Happy Friday Everyone,

We can't list all of the events going on in our community so please visit the Chamber Community Calendar for the most updated events at https://batesvillein.com/events/.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would also post your events too.

If you would like to know more about how the Batesville Area Chamber can help your business, please give us a call or stop by the Chamber office.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Melissa Tucker

Executive Director

Check out our Chamber Facebook group "Together We Thrive" daily as we highlight all of our great member businesses throughout the year.

Be sure to check out all of our great members by going to our DIRECTORY. For more information on all the benefits the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce has to offer, please give us a call at 812-934-3101 or email us at chamber@batesvillein.com.

Remember that you can post all of your events on our website by clicking on this link: Post Your Events Here.

We are excited about the development of our new smartphone app! Be one of the first to download the new app and receive $5 off your very next order. Use code: NEWAPP

October 15, 2021

For Immediate Release

Batesville Area Arts Council

Contact: Sarah Heppner

              812-933-0355

Umbrella Sky Coming Down October 24th

Batesville Area Art Council would like to get the word out that the last day to see the Batesville Umbrella Sky Project will be Sunday, October 24th. The last scheduled event under the umbrellas, the Skate Jam, will be held Saturday, October 23^rd from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm by the Batesville Area Skatepark Advocacy Team.

BAAC Executive Director Sarah Heppner remarked, “While the Umbrella Sky Project has served as a wonderful and cheerful gathering space for our community members and many more visitors, the umbrellas have definitely reached the end of their lifespan. But, BAAC has exciting news! Once the umbrellas come down, holiday lights will adorn the structure for the winter, and a new display will be installed for next summer. So, for those who did not get to see our umbrellas at their peak, there will be more picture-perfect opportunities to come back to Batesville for a visit!”

BAAC President Kendra Basler encourages those interested in seeing the new displays to follow the BAAC website and/or Facebook page for updates.

Batesville Main Street's $50,000 grant award will go towards the design and completion of Inspiration Park, in commemoration of 2020’s 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, honoring the rich legacy of women who have shown vision and tenacity to become significant contributors to the Batesville Community.

Hometown Grants are part of the Un-carrier’s massive commitment to bring 5G to rural America. Over the next five years, T-Mobile plans to hire 7,500 new employees in small towns and rural communities and provide $25 million in grants for community development projects. Earlier this month the Un-carrier unveiled the FIRST Hometown Techover winner, Woodstock, Ill. which will receive a prize package worth $3M and become the crown jewel of 5G for small towns across America. And today, 25 additional well-deserving small towns will snag a grant to improve their communities.

T-Mobile Hometown Grants is just one of the many initiatives underscoring T-Mobile’s commitment to rural America.  More than just bringing wireless, T-Mobile wants to be part of the community and help small towns thrive.

“Thank you for the generous grant to Batesville Main Street to help shine a light on women's history. They have worked very hard to create a new park that will highlight the local women that have shaped our community. It will also offer a place where citizens and visitors can come together to work, live, and engage with one another.” Mayor Mike Bettice, City of Batesville 

www.uschamber.com/coronavirus

www.CDC.gov Mass Gatherings\

Indiana Unemployment

Vaccine Eligibility in Indiana Link

If you test positive, please notify all close contacts so that they can be aware and watch for symptoms. For more information, please visit: www.ripleyhealth.com

You can schedule your vaccine by calling 211 or visiting ourshot.in.gov! We have appointments available as early as today! RCHD does currently have Pfizer, Moderna, & J&J vaccines available.

For more information, please visit: www.ripleyhealth.com.

This week has finally brought some much-needed relief for our team and are hopeful we just might be on the other side of this latest surge. Both Ripley and Franklin counties experienced a decrease in the Covid 7-day positivity rate over the last week. The Ripley Co. status remained unchanged, although there was a decrease in the Covid 7-day positivity rate which is now at a 9.71% (“orange” status). The Franklin Co. advisory level changed this week from red to orange and the positivity rate also decreased to 12.56%.

Inpatient Care: This week we have continued to see a decline in overall patient volumes, with a significant decrease in COVID+ patients. We currently have 19 patients on our Med Surg floor, and zero patients in our Special Care Unit. Only 4 of our patients are Covid+ (positive).  Our overall percentage of admitted patients since August 1, 2021 who were unvaccinated continues to stay steady at around 84% (see chart for more details).

Testing: Testing for COVID-19 decreased from the previous week, and our positivity rate declined substantially, with 22 patients testing positive and a current positivity rate of 14.0%. See chart for more details on testing results.

Vaccination: Tomorrow, Thursday October 28, MMH will be offering our last COVID-19 Booster Clinic from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Batesville Street Department located at 514 John Street. This clinic is for existing patients of Margaret Mary Health. Mixed dosing is now authorized for COVID-19 vaccine boosters. It can be administered at least six months after completion of the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and two months after the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine. Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination card with you. No appointment is necessary at the clinic; however, we suggest you be prepared for longer wait times as we will be registering patients when they arrive.

Vaccine appointments can be scheduled Monday - Friday at the MMH Occupational Health and Wellness Center in Batesville at 812.932.5105.  Vaccine appointments can also be made Monday – Friday at the Margaret Mary Health Center in Brookville at 765.647.5126. Walk-ins are also welcome in Brookville.

COVID-19 is on the rise, both nationally and in our community. Listen to Interim CEO Liz Leising as she shares what’s happening inside the walls of MMH, as well as how effective the vaccine has been in fighting the new virus strain locally.

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS!

Batesville Tool & Die, Hillenbrand & Batesville, Hillrom

Margaret Mary Health and Mercy Health

City of Batesville and Media Muse Studios

Batesville Online, Daily News, Duke Energy, FCN Bank, First Financial Bank,

Great Plains Communications, Health Markets Insurance Agency, Izzy's at Hillcrest,

LaRosa's Family Pizzeria, Pro-Prints Sign Imaging, Pulskamps Flooring Plus,

Rowland Graphics, Sharp Painting LLC, Skyline Chili,

St. Andrews Health Campus, Tudor Square Realty, WRBI Country 103.9