Stinesville man injured in tree stand fall
Bloomington, Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a tree stand accident that occurred Sunday afternoon in Monroe County after being dispatched to the area near the 9550 block of Elwren Lane. Initial investigation revealed that Davey Summitt, 70, of Stinesville, was attempting to ascend a tree with a climbing tree stand when he fell approximately 8 feet to the ground.
Despite being rendered unconscious and injured by the fall, Summitt was eventually able to make it back to his residence and call for medical assistance. He was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital with back and rib injuries. Neither a full body safety harness nor other safety equipment was being used at the time of the accident. Indiana Conservation Officers were assisted by IU Health Ambulance.
Conservation Officers remind everyone using elevated platforms to always wear a full body harness, use a tree stand’s safety rope, never try to put up or remove a tree stand by themself, and to always inspect their tree stand before climbing up into it.
Indiana Department of Insurance Approves Decrease in Workers’ Compensation Rates for 2023
Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Amy L. Beard recently approved a decrease of 10.3% on average for Workers’ Compensation rates recommended by the Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau (ICRB), effective January 1, 2023. Individual employers may experience a rate change different from -10.3% depending on their rating class (classifications based on the type of business) and other rating factors. There are approximately 150 such industry types.
The 10.3% decrease can be attributed primarily to the long-term decline in workers’ compensation countrywide claim frequency, and the recent favorable experience in average costs per claim in Indiana for both indemnity and medical benefits.
Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical costs associated with workplace injuries and provides wage replacement benefits to injured workers for lost work time. The Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau (ICRB) and the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) jointly make a rate filing with the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) proposing loss costs and rates for the coming year of policies. In 2021, there were approximately 350 different insurance companies writing workers’ compensation insurance in Indiana, representing approximately 120 different insurer groups.
Indiana Workers’ Compensation rates consistently rank one of the lowest in the United States, according to the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking report. The Information Technology and Research Section in the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has examined state rates on a biennial basis since 1986.
Ivy Tech Community College celebrates Distinguished Alumni
Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus named Steve Headdy, RN, Clinical Operations Manager, at Indiana University Health Bloomington, its 2022 Distinguished Alumni. In a ceremony held Sept. 29, Headdy was honored as one of 18 individuals across the state selected to receive the award. It is the highest honor given to recognize Ivy Tech alumni. Selected through a highly competitive process, each recipient has made a lasting impact on their community and on Ivy Tech through outstanding professional, philanthropic, or volunteer accomplishments.
After more than 20 successful years building custom homes in and around Monroe County, Headdy became a “non-traditional” student at Ivy Tech Bloomington. He graduated from the Lee J. Marchant School of Nursing in 2010 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He also holds a Master of Business Administration. Headdy was awarded the IU Health Foundation Award for Nursing Excellence in 2014 and the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in 2019. His work has helped Ivy Tech Bloomington nursing students gain new experiences in critical care areas.
The College has been honoring Distinguished Alumni since 1998. For more information and to view a full list of Distinguished Alumni honorees, visit ivytech.edu/alumniawards.
This Week in Hoosier History
1958 – Legendary vocalist Ella Fitzgerald performed at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis. Appearing with the Oscar Peterson Trio, she entertained the sold-out crowd with jazz and American songbook selections.
Follow us on Facebook
For more local news . . .
Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson here