State passes 4,400 positive test results

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 4,411 positive test results for COVID-19 in the state and 127 deaths as of its Sunday morning update. There have been 22,652 tests reported to the health department.

Bartholomew County has 54 positive test results, with 80 in Decatur, 35 in Jennings, 36 in Jackson, 5 in Brown, 167 in Johnson and 37 in Shelby counties.

Johnson County has had 6 deaths from the virus and 4 deaths have been reported of Decatur County residents.

Marion County has the highest numbers in the state with 1,760 confirmed cases and 37 deaths.

Local counties declare travel advisories

All area counties except Johnson County have declared travel advisories as of Sunday morning.

Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Jennings and Shebly counties are all under a travel watch or “orange” travel advisory. That means conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. Only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended. Emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools, government agencies and other organizations.

Decatur County is under a travel warning or “red” travel advisory. That is the highest level of local travel advisory. You should refrain from all travel, comply with necessary emergency measures, cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executive emergency operations plans and obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Violation of an emergency order can be charged as a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

For more information, go to www.in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory/

Columbus parks outline new restrictions

The City of Columbus, following guidance from the Indiana Governor’s office and the Indiana Department of Health, and in support of the community strategy to mitigate and slow the spread of the virus, will close the following facilities to the public:

• The Commons
• Donner Center
• Columbus Gymnastics Center
• Park Operations Service Center
• Jolie Crider Memorial Skatepark
• Tennis Courts – Lincoln Park, Donner Park, Harrison Ridge
• Pickleball Courts – Donner Park, Richards
• Sports Fields – Soccer fields, Baseball and Softball diamonds
• All Park Playgrounds & Restrooms

Park green spaces are open however; the following amenities are unavailable at this time:

• Basketball rims have been removed
• Picnic tables have been removed from shelters
• Volleyball nets have been removed
• Soccer, baseball and softball fields
• Handball courts

These facilities will reopen Friday, May 1. If you or your child are signed up for a Parks and Recreation program that occurs during this time, you will receive a separate communication from a Parks staff member. Greenbelt and Rocky Ford Par 3 Golf Courses  are open with modifications to the way we run the program. The clubhouses are closed, therefore please call (812) 376-2684 for additional information on these modifications which are in place through April 7.

Click here for Greenbelt modifications, including hours of operation.

Click here for Par 3 modifications including hours of operation.

We encourage the public to call or email Park staff to conduct business. For more information or to register for future activities, visit columbusparksandrec.com.

North Vernon parks close facilities

North Vernon released this advisory on Friday:

Due to the continued spread of COVID-19 all playgrounds, shelter houses, restrooms, baseball/softball fields are closed for public use. This does include workout equipment at Tripton Park, the skatepark, r.c. track, tennis courts and any other areas that have been caution taped off or locked.
Amenities that are still open at this time for public use:

Horse Shoe Pit – City Park
Batting Cage – City Park
Walking, Running and Biking – City Park
Disc Golf – Tripton Park
Corn Hole _ Tripton Park
Bocce Ball -Tripton Park
Walking, Running and Biking– Tripton Park
Walking, Running, Biking – Muscatatuck Trail

Please remember to use social distancing while using the amenities that are open.

Update: The story has been updated with corrected audio clips

Cummins announced this morning that it is shutting down all southern Indiana manufacturing plants starting next week and lasting through at least May 4th.

Company spokesman Jon Mills explains that the plants will be shuttered on  a staggered schedule starting later in the week:

Mills said that employees will all continue to receive benefits while off work, although they will not be paid.

The decision is due to the continued instability caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and the drop in demand for products during the downturn. Should that situation change, the plants could re-open. For example, Mills said that if Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles were to reopen as originally planned in mid-April, Cummins Mid-Range Engine Plant would reopen to support them.

This comes on the heels of announcements earlier in the week in pay cuts for hourly office workers and salaried employees.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday afternoon that he has extended the public health emergency declaration for the state for another 30 days, keeping the state on an emergency footing until May 3rd.

He said that on Monday, he will extend the “hunker down” or stay-at-home executive order for two more weeks. That would continue the restrictions through April 20th.

The governor said that a two-week extension allows the state to be more nimble than extending the order a full month at a time, allowing more precise changes to the details of the order.

The governor in his daily briefing also said that the federal government had approved a disaster declaration for the state of Indiana in all 92 counties.

State releases COVID-19 infection numbers

Indiana hit a grim new milestone with the number of deaths in the state from COVID-19 passing a hundred.

The new death total of 102 also now surpasses the number of deaths from the seasonal flu recorded in Indiana from October through early March. The state recorded 101 deaths during the flu season.

