News Release

SHIPSHEWANA — Two elderly people in an Amish buggy died after being struck from behind by a dump truck on Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened just after 3 p.m. on US 20 near CR 1000 West in LaGrange County, according to information provided by the Indiana State Police.

The initial investigation shows the buggy, occupied by two people, was on the shoulder heading east on US 20. 

For an unknown reason, a Ford F550 dump truck drifted onto the shoulder and hit the buggy. The truck was driven by Gael Reyes, 20, of Sturgis, Mich., who was not injured.

Marvin Shrock, 75, and Ruby Shrock, 74, both of Shipshewana, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Drugs and alcohol are not suspected as a factor in this crash. It is still under investigation by the Indiana State Police Critical Incident Reconstruction Team, and there is currently no other information available.

The post Buggy accident leaves two dead near Shipshewana appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

INDIANAPOLIS — State officials have confirmed new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at duck farms in LaGrange County and Elkhart County, marking the first reported outbreak in Indiana since June.

A control area and a surveillance zone have been established around the site, covering portions of LaGrange, Elkhart and Noble counties. Testing will be conducted on nearby flocks to determine whether the virus has spread beyond the initial farm.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health said the affected LaGrange farm houses more than 2,600 ducks that have been placed under quarantine, with the Elkhart County farm seeing more than 3,500 ducks affected. The board did not disclose the exact location of the facility.

The state had regained its highly pathogenic avian influenza-free status in June, following months of monitoring after earlier outbreaks. The World Organization for Animal Health grants that designation when no new infections are detected within a 28-day period after the last affected site is cleared.

Indiana saw more than two dozen bird flu cases during the first quarter of this year, leading to the depopulation of millions of birds across multiple farms. The most recent case before this week occurred in May at a non-commercial poultry operation in Porter County.

Indiana’s poultry industry employs over 12,700 Hoosiers. The state ranks first in the nation for duck production, while also ranking third for egg production and fourth for turkey production.

How Producers Can Stay Safe

With winter approaching and migratory birds passing through the area, there is increased concern about disease transmission, as wild birds are the primary -though not the only – source of HPAI spread.

Producers are urged to maintain strong biosecurity practices, according to Purdue Extension Elkhart County. If a farm does not currently have a biosecurity plan, now is the time to implement one. These measures protect not only that farm’s animals but also neighboring farms.

Take steps to reduce contact between wild birds and poultry or dairy animals. Keep feed and feed ingredients covered to prevent wild bird access. If you visit multiple poultry or dairy operations, allow for downtime between visits when possible. Changing clothes and footwear between farms also reduces the risk of spreading the virus.

Avoid sharing equipment or supplies between farms, as they can easily carry the virus. Thoroughly clean and disinfect all tools and equipment used around sick animals. Effective disinfectants include a bleach solution – 4 oz. bleach per gallon of water, laundry soap may be added, but never ammonia, Accel-Rescue products, Pine-Sol. Remember: disinfectants only work on clean surfaces, so remove all dirt and debris before applying.

Wash hands before and after handling animals. HPAI has been known to infect humans who work closely with infected animals, so proper hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment are essential for safety.

Common symptoms in poultry:

• Decreased energy, appetite, and egg production
• Sudden death without prior signs
• Swelling of the head, comb, eyelids, wattles, or hocks
• Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing
• Purple discoloration of wattles, legs, or combs
• Diarrhea
• Incoordination
• Misshapen or soft-shelled eggs

Common symptoms in cattle:

• Lethargy
• Fever
• Decreased appetite
• Reduced milk production

Anyone who suspects avian influenza in their flock or herd, is urged to immediately contact the Indiana Board of Animal Health, or BOAH at 1(866) 536-7593 or a local veterinarian.

The post New reports of Bird flu announced in LaGrange and Elkhart counties appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Communities in north central Indiana are set to receive millions of dollars to improve roads and bridges.

The grants are being provided through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program, which aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks and improve roads and bridges across the Hoosier State.

Through the program, the Indiana Department of Transportation matches up to $1.5 million annually when localities invest in road and bridge repairs.

Here are some of the areas taxing units receiving grant money:

• Warsaw: $929,526.00

• Syracuse: $565,943.25

• LaGrange County: $1.5 million

• Marshall County: $1.5 million

• Nappanee: $922,972.50

• Fulton County: $1,000,560.00

• Bourbon: $45,367.92

• Bremen: $456,656.25

Counties with populations fewer than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations fewer than 10,000 receive a 75%/25% match, while counties with populations greater than 50,000 and cities and towns with populations greater than 10,000 receive a 50%/50% match.

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Friday confirmed the state’s first positive case of chronic wasting disease — a deadly neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer.

The positive case was recorded in northern Indiana’s LaGrange County and is adjacent to a region in Michigan where the disease, also known as CWD, has previously been detected, according to state officials.

The Indiana white-tailed deer that tested positive for CWD was a male harvested by a hunter, according to state officials. Two independent tests confirmed the animal was positive for the disease.

Indiana DNR deer biologist Joe Caudell said in a news release that CWD has been detected in wild deer in 33 states, including all states bordering Indiana.

He added that — because CWD was previously detected in Michigan, near the Indiana border — finding it in this area of Indiana was “highly likely.” For that reason, DNR will continue monitoring the area for CWD.

“CWD has been in our region for many years with positive cases in all of our surrounding states,” Caudell said. “The public can help by reporting sightings of sick or dead deer to the DNR, as well as submitting harvested deer for testing during deer hunting season. Through increased awareness and testing, we can work to monitor CWD within Indiana’s deer population.”

There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans, according to the Indiana DNR.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters “strongly consider” having their harvested deer tested before eating the meat. The CDC also advises not to eat meat from an animal that tests positive for CWD.

Scientists believe CWD is caused by a misfolded protein that causes damage to the animal’s nervous system.

Those proteins likely spread between animals through body fluids like feces, saliva, blood or urine, either through direct contact or indirectly through environmental contamination of soil, food or water, according to the CDC. Other animals can contract CWD from the environment even after an infected deer has died.

In Indiana, that means CWD can spread from deer-to-deer contact or through contaminated environments and remains in the soil for many years. Indiana DNR cautions that animals in the late stages of CWD can appear emaciated, show erratic behavior, and exhibit “neurological irregularities.”

Sick or dead wildlife should be reported to Indiana DNR and can be done so online.

Indiana’s various deer hunting seasons run from mid-September until the end of January.

During a season, hunters can voluntarily drop off deer heads at one of several CWD sampling locations around the state to have animals tested for the disease. Test results will be posted online for individual hunters to access when laboratory tests are complete.

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The CDC recommends hunters should take the following steps when hunting in areas with CWD:

• Do not shoot, handle or eat meat from deer and elk that look sick or are acting strangely or are found dead (road-kill).
• When field-dressing a deer, wear latex or rubber gloves when dressing the animal or handling the meat. Additionally, minimize how much you handle the organs of the animal, particularly the brain or spinal cord tissues, and do not use household knives or other kitchen utensils.
• Strongly consider having the deer or elk tested for CWD before you eat the meat.
• If you have your deer or elk commercially processed, consider asking that your animal be processed individually to avoid mixing meat from multiple animals.
• If your animal tests positive for CWD, do not eat its meat.

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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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