The Shelby County Department of Health announced Thursday that the county, via CVS Pharmacy, has started to vaccinate individuals in long term care facilities. 

The department stated that it's also excited to report that the Indiana Department of Health has notified Shelby County Health Department that doses of Vaccine will be shipped for expansion of the vaccine administration plan. Shelby County Health Department is anticipating beginning clinics Tuesday January 12.

If you believe you are part of this next phase, please visit:https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/

We ask everyone to be courteous and patient. Our Health Department and other county partners will provide vaccines as our state and federal partners have guided us.

ALL COVID VACCINATION CLINICS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. NO EXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE PER INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (IDOH).

Received the vaccine? Make sure you are on the v-safe after vaccination health checker at https://vsafe.cdc.gov/?fbclid=IwAR24E2btfCxuv7quxZAQ_StvwxD7LB7zfvx927hK6cRj_H6IuiB_0MZZkDg

About the vaccine as provided by IDOH

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and additional vaccines are being developed by other manufacturers. The EUA process has allowed for clinical trials and manufacturing to occur simultaneously, while still allowing for rigorous testing to determine how safe and effective it is.

1. Safety is top priority.
   The first goal is to focus on the safety of the vaccine and determining how effective it is. Before any vaccine is released, it must first complete three phases of clinical trials to study its effect on thousands of diverse study participants. Once that study is done, the pharmaceutical company submits the results for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA. This is a way to make important health breakthroughs available to the public quickly.
   
   The vaccine is then reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is a federal advisory committee of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the U.S. public.
   
   The next step before the vaccine is available is for the Indiana Department of Health’s Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group to make final recommendations on the ethical and equitable allocation of a limited COVID-19 vaccine.
    
2. There will be a limited vaccine supply at first.
   Vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are now available. Some groups will be recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine first. We have set up a phased-in approach to determine who is eligible for vaccine first based on the most effective way to reduce the impact of COVID-19. This first round of vaccine will go to long-term care center staff and healthcare personnel who in their line of may be exposed to COVID-19 patients or infectious material. The Pfizer vaccine will not initially be available for children under age 16 or younger than age 18 for Moderna. Early clinical trials of the vaccine show no adverse effects for pregnant women, but if you’re pregnant, you should have a conversation with a healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you.
    
3. The vaccine will be free.
   Vaccine providers can bill a patient’s insurance for a fee to administer the vaccine, but will not be able to charge the patient. Providers can seek reimbursement for uninsured patients from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund.
    
4. Prevent the spread of COVID-19 until vaccine is available to everyone.
   The vaccine is in limited supply at first and won’t be widely available until next year. Until there is enough vaccine for everyone, it’s crucial for you to continue to take these steps that we can do now to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
   • Wear a mask to protect yourself and others
   • Stay at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths)
   • Practice good hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer
   • Isolate yourself if you’re sick and stay home if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19
   • Clean frequently touched surfaces often

Please visit https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/vaccine/ to be able to click on the hyperlinks and more information.

To schedule a Covid-19 test please call your physician, go to IDOH Coronavirus website or Shelby County Health Department Website for the link to schedule a testing time and location.

A Shelby County Sheriff's deputy was one of three with minor injuries in a Wednesday two-car crash.

Shawn Goode, 30, of Shelbyville told Shelbyville Police he came to a stop at the red light on Progress Parkway was East Michigan Road just after 7:00 pm.  Goode explained he didn't know why but he then proceeded into the intersection in a 2014 Ford Fusion, realized the red light was still active and was struck by a 2016 Sheriff's Department Tahoe driven by Deputy Ben Hirschauer, 30, of Shelbyville.

Hirschauer noted he had the green light and, as Goode explained, the Fusion has disregarded the red light at the intersection.

Goode was transported for medical treatment at MHP after experiencing dizziness at the scene.  A passenger, Aimee Gill, 24, of Shelbyville, was treated by medics at the scene.

Hirschauer was treated at MHP for a minor hand injury.

A vehicle pursuit followed a shoplifting call from the Shelbyville Walmart Tuesday.

On December 29 the Shelbyville Police Department responded to Walmart for a theft in progress.  Officers were advised the suspect was leaving in a small green passenger car. 

Officers located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop as the vehicle was leaving Walmart.  John David Earl Curtsinger started to stop then took off leading officers on a vehicle pursuit.  Curtsinger was able to enter I-74 eastbound where he struck a dump truck and crashed into the median.

Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on Curtsinger and took him into custody without any further issues.  Curtsinger advised he felt he was injured due to the crash and medics were called to check Curtsinger’s medical condition.  It was determined that Curtsinger would be transported to MHP for evaluation.

Curtsinger was cleared by MHP and was transported to the Shelby County Jail.. Curtsinger was booked in for the following preliminary charges: resisting law enforcement (L6 Felony), Theft (L6 Felony), OVWI Endangerment (A/M), & Reckless Driving (C/M).

Caesars Southern Indiana casino in Elizabeth, Indiana will operate under new ownership in 2021. 

The Harrison County casino was acquired by a Native American tribe in a $250 million deal. 

Nevada-based Caesars Entertainment Inc. agreed to sell the operation of the casino to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), based in North Carolina. 

Caesars says EBCI has entered into a long-term agreement for the continued use of the Caesars brand at the casino. 

According to Caesars, EBCI has entered into a long-term agreement for the continued use of the Caesars brand at the casino. The companies say EBCI will enter into a new lease with year one annual rent payments of $32.5 million. 

"The purchase of Caesars Southern Indiana operating company marks the beginning of an exciting new future for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians," said Richard Sneed, principal chief, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. "We are pleased to build upon our long-standing partnership with Caesars as we look to advance our interests in commercial gaming in the coming years."

After it was acquired through a public merger with Eldorado Resorts Inc., Caesars was ordered by the Indiana Gaming Commission to sell three of its five casinos in the state.

Along with the Elizabeth casino, Caesars chose to sell its Evansville and Hammond properties.

As the first wave of reports of mysterious booms came in, Ryan Hansome immediately thought back to a few years ago. 

"I heard the first one around 4:50-4:55. I immediately thought of the Richmond Hills explosion several years ago," the Shelby County Emergency Management Director told Giant FM. 

The Richmond Hill explosion took place Nov. 10, 2012 in the Richmond Hill subdivision on the Southside of Indianapolis and caused two deaths and over $4 million in property damage. 

Hansome said reports of people hearing the explosions came from Rushville and Carthage as well as around Shelby County.  As of Monday morning, there was still no cause for the mysterious booms.  Hansome told Giant FM he was still waiting to hear back from several agencies.

Growing up around birds not only sparked an interest in Gary Floyd and Karen Martin, it has also turned into a new business endeavor for the two. 

For Floyd, his father started raising parrots when he was a teenager and as a result, he had to help his father with the birds he told Giant FM.

"We had African Greys, Amazons, Macaws, Cockatiels, Cockatoos, and Parakeets. By default, I had to handle these guys and seeing their personalities and hearing their voices, it is amazing what they can learn and be taught. I had fallen for the birds almost immediately," Floyd said. 

Martin admits she has a similar story, as her mother got her a small, yellow parakeet as a child. 

"Then, my dad had a cockatiel growing up. As I got older, I started working in the bird aviary at a local pet store back home in Virginia when I was 18 years old. My love for birds has continued to grow through the years," she said. 

Now, their love affair for birds is a new business endeavor, as The Bird House and More, 159 East Washington St., Suite D, is now open. 

"We sell bird food for any type of parrot. We also sell accessories for their cages, as well as supplies. I have been in the animal industry nearly my entire life, but have been handling exotic birds for nearly 28 years. Karen has been in the pet industry for 22 years. As managers of pet stores and working with rescues, we combined our love for birds and thus born was The Bird House and more," Floyd told Giant FM. 

Floyd said business has been good thus far, as residents are taking advantage of the grooming services, as well as boarding. 

With the calendar approaching 2021, Floyd told Giant FM, there are some exciting possibilities in the new year.

"Periodically, throughout the year, we will have babies in the shop for sale. Also, we are looking into adding reptile supplies since the community has been asking. To stay informed, checkout our Facebook page and our website www.thebirdhouseandmore.com or come by the store anytime. We love to meet new animal friends," Floyd said. 

Aperion Care Waldron announces it has changed ownership.  Renamed Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, the 79-bed subacute and skilled nursing facility provides a broad spectrum of care, including long- and short-term care and rehabilitation, in an intimate and compassionate environment.

The new ownership team is a group of skilled nursing facility managers and operators based in Indiana and the Midwest.  The ownership change was effective November 1, 2020.

“In these challenging times, it is very reassuring that our new ownership team has years of know-how, shared values and a great group of experienced experts – based right here in the Midwest – to support our care team,” said Manoj Berry, the center’s Administrator.

Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center will benefit from the hands-on attention that comes from a smaller, but very skilled “non-corporate” ownership and management team.  The team has overseen operations at similar-sized care centers, in rural and suburban communities around the Midwest, and brings many new ideas that have been very successful at other facilities.

Implementing “Genuine Hometown Care”

“Our new owners view Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center as a world of family and friends,” said Berry.  “They share core principles and standards that reflect the people and beliefs of our region: Genuine Hometown Care, Community Integration, and Employees are Family.”

Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is known for its focus on providing hometown care with a commitment to fully integrating with the healthcare needs of the Waldron, Ind., community.  As it continues to grow, the center will benefit from working with a skilled, hands-on regional ownership team.

“The ownership group has significant experience in overseeing operations at similar-sized care centers in rural and suburban communities around the Midwest,” Berry noted.  “We anticipate incorporating new ideas that have been successful at their other facilities as we work to advance our mission of excellence in care.”

About Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is a 79-bed subacute and skilled nursing facility in Waldron, Ind., providing long-term care, short-term care, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehab-to-home, speech therapy, hospice care, and respite care.  The center is currently accepting new admissions for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care.  For further information, please contact Sarah Jones  at (317) 512-7341 or visit the Waldron Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center website at www.waldronhc.com.

• Overall update:  Today’s update is full of encouraging news.  MHP’s positivity rate is down; Shelby County is no longer in the RED category; MHP has only a few employees off work related to Covid; our Emergency Department volumes are significantly down; and our urgent care and walk-in volumes are lower compared to our normal volumes.  We are asking the Community to be safe and smart during the Christmas holiday.  Please don’t let your guard down over the holidays to help us maintain the current encouraging trends.  We wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas Holiday Season!  Our next update will occur on Monday, December 28. 
• Covid Vaccines:  Many MHP employees have already received their first dose of the Covid vaccine at Hancock Regional Hospital.  To date, no employee has reported anything more than a minor, expected reaction which would be the same for any vaccine.  
• Bamlanivimab “Bam” monoclonal drug for Covid treatment.  By the end of the day, we will have infused 193 patients with this Eli Lilly monoclonal drug.  We have a sufficient supply of both Regeneron and Bamlanivimab for our current needs. 
• Shelby County Status:  We are pleased to report that Shelby County been designated as ORANGE in this week’s county color code map with a composite score of 2.5 based on 7-day rolling test positivity and cases per 100,000.  Please visit https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/2393.htm for more information. 
• Priority Care and Family & Internal Medicine Walk-ins:  Both locations are experiencing low volumes at this time.   

• MHP TESTING STATUS:
  • Number of NEW positive results: 35 new positive cases since 12/21/2020
    • Out of the 35 new positive cases, 4 patients required inpatient care and 31 remained outpatient.  We are down to only 280 Rapid tests remaining with no estimated delivery date provided by our supplier.  We hope to have our in-house rapid testing up and running by next week.   

• MHP INPATIENT STATUS:
  • Current number of 3^rd floor inpatients:  32 and 5 of those patients are in the Critical Care Unit (CCU). 
    • Number of available 3^rd floor beds: 8
  • Currently, we have 20 inpatients that tested positive for COVID.

