Monroe County Commissioners approve Convention Center CIB
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a Capital Investment Board (CIB), a body that finances and operates capital facilities or improvements, to oversee the proposed Convention Center Expansion Project, which has been on the radar for nearly a dozen years. The CIB will select a site for expansion, contract with operation and management organizations, hire staff, and manage amenities,
There has been a lot of local controversy surrounding the topic of Convention Center management, as Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton has insisted on the project management to be handled by his hand-selected 501(C)3 organization. The City and County have been at odds over this matter for as long as mayor Hamilton has been in office. The County owns the Convention Center, but the City owns some of the land and holds a portion of the financial interest.
Duke Energy has restored power to more than 250,000 Indiana customers
Duke Energy has mobilized nearly 1,900 workers to respond to severe structural damage on the electric grid, causer by wind and rainstorms that have plummeted Midwestern States over the past couple of weeks. Crews statewide have worked to address more than 110 miles of downed power lines, replace 160 broken poles, and clear more than 370 fallen trees.
“We greatly appreciate our customers’ ongoing patience during this multi-day power restoration process,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “Our crews are entering the final phase of restoration, which includes challenging and lengthy repairs to replace broken utility poles and restoring power lines in hard-hit areas. We appreciate the partnership of Indiana University and Indiana State University to help us stand up mustering locations and offer housing for crews working to get the lights back on.”
The western and south-central parts of the state, including Clay, Monroe, Putnam, Vermillion, and Vigo counties, have been impacted by multiple waves of storms causing outages well into this past Saturday evening. Restoration to those areas has been a main area of focus over the Independence Day Holiday.
Customers who are registered for Duke Energy text alerts will receive a text once an estimated restoration time is established for their location. (Sign up to receive outage alerts.)
Procession Information* Funeral Arrangements for Trooper Aaron Smith
Friday July 7, 2023, Trooper Aaron Smith will be laid to rest with full honors during a ceremony beginning at 11:00 a.m. in Greenwood and concluding at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. The public is encouraged to line the procession route to honor Trooper Smith’s sacrifice and support his family, friends and co-workers. The ceremonial tradition of passing under a Garrison Flag will occur near Whiteland High School on U.S. 31 just north of Whiteland Road. The public can park in the southwest parking lot of the high school and walk to a safe area along U.S. 31. The coach carrying the remains of Trooper Smith will pause under the flag at which time a radio call marking Trooper Smith off duty for the final time will occur. The estimated time for the procession to begin is 1:00 p.m. There are opportunities to view the procession near downtown Indianapolis as it passes through on West Street to New York Street, then north on Illinois. The public is asked to find a safe parking spot and do not block lanes of travel. Please do not stand in the roadway.
- Start at Emmanuel Church of Greenwood, 1640 West Stones Crossing Road, Greenwood, IN
- Exit church lot and turn west on to West Stones Crossing Road to S.R. 135.
- South on S.R. 135 to Whiteland Road.
- East on Whiteland Road to U.S 31
- North on U.S. 31 where we will go by Whiteland High School and pass under the Garrison Flag. We will continue north into Greenwood then make a small right on to S. Madison Ave.
- North on S Madison Ave to roundabout, first exit east, Smith Valley Rd. Continue east on Smith Valley Road where we will pass by the neighborhood where Trooper Smith grew up.
- East on Smith Valley Rd and as you make the curve to left it turns into north bound S Emerson Ave.
- Continue north on S Emerson Ave where we will pass by Greenwood Airport to the left, to Stop 11 Rd.
- West on to Stop 11 Road which turns into E Meridian School Rd at East St. Continue west to S.R. 135.
- North on S.R 135 to Hanna Ave
- West on Hanna Ave to Bluff Rd
- North on Bluff Road to where it turns into West St.
- Continue north on West St passing IFD Station 13 at West St and Ohio St. Continue north on West St to New York St.
- East on New York St to Illinois St.
- North on Illinois St to 34th
- West on 34th St to entrance to Crown Hill Cemetery.
*Note: The ramps from I-65 to Main Street and I-65 to County Line Road will be closed during the procession. The ramp from I-70 to West Street in Indianapolis will also be closed during the procession.
This Week in Hoosier History
1908 The Monroe County courthouse, in Bloomington, was dedicated. The courthouse cost $188,000 to build.
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