News

Barbara Gillin turned 90 on Friday. Her family wanted to have a party for her but due to the Coronavirus they couldn't do that. So, they spread the word and had a surprise parade for her. Barbara lives in Staunton with her daughter Molly. At least 50 vehicles, led by a Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department fire truck drove by Barbara as she set in a chair near the street...

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced today that more than 152,000 Indiana households will receive additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits when April distributions begin this Sunday. The additional funds are intended to help Hoosiers obtain food and support for their families while Indiana responds to the COVID-19 pandemic...

PHOTOS BY STEVEN KING - A team of Youth Food Program volunteers prepares take-out meals for those in need Wednesday afternoon at the Brazil First United Methodist Church. For the past several years the church has provided a public meal on Wednesday afternoons, but due to the COVID-19 guidelines, the meals have had to be arranged as take-outs...

Officials confirmed a Brazil man arrested March 27 was booked into jail with a violation of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order requiring Hoosiers to stay at home. However, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office selected not to formally charge the violation of the order...

PHOTO SUBMITTED by DONNA LITTLE - A welcome sight recently sprouted forth on North County Raod 425 West, just south of State Road 40: The word SPRING is spelled out in flowers on a small hill on the east side of the road. Local Staunton residents in the area credit Jim Waltzer Sr., now deceased, for planting the annual floral message, including the heart at the end of the word. ...

• On Friday, Gov. Eric Holcomb extended the Stay At Home executive order for two more weeks during his daily updates of COVID-19. Further details are expected to be released Monday, April 6 during the daily press conference scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The press conference can be viewed online at Governor Eric Holcomb Facebook page...

SUBMITTED PHOTO - Parker Johnson is a senior at Northview High School. He plays baseball. His mother is Danna Johnson. She placed his uniform on the front door of their home to honor Parker.

How would you improve relations with Republicans in the Indiana General Assembly if you are elected? If elected, I intend to establish solid working relationships with all the representatives, both Democratic and Republican. I have a proven track record of building trust and accomplishing goals with diverse groups. ...

The Pull Away merry-go-round many people remember from long ago at Forest Park received an OK from the City’s risk management company. According to minutes from the March meeting, Mark Emmis of Bliss McKnight gave his opinion the City can place the merry-go-round in Forest Park once again, if it is inspected monthly and the inspection documented with any repairs needed and performed...

On Thursday, the Clay County Health Department confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 in the county. The first positive case was announced shortly afternoon, and the patient was reported to be hospitalized; while the second positive case was announced shortly after 4 p.m. ...

It is time again for the fall and winter flowers to be removed from the graves at Calcutta Cemetery in Clay County. This is in preparation of the spring mowing season that will be starting in April. It is requested that ALL flowers be removed from the graves by APRIL 15. This is greatly appreciated and is a major assistance in the care and up-keep of the Calcutta Cemetery...

Sheriffs are searching for dozens of 2020 Student Advisers For Educating Tomorrow’s Youth (S.A.F.E.T.Y) Leaders for their Youth Ranch now under development for future law enforcement officers, at-risk kids, young witnesses and victims of crime. Middle school and high school students who have attended public safety camps across the state will be asked to give guidance on proposed facilities, programs and policies of the new Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch being developed in rural Clay County between Greencastle and Terre Haute, Scott Minier, ISYR executive director, said.. ...

SUBMITTED PHOTO - Lots of local residents stopped by the Brazil Quick Pick South, 7996 North State Road 59, Saturday while free to-go dinners (a balanced meal of rice, beans, and salad), along with a free loaf of bread was provided to anyone who needed it. Over 70-75 meals were provided during the event organized by owner Hardeep Singh. Singh has been asked by numerous residents if he would be doing it again at his other gas station located on US 40 near the Clay/Vigo county line...

The Rotary Club of Brazil has partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Monday, April 27th at the First Christian Church in Brazil. This blood drive event will take place from 1 PM to 6 PM. To donate blood, the Red Cross is encouraging participants to schedule an appointment for this blood drive by visiting www.redcrossblood.org/give. You can also contact Rotarian, Andrew Bowman for help scheduling...

Although most people have gone home to self-isolate during the COVID-19 outbreak, first responders are still out there working to serve, help, and protect the community. Many of them are working with limited or without the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect their own safety...