• MHP EMERGENCY DEPT STATUS:
  • Number of total ER patients in last 24 hours: 39 patients with only 7 patients experiencing respiratory issues. 

• VENT STATUS:
  • Number of vents currently in use and number of vents available:
    • We have 1 ventilator(s) in use and 4 BiPAPs in use, 1 trilogy unit is in use.  This leaves us with 15 ventilation units available.    

Governor Eric J. Holcomb has signed Executive Order 20-51 to renew certain directives issued in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

EO 20-51 extends temporary licensing of healthcare workers for 90 days, allowing individuals who are not currently licensed to practice in Indiana to have a temporary license. This order applies to retired healthcare professionals, certain healthcare students and out-of-state healthcare professionals.

Professionals who are granted a temporary license to provide healthcare services in the state in response to this public health emergency must register with the Professional Licensing Agency via their website at www.in.gov/pla. 

The order also allows properly trained individuals, such as certain paramedics and EMTs and members of the National Guard, to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Medical assistants can also administer the vaccine under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse.

In response to the high volume of unemployment claims, the order continues the suspension of certain requirements to expedite the hiring and training of temporary workers to more quickly resolve unemployment issues.

Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm 

Separate from the executive order, the Governor also announced that he will be extending the mission of the Indiana National Guard at long-term care facilities through the end of February. In November, the Governor deployed 1,350 Guardsmen to help in the state’s 534 long-term care facilities.  

Police in Greenfield are looking for a man who attempted to rob a Waffle House restaurant last week.

A man entered the Waffle House on State Street just before 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, and passed a note to an employee demanding money.  Police said the man ran from the restaurant without getting any money. No one inside the restaurant was hurt.

The suspect is described as a black man with a beard. He was wearing a black jacket, gray shirt, black pants, and a gray beanie.

When the Indiana General Assembly returns to session next month, Indiana Senator Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, will look to continue fighting back against human trafficking in the Hoosier State.   Crider told Giant FM that he plans to continue his past efforts to address crimes of a sexual nature this session, including human trafficking. 

"I had had good success in the past, and because of my work to try to get extra funds for the internet crimes against children investigators, this topic has been a common theme," Crider said. 

According to Crider, human trafficking is a crime that occurs anywhere, but is prevalent in areas where major events take place. 

"Unfortunately, major sporting events attract this activity and Indianapolis is one of the areas that comes up. The traffickers normally set up operations in hotels close to where a lot of people gather so a lot of the education focuses on employees of hotels. The trafficking industry has also made this an area of focus. People who see suspicious activity should report that to their local law enforcement agency," Crider said. 

The veteran lawmaker told Giant FM he has not heard of any specific cases in Shelby or Hancock counties, but did share a story he learned of from a friend with the Indiana State Police. 

"A trooper friend told me about an incident where they stopped a car on I-70 that they thought was involved with drug trafficking and when they separated the occupants of the car and started questioning them, they found out the two, young Hispanic girls were being used in trafficking," Crider said. 

His proposed legislation would address the issue that the penalty for trafficking a person is a level 5 felony. 

According to Crider, during court proceedings the criminal penalties are often pled down to a lower crime. 

"In this case, it would make it a level 6 felony, which is typically a monetary penalty. We get so few chances at these criminals that I believe when we do catch them, the penalty should involve time in incarceration, especially when the person being trafficked is less than 18 years of age. The bill would enhance the penalty to a level 4 felony in that case and even if it is pled down, a level 5 still involves jail time. That seems appropriate, and I am very hopeful my colleagues will agree," Crider said. 

Indiana has landed in the top 5 of a list it probably doesn't want to be on.

Indiana has been ranked the 4th most-risky state to visit, according to Forbes. That's due to the state's continuous rise in coronavirus cases, averaging around 90 new cases a day per 100,000 people.

Indiana recently crossed a record 7,000 deaths due to the virus. 

Recently, a previously unidentified driver from a fatal November crash has been positively identified as Candace Girton, 29, rural Kewanna. The Miami County Coroner’s Office utilized deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing to make the identification.

Girton was the driver of  a 2018 Chevrolet Cruz that was involved in a two vehicle fatal  crash on November 24.

Original Release Issued on November 25: 

On November 24, 2020 at approximately 3:38 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Miami County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Road 16 near Miami County Road 500 West, in which one person died.

The preliminary crash investigation by Senior Trooper Todd Trottier revealed that a Chevrolet passenger car was traveling westbound on State Road 16 near County Road 500 West. Ashley Lackmon, 20, Macy, IN was driving a 2019 Ford Fusion eastbound on State Road 16 near County Road 500 West. For an undetermined reason, the Chevrolet crossed into the eastbound bound lane causing a head-on collision with the Ford. After the crash impact, the Chevrolet caught on fire and had to be extinguished by Denver firefighters.

A nearby homeowner prevented the Ford from catching on fire. Prior to first responders arriving, he used a tow strap and a box truck to pull the Ford away from the burning Chevrolet. Lackmon was initially trapped in the Ford and could not be extricated until first responders arrived.

The driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced deceased at the crash scene.  Lackmon was flown, via medical helicopter, to a Fort Wayne hospital. At the time of this release, she was in critical condition.

The driver of the Chevrolet has not been positively identified. Once identification is made their name will be released.

This crash is still under investigation. If anyone has information about this crash they are asked to contact Senior Trooper Todd Trottier by calling 765-473-6666.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is providing 52 Indiana law enforcement agencies with a new roadside tool to identify and keep drug-impaired drivers off the road.

The device, called the SoToxa Mobile Test System, is a handheld analyzer that uses an oral fluid swab to detect the presence of six kinds of drugs: cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, cannabis (THC), amphetamine and benzodiazepines.

Officers will begin using the devices in the field this month in response to the emergence of drugged driving taking place in the state and nationwide.

According to a 2018 Governors Highway Safety Association report, 44 percent of fatally injured drivers with known results tested positive for drugs in 2016, up from 28 percent a decade ago. Of those drivers, 38 percent tested positive for some form of marijuana, 16 percent tested positive for opioids and 4 percent tested positive for both marijuana and opioids.

