TOP STORY OF THE DAY, brought to you free by WICU: Calcutta Cemetery requests all flowers be removed from graves by march 29

It is time again for the fall and winter flowers to be removed from the graves at Calcutta Cemetery in Clay County as the spring mowing season nears.

It is requested that ALL flowers be removed from the graves by March 29, 2021.

This is greatly appreciated and is a major assistance in the care and up-keep of the cemetery.

Purdue Extension offers course

Are you affected in some way by opioids in our community? Do you or a loved one struggle with opioid usage? Looking for a great professional development opportunity to learn how to better serve those in our communities?

The upcoming webinar “Understand the Opioid Crisis” will provide community members an opportunity for education and discussion around the opioid crisis in Clay and Putnam counties.

Purdue Extension will offer this free event on Wednesday, March 24th at 2 p.m. (EST). This program is open to all and will be held via Zoom.

Topics of the program include learning the terms and concepts related to opioid misuse, stigma and recovery, and identifying actionable steps to respond to the crisis in the community.

Please pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/opioidcrisisclayputnam by March 19. For more information about Extension programs, call 812-448-9041 or 765-653-8411, or email khogsett@purdue.edu or sampsona@purdue.edu.

CCS to hold IA certification class

Interested in working with Clay Community Schools as an Instructional Assistant (IA, teacher’s assistant, one-on-one)?

GOALS Academy Adult Education will be offering a free program for adults to earn the Paraprofessional Certification. This certification is required by the Clay Community School Corporation to work in one of these positions.

An informational meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 15, at 501 E. Jackson St. in Brazil. Classes begin the week of March 29, with the certification test taking place during the week of May 17.

Can’t make the meeting, or need more information and to learn the requirements to make this class and certification free for you?

Call (812) 446-2536 (x1901) or e-mail coleyeli@clay.k12.in.us.

Missing teenager found safely

A Brazil teenager was located safely Saturday night after being reported as missing earlier in the day.

Brazil Assistant Police Chief Dennis Archer confirmed Baylee Johnson, 13, was reported missing by her family around 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Johnson’s mother, Krissy Kinworthy, announced the reunion on Facebook late Saturday:

“Baylee has been found. Thank you Jesus! And thank you to Richard Charles, Brittney Eder, the Brazil police department, The Brazil Times and everyone who shared my posts and prayed! I’m forever grateful!”

Morrison bill heads to Senate

After a unanimous vote by the Indiana House of Representatives, legislation co-authored by State Rep. Alan Morrison (R-Brazil) supporting local law enforcement now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Morrison said the legislation also includes $70 million investment in improved training programs and facility upgrades at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, which Morrison said hasn’t been updated since the 1970s.

Supporters of House Bill 1006 are the Indiana State Police, Indiana State Police Alliance, Indiana Fraternal Order of Police, Indiana Sheriff’s Association, Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Hoosier State Press Association, Inc., the Indy Chamber of Commerce and the Public Defender Commission.