GDN provides info on braving cold

With snow flurries and freezing temperatures eminent, the Decatur County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) offered some safety advice to brave the cold earlier this week.
EMA director Rob Duckworth, implores residents to exercise caution and common sense when using alternate heating sources such as space heaters.
- Space heaters should be kept at least three feet from flammable materials such as draperies, blankets, clothing and bedding.
- Never plug a space heater into an extension cord or surge protector.
- Turn off space heaters when abandoning a room for an extended time.
- The correct grade of fuel should be used for liquid-powered space heaters, and never use gasoline.
Caution should be used when choosing wood and burning material for fireplaces.
- Be sure that firewood does not have creosote, an oily, easily flammable deposit that is the cause for most chimney fires, and the largest share of home heating fires.
- Artificial logs should not be used in wood stoves.
- Do no use flammable liquids to start a fire, only use paper or kindling wood.
- Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen to prevent sparks.
- Ash should be allowed to cool before being deposited into a metal container.
- Fuel-burning equipment should be allowed to vent clearly and unobstructed to the outside.
GetPrepared.IN.gov, where Duckworth took his information, also offers advice on how to drive safely in the winter weather and what to do in the event of wrecking and becoming stranded.
The first bit of advice before driving in winter weather, is always make sure your car is in order. Check your vehicle’s wheels, engine, antifreeze, windshield wipers and blades and brakes.
- Carry extra supplies such as blankets, and spare clothes such as mittens, boots and hats.
- Carry nonperishable food and drinks such as water, granola bars, nuts or crackers.
- Bring a car cellphone charger.
- Have a tire repair kit and pump.
- Don’t pour hot water over frozen locks, the water will refreeze.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full, and fill the tank before parking for lengthy periods. Having gasoline in the tank will prevent the fuel line from freezing.
- Always be aware of driving conditions before leaving home.
- Do not leave the house if there are severe weather warnings in place.
- In the event of a power outage, try to keep cash on your person, as ATMs will likely not work.
- In the event of wrecking in a deserted area, remain calm, and remain in your vehicle while waiting for rescuers.
- Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna of your car so rescuers may see you.
- Run the heat in your car once an hour for 10 minutes. An idling car uses about one gallon of gas per hour.
- Never eat snow for hydration. The snow will make your body temperature lower.
- Move around to keep your blood circulating.
- If you are stranded in your car, do not leave your car unless help is immediate.
Humans aren’t the only critters who need help fending off the cold.
Additionally, Laura Johnston, manager of the Greensburg/Decatur County Animal Shelter, offered some advice on how to care for animals kept outside.
- Make sure dog houses or shelters are facing east or south. The cold winds normally come from the north and west.
- Do not use cotton blankets for outdoor shelters. Cotton is extremely cold when wet. Instead, use straw, but make sure the straw doesn’t get moldy.
- Outdoor animals need water more than ever in the dry, cold weather. Make sure the water is fresh daily, and isn’t frozen.
- Outdoor animals need extra food for the winter to help keep warm with extra padding.
Johnston added that if anyone is need of straw, people can come to the animal shelter to obtain some. The animal shelter can be contacted at 812-663-9081, and is located at 1635 West Park Road.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has also given some advice for protecting pets.
- Keep your dogs on leashes. If the dog gets loose, they can lose their sense of smell in the cold weather more easily than any other season, and become lost.
- Never shave your animals during the winter, they need their full coat more than ever.
The EMA also provided an explanation of all the jargon used when describing weather advisories:
Winter Storm Advisory - Cold, ice and heavy snow are expected.
Winter Storm Watch - Heavy snow and ice are very possible over the next couple of days, so finalize preparations and listen to a weather radio or forecasts.
Winter Storm Warning - Severe winter weather is in the area. Heavy snow and/or ice will begin soon.
Blizzard - Strong winds over 35 miles per hour that reduces visibility.
Sleet - Rain that falls and turns into ice before it hits the ground.
Freezing Rain - Rain that falls and turns to ice once it hits a surface.

