Big Park Concerts Among Events Cancelled And Places Closed
March 17, 2020 at 11:56 p.m.
Big Park Concerts Among Events Cancelled And Places Closed
By David [email protected]
The death of a second person in Indiana due to COVID-19 was announced Tuesday. The Hoosier was a Johnson County adult over the age of 60 who had been hospitalized, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
ISDH has received six new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private laboratories to 30.
In a bit of good news, Grace College announced Wednesday that both of its students who were tested for COVID-19 had test results that came back negative.
As of Wednesday, Grace is not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no tests pending for any students, faculty or staff.
In a news release Tuesday, Warsaw Parks and Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, along with the support of Warsaw City Council, announced Monday that all city buildings and rental facilities will be closed to the public through at least April 29 to try to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
In a news release Tuesday, Wieringa stated the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department has decided to cancel all activities and programs for the next eight weeks. This includes Imagination Station, Brushes ‘n Bunnies, Sensory Egg Hunt and Princess Tea Party.
“This also includes cancelling the Rockin’ for Riley Rock Concert, Blues & BBQ Festival, & Country Concert for St. Jude concerts for 2020,” the release states. “Announcements for the 2020 Central Park Concert Series concerts held in the Central Park Plaza will be made closer to each date.
“While we hate to cancel some of our most popular events, the health and safety of our residents and staff are our top priority. We will make an announcement when activities resume.”
All residents are encouraged to sign up for city of Warsaw notifications at warsaw.in.gov/alerts. Residents may choose categories and notification methods that they prefer.
For questions or to conduct business with the city of Warsaw by phone, call 574-385-2222 and select the department that you wish to reach.
Other cancellations, postponements and announced made Tuesday include:
• Wawasee Community School Corporation is making some changes to how children ages 18 and under can access free breakfasts and lunches during this time of school closures.
Today, March 18, meal pickups will remain the same as the previous two days, at Milford School, North Webster School and Syracuse School at the main entrance from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Beginning Thursday, March 19, Wawasee will change days, hours and add additional locations to limit the times families need to leave their homes.
Wawasee will have meal pick up on two days, Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:
? Milford School main entrance
? Milford Library parking lot
? North Webster School main entrance
? North Webster Community Center parking lot
? Syracuse School main entrance
? Bowen Center in Enchanted Hills parking lot
On Mondays, three breakfasts and three lunches per child can be picked up, and on Thursdays, two breakfasts and two lunches and a Boomerang Backpack (if needed) per child can be picked up.
• Milford Public Library will be closed from today through April 1 due to the COVID-19 virus. The library’s board of trustees will be in close contact with the director to determine if the dates need to be extended. The library’s website and Facebook page will be updated.
The library has been wiping down surfaces and materials that have been returned for the past couple of weeks, according to a news release.
Evergreen has extended all due dates until April 28. They do not want anyone to accumulate fines due to these circumstances. While the library is closed, the library asks that you do not put items in the drop boxes. Late fees will not accrue during this time. The best way to reach the library is to call 574-658-4312 and leave a message.
The library’s digital collection is still available. You can use OverDrive or Libby to download eBooks, digital magazines and audiobooks. You need your library card and your four-digit pin to log in to OverDrive or Libby.
• The North Webster Community Public Library closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday and will remain closed until further notice. The library recently implemented automatic renewals and a no-fine policy. Therefore, checked-out materials will automatically be renewed and patrons will not be charged for overdue materials.
• Beginning Wednesday, March 18, North Central Indiana Housing will be temporarily closing its doors to walk-ins. Currently, NCIH plans to reopen April 24, but could re-evaluate based on future progress made against COVID-19, according to a news release. This decision comes on the heels of the City of Warsaw closing its buildings to the public for six weeks.
Although the office will be closed, operations for NCIH, which includes the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs for the cities of Warsaw and Goshen and Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, will continue. Intake and recertification meetings will take place via phone call.
Any required documentation can be mailed to 109 W. Catherine St., Milford IN 46542, P.O. Box 387. Alternatively, they can be placed in the drop box outside the front door, emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 574-696-1039.
Pam Kennedy, executive director of NCIH, stated that it is important for all Section 8 clients to send in any income changes, via report of change forms, as quickly as possible. While all clients are given 10 days to report changes, getting those changes in even sooner will allow NCIH to help families in potentially dire financial straits.
“At a time when many businesses are either closing or operating with limited capacity, many workers – especially food services employees – are going to be put in tough financial situations,” said Kennedy. “We want to remove as much financial strain from these families as possible.”
Applications for Section 8 will continue to be available in the box located immediately to the right of the office’s front doors. Additionally, report of change forms will be placed in the box for clients currently on Section 8.
For any questions related to the Section 8 HCV program, call 574-269-7946, ext. 110.
For any questions related to Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, call 574-269-7641, ext. 106.
• Ivy Tech Community College announced that it will extend the delivery of courses virtually through the remainder of the current semester. Courses will restart March 23 and conclude May 16, all being offered virtually.
Ivy Tech locations, including Fort Wayne and Warsaw, will remain open to allow students to access computer labs and to provide essential services such as advising, financial aid and access to faculty in a face-to-face format. Accommodations will be made for labs, clinicals and some technology courses to meet in groups of 10 or less if safety of all involved through social distancing can be assured. Information regarding such meetings will be provided to students from their faculty. Some faculty and staff will continue to be on location to provide assistance.
Ivy Tech will continue to post updates at www.ivytech.edu/COVID-19
• At Manchester University, President Dave McFadden announced on Tuesday new developments and decisions regarding how Manchester University is continuing to respond to fast-changing circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Based on new guidelines and expectations announced Monday night, we have decided to move to?remote teaching and?online?learning?for students?on?both?campuses?through the end of the spring semester,” McFadden said.
Classes for the Fort Wayne campus will resume on Monday, March 23. Classes for the North Manchester campus will resume on Wednesday, March 25. This is two days later than regularly scheduled.
Effective 9 p.m. Sunday, March 22, residence halls will close for the remainder of the semester. The process for checking out will be communicated to students through email by their hall directors.
“Also, we recognize that there might be some circumstances that are highly exceptional where students might not have safe or suitable alternative housing options. For these cases, students may ask to continue living on campus,” McFadden said.
All campus activities for the remainder of the semester have been cancelled or postponed. This includes canceling all athletic competitions, most music concerts and performances and in-person student activities.
Some presentations and performances might move to online only. At this time, Manchester is finalizing details to allow “Songs of the Island” to be livestreamed on Facebook at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26, without an audience.
Spring commencement ceremonies are canceled. Manchester officials are exploring alternative options to celebrate the class of 2020.
Many employees will be working remotely, at least through April 1.
• The Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County will be closing to the public as of today. Only essential staff and approved volunteers that have been trained will be permitted to enter the building.
With a goal of placing pets into homes, the AWL will be allowing those interested in adopting to come visit pets by appointment only. Owners needing to surrender pets should hold on to them for at least four weeks. If it is an emergency, reach out to the AWL and an appointed time will be scheduled to drop off the pet.
Anyone finding strays that are friendly are asked to consider fostering it until the AWL can reopen its doors.
Those that can’t adopt or foster a pet are encouraged to donate to the AWL at awlwarsaw.com or through Amazon Smile.
• Effective Tuesday, March 17, Parkview Health is suspending all elective and non-urgent surgeries. This decision, made in conjunction with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s directives, will help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), and conserve the resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs related to the pandemic.
Parkview will continue to perform medically necessary, urgent and emergent surgeries. These include surgeries that, if delayed, could negatively affect the patient’s health outcome. Patients whose surgeries need to be postponed will be contacted. Patients who wish to electively cancel their procedures should first contact their provider to discuss potential health implications.
Parkview Health continues to take several precautions to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. All patients will be contacted the day before a medically necessary procedure to be screened for symptoms. Visitor restrictions will also be enforced, limiting each patient to one healthy adult visitor.
As a result of these changes, the Parkview Inverness Surgery Center is closed and Parkview Premier Surgery will be closed effective today.
• The Indiana Economic Development Corp. sent out a note related to COVID-19 to Indiana small businesses that have or anticipate being impacted by the pandemic and the related closures. The administration has allocated $50 billion to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. For Hoosiers to gain access to this funding, they need to collect small business economic impact data from every county in Indiana so that Gov. Eric Holcomb can declare an economic injury disaster.
If you know of an entrepreneur or small business that has been or anticipates being impacted by the coronavirus, ask them to complete the form at https://isbdc.org/indianacovid19smallbusiness/. Information obtained from this form will only be used to assist in requesting an economic injury disaster declaration from SBA and identifying greatest areas of need. Once a disaster declaration is made for designated areas within Indiana, information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be updated at www.SBA.gov/disaster.
• In light of new information and recommendations from health officials concerning the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to stem the spread of the virus, the five Catholic bishops of Indiana have suspended effective today and until further notice all public Sunday and weekday masses throughout the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend and Lafayette.
• The Whitley County Commissioners announced limited access to its government facilities in order to reduce potential spread of COVID-19. Whitley County is continuing its services but encouraging the public to refrain from in-person contact if at all possible and instead utilize services remotely on-line, email or by phone when possible. If in-person business is necessary, it can be arranged via appointment with the appropriate department.
