Cambridge City

Majority of Indiana counties at orange COVID level this week, Wayne better at yellow

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In a week when Hoosiers are still digging out from a significant winter storm, Governor Holcomb’s news conference brought welcome news regarding Indiana’s COVID-19 positivity rates.  The color-coded maps “look the best they have in months” according to Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana’s State Health Commissioner Wednesday, February 17. No counties were at the red level this week, down from 4 last week.  Wayne County remains at the yellow level first achieved last week; however, the infection level decreased from 1.5 to level 1.  While this is a reason to be optimistic, County residents must continue to be diligent about measures to keep the spread contained until the majority are vaccinated. Other highlights:

Because of the unpredictability of when vaccine shipments will arrive in the state, Indiana will keep the threshold of those eligible at 65 and older.  Dr. Lindsay Weaver, Indiana’s Chief Medical Officer suggests that anyone receiving the first vaccine dose should take a picture of their vaccination card to help ensure the second dose is from the same manufacturer. Many organizations are helping with registration, transportation, and other barriers to getting vaccines into the arms of those who are eligible, including Area Agencies on Aging, AARP, library staff across the state and managed care partners.  Success stories were shared as these contacts have reached people who said they had not previously planned to get vaccinated. Dr. Box responded to a question about whether individuals who test positive with a variant strain of COVID are notified.  She responded that they are as ISDH wants to do additional contact tracing.  The other strains have been found to be more contagious than the dominant strain the US has fought since the pandemic first began.

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Cambridge City, Indiana: ‘We have momentum’

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By Louise Ronald

At a time when small towns all over the country find themselves struggling, Cambridge City, Indiana, is bucking that trend. People drive from miles around to visit its antique shops and eat at its many restaurants. There are several new businesses on Main Street, and active construction/renovation projects promise more to come. Gateway Industrial Park has three thriving tenants and the local Chamber of Commerce has more than 50 members, including manufacturers, service providers, retail and more. “We are on a roll,” said Jim King of the Cambridge City Main Street organization.

Cambridge City

Wayne County COVID-19: Share your story

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Wayne County Government Launches Public Awareness Campaign Encouraging Masks and Other Precautions to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Their mission:
Richmond, IN (December 16, 2020) – As Wayne County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to climb the urgency to wear a mask, social distance, and follow other recommended guidelines from the Wayne County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is critical. Wayne County Government, along with a coalition of many other organizations, including health care, mental health, schools, and businesses, are using Cares Act grant dollars to develop a public awareness campaign. The Share Your Story COVID-19 Wayne County campaign focuses on personal stories of those who have been affected by the virus. Ken Paust, President of the Wayne County Commissioners, says it’s critical we slow the transmission of COVID-19 in Wayne County. “We want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday.

Cambridge City

Healthcare workers fear post-holiday virus surge

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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s weekly news conference, November 18, was led by Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana’s State Health Commissioner, as the Governor and his wife quarantine at home per COVID-19 guidelines. Several members of his security detail tested positive for COVID the day before. While neither the Governor nor his wife have symptoms, they have participated in contact tracing and will get tested later in the week. Dr. Box recommends getting tested 48 hours from the first sign of positive symptoms in a close contact. Cases are rising dramatically in Indiana and across the Midwest.

Cambridge City

Fayette among nation’s worst for COVID surge; Pfizer announces promising vaccine update

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Fayette County health officials announced that the county has some of the worst COVID-19 statistics in the country. Wayne County also is struggling to slow the virus’ spread, with about 75 new cases reported daily on two days last week, and Reid Health setting a one-day record Friday for the number of patients in COVID containment areas. Monday morning, Pfizer and Biontech announced promising early results in a clinical trial vaccine indicating it was effective in more than 90% of trial participants. Read the full press release here.  

Impact on Wayne County, Reid
In the week ending Nov.

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Wayne County Democrats issue Nov. 4 statement on vote count proceedings, other election concerns

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Wayne County’s Democratic Party chair Beth Harrick shared this statement on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 4, with local media regarding November 2020 Election Day and vote count proceedings. RELATED ARTICLE: WAYNE COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED

“Above the desire to elect any one candidate, the Wayne County Democratic Party is committed to protecting the interests of voters and the integrity of the election process. On October 28th we became aware of a serious discrepancy between the Indiana state statute (IC 3-11-14-30) and how Wayne County Poll Workers were being trained by the Wayne County Clerk’s office. The discrepancy was in regards to documenting the final per-precinct, per-candidate tally of votes at each polling site, prior to the election machinery being removed and taken to the Courthouse for a merged final count.

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5 p.m. update: Nearly 3,700 ballots, envelopes still being reconciled

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Wayne County might go another night before election results are made public. Bipartisan teams and the Voters Registration Office staff are painstakingly reviewing the nearly 3,700 mail-in absentee ballots cast in the 2020 election to make sure each one is counted. Wayne County Clerk Debra Berry said the process begins when a voter requests an absentee ballot. The voter is sent an absentee ballot and a secure envelope for its return. The voter marks their ballot and returns that ballot to the Voters Registration Office in the secure envelope.

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Election vote count called off for night

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Wayne County election officials called off Tuesday’s vote count at 3 a.m. Wednesday. They will return when the courthouse opens at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to continue counting. All of the results will be released at once. Continue to follow the Western Wayne News online for updates and results.

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Attorney describes process of requesting printouts at vote centers

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Richmond attorney Amy Noe Dudas spoke during WCTV’s election results show about her role in helping Wayne County Democratic Party on Tuesday as its legal counsel and why a change in the tabulation process means local election results are being released later than usual on Election Night. Dudas said the party discovered a discrepancy last week between the training the local poll workers receive and the state statute regarding Election Night printouts of vote counts. She said she thought that party officials had relayed their concern to the county clerk a few days ago that they were going to look for printouts to be made at each vote center on Election Night. They followed up on their request to make sure it would be carried out. Wayne County Clerk Debra Berry said Tuesday that the process since vote centers were introduced in Wayne County has been that when the vote centers close for Election Day, the inspector and judge have brought the equipment to the Voter Registration Office in the courthouse.