The Washington County Farmers-Merchants Fair is still being planned as scheduled for June 13-20 with a kick-off parade on June 7th, according to the fair board. 

This year’s theme is Basketball – The State That Grew The Game, which mirrors the Indiana State Fair theme.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board met to discuss the plans for the 2020 Fair.

“We have made the decision to proceed as planned at this time. We will re-evaluate on May 17th,” according to Fair Board President Cheryl Lee. 

Currently, the State of Indiana is on a Stay-at-Home order through the first of May. This could be extended depending on the number of active cases and tests being administered for the COVID-19 virus. 

At this time, Gov. Eric Holcomb has asked that no groups gather with more than 10 people.

Lee asks those who are planning to have a food booth or commercial booth, to reserve your spot and plan as normal.

You can email Tim Anderson for details and for a form at trandersona@gmail.com

Anderson said in an email earlier this year that 

“Any monies sent to reserve spots between now and May 17th will be held and returned if we cannot have the fair,” Lee said. “Stay safe and healthy and we hope to see you in June.”

Anderson said the fair board had made a major change in the way booths will be handled this year.

According to Anderson the board will allow businesses and groups to rent space and set up booths, but not have to have personnel there at all times.

Anders said booth setup times would be:

• Friday June 12th 10a to 4p
• Saturday June 13th 9a to 2p
• Monday June 15 8a to 12p  (be mostly done by 12p; touch up 5:45p)

Fair Booth Hours will be as follows:

• Monday, June 15 – 6p to 10p
• Tuesday, June 16 – Friday, June 19 – 6p to 9p
• Saturday, June 20 – 5p to 8p

Teardown of booths will take place on Saturday June 20 after 8p (not before). Anderson said booth equipment can be carried out of the buildings only. There will be no parking at front of the building.

The buildings will be open the next day, Sunday from 9am to 4p. All booth equipment and decorations will need to be gone by Tuesday June 23rd. 

Next week Purdue will be making a decision about June 4-H activities.

Once the decision has been made, the
Washington County Purdue Extension Office will notify local 4-H families.

In the midst of the ongoing novel coronavirus global pandemic, Salem Mayor, Justin Green, is encouraging businesses to apply for newly announced assistance programs through the Federal CARES Act and to remind residents of the importance of following Governor Eric Holcomb’s stay-at-home order.

“I know families and businesses are struggling as we disrupt our daily lives to ensure our own health and safety and that of others, but I do want to continue to encourage us all to look out for each other. I want to, again, stress the importance of taking the
Governor’s order to heart and to take it seriously. The programs that have been put in place by the state and federal government should help get us through the next several weeks and I hope citizens will take advantage of them,” said Green.

Green says he is optimistic these programs will begin to provide relief quickly. For instance, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation recently announced several resources available to small business owners, including Federal Paycheck Protection
Loans and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans.

“Under the paycheck protection loans, Salem and Indiana businesses can apply for up to eight weeks of cash-flow assistance. If these companies maintain their payroll during
this period, the portion of the loans used to cover payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent and utilities would be forgiven. Programs like these, can be a saving grace right now,” said Green.

Additional programs include the SBA disaster loans, which allow small business owners to apply for a loan advance of up to $10,000, and SBA debt relief which will forgive six
(6) months of payments on existing SBA loans.

The debt relief program may be of importance to businesses who accessed these loans during the last major flood in Salem.

City of Salem 201 East Market Street, Salem, IN 47167 Ph#812-883-4265 info@cityofsalemin.com / www.cityofsalemin.com

“Even though there is no treatment for this virus and no vaccine as of today, I know Salem residents will work together by practicing social distancing and staying home until we can begin to emerge from this safely. I wanted to highlight a few of these programs that I believe can be helpful and to encourage Salem businesses to take advantage of them until we can get back to business as usual,” said Green.

In addition to the programs for businesses, there are also a variety of programs designed to help individuals and families. A full list of COVID-19 resources can be found at https://coronavirus.in.gov/.

City of Salem Mayor, Justin Green, recently announced the city has begun construction on road projects in and around Salem that were made possible through the State of Indiana’s Community Crossings grant awards from last year. 

In 2019, the City of Salem received $694,059 in grant funds from the program for area road improvements.

Mayor Green stated, “I am excited to see another project start to improve our roadway and I am grateful to the State for their partnership through these very important grant awards.”

The projects, started on Monday, April 6, 2020, includes improvements to the intersection on North Shelby Street near the intersection of West Market.

Motorists should expect slight traffic disruptions in this area, but the roads will remain open.

Another area of the city that will see improvements in a section of Fair Street off Jackson Street. Residents will see crews in that area in the coming days as they are working to relocate utilities.

The Mayor also notes the efforts that construction workers are taking to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Contractors have been diligent about the use of limited
crews and of abiding by the recommended CDC guidelines for social distancing. They are using two small crews and following protocols to stay healthy and safe,” said Green.

SlidesForApril10Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced a task force to plan, administer and account for federal relief funds the state of Indiana receives from the CARES Act.

Indiana’s Economic Relief and Recovery Team will be chaired by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Cris Johnston and Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger.

A committee of business leaders with extensive public service background will advise the chairs.

· Al Hubbard, former economic policy advisor and director of the National Economic Council for President George W. Bush

· Luke Kenley, former Indiana state senator

· Ryan Kitchell, former OMB director

· Kristin Marcuccilli, Indiana Economic Development Corporation board member

· Becky Skillman, former lieutenant governor

The slides from today’s press conference are attached.SlidesForApril10

No new cases of Covid-19 have been reported by the Indiana State Health Department over the past 24 hours in Washington County. Also, no deaths have been reported in Washington County. 

One new death was reported in Clark County, bringing the total there to eight. 

Around the WSLM Listening area, there are now 23 total deaths. 

There were 22 new Covid-19 cases reported in the area since yesterday. 

In Indiana, there have been 556 new cases reported in the last 24 hours along with 55 new deaths. 

There have been 2,907 new tests given around the state since Thursday. 

Statewide totals are:

• 6,907 Total Cases in Indiana
• 300 Total Deaths in Indiana
• 35,040 Total Tests in Indiana

In the WSLM Listening area, totals today are:

Updated totals from around the WSLM Listening Area:

• Lawrence County – 59 total cases (up by 3 from Thursday)
• Jackson County – 57 total cases (up by 4 from Thursday)
• Scott County – 12 total cases (No change)
• Clark County – 104 total cases (up by 8 from Thursday)
• Floyd County – 93 total cases (up by 5 from Thursday)
• Harrison County – 50 total cases (down by 1 from Thursday)
• Crawford County – 12 total cases (up by 1 from Thursday)
• Orange County – 13 total cases (up by 1 from Thursday)
• Washington County – 23 total cases (No change)

Total deaths caused by Covid-19 in the WSLM Listening Area include:

• Lawrence County – 7
• Jackson County – 0
• Scott County – 2
• Clark County – 8
• Floyd County – 3
• Harrison County – 1
• Crawford County – 0
• Orange County – 2
• Washington County – 0 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, today issued guidance for places of worship in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“During this time of uncertainty, faith is more important than ever, and I am deeply grateful to our religious leaders for their efforts to find safe and creative ways to serve their communities,” Gov. Holcomb said. “The purpose of this guidance is not to restrict religious liberty, but to save lives during these extraordinary times. I look forward to the day where we can once again worship side-by-side without the threat of spreading coronavirus.”

Gov. Holcomb’s executive order 20-18 states all public and private gatherings, including religious and spiritual, should follow CDC guidance, which restricts gatherings to ten or less people. Click here to see executive orders: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

To continue safely serving their communities, faith institutions are directed as follows:

• Church buildings and other physical locations for worship should be closed.
• Livestream or other virtual services are best.
  • The minimum number of necessary personnel should be used at all times for any services.
  • Staff and volunteers who are not speaking should wear masks.
• Drive-in services may be conducted only under these conditions:
  • Attendees must be inside vehicles at all times.
  • Attendees should not interact physically with clergy, staff or participants in other vehicles.
  • Vehicles should contain only members of a single household. Do not bring your neighbors or others outside of your household.
  • Cars must be spaced the equivalent of every other parking spot or approximately 9 feet apart.
  • No one may exit a vehicle at any time.
  • Portable bathrooms are not allowed on the premises and no church facilities may be used by attendees.
  • It is preferred that no communion be distributed.
    • In instances when communion is distributed, only prepackaged communion may be used and must be prepared and distributed in a manner that meets food safety standards.
  • The following individuals who are vulnerable and at higher risk for illness should not attend:
    • Persons who are 65 years and older.
    • Those who have severe underlying medical conditions, like heart or lung disease or diabetes.
    • Individuals who are sick.
• The CDC has provided the following guidance for the faith community: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/guidance-community-faith-organizations.html