Bloomfield News Blog

The 2010 Census was the topic of discussion at the Thursday meeting of the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.Guest speaker Norm Crampton, a partnership specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau, shared the census’ importance and other details.

Census forms will be mailed out during the week of March 15.

“We’ll ask you to fill it out. It comes with a postage paid envelope,” he explained.

It has 10 simple questions on it. It’ll ask your name, age, gender, race as well as if you rent or own your home, among others.

“We’re not using the long form this time. We’re using the short form only,” he said, noting the long form is not popular.

He also stressed that the Census doesn’t ask for social security numbers or other such confidential information.

“There’s no sensitive information that’s asked,” he stressed.

The Census Bureau gets all of its information by mail. There’s no phone calls or Internet use, he also said.

“The Census is also important,” he stressed, noting its been conducted since 1790.

“The idea (for it) was to have the right number of government representatives,” he said.

Representation is the No. 1 reason for the Census.

Indiana now has 13 members of the House of Representatives.

“The 2010 count will determine whether we have (keep) 13 members in the House,” he said.

Some neighboring states are forecasted to lose representation in the 2010 Census. Indiana is forecasted to hang onto the current number.

Money is the No. 2 reason for the Census.

“We need all the money we can get,” he said, noting current budget cuts.

Census information helps determine how federal funding is spent.

The No. 3 reason for the Census is information.

“Census data describes the community,” he said.

In 2000, the Census had a 68 percent return on its first mailing.

“That’s still a long way away to 100 percent,” he added.

He also stressed how persistent the U.S. Census Bureau is.

If the first mailing isn’t returned, then expect a second one. If the second mailing isn’t returned, then expect a third one. If the third mailing isn’t returned then expect a visit from an enumerator.

“The Census Bureau is persistent,” Crampton said. “Our objective is to count 100 percent.”

Snow is on its way, but will the predicted winter storm bury us in snow or pass us by?There’s always a question when it comes to predicting the weather, but WTHI TV 10 Meteorologist David Wire shed light on the current weather system in an interview with the Greene County Daily World on Monday afternoon.

“The deal with this one (system) is it’s not like the last one. There’s nothing like ice, rain or sleet. It’s just another winter storm with a lot of snow,” Wire explained.

In a nutshell, he predicts a total of six inches of snow to hit the area.

The first three inches will be here by sunrise Tuesday and an additional three inches will accumulate by sunset Tuesday.

“The snow will begin just before midnight (Monday),” he added. “The heaviest snow will be overnight (Monday) while most of us our sleeping.”

Look for a blast of winter wind to also smack the area this time around.

“After all the snow comes down … on the backside of the low pressure system late (Tuesday) afternoon … winds will pick up. Wind speeds will be 25 to 35 (mph) Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.”

The snow will be done by Wednesday morning, but the blowing and drifting will make it seem like it’s still snowing, he noted.

Look for the snow to stick around at least for awhile.

“The average temperature is in the upper 30s now. We don’t return to average until after the weekend,” Wire said.

On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Greene and Sullivan Counties among others in the state.

The winter storm is expected to bring snow to the Hoosier state — with some areas receiving significant amounts.

Strong blowing and drifting snow will also cause concern tonight into Wednesday — with wind gusts up to 35 mph, the National Weather Service also said.

With a winter storm bearing down on Greene County, county and state highway crews will be out in force making the roadways safer for motorists.Greene County Highway Superintendent Mike Hennette says his crews will be out on the roadways as soon as daybreak hits.

“We have salt and sand and we’re going to be out there at daylight (Tuesday),” Hennette told the Greene County Daily World.

He reminded motorists that the salt-sand mixture is diluted this winter season in an effort to conserve the supply.

Hennette said normally the sand-to-salt mix is 3 to 1, but this year that’s been scaled back to concern costly salt to a 7 to 1 mix ratio. The result is a road application that is lighter on salt than usual.

Last year, Hennette said the department spread about 800 tons of salt on roads that cost an average of $110 a ton — or about $88,000. This year, the salt purchase was reduced to $30,000.

After the upcoming storm, Hennette estimated that his department will have used about 200 tons — one-fourth of what was spread last winter.

Indiana Department Transportation Vincennes District spokesperson Cher Goodwin said INDOT crews will be ready in the Linton Sub-district.

“With the prior weekend’s event, there is enough materials on the road to act as our typical ‘pre-treatment’. We anticipate having full crews out in that area around 7 p.m., however, it will be watched as the storm approaches,” Goodwin said. “Crews will work 12-hour shifts until the weather event is over and the pavement is clear and dry. We have ample (ice-melting) materials in all of our locations.”

The Greene County Sheriff’s Department (GCSD) reported one person was injured and taken to the hospital following an accident late Friday afternoon as ice and snow made roadways slick and hazardous.Joseph R. Thomas, 41, Shelburn, was transported by the Greene County Ambulance Service to Sullivan Hospital with a complaint of pain to his shoulder and ribs.

