Channel 13 photojournalist and Lebanon resident Scott Allen has been in the broadcasting business for more than 20 years. During that time he's covered a wide variety of stories in various parts of the world, but the content grabbing headlines so far this year won't soon be forgotten for the Lebanon High School graduate.

First it was coronavirus and the challenges of broadcasting the news during a pandemic. Then came the wide range of emotions that came with covering the protests following the May 25th incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota involving George Floyd and Minneapolis police.

Allen gives unique perspective on what it has been like to be so close to those issues, so close to home. 

In this edition of our COVID-19 Special Report, we hear about the past, present, and future of Lebanon High School Athletics, from Athletic Director Phil Levine. Levine shares the hope he had of having Spring Sports at LHS, and the difficulty of having to cancel due to the coronavirus. 

Mr. Levine also shares the excitement of the present, thanks to some exciting improvements being made at LHS. He gives the specifics of each individual project, including their progress.

Lastly, Phil talks about the future of LHS athletics, continuing to contend with COVID-19, and what the Fall athletic season could bring. 

In this latest COVID-19 Special Report, we catch up with Lebanon Parks & Recreation Director John Messenger. John gives updates on how he and his staff have been maintaining the city's parks and amenities, all while adhering to local and statewide safety directives.

Moving forward, John passes along details of how the Parks & Rec Department will begin to phase in park features, including Seashore Waterpark, the splashpad, as well as playground equipment. 

Get the latest info on our great parks system here! 

In this COVID-19 Special Report of the #LovinLebanon Podcast, Dr. Herschell Servies gives his thoughts on Governor Holcomb's "Back on Track Indiana" outline. He shares why he recommends all of us to approach the Governor's five stages with "cautious optimism." 

Dr. Services also shares updated coronavirus case numbers, as well as information on a COVID-19 test site coming soon to Boone County.

LHS Seniors: Carson Burtron, Luke Ferrell, Jackie Terrill, along with LHS Principal Kevin O'Rourke were guests on the latest COVID-19 Special Report of the #LovinLebanon Podcast. While the end of the school year didn't go as planned, in May, LHS Seniors are serving.

BACKGROUND:                          

April 25th was the originally scheduled date for the Lebanon High School Junior-Senior Prom.  May is going to look very different than it has in years’ past, and the whole community is going to miss many of the great Lebanon traditions.  However, the seniors have felt such great support from the school administration and community through yard signs, care packages and thoughtful re-planning, that they want to say thank you.

Additionally, while many of them are hoping to head to college this fall or starting new careers, they want to ensure that the hometown they come back to is a thriving community with restaurants where they can reconnect with friends and family. 

With the administrative support of the Lebanon Sports Boosters, they are asking the community to join them in honoring our LHS class of 2020 by making a donation. Through a generous donation by the Terrill family there is a matching gift for the first $5,000 so that donations will count 2:1. 

SUMMARY:

Operation “Seniors Bring the Love” - Make a donation in honor of a senior and a local restaurant will receive catering business to provide a meal to local healthcare workers.  The first $5,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a generous gift from the Terrill family.

• $20 to honor a 2020 graduate, becomes $40 – feeds 4 nurses
• $100, becomes $200 – feeds 20 healthcare workers and first responders
• $200, becomes $400 – feeds the entire ER shift change
• Other matching gift opportunities available

Ways to donate (will receive a receipt for tax purposes):

• Write a check to the Lebanon Sports Boosters and give it to your honored senior or mail to 1110 Brookside Dr. Lebanon, IN 46052
• Email [email protected] and you will receive a phone call back to use a credit card
• Text (765) 336-9736 and you will receive a phone call back to use a credit card
• Paypal @phylferrell or 317-332-4588
• Venmo @Phyllis-Ferrell-1

U.S. Senator Mike Braun and Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry join this Special Edition of the #LovinLebanon Podcast. Senator Braun provides national perspective on the sense of urgency emanating from Capitol Hill, to find a coronavirus vaccine, while working towards what the Senator calls a "Smart Restart."

Both men share economic development updates, pertaining to both large and small businesses as well.

Coronavirus assistance is available on Senator Braun's website:

https://www.braun.senate.gov/coronavirus-assistance

The "new normal" created by the coronavirus has been challenging on most of us. That challenge is being dealt with on a daily basis by the city's Street Department. There are regular jobs that need to be completed, while adhering to new social standards.

Street Superintendent Dave Newell joins the special edition of the podcast, to lend some perspective on how life in the street department has changed, thanks to COVID-19.

Dave also gives updates on Spring Cleanup this year, and the state of recycling in the near future.

Dr. Herschell Servies of Witham Health Services serves as Boone County's Health Officer. In this podcast episode, Dr. Servies provides updates on the County's fight against coronavirus, as well as his perspective on the recent report that Indiana is past the peak of COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Servies also passes along tips that we can all use to prevent the further spreading of the virus. 

Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry updates listeners on the county's coronavirus statistics as he kicks off his weekly COVID-19 Special Report weekly segment. 

In this episode, Mayor Gentry also talks about the future of public meetings, as well as potential local support for local small business.

Students within the Lebanon Community School Corporation are getting an extra week off after Spring Break this year, so LCSC staff can prepare materials for the remainder of the school year. A school year that has been altered, thanks to COVID-19.

Dr. Jon Milleman joins this episode of the podcast to shed some further light on this process, while giving his first-hand account of some of the challenges, as well as the positives of this season of remote education.