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MainSource Bank finds downtown Indy location

From Indianapolis Star: A high-profile Downtown location, once filled by Borders bookstore, will soon be home to MainSource Bank. This former Borders building has sat vacant for more than a year. Photo by The Indianapolis Star The Greensburg-based bank will fill 9,500-square-feet on two floors of the building at 11 S. Meridian St., which is 22,000 square feet. The remaining space has yet to be leased, but MainSource’s Chris Harrison says he would like to see his bank grow fast enough that it could eventually fill the entire space. “This is a prominent site for us because it’s on one of the busiest corners in both foot traffic and car traffic in the city of Indianapolis,” said Harrison, senior vice president of branch admininstration. The full-service bank, which will open in the fall, will provide an array of offerings, including commercial, wealth management, mortgage and a retail branch. Borders closed its doors on that location more than a year ago, and since has gone out of business shuttering all stores nationwide. The Downtown building has been a tough space to fill because it’s large and on two levels. “It’s a little bit of a funky layout,” said Eric Hillenbrand, a local commercial real estate broker. But for a bank? It’s a perfect location, he said. “It’s prominent and would be just great for a bank,” he said.

THE RECOVERY BASH A CELEBRATION OF HOLTON, IN

HOLTON COMMUNITY PARK- HOLTON, IN.: - Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 11th ! The Napoleon State Bank is teaming up with the Holton community to coordinate “The Recovery Bash…A Celebration of Holton.” The celebration will be held in the Holton Community Park. The money raised from the event will be given to assist the Holton Community in its rebuilding efforts from the March 2nd tornado. The day will be filled with a free music concert coordinated by Keith Swinney beginning at Noon and ending late in the evening. There will be great bands like The Keith Swinney Band, 650 North, DV8, Hot Wired, Over the Edge, Centerline, and more. There will be solo performances by Clint Jivoin, Micah McFarland, Lora Parks, Michael I. Tetrick Jr., and more. The music celebration will tailor to Genre from Country Gospel, Country, to Rock. It will be a time to visit with neighbors, meet new friends, and give back to the community. Come enjoy great food, fantastic music, and much more! Mark Comer, Executive Vice President of The Napoleon State Bank, said, “We are proud to have been a part of the Holton Community for the last 50 years. Sponsoring this event is a great opportunity to help the community continue their recovery efforts and plan for the future. Please plan on attending as we will have something for everyone.” You can follow event details on www.napoleonstatebank.com under the “news” section. An account is open at the bank for those wanting to make a monetary donation (mail to: The Napoleon State Bank Attn: Holton Recovery Account P.O. Box 9 Napoleon, IN 47034). Any Company or individual wishing to be a sponsor or donate items can contact Christy Sutton, event coordinator, at 812.852.4002 ext 230, or csutton@napoleonstatebank.com, or 812.756.1535.

26th Annual Summer Day of Golf

All Chamber members and their guests are invited to participate in this fun event. This is a MAJOR fundraiser to support the efforts and programs of your Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce.

The format for the day will be a Captain's Choice Scramble. Form your team or we will match you with a team.

Your registration fee includes green fees, cart fees, a mulligan, 1 string per team, lunch, 2 beverage tickets and a registration gift.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place.

We will also have a putting contest, Beat the Pro contest, the driving range will be open prior to the start of the day, closest to the pin, longest drive and several opportunities to win big prizes with our Hole-in-One contests.

Mark your calendar for this fun event. More information, includiing sponsorship opportunities, will be released soon.

Call 812-663-2832 or email info@greensburgchamber.com for more information.

Women in Business Conference July 29

The business meal has taken on all forms from succinct breakfast meetings and power lunches to leisurely dinners and cocktail parties.

The purpose of a business meal is always the same…to develop a relationship with your client or potential employer. Consequently, our skill set as a business professional must be expanded so that we are comfortable in all dining environments.

A strong comfort level allows us to fully focus on the business at hand rather than worry about, "Where should I sit?" or "Should I order first?" or "What should I do if my client orders liquor?"

When we execute a business meal with style, savvy and sophistication, we create a strong business presence and are much more likely to be remembered favorably among our clients and colleagues.

To give yourself a competitive edge, join Corporate Image Coach, Starla West, as she discusses how to navigate a business meal with grace and sophistication.

Starla West will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the fourth annual Women in Business Conference, scheduled for Friday, July 29, 2011 at the Greensburg Elementary School.

The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with Chambers of Commerce from Batesville, Ripley County and Brookville/Franklin County for this annual event.

Indiana Downs will be providing the lunchtime meal along with Starla West who will show you proper techniques for navigating your way around a business meal.

Many break-out sessions are planned throughout this day-long event. Watch for more information in the near future.
Our Mission is to: Build a Positive Business Environment by providing Strategic Leadership, Advocacy, and Resources for Our Members.

