Here is a spreadsheet tracking the number of Covid-19 cases, deaths, and tests by county in the WSLM LISTENING AREA since March 20.

The spreadsheet will automatically be updated each day.

The Indiana State Police Forensic Scientist of the Year Award is presented annually to a Forensic Scientist within the Laboratory Division deemed to have consistently provided a superior quality forensic analysis service in a highly professional, proficient, and unbiased manner for the Indiana Criminal Justice Community. 

The recipient of the 2019 Indiana State Police Forensic Scientist of the Year is Stacey R. Hartman, whose accomplishments during that year are worthy of such recognition and have earned her this award.

In 2019, Hartman, who serves as a Forensic Scientist in the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit at the Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory, completed 347 firearm/toolmark cases, which was well above the Unit’s average of 247 cases a year.  In addition to casework, Ms. Hartman generated 53 hits in the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) Database, which aided federal, state, and local agencies with investigative leads in over 100 cases. Ms. Hartman produced results of the highest quality and successfully completed all proficiency and competency testing. 

She completed 56 administrative reviews of other analysts’ casework while acting as the Unit Supervisor.  Ms. Hartman testified four times in 2019 receiving a “superior” review from her Unit Supervisor and a letter of commendation from a prosecutor. She served as both Acting Laboratory Manager and Evidence Clerk at the Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory during the year and became known as someone to go to when help was needed.

In 2019, Hartman assisted the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit to maintain its place of leadership around the world by, for the second year, co-chairing the Midwest Firearm Examiner Training Seminar, which was held at the Indiana State Police Museum. 

Ms. Hartman continued to be recognized as a leader in her field by being invited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to participate in a Firearms Mapping Exercise in Gaithersburg, Maryland. NIST flew her and ten other Firearm Examiners from around the globe to the NIST campus to complete this three-day exercise. The very detailed document from the NIST exercise is now being used by the Firearms Subcommittee in the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) to establish standards that will be used worldwide.  

Hartman earned a “distinguished” membership in the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE).  AFTE is an international association with worldwide membership.  Ms. Hartman was a member of the 2019 Host Committee for the AFTE meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee, and she worked with over 100 companies in preparation for the meeting.  She continued to be a member of the AFTE Glossary Committee, and she has been certified since May 2013 in the area of Firearms Identification by AFTE. 

In addition, Hartman actively assisted the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the ATF by organizing IBIS shoots to streamline analytical processes. Ms. Hartman demonstrated her leadership and sense of community by receiving approval from Superintendent Carter to create an Indiana State Police Corporate 5K challenge running team, which participated in a local fundraiser and helped organize food drives and exercise groups within the Fort Wayne District.

Hartman has an undergraduate degree in Biology, Criminal Justice and Criminology from Ball State University and earned a Masters in Forensic Science from the University of New Haven, New Haven Connecticut in 2005. Before coming to work for the ISP she was employed by the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office.  She started her career with the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division in August of 2007 at the Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory as a member of the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit where she continues to serve.   

Hartman is a resident of Allen County.

With the reported forthcoming economic impact payments (commonly referred to as stimulus checks), there will undoubtedly be those who will attempt to take advantage of the situation.

Scammers never allow a good crisis to go to waste! For that reason, the Indiana State Police would caution all citizens to be ever so vigilant in protecting your personal information over the next few months to avoid being scammed.  Here are a few facts from the Internal Revenue Service every Hoosier should know.  

On March 30th, The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced that the distribution of economic impact payments should begin over the next three weeks. The checks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some taxpayers who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the economic impact payment.

For those who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For anyone who has not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use data from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.

Don’t give the scammers, swindlers, and frauds an open door. The IRS will not contact you via telephone or email asking for any personal information. All stimulus check information will be automatically gathered by the IRS from your actual tax return data.  

For more information and to read for yourself, please visit the IRS coronavirus website for more details click here.

On Friday, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Indiana State Board of Animal Health will again co-host a conference call for those in the agricultural sector to discuss the current coronavirus situation.

