A search is underway after floodwaters swept two vehicles off a roadway near the town of Laurel early this morning.

At approximately 5 a.m., Franklin County 911 received a call from a witness who reported seeing headlights off the roadway and hearing calls for help coming from an area near the intersection of Sanes Creek and Tee Hill roads. 

Responding authorities discovered the bridge over Sanes Creek had been partially washed away. 

An initial search located one vehicle, and a second vehicle was located a short time later. 

At this time, responders have recovered four deceased victims and believe two individuals are still missing. 

The search is still underway, and updates will be provided when available.

The victims’ identities are being withheld at this time, pending family notification.

Agencies assisting on the scene are Indiana Conservation Officers, Franklin County Fire Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Laurel Police and Fire, Metamora Police and Fire and Franklin County EMS.

Governor Eric Holcomb joined Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Republican Party Chair Kyle Hupfer and Democratic Party Chair John Zody today to announce an agreement to move the date of this year’s Indiana primary election from May 5 to June 2.

All dates corresponding with the primary election will be moved by 28 days to reflect the new date of the primary. For example, military and overseas ballots are required to mailed 45 days prior to the primary election, so they’ll move 45 days prior to June 2.

“The right of citizens to elect their leaders in a free and open election is one of the cornerstones of America. In order to balance that right with the safety of county employees, poll workers and voters, delaying Indiana’s primary election is the right move as we continue to do all we can to protect Hoosiers’ health,” said Gov. Holcomb.

Gov. Holcomb signed an executive order to suspend Indiana’s election statute and move the dates. The executive order is posted here: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

In addition, Governor Holcomb, Secretary Lawson, Chairman Hupfer and Chairman Zody made the following recommendations to the Indiana Election Commission.

• Suspend absentee by-mail rules to allow all Hoosiers the option to vote by mail in the upcoming primary election.
• Allow county clerks to continually mail ballots from now through 12 days out from the new primary election date.
• Confirm ballots with a May 5, 2020 date will be valid.
• Enable medical professionals to be eligible members of traveling boards to vote nursing home and hospital patients.
• Give family members the ability to deliver absentee ballots. Currently only a member of a voter’s household may take possession of their ballot.

“As Indiana’s Chief Election Officer, it is my top priority to protect our elections, but, above all else, it is my duty to protect the health and safety of Hoosiers,” said Secretary Lawson. “I believe the bi-partisan recommendations we have asked the Indiana Election Commission to take will allow us to provide all Hoosiers the opportunity to vote.

Indiana Election Commission Chairman Paul Okeson has called a meeting of the Indiana Election Commission on Wednesday, March 25 at 10 a.m. to discuss the recommendations. The meeting will be held in the south atrium of the Indiana Statehouse.

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) Commissioner Peter L. Lacy announced the following service adjustments included in Executive Order 20-05 issued by Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb today, March 19, 2020. The Executive Order can be found here: https://www.in.gov/gov/files/EO_20-05.pdf

These adjustments are designed to assist with the state’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect BMV employees and the public. In-branch visits to the BMV should be used only when absolutely necessary.

Changes Driven by Executive Order
The following changes will be effective today and remain in place for the next 60 days:

• Administrative Penalty Fees Waived (more commonly called late fees)
  If a renewal cannot be done online, this change eliminates the need to go to a branch during this emergency time due to the expiration date.

  The following administrative penalty fees will be waived:

  • $6 for late driver’s license or identification card renewals
  • $15 for late vehicle registration renewals
  • $30 for late title transactions
  • $15 for late ORV and snowmobile registration renewals
  • $10 for late salvage titles
• Suspend the requirement to operate a branch in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.
  This requirement has been waived to address closures due to potential staffing shortages.

Out-of-Branch Transaction and Fee Changes
The following changes are operational and will go in to effect immediately and also remain in place for the same 60-day period:

• Out-of-Branch Transaction Requirements
  The BMV will restrict several transactions to out-of-branch only. Those transactions include:
  • Registration Renewal for Vehicles
  • Replacement Documents for:
    • Driver’s Licenses and Identification Cards
    • Registration
    • Title

There are several options to complete an out-of-branch transaction including online services through in.gov/BMV, BMV Connect kiosks, phone, and regular mail. More information including a full list of available transactions can be found on the BMV website: https://www.in.gov/bmv/4363.htm

Due to federal requirements, we will continue to complete Commercial Driver’s License transactions in branches.

• Credit Card Fees for Online Transactions Will Be Waived
  Indiana law provides for BMV to collect an online fee to cover the cost of the transaction. The normal fee is $1 plus 1.99% of the transaction. These fees will be waived under these changes.

Operation Changes in Branches
The following operational changes are being made to ensure the safety of the public and BMV employees:

• A BMV employee will be at the entrance of every branch
  Employee will confirm transaction need and limit the number of customers inside the building to 20
• The number of chairs in the lobby will be reduced to reinforce the number of customers
  No more than 20 chairs for customers spaced at least 6 feet apart
• The use of Examiner terminals will be limited to every other terminal
  This provides an empty space between each tester
• Customer Service Representative (CSR) stations will be limited to every other station
  Provides an empty station between each CSR
• Only one customer may work with a CSR during a transaction
  Special exceptions will be made for customers requiring support
• In-person interviews for open positions are suspended

• Will waive certain payment fees
• $1.3 million donated to help COVID-19 relief
• Some employees will receive cash payments to help offset virus-related expenses

Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas today announced a comprehensive set of steps to help customers, communities and employees manage the economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

“This is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response,” said Lynn Good, Duke Energy’s chairman, president and CEO. “We hope the customers and communities we are privileged to serve – and the outstanding Duke Energy employees who serve them – will take some comfort from these actions.”

More Help for Customers

The company will waive late payment fees and fees for returned payments for its millions of electric and natural gas customers across its service territories beginning Saturday March 21 until the national state of emergency is lifted. For residential customers, the company will also waive fees for credit and debit card payments.

Last week, Duke Energy said it would discontinue service disconnections for unpaid bills. That covers 7.8 million electric customers; plus, 1.8 million natural gas customers, many of whom are served by Piedmont Natural Gas.

“Our goal is to continue providing reliable service while helping our most vulnerable customers during this extraordinary time,” Good said.

Community Assistance

The company also announced $1.3 million in donations by The Duke Energy Foundation to support hunger relief and help local health and human services nonprofits across its service territories, including those providing meals to children and families impacted by school closures. Given the unprecedented nature of the situation, Duke Energy is giving nonprofits the flexibility to use the funds where most needed.

Relief for Employees

To aid in providing continued service to our customers through this event, Duke Energy will also expand assistance to employees, in order to maintain the highest level of service to customers. This is part of the company’s larger donation.

The company is providing five additional personal days off to employees who experience a disruption in dependent care due to school, daycare or other child-related care – as most all schools are not in session. Duke Energy will also provide a $1,500 stipend to assist with unplanned expenses resulting from costs related to COVID-19 issue.

As part of the company’s larger donation, for Duke Energy employees, the company is donating $100,000 to the Relief4Employees program, which is a fund that employees can draw on for short term financial help during times of personal need.

Continued service to customers

The company will continue to read meters in most areas and send bills. Customers should pay what they can to avoid building up large balances that will be more difficult to pay off later. 

Duke Energy power plants, electricity and natural gas delivery facilities and call centers, are staffed, ensuring dependable service to customers. The company will continue to respond to power outages and other emergencies.

Customers should download the company’s mobile app or visit duke-energy.com or piedmontng.com for information and most service transactions. Customers who are unable to self-serve can still contact the company:

• Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-777-9898
• Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356
• Duke Energy Florida: 1-800-700-8744
• Duke Energy Indiana: 1-800-521-2232
• Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky: 1-800-543-5599
• Piedmont Natural Gas: 1-800-752-7504

The Floyd County Health Department is announcing a pilot project to test for COVID-19 beginning Friday, March 20.

“We will be using a drive-thru format. Initially, the testing will be done in the parking lot of the Floyd County Health Department,” said Health Officer Dr. Thomas Harris. 

“This testing will only be done on prescreened patients. If you are currently
testing, please continue this practice. Our tests will be run by a non-governmental lab,” he said.

“The intent is to identify and test patients that do not require immediate hospitalization,” said Harris. 

The patients will be prescreened by their primary care provider or the Floyd County Health Department.

The patient will then be given an arrival time.

“We are not doing on-demand testing,” he said. “The prescreening process is essential to avoid delays and wasted, unnecessary tests.”

On arrival, the patient will have a copy of their government ID and insurance card (if available) made using an electronic device.

“We will ask them for contact numbers. A swab will be done of the nasopharynx,” said Harris. “We will notify the patient of the test results. We anticipate the testing process itself will take less than five minutes. The results may take several days to return.”

Harris would like to emphasize that this process will not test people who show up without prescreening.

“We will not initially be testing walk-ins. Our initial service hours start on the 20th will be 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. This testing plan is a project in evolution. We will update you on changes in hours, format, and testing procedures.”

If you have any questions, please contact the Floyd County Health Department at (812) 948-4726, ext. 656

Earlier today, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announces that Indiana’s schools would remain closed until May 1  

“Under the directive of Governor Holcomb with consultation from the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Education, ALL Indiana schools are closed for in-person instruction until May 1st,” Salem Community School Superintendent Jon Acton said in a news release.

“All state-mandated testing has been canceled for the year.  Salem Community Schools will extend our closure of all in-person instruction and utilize Remote Learning and Waiver/Non-Instructional days until May 1st.”

Acton said all athletics, extra-curricular activities, field or class trips are canceled during the closure.  

The Prom scheduled for May 2nd has been postponed until June 5th.  

The table below outlines our updated plans extending to May 1.

Action calls this the “We are Salem” Plan — 

“We will continue academic programming and begin food distribution on Monday, March 30th after Spring Break,” Acton said. “We can provide food service to any Salem Schools family with students and all siblings ages 18 and under who request meals. (We can provide food services to any student/family ages 18 and under, but we can only deliver
to those that reside in the Salem school district.)”

Acton said to request meals please fill out this form: https://bit.ly/scsmeals2. or call the Superintendent’s Office at (812) 883-4437.

Salem principals, teachers, and aides are working hard to continue education for all Salem School families, Acton said. 

Salem technology staff is working non-stop to ensure Remote Learning functions effectively and assist with technical questions.

Salem food services and transportation staff are working hard to provide food to as many
Salem families as possible.

‘Our custodial and maintenance staff are deep cleaning all facilities. We will continue our best efforts to serve our students, parents and community while also supporting the social distancing and health care guidelines set by our federal and state governments,” he said. 

Acton quoted the CMA singers David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney – “Everything’s gonna be alright!”

“Roar Lions! We’re all in this together,” said Acton.