All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches will be closed Saturday, Dec. 30 - Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in observance of the New Year’s holiday.

Branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday.

Visit this link for a list of branch hours by location.

Customers can also complete over a dozen common transactions at a BMV Connect kiosk or online at myBMV.com.  

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The Shelbyville Street Department will be closed on New Year's Day.

Monday, January 1 - Closed. No trash pick up.

Tuesday, January 2 - Monday’s trash will be collected on Tuesday, but not Monday’s recycling. It will be delayed until the next Monday, January 8. Both Tuesday’s trash & recycling will also be collected on this day.

Wednesday - Friday will return to normal trash and recycling collection days.

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The Shelby County Drug Free Coalition is offering funding opportunities to agencies seeking to reduce substance abuse in Shelby County.

Grants will be awarded to projects in three areas:

• Prevention/Education
• Treatment/Intervention
• Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement

Proposal requests must be for Shelby County residents/businesses and must address one of the objectives contained in the Coalition Comprehensive Community Plan.

Grants will be for one year, from April 1 to March 31, 2025.

Applicants are encouraged to submit an application, which may be obtained online at shelbycountydrugfree.com

Shelby County Drug-Free Coalition Community Fund dollars are comprised of alcohol and other drug offense fees collected by Shelby County.

Applications are due by Jan. 19.

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Sites are now open to dispose of live Christmas trees in Shelby County.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) announced Shelby County is one of the recipients of the agency's Community Recycling Grant Program.

IDEM awarded $541,245.00 to 15 applicants.

“Community recycling grants provide direct investments that make recycling more accessible to Hoosiers. Historically, these grants have provided new equipment for recycling operators and improved local collection programs,” said IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess. “These grants will make a significant impact on community recycling efforts across Indiana.”

The grants are available to counties, municipalities, solid waste management districts, schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations located in Indiana.

Shelby County was awarded $22,954.

Applicants must demonstrate a positive environmental impact within the project service area, an increase in waste diversion as a result of the project and show the sustainability of the project. 

Grants are funded through IDEM’s Solid Waste Management Fund. Funds come from the solid waste management fee (IC 13-20-22-1). The fee consists of $0.50 per ton charge on solid waste for final disposal at Indiana municipal solid waste landfills and incinerators. None of the funding comes from tax dollars.

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Sandra Day O'Connor, retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Per President Biden, flags should be lowered to half-staff from midnight until sunset on December 19, 2023, marking the day of interment.

Gov. Holcomb is also requesting residents and businesses to lower their flags on the day of internment.

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Taking care of the veterans in Central Indiana is important to team members and racing fans at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville. As a result, the third annual Veteran’s Day event held Nov. 10 generated proceeds to Hoosier Veterans and Families, Inc. (HVAF) of Indiana.

The Veteran’s Day event included several facets to raise funding and awareness for veterans. Each race was named in honor of a veteran associated in some way to Horseshoe Indianapolis. Special saddle towels were awarded to veterans and family members honored during the racing program.

To enhance the afternoon, a Veteran’s Day Pick 5 Challenge was held featuring 13 nationally-known handicappers placing wagers into the Late Fire Five with all proceeds set for HVAF.

“This is the third year we have offered the Pick Five Challenge on Veteran’s Day and each year, these handicappers are eager to be involved with the cause,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager. “We provide them with a $250 wager on the Pick 5 and they choose their own tickets. This year, Matt Carothers had some winning tickets which ended up being a very challenging Pick 5 and added $400 toward our donation to HVAF.”

HVAF, located in downtown Indianapolis, provides essential services to veterans in Central Indiana. They oversee programs such as housing, employment, a food pantry, and street outreach to those who have honorably served our country. Inflated prices over the past few years for general cost of living has placed hardship on many veterans, who turn to HVAF for assistance.

The donation from Horseshoe Indianapolis’ Veteran’s Day is always a much-needed contribution to the organization.

“We are very fortunate and appreciative of this partnership,” said Ashlee Walls-Pierce, Vice President of Advancement for HVAF. “We have over 1,300 individuals come through our doors each year for help, and this donation makes a big difference to our operations and to those veterans. We are grateful for the continued support year over year from the event at the track.”

