Southport Police Blood Drive

Southport, IN (July 24, 2020) - Now is a good time to give blood if you have never done so. The Southport Police Department is holding its annual Fallen Officer Blood Drive tomorrow.

The police department blood drive is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the training room at the Southport Municipal Complex at 137 Worman Street. To schedule a time to donate, click here.

Press release regarding this Saturday’s, “Fallen Officer Blood Drive” in partnership with Virsiti Blood Center of Indiana.

Use the link below to schedule your appointment to donate ahead of Saturday. #SouthportStronghttps://t.co/sfGQ8YWcU2 pic.twitter.com/UnNoVmX5tx

— Southport Police (@SouthportPD) July 22, 2020

This an opportunity for you to “raise your sleeve” in memory of the Indiana police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Use the map below to find your way to the Blood Drive.



July 27 will mark three years since the department lost Lt. Aaron Allan, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. The goal of the blood drive is to give a little in honor of those who gave all.

Homecroft Hamburger Soup

Homecroft, IN (July 24, 2020) - Nana always loved having family and friends over and nobody ever left her house hungry.  Nana's Homecroft Hamburger Soup was always a big hit and is so easy to make. Loaded with ground beef and vegetables, and the perfect comforting soup recipe for a weeknight dinner.

Nothing better than a bowl of warm and hearty soup made with simple ingredients you have on hand in your fridge and pantry. If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, this soup is great reheated for lunches all week but even better, it freezes perfectly.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup potatoes peeled and diced
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 6 cubes beef bouillon
• 5 cups of water
• 1 (8 ounces) can tomato sauce
• 1 (16 ounces) can diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (10 ounces) package frozen corn kernels
• 1 teaspoon dried basil 3 tablespoons ketchup

Directions
In a medium skillet, brown hamburger over medium heat. Drain off fat.
Combine beef, carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, bouillon, water, tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, salt, corn, basil, and ketchup in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for at least 1 1/2 hours.

SOURCE: Nana

Marion County Under New Restrictions

Marion County, IN (July 23, 2020) - Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett announced new COVID-19 restrictions for Marion County today. The new changes will go into effect tomorrow, July 24.

• Masks will remain mandatory. They must be worn in a way that covers the nose and mouth.
• Social gatherings cannot exceed 50 individuals, other than religious ceremonies. 
• Indoor religious ceremonies can operate up to 50% capacity. Outdoor services can continue without restrictions.
• Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food will close through at least August 12.
• Restaurants will operate at 50% capacity, and all restaurants must close between midnight and 5 a.m.
• Personal services such as hair salons and tattoo parlors will be by appointment only.
• For K-12 schools, in-person instruction can not begin until August 5.
• Gyms will operate at 25% capacity.

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No travel restrictions are being made at this time, but travel to states with high virus rates should consider quarantining for 14 days upon returning, the mayor said.

The positive rate in Marion County jumped by 50%. Hogsett said, “Without a response, that trajectory will undo all the hard work we’ve done, have put in, over the past four months.”

Transmission of the coronavirus most often occurred indoors for social occasions, especially the age group 20-30 in gyms, bars and other venues, the mayor said, citing research.

Roncalli High School Changes Nickname

Indianapolis, IN (July 22, 2020) - Roncalli High School, located on the south side of Indianapolis will soon change their school nickname from the “Rebels” to a new name to be decided by the Roncalli community, school officials announced today.

Father Robert Roberson, interim president of Roncalli High School said he will appoint a special task force this summer to explore alternative names and symbols that will “better reflect our Catholic mission and honor the legacy of our patron, Angelo Roncalli.”

“The confusion and negative connotation attached to the name Rebels are also a source of concern as we move forward over the next 50 years,” said Terese Carson, vice president for institutional advancement. “We have had alumni and community member express concerns about how this nickname can be misunderstood, particularly as it relates to our deep commitment to honoring the dignity of every person, as Christ calls us to do.”


Roncalli has used the “rebel” mascot and nickname since its creation in 1969, out the consolidation of two different Catholic high schools. The school was named for Pope John XXIII, whose family name was Roncalli. According to the school’s website, the nickname was in homage to him. John XXIII was “referred to by some in the church as a rebel.”

Governor announces mask mandate

Indianapolis, IN (July 22, 2020) - Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that face masks would be mandatory throughout the state during today's press conference.

Starting July 27, anyone over the age of 8 will be required to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces, commercial entities, transportation services or any outside public spaces where social distancing is not possible.

"The simple act of covering our faces, as odd as it may feel, can help us prevent the transmission of the virus, which is why this is the next prudent step that we as a state need to take," Holcomb said.

In school, masks will be required for any children in third grade or older, as well as faculty, staff, volunteers and anyone else in the school. Masks will also be required for co-curricular and extracurricular activities that do not involve strenuous physical activity.

While not required, it is recommended that children ages 2 to 7 wear a mask as well. While not wearing a mask is considered a Class B misdemeanor, Holcomb said enforcement will not be strict. "Please know that the mask police will not be patrolling Indiana streets," Holcomb said.

