Walmart today announced it expects to spend an estimated  $24 million over the next year in Indiana through the remodeling of seven stores as well as the rollout of several in-store and online innovations designed to help busy customers save time and money. 

The Seymour and Linton stores will be among those remodeled this year. 

The spend is part of Walmart’s total capital expenditures guidance of approximately $11.0 billion for Fiscal Year 2019, which was outlined last October at the company’s annual meeting for the investment community and reiterated in February 2018. 

Walmart recently reported strong comp sales growth of 2.1% for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2018, indicating customers are responding well to the company’s business strategy. The plan is to continue improving stores and accelerating innovation during the coming year to make shopping faster and easier for Hoosier customers.

“Walmart has a tremendous impact in Indiana communities, employing more than 40,000 associates in Indiana locations and donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hoosier charities, said Rodney Walker, Regional General Manager for Walmart. “In the next year, Walmart will continue to innovate and improve the shopping experience for Hoosier shoppers, through remodeled stores and bringing game-changing technology to better serve our customers.”

2018 Walmart Remodels in Indiana

Walmart plans to remodel stores in the following locations this year:

• 2251 E. State Highway 54., Linton
• 2347 Veterans Memorial Parkway., S. Lafayette
• 1750 Indianapolis Rd., Greencastle
• 1920 E. Markland Ave., Kokomo
• 1600 E. Tipton St., Seymour
• 400 W. Northfield Dr., Brownsburg
• 100 Sycamore Estates Dr., Aurora

2018 Walmart In-store and Online Innovations in Indiana

Walmart continues to innovate how it serves customers, helping them save time and money by creating a seamless shopping experience that empowers customers to shop when, where and how they want.

In addition to continuing to test new technologies that transform how customers shop, Walmart plans to expand several innovative services that deliver greater convenience and faster services, including:

• Hoosier customers can order Walmart groceries online and pick them up without ever having to unbuckle their seatbelts. The service is free and prices through Walmart Online Grocery are the same as in-store.
• Walmart currently offers Grocery Pickup at more than 20 locations in Indiana and plans to roll-out almost 30 more new Grocery Pickup locations at Indiana stores in 2018.
• Walmart Online Grocery Pickup—How it works.

• Walmart offers Mobile Express Scan & Go in select markets, which allows customers to scan items with their mobile devices while shopping in store, pay instantly and skip the checkout line. Customers can download the Walmart Scan & Go app from iTunes or the Google Play store.
• Mobile Express Scan & Go is currently offered at all Indiana Sam’s Clubs and one supercenter in Terre Haute. Walmart will continue evaluating opportunities to expand the service to more local customers in the coming year.
• Walmart Mobile Express Scan & Go video here: https://youtu.be/NHzfhDDRgME

• Much like a high-tech vending machine, the Walmart Pickup Tower allows customers to pick up their online orders in less than a minute by scanning a bar code sent to their smartphone. To use the tower, customers simply choose from millions of items available on Walmart.com and select the Pickup option at checkout.
• Pickup Tower service is currently available at three Indiana Walmart stores in Terre Haute, Aurora and Warsaw.  Walmart will continue evaluating opportunities expand the Pickup Tower service to Hoosier customers in the coming year.
• Walmart Pickup Tower video here:  https://youtu.be/X4c951tg9TM

The Salem School Board approved all-day pre-school at Bradie M. Shrum to begin this fall in a partnership with the Washington County Family YMCA. 

The cost will be $100 per week for students attending the all-day pre-school Monday – Friday. 

The cost for 1/2 day pre-school three days per week will be $87 per month.

There will be $20,000 plus available to subsidize the program for families who meet the YMCA’s financial guidelines. 

The YMCA will provide supplies and pay the salaries of the teachers. Salem Schools will allow the use of three classrooms in the safe room area and and provide transportation on their current bus system. 