Walls-Pierce noted veteran homelessness increased this year. They are seeing increased needs for basic items and even the veterans who are employed are struggling to meet their monthly bills due to the inflation of costs. HVAF current supplements these veterans to keep them current on their monthly expenses such as food and utilities.

“We see 250 veterans per month through our food and clothing pantry, and we are serving more than ever before,” added Walls-Pierce. “Plus, we have 200-plus veterans and their families included in our utility assistance program. The need is very evident. We have a lot of great things happening right now so we can serve these individuals and we are very blessed to keep up with their needs.”

In addition to funding raised from the Veteran’s Day event, Horseshoe Indianapolis provided a $4,000 donation. Halstrom recently presented Walls-Pierce with a check for $4,430.15.

“Being able to be a small part of assistance for veterans is very rewarding for us,” added Halstrom. “We are proud to be an annual partner with HVAF.”

The 22^nd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing begins with a special April 8 racing program at noon for the Total Solar Eclipse Day in the area. Racing extends through Nov. 14.

For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

Photo: Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, presents a check for $4,430.15 to Ashlee Walls-Pierce, Vice President of Advancement for HVAF of Indiana, Inc. from funds collected during the annual Veteran’s Day racing event at Horseshoe Indianapolis. 

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Repair work on a Shelby County bridge is complete and the bridge back open Friday morning. But painting will require another closure next week.

The repair work is done and the bridge is open to traffic in the 5000 block of E 600 S between S 500 E and S 600 E. However, the contractor wasn't able to get the correct paint so they plan to close it again for painting next Thursday.

That should be a single day closure.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop growers that assistance is available for producers who incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses to obtain or renew a food safety certification through the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program.

Producers can apply for assistance on their calendar year 2023 expenses through Jan. 31, 2024.  

“The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops program is just one of the many ways USDA is helping support local and regional food systems and opportunities for small-scale producers,” said Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “I’m encouraging specialty crop growers to discover how this program can help mitigate the costs of on-farm food safety certification and meeting regulatory requirements and apply by the January deadline.” 

Program Details  

FSCSC assists specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and related expenses pertaining to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar year 2023. FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing its certification, as well as a portion of related expenses.  

  To be eligible for FSCSC, the applicant must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small business or very small business; and have paid eligible expenses related to the 2023 certification.  

Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs:  

·         Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.  

·         Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.  

·         Food safety certification.  

·         Certification upload fees.  

·         Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.  

·         Training.  
   

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs. A higher payment rate has been set for socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. Details about the payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.  

Applying for Assistance  

 The FSCSC application period for 2023 closes Jan. 31, 2024. FSA will issue payments after the application period closes. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.  

Interested specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) application. The application, along with other required documents, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means.  

Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to assist. Visit farmers.gov/food-safetyfor additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply.  

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All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches will be closed Saturday, Dec. 23 – Tuesday, Dec. 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday.

Branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Additionally, branches will be closed Saturday, Dec. 30 - Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in observance of the New Year’s holiday. Branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

Visit this link for a list of branch hours by location. Customers can also complete over a dozen common transactions at a BMV Connect kiosk or online at myBMV.com.  

Teens, tweens, youth, and preschoolers con have tons of fun at Shelby County Public Library beginning Monday.

Adults can paint like Andy Warhol and meet with book clubs this week, as well.

Elementary-age youth can join Creative Club at 6 p.m. Monday, to delve into activities ranging from science and music to art and improv. Then on Thursday, these youth from ages 6 to 11 can meet to engineer and build during Lego Club at 4 p.m. in Youth Services at the Shelbyville Branch, 57 W. Broadway St.

Monday through Thursday, Molly, Dustin, and Myla present crafts, e-sports, writing, and trivia daily for ages 11 to 19.

Book page snowflakes with Molly will be at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Youth Services program room. Tuesday at 5 p.m. the Story Club meets. The theme is winter. Sign up and share your stories with Molly at msturgell@sscpl.lib.in.us.