This call is part of the regular Friday industry calls to focus on issues impacting those in the agricultural sector, including, but not limited to, the impact of the stay-at-home order and other current developments.

Just a reminder: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is not a foodborne pathogen and is not food transmitted.

To join the discussion, call: 240-454-0887

Meeting/passcode is: 618 434 482

If you have questions to be addressed during the call, email them ahead of time to animalhealth@boah.in.gov 

An IU Medical student has contracted Covid-19 and shares his experience along with a warning. 

David Vega, a fourth-year IU School of Medicine student, shared his personal experience of contracting COVID-19 and its impact on his health in a video and a blog.

He warns younger adults who may think they are invincible to take the virus seriously.

Below is Vega’s story:

Yes, I tested positive for COVID-19. I fell victim to this virus: a nasty, lingering virus that gave me the worst symptoms I’ve experienced to this day that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. My story is to warn you that this is not the common cold or the regular flu. This virus is serious.

My name is David, and I am an otherwise healthy 27-year-old male with no past medical history. I am a fourth-year medical student, who will soon be a doctor starting residency in June. I am a health freak, I work out five to six times a week, I have a six-pack on a good day, and I completely took my health for granted.

I thought I was INVINCIBLE—I thought I was immune to this coronavirus because I am healthy and young. But I was wrong.

In early March, reports of novel transmission of the coronavirus were just starting to appear in the United States. I had heard about the nursing home in Seattle, the synagogue in New Rochelle, New York. It was a precarious situation, but community transmission of the virus was not quite so widespread.

‘Sure, I’ll wash my hands,’ ‘I’ll social distance after that party,’ I thought. Looking back, there were too many opportunities for me to have caught this virus. I did not take my health seriously. I figured I could avoid the virus, but in the off-chance I were to get it, it would be like a mild flu or a bad cold. I flew home from a two-month global medicine elective in Africa, ventured on long flights home and around lots of people at Nairobi and JFK airport. I went to a beach party during my week stay in Florida and saw lots of friends before heading back to Indiana to finish up my last semester of medical school. I was not careful. I did not take the necessary precautions. I did not think it could happen to me.

The fact of the matter is – you NEVER know.

A day after arriving in Indiana, symptoms started to kick in. On Thursday, March 12, I woke up with fever, chills, fatigue, generalized muscle aches, and joint pain. Probably just a bad case of the flu, right? No cough, no shortness of breath, no difficulty breathing, no respiratory problems whatsoever. No nausea, no diarrhea. JUST Fever and chills.

Thinking ‘I’ll get over it soon,’ I took some Ibuprofen and Tylenol and stayed in bed most of the day. The next day, I had a routine doctor’s appointment. I was almost turned away because of my symptoms, but I fought to be seen. My oral temperature was 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was put in an isolation room for my appointment. My provider, thankfully wearing complete PPE, performed a quick flu test (Influenza A, B, and RSV), which resulted negative that same day. It would later reflex to COVID-19 because of the negative result and I then began the seven-day wait for results.

My symptoms, however, only continued to worsen. The fever was unrelenting. I had no appetite. I had lost about 10 pounds. I loaded up on my daily multivitamins and Emergen-C; I continued to use Ibuprofen and Tylenol every six hours because my body was asking for ANYTHING to take away the misery.

It was not until Day 6 that I decided to drop the Ibuprofen after reading some expert opinions that NSAIDs may actually alter the immune response against the virus. Admittedly, I did feel WAY better the next day after dropping Ibuprofen. My fever and chills—although still present—felt improved. I continued to use only Tylenol spaced out now in the morning and before bedtime. By Day 7, still feeling chills in the morning, I opted out of using any Tylenol and tried to help my body fight this virus on its own. I attempted a little home bodyweight workout and instantly got lightheaded and felt very nauseous. My body was still desperately fighting this thing.

Day 8: I woke up in the usual sweats from the night before, but felt no fever or chills during the day—I felt much improved. I told myself I would take it easy that day. I was begging and pleading to God for an end to all of this.