To use SoToxa, the officer must have both a reason to stop a motorist, whether it’s for driving erratically, speeding or another infraction, and suspect impairment. During the traffic stop, officers will use standard detection techniques such as field sobriety tests, portable breathalyzers and suspect interviews to evaluate the driver. SoToxa would not replace those techniques but would instead function as an additional roadside tool officers could use.

If drug-impaired driving is suspected, the officer can ask the driver to take the SoToxa test. This is done by collecting an oral fluid sample, which is then inserted into the handheld analyzer. Results are available roadside within five minutes and indicate positive or negative for each of the six drug categories.

Much like a portable breathalyzer, the SoToxa test can be refused, and the results cannot be used as evidence in court to determine if the driver was impaired. The purpose of the test is to further establish probable cause, which can be used by the officer to make an arrest, administer a certified breath test, take the suspect for medical treatment or apply for a warrant to administer a blood draw.

In total, ICJI will distribute 66 devices to 52 departments around the state. The units cost $4,500 each, are reusable and were paid for with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds.

Duckworth said that while departments can purchase SoToxa directly at any time, Indiana is one of the first states in the nation, along with Michigan, to have distributed the devices statewide.

Among area agencies receiving the device:

Shelby County Sheriff's Department 

Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department                        

Greensburg Police Department 

Decatur County Sheriff's Department                      

Hancock County Sheriff's Department 

Johnson County Sheriff's Department                    

Franklin City Police Department 

The weather forecast in Indiana for the week of Christmas looks to be more up-and-down than Santa's sleigh ride. 

WISH-TV Meteorologist Marcus Bailey says temperatures will be much warmer than normal to start the week. 

"Keep in mind, the average for this time of the year is in the mid-30s," Bailey said. "We'll at least be in the low 40s, but I think we have a good shot, especially Tuesday and even into Wednesday, that we could see numbers in the upper 40s, and maybe, in southern parts of the state, we could be in the 50s."

However, the warmth won't last long at all.

"Pretty significant blast of arctic, Canadian air," Bailey said. "We may see highs only in the upper teens and low 20s for Christmas Day, and overnight lows in the single digits."

So, what about the chances of having a "white Christmas"? Bailey says it's still too early to give a final answer, but he's not giving it a big chance. That's actually normal, though.

"White Christmas is defined as one inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day," he said. "The probability of having a white Christmas in Indiana is about 25-30 percent."

He explained why it's so hard to predict chances of precipitation, especially in the winter, a week in advance is because of the technology. 

"Once you get past the 4-5 day range, in terms of the timing of the precipitation, and what type of precipitation, is extremely difficult," Bailey said. "We usually get a better handle of temperatures, but in terms of precip and timing, you have to keep in mind that when you're talking about something that is a week away, that particular storm complex probably hasn't even formed in real life yet. These models do a better job on situations when that particular system is already over land."

Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress announced today that Daniel R. Fruits, 46, of Greenwood, Indiana, was charged by a federal grand jury for his alleged role in three separate fraud schemes, including a nearly $14 million fraud on an investor, an attempted mortgage fraud, and a vehicle title-washing scheme.

“This financial investor gave his hard-earned money to someone whom he thought he could trust,” said Childress. “Instead, the victim’s money ended up in the hands of a self-absorbed thief who only cared about his interests. Living a life of fraud is inexcusable and always comes to an end.”

The Indictment alleges that Fruits defrauded a Kentucky investor, who was also Fruits employer, out of nearly $14 million. In 2015, the investor founded a trucking company, Secure Transit, and hired Fruits to run it. Over the next four-and-a-half years, the investor would invest approximately $14 million in the business.

Throughout that time, Fruits repeatedly lied about the company’s financial health, who its customers were, and what the money invested was being used for. On multiple occasions, Fruits allegedly sent the investor fictitious customer sales contracts and falsified financial statements that reported inflated company profits. At the same time, Fruits allegedly asked the investor for additional investments, sometimes in the millions of dollars, purportedly for the purchase of trucks or other business expenses.

Fruits spent a significant portion of the money on his own personal purchases and payments. He allegedly spent approximately $880,000 to purchase a horse farm and his personal residence, $560,000 on an RV and trailer, over $111,000 on a Corvette, approximately $90,000 on three Rolex watches, approximately $55,000 on a horse, $33,000 on a horse trailer, $23,000 on payments for two Ferraris, and $30,000 on payments for two escorts.

In addition to the fraud on the investor, Fruits attempted to perpetrate a mortgage fraud scheme on Fifth Third Bank. Specifically, in late 2018, Fruits made false statements to Fifth Third Bank to secure a $432,000 mortgage. He twice submitted falsified paperwork purporting to show that loans from another bank had been paid off, when they had not been.

Finally, Fruits perpetrated a title-washing scheme to remove a bank’s lien from the title of a truck he purchased. He financed the truck with a loan from Ally Financial for over $69,000.  Several months later, he sent the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles a falsified letter purportedly from Ally Financial stating that the loan had been paid off and the lien should be released.

The loan had not been paid off and Ally Financial never wrote that letter. As a result, the BMV issued Fruits a free-and-clear title for the truck, which Fruits then sold for $48,000, without repaying the loan to Ally Financial.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Effective Jan. 1, 2021, six Indiana county income tax rates will increase, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR).

Local income tax rates are determined by county officials and provided to DOR for review regarding compliance with Indiana law.

Below are the six counties impacted along with their new tax rates:

• Martin County: 0.025 (increased from 0.0175)
• Owen County: 0.016 (increased from 0.014)
• Randolph County: 0.025 (increased from 0.0225)
• Shelby County: 0.016 (increased from 0.015)
• Switzerland County: 0.0125 (increased from 0.01)
• Union County: 0.02 (increased from 0.0175)

These tax rates affect businesses with employees who live or work in any of these counties and have income tax withholdings.

