Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab†July 04, 2020
Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab†July 04, 2020
The majority of our “IS IT TRUE†columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give our more opinionated readers exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and Middle Jab and RIGHT JAB† column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB†AND “MIDDLE JAB†AND “RIGHT JABâ€Â several times a week.  Oh, “LEFT JAB†is a liberal view, “MIDDLE JAB†is the libertarian view and the “RIGHT JAB is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments in this column is free to do so.
Soil conservation remains strong in Indiana
According to a recent survey, Indiana farmers planted 950,000 acres of cover crops in 2019.
Cover crops are known for their environmental benefits and, with the exception of corn and soybeans, are planted on more acres than any other commodity crop in Indiana. They are typically planted in the fall after harvest and designed to keep roots in the ground throughout the winter, which improves soil health and helps filter water off of the farm.
Due to the late spring planting in 2019 and the subsequent delayed harvest, some cover crops were not able to be planted due to time constraints and unfavorable weather.
As a result of the cover crops planted last year, it is estimated that 1.2 million tons of sediment was prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways, along with 3 million pounds of nitrogen and 1.5 million pounds of phosphorus. That’s enough sediment to fill more than 350 Olympic-size swimming pools.
No-till or strip-till acres leave residues and soils undisturbed which allow the soil to hold in vital nutrients. The fall transect data for 2019 shows 71% of Indiana’s corn acres were no-till or strip-till and 76% of soybean acres were no-till or strip-till. This fall transect data doesn’t quantify any spring tillage that may occur.
“When we talk about soil health we are talking about a fundamental shift in the way we think about and care for our soil,†said Jerry Raynor, Indiana NRCS State Conservationist. “Soil health alone does not necessarily treat resource concerns. It’s the continued use of a suite of soil health practices as part of a conservation cropping system that leads to long-term benefits. We are seeing that fundamental shift in our Indiana farmers each year and our transect data proves it.â€
ISDA Director Bruce Kettler is looking forward to the years ahead for conservation in Indiana.
“Indiana is one of the top conservation minded states and each year Hoosier farmers go above and beyond to increase soil conservation on their farms,†said Kettler. “It is vital that Indiana remain strong in this area, and thanks to our committed farmers and the Indiana Conservation Partnership, I am confident that it will.â€
Roger Wenning is a Decatur county farmer who keeps soil conservation top of mind. Wenning operates his farm utilizing 100% no-till practices and cover crops.
“When you combine cover crops and no-till, one plus one doesn’t equal two; it equals three. What I mean is that the systems feed off each other,†Wenning explains. “No-till preserves organic matter in the soil and cover crops continue to build organic matter. Put the two together and you keep what you already have and actually multiply it.â€
The cover crop and tillage transect is a visual survey of cropland in the state. It’s conducted every year in the fall and following spring by members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Purdue Extension, as well as Earth Team volunteers, to show a more complete story of the state’s conservation efforts. Due to the implications of the novel coronavirus some of the 92 Indiana counties were missing cover crop data for the 2019 year, in those counties the data used was their individual five year averages.
Click here or visit www.isda.in.gov to see the results from the survey.
ADOPT A PET
Serenity is a female brown tabby cat. She is 4 years old. She was surrendered with her sister (already adopted) because their family was moving. She is mischievous & funny and keeps her caregivers laughing! Her adoption fee is $40 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Apply online at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!
Time To Renew Your License
The 2019-20 license extensions expires at the end of June. Individuals wanting to hunt or fish will need a valid 2020-21 Indiana hunting or fishing license. Licenses can be purchased online, at a local retailer, or through the DNR Customer Service Center.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
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Responsive employerHEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 541 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 46,915 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.
Intensive care unit and ventilator capacity remain steady. As of today, more than 41 percent of ICU beds and nearly 84 percent of ventilators are available.
A total of 2,488 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 19 over the previous day. Today’s death count includes 11 deaths in Allen County occurring between April 19 and June 22 that were not initially reported to ISDH. Another 193 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.