Thomas was southbound in a 2002 Ford Focus wagon on County Road 1500W when the accident occurred at 5 p.m.

Greene County Sheriff Terry D. Pierce responded to the scene and reported Thomas began to skid on the ice-covered road as he approached the intersection with CR 900N.

He was unable to stop at the intersection and slid into the path of a 1987 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck driven by Chase W. Frye, 18, Jasonville, who was eastbound on CR 900N.

Frye’s pickup struck Thomas’s vehicle in the right front.

The Jasonville Police Department and Wright Township Fire & Rescue also responded to assist on the scene.

GCSD reported another driver received minor injuries in a Sunday morning accident involving one vehicle.

The Greene County Ambulance Service responded to the scene but the driver, Timothy Blocksom of Elnora, signed a release and was then transported by personal vehicle to Greene County General Hospital.

GCSD Deputy J. Aaron Smith reported Blocksom was northbound at 10:07 a.m. in a silver 2002 Honda Civic on CR 1050W near CR 90S when his vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, went over and embankment and came to rest in a ditch.

The Linton Fire Department also responded to assist on the scene.

A 36-year-old Linton woman was taken to jail early Saturday after she allegedly left a bar parking lot and drove into the yard of the Linton Public Library, got her car stuck in mud, then blew a .17 on a Datamaster test for alcohol.Patricia Kathryn Ax was booked into the Greene County Jail by Linton Reserve Police Officer Brock Garrison at 4:14 a.m. and released later in the day after posting $4,000 bond.

Garrison said he was on routine patrol around 2:50 a.m. when he approached the library and noticed a silver Chevrolet Impala had driven into the grass on the north side of the library and had gotten stuck.

The officer pulled over to speak to the driver. She identified herself as Ax and the officer reported he noticed the smell of an alcoholic beverage. He called for other officers to assist.

LPD Cpl. Paul Clark and Officer Nick Yingling arrived and Ax was taken to the Linton Police Department for standard field sobriety tests. She was also asked to submit to a breath test, which she did — the accident report states the result was .17 BAC (blood-alcohol content).

Although Ax’s address is listed in Linton on the accident report, it is listed as Lyons on the booking form at the jail.

She was arrested on the preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in a manner which endangered a person, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least .15 grams or more of alcohol in blood or breath.

On Monday, judging from the muddy ruts in the north lawn of the library, it appeared the vehicle traveled from the street up the sidewalk and came to a stop between the flag pole and the entrance to the library.

According to the accident report, she left the lot of Bottom’s Up Bar on SE 1st St and for an unknown reason, traveled east across SE 1st and into the lawn.

No injuries were reported.

Ax is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

* Eminence at Linton boys varsity basketball game scheduled for tonight has been moved to Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.* Linton’s freshman basketball game scheduled for Feb. 10 will be played Feb. 11.

* Saturday’s Linton 5th and 6th grade boys basketball game at Dugger has been cancelled.

* The Shakamak at Clay City boys varsity basketball game scheduled for tonight will be played Saturday at 6 p.m.

* The North Central at Union boys and girls varsity basketball doubleheader has been moved to Monday at 6 p.m.

* The White River Valley at Eastern Greene boys basketball basketball game WILL BE PLAYED tonight.

 

If you have a cancellation please e-mail cpruett79@hotmail.com and schneider.nick@gmail.com

It’s a story that Middle Way House’s Christi Turpin hears too often in Greene County.A young teenage girl comes into her office and says she’s been a victim of date violence.

She is scared, hurt, embarrassed and doesn’t know what to do.

Fortunately, help is available and this week Turpin and her staffer Jeanette Walker took an awareness message of hope and information to several local schools.

This is “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week” and Turpin said she visited four of five local high schools over their lunch breaks to pass out resource information and talk to girls and boys about the problem of dating violence as well as date rape.

“We were just giving them statistics and telling them if this is happening to you, it’s wrong. That was our point,” Turpin pointed out. “We just handed stuff out during the lunch hour. The kids came up to us voluntarily. They weren’t made to do it. The kids were receptive.”

She visited Eastern Greene on Tuesday, Shakamak on Wednesday, White River Valley on Thursday, and Linton-Stockton High yesterday.

“It’s a huge problem,” Turpin told the Greene County Daily World on Thursday. “We have teenage clients all of the time. It is not unheard of.”

She noted that statistically, during a lifetime 1 in 4 women will be a victim of dating violence and 1 in 10 men. In addition, 54 percent of teen girls surveyed nationally say at some point they have been abused by a boyfriend, and 37 percent of boys have said they have been abused by a girlfriend.

Turpin said it is important for parents to know what do if they suspect their daughter or son have been abused in a date situation.

“A lot of parents don’t react because they just don’t know what to say and they are afraid of saying the wrong thing and then it gets worse.”

How can you tell if your teenager is in an abusive relationship?

