More than 200 police agencies around Indiana will be out in force to make sure kids are getting to school safely this fall. Governor Eric Holcomb announced the return of Indiana’s Stop Arm Violation Enforcement program on Monday saying police will be participating in overtime patrols to make sure that drivers stop for school buses when they are stopped with the arm extended. Last year more than 2,600 stop arm violations were reported in a single day by bus drivers.
The State Road 11 interchange at I-65 at exit 55 will be shut down starting on or after August 10th for a reconstruction project. All entrance and exit ramps and the state road overpass will be closed to traffic while existing ramps are removed and the area is reconfigured to a “dog bone” interchange. The new interchange will feature two single lane roundabouts with interior truck aprons on either side of the overpass, resembling a dog bone from above. The official detour for the closure will follow state road 46 in Columbus to U.S 31 to US 50 in Seymour. The interchange is expected to reopen in November.
A Franklin man was arrested Sunday morning by Columbus police officers after he was accused of crashing into another vehicle and was seen driving the wrong way on U.S. 31. CPD officers were dispatched around 3:30 AM morning responding to the crash report in the 3100 block of US 31. Witnesses to the incident reported that a 2011 Chevy Passenger van driven by Levi Griffith of Franklin was seen driving southbound in the northbound lanes of US 31 before the crash occurred. Two occupants in the other vehicle were transported to Columbus Regional Hospital with minor injuries. Responding officers conducted field sobriety tests to Griffith who blew a breath sample nearly three times the legal limit. Griffith was transported to Columbus regional for medical clearance and a blood draw as part of the investigation. After the blood draw was complete Griffith was placed under arrest and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he was held on preliminary charges of two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
Former Indiana Governor and Vice President Mike Pence admits this is a tough time for the country right now as Coronavirus cases surge again. Pence told a crowd in Pennsylvania the Trump Administration will continue putting every federal government resource forward to solve the problem. Pence expressed sympathies to those who have lost someone close to them due to the Coronavirus. His comments come as the virus has now killed more than 150-thousand Americans. Total cases are approaching four-point-five million.
Vice President Mike Pence says the Trump Administration will spare no expense to fight the Coronavirus. Pence is hopeful as vaccine development progresses.
The City of Columbus’s transit system was recently awarded a $140,000 grant as part of the CARES Act. The funds will go towards operating expenses, including Covid-19 related purchases for both the Call a Bus para-transit system and the COLUMBUS bus system.
The first student day for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation has been delayed until August 10th. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts said that his recommendation is to make up 2 missed student days- August 6th and 7th- during fall break on October 5th and 6th. The board will vote on this recommendation on August 10th.
An Edinburgh girl took top honors at a national competition for the visually impaired. Emma Stamper took first place in the Apprentice category as the top Braille Reader and writer among first and second graders at the 2020 Braille Challenge Finals. She also won the competitions excellence in spelling award.
Nearly 21,000 Hoosiers filed for unemployment last week, according to the United States Department of Labor. That’s up almost 3,000 from the week before. About 930,000 Hoosiers have filed for unemployment since mid-March. The number of unemployment claims in Indiana have been in the 20-thousands since early May.
IU Health is concerned about a possible coronavirus surge that could be traced to fans attending the Indianapolis 500.
Because of that concern, the organization is urging the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to run the race without fans if they are still planning to run the race in August. In a statement, IU Health says “until we sustain better control of this virus and its spread, we strongly encourage IMS to consider an alternative to running the Indy 500 with fans.”
IMS has already scaled back attendance for the race to 25-percent and is requiring masks be worn by everyone planning to attend the race. The track saying IU Health’s stance is “inaccurate and premature.”
We are hearing more and more stories about people receiving strange packages in the mail from China.
Many Hoosiers say they have gotten packages of seeds, which state conservation experts are urging you not plant because the seeds could contain some sort of invasive species of plant.
State and federal authorities will work together to identify and dispose of the seeds and all related materials.
If you’ve received a packet of unsolicited seeds, you should:
– Keep the seeds and packaging, including the mailing label.
– Place all contents in a zip-top bag.
– Place the bag in an envelope or box and mail to:
State Plant Health Director
Nick Johnson
OR If you can’t mail the items, do not throw them away or burn them! Keep the seeds, packaging and mailing label and contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology at 866-663-9684 or DEPP@dnr.IN.gov.