As Hoosiers await federal stimulus checks designed to help mitigate financial effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they should be prepared for phone calls from scammers posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents, Attorney General Curtis Hill said today...

The Salvation Army’s Indiana Division has received a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support The Salvation Army’s immediate COVID-19 response and to sustain long-term service to the Indiana community. The grant is part of $15 million total that The Salvation Army received for nationwide efforts...

Details are limited at this time, but the Clay County Health Department has confirmed a second diagnosed case of COVID-19. No additional information is available due to privacy laws (HIPPA). The first positive case was announced Saturday, March 28. Due to many facilities requesting the tests for symptomatic patients (many of which are still being processing), the exact number of Clay County residents tested has not been confirmed at this time...

On March 26 Catholic Charities delivered a truck load of food to Cooper Towers.

Mario's restaurant and JC Auto wanted to help St. Vincent Clay Hospital staff so they bought a thousand examination gloves and donated them.

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 The United States lost a month with the shoddy rollout of coronavirus tests. Chalk it up to government bureaucracy. Now private companies are releasing new, better, faster tests. On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Emergency Use Authorization to medical device company Abbott Labs for a coronavirus test that delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes, the company said...

Beth Adams is one of several mothers in the area who have chosen to honor their student-athletes by hanging their uniforms on the door of their home. Adams’ son is Hunter Adams of Clay City High School.

Years ago, when I was just 9 years old, I was introduced for the first time to a Bible ministry in our area named Seedline International. As I watched the effort and impact they had in producing and distributing the Word of God throughout the whole world, it played a huge role in inspiring me to eventually go into the ministry. ...

Major Hill was the fifth in a family of eight children born to Almira (Usher) and Abel Shepard Hill. He was born on August 29, 1843, in Brazil, Indiana. When he was sixteen years of age, Roswell went to a military academy in Clinton, Indiana. He spent six months at the military academy and returned home to his parents’ farm. The military training he received at Clinton must have served him well, because he rose gradually in rank to Major in the Civil War...

The urgency of the COVID-19 outbreak announced in Indiana in early March captivated the attention of the public and the press. Meanwhile local law enforcement continued to investigate two sex crimes involving juveniles. The Brazil City Police Department Criminal Investigative Division provided information about these cases Tuesday...

Ella Ray Baysinger, a daughter, was born to Wyatt and Brittany Baysinger of Brazil at 10:15 p.m., on February 25, 2020, at Hendrix Regional Health, Danville, Indiana. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Grandparents are Bob and Rhonda Ray of Brazil and David and Andrfea Baysinger of Brazil...

Brandi Cooper Vandivier is one of three Democratic Party candidates running for the Indiana House. She will face two other candidates for the Democratic Party nomination during the June 2nd Primary Election. We asked all three candidates the same questions by email and Vandivier was the first to respond...

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a patch and resurfacing project will begin this week. The contractor will begin overnight patching work through Greencastle Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3 between the hours of 7:30 p.m. until 6 a.m., weather permitting...

It’s stunning how fast events are moving. Two weeks ago I was deliberating traveling with family to New Orleans, a place with no identified cases of coronavirus at the time. Now, New Orleans is one of the hot zones for the virus. In a matter of days, Missouri went from a couple known cases to more than 250 and climbing fast. Perry County is under order from county authorities to “shelter in place.”...

• VFW Post 1127 in Brazil will offer a free hot dog lunch on April 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drive-up, stay in your car and you will be served. • Brazil First United Methodist Church will be serving a take out meal this Wednesday... we will serve at 4:30 until the meals are gone. Pick up will be from the preschool doors on the south side of the church...

Karen Stearley, local food drive coordinator, passed on this information: The 28th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive, scheduled for May 9 has been postponed. The NALC, as well as our national partners, are fully committed to rescheduling the food drive later in 2020. A new date has not yet been scheduled...

At noon Saturday, March 28, the Clay County Health Department announced the first positive case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Clay County. Clay County Health Nurse Kim Hyatt confirmed the results. “If people would just stay home and follow the safe handwashing and social distancing techniques, health officials could get a handle on this,” Hyatt told The Brazil Times Saturday. “We need people to continue to do what we all have been told to do. We can get this under control.”...

Pappy's Bar-B-Que and the Walnut Theater are two Brazil businesses using their marquees to encourage people and offer hope.

