Mental health advocates say that we should all be taking care of ourselves during this stressful time. Nicki Vreeland with Columbus Regional Health’s Healthy Communities mental health action team explains that it is important to take steps now to protect your mental health.

Vreeland suggests setting a regular schedule, eating healthy foods, and giving yourself grace for not having a perfect system right now.

You can hear more from Vreeland in her video posted by the Bartholomew County COVID-19 Task Force on our Facebook page.

Local Resources

Family Service Inc.:
812-266-0575, 9a-4p, 812-372-3745 to leave a message

Centerstone Crisis Line:
800-344-8802

National Suicide Hotline:
800-273-8255, text and social media options available

INDOT says that you will see delays on State Road 11 near Garden City next week, as crews put beams in place for the railroad overpass heading into downtown Columbus.

On Wednesday and Thursday you can expect intermittent closures will take place for up to 20 minutes at a time while the beams are set in place over State Road 11. Those closures are planned between noon and 8 in the evening each day, with a break from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Law enforcement will be on site to direct traffic and message boards will be in place to alert motorists.

Beams will be set over the railroad tracks earlier in the week, but no road closures will be necessary.

The new overpass is set to open late this year. In the coming months, you will see lane closures on the Third Street bridge in May, a full closure of State Road 11 in June and lane restrictions on State Road 46 this fall.

Milestone Contractors is the contractor for the $30 million interchange project.

Indiana now has 13,039 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 being reported, an increase of 612 cases since Wednesday’s total, The state has had 706 deaths as of this afternoon’s update, an increase of 45 deaths from the previous day, according to the state health department.

Bartholomew County has 163 confirmed cases, an increase of 17 cases since Wednesday. There have been 8 deaths so far from the coronavirus in Bartholomew County, an increase of one.

In other area counties, Decatur has 182 cases and has had 22 deaths. Jennings 67 cases and 1 death, Jackson 100 cases and no deaths, Brown 15 cases and 1 death, Johnson 478 cases and 43 deaths, and Shelby 145 cases and 6 deaths.

State expands drive-thru testing criteria

The Indiana State Department of Health is conducting drive-thru clinics at areas in need throughout the state.

To increase our testing of Hoosiers who are sick, starting tomorrow we are expanding who can be tested at our drive-thru clinics to include healthcare workers, first responders, or essential workers and someone in your household is symptomatic. If you are not a healthcare worker, first responder, or essential worker but you are at higher risk due to your age, weight, or underlying health conditions and are symptomatic, you also can visit a drive-thru clinic for testing.

One test per vehicle, Indiana residents only.

To get your results from a drive-thru test, if you were tested at an ISDH drive-thru site after April 13, you can visit https://eportal.isdh.in.gov/COVID. Enter the number you were given onsite to access your results.

Who needs a COVID-19 test?

Indiana State Department of Health says healthcare providers may order a test for any patient who needs one based on their clinical evaluation. ISDH will continue to focus on testing our highest-risk Hoosiers so that we can continue to quickly provide results needed to protect the most vulnerable residents.

Those individuals include:

• • Anyone who is admitted to the hospital whose physician is concerned that their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19.
• Symptomatic healthcare workers (inpatient, outpatient, nursing home, and other long-term service facilities) and first responders who provide direct care to at-risk patients.
• Symptomatic long-term care facility residents or staff who have direct contact with patients.
• Persons experiencing homelessness.
• Patients who expire with suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
• Patients and staff at correctional facilities
• Patients age 65 and older with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
• Patients with underlying health conditions with symptoms of COVID-19, including lung or heart disease, or who are immunocompromised, obese or pregnant women.

If you still have questions,  call the ISDH COVID-19 call center at 877-826-0011.

For additional information, visit https://coronavirus.in.gov.

Two motorcyclists were injured after a crash yesterday in eastern Bartholomew County.

The Hartsville Volunteer Fire Department is reporting that the crash happened at about 5:50 yesterday afternoon at the intersection of County Roads 200N and 1140E.

Bartholomew County deputies report that a group of cyclists were traveling on 200N road when 36-year-old Lee M. Watts, of Columbus tried to make a turn to head to Anderson Falls. The following motorcycle, driven by 34-year-old James B. Fox, struck the rear of Watts bike, throwing Fox off and onto the pavement.

Fox was flown by Lifeline helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment, although he was conscious and speaking to rescuers according to firefighters. His condition is not available.

Watts was checked for minor injuries at the scene and released.

Both riders were wearing helmets and protective leather racing jackets.

Hartsville volunteers and Bartholomew County deputies were assisted at the scene by  Columbus Regional Hospital paramedics.

Photo courtesy of Hartsville Volunteer Fire Department

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop released a video update to the community yesterday through the Bartholomew County COVID-19 Task Force, to update residents on what they could look forward to as the state and the city begin to reopen.

For example, requirements to wear a mask in public places, to frequently wash and to sanitize your hands and to maintain social distancing will likely be with us for some time.

The governor’s most recent stay-at-home executive order expires on May 1st.

Indiana State Police and other agencies are looking for a Commiskey man accused of murder in Ohio.

State police said that they are searching for 25-year-old Travis Edward Bailey of Commiskey. He was last seen on County Road 1000W and County Road 750N in northern Jefferson County, near Commiskey.

He is also known to frequent Switzerland County in Indiana as well as Milton, Kentucky.

If you see Travis Edward Bailey, you should not approach him. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

Instead you should immediately contact law enforcement. If you have any information about the whereabouts of Travis Edward Bailey, you can call the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post at (812) 689-5000, or the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department at (812)265-2648.

Indiana authorities are working with Cincinnati (Ohio) Police Department and the Ohio Valley Crime Suppression Task Force in the search.