first seven years. Those numbers figure to generate $6.5 million in local tax revenue in the first year and $45 million in its first seven years. 

Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett says he’s “certain in his heart” the casino will be a positive development.

“For not only Terre Haute and Vigo County, but west-central Indiana and the entire state of Indiana,” Bennett says.

Local agreements and revenue estimates project the new casino will send $45 million to local communities and $181 million to the state in gaming revenue in its first seven years.

An analysis prepared for the gaming commission by the Indiana University Public Policy Institute suggests the casino will have an initial economic impact of $126 million, with more than 1,000 jobs created in the area.

The Institute’s Drew Klacik says that it does not take into account the effects of COVID-19. But he says it’s possible any such impact will be less significant by the time the casino opens.

A Hope man is dead after being found unconscious and not breathing while in custody at the Jackson County Jail. 

He was taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour where he died Sunday, according to Sheriff Rick Meyer.

Au was jailed for shooting Ryan Joseph Ross, 28,  of Jennings County on May 6 inside the Seymour apartment of Au’s girlfriend.

Meyer said Ross had fathered a child with Au’s girlfriend and was returning the child when he was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds just inside the doorway of the apartment.

Au reportedly called 911 and admitted shooting Ross. 

Ross was found Thursday, May 7 at 5:37 a.m. near the entrance of the apartment of the Sycamore Springs Apartments on 2710 Bent Tree Lane.

According to Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer, officers responded to the apartment after Au called 911 reporting he had shot Ross after Ross violated a protective order.

Police then arrested Au for the murder.

Police say Ross had been in a relationship with Dakota Anderson who lived at the apartment. The two had a child together. Anderson was now dating Au.

Police say neither Ross nor Au lived at the apartment with Anderson.

In January, Anderson filed a protective order against Ross, who lived in Jennings County.

Police have not yet confirmed that Ross was ever served that protective order

Police say Ross arrived at the apartment that morning for a visit with his child.

Ross knocked on the door and Anderson let him in.

Au had arrived at the apartment a short time before Ross and was also inside the apartment.

When Ross stepped inside the apartment, Au shot him several times.

Police say Anderson’s child and a second child were present during the shooting.

Au then called 911 to report the incident.

No charges have been filed against Anderson, but police say that could change as they continue to investigate the incident.

Police say there was no known animosity between Au and Ross at the time of the shooting.

The incident remains under investigation.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Three Star Painting Inc. is scheduled to begin painting next week on the S.R. 7 bridge over Middle Fork Creek, south of Dupont in Jefferson County.

The project is part of a $1.7 million bridge painting contract in Jackson, Jennings, and Jefferson Counties.

Crews plan to shift traffic on or after Monday (May 18), weather permitting. Middle Fork Road will close at S.R. 7 once work begins and will remain closed until the painting is complete. The contractor is expected to be on-site through mid-June. 

The last structure on the contract is S.R. 56 over Indian-Kentuck Creek, also in Jefferson County.

Work wrapped up on S.R. 258 over the East Fork White River in Jackson County last month and is continuing on S.R. 3 over the Muscatatuck River in Vernon through the end of May.

The contract was awarded in November 2019 and is expected to be complete by October 31, 2020.

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

Painting is one of many preservation techniques utilized by INDOT to extend the life of bridge structures.

Prior to painting, beams and other components are sandblasted to remove existing rust and the new coat of paint acts as a sealant to protect from water, salt, and other chemicals that may cause corrosion.

NASCAR today announced the next slate of races in its return to racing, featuring events at Bristol Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway. The NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series, and the ARCA Menards Series will all see action in the newly released schedule.

Like the upcoming two weekends of races, the newly announced dates will also be run without fans in attendance.

NASCAR had previously announced that Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway would host the first two weeks of racing following a two-month stoppage of action due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“As we prepare for our return to racing at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, the industry has been diligent in building the return-to-racing schedule,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer.

“We are eager to expand our schedule while continuing to work closely with the local governments in each of the areas we will visit. We thank the many government officials for their guidance, as we share the same goal in our return – the safety for our competitors and the communities in which we race.” 

Bristol Motor Speedway will be the next track on the schedule following Charlotte, hosting an Xfinity Series race on May 30 followed by the NASCAR Cup Series on May 30.

Atlanta Motor Speedway (June 6 and 7) will feature a race by each of the three national series, including a double-header on Saturday with the Xfinity Series and Gander Trucks.