• For Indiana residents on Jan. 1, 2021, county tax rates for individuals are based on the employee’s Indiana county of residence on that date.
• For individuals who are not Indiana residents on Jan. 1, 2021, county tax rates are based on the individual’s county of principal business or employment on Jan. 1.

Some of Indiana's National Guard soldiers who are working to fight the coronavirus are among the first in the state to get the vaccine.

About 200 troops at the National Guard barracks in Franklin got their shots Wednesday. The troops are either working alongside health care professionals in nursing homes, or are helping with testing or PPE distribution effort.

Indiana and New York are the only states so far to vaccinate National Guard troops. 

A complaint by a Shelby County resident has brought an opinion by the Public Access Counselor against the county's Plan Commission in its handling of an executive session.

Recently, the Shelby County Commissioners, by 2 - 1 vote, approved amendments to the county's solar ordinance.  The amendments were recommended for approval by a unanimous vote by the Plan Commission.

The meeting involved in the complaint to the Public Access Counselor occurred In October as a part of the Plan Commission's process.

The Public Access Counselor provides advice and assistance concerning Indiana's public access laws (specifically the Access to Public Records Act and the Open Door Law) to members of the public and government officials and employees.  

The powers and duties of the public access counselor include responding to informal inquiries made by the public and public agencies concerning the public access laws. The office may also issue advisory opinions to interpret the public access laws upon the request of a person or public agency. However, the counselor may not issue an advisory opinion concerning a specific matter with respect to which a lawsuit has been filed.

The complaint and response can be see in the documents following:

Jocelyn Van Duyn, 10, was recovered by law enforcement in Hartsville, alive and safe, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15.

Jocelyn was found with her biological father, Jonathan J. Van Duyn, 33. FBI Indianapolis Division SWAT and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office took Jonathan into custody without incident.  Jonathan will be held in Indiana before being extradited to McHenry County, Illinois where he is wanted on an active warrant for failure to appear.

Family is traveling to Indiana to reunite with Jocelyn.

Law enforcement would like to sincerely thank members of the public who shared information and helped lead to the safe recovery of Jocelyn.

This continues to be an active investigation led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and FBI Milwaukee Division, with assistance from the Walworth Police Department.

Also assisting in the investigation are the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Indiana State Police, Walworth County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Wisconsin. FBI Indianapolis Division and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the recovery of the child.

On the morning of Sunday, December 13, 2020, the Village of Walworth Police Department received the report of a missing 10 year-old female Jocelyn Van Duyn, who had last been seen on Saturday evening in the Village of Walworth, Walworth County, Wisconsin.

“Our working relationship with the FBI is extremely important”.  “This is one of the reasons that it is so important for BCSO deputies to attend the National FBI Academy”, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Chief deputy, Major Chris Lane who is BCSO’s most recent FBI Academy graduate. 

Southbound traffic on Shelbyville's North Harrison will reduce to one lane at the North end of the bridge continuing one lane until Mechanic Street.

Walker Street will be closed at the railroad tracks with no access to Harrison. 

Northbound traffic will move to the West side, merging into one lane from Penn St to John St, then crossing over to the East side of Harrison from John St to the North side of the bridge. 

The East two lanes of Harrison will be closed between Penn St and John St for construction.

Northbound traffic is  to become one lane between Mechanic and Penn St. 

Changes will be in effect approx. 30 days. 

At the request of Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche, the Indiana State Police are investigating a death that occurred Tuesday, December 15, at approximately 11:45 a.m. in the parking lot of 2055 Barrett Drive, Greenfield. The death occurred during the course of a police investigation.

Preliminary investigation by Indiana State Police detectives revealed this incident began when three Greenfield Police officers located a stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the business. Further investigation led the officers to the suspect who was inside the business. During the course of the investigation the suspect fled on foot and ran outside into the parking lot. While chasing the suspect, one officer utilized a taser. After the deployment of the taser, the suspect fell to the ground and struck his head on the concrete. Immediately after he was taken into custody, the officers rendered first aid until paramedics arrived. The adult male was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The Indiana State Police, along with the Hancock County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate this incident. 

Snow will arrive in central Indiana beginning at about 1 am Wednesday and affect the morning commute, says the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

"It will be kind of the 1-4 am hours south of I-70. As we get into areas north of I-70, it will be more like 4-7 am for snow onsets," said Aaron Updike, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

Updike expects anywhere between one to two inches will fall all across central Indiana.

"It will start transitioning over into rain as we get into mid-day on Wednesday. Precipitation will end in the late afternoon/early evening time period on Wednesday," said Updike.

Updike advises you to take it slow if you're planning on driving Wednesday morning.

"Make sure that you're prepared just in case there are slowdowns on the roads. Make sure you keep a couple of car lengths away from people. Give yourself a little extra room if you need to stop," said Updike.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed Executive Order 20-50 to curtail elective in-patient surgeries and implement targeted restrictions for counties that have high levels of COVID-19.

Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.

In an effort to preserve hospital intensive care unit capacity and try to lessen the strain on our overwhelmed health care workers on the front lines, hospitals are required to postpone or reschedule non-emergent procedures done in the in-patient hospital setting beginning Wednesday, Dec. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. Postponed procedures include those that are unlikely to cause risk to a patient’s prognosis. Hoosiers who need medical assistance should continue to see their doctor or go to a hospital.

The size of social gatherings is limited by the color metric of the county. Beginning Sunday, Dec. 13, local health departments are no longer allowed to grant permission for larger events.

The Indiana Department of Health has established a color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed. Each county is assigned a color based on the average scores for the two metrics. Restrictions are assigned based on the map, which is updated each Wednesday at www.coronavirus.in.gov.

Click here for an in-depth description of the requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties: https://www.in.gov/gov/files/12-13-1-3-Coronavirus-Response-Requirements.pdf

Among the new requirements are:

Red: The county has very high positivity and community spread. When a county is in the Red metric, these requirements remain in effect until the metric has returned to Orange or lower for two weeks.

• Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 25 people.
• K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to participants, support personnel, and parents/guardians plus their minor children.

Orange: The county’s community spread is approaching high levels. These requirements are in effect when a county reaches the Orange metric and remain until a county moves to Yellow or Blue for two straight weeks.

• Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 50 people.
• K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity in consultation with local health departments.

Yellow: The county has moderate community spread.

• Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 100 people.
• K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity in consultation with local health departments.

Blue: The county has low community spread.

• Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 250 people.
• K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities may continue with attendance limited to 25 percent capacity in consultation with local health departments.

Regardless of a county’s color code, community recreational sports leagues and tournaments may continue but are limited to participants, support personnel, and parents/guardians and their minor children.

College and professional sports may continue with participants, support personnel and family members. A local health department may approve a plan for up to 25 percent capacity.

Face coverings are required for all Hoosiers. Businesses of all types are required to place clearly visible signs at their public and employee entrances notifying all that face coverings are required.

All customers in restaurants and bars are required to be seated. Tables, counters, or other seating arrangements must be spaced six feet apart.

The executive order is effective through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.

Changes in the traffic pattern through Shelbyville's downtown construction are scheduled for this week.

Beginning Thursday, December 17, all traffic will be routed to the east side of the Public Square. The west side  will be closed with the following updates:
 

1. West Washington Street will be closed at the Public Square.  Access and parking will still be available up to the Public Square.
2. All traffic running North and South on Harrison will be shifted to the east side of the Public Square.
3. Pedestrian Crossings will not be available at the Public Square across North and South Harrison.  Crossing will be available at Franklin Street, Jackson Street and East and West Washington Street at the Public Square.  They are noted on the attached drawings.
4. The parking garage is open and will have access to the Public Square
5. A 5’ walkway will be maintained in front of the businesses in the construction area for pedestrian access.  Owners have been encouraged to use rear access if possible and will be notified when work is to be done that affects their entrance. 

Ten people have been arrested in a child solicitation sting in Johnson County, called Operation: Firewall.

At a news conference Friday morning, Sheriff Duane Burgess said the people were arrested when they showed up at a house in Greenwood to have sex with someone they thought was an underage girl.

"These individuals represent ones who went beyond that conversation and physically showed up to the location," said the sheriff. "Detectives created a false profile of a young female on a sex-oriented website. During the chat it made clear that the female was underage."

Burgess said the conversation turned sexual and some people were turned off right away and left the chat.

"Some individuals decline immediately upon learning the age. Others just want to engage in some type of sexual fantasy."

Burgess said low-level solicitation arrests sometimes result just from continuing the chat. But, the people are hard to find, if they don't actually make arrangements and show up.  Burgess said the operation was a collaboration with the Johnson County prosecutor's office and that detectives put a lot of work and research into making strong cases.

"The sheriff's office follows many social media sites in the process and researching we find information that we see, people talking on the internet. We may hear talk of human trafficking or people being taken from a shopping center."

The charges resulting from this week's sting are child solicitation, two charges of providing pornographic pictures to a minor and one drug arrest.

Four people were arrested after a man was pistol whipped and robbed in Columbus Thursday afternoon. 

At 1:30 pm, Columbus police were sent to the 3100 block of North National Road for a robbery. That’s on the north side of Columbus. The officers quickly found the robbery victim, who had been beaten with a handgun. 

The victim was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment. 

Columbus police then got a description of the robbers and the car they were driving. Soon after, an Indiana State Police trooper and deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office found the robbers. 

Four people were arrested and taken to the Bartholomew County Jail: 

Luis Javier Riviera Salaman, 37, of Seymour; Armed Robbery and Battery with a Deadly Weapon 

Jorge Nelson Ramos Barbosa, 25, of Seymour; Armed Robbery and Battery with a Deadly Weapon 

Giovanny Abdiel Hernandez Acevedo, 21, of Seymour; Armed Robbery and Battery with a Deadly Weapon

Emmanuel Gil Peralta, 19, of Seymour; Armed Robbery

The case is still under investigation.

As the calendar inches closer to the Christmas holiday, the Shelbyville Police Department urges residents to exercise caution when it comes to shopping and receiving packages. 

Lt. Mike Turner told Giant FM that as residents begin to shop, it is important to keep any items bought out of sight.

"If you are traveling from store to store, place items you purchased in your trunk, or if you have an SUV, place them in the back and cover them up. Shoppers need to be aware of their surroundings and always park in well lit areas and, when possible, shop with a friend of family member," Turner said. 

The  advice also extends homes, Turner said.

"If you have a tree placed in front of a window, don't place your wrapped gifts in front of a window. This invites those who may want to enter your home and steal your items. Once you return home and your Christmas is over, break down your boxes when placing them for trash pick up," Turner said.

Turner told Giant FM this is also the time of year that packages disappear off porches after delivery. 

"It is best to be home when deliveries are scheduled to be delivered. If you can’t be home, it helps to have a place out of public view to store items. Security cameras also provide an extra layer of protection for both your home and any packages you have delivered," Turner said. 

UPDATES FROM INCIDENT COMMAND:

• Positivity rate:  Shelby County is now in the “RED” category with a 21.72% positivity rate.  Shelby County is still quite high compared to neighboring counties.  Indiana is #1 in the country with the highest positivity rate per 100,000 population.  The Shelby County Health Department issued a press release yesterday outlining the new restrictions and recommendations and can be viewed at https://www.co.shelby.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/120820-Press-Release.pdf.  
• Vaccine distribution:  We expect the Pfizer vaccine to be approved officially by the Food & Drug Administration/EUA tomorrow for distribution.  Within one week, we anticipate receipt of the initial vaccine shipment and will immediately begin vaccinating those who meet the established criteria and choose to receive the vaccine. 
• Bamlanivimab “Bam” monoclonal drug for Covid treatment.  By the end of the day, we will have infused 78 patients with this experimental Eli Lilly drug.  Our hospital admission rate is 1.82% for high-risk patients that received this drug, which compares to a 10% admission rate for high-risk patients who did not receive the infusion.  Since our previous update, we have not had any patients experience a reaction.  We have approximately 150 vials remaining.   

