With no movies houses open, no live theater and plenty of time on our hands for many, television is more popular than ever.  If you are seeking some quality television to watch, allow me to make three suggestions.

The state of Indiana waited in anticipation of Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement on how the state plans to move forward after weeks of stay-in-place orders.  The governor unveiled  5-step program that ends with step 5 and a nearly full reopening of the state on July 4th.  I reviewed the plan, and offer a few words of analysis.

Road construction continues throughout Fishers.  Here is the update from the City of Fishers for the work week starting Monday, May 4th.

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Earlier this year I received an e-mail from a city official suggesting I hook-up with a Fishers couple that produces their own podcast about grand parenting.  Jane & I met Emily & Mike Morgan and enjoyed a dinner in downtown Fishers.

We made a deal – they would appear on one of my podcasts and Jane & I would make a guest appearance on their The Grand Life podcast.

So, Emily & Mike spoke to me about their podcast.  You can listen to that conversation at this link. 

Jane & I recorded an interview with Emily a few weeks ago.  Mike does the podcast production, Emily is the host.  Jane & I were happy to join Emily & Mike’s analysis of sandwich grand parenting.  You can hear that episode of The Grand Life at this link.

Emily & Mike produce a high-quality podcast and I would recommend listening not just to the episode in which Jane & I appeared but the full season one and the ongoing season two.

The bad news about the novel coronavirus builds up over time to the point we all need a little good news.  Tonight’s Log episode attempts to cover some of the good news.

Justin Hirnisey counts himself as a lucky man.  He is executive director of the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation, and his nonprofit group finished up the biggest fund-raising event of the year, Game Day, just before the nation began to largely shutdown over the spread of the novel coronavirus.  He know some other area school foundations were not a fortunate.

I spoke with Mr. Hirnisey about what its like for his organization as schools close their buildings and e-learning is the mode of instruction

When Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced his plans to create a city health department, he emphasized that there would be partnerships established with Community Health and Mid-America Clinical Labs to create a local coronavirus testing program.

Now that the City Council has approved the creation of the health department and its funding, Fishers has announced how local residents can ask for a test.

Note that not everyone requesting a test will get one because you must complete an online assessment before a test is scheduled.  This will be the “nasal swap” system for testing.

If you wish to apply for a COVID-19 test, begin the process by using this link.

The Hamilton County Health Department has released information on deaths in long-term care facilities due to COVID-19.  Three such facilities in Fishers reported deaths caused by the novel coronavirus.  Here are the facilities and number of deaths reported to the county located in Fishers, according to a story in the April 30th edition of the Hamilton County Reporter:

• Hamilton Trace: 7
• The Hearth at Windermere: 5
• Grand Brook Memory Care: 2

Below is the full story as it appeared in The Reporter:

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The Hamilton County Health Department has identified the names of long-term care facilities in Hamilton County that have reported COVID-19 deaths. Data are current as of Tuesday, April 27.

A total of 38 people living in long-term care facilities in the county have died of COVID-19.  According the health department, Carmel Health & Living has recorded the most Coronavirus deaths.

Carmel

• Carmel Health & Living: 10
• The Stratford: 6
• Brookdale of Carmel: 3

Fishers

• Hamilton Trace: 7
• The Hearth at Windermere: 5
• Grand Brook Memory Care: 2

Noblesville

• Harbour Manor: 3
• Heritage Woods: 1

Westfield

• Maple Park: 1

I will beg your indulgence by allowing me as the producer of these podcasts to exercise a point of personal privilege.  My mother just turn 90 years of age.  I think that’s important.  Here’s why.

As we all review the local novel coronavirus numbers, it is important to know that the number of deaths due to the virus are likely under-counted.  That is based on a YouTube video posted April 27th by the Hamilton County Health Department.

Jeff Jellison of the Hamilton County Reporter wrote a front page story in the April 29th edition of The Reporter saying “that the county’s COVID-19 death rate could be nearly three times more than reported.”

Here is the entire text of Jellison’s story:

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Hamilton County health officials announced Monday that the county’s COVID-19 death rate could be nearly three times more than reported.

Chris Walker of the Hamilton County Health Department said in an interview with Hamilton County Communications Director Tammy Sander that probable COVID-19 deaths are not included in the confirmed deaths being reported. Probable COVID-19 deaths are physicians attributing COVID-19 to the cause of death, but not having an actual test done on the patient.  According to Walker, doctors can look at X-rays and CT scans of the patient and determine without a test that most likely COVID-19 was a cause of death.

On Tuesday, the Indiana State Department of Health reported 58 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the county. In addition, the state reported 91 total COVID-19 probable deaths, bringing the county’s death count to a potential total of 149 people.

According to Walker, Indiana should be seeing the peak in COVID-19 this week. “Looking at the numbers quickly it looks like we might be hitting that.”

Walker also said the county is now working with municipalities to find the right way to get people back to work and open up the local economy.

“Be patient and understand this is a process,” Walker said. “The target is moving. We may open up business, we may open it up and find that we need to take a step back, reevaluate and reassess, and attack it again.”

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The most recent official numbers from Hamilton County report 6,075 total COVID-19 tests conducted, 729 positive results with 58 deaths.

You can access the Chris Walker video posted April 27th at this link.