Exemptions will be made for the following:

• Medical purposes 
• Strenuous physical activity 
• Eating and drinking

 “I know not everyone will be supportive of this mandate. Compliance and enforcement are always in question. Our approach, if you recall, since Day 1, since the very beginning of this pandemic, has an approach of education, of appealing to one’s civic duty and public good. You might even say public pride and being part of the solution. And it will continue to be.”


 Indiana’s mask mandate comes after the neighboring states of Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky begun such mandates. Ohio’s mask mandate begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.

SOURCE:

Mask Mandates Expand Across Retailers

Beech Grove, IN (July 22, 2020) - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, several businesses have begun to require every customer to wear a mask or some type of face covering before entering their establishment, regardless of whether or not it is required by that county, city or state.

Nearly 40 states now require masks in public places, with Alabama, Arkansas and Colorado adding mandates and Ohio requiring masks in a dozen counties. Individual businesses can choose to institute further restrictions, and the National Retail Federation is encouraging retailers to set nationwide mask policies to protect shoppers and employees.

Here is a list of businesses that have announced that customers at all of their locations nationwide will be required to wear masks or some type of face coverings before entering.

• ALDI (Beginning July 27) 
• Apple 
• Banana Republic (Beginning August 1) 
• Best Buy 
• Costco 
• CVS 
• Gap (Beginning August 1) 
• Goodwill (Beginning July 22) 
• Home Depot (Beginning July 22) 
• Kohl's 
• Kroger (Beginning July 22) 
• Lowe's 
• Marc's 
• Meijer 
• Menards 
• Old Navy (Beginning August 1) 
• Panera Bread 
• Petco 
• PetSmart 
• Publix 
• Sam's Club 
• Starbucks 
• Target (Beginning August 1) 
• Walmart 
• Walgreens

SOURCE: USA Today

Discount Grocery Chain Aldi Expands

Indianapolis, IN (July 22, 2020) - After passing the 2,000-store marker, Aldi announced Tuesday that it will open over 70 new stores this year. The privately held grocer is on track to become the third largest supermarket chain behind Kroger and Walmart in terms of store count, with 2,500 stores by the end of 2022.

Aldi did not announce where the 70 new stores would be, but it will enter Arizona, its 37th state, later this year, with four new stores in the Phoenix area. Aldi will also open a new regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley, Alabama, to distribute to stores in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.

Aldi has a low-cost business model and boasts that its prices are up to 50% cheaper than traditional supermarkets. Stores, at around 12,000 square feet, are much smaller than a typical US supermarket of 40,000 square feet. More than 90% of the brands Aldi sells are its own private labels.

There are other quirks to the store, too. Shoppers need a quarter to rent a shopping cart. At checkout, cashiers hurry shoppers away, expecting them to bag their own groceries in a separate location away from the cash register. Aldi opened its first US store in 1976, but in recent years it has invested more than $5 billion to remodel existing stores and to open hundreds of new stores.

Aldi is expanding at a moment when much of the retail industry is in turmoil. The pandemic has forced retailers such as JCPenney into bankruptcy, led to job losses and caused thousands of permanent store closures. A record 25,000 US stores may close this year.

SOURCE: Aldi Newsroom

Walmart Pushes Credit and Debit Card Usage

Indianapolis, IN (July 16, 2020) — Walmart is changing up how you pay your bill. You can still use cash, but Walmart is asking customers to pay with credit or debit cards when possible. Here's a statement from Walmart Spokesperson Avani Dudhia:

“Like most retailers, we’re experiencing the affects of the nation-wide coin shortage,” spokesperson Avani Dudhia said. “We’re asking customers to pay with card or use correct change when possible if they need to pay with cash.”

Some self-checkout registers have been converted to card-only registers. Dudhia added that some stores have been moving registers to card-only on an as-needed basis.

The coin shortage was caused due to a supply chain disruption since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, government officials have explained.

“What’s happened is that, with the partial closure of the economy, the flow of coins through the economy has gotten all — it’s kind of stopped,” Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said during a virtual hearing with the House Financial Services Committee last month.




This coin shortage won’t last forever. The Walmart spokesperson says their issues won’t either. But in the meantime, you’re being asked to “charge it”.

Beech Grove Man Arrested for Drug Possession

Wheatfield, IN (July 15, 2020) - A Beech Grove man driving through Jasper County last week was arrested and charged with four offenses by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

Tymothy J. Debolt, 31, will face charges of dealing in methamphetamine (Level 4 felony), possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 felony), habitual traffic offender (Level 6 felony) and possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor) after he was spotted at a gas station in Wheatfield on July 7.

According to police, a female called 911 advising the sheriff’s department that a vehicle had followed her from Indiana 2 and I-65 into Wheatfield.

After his car was found stopped at a gas station, deputies approached Debolt, who said he followed the other vehicle because he thought it was one of his “buddies.” Deputies would later discover that Debolt was a habitual traffic offender and should not have been driving.

Because Debolt appeared nervous and because of his previous record, JCSD brought in K9 Alfa and his handler to complete an open-air sniff of Debolt’s vehicle. Alfa alerted police to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

Eventually, deputies obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, which revealed individual baggies containing a crystal substance that field-tested positive for meth. Paraphernalia was also found.

Debolt was later transported to the Jasper County Detention Center. Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

SOURCE: Northwest Indiana Times

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