If you have by questions, contact the Whitley County Commissioners Office at 260-248-3130 during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The death of a second person in Indiana due to COVID-19 was announced Tuesday. The Hoosier was a Johnson County adult over the age of 60 who had been hospitalized, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
ISDH has received six new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private laboratories to 30.
In a bit of good news, Grace College announced Wednesday that both of its students who were tested for COVID-19 had test results that came back negative.
As of Wednesday, Grace is not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no tests pending for any students, faculty or staff.
In a news release Tuesday, Warsaw Parks and Recreation Director Sheila Wieringa said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, along with the support of Warsaw City Council, announced Monday that all city buildings and rental facilities will be closed to the public through at least April 29 to try to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
In a news release Tuesday, Wieringa stated the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department has decided to cancel all activities and programs for the next eight weeks. This includes Imagination Station, Brushes ‘n Bunnies, Sensory Egg Hunt and Princess Tea Party.
“This also includes cancelling the Rockin’ for Riley Rock Concert, Blues & BBQ Festival, & Country Concert for St. Jude concerts for 2020,” the release states. “Announcements for the 2020 Central Park Concert Series concerts held in the Central Park Plaza will be made closer to each date.
“While we hate to cancel some of our most popular events, the health and safety of our residents and staff are our top priority. We will make an announcement when activities resume.”
All residents are encouraged to sign up for city of Warsaw notifications at warsaw.in.gov/alerts. Residents may choose categories and notification methods that they prefer.
For questions or to conduct business with the city of Warsaw by phone, call 574-385-2222 and select the department that you wish to reach.
Other cancellations, postponements and announced made Tuesday include:
• Wawasee Community School Corporation is making some changes to how children ages 18 and under can access free breakfasts and lunches during this time of school closures.
Today, March 18, meal pickups will remain the same as the previous two days, at Milford School, North Webster School and Syracuse School at the main entrance from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Beginning Thursday, March 19, Wawasee will change days, hours and add additional locations to limit the times families need to leave their homes.
Wawasee will have meal pick up on two days, Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:
? Milford School main entrance
? Milford Library parking lot
? North Webster School main entrance
? North Webster Community Center parking lot
? Syracuse School main entrance
? Bowen Center in Enchanted Hills parking lot
On Mondays, three breakfasts and three lunches per child can be picked up, and on Thursdays, two breakfasts and two lunches and a Boomerang Backpack (if needed) per child can be picked up.
• Milford Public Library will be closed from today through April 1 due to the COVID-19 virus. The library’s board of trustees will be in close contact with the director to determine if the dates need to be extended. The library’s website and Facebook page will be updated.
The library has been wiping down surfaces and materials that have been returned for the past couple of weeks, according to a news release.
Evergreen has extended all due dates until April 28. They do not want anyone to accumulate fines due to these circumstances. While the library is closed, the library asks that you do not put items in the drop boxes. Late fees will not accrue during this time. The best way to reach the library is to call 574-658-4312 and leave a message.
The library’s digital collection is still available. You can use OverDrive or Libby to download eBooks, digital magazines and audiobooks. You need your library card and your four-digit pin to log in to OverDrive or Libby.
• The North Webster Community Public Library closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday and will remain closed until further notice. The library recently implemented automatic renewals and a no-fine policy. Therefore, checked-out materials will automatically be renewed and patrons will not be charged for overdue materials.
• Beginning Wednesday, March 18, North Central Indiana Housing will be temporarily closing its doors to walk-ins. Currently, NCIH plans to reopen April 24, but could re-evaluate based on future progress made against COVID-19, according to a news release. This decision comes on the heels of the City of Warsaw closing its buildings to the public for six weeks.
Although the office will be closed, operations for NCIH, which includes the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs for the cities of Warsaw and Goshen and Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, will continue. Intake and recertification meetings will take place via phone call.
Any required documentation can be mailed to 109 W. Catherine St., Milford IN 46542, P.O. Box 387. Alternatively, they can be placed in the drop box outside the front door, emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 574-696-1039.
Pam Kennedy, executive director of NCIH, stated that it is important for all Section 8 clients to send in any income changes, via report of change forms, as quickly as possible. While all clients are given 10 days to report changes, getting those changes in even sooner will allow NCIH to help families in potentially dire financial straits.
“At a time when many businesses are either closing or operating with limited capacity, many workers – especially food services employees – are going to be put in tough financial situations,” said Kennedy. “We want to remove as much financial strain from these families as possible.”
Applications for Section 8 will continue to be available in the box located immediately to the right of the office’s front doors. Additionally, report of change forms will be placed in the box for clients currently on Section 8.
For any questions related to the Section 8 HCV program, call 574-269-7946, ext. 110.
For any questions related to Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, call 574-269-7641, ext. 106.
