WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021.
Later in the program, Perry Township is offering temporary relief for residents who no longer have a place to stay due to flooding over the weekend. In today’s feature reports, you will hear from Dan Combs, Perry Township Trustee, about the township’s effort to provide hotel rooms for displaced residents. Also coming up in the next half hour, we have coverage on the city’s decision to reopen the road that runs through Lower Cascades Park. More coming up in today’s headlines.
But first, your local news brief:
A man in Bloomington declared missing after the flooding on Friday was found dead on Sunday. Colton Booe, was found in the early morning by a search party consisting of family and friends according to a press release from the Bloomington Police Department. A friend Booe was with the night of the flood said that Booe tried to drive during the flood only to slide off the side of the road and hit an unknown object. Booe’s friend was able to escape through the car window. However, he couldn’t find Booe after that.
On Monday, eight students at Indiana University have sued over the vaccination mandate required to return to campus in the fall. They say it violates Indiana’s new law “Vaccine Passports” as well as the Fourteenth Amendment – “the right to bodily autonomy.” IU Spokesperson Chuck Carney told the Indiana Daily Student that he is “Confident [the university] will prevail in this case. The attorney general’s opinion affirmed our right to require the vaccine.”
This Monday was International Day of Yoga. Local Bloomington studios celebrated by offering free classes, hosting outdoor events and reflection. For those looking to get involved in yoga, The Hot Room, located on College Mall Road, will be offering a free yoga class to anyone who mentions the recent IDS article written about their work.
Bloomington Board of Public Works Discuss the Reopening of Old State Road 37 in Lower Cascades Park
Director of Public Works Adam Wason talked about the city’s recommendation to re-open the road through Lower Cascades Park at the June 22nd Bloomington Board of Public Works meeting. He revealed that accessibility and safety issues played a large part in the department’s decision.
Wason added the re-opening would include road maintenance and upgrades. He focused on changes aimed at making the road safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
City Council member Matt Flaherty expressed disappointment over the decision. He said the closure was an opportunity to create another safe route for cyclists and pedestrians around town, including a bike route to Bloomington High School North.
The next Board of Public Works meeting is on July 6th.
Board of Park Commissioners Vote to Reopen Road Running through Lower Cascades Park
The Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners voted on whether to re-open Old State Road 37 in Lower Cascades Parks. At the Jun 22nd meeting, Parks and Recreations Director Paula McDevitt expanded further on the City’s decision to re-open the road through Lower Cascades. She said the City had received hundreds of responses to surveys, which favored re-opening the road to vehicle traffic.
Commissioner Israel Herrera asked about damages caused by flash flooding. McDevitt revealed that parts of the road had been damaged and would be repaired. Resident Greg Alexander opposed re-opening the road to vehicle traffic. He cited Bloomington’s previous plans for Lower Cascades as a factor in his opposition.
Commissioners voted to approve the recommendation 3 to 0. The recommendation will return to the Board of Public Works at a future meeting.
MCCSC School Board Discuss Meal Prices, Lack of Contracts with Minority-Owned Businesses
The Monroe County Community School Corporation School Board discussed meal prices for the 2021 to 2022 school year. At the June 22nd meeting, Director of Business Operations John Kenny presented a plan that would raise MCCSC school meal prices alongside federal guidelines for the upcoming school year. He added that waivers for free meals introduced during the pandemic would continue through 2022.
Board members voted to approve meal prices 7 to 0. After board members voted to approve contracts, Board member Jacinda Townsend Gides commented on the lack of contracts made with minority-owned companies.
The next regularly scheduled School Board meeting is July 27th.
Your Feature Reports
Now it’s time for your feature reports. Up first, Perry Township is offering temporary relief for residents who no longer have a place to stay due to the flooding over the weekend. WFHB News Director Kade Young spoke with Dan Combs, Perry Township Trustee, about the township’s effort to provide hotel rooms for displaced residents.
If you live in Perry Township and are in need of assistance, call 812-336-3713 or send an email to [email protected] for the emergency assistance program.
And now, it’s time for Better Beware – our weekly consumer-watchdog segment on the WFHB Local News. The series exposes scams in South-Central Indiana. We turn to host Richard Fish for more.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Katherine Patterson and Jake Jacobson, in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Better Beware is produced by Richard Fish
Our feature was produced by Kade Young.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Our engineer and executive producer is Kade Young