Those children under 5 will need to be secured in a 3-point harness, which according to YMCA Director Kristy Purleee, they would either supply or write a grant to help provide these. 

The board was addressed by YMCA Board Vice President Jason Wade, Purlee and Pre-School Director Robin Deaton. 

Wade said he had been a Principal and taught grades K-2 and believes in the benefits of pre-school education. 

“If you look at children coming into school and coming into Kindergarten, if a child is behind their peers 1-2 years going into school, data shows that if they don’t catch up by third grade, they will never catch up,” Wade said. “The odds of that child graduating from high school is very very slim.”

He said the only other Hoosier Upland’s Head Start is the only licensed and qualified pre-school program in Washington County. 

“We’ve maxed our capacity on being able to reach the children of Washington County,” said Wade. “Sixty-eight percent of the children right now in Washington County need a preschool program. They spend the day in the summers watching television and have not had the opportunity to interact in a school based setting. That’s no fault of the parents, who are at work providing for their families.”

Bradie Shrum Principal Brent Minton said he hopes the program will help students who are not currently getting exposure to pre-school education. 

“Parents can’t afford to send them. We hope to reach those students and get them here,” said Minton. “We have students coming in who are well behind their peers. And that’s because they are not attending a pre-school program. We hope to bring those students up to par to where they are with their peers when they enter kindergarten.”

Minton said approximately 20 percent of students entering Kindergarten are behind those who had attended some form of pre-school. 

The students will transition into kindergarten at Bradie Shrum. 

The boarded voted 5-0 to adopt this program. 

OTHER BOARD BUSINESS

The board approved the following:

• Claims to date
• Approval of personnel and extra curricular staff
  • Hired Savannah Hartsfield, assistant varsity cheer coach
  • Hired Rachel Huffaker, varsity cheer coach
  • Hired Jessica Batt, volunteer assistant soccer coach
  • Hired David Wells, volunteer assistant track coach
  • Jeffery Burch, volunteer assistant baseball coach
  • Jason Pepmeier, volunteer assistant baseball coach
  • Stephanie Chumbley and Michelle Medlock, maternity leave
• Approval of a donation to Bradie Shrum for $51 from an anonymous donor to be used for the 5th grade Chicago trip.
• Approval of a donation to Bradie Shrum from Donors Choose Organization for Mrs. Bower’s classroom. Her project is Exploring “Engineering with STEM Bins”.
• Approval of an overnight and out of state field tripi to Morehead State University for the SHS Volleyball team on June 11-13 with Straton Thomas and Megan Napier. 
• Roar awards were presented to Loralee Potter and Sidney Smith
  • Jennifer Martin said Loralee, a senior at SHS was recently selected by academic all stars through the Indianapolis Star. “I’ve been doing this for a few years and she’s the first student we’ve had to advance to the finals. Mr Albert has been a principal for 30 years and it’s only his 2nd or third student that has made it. It’s quite an accomplishment that SHS.” Martin said they would be going to a luncheon in June. Board VP Ron Haendiges said the board was “very proud of her accomplishments.” Loralee’s mother, Dawn Potter was there to accept the award.
  • Sidney Smith was among 50 out of 225 students who were chosen to go to the med campus at IUPUI to do some research with cancer doctors. “To be one of those few select students, someone from SHS…she was very excited about that,” said Martin. Board President Becky White said “We’re very proud. You can see our students are doing great things.”

During a general comments period, Diana Campbell asked the board if there were too many in the room and if it violated fire codes. 

More than 80 from the community had gathered in the normal board room to talk about planned improvements to the school. 

White asked that they proceed with the next action item, which was to approve a project with the Girl Scouts so several of the members could attend a choir concert that was starting soon. 

Girls Scouts of Troop 249 were present to ask the board about completing their 50 hours of volunteer service to get their Silver Award by creating a KINDER Garden at the elementary school. 

Abby Boling, Madison Heckman, Emilee Brown and Madison Sapcut addressed the board. 

“In order to achieve the silver award, we must put in 50 hours of community service. We chose to pursue this volunteering activity due to our ties with the elementary school and our yearning to assist our community.”

The girls want to help with the creation of the garden by adding butterfly and bird houses. 

The board initially approved the project, adjourned the meeting and moved to the Safe Room. Once there, they re-opened the meeting and voted 5-0 to approve the girls’ projects.

In other Action Items:

• Approved a plan to issue Work Ethic certificates to the Class of 2019.
• Approval for Karen Libka to purchase additional tables and chairs for the high school cafe. Funds would come from the food service budget. 
• Approval for an overnight stay at Bradie Shrum for Mrs. Mikels and Mrs. Johnson’s class on May 18. 
• Approval of the 2018/19 school calendar
• Approval of a retirement incentive program for this year. 
  • Those teachers who are near retirement will be offered a one time payment of $25,000 to take the early retirement. This was first offered last year. 
  • Approval for a SMS graduation coach to be posted internally.
    • Because Ivy Tech cut their budget, they will no longer fund this position at Salem High School. ROI of Bloomington offered $20,000 to fund a local position and Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed said she would like to post the position internally for someone at the middle school which needs another counselor. 
  • Approved Mainstream to provide high speed internet service at the schools. They were the low bidder of $2175 per month. Dr. Reed said E-rate pays 80 percent of the cost, so the final cost to the schools would be $435 per month. 
  • Approval of additional appropriations from the rainy day fund and the transportation fund. 
    • Assistant Superintendent Kim Thurston said the Transportation fund had a balance of $241,488  and the rainy day fund had a balance of $60,868. He asked the board for additional appropriate of $100,000 from the transportation account and $60,000 from the rainy day fund. The money would be used to supplement retirement benefits employees have taken. “Can’t spend the cash unless we take an appropriation,” said Thurston. The transportation funds would be used for the surcharge for diesel fuel that went into affect on July 1, which amounted to 35 cents per gallon. “It hit us pretty hard,” said Thurston. “We’re asking for $100,000 additional appropriation of the 241,488 of the surplus funds to be a buffer to offset some of that increase with the fuel tax increase.” The board approved allowing the process to be advertised. 

After nearly four hours of listening to members of the community discuss a project to renovate the Salem Middle School swimming pool and provide a safety upgrade to the same school, the board let a motion die to approve a resolution to move forward with issuing bonds for $4.3 million. 

After a 1028 hearing that lasted about three hours, with more than 80 community members coming to question the board’s projects and some to learn what the projects were about. 

There were three resolutions to adopt by the board. The first was a 1028 resolution to move forward with $4.3 million in project costs which would add about 3.5 cents to the current tax rate. 

Board President Becky White asked for a motion to pass the resolution. No motion was made and the action died. 

The Board then heard that Elementary Principal Brent Minton who wrote and received a $18,560 grant from Duke Energy for a reading program at Bradie M. Shrum Elementary school. 

“As you know March 21 we had snow and had to call off school,” said Superintendent Dr. Lynn Reed. “We will have an e-learning day on Saturday, April 21.” 

She said staff would be at the schools with computer labs open for those who needed to come in and use them. She said transportation would be considered. 

With no further business, White adjourned the meeting.  Steve Motsinger made a motion to adjourn with Monika Spaulding providing a second. 

The next meeting will be Monday, May 14. 

(The rest of the school board meeting will be reported on Tuesday)

A Monroe County man was arrested in California late last night after arrest warrants were issued related to a death investigation and fire on February 10 near Bloomington on Handy Road. 

That investigation found Lerae Bush, age 85 deceased inside her residence.

Noel Montes Cazares, AKA “Giovanni Bush”, 49, was arrested Thursday for Arson, Murder, Neglect of a Dependent and Obstruction of Justice.