Dustin busts out the controllers at 4 p.m. Wednesday, for Retro Arcade Night in all its 16-bit glory. Finally, on Thursday, at 5 p.m., Myla and Molly pull out the beats for Name That Tune. DND with Blake also meets Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for fans of the role-playing tabletop game.

For more details on each event, check the calendar on the library’s website: myshelbylibrary.org.

For the preschool crowd, Storytime’s theme this week is Christmas Animals. Meet in Youth Services for Storytime’s regular meetings: Tuesday at 10 a.m.; Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.; and Thursday at 1 p.m.

Baby/Toddler Play Time meets this week at 10 a.m. Friday, so children up to age 3 can listen to a short story then crawl and play to their hearts’ (and their parents’ and guardians’) content.

Adults will paint like Andy Warhol at 2 p.m. Monday. Pam will demonstrate techniques to create Christmas trees for holiday decoration. Space is limited, so please sign up in the library or call 317-398-7121. This craft will be longer, so plan on two hours.

D&D Journeys will only meet Monday, at 5:30 p.m. in the Annex. Their second monthly meeting would fall on Christmas Day, when the library will be closed.

All three Book Clubs will meet this week. The Book Group @ The Bookmark will discuss “Hiddensee” by Gregory Maguire on Tuesday, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the Café, 9 Public Square.

The Ken Jewell Literary Society also meets Tuesday at the Velma Wortman Morristown Branch at 6:30 p.m. to discuss their favorite reads of 2023.  The Horizon Center Book Club will meet at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, inside the YMCA, to discuss members’ favorite books of the year. As always, anyone can come to these book clubs; there are no official “members.”

For more information, check the library’s website: myshelbylibrary.org, or call the circulation desk at 317-398-7121. Or stop by to enjoy the library’s holiday decorations.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers.

More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan. This tool is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, improve customer service, and expand credit access. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is working hard to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to get the loans they need to keep growing food, fiber, and fuel for our country,” said Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “Online services are commonplace in commercial lending, and with USDA Farm Service Agency's new online loan application feature, it is now easier for producers to get the financing they need to start, expand, or maintain their farming and ranching operations.”

The online farm loan application replicates the support an applicant would receive when completing a loan application in person with an FSA Farm Loan Officer, while continuing to provide customers with one-on-one assistance as needed.  This tool and other process improvements allow farmers and ranchers to submit complete loan applications and reduce the number of incomplete and withdrawn applications. 

Through a personalized dashboard, borrowers can track the progress of their loan application. It can be accessed on farmers.gov or by completing FSA’s Loan Assistance Tool at farmers.gov/loan-assistance-tool. To use the online loan application tool, producers must establish a USDA customer account and a USDA Level 2 eAuthentication (“eAuth”) account or a Login.gov account. For the initial stage, the online application tool is only available for producers who will be, or are currently, operating their farm as an individual. FSA is expanding the tools availability to married couples applying jointly and other legal entities in 2024. 

Farm Loan Improvement Efforts 

FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate Farm Loan Program customer-facing business processes. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a Direct Loan application to FSA annually, and its 85,000 Direct Loan borrowers, FSA has made improvements this year, including: 

• A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages. 
• The Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov that provides customers with an interactive online, step-by-step guide to identifying the Direct Loan products that may be a fit for their business needs and to understanding the application process. 

More Information 

FSA continues to accept and review individual requests for assistance from qualifying borrowers who took certain extraordinary measures to avoid delinquency on their direct FSA loans or those who were unable to make a recent installment or are unable to make their next scheduled installment for installments through January 15, 2024. All requests for assistance must be received by Dec. 31, 2023. For more information, or to submit a request for assistance, producers can contact?their local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov/inflation-reduction-investments/assistance.

 The Inflation Reduction Act, a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for agricultural communities, provided $3.1 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain FSA direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations are at financial risk. Since October 2022, USDA has provided approximately $1.6 billion in assistance to more than 27,000 distressed direct and guaranteed FSA loan borrowers.  