“Because they are still learning about relationships, and your teenager may not understand that their relationship is abusive or perceive the dangers of being involved with a violent person. Dating violence affects children as early as middle school and occurs in a third of early relationships,” Turpin explained. “Maintaining open communication is the best way to know about their relationships.”

Turpin said many children don’t want to talk about dating with their parents and may not wish to open up about their relationship.

There are some warning signs that might signal an abusive relationship.

* Sudden changes in habits or routines.

* Wearing clothing to cover bruises.

* Separation from their friends.

* Falling grades.

* Unexplained or suspicious injuries.

* Receiving harassing phone calls or being stalked.

“Talking to your kids about the safety of their relationships can be challenging for any parent. Teenagers may resent the intrusion into their privacy or the assumption that they have not made good relationship choices. The novelty of being in a relationship and the romanticized view of young relationships in popular culture may keep a teenager in an abusive relationship even if it becomes physically or emotionally violent,” Turpin stated.

She suggests the following ways to approach your teenager about a relationship problem:

* Listen first. Let them tell their side of the story before you decide what to say to them.

* Stay calm. Getting angry will prevent your child from opening up to you or listening to your message.

* Let them know they are not in trouble. Talking about these issues with your parents can be tense and stressful.

* Let them know that you are concerned, that you love them, and that you want to help.

* Don’t make ultimatums. Telling your children to leave a relationship may make it stronger. They are more likely to leave when they feel empowered to make the decision for themselves. Supporting them to make the right choices themselves will help them to make good relationship choices in the future.

* Tell them about their options. Sometimes it’s easier to talk about relationships with someone who is not a parent. They can speak to a counselor at school, a doctor, or an advocate, such as those available at Middle Way.

Middle Way House is a National Model Domestic Violence Program and Rape Crisis Center based in Bloomington with a satellite office that was established in Bloomfield in 1994 and with an office in Jasonville since 2004.

Offices are also in Morgan, Martin, Lawrence and Owen counties.

Contract Middle Way House by calling 384-8769 in Bloomfield, 665-3642 for Middle Way in Jasonville, or (812) 336-0846 for Middle Way’s 24-hour crisis line.

Driving on the newly constructed Interstate 69 in parts of Greene County took an acceleration forward — becoming closer to reality on Wednesday with a major announcement by officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).The Federal Highway Administration has issued a Tier 2 Record of Decision (ROD) for Section 3 of the I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis project.

Section 3 begins just north of U.S. 50 east of Washington and runs through Daviess County into Greene County to U.S. 231 near the NSA Crane Center.

Construction is set to begin in April, according to INDOT officials.

“We began construction of portions of Section 1 in 2008 and now, issuance of the ROD in Section 3 means we’ll advance 26 additional miles in the near future,” said INDOT Commissioner Michael W. Reed. “Gov. Daniels pledged to make I-69 a reality; with every day that passes and every additional milestone that is reached, Indiana is another step closer to seeing this vital transportation asset built.”

The ROD was handed down January 28.

“Refined Preferred Alternative 1 was chosen because it best addresses the project purposes while balancing important environmental, community, and economic values. The ROD authorizes the use of federal funds in the design and construction of Section 3 of I-69,” INDOT spokesperson Cher Goodwin said.

“We will have all of sections 1, 2 and 3 open to traffic by the end of 2012,” Goodwin told the Greene County Daily World on Wednesday night.

The corridor for the entire I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis project was approved by FHWA in March 2004, based on the Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Study released in December 2003. With the issuance of a Tier 2 Section 3 ROD, Section 3 becomes the second of the six Tier 2 sections to complete its studies under the National Environmental Policy Act.

“The cooperation of local officials and the communities has been a major factor in the success of the projects going to construction on schedule” added Samuel Sarvis, Deputy Commissioner of Major Programs.

INDOT’s new schedule — announced last November — will have the interstate built to NSA Crane three years sooner than expected and officials say they have a goal of finishing it within the original $700 million budget.

To meet budget, a couple of interchanges, estimated to cost about $20 million each, have been eliminated in southern Daviess and northern Pike counties.

INDOT is also going to make the highway’s medians narrower and its pavement thinner than first planned.

Those changes were announced in the wake of an estimate that put the cost of building I-69 between Evansville and Indianapolis at $3.1 billion — exceeding the $1.7 billion cost forecast in 2003.

Eventually, I-69 will connect Evansville with Indianapolis and run north to Canada. Construction of I-69, south of Indiana is still in the planning stages.

The proposed I-69 extension will connect three different border crossings in Texas (Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville) to I-465 in Indianapolis; from there, traffic will continue over the existing I-69 and other freeways to border crossings in Detroit, Port Huron or Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

Daily office hours are available in the Washington field office, located at 60 N. Commercial Park Drive, or by phone (812-254-2831) for questions or comments.

The Tier 2 Section 3 ROD may be viewed on the I-69 project Web site and at INDOT and FHWA offices.

Questions or comments pertaining to Section 3 or other parts of the project may also be directed to the I-69 Project Web site at www.i69indyevn.org.