The Indiana Department of Transportation is hiring for the winter season.  A special hiring fair is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28.

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags in the State of Indiana to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Richmond Police Officer Seara Burton.

Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, Sept. 26.

Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents in Indiana to lower their flags to half-staff.

Harvest season is here, and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Bruce Kettler, Hoosier Ag Today and many other state agencies have teamed up to promote roadway safety this fall encouraging motorists to watch out and slow down for farm equipment on rural roads this harvest season. 

Lt. Gov. Crouch, as Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture, is a staunch supporter of Hoosier farmers and wants to ensure everyone gets home to their families safely. 

“There is nothing more beautiful than rural Indiana in the fall,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch. “But, with that beauty comes heightened roadway dangers during harvest season. I am encouraging all Hoosiers to be alert and be patient on rural roads this harvest season.”

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

“Rural road safety is something we all take very seriously. Each year Hoosiers lose their lives unnecessarily,” said Bruce Kettler, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. “I want to continue to encourage roadway safety for motorists and for farmers. These accidents can be prevented if we all slow down and use caution around farm equipment this fall.”  

Farm equipment during harvest season could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.

The following list includes several 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 a slow-moving vehicle on the left without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over for you to pass when it is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
• Please be aware of farmers working near the road and semi trucks and trailers parked alongside rural roads. 
• 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.

“Despite encouraging motorists and farmers alike to take extra precaution on roadways during harvest season, crashes still occur every year,” said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “One death is one too many. I want to remind everyone to remain alert and exercise caution as you travel on Indiana’s rural roads this fall.”

Tippecanoe Valley 2-Hour Delay

Delays and Cancellations Thursday, September 15, 2022

Schools

Rochester Community Schools 2-hour Delay

Tippecanoe Valley Community Schools 2-hour Delay

Eastern Pulaski School Corporation 2-hour Delay No Picture Day for Middle and High School

Argos Community Schools 2-hour Delay

Legacy Christian Academy 1-hour Delay

A Warsaw man was received from Winona Lake Tuesday.

Winona Lake Police report that Steven Milton, 25, was found in approximately six feet of water just before noon.  First responders were called to the scene just after 9:30 by witnesses who said a man appeared to be in the water and in distress.

Warsaw Police had actually responded earlier in the morning to reports of the same man yelling at passing cars.  The man was not able to be found at that time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Winona Lake Police, 574-267-8622.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is looking for dedicated individuals who want to help serve fellow Hoosiers this winter.

INDOT will host Winter Seasonal Hiring Events on Wednesday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (local time) at 13 locations across the state.

Locations include the Ft. Wayne District:

• Ft Wayne Office – 5333 Hatfield Rd, Ft Wayne, IN 46808
• Wabash Sub District Office – 1290 Manchester Ave, Wabash, IN 46992
• Elkhart Sub District Office – 58905 Co Rd 9, Elkhart, IN 46517

Winter seasonal positions run between November 1 and April 1. Pay starts at $20 per hour for full-time operations and $14 per hour for snowplow-only operations. Job duties include performing general highway maintenance, traffic maintenance, snow and ice removal and other duties related to winter operations. A valid CDL is required to be considered for a seasonal role.

Registration is not required to attend the event. Interviews will be conducted on site and INDOT team members will be available to answer questions and provide more information about open positions and careers with the agency. For a full list of hiring fair locations and more information, visit https://bit.ly/INDOTHiring.

Interested candidates may also text INDOT Careers to 468311 to receive additional job postings.

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) announced that it has added locations that are offering the new bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines, which protect against the two most common strains of the virus, to its map at www.ourshot.in.gov.

Appointments are not yet available online but can be made by contacting a pharmacy or healthcare provider, or by calling 211 (866-211-9966) for assistance.

Additional locations will be added as vaccine shipments continue to arrive in the state.

The FDA authorized the bivalent boosters on Aug. 31, and the CDC endorsed their use Sept. 1. The new boosters include protection against the Omicron variant that is the dominant strain circulating and replace previous boosters, which covered only the original COVID-19 strain.