Martinsville Speedway will then host a mid-week NASCAR Cup Series race under the lights on Wednesday, June 10, three days after racing at Atlanta.

Homestead-Miami Speedway will be next on the list, hosting a NASCAR Cup Series night race on Sunday, June 14, that will be preceded by an Xfinity Series race earlier in the day.

That will be the second of two Xfinity Series races at Miami, which will also be part of a double-header with the Gander Trucks on Saturday, June 13.

The announced slate will wrap up at Talladega Superspeedway, starting with an ARCA Menards Series and Xfinity Series doubleheader on Saturday, June 20, and the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, June 21.

In addition, NASCAR today announced the postponement of events at Kansas Speedway (May 30-31); Michigan International Speedway (June 5-7), the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio (May 30) and the Gander Trucks Series race at Texas Motor Speedway previously scheduled for June 5, as well as the cancelation of all NASCAR national series races and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at Iowa Speedway for the 2020 season.

The NASCAR Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway scheduled for June 13 has been realigned to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, June 14.

Further Iowa Speedway realignment dates will be announced in the future.  

The NASCAR Cup Series will return to racing at Darlington Raceway this Sunday, May 17, with a 400-mile event scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, live on WSLM 97.9 FM and WSLM 1220 AM. 

The Floyd County Health Department (FCHD) is starting a program to issue procedural masks to Personal
Service workers. “We are donating the masks to facilitate a safer resumption of service during the start-up for the State,” said Dr. Tom Harris, Floyd County Health Officer.

The FCHD is also working with individual establishments to answer questions and address site-specific concerns.

Under the Personal Service Mask Program, managers will contact the FCHD at 812-948-4726, ext. 661 and arrange pick-up at 1917 Bono Road, New Albany, Indiana.

Managers can also present to the FCHD side door Thursday and Friday this week from 8:30 am-3:45 pm, as well as Monday (5/18/20) from 8:30 am until noon.

Please contact 812-948-4726 extension 661 for further information if you are a Personal Service manager.

Floyd County Health Department will be conducting a drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Purdue Technology at 3000 Technology Drive, New Albany on Saturday, May 16th from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

This is a drive-thru testing only. We will not accept any walk-ups or bicycles.

Individuals must be symptomatic to be tested with any of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, sore throat, diarrhea, or headache.

We will also test those who have been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient OR individuals with underlying health conditions OR individuals age 65 or older, OR essential county employees.

*Must bring Driver’s License or State Issued ID and an insurance card (if you have one).

**PLEASE NOTE: At the first stop, you will be screened for symptoms. FCHD staff will take a picture of your identification/insurance card and will take down your information before you proceed for testing.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced a local funding component as part of Indiana’s plan to spend the state’s $2.4 Billion allocations contained in the recently passed federal CARES Act.  Both Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) and Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) support and applaud this acknowledgment. 

“County officials welcome and appreciate Governor Holcomb’s generosity in allowing us access to Indiana’s share of CARES Act resources,” AIC President, Anton Neff, Owen County Council said. “We have always been on the front lines providing county-wide services to all Indiana residents but, the COVID-19 issue has greatly amplified that. Without help like this, our ability to continue providing county services – both short and long term – will be negatively impacted. Our health departments, emergency management agencies, and public safety personnel have carried a heavy load through all of this. That, along with our administration of the Primary Election, changes in operations, and protection of our workforce, comes with unexpectedly high costs. Fortunately, we are well-positioned to efficiently place and account for any resources we receive. County officials will do everything they can to deliver consistent service to our citizens.”

Aim President and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer noted, “Indiana’s local units have responded to this crisis with urgency, using the health and safety of our citizens as a constant guidepost.  Cities and towns quickly began addressing the needs of our communities and municipal workforces by acquiring PPE, as well as additional sanitizers and cleaners. Our frontline public safety and public works departments are working overtime to relieve those that are quarantined or caring for loved ones.  We are incurring additional technology expenses to provide remote delivery of municipal services, and much more.  Aim applauds Governor Holcomb for committing a significant portion of CARES Act funding to the reimbursement of local governments for some of the unforeseen and unprecedented expenditures resulting from our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The purpose of Aim shall be to foster, promote, and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent, and the engines driving our state’s economy. 

The Association of Indiana Counties, Inc. is a nonprofit organization established in 1957 for the betterment of county government. The various functions of the AIC include lobbying the Indiana General Assembly on behalf of counties, serving as a liaison among counties, state and federal agencies as well as providing technical assistance and training to county officials and employees.