• • Number of NEW positive results: 79 new positive cases since 12/7/2020
    • Out of the 79 new positive cases, 6 patients required inpatient care and 73 remained outpatient.  Testing turnaround times for COVID send-out tests to the State lab are greatly improved and taking between 36-72 hours at this time.    

• • Current number of 3^rd floor inpatients:  38 and 5 of those patients are in the Critical Care Unit (CCU)
    • Number of available 3^rd floor beds: 2
  • Currently, we have 22 inpatients that tested positive for COVID.

• MHP EMERGENCY DEPT STATUS:
  • Number of total ER patients in last 24 hours: 54 patients and 22 of those patients were life-threatening or met our critical care condition definition.   

VENT STATUS:

• Number of vents currently in use and number of vents available:
  • We have 1 ventilator(s) in use and 3 BiPAP in use, 0 trilogy units are in use.  This leaves us with 16 ventilation units available.   

Time is running out for Hoosiers to file a claim for their share of a restitution payment related to the 2017 Equifax data breach.

Hoosiers have until Wednesday, Dec. 16 to visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com and file a claim for a payment.

Nearly four million Hoosiers are eligible for a restitution payment, and most have not yet filed a claim, according to Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.

“As a result of our settlement with Equifax following its data breach, we have millions of dollars to distribute to eligible Hoosiers who visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com and successfully file a claim,” Attorney General Hill said. “But if you want the money you are rightfully owed, you have to act by Dec. 16. Visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com and file a claim today!”

The Equifax data breach occurred from May 2017 to July 2017 and exposed the personal information of 147 million Americans. Information compromised during the data breach included Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, driver's license numbers, and credit card details.

Attorney General Hill sued Equifax following the data breach and the company agreed to pay the state of Indiana $19.5 million.

Visit IndianaEquifaxClaims.com for more information about filing a claim and for answers to frequently asked questions about the settlement.

Shelbyville-based Major Health Partners Foundation (MHP) recently received a $5,000 grant from the Urology of Indiana Charitable Fund. The grant will be used to support the foundation’s RX Assistance Program.

The grant was awarded via a blind donor matching process through the Central Indiana Community Foundation. “This is one of our most popular and impactful programs. When a patient cannot afford their prescriptions, Major Health Partners Case Managers are able to access this program to “bridge” the patient until long-term, stable assistance is found. Generally, the pharmaceutical companies have very good assistance programs, but the application period is four to six weeks. This leaves the patient without their medications during a time when they are the most vulnerable, particularly if they are at risk for being admitted or readmitted to the hospital”, said MHP Foundation Executive Director, Angela Gill.

Urology of Indiana is the largest urology private practice in Indiana with over 50 providers. It operates 15 locations across Indianapolis and central Indiana to provide patients with cost-effective, comprehensive urologic, urogynecologic and cancer care. “We are excited to support the Major Health Partners Foundation with the resources they need for their patient RX Assistance program. Our corporate giving team is committed to supporting organizations like theirs that promote positive health outcomes,” said Britt McDermott, Urology of Indiana’s Chief Executive Officer. 

The Major Hospital Foundation supports Major Health Partners and its patients by cultivating relationships with donors and encouraging charitable gifts. The gifts are used to further advance the care provided by MHP. The Foundation supports MHP and its patients with funding for technology, equipment, facilities, patient assistance and education.

“This grant is really important to the MHP Foundation because we can help prevent patients from getting into a downward health spiral, and instead, help them manage their health right from the moment of diagnosis. It also prevents avoidable hospital admissions. We’re very grateful to receive this grant from the Urology of Indiana Charitable Fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.  It is going to make a wonderful difference in the lives of many MHP patients,” Gill added.

Feeling lucky? This week's lottery jackpots have big prizes.

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is worth an estimated $264 million.  Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is worth an estimated $262 million.

The cash options for both jackpots are in the $200 million dollar range before taxes.

Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern time. Players have one hour until then to purchase a ticket.

Following last week's Shelby County Plan Commission vote to pass on the amended solar ordinance, Shelby County Commissioners took up the debate Monday.

Commissioners passed the amended ordinance 2-1 in a contentious end to the meeting.  County Planning Director Desiree Calderella addressed some of the points of the amended ordinance during questioning from County Commissioner Don Parker.

Parker went on to voice displeasure at the ordinance prompting a response from Commissioner Chris Ross.

Parker also questioned the past lawsuit filed in the case involving the solar farm that was eventually approved in the Morristown area.

Parker submitted a motion to pass the ordinance back to the Plan Commission for further review.  The motion failed for lack of a second leading to the eventual 2-1 vote.

A two-car collision in Shelby County Wednesday evening left three people injured.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department says Stacey Parks, of Morristown, was driving a 2010 Dodge Avenger northbound on State Road 9 near 600 North.  Kelly Ramey, of Bargersville, was driving a 2019 GMC Sierra westbound on 600 North.  The Sheriff's Department says Ramey failed to stop at the intersection and drove into the path of Parks' vehicle.

Parks was transported to Methodist Hospital.  A passenger in the Parks vehicle and Ramey were taken to MHP for medical treatment.

The U.S. government has bought an additional 650,000 doses of Eli Lilly’s coronavirus antibody treatment bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555).

The purchase agreement is for $812.5 million.

Bamlanivimab recently received emergency use authorization for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus patients who are at high risk for progressing to severe coronavirus symptoms and/or hospitalization.

The doses will be delivered through January 31, 2021. At least 350,000 of the additional doses will be delivered this month. This purchase brings the total doses purchased by the U.S. government to 950,000.

“Given the significant increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the U.S., we are doing everything possible to quickly provide more bamlanivimab doses to Americans,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly’s chairman and CEO. “We are proud of our work to deploy significant manufacturing capacity and remain committed to enabling widespread and equitable access to bamlanivimab. The U.S. government’s effort to allocate bamlanivimab around the country is critical to ensuring it reaches patients who need it the most.”