“The Omicron variant has been the main cause of COVID-19 infections for months, so having a vaccine that specifically targets this variant as well as the Delta variant will help keep Hoosiers healthier as we enter the fall and winter, when respiratory illnesses often increase,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “I encourage individuals who are eligible to consider getting the new COVID-19 booster when they schedule their annual flu shot and make protecting themselves against COVID-19 part of their annual healthcare strategy.”

The Pfizer bivalent booster is authorized for individuals age 12 and older, while the Moderna bivalent booster is available to individuals age 18 and older. Individuals are eligible to receive an updated booster so long as it has been at least two months since they received their last booster dose or completed their primary vaccine series.

Online scheduling for boosters is expected to be available later this month at www.ourshot.in.gov.

A big, bold, beautiful eagle has taken residence in downtown Monterey!

It signifies pride in the heritage and inspiration for the future of this rural Pulaski County community. The grand mural is prominently displayed on the side of the Denton building at the 4-way stop downtown.

PCT and the artist, Zach Medler, met with Monterey community members to gather initial ideas that would have significance and then put some concepts out to public vote.

The eagle was by far the people's choice.

The mural was designed by West Lafayette artist, Zach Medler. A public dedication was held during the annual Monterey Days Festival on Saturday, September 3.

During his dedication comments, Zach noted, "The eagle is a metaphor for resilience representing small communities. The eagles were here and then gone for a period of time, and now they're back. The plants are native Indiana wetland

plants including cardinal flower, goldenrod, evening primrose, and swamp verbena."

"We wanted the mural to be representative of the time when the community comes together to celebrate Monterey days and Zach did an excellent job of delivering on that," noted PCT President, Brandi Larkin.

The location was chosen due to the park that is across from it and it is a place most people traveling through will have to stop for a moment. Much gratitude to the building owner, Darlene Denton, for so graciously allowing us to partner with her on the placement of the artwork.

Darlene reflected, "Not only did we get art, but we made new friends too."

To celebrate the dedication and the impact of art, Zach graced us with his talent prior to the dedication creating two miniature murals for the public to enjoy. One was auctioned off to support future PCT placemaking efforts and the other will be on display on the west side of the Winamac Town Park as a continuation of artwork placed for the ongoing Art in the Park project.

This is another effort led by the Pulaski County Tribe with the mission to create artwork that embraces the pace and natural resources of Pulaski County. We appreciate the partnership of Darlene Denton, Doug Denton, the Monterey Town Council, and the Monterey Days Festival. We look forward to future opportunities to work together to enhance and embrace Pulaski County.

PCT is the proud recipient of an Indiana Arts Commission and The Arts Federation grant that helped make this project possible

Pulaski County Tribe is a non-profit organization in Pulaski County. Their mission is to communicate, collaborate, and celebrate among all communities in Pulaski County for the greater good of residents and guests. The organization serves as a channel that brings together organizations, businesses, and residents to positively impact communities in Pulaski County.

You can learn more about PCT at www.pulaskicountytribe.com. To contact the organization, you can email pulaskicountytribe@gmail.com .

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags in the State of Indiana to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Per President Biden's order, flags should be flown at half-staff immediately until sunset on the day of interment. Gov. Holcomb is asking businesses and residents in Indiana to lower their flags.

The Fulton County Animal Center will host low cost vaccine & wellness clinics on September 18, 25 and October 16. 

Booking is open for the clinic dates.

Click at the following link for a list of all services and products and to make an appointment: https://www.fultoncoanimalcenter.org/low-cost-vaccine-clinic .

Offerings include vaccinations, deworming, flea / tick and heartworm prevention. There is also heartworm, Lyme and feline leukemia / FIV testing. There is also a three year rabies vaccine - with proof of current records and not overdue.

Pet owners are encouraged to start puppy and kitten vaccines as early as six weeks of age.

All dogs are to be leashed.  Cats should be in a carrier.  Pet owners should bring pet records, if applicable.

Anyone is welcome and those on government assistance receive 15% off the already low prices.