100 buried by South An exploration of Norwell football American landslide murals in the area closes season Area State Entertainment Guide Page 10 Sports Page 6 The News-Bannerwww.News-Banner.com SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2020 BLUFFTON, INDIANA • Wells County’s Hometown Connection $1.00 Calls increase with questions about quarantining By DEVAN FILCHAK Numerous people have called the Wells County Health Department recently for infor- Wells has mation about isolating or quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 or being exposed to COVID-19 respectively. nearly 100 Due to the increase in calls, Wells County Public Health Nurse Lynn Blevins shared information with the News-Banner from the active cases Indiana State Department of Health. There were nearly 100 When someone tests positive for COVID- active cases of COVID-19 in 19, it is important for them to isolate regardless Wells County as of Friday, of if they are showing symptoms or not since according to the Wells County COVID-19 can be spread by someone infected Health Department. who is asymptomatic. A total of 608 people in “Isolation keeps people with the COVID-19 Wells County have tested posi- virus away from those who are not infected and tive for COVID-19 so far this helps prevent further spread of infection,” an year. Of those, 98 cases are ISDH flyer stated. Go to the “On the Beat” blog at news-banner.com to see information provided by the Indi- ana State Department about isolating and quarantining, including a 14-day COVID-19 symptom active and an additional four Isolating means staying home from work, checker. (Graphic from ISDH) people are currently being hos- classes and social gatherings, even if the per- pitalized. A total of 15 people son feels healthy. Isolating also means stay- anyone in the household, and to use a different further spread. The phone number will show have died of the virus, and 491 ing separate from others as much as possible, bathroom from others if possible. up on caller identification as 833-670-0067 or people have recovered in Wells and that includes other people living in your Those who have tested positive have also as “IN Health COVID.” The person’s name County. household. People who are isolating are asked been asked to answer calls from a contact trac- and personal health information will be kept That leaves the seven-day to watch for signs that show they are getting er. Contact tracers call people who have tested confidential. positivity rate at 8.4 percent for sick, to wash hands frequently, to not share per- positive to get information about other people Home isolation ends when at least 10 days (Continued on Page 2) sonal items, such as silverware or glasses with who the person may have exposed to prevent (Continued on Page 2) Markle restaurant Making owner battles cancer Ride2Provide hosting cinnamon roll children’s fundraiser to benefit Goetz family By JESSICA BRICKER Patrons are asked to remain An owner of The Pickle in their vehicles. voices in Markle has been diag- “These monster cinna- nosed with cancer and a mon rolls would make great local relief organization is gifts for teachers, friends, planning a fundraiser to family, healthcare workers, heard benefit her family. first responders, farmers, Tracy Goetz was diag- etc.,” the post said. Retired educator leads nosed with cancer this year Cash or checks made and Ride 2 Provide “would out to Ride to Provide will local court-appointed like to help them out with be accepted. Call Angenette special advocate their medical expenses as Reed at 438-7539 for more they navigate through some information. Orders can also volunteer program tough times ahead,” a social be made on the social media media post said Oct. 27. post through the Ride 2 Pro- By DEVAN FILCHAK Homemade cinnamon vide page. After retiring from Bluffton- rolls can be pre-ordered The downtown Markle Harrison Elementary, Ginny Vogel until Nov. 16. Four “pre- restaurant’s page shared the decided to look into becoming a baked” large rolls per pan post after it was made pub- court-appointed special advocate cost $12. Drive-through lic. through the CASA program in Allen pick-up will be held from “We are so blessed to be County. 