The Indiana State Department of Health is reporting 3,437 positive test results for COVID-19 in the state in its Friday morning update. There have been 16,900 tests reported to the health department.

Bartholomew County has 23 positive test results, with 70 in Decatur, 31 in Jennings, 25 in Jackson, 3 in Brown, 136 in Johnson and 26 in Shelby counties.

Marion County has the highest number in the state with 1,429 confirmed cases.

SNAP benefits increasing to max levels

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced today that more than 152,000 Indiana households will receive additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits when April distributions begin this Sunday.

The additional funds are intended to help Hoosiers obtain food and support for their families while Indiana responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives states the option to provide SNAP households with the maximum SNAP allotment, which is based on household size.

SNAP households which are not currently receiving the maximum allotment will receive additional benefits which bring their allotment amount to the maximum. Households already receiving the maximum benefit will not receive additional benefits.

Maximum amounts per household size are as follows:

Each additional person Add $146

Indiana SNAP recipients receive their benefits via electronic benefit transfer according to a schedule based on the first letter of their last name. Each month, distribution starts on the 5th and concludes on the 23rd.

All new applications authorized in April will also receive the maximum allotment for their household size. FSSA is working to inform various partners and stakeholders, including retailers, of the change to help them inform and explain to SNAP recipients the reason for the additional allotment.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to low and no income people and families living in the United States. It is a federal aid program administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Distribution of benefits occurs at the state level. In February 2020, 559,600 Hoosiers from approximately 253,658 households across Indiana received SNAP benefits.

Updated: This story has been updated

Cummins announced this morning that it will be cutting pay and hours for its employees in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company says it will be cutting pay and hours between 10 and 25 percent for salaried and office employees in the United States. There will also be a reduction of 50 percent in the salary of the CEO and 25 percent directors compensation.

Jon Mills, spokesman for the company, explains:

In essence, the company is reducing pay but also reducing the hours employees are being asked to work by a commensurate amount, Mills said.

Mills says that the announced cuts will not affect factory workers, but they are also facing cuts of their own as demand decreases:

Columbus area workers at the mid-range engine plant have been off with pay for two weeks while Fiat-Chrysler is shut down.

The company said the move is in response to lower demand and customer shutdowns in several countries. The company will be taking similar actions outside the United States based on local regulations and collective bargaining obligations.

Company officials said the pay cuts are meant to be temporary.

The full announcement:

Today, Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) provided an update on the actions it is taking in response to the impact of COVID-19.

“The impact from the pandemic on the global economy has been sudden and is growing, and it is imperative for us to respond quickly to maintain our strong financial position,” said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc.

In response to lower demand and customer shutdowns in several countries, the company is taking the following temporary actions to lower costs:

• A reduction of 50 percent in the salary of the CEO
• A reduction of 25 percent in Director compensation
• A reduction in salary for all other employees in the United States of between 10 and 25 percent and a reduction in working hours

The company will take similar actions outside the United States based on local regulations and collective bargaining obligations. These reductions in pay are intended to be a temporary measure; the company will continue to monitor business conditions closely and reassess the program at the end of the second quarter.

“These are difficult but necessary actions and I know they will have a real impact on the lives of our employees and their families,” added Linebarger. “I appreciate their understanding and support as we work through these challenging times together. I want to thank our employees for their continued commitment to ensuring our customers receive the products and service they need to provide essential support to the global economy.”

Indiana students will be out of the classroom through the end of the school year.

Gov. Eric Holcomb and state Schools Superintendent Jennifer McCormick announced Thursday afternoon that that all K-12 schools in Indiana will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, and all school districts will resort to distance learning.

The governor’s order also allows graduation of students who meet guidelines including all of the course requirements based on a combination of credits earned prior to March 19th, when the governor closed the schools, and the courses in which a student was enrolled as of that date; Also, students must complete any virtual or remote learning participation requirements from the school district, and any other school district requirements.

Dr. Jim Roberts, superintendent for Bartholomew Consolidated Schools issued a statement Thursday night confirming that BCSC is closed from now through the scheduled last day of school May 28th. That includes all school-related activities or other uses of school facilities.

Roberts said graduation will not be conducted in the traditional sense, but the district is committed to finding a special way to formally recognize each one of the graduates. He said the district is sorry that seniors will not experience the last quarter of their 13 years of school in the way that was anticipated.

Roberts said the district will continue to have eLearning days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with Mondays and Fridays used for staff to prepare their lessons and to make assessments. He said meals will continue to be distributed Mondays through Fridays.

To read Roberts entire letter to BCSC, click here.