After waiting SEVEN ENTIRE DAYS in self-quarantine, I finally received my results: positive for COVID-19, continue self-quarantine for another seven days. Ironically, this arrived an hour before receiving my Match Day residency assignment for emergency medicine at the University of Miami. March 20th was certainly a big day of “results” for me.

By Day 13, I had not used any fever-reducing medicine in six days. For the last few days, my symptoms were mostly confined to nighttime-fatigue, sweats, chills, but by Day 13, all of my symptoms had completely gone away. I reintroduced exercise little by little and can now get through a whole hour workout without getting totally winded.

Why am I telling this story?

Because I encourage you to learn from my mistakes. Because I didn’t listen when numbers started climbing. And now they continue to climb. 55,000-plus patients diagnosed in our country, more than 1,000 people deceased.

Because this virus is REAL. And it SUCKS. To say it was almost two weeks before I was feeling like my normal self. Because I am a “healthy young adult,” but “mild” COVID-19 made my life a living hell.

Because people around the world are DYING from this virus—and doctors must make resource allocation decisions (e.g. in Italy) as to who should get that last ICU bed or that last ventilator because hospitals are at FULL CAPACITY. After returning from a two-month global medicine trip in Africa, I witnessed patients dying on a daily basis due to resource-allocation purposes. And now we are starting to see the same issues in New York City and other densely populated communities in the United States.

We NEED you to STAY HOME, because our health professionals are RUNNING out of masks for themselves and ventilators for patients. The CDC is so desperate that they recently issued new guidelines for health professionals to use bandanas and scarves as substitutes for N95 masks. We NEED you to STAY HOME because these health professionals are sacrificing their lives at the frontline to make sure those affected can stay alive.

I had the two biggest celebrations of my life canceled (Match Day and graduation) for the good of those around me and the rest of the country. Now is NOT the time to go to that party. Now is NOT the time to meet up friends at the bar, to go out to eat, to celebrate your spring break, to go to the beach or the park. I promise you, the celebration can wait.

So please, as a medical professional, as a young adult, I implore for all of you to STAY HOME. I firsthand can now see how this VIRUS takes LIVES. 1 out of 5 people hospitalized from COVID-19 are young adults aged 20-44; I was LUCKY to not be one of them.

As many as 10-20 percent of people show no symptoms, so you may be spreading this virus and injuring those you love without realizing it. We DON’T know who has it and who does not, and we do not have the resources to test everyone, so please STAY HOME. Social-distancing and self-quarantine is just as important for the ELDERLY as for the YOUTH.

We NEED you to do your part to FLATTEN the curve and prevent the growing spread to more and more people every day. If we all do our part, then this self-quarantine can eventually come to an end and we can soon resume what our lives used to be.

My name is David and I am NOT Invincible. And neither are you.

Editor’s note: David Vega is a fourth-year medical student at IU School of Medicine. After traveling overseas and in Florida earlier this month, Vega returned to the IU School of Medicine—Indianapolis campus on March 11, and soon developed symptoms of COVID-19 the following day, March 12. He was tested for the virus on March 13, and received his positive test result on March 20. He informed all individuals with whom he had contact since his return to Indianapolis of his positive test.

Indiana’s health commissioner, Dr. Kris Box, this afternoon reported 18 coronavirus-related deaths at long-term care facilities across the state.

In addition to 11 deaths reported Monday at Bethany Pointe in Madison County, Box said another long-term care facility in Madison County has recorded four deaths that appear to be COVID-related.

Box said a facility in Johnson County also recorded four deaths, and Mitchell Manor in Lawrence County recorded three COVID-related deaths.

Box said a facility with a known COVID-related death should report it to the state within 24 hours, as well as reporting a resident or employee who tests positive.

The state is testing people in long-term facilities every day, Box said. The state sent 50 additional test kits to Bethany Pointe on Tuesday, she said.

In Lake County, ISDH will be setting a targeted, drive-thru testing operation, reserved for heath care workers, long-term care workers, first responders and essential workers who are symptomatic of COVID-19.

The state will also set up testing in Clark and Vanderburgh counties later this week, for health care workers that are symptomatic.

On Monday, the Indiana State Police at Jasper and the Perry County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a body found near the Rome boat ramp on the Ohio River. Troopers, Indiana Conservation Officers and Deputies were able to retrieve the body and an autopsy was scheduled for today.

At the time of this release, no positive identification has been made on the body and the investigation is ongoing. State Police detectives are diligently working on identifying the body and determining a cause of death.

When more information becomes available it will be released.

Indiana’s health commissioner, Dr. Kris Box, this afternoon reported coronavirus-related deaths at more long-term care facilities across the state. 

To date there are 11 deaths at long-term care facilities. 

In addition to 11 deaths reported Monday at Bethany Pointe in Madison County, Box said another long-term care facility in Madison County has recorded four deaths that appear to be COVID-related.

Box said a facility in Johnson County also recorded four deaths, and Mitchell Manor in Lawrence County reported three COVID-related deaths.

Box said a facility with a known COVID-related death should report it to the state within 24 hours, as well as reporting a resident or employee who tests positive.

The state is testing people in long-term facilities every day, Box said.

The state sent 50 additional test kits to Bethany Pointe on Tuesday, she said.

In Lake County, ISDH will be setting a targeted, drive-thru testing operation, reserved for heath care workers, long-term care workers, first responders and essential workers who are symptomatic of COVID-19.

The state will also set up testing in Clark and Vanderburgh counties later this week, for health care workers that are symptomatic.

INDOT contractor Pacific PCI plans to begin work Monday (April 13) on a $564,000 bridge painting contract.

Crews will begin on S.R. 135 over the Muscatatuck River at the Jackson-Washington County line.

The contract also includes S.R. 446 over Leatherwood Creek in Lawrence County and Arlington Road over S.R. 45 in Monroe County.

Beginning Monday, traffic on S.R. 135 will be reduced to one lane with a temporary traffic signal.

A 45 mph speed restriction will also be in place. Motorists should slow down, watch for stopped traffic and drive distraction-free through all work zones. 

The contractor expects to complete painting at this location by early-to-mid May, weather permitting.

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. 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness today announced 214 Indiana cities, towns, and counties received a combined $126.5 million in state matching funds for local road projects through the Next Level Roads: Community Crossings Initiative.

Washington County will receive $1 million in funding for local projects. The Town of New Pekin will recieve $247,479.00. 

Other surrounding areas receiving grants are: 

• Bedford $218,476.27
• Brown County $1,000,000.00
• Clark County $74,215.50
• Clarksville $614,868.28
• Crothersville $206,298.75
• Floyd County $931,478.64
• French Lick $1,000,000.00
• Jackson County $1,000,000.00
• Jasper $264,162.50
• Jeffersonville $1,000,000.00 
• Jennings County $1,000,000.00
• Madison $721,817.08
• New Albany $1,000,000.00
• New Pekin $247,479.00
• Oolitic $55,559.70 
• Orange County $962,613.75 
• Orleans $300,789.75
• Seymour $999,977.50
• Shoals $133,270.50
• Washington County $1,000,000.00
• West Baden Springs $105,315.00
   

The Community Crossings Initiative has provided more than $738 million in state matching funds for construction projects. The latest round garnered more applications than dollars available—making the call for projects highly competitive.

In response to local requests to help manage project flow, INDOT now accepts applications in both January and July, with a $1 million cap annually per community. An estimated $100 million will be available for communities opting to apply during the July 2020 call for projects.

“INDOT’s mission is to build and maintain Indiana’s transportation to grow our economy and enhance the quality of life in Indiana,” said McGuinness. “Through Community Crossings we’re able to take that commitment to local roads, not just our highways. This sustained investment by the state makes sure that the Crossroads of America is maintained from the first mile to the last mile.”

To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds, 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities, from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. They must also submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer. State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April 2017.

The list of all communities receiving matching funds in the 2020 January call for projects is online at www.in.gov/indot/communitycrossings.