This is the WFHB Local News for Wednesday, August 4th, 2021.

Later in the program, Indiana will receive 1 million dollars in federal money to deal with ramifications of the opioid crisis. WFHB Correspondent Robert Robinson has that story in the bottom half of tonight’s show.

Also coming up in the next half hour, WFHB Correspondent Katrine Bruner provides a short rundown of local and state environmental news in today’s Environmental News Brief.

But first, your local news brief:

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has granted Indiana Farm Bureau a statewide permit for members to perform takes on black vultures. According to federal law, “takes” can include hunting, capturing and killing birds. Black vultures have been known to often prey on young cattle and sheep, which is an issue particularly present in southern Indiana. The Indiana Farm Bureau explained in a news release Monday that the birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so they can’t be killed without a migratory bird depredation permit.

The Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation will be requiring all students and staff to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. The first day for school in the county is August 11th. The new requirement was put in place over the weekend via an email to families by the R-BB superintendent, Jerry Sanders. Sanders explained to parents that the change was made as a result of the Monroe County Health Department’s announcement of a new health order up for approval due to worsening COVID-19 data for Monroe County. This new health order will be discussed at the board of health meeting today and will go to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday.

Monroe County Board of Health 

The Monroe County Board of Health discussed a new mask mandate at its August 3rd meeting. Board of Health members discussed signing a new Health Order that would require all Monroe County residents to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status. Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill talked about the growing spread of the COVID-19 delta variant. She said that 100 percent of recent cases have been the delta variant.

Resident Jeff Houser suggested that masks don’t help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Board member Doctor Carol Touloukian pushed back on this suggestion. She clarified that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention initially asked people to not buy masks so that healthcare workers could have enough of them.

Monroe County Commissioner Penny Githens vocalized her support to add a signage requirement to the health order. She pointed out that residents from surrounding counties, which have lower vaccine rates and higher incident rates, come to visit Monroe County frequently.

Board member Mark Norrell suggested the Health Order either expire on September 30th or if Monroe County enters blue status on the Indiana State Department of Health Coronavirus dashboard. Board members agreed, with the caveat that they would meet before September to discuss extending the order. Board members voted unanimously to sign the Health Order. The Health Order and enforcement actions go to the County Commissioners for final approval.

Monroe County Personnel Administration Committee 

Human Resources consulting firm Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele, and Associates gave a presentation to the Monroe County Personnel Administration Committee on job description and salary compensation. At the August 3rd meeting, WIS representative Addie Rooker said they spent a large amount of time sorting out job descriptions. She revealed that each department had multiple versions of a job’s description, and that many did not match their salary ordinances.

Rooker said WIS received feedback around offering additional compensation for positions that do not qualify for overtime pay,