Governor Eric J. Holcomb activated the Indiana National Guard to aid with hurricane relief efforts in North Carolina. About a dozen Indiana National Guard airmen with the 181st Intelligence Wing, based in Terre Haute, will head to North Carolina and join other Hoosier personnel to aid in search and rescue efforts.
Continue readingMammoth Solar a Milestone in Israel-U.S. Relationship, Says Ambassador
Not only would the Mammoth Solar Project bring a 13,000-acre solar farm to Starke and Pulaski counties, it’s also a milestone in the Israel-U.S. relationship. That’s according to Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Gilad Erdan.
Continue readingGov. Holcomb Gets COVID-19 Vaccine
Governor Eric Holcomb got his COVID-19 vaccine Friday. The governor joined a number of other elected officials in getting the shot at the drive-through mass vaccination site set up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Continue readingNational Guard to Leave Long-Term Care Facilities Once Residents Are Fully Vaccinated
The Indiana National Guard will begin pulling out of long-term care facilities this weekend. Family and Social Services Administration Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Rusyniak announced a withdrawal strategy during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference.
Continue readingGovernor to Keep National Guard in Long-Term Care Facilities, Allow Guardsmen to Administer COVID Vaccine
Not only will Indiana National Guardsmen remain in long-term care facilities through the end of February, but they’ll also be allowed to administer COVID-19 vaccines. The deployment was set to expire at the end of the month, but on Tuesday, Governor Holcomb announced an extension.
Continue readingIndiana National Guardsmen Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Among the frontline health care workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine this week were about 200 members of the Indiana National Guard, even though many of them may be leaving the state’s long-term care facilities in the coming weeks.
Continue readingNational Guardsmen Adjusting to Long-Term Care Facility Deployments
Hundreds of Indiana National Guardsmen are currently deployed in the state’s long-term care facilities, as part of the fight against COVID-19. Staff Sgt. Maira Beltran is one of them. She had the chance to discuss her experience at the Morrison Woods Health Campus in Muncie during Governor Holcomb’s COVID-19 press conference Wednesday.
Continue readingSurge in COVID-19 Cases Putting Strain on Hospital Staffs
National Guard to Provide Assistance to Health Care Providers in Long-Term Care Facilities
National Guard units will be deployed to a few long-term care facilities in Indiana to assist health care providers to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Continue readingIndiana National Guard, ‘Reserve Workforce’ to Provide Help to Long-Term Care Facilities
Indiana is sending the National Guard to long-term care facilities to help with COVID-19 protocols. Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver says Guard members will help with testing and reporting, so that regular staff can focus on caring for residents.
Continue readingHot Buildings, Longer Processing Times Hinder COVID-19 Testing Efforts
A lack of air conditioning is creating challenges for Indiana’s COVID-19 testing. The state-sponsored sites run by OptumServe were initially set up in National Guard armories. The problem now, according to State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box, is that few if any of those buildings are air conditioned, and there are OSHA guidelines that have to be followed to keep the workers safe.
Continue readingIndiana National Guard, State Police Ready to Respond to Potential Violence
State officials are outlining their response to this weekend’s violence. In a press conference Monday, Governor Holcomb said protests started out as an “understandable and needed” response to the death of George Floyd, but took on a tone of organized crime.
Continue readingGovernor Allows Local Governments to Further Restrict Travel, Puts National Guard on Standby
Governor Eric Holcomb has put the Indiana National Guard on standby to assist local communities, in response to this weekend’s violence following the death of George Floyd.
Continue readingSecretary of State Secures Personal Protective Equipment for June 2 Primary Election
The State of Indiana is attempting to make this year’s Primary Election as safe as possible for poll workers.
Continue readingGovernor to Extend Stay-at-Home Order by Two Weeks
Indiana’s stay-at-home order will be extended for another two weeks. Governor Eric Holcomb says he plans to sign an executive order on Monday.
Continue readingLead Contamination Concerns Affect Armories
The Indiana National Guard is working to clear lead dust contamination from armories across the state. It’s residue from old indoor firing ranges and other uses of the buildings.
The issue was identified during required periodical industrial health surveys. Indiana National Guard officials are currently performing follow-up testing, analysis and remediation of all armories as necessary. Public access may be limited until they can meet strict federal surface dust level standards. Continue reading
State and Federal Agencies Form Partnership to Help Veterans
The Indiana National Guard is teaming up with state and federal agencies to help veterans and their families. The new initiative, called Joining Community Forces Indiana, will work to identify common issues for veterans and provide resources and education for them through an online university for military. Continue reading
Indiana National Guard To Honor Fallen Soldier
An Indiana National Guardsman who was killed in the line of duty will be memorialized today in Marshall County. Indiana Adjutant General Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger will join family and friends of Spc. Arronn Fields at the Indiana National Guard Armory in Plymouth at 11 a.m. EDT to pay tribute to his life and military service. Continue reading
Indiana Adjutant General Honors Fallen Indiana National Guardsmen
Shadow boxes in memory of seven Indiana National Guardsmen killed in combat are part of a permanent memorial to their sacrifices at the Indiana National Guard Valparaiso Armory. Each one contains items belonging to the soldiers from the 113 Engineer Battalion who were killed in January of 2012 when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Spc. Robert Tauteris of Hamlet was among those killed, along with Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Chavez, Sgt. Brian Leonhart of Merrillville, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Metzger, Spc. Christopher Patterson, Spc. Nicholas Taylor and Spc. Sergio Perez. Indiana Adjutant General Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger unveiled the shadow boxes during a ceremony for the soldiers’ families yesterday at Valparaiso University.
Indiana National Guard to Honor Fallen Soldiers
The Indiana National Guard will honor seven fallen soldiers, including Spc. Robert Tauteris from Hamlet and Brian Leonhardt of Merrillville.
Major General R. Martin Umbarger will help conduct the ceremony where seven personalized shadow boxes will be dedicated to the memory of the sacrifices of these Indiana Guardsmen who served in the 113th Engineer Battalion.