On February 10th of this year, rescue crews and investigators were called to 5601 Handy Road by a neighbor at approximately 11:29 a.m. Upon their arrival, Perry-Clear Creek Fire Protection District found a structure that was fully engulfed in flames. Investigators also found a man who identified himself as Giovanni Bush outside the structure. Bush told investigators his mother was deceased inside the structure and that he had been unsuccessful in trying to remove her. He was then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal, a division of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, was then called to the scene along with Indiana State Police Detectives. The Monroe County Fire Investigation Task Force assisted as well.

Investigators located documents at the scene belonging to Noel Montes Cazares along with a photo that possibly appeared to be the same as Giovanni Bush, leading investigators to question his true identity. The suspect indicated the deceased female was his mother, although investigators could find no records to confirm their relationship.

Family members later told detectives that to their knowledge, Lerae Bush never had children.

Subsequent investigation determined Lerae Bush suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and was dependent on Noel Montes Cazares for food, transportation and clothing. Detectives found no source of employment for Cazares and the residence in which she died had no functioning utilities.

Neighbors told detectives they were surprised anyone lived in the structure.

The investigation later revealed a trust agreement in the name of Lerae Bush with one beneficiary, which had been removed and replaced with the name of Giovanni Bush.

Due to conflicting statements delivered by Cazares, witness information and evidence at the scene, an arrest warrant was issued yesterday afternoon in Monroe County. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California later arrested Cazares without incident.

Indiana State Police detectives now begin the process of extradition.

The investigation is ongoing by the Indiana Fire Marshal’s Office and the Indiana State Police. Additional charges could follow.

Due to the low light conditions on Thursday evening, Indiana Conservation Officers have suspended the search for Keygan Matlock. 

The search will resume Friday at 8:00 a.m. 

Indiana Conservation Officers and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office are currently searching for a missing Columbus man.

Matlock, 26, of Columbus, last had communication with friends and family yesterday morning at approximately 10:30 a.m.  During these conversations, Matlock spoke of kayaking the Driftwood or Flatrock Rivers near Columbus. 

Authorities were contacted early this morning when he failed to return home.  His kayak is also missing from the home.

Indiana Conservation Officers are requesting the public’s assistance with any information leading to the whereabouts of Matlock.  Matlock is 5’8’ tall and weighs 180 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last known to be in the Tannehill Trailer Park area and is believed to be wearing a bright yellow coat with a black and yellow stocking cap.  He could also be with a blue/black/yellow kayak.

If you have any information, please contact Indiana Conservation Officer Dispatch at 812-837-9536.

Indiana Conservation Officers are being assisted in the search by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police.

Mrs. Betty Jo Jones, 63, of Freetown, passed away on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in Hazard, KY on February 17, 1955 to the late Henry Clay and Goldie M. (Thompson) Barrett.

Funeral services will be at Voss & Sons Funeral Service on Saturday 1 pm with Rev. Brien Stout officiating. Burial will follow at Smallwood Cemetery.

Family and friends may call at Voss & Sons Funeral Service on Friday from 4-8 pm and on Saturday after 11 am until time of service.

On November 9, 2001, in Brownstown, she married Tony Dale Jones, he survives. She had previously worked at Exopack where she met her husband. In her later years, she enjoyed being a homemaker and wife. She loved family get-togethers, dancing, listening to music and playing cards. She loved cooking for her family.

She is survived by her husband; children, Harold L. Reedy, Bruce L. Reedy, Angela L. Sizemore, Toni Sue Jones and Jessica (Shane) Wingler; 8 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; brother, Ernest Clay; sisters, Martha McArthur, Lois Morris and Brenda Clay; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; grandson, James T. Reedy; brothers, James Edward Clay, Asbury “Buddy” Clay and Greene “Bill” Clay; and sister, Nancy Clay Turner.

Memorials may be written to American Cancer Society/Research or Charity of Choice, in care of Voss & Sons Funeral Service.

Online condolences may be given on the funeral home website at www.vossfuneralservice.com