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Kosciusko Nearing 'Red' In Pandemic
Nearly 80% of the people testing positive for the coron avirus are under 60 years old, but they're spreading it to those over 60 who are more likely to die from COVID 19. That's just one statistic Mayor Joe Thallemer pointed out Friday during the biweekly press conference at City Hall on the pandemic, which was held virtually. Kosciusko County Public Health Officer Dr. William Remington also emphasized how the pandemic is affect ing local health care facilities. "Last Friday, we called a hastily arranged press con ference to raise the level of community awareness as to the increase of COVID 19 last week. I think today, we're issuing a much higher level of concern and plea to follow safety precautions to help prevent spread," Thallemer said.
Numbers Up
On Oct. 13, from the state's standpoint, Thallemer said the daily case count was 1,151. Three weeks later, the number of new cases in the state hit 4,000 for the first time. Since Nov. 6, the num ber of new daily cases in Indiana hit 6,654. The seven day positivity rate is 10.5% in the state, he said. Kosciusko County hit a new daily record Thursday of 154 cases. "This was something that was stunning to me as I looked at it this morning," Thallemer said as he pulled up some demographics. "This is the last 30 days in the state and this just shows ... the demographic, the age groups that are being impacted that are testing positive for COVID 19. And by my math, 77% of those under the age of 60 are affected by the virus. The rest are over the age of 60. So, when we look at the death rate, and we look at the demographics for death in the last 30 days, 92% of the deaths are over 60." He said, "The point we're trying to make is that the death rate is impacting those over 60, 92% of those that have died from COVID in the last 30 days are over the age of 60. And those that are spreading the disease are under 60; 77% of the cases are under the age of 60. I think that's compelling. Again, I think it's a logical conclusion that 77% of those under the age of 60 are spreading the disease to the older population that are being hospitalized and dying." To those who say they're not concerned about getting or spreading the disease, Thallemer said, "If we look at the science, the hospitals are filling up and people are dying as a direct result of the uncontrolled community spread that is occurring." He said there's been a dra matic shift in the state's coro navirus map colors and it's almost totally orange. Orange is the color right before red, the most severe. "I fear we're heading toward the red," Thallemer warned.
Masks Work
The Center for Disease Control updated its literature search Tuesday on the use of cloth masks. It highlighted seven studies confirming the benefit of community use of cloth masks. Reading the conclusions, Thallemer said, "Experimental and epidemi ological data support com munity masking to reduce the spread of SARS COVID 2. The prevention benefit of masking is derived from the combination of source con trol and personal protection for the mask wearer. The relationship between source
BY DAVID SLONE
TIMES-UNION
Managing Editor dslone@timesuniononline.com
A Warsaw woman was charged with making false statements in connection to the purchase of firearms. U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II for the Northern District of Indiana announced on Friday that Heather Bentley, 35, of Warsaw, purchased three firearms on Nov. 4. When she purchased the firearms, she certified that she was the actual buyer of the firearms. However, documents in the case allege that other individu als had given her over $1,500 to purchase the firearms. Bentley indicated dur ing a later interview that two individuals who she knew to be felons had asked her to buy guns because they were fleeing from the police, according to a news release from Kirsch's office. Bentley allegedly provided all three firearms to those individuals. Two days later, on Nov. 6, two police offi cers in Delafield, Wis., responded to a call for service. Those officers encountered these same two individuals, one of whom shot both of the police officers. Both indi viduals were arrested in Wisconsin. "The charges in this case allege the defendant made a straw purchase, which is when a person acquires a firearm from a federal firearms licensee for someone else, who is either ineligible to pur chase the firearm or wish es to conceal their identi ty," Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Kristen de Tineo of the Chicago Field Division is quoted as saying in the news release. "ATF will continue to investigate these serious violations, which put not only the community at risk, but, as illustrated in this com plaint, law enforcement as well." The case is being inves tigated by the Bureau of ATFE with the assistance of the Delafield, Wis., Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly Donnelly.
Woman Accused Of Buying Guns Used In Police Shooting
BY DAVID SLONE
TIMES-UNION
Managing Editor dslone@timesuniononline.com
See RED- Page 5A
ELKHART COUNTY - A collision involving an SUV and a semi early Friday morning killed a 4 year old Nappanee girl. Police responded to a wreck at 7:16 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Ind. 119 and CR 40 in Elkhart County and determined that a 2013 Jeep Cherokee, driven by Sierra Doering, 26, of Nappanee, was traveling east on CR 40. Doering entered into the intersection and into the path of a 2007 Kenworth tractor trailer, driven by Richard Miller, 60, of New Paris. A right angle crash occurred, according to a news release from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office, with the front of the semi striking the dri ver's side of the Jeep. Doering was taken by Samaritan helicopter to a Fort Wayne hospital for back injuries. Reece Doering, 4, a passenger in the Jeep, was pro nounced dead, and Graham Doering, 23 months, was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Miller was uninjured. The Elkhart County Sheriff's crash investiga tion team is working the accident.
BY AMANDA BRIDGMAN
TIMES-UNION
Staff Writer abridgman@timesuniononline.com
4-Year-Old Girl Killed Friday In Crash
A Country Christmas with Susie McEntire (L) will feature guest Linda Davis (R) this year. The concert benefitting Toys For Tots is Dec. 12 in the Lakeview Middle School auditorium. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, seating will be limited to 350 in the auditorium.
Photos Provided
A Country Christmas with gospel and country music artist Susie McEntire will be back this year, but restric tions will be in place for the concert due to the COVID 19 pandemic and Gov. Eric Holcomb's latest executive order. Benefitting Toys For Tots, the seventh annual event starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 12, with doors opening at 6 p.m. at Lakeview Middle School auditorium. It is free, but attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for donating to Toys For Tots. The show will open with guest Linda Davis, who had the hit song "Does He Love You" with Reba McEntire, and is the mother of Hillary Scott, singer for Lady A (for merly known as Lady Antebellum). On Wednesday, Holcomb announced Indiana was step ping back from Stage 5 and new restrictions for the state would begin Sunday. He said things are now reaching crit ical points, including new COVID patients being hospi talized, the seven day posi tivity rate is over 10% and hospital staff shortages and illness. The new requirements from Holcomb include social distancing and wearing a mask; businesses need to post signs saying masks are required and to encourage social distancing among cus tomers; and gatherings are limited. For counties in "orange," gatherings are lim ited at 50 people and larger
'A Country Christmas' Set For Dec. 12
BY DAVID SLONE
TIMES-UNION
Managing Editor dslone@timesuniononline.com
See SET- Page 2A
Susie McEntire and Linda Davis' paths have crossed over the years, but they've never shared a stage together. That could change Dec. 12 when the two gospel/country music artists take to the Lakeview Middle School stage for the seventh annual "A Country Christmas." Doors open at 6 p.m., with Davis opening the event at 7 p.m. While the event is free, attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots. Seating is limited to 350 and masks are required throughout the show due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Susie McEntire, the sister of coun try music legend Reba McEntire, spoke from her home in Oklahoma Wednesday for this interview. Davis, who had the 1993 hit song "Does He Love You" with Reba and is the moth er of Hillary Scott, singer for Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum), spoke from her home in Nashville, Tenn.
Interview With Susie
Susie said she started performing out this year in Rapid City, S.D., and then to Guthrie, Okla., which was the week her 93 year old mother died. "That was the very beginning of COVID for us, about the 14th of March, and then everything can celled between March and then final ly we had a concert in Texas Oct. 9. So coming around to Warsaw, that's it," she said. She watched the Country Music Association special on television Tuesday and thought it was really heartfelt. "These artists were talking about how they've had to cancel dates. They paid their employees, their bands, until they couldn't pay them anymore and tried to help them get unemployment. It's just been a hard time for the whole music indus try," she said. Reba hosted the CMA Awards
BY DAVID SLONE
TIMES-UNION
Managing Editor dslone@timesuniononline.com
Susie McEntire, Linda Davis to share a stage for 1st time
See SHARE - Page 2A
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