Clay County has its first presumptive positive case of COVID-19, according to the Clay County Health Department. On Saturday, March 28, Kim Hyatt issued a press release stating the patient is "self-isolating at home. No additional information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws."...

When a Facebook post announced a child’s bicycle was stolen from the front yard of a Brazil home, a local couple sprung into action. “We didn’t do this to get any attention. that’s not why you give to help others,” said Pastor Jeff Bridgewater, who along with his wife, Donna, remembered when their children’s bikes went missing years ago when they read the post. “We didn’t have the money to rush right out and buy new bicycles back then.”...

To our volunteers: We love you! If you have not been contacted to help this Sunday, 3/29/20, to help pack food or deliver, please do not show up to help. We are following guidelines and limiting the numbers of our volunteers. There will be 10 people loading and drivers will stay in their vehicle and have the food loaded. ...

STAUNTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH We would like to again extend a warm welcome to Tim Grant, as he has joined our church family as our new Pastor. For the next several Sundays, Pastor Tim will be leading virtual Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. on Skype, and the morning church service will be live-streamed on Facebook Live at 10:45 a.m...

Annunciation Catholic Church St Vincent de Paul food pantry remains open every Tuesday Noon-2 pm for drive thru service on Church Street. Clients please remain in your cars and volunteers will load your groceries. • There will be no gatherings for prayer or rosary in the church, parish center or parking lots...

With many families experiencing temporary hardship at this time, supplemental nutrition programs like WIC can help. WIC helps reduce economic hardships for low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children under the age of five. WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — aims to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age five who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, breastfeeding support and referrals to healthcare and other community resources.. ...

Attorney General Curtis Hill is warning Hoosiers of scammers taking advantage of the scarcity of COVID-19 tests by falsely claiming to be able to provide testing. “Consumers are at risk not only of losing money from these scams,” Attorney General Hill said, “but of getting dangerously false information about their infection status. We’re working to protect Indiana residents and ensure better outcomes.”...

Construction of the Center Point Fire Department’s new firehouse is underway after some 18 months, said Roy Smith of the fire department. On Tuesday, Center Point broke ground without fanfare due to the warnings about the COVID-19 virus. Smith said the department would have like to have had a celebration for the groundbreaking but didn’t on the advice of their grant administrator. ...

An alleged home invasion resulted in a suspect shot at the scene and a total of four suspects taken into custody. It happened early Friday morning. A press release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department did not give an address, stating it was “in central Clay County.”...

Brazil man faces charges of child molesting after investigation by Clay County Sheriff’s Department. Daniel Reyher, 39, was arrested the evening of Monday, March 23, on an initial charge of level 1 felony Child Molesting, and incarcerated at the Clay County Justice Center on a $50,000 cash bond with no 10 percent alllowed...

BETHANY, W.Va. –  Bethany College has announced the President’s and Dean’s Lists for the spring semester of the 2019-20 school year. Tatum Dyer, of Brazil, was named to the President’s List. Those named to the President’s List must have achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average while completing a minimum of 12 graded credit hours...

Applications sought for emergency relief Terre Haute – Last week the United Way of the Wabash Valley and the Wabash Valley Community Foundation jointly launched a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to support immediate economic stability and basic needs in Vigo, Clay, Parke, Sullivan, and Vermillion counties in Indiana and Clark County in Illinois in light of the anticipated impact of the current pandemic...

The children at CRADLES of Clay County/Brazil did several activities and read Dr. Seuss books for two weeks in preparation for a Family Literacy Event on Friday March 6, 2020. Each child received a brand new Dr. Seuss book and a Dr. Seuss themed goodie bag to take home. ...

Putnam County Health Department (PCHD) on Wednesday confirmed the first death related to coronavirus (COVID-19) of a Putnam County resident. The adult from Putnam County passed away at an outlying facility on Wednesday morning. The person, who was over age 60, had been hospitalized as COVID-19 patient and also suffered from underlying medical conditions. No further information will be released about the patient or the case...

Nolan Heiliger of Brazil had a birthday party today attended by dozens of people. No one violated the COVID-19 restrictions on social distancing but they did get creative to ensure Nolan would have a great birthday. His mom hoped to take him on a camping trip but too many people planned to attend. She wanted to have a birthday party for him at home but, again, too many people would have been present...