Americans who get bamlanivimab would not have to pay anything out-of-pocket, but healthcare facilities may charge a fee for it to be administered. 

There are new Shelby County COVID guidelines updated under the guidance of the CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health. 

The following information was approved by Health Officer, Dr. Chris Loman:

“CDC currently recommends a quarantine period of 14 days. However, based on local circumstances and resources, the following options to shorten quarantine are acceptable alternatives.”

Shelby County Health Department will follow the below guidelines when our county is below a 15% infection rate on the ISDH Dashboard. If we are above that infection rate, we will continue with the current 14-day quarantine period.

SHELBY COUNTY QUARANTINE HARDSHIP POLICY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL, WORK OR VOLUNTEER POSITIONIN COORDINATION WITH EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT, EMPLOYER OR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER

?Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing, and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring, and education has been completed. *

? Quarantine can end after Day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative (test must not be collected before day 5 of quarantine period but will not supersede testing for ill individuals or a first time to test person based on testing capacity), education has been completed, and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. *

CONTINUED REQUIREMENTS and CLARIFICATIONS UNTIL THE END OF STANDARD 14 DAY QUARANTINE

•           Continued symptom monitoring, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and masking through Day 14. *Symptom monitoring at least two times per day, AM & PM, MUST BE documented with Pt. Name, DOB, sign and symptom (s/s) checklist completed with printed name and signature of person completing monitoring for each s/s review event and returned to place of employment or school for submission to the Local Health Department.

•           Adults or their Legal Guardians should complete and sign that they have completed appropriate education to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. The following link provides education: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Or with documentation from a healthcare provider that education has been completed and the client verbalizes understanding and agrees to compliance.

•           Individual should have received annual flu vaccination or medical documentation explaining contraindication to vaccination

*IF COUNTY RATE INCREASES ABOVE BASELINE OUTLINED ABOVE, OR THE INDIVIDUAL BEING MONITORED DEVELOPS S/S, OR REQUIRMENTS NOT MEET EARLY QUARANTINE RELEASE MAY BE RECINDED.

A major Indianapolis event is being postponed because of coronavirus.

The 2021 Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show, originally scheduled for Feb. 19 – 28, 2021, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, is being pushed to 2022 because of coronavirus.

“Due to the world-wide pandemic, the State of Indiana has imposed restrictions on events. As a result of those restrictions and constraints specific to Indiana State Fairgrounds, it has become evidently clear our show would not be able to perform and meet the exceedingly high standards we set for each Renfro Production,” organizer Renfro Productions wrote on Facebook.

Also postponed are the Indiana Motorcycle & Powersports Expo and the 2021 Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo.

The Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show and the Indiana Motorcycle & Powersports Expo will return to the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Feb. 18, 2022, and the Indiana Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Expo will arrive on Feb. 24, 2022.

House and Senate leaders are noncommittal about whether you might pay more for cigarettes next year.

Business and health groups have argued for years the state could cut smoking rates by raising the tax. The tax of just under a dollar a pack is the 12th-lowest in the country, and hasn't gone up in 13 years.

House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) says the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the cost of Indiana's poor public health, and says Republicans will introduce bills to improve it. But he says his members haven't discussed whether a cigarette tax hike should be one of them.

He and Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray won't go beyond saying it's a possibility. Bray notes a tax bill would have to start in the House anyway, and says senators will consider it if it reaches them.

Huston, Bray and Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) all agree if they do take up a cigarette tax bill, they need to think about how the money would be spent.

Bray and Taylor both say they'd like to see any cigarette tax hike earmarked for health needs. Taylor says there should be a particular focus on health in poor neighborhoods.

In the last six years, the House has voted twice to raise the cigarette tax, and once to impose a tax on vaping fluid. The Senate killed all three, with the vape tax becoming entangled in a stalemate over the proper way to impose it.

The Shelby County Plan Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday evening to further discuss and take comment on proposed changes to the county's solar ordinance.

The meeting is at 7:00 pm.  County Commissioner Don Parker notes that it will be a limited affair for the public due to Covid-19.

Access to a county meeting is supposed to be available by dialing: 720-712-7964

• Priority Care and Walk-ins.  Our volumes were stable over the weekend.  However, today is a very busy day in both locations.  The next 10-20 days will be critical in seeing how the Thanksgiving holiday will impact our volumes. 
• Bamlanivimab “Bam” monoclonal drug for Covid treatment.  By today’s end, we will have infused 32 patients with this experimental Eli Lilly drug.  We have slightly less than 100 vials remaining and expect to receive 30 more sometime soon.  All but one patient has tolerated the drug well without any major interactions and those patients are no longer symptomatic or are showing improvement.  One patient had a moderate reaction but has since discharged to home.  The drug is designed to reduce and stop the viral load in mild to moderately ill patients who are at high risk or have underlying health conditions.  The cost of the drug is free to the patient.  The only charge to the patient is for the saline used and the infusion charge.  Most insurances are providing coverage.
• Nursing homes:  All local nursing homes are steady and stable.  Across all the local nursing homes, only two residents remain in isolation with a positive diagnosis. 

• MHP TESTING STATUS:
  • Number of NEW positive results: 88 new positive cases since 11/27/2020
    • Out of the 88 new positive cases, 14 patients required inpatient care and 74 remained outpatient.  We only a limited supply of rapid tests remaining and new orders are on allocation.  We anticipate the arrival of 300 additional tests later this week.  All other testing supplies are sufficient.  

• MHP INPATIENT STATUS:
  • Current number of 3^rd floor inpatients:  36 and 7 of those patients are in the Critical Care Unit (CCU)
    • Number of available 3^rd floor beds: 4
  • Currently, we have 21 inpatients that tested positive for COVID.

• MHP EMERGENCY DEPT STATUS:
  • Number of total ER patients in last 24 hours: 62 patients. 

• VENT STATUS:
  • Number of vents currently in use and number of vents available:
    • We have 3 ventilators in use and 3 BiPAP in use, 1 trilogy unit is in use.  This leaves us with 14 ventilation units available.