The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce takes pride in supporting our membership. We serve a growing, enthusiastic group of members interested in networking, information, growth and providing services to meet the needs of our wonderful community.

We encourage you to use this site as a means to find the services, businesses or information about Greensburg and Decatur County that interests you. And by all means, if you can’t find what you are looking for or if you need additional information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 812-663-2832. You may also email your questions to: info@greensburgchamber.com.

The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce is a valuable resource in meeting the needs of businesses including those entrepreneurs considering starting a business. We can help.

Please check back often for community events and updates.

We look forward to making your experience a remarkable one. After all – Greensburg and Decatur County Indiana and the local Chamber of Commerce is Open for Business.

Decatur County Safety Council meets at Honda

The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Safety Council were guest of Honda Manufacturing of Indiana today. Honda presented the program about efforts to "go green" at the Greensburg facility. Pictured is Jennifer Andrick making the presentation to those in attendance. The Chamber appreciates the efforts of Honda and its support to the community and environment.

Marketing Mixer helps business owners

The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Marketing Mixer held today at the Greensburg Public Library assisted business owners with developing flyers for their business. Pictured are a few of the attendees. Special thanks to Angela Phebus, Donna Booth, Mark Chester and Sarah Storm for their assistance.

Tickets on sale now for "Future in Farming" Ag Conference - March 4

The Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce 2011 Southeastern Indiana Ag Conference, “The Future in Farming,” will be held on Friday, March 4, at Wolf Theatres in Greensburg.

Tickets are $20 and available at MainSource Bank, including locations in Greensburg, Westport, Batesville, Brookville, Shelbyville and Rushville; Smith Implements , 3871 W. SR 46, Greensburg; Obermeyer AgriGroup, 4814 W. Old St. Rd. 46, Greensburg and the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, 125 N. Broadway St., Greensburg.

The event will feature United State Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Economist Oliver Flake, Indiana State Agriculture Director Joe Kelsay, Indiana State Veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh and others.

Keynote speaker, Oliver Flake, is with the United State Department of Agriculture, and is the Foreign Agricultural Services Economist, overseeing and promoting U.S. products and serving as an International Grain Market analyst. Flake obtained his undergraduate degree in Agronomy from Brigham Young University and his graduate degree from the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management at Arizona State University.

The M.S. in Agribusiness provided Flake with the curriculum he sought in international trade, agricultural policy and agricultural development. Besides serving as a grain market analyst, Flake also devotes his time to gaining international market access for U.S. products.

Flake’s presentation will include time for questions from the audience.

Joe Kelsay, is a sixth generation dairy and crop farmer and is the Indiana Agriculture Director for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. In this role, he serves as the state’s top agriculture official and is an advisor to Governor Mitch Daniels on agriculture policy. He was appointed to this position Oct. 5, 2009 by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Kelsay is a 1999 graduate of Purdue University and in addition to milk production, he and his wife Amy operates a farm tour business, Kelsay Farms Tours, LLC, which teaches thousands of children and their families each year about life on the farm, the nutritional value of dairy products, where milk comes from, technology used in a milking parlor and how farmers keep cows comfortable and healthy.

Sara Beth Aubrey is the owner of Prosperity Ag Communication and Prosperity Ag & Energy Resources. She focuses on securing funds for clients through the use of government programs such as grants, loan guarantees, direct loans and tax credits. Since 2007, Aubrey has written over 400 successful grants dispersed among clients in 29 states, funding for these awards has yielded nearly $50 million. The majority of her clients are pursuing projects to create or expand ventures on farms, in rural small businesses, and in both small and large communities all wishing to utilize or develop renewable energy or energy technologies.

Aubrey is a lifelong farm resident and has served as Madison County Woman leader for Indiana Farm Bureau and she devotes her time to raising beef cattle along with her husband, Cary, in Morgan County, Indiana.

Dr. Bret Marsh, DVM , Indiana State Veterinarian, was appointed by then Gov. Evan Bayh in 1994. As the state veterinarian, Dr. Marsh is responsible for a staff of 140 people, including 15 veterinarians and an agency budget exceeding $8 million. He is a 1984 graduate of Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Other speakers that will be presenting during break-out sessions include Mike Dunn of Indiana Department of Environmental Management; Don Biehle, Southeast Purdue Ag Center speaking about farm safety; Tom Reddish from John Deere speaking on the Future of Farm equipment and technology; Andrew Stewart speaking about credit, leasing and financial aspects in farming.

For more information call 812-663-2832 or on the web at www.greensburgchamber.com

Diane Moore Named Executive Director at New Directions

The board of directors of New Directions of Decatur County, Inc. is pleased to announce that Diane Moore has joined our staff as our new Executive Director.

Board president, Debbie Robbins stated, “Diane brings a wealth of knowledge and community interaction to our organization. A long-time resident of Decatur County, she has over a dozen years’ experience working with non-profits including several years as the Executive Director of the Arts & Cultural Council of Decatur County and has been active as a volunteer with many philanthropic groups.”

“I am thrilled to have been selected for this position,” says Moore. “I hope to use my energy and experience to facilitate the positive growth of the organization and to assist local women and their families as they cope with the harsh realities of domestic violence.”

New Directions has been providing shelter, counseling and related services to residents of Decatur County for over ten years.

“This year is starting off fantastic! We are also proud to announce the implementation of a new dating violence education program in our schools and the appointment of Jackie Elliott as our new Volunteer Coordinator. There are so very many exciting and positive changes happening in our organization,” notes Robbins.

“Our town has always prided itself on ‘taking care of our own’ and New Directions plays a key role in this tradition. Domestic violence is a terrifying ordeal, and it is vital that the women and children involved in these situations be able to stay right here in our local shelter near their support systems, work and schools. We strongly believe it is especially important for children to stay in their own schools during this traumatic experience.”

Moore and Robbins hope the community will join their efforts and support New Directions as they continue to grow and offer even more services and educational programs.

Local groups, service organizations and businesses are invited to contact them for information or to schedule a program for your employees or members. “I look forward to getting out into my community to work as an advocate for New Directions and as an educator on the many topics related to domestic violence.”

For more information or for assistance with personal domestic violence, please call 812-662-8822. The phone number is answered 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week.

Please direct any questions regarding this news release to: Diane Moore, Executive Director, New Directions, 108 S Broadway, Suite 2, Greensburg, IN 47240, Phone: 812-662-8822

DCMH Names New CEO

New Executive leadership will soon guide Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH.) Following an extensive search, an announcement was made today by the DCMH Board of Trustees of the hiring of the new Hospital CEO. Linda V. Simmons has been selected to fill the position that will be opened by the retirement of current CEO, William Alloy. Alloy had made his retirement announcement in the fall of last year.

Simmons has most recently served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer at the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County (MHSC) in Rock Springs, Wyoming. In that position she focused on areas of medical staff development/relations, financial operations, operational/clinical program development, hospital board relations and community involvement among others. Prior to the interim position she had served as the Chief Operating Officer there from 2006 to 2010. MHSC is a 99-bed, Joint Commission accredited, full service, rural, general acute care county-owned hospital.

She had also served as CEO at the Kindred Hospital Walnut Hill in Dallas, Texas, and Chief Operating Officer at the Kindred Hospital-Arlington in Arlington, Texas. In addition, Simmons has years of related healthcare education and experience.

Simmons’ accomplishments in her career include serving as Director of Critical Care Services, Clinical Manager of the ICU/Dialysis/Telemetry Services and working as an ICU Staff/Charge Nurse. Her Educational attainments include a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Mary, Bismarck, ND, and a Master of Science in Nursing, with a Healthcare Administration focus, from Baylor University. She also possesses a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Messiah College.

Professionally, Simmons has been affiliated with the Fellow of American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), appointed by the Governor of Wyoming to the Wyoming Workforce Taskforce Council, served on the Board of the ATI School of Respiratory Sciences, a United Way Loaned Executive, and a Stevie Award Finalist for a Woman Executive of a Not-for-Profit organization.

“Our Hospital, Medical Staff, Employees, and Community are fortunate to have attracted a CEO of Linda’s caliber,” commented Toni Collins, Chair of the DCMH Board of Trustees. “Her unique blend of clinical, organizational and operational experience is certain to serve our facility and its patients well.” Collins also expressed her thanks to the search committee, many physicians, board members, staff and community leaders who assisted in the search process.

Simmons, and her husband Charlie, have five grown children and enjoy the outdoors and collecting antiques. She is expected to begin her duties at the Hospital in early April.

Decatur County Memorial Hospital was opened in 1922 and serves the community with a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services including 24/7 emergency services. It has a mission of advancing the health and wellness of the community by providing quality care, leadership and education. More information on the facility and its offerings may be obtained at www.dcmh.net.