To date, 504,153 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 496,835 on Thursday.
Hoosiers who have symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been exposed and need a test to return to work are encouraged to visit a state-sponsored testing site for free testing. Individuals without symptoms who are at high risk because they are over age 65, have diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or another underlying condition, as well as those who are pregnant, live with a high-risk individual or are a member of a minority population that is at greater risk for severe illness, also are encouraged to get tested.
Marijuana Dealers from Virginia Arrested on I-64
On Thursday, July 02, 2020 at approximately 2:05 PM, Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force observed a silver Mitsubishi Outlander traveling west on I-64 near the 22 mile marker. The vehicle was traveling a constant 80-85mph in 70mph zone. Deputies conducted a vehicle stop for the speed violation at mile marker 18.
The driver was identified as X`Zavier Whitted. The only passenger was identified as Zamounte Whitted. The two stated that they were married to each other and lived in Virginia. They stated they were travelling to St. Louis, Missouri to visit family.
During the initial approach to the vehicle to speak to the occupants, deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. A deputy asked the occupants if there was anything illegal in the vehicle and both occupants stated there was not.
Deputies asked both occupants to exit the vehicle and they agreed to do so. Both again stated there was not anything illegal inside vehicle. Deputies then began a probable cause search of the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana coming from inside it.
The following items were recovered from inside:
- green leafy substance (suspected marijuana) inside container, located in flower backpack in backseat
- black duffel bag containing numerous packages of four different items (brownies, circle shaped cereal bar, shredded wheat type cereal bar, and multi-colored round puff type cereal bar) packaged the same way
- package containing brownie, located in front passenger door panel
- hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes found on Ms. Whitted
Samples of all the edible items field tested positive as marijuana. More than 50 packages of THC edibles were seized during the stop. The total field weight of the seized items was approximately 8 pounds.
Both occupants waived their Miranda rights and answered questions from deputies. Mrs. Whitted stated that all the contraband located belonged to her. She stated that she was transporting the THC products to St. Louis to give to her grandmother. Deputies also spoke with Mr. Whitted and admitted that he had made the THC containing products himself. He claimed that the brownies did not contain THC, but admitted that the cereal bars did.
The items were made to look like consumable food products and were made from various types of breakfast cereal. The items were cut into bars and individually packaged as food items. The manner in which the items were packaged, and the dangerous drug chemicals which they likely contain, could pose a dangerous safety hazard if encountered by an unsuspecting person, especially young children, who could easily confuse the items with safe-to-eat cereal and brownies.
The amount of THC products seized is indicative of an amount not for personal use but for distribution for profit. Both occupants were arrested and charged with Dealing Marijuana, a Level 6 Felony.
ARRESTED:
Pictured aboce: Sample of some of the edible drugs seized from the vehicle.
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Shooting in the 1200 Block of Lodge Ave.
Around 1:45 a.m. on July 3, the Evansville Police Department was called to the 1200 block of Lodge Ave. for shots fired. When officers arrived in the area they located multiple shell casings and a large amount of blood, but were unable to find a victim.
 After speaking to some witnesses in the area, they learned that someone had been shot during an altercation and the suspect was still on scene. Officers were able to place Dashambe Ignacio Atkins (24) in custody. A short time later, officers were called to an address in the 1800 block of E. Franklin St. The caller advised the responding officers that someone had been shot.Â
 Once the officers arrived on E. Franklin St. they were able to verify that this was the victim from the shooting on Lodge Ave. The victim had gunshot wounds to the head and face area. He was quickly taken to the hospital by an ambulance. The victim’s condition is unknown at this time.Â
 After placing Atkins in police custody, the officers discovered that he had a gunshot wound to his inner thigh that he failed to disclose. Atkins was also transported to the hospital where he is expected to survive his injuries. He is being charged with aggravated battery, a felony.Â