Search underway in Marion County for two missing kayakers
Indiana Conservation Officers have resumed the search for two missing kayakers that went missing on the White River in Indianapolis. At approximately 8:30pm on Tuesday, Marcus Robinson, 30, and Solomon Shirley, 22, both of Indianapolis, were kayaking when they traveled over the remnants of a low-head dam near the 2000 block of North White River Parkway Drive West. A witness observed both men being ejected into the water.
Search efforts are underway using shore- and water-based operations along with aerial searches with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a helicopter.
Agencies assisting in the search include the Indianapolis Fire Department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Pike Township Fire Department, and Indiana State Police.
Duke Energy celebrates Lineworker Appreciation Day
Duke Energy, one of America’s largest energy holding companies, serving more than 8 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, and employing 28,000 people, is celebrating Lineworker Appreciation Day. in honor of the April 18th recognition of this important, yet often thankless profession, they issued the following statement:
While most people take shelter when severe weather looms, Lineworkers gear up and prepare to head out. They are among the first responders after storms and other catastrophic events, often making the scene safe for other public safety heroes. While their responsibility is enormous, their commitment to the job – and their communities – looms even larger.
Customer needs and safety always come first at Duke Energy, but it’s our Lineworkers who are in the trenches – through lightning, wind, ice, and even extreme heat and cold. They work diligently through high-stress situations and the aftermath, including sometimes widespread power outages. If you had a conversation with any of them today, they’d tell you that nothing satisfies them more in their work than helping get the lights back on for their customers.
National Lineworker Appreciation Day (NLAD) on April 18 recognizes utility Lineworkers nationwide and their commitments to safety and ensuring electricity is flowing for those who depend on it. Please join me in thanking our state’s Lineworkers for their commitment to powering Indiana communities and building an increasingly resilient energy grid that can withstand severe weather threats. We hope you will join us and #ThankALineworker in our community.
– Duke Energy
Earth Day event Saturday at Ivy Tech Biology Outdoor Learning Lab
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington is hosting an Earth Day in the Garden drop-in event Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to Noon in the Biology Outdoor Learning Lab (OLL) in celebration of national Earth Day on April 22. Community partners, Ivy Tech students and staff, and volunteers will be running activities with various start times. The public is invited to attend.
Activities include:
- 9-Noon: Bee Keeping and Seed Planting (Ivy Tech biology students and Elizabeth Baker, Ivy Tech)
- 9:15, 10:15, 11:15: Invasive Plant Identification and Removal (Will Drews, DNR)
- 9:30, 10:30, 11:30: Tree Planting and Care (Ken Cote, volunteer)
- 9:45, 10:45, 11:45: Perennial Planting and Care (Sarah Cote, Ivy Tech Dean of Manufacturing, Engineering & Applied Science and Public & Social Services)
- 10, 11: Trail Installation and Care (Amy Poehlman, Ivy Tech)
- 10:30: Compost Presentation (Elisa Porkal, The District)
The OLL is located at 501 N. Profile Parkway on the westside of Bloomington. More information
Non-profit organizations are invited to apply for Federal funding to improve security measures
The FFY 2024 Nonprofit Security Grant Program-State (NSGP-S) grant application window is now open for local applicants. Due to the deadline to return applications to FEMA, the application period for NSGP funding will be short. Indiana local applications are due to grants@dhs.in.gov by 5pm on May 30, 2024. All proposed projects are capped at $150,000.
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a competitive reimbursement grant program intended to provide federal funding for physical security enhancements and other security-related activities to nonprofit organizations that are at risk of a terrorist attack. The NSGP seeks to integrate the preparedness activities of nonprofit organizations with broader state and local preparedness efforts.
The NSGP-S program is open to all 501c3 nonprofit organizations located outside of Marion and Hamilton counties. Applicants within Marion and Hamilton counties should apply for the NSGP-Urban Area (NSGP-UA) program. Visit the NSGP landing page for full information on the NSGP grant, including the necessary forms required to apply for funding.
This Week in Hoosier History
1945 – War Correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by sniper fire near Okinawa. Born in Dana, Indiana, he attended Indiana University. During World War II, he wrote newspaper columns six days a week. Often on the front lines, he described the war through the lives of ordinary soldiers.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson