The Floyd County Health Department has announced the need for closure of Barber Shops, Salons, Spas, Tattoo Parlors, and Nail Salons.

There is a high risk of transmission with these facilities.

The anticipated closure time is two weeks. However, this may change as circumstances change.

If any information is needed, please contact the Floyd County Health Department, 9812-948-4726, ext. 656.

The COVID-19 Hotline number is: 812-981-7610.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Indiana small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the
Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today.

SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental
Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Eric J. Holcomb on March 17, 2020.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of Indiana; and the contiguous counties of Clark, Cook, Crawford, Edgar, Gallatin, Iroquois, Kankakee, Lawrence,
Vermilion, Wabash, White and Will in Illinois; Boone, Breckinridge, Carroll, Daviess, Gallatin, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Trimble and Union in Kentucky; Berrien, Branch, Cass, Hillsdale and Saint Joseph in Michigan; and Butler, Darke, Defiance, Hamilton, Mercer, Paulding, Preble, Van Wert and Williams in Ohio.

“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist Indiana small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said Administrator Carranza.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to
help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza.

“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download
applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service
Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA
disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement
Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 18, 2020.

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

Hoosier Uplands mental health clinic in Bedford, Serenity Now Psychiatric and Counseling Service, is open and for the safety of our patients and staff, we are seeing patients via telemedicine at this time.

New patients are being accepted. The clinic accepts Medicaid,
Medicare, and almost all commercial insurances. For information or an appointment call 812-275-4053.

All services provided by Hoosier Uplands are provided without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

Also puts out a call for volunteers under age 60; some food pantries closing due to lack of volunteers 

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today called on Hoosiers to help keep the state’s network of food pantries open. FSSA is tracking the number of food pantries operating across the state as part of the state’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Now is the time for us as Hoosiers to double down on our best quality — serving each other,” said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., FSSA Secretary. “Food pantries are critical harbors of hope in many local communities, and with them facing difficulties operating and possibly reducing the food supply to our neighbors in need, it’s time to sound a loud call for help across the state.”  

Many food pantries are supported by a volunteer workforce, with many volunteers over the age of 60. Understandably and thankfully, many of those older Hoosiers and others with health challenges are choosing to stay home to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19. Sullivan urged anyone who not in a vulnerable population or demographic to answer to call to help at a local food pantry.  Hoosiers can call 2-1-1 and ask for a list of nearby food pantries.

Anyone having trouble obtaining enough food for themselves or their families should call 2-1-1 for help. Those in Marion County can also use the Community Compass app on a smartphone.

For more information about the Washington County Food Bank, you can call them at 812.883.2655. 

To find a food pantry near you, check out https://www.foodpantries.org/

Sunday morning, just after midnight, Senior Trooper Anthony Potesta was patrolling I-80/94 near Broadway. 

A black Dodge Challenger passed the officer at an extremely high rate of speed. Trooper Potesta was able to catch up to the Challenger and checked the vehicle’s speed at 145 m.p.h. 

The speed limit on I-80/94 is posted 55 mph. 

A traffic stop was initiated on the Dodge near Ripley St. Further investigation leads the trooper to believe that the driver was impaired. 

The driver voluntarily performed field sobriety tests and submitted to a certified breath test. That certified test showed his blood alcohol content (B.A.C.) to be .13%. The legal limit in Indiana is .08% B.A.C.

The driver was then taken into custody and transported to the Lake County Jail.

Arrested was Damien L. Holmes, 29, of Gary, IN. Mr. Holmes was charged with O.W.I. – Class A Misdemeanor and Reckless Driving – Class B Misdemeanor.

Assisting at the scene was Waffco Towing.

Indiana’s Fifth Covid-19 death came this morning with the passing of a patient in their 50s from Scott County.

The Scott County health department received documentation this morning that the county has its first death due to coronavirus. 

The patient was in their 50s and had a pre-existing condition. They have been self-quarantining at their residence where they passed early this morning, the health department said.

According to the SCHD’s Facebook page, the person that was diagnosed on Friday, March 20th with Coronavirus in Scott County.

“We have provided as much information about the patient and their risk to the community as we can, without violating their privacy. Please be respectful of their family during this difficult time,” noted the post. 

In the future, if a case poses a risk to the community, the SCHD will make a public notice of those events and gatherings to keep the community informed.

There were conflicting reports that a 2nd person was confirmed to have had Covid-19 in Scott County but that person was a resident of Washington County, despite having a Scott County address.

“We send condolences to the family and friends of the one who passed. This is a stark reminder of the severity of this disease. We as a community must listen to the guidance of the experts and practice all the ways to not spread this disease including social distancing. We all must protect those who are most vulnerable,” Scott Co. health officer, Dr. R. Kevin Rogers said.

The Indiana State Department of Health reported 76 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday. The state’s total number of cases is now at least 201 positive cases.