• Ivy Tech Community College announced that it will extend the delivery of courses virtually through the remainder of the current semester. Courses will restart March 23 and conclude May 16, all being offered virtually.
Ivy Tech locations, including Fort Wayne and Warsaw, will remain open to allow students to access computer labs and to provide essential services such as advising, financial aid and access to faculty in a face-to-face format. Accommodations will be made for labs, clinicals and some technology courses to meet in groups of 10 or less if safety of all involved through social distancing can be assured. Information regarding such meetings will be provided to students from their faculty. Some faculty and staff will continue to be on location to provide assistance.
Ivy Tech will continue to post updates at www.ivytech.edu/COVID-19
• At Manchester University, President Dave McFadden announced on Tuesday new developments and decisions regarding how Manchester University is continuing to respond to fast-changing circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Based on new guidelines and expectations announced Monday night, we have decided to move to?remote teaching and?online?learning?for students?on?both?campuses?through the end of the spring semester,” McFadden said.
Classes for the Fort Wayne campus will resume on Monday, March 23. Classes for the North Manchester campus will resume on Wednesday, March 25. This is two days later than regularly scheduled.
Effective 9 p.m. Sunday, March 22, residence halls will close for the remainder of the semester. The process for checking out will be communicated to students through email by their hall directors.
“Also, we recognize that there might be some circumstances that are highly exceptional where students might not have safe or suitable alternative housing options. For these cases, students may ask to continue living on campus,” McFadden said.
All campus activities for the remainder of the semester have been cancelled or postponed. This includes canceling all athletic competitions, most music concerts and performances and in-person student activities.
Some presentations and performances might move to online only. At this time, Manchester is finalizing details to allow “Songs of the Island” to be livestreamed on Facebook at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26, without an audience.
Spring commencement ceremonies are canceled. Manchester officials are exploring alternative options to celebrate the class of 2020.
Many employees will be working remotely, at least through April 1.
• The Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County will be closing to the public as of today. Only essential staff and approved volunteers that have been trained will be permitted to enter the building.
With a goal of placing pets into homes, the AWL will be allowing those interested in adopting to come visit pets by appointment only. Owners needing to surrender pets should hold on to them for at least four weeks. If it is an emergency, reach out to the AWL and an appointed time will be scheduled to drop off the pet.
Anyone finding strays that are friendly are asked to consider fostering it until the AWL can reopen its doors.
Those that can’t adopt or foster a pet are encouraged to donate to the AWL at awlwarsaw.com or through Amazon Smile.
• Effective Tuesday, March 17, Parkview Health is suspending all elective and non-urgent surgeries. This decision, made in conjunction with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s directives, will help prevent the spread of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), and conserve the resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs related to the pandemic.
Parkview will continue to perform medically necessary, urgent and emergent surgeries. These include surgeries that, if delayed, could negatively affect the patient’s health outcome. Patients whose surgeries need to be postponed will be contacted. Patients who wish to electively cancel their procedures should first contact their provider to discuss potential health implications.
Parkview Health continues to take several precautions to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. All patients will be contacted the day before a medically necessary procedure to be screened for symptoms. Visitor restrictions will also be enforced, limiting each patient to one healthy adult visitor.
As a result of these changes, the Parkview Inverness Surgery Center is closed and Parkview Premier Surgery will be closed effective today.
• The Indiana Economic Development Corp. sent out a note related to COVID-19 to Indiana small businesses that have or anticipate being impacted by the pandemic and the related closures. The administration has allocated $50 billion to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. For Hoosiers to gain access to this funding, they need to collect small business economic impact data from every county in Indiana so that Gov. Eric Holcomb can declare an economic injury disaster.
If you know of an entrepreneur or small business that has been or anticipates being impacted by the coronavirus, ask them to complete the form at https://isbdc.org/indianacovid19smallbusiness/. Information obtained from this form will only be used to assist in requesting an economic injury disaster declaration from SBA and identifying greatest areas of need. Once a disaster declaration is made for designated areas within Indiana, information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be updated at www.SBA.gov/disaster.
• In light of new information and recommendations from health officials concerning the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgency to stem the spread of the virus, the five Catholic bishops of Indiana have suspended effective today and until further notice all public Sunday and weekday masses throughout the Province of Indianapolis, which is comprised of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and the Dioceses of Gary, Evansville, Fort Wayne-South Bend and Lafayette.
• The Whitley County Commissioners announced limited access to its government facilities in order to reduce potential spread of COVID-19. Whitley County is continuing its services but encouraging the public to refrain from in-person contact if at all possible and instead utilize services remotely on-line, email or by phone when possible. If in-person business is necessary, it can be arranged via appointment with the appropriate department.
If you have by questions, contact the Whitley County Commissioners Office at 260-248-3130 during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092