Planning to play
College football may not happen, but high school football is still on track to be played in Indiana this fall.
Columbus East coach Bob Gaddis, the executive director of the Indiana Football Coaches Association, spoke with Robert Faulkens, the IHSAA assistant commissioner who administers football, earlier this week, and the two agreed that the season will move forward.
Both the East and North football teams are scheduled to open their seasons on Aug. 21.
While the future of the 2020 season is uncertain, it’s encouraging that local health protocols are keeping student-athletes safe and ready to play.
Staying masked up
Thus far, most everyone’s playing by the new rules.
While some counties have been forced to issue citations to businesses, Bartholomew County’s health officials haven’t written any violations in regards to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s temporary statewide mask mandate.
The executive order requires wearing masks in indoor public spaces, commercial entities and on public transportation, as well as when outdoors and without the ability to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others, among other provisions.
Dr. Brian Niedbalski, Bartholomew County Health Officer, said that he has received a few complaints, but no businesses have been labeled as “repeat offenders” yet.
Through the pandemic, Bartholomew County has shown that it has done a solid job of slowing the spread of COVID-19. It’s no surprise that most locals are taking the advice of top health officials.
Offering superior support
More Hoosiers will have access to recovery treatments thanks to a new partnership.
The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and Mental Health America of Indiana have joined to create the Indiana Recovery Network.
The Indiana Recovery Network, a peer support organization made up of trained professionals, will soon receive $1 million from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The funding will help add 40 peer recovery specialists to 16 of Indiana’s 60 recovery-based organizations across the state.
Specialists will be available to all individuals, no matter the stage of their recovery journey.
As the pandemic continues, it’s vital that these expanded services be available to all citizens.
