A Plymouth, Indiana, native is serving aboard USS Pennsylvania, one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered submarines.

Chief Petty Officer Kyle Borkholder joined the Navy 10 years ago. Today, Borkholder serves as a missile technician.

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police and Hoosier Ag Today want to remind all citizens of farming season. They want to encourage motorists to slow down and be patient as motorists will start to see more of the large, slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana’s rural roads and highways.

In Indiana, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment, which resulted in two deaths.

While the term “farm equipment” encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds less than 25 mph.

Some safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:

• Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
• Be patient. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
• Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
• Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensuring that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over to allow a pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
• Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
• Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler wants to remind motorists that farmers work hard to ensure they are being as safe as possible.

“Hoosier farmers are trying to get to their fields safely and quickly, just like our Hoosier motorists are trying to get to work safely and quickly,” said Kettler. “I want to encourage motorists to be aware during this spring season and know that encountering farm equipment is likely and to slow down when approaching.”

For a list of safety tips, click here or visit isda.in.gov. The following organizations will be working together to share this important safety message during planting season: Hoosier Ag Today, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation and Indiana State Police.

Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan is reminding Hoosiers that today, Thursday, April 21, is the final day for a circuit court clerk to receive an absentee ballot application from an applicant requesting delivery of an absentee ballot by mail.

The application to request a mail-in ballot must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., 12 days before the election. Applications may be submitted to the circuit court clerk in person or by mail, fax, email, or online through the Indiana Voter Portal at IndianaVoters.com.

New this year, Hoosiers with print disabilities can visit IndianaVoters.com to request a ballot that allows the use of personal assistive technology devices to vote. 

The BBB announcde its 2022 Student of Integrity scholarship recipients.

Students of Integrity scholarships are bestowed upon high school and college students who embody the BBB’s Standards for Trust: character, judgement and ethics. Each student will receive a $2,000 scholarship to the school of their choice. 

To date, BBB Serving Northern Indiana and its partners have awarded more than $135,000. 

Allison Burns is the Brotherhood Mutual 2021 Student of Integrity, awarded to a high school or college student attending a private, Christian college in Indiana. Burns will graduate from North Miami High School and will be a freshman at Huntington University. She participates in Future Farmers of America, Student Council, National Honor Society and she is a member of the dance team.

The BBB plans to celebrate each scholarship individual at a private reception for students, families, sponsors and school representatives on May 17 at the Junior Achievement Center in Fort Wayne. 

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced today that Hoosiers should expect to begin receiving their promised $125 Automatic Taxpayer Refund in the coming weeks, resulting in a 12 percent cut in the average Hoosier’s annual income tax liability.

“I’m beyond thrilled that this spring and summer we are returning money back into the hands of Hoosier taxpayers, where it belongs,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Our conservative fiscal leadership and pro-growth policies makes this tax refund possible for all Hoosier households.”

The Governor first announced in December that an estimated 4.3 million taxpayers will receive a $125 refund after they file their 2021 taxes. An estimated $545 million will be returned to Hoosiers. After the tax-filing deadline passes on April 18, the Department of Revenue in conjunction with the Auditor of State’s Office will begin issuing the refunds via direct deposit or by mailing a paper check.

Refunds will begin in May through direct deposit for residents who have filed their income taxes and provided their banking information on their return. Direct deposits are expected to continue through July.

Paper checks will be issued beginning in late July and continue through August, with the goal of completing the refund statewide by Sept. 1.

Residents do not need to take any action to receive the refund. The refund is in addition to and separate from any refund Hoosiers may receive after filing their 2021 state income tax returns.

Hoosiers can visit the Department of Revenue website for information about when to expect to receive the direct deposit or paper check.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to provide financial assistance for individuals who incurred COVID-19 related funeral expenses for loved ones.

Since launching the program on April 1, 2021, FEMA has provided more than $2.1 billion in COVID-19 funeral assistance to eligible applicants across the country, but assistance is still available for those who qualify.

"This program was created to address the unique financial challenges faced by our nation caused by the pandemic that has taken the lives of nearly a million loved ones, friends and neighbors across the country,” said Thomas C. Sivak, FEMA Region 5 administrator. “While we cannot bring those people back, this financial assistance can help ease the burden of their final arrangements.”

Eligible applicants may qualify for up to $9,000 for each deceased individual per application, with a maximum of $35,000 for families who may have multiple funeral expenses due to COVID-19. Since the assistance began on April 12, 2021, the average amount of assistance awarded is $6,500.

Applicants may apply by calling 844-684-6333 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday. Multilingual services are available. Please note, phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number. Applicants who use a relay service, such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, should provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to them for that service so that agency representatives are able to contact them.

Additional information about COVID-19 funeral assistance, including frequently asked questions, is available on FEMA.gov.

Hoosiers wanting to quit tobacco use can now get free nicotine gum, patches or lozenges. In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Tips from Former Smokers (Tips) campaign, Quit Now Indiana is offering this promotion while supplies last.

The Tips campaign is the nation’s first federally funded national tobacco education campaign. Tips has had significant and sustained impact over the past decade, helping more than 1 million U.S. adults quit smoking and inspiring millions more to try to quit.

“The powerful stories shared in CDC’s Tips campaign, coupled with free evidence-based support services, have proven successful in helping adults quit smoking,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “Quit Now Indiana and the Indiana Department of Health are committed to providing Indiana residents the tools they need to prevent smoking-related diseases and disabilities.”

The Quit Now Indiana promotion is available to individuals who enroll in one of Quit Now Indiana’s services, such as phone counseling or Pick Quit, a new individual services program. Once enrolled, participants will receive a free two-week supply of nicotine gum, patches or lozenges.

“People who use tobacco often go through several quit attempts before succeeding, but proven treatments and services are available in Indiana that can improve your chances to quit for good,” said Miranda Spitznagle, director of Tobacco Prevention and Cessation at the Indiana Department of Health. “Quitting tobacco is one of the most important decisions people can make to improve their health and the health of their family.”

Take the first step toward a tobacco-free life and get free help from Quit Now Indiana by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW, texting READY to 200-400 or visiting QuitNowIndiana.com

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor RAM Construction Services will begin a bridge preventative maintenance project on U.S. 35 in Starke County over the Yellow River on or after Monday, April 18.

The bridge over the Yellow River will be reduced to one lane for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project, with a temporary traffic signal installed to direct traffic. This work will be ongoing through late June.

INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and be prepared to wait for the temporary traffic signal in this location. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra time when driving through this area and should slow down and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Three Star Painting Inc. will begin a bridge deck sealing project on U.S. 31 over the Yellow River on or after Monday, April 18.

There will be alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound U.S. 31 between U.S. 30 and Plymouth Goshen Trail while work is occurring, with one lane open in each direction at all times. This preventative maintenance bridge project will be ongoing through late May. 

INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. Motorists should slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan reminds Hoosiers that today, Monday, April 4 is the final day to register to vote in Indiana’s 2022 primary election.

“Exercising the right to vote is foundational to our nation’s democracy,” Secretary Sullivan said. “Today is the deadline to register to vote in Indiana’s 2022 primary election. If you haven’t registered yet, there is still time to do so online at IndianaVoters.com or by visiting your local election administrator’s office.”

If you still need to register to vote you can register in person at your local county election administrator’s office by the end of the business day or you can register online before midnight at indianavoters.in.gov.