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at the part of our wonderful com- She had been interested in the Markle Volunteer Fire Sta- munity,” the post said. program for a long time, but she had tion, 150 W. Sparks St. [email protected] no idea then that she would eventu- Ginny Vogel, a retired guidance counselor from Bluffton-Harrison Elementary, ally be the program director for the is now the program director for CASA of Wells County. CASA stands for court- first-ever Wells County chapter. appointed special advocate, and the volunteers will work with children who are In chapters of CASA across the in “Child in Need of Services” cases in Wells County. (Photo by Devan Filchak) State sets COVID-19 county, volunteer special advo- cates are trained to volunteer to be a with the child or children in the case record ... again be assigned to “Child voice for children or case; talk with all interested parties, in Need of Services” Interested? teens to the court,” such as the Department of Child INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana set a single-day record — or CHINS, for • If you’re interested in Vogel said, adding Services case worker; and write of newly reported COVID-19 cases for the third straight short — cases going becoming a CASA that the goal is to get fact-based reports that are turned day Friday as the state again surpassed 4,000 new cases and through the court sys- volunteer or would into the judge prior to each hearing. coronavirus hospitalizations also surged to a new high, state tem. children in CHINS like more information cases placed in “a CASA volunteers also attend each health officials said. CHINS cases gen- about the program, The 4,714 new infections reported by the Indiana State erally pertain to cases contact Director Ginny safe and permanent court hearing and family team meet- home as timely as ings. Department of Health on Friday were the state’s highest sin- where children have Vogel at 260-273- gle-day level of the pandemic, eclipsing the previous record been neglected or 9877 or by email at possible.” Vogel said the work comes down ginnyvogel24@gmail. The National to balancing what the child wants of 4,462 new cases officials reported Thursday. abused. Children in The new records came just days after Republican Gov. CHINS cases can be com CASA website states in the case and what is best for the child, which can be difficult. Eric Holcomb, who has continued resisting calls for reinstat- in-home cases or out- that an average of ing coronavirus limits he largely lifted in September, said of-home cases, where the child is 271,800 children are helped across “I think that’s why it is impor- tant that you don’t just spend time following his landslide reelection victory that he’s not mak- currently living with relatives or a the country each year. ing any changes to state policy on handling COVID-19. with the child,” Vogel said. “You foster family. Providing a fact-based picture The department’s daily update of its coronavirus dash- “It’s a place where people can CASA volunteers spend time (Continued on Page 2) board showed 2,001 Hoosiers are currently hospitalized with (Continued on Page 3) The vote count goes on — with Biden on the cusp of the presidency By JONATHAN LEMIRE, counting votes widened his lead stronger position to capture the lenges, including the surging pan- of normalcy, as reporters lined up ZEKE MILLER, over President Donald Trump in 270 Electoral College votes need- demic and deep political polariza- for coronavirus tests and outdoor JILL COLVIN critical battleground states. ed to take the White House. tion. crews worked on the North Lawn and WILL WEISSERT High turnout, a massive num- There was intense focus on Trump stayed in the White on a mild, muggy fall day. Associated Press ber of mail-in ballots and slim Pennsylvania, where Biden led House and out of sight, as more Biden, for his part, addressed WASHINGTON (AP) — Dem- margins between the two candi- Trump by more than 27,000 votes, results trickled in and expanded the nation Friday night near his ocrat Joe Biden stood on the cusp dates all contributed to the delay in and Nevada, where the Democrat Biden’s lead in must-win Penn- home in Wilmington, Delaware, of winning the presidency Friday naming a winner. But Biden held led by about 22,000. The pro- sylvania. In the West Wing dur- and acknowledged the sluggish night, three days after Election leads in Pennsylvania, Nevada and longed wait added to the anxiety ing the day, televisions remained pace of the count “can be numb- Day, as the long, exacting work of Georgia, putting him in an ever- of a nation facing historic chal- tuned to the news amid trappings (Continued on Page 10) Inside Outside Online MEDICARE • INSURANCE • INVESTMENTS How to contact us: Call us: 824-0224 Local/Area Jerry Flack or 1-800-579-7476 Follow us on Facebook! Obituaries. 3 & Associates Fax us: 824-0700 Police Notebook . .3 Go to www.facebook.com/ newsbanner [email protected] ————— On the Web: Opinion What month is it again? Place Your Classified www.news-banner.com Saturday Sub . .4 April? May? June? Ads 24/7 Follow us at: Today Sunday Monday twitter.com/newsbanner Also..