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Indiana State troopers were on scene of a fatal crash on I-65 southbound at the 79.5 mile marker, near Edinburgh Thursday night.

Just after 9 p.m., 911 dispatchers began receiving multiple calls about a serious crash involving a semi and a pick-up truck on I-65 near the Shelby / Johnson County line. When first responders arrived they found an adult male unresponsive on the ground. Despite life saving efforts, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Indiana State Police crash reconstructionists responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Preliminary information has led investigators to believe a pickup, pulling a trailer, was stopped on the right shoulder. A semi-tractor trailer stuck the pickup and trailer on the shoulder while the victim was standing outside of the pickup. The man suffered fatal injuries when struck by the wreckage.  

Neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected to be a factor in this crash, however Indiana State Law requires the driver of the semi to submit to a chemical test for intoxication. The results of that test are pending.

The name of the deceased is being withheld to allow time for family notifications. 

The Shelby County Coroner responded to the scene to assist with the investigation and recover the remains of the deceased. ISP was also assisted by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

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The Shelby County Traffic Safety Partnership will resume extra patrols that are funded by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition.

This enforcement by the partnership which is comprised of the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and the Shelbyville Police Department  is a statewide effort named Blitz 131 – Safe Family Travel.

These extra patrols are designed to improve the safety of roads in Shelbyville and Shelby County. The partnership will be patrolling for seatbelt use, aggressive driving, and impaired driving. They are also are looking for those who are driving in an unsafe manner by driving recklessly and or driving impaired. 

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The City of Shelbyville Street Department has posted changes to the previously announced Christmas and New Year’s trash route schedules.

The changes include:

Monday, December 25 - Closed. No trash pick up.

Tuesday, December 26 - The office is closed, but Monday's trash and recycling will be collected.

Wednesday, December 27 - Tuesday and Wednesday's trash and recycling will be collected.

Thursday, December 28 and Friday, December 29 - both days will be normal trash and recycling collections.

Monday, January 1 - Closed. No trash pick up.

Tuesday, January 2 - Monday’s trash will be collected, but not Monday’s recycling. It will be delayed until Monday, January 8. Both Tuesday’s trash and recycling will be collected as well.

Wednesday, January 3, Thursday, January 4 and Friday, January 5 - Normal trash and recycling collection days.

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Holiday season dawns Tuesday for the Shelby County Public Library when it hosts its Holiday Open House to honor Director Janet Wallace’s retirement and to welcome incoming Director Brandy Graves.

From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., join Wallace and Graves at the Main Branch, 57 W. Broadway, in the Adult Services Stacks.

Carnegie East Wing and the Velma Wortman Morristown Branch will close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The Main Branch will close after the Open House at 6 p.m.

Youth Services in Shelbyville begins holiday crafting on Wednesday at 4 p.m. with Scrabble Tile Ornaments for ages 6 - 11. Molly will teach teens and tweens (ages 11-19) how to paint tree bulb ornaments on Friday. On December 11, Molly crafts Book Page Snowflakes with teens and tweens at 4:30 p.m.

Velma Wortman Morristown Branch invites all crafters to its Scrappy Stitches Open Craft Night from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. December 7. Scrapbookers, fiber artists of all types, really, anyone with a project will meet for light snacks, entertaining conversation, and craft tips and still leave before dark. Just BYOP – Bring Your Own Project!

The library’s normal activities continue with Storytime and Lego clubs at both Morristown and Shelbyville Youth Services, Challenge Accepted! at Morristown on December 8 at 3:30 p.m., and Creative Club at Shelbyville on December 11 at 6 p.m.

Exploring Holiday Traditions is a special program for all ages at 3 p.m. on December 9 at the Morristown Branch. December is full of holidays for people of all different backgrounds! From Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, Christmas to Yule, we can learn something new about all the celebrations taking place.

Looking forward, children should bring their letters to Santa to Morristown Branch’s Santa Mailbox by December 17. Write your letters to Santa and drop them in the Santa mailbox! Elves will take the mailbox away that Sunday!

Legend has it that the magical mailbox makes sure that Santa Claus always writes back to a return address.