Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident where a child was pulled from a pond after being submerged.

The incident occurred today at approximately 4:00 p.m. near the 10000 block of South Ohio Street in Keystone, Wells County.

The juvenile female was swimming in a private pond when she went under the surface of the water.  

911 was called and first responders arrived on the scene a short time later.

The child was recovered in approximately 8-13 feet of water after approximately 20 minutes by a member of the Liberty Center Volunteer Fire Department.

She was transported by ambulance to Bluffton Regional Hospital and later transferred by ambulance to Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne in critical condition.

Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted at the scene by the Liberty Center Volunteer Fire Department, Bluffton Fire Department, Lancaster Volunteer Fire Department, Wells County Sheriff’s Department, and Wells County EMS.

With the recommendations from the Washington County Health Department, the Salem Community School Board, and the Salem Administration, the Salem High School Graduation Ceremony will be held on July 11th, 2020. 

The location of the ceremony has been determined to be outside at the football stadium, according to Salem High School principal Troy Albert. 

Because of the outdoor setting of the Graduation Ceremony, the time has changed to 10:00 AM.  

Expectations:

Students will be sitting on the folding chairs located on the track/football field.  Student chairs will be 6’ apart.

Students will be limited to 7 tickets for their guests to attend the ceremony.  Student Guests will be expected to sit in the home bleachers or bring folding chairs and blankets beside the bleachers in the grassy area.

All students, faculty, staff, and guests attending will be requested to wear masks, keep social distance as to protect themselves and others.

There will be gloves worn in the distribution of the diplomas. 

There will not be any handshakes or hugs during the presentation of the diplomas.

The expectations of entering and exiting the football field will be shared with the seniors at the practice prior to the ceremony. 

The practice will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 10th, 2020.

The graduation ceremony will be filmed and live-streamed for others to observe the ceremony from outside the venue.

A rain date of Monday, July 13th at 7:30 PM.   The decision will be made by 7:00 AM on July 11th.

The ceremony will start promptly at 10:00 AM. 

The SHS Band and Choir will not be expected to perform with the limited attendance. 

The students will have four speakers to the group and the presentation of the class to receive their diplomas on the stage. 

The closing of the ceremony will be an exit to the outside parking lots and other grassy areas.  

Churchill Downs Racetrack announced that after consultation with Gov. Andy Beshear and state public health officials the 146th runnings of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Longines Kentucky Oaks will occur with spectators under strict guidelines.

Kentucky Derby Week will be held Sept. 1-5 with the Oaks on Friday, Sept. 4 and the Derby on Saturday, Sept. 5.

“We truly appreciate the leadership of the Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, and all of the hard work, collaboration and guidance that state and local officials and public health experts have provided us to safely and responsibly host Kentucky Derby Week in September with spectators,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery.

“Our team is deeply committed to holding the very best Kentucky Derby ever, and we will take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of all who attend and participate in the Derby. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have established a comprehensive set of operating procedures, which include a multitude of precautionary measures to be followed while fans are in attendance at our facility. We are determined to keep our customers, employees and communities as safe as we responsibly can.”

Churchill Downs’ plan was developed in conjunction with advice and counsel set forth by the Louisville Metro Health Department and Kentucky’s Healthy at Work guidance.

Some of the steps that will be taken to ensure guest and employee safety include:
 Venue capacity reductions to limit overall crowd density, including general admission, outdoor reserved seating, premium dining, and suites. More information on ticketing and seating areas will be released in the coming days and also will be sent directly to ticket holders.
 General admission tickets will be limited to a specified number and only grant access to the infield. No general admission will be allowed in the “front side” or paddock areas of the facility.
 Access throughout the facility will be severely limited.
 Credentials for employees, media, and guests will be reduced.
 Barn area access will be restricted to essential personnel. Guests and parties in the barn area for morning workouts and during race days will be eliminated.
 Changes in venue operations to limit person-to-person touchpoints.
 Team member protocols established to protect employees and guests.

 A revised Fan Code of Conduct that establishes expectations for guests coming to the Derby. Guests will be consistently and frequently encouraged to wear a mask at all times unless seated in their reserved seat or venue. This includes when:
 Riding on a shuttle
 Traveling through the venue
 Going to the restroom
 Placing an in-person wager
 Purchasing food or beverages from a concession stand
o Guests will be asked to wash their hands for 20 seconds or sanitize them frequently.
o Guests will be encouraged to socially distance themselves from others when possible.

“The impact of the Kentucky Derby extends well beyond the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs,” Flanery said. “It is an incredibly important time for the City of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky both culturally, economically and with respect to our time-honored traditions. Both employees and guests are asked to take an active role in following all guidelines. We must all do our part to ensure everyone has a safe and
enjoyable experience.”

Tickets purchased for the originally scheduled Kentucky Derby Week dates are automatically valid for the new race dates.

Guests may arrive on the new dates in September with their printed ticket or mobile ticket to be scanned for entry at the gates.

Guests that have purchased a ticket and are not able to attend the newly
scheduled race dates, can visit www.KentuckyDerby.com/TicketStatus for more information.

Guests who purchased tickets from a vendor or secondary market website other than Churchill Downs, Ticketmaster.com or Derby Experiences must contact those sites directly. Churchill Downs is unable to process refunds for those tickets.

Washington County residents have had an extra two months to pay their spring installment of property taxes and it’s about time for the July 10 deadline to hit. 

According to Washington County Treasurer Shirley Batt, “the deadline is drawing near for penalties to be added to property taxes.”

Batt said the executive order which allowed the waiver of penalties after the May 11, 2020 spring installment of property taxes will be up on July 10^th. 

Any unpaid Spring taxes for payable 2020 and any unpaid delinquent taxes from 2019 will have penalties added beginning July 11, 2020. 

Batt said payments may still be made at First Savings Bank locations (with payment coupon), or by mail and the drop box located on the south side of the courthouse. 

If the public has questions, they can call 812-883-3307 or email sbatt@washingtoncounty.in.gov

Under an executive order signed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, all 92 Indiana counties were ordered to waive late payment penalties regarding property taxes for 60 days after the May 11 deadline.

Several counties are concerned about maintaining orderly operations of government services with the extension, the governor said.

But Holcomb emphasized the state will work with counties that may experience cash flow stress because of the delay.

The waiver does not apply to property tax payments which have been escrowed by financial institutions on behalf of property taxpayers, according to the executive order.

However, it does apply to property tax liabilities for both real and personal property, she said.