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TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana agriculture leaders on Thursday celebrated the McDonald’s McRib and the income it brings Hoosier pork farmers.

In 2018, the McDonald’s system purchased more than $34 million worth of products from Indiana farmers, including 4.5 million pounds of pork, according to a news release from the restaurant and the Indiana Department of Agriculture.

Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Bruce Kettler, the state’s agriculture director, joined McDonald’s Indiana franchisees Rich Koopmann and Paul Jedele on Thursday in celebrating the sandwich that’s an occasional staple on the menu. The McRib made its national debut at McDonald’s in 1982, and is now available at participating restaurants for a limited time.

in celebrating the McRib and the McDonald’s system’s commitment to Indiana agriculture.

Indiana is home to more than 4.2 million hogs and 3,000 pork farmers.

Video provided by Indiana State Department of Agriculture and McDoanld’s

Statements

“McRib is something our customers look forward to every year and we’re excited that it’s back for fans to enjoy and we’re also excited to celebrate the great work done by the Indiana Family of Farmers.”

McDonald’s Owner/Operator Paul Jedele

“It is a very proud moment for Indiana to be on the list of Suppliers for a great global brand like McDonald’s. McDonald’s is the gold standard that we want to meet and we thank McDonald’s for your investment in our great state and for helping us build awareness of the Indiana Family of Farmers.”

Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

“Agriculture is fundamental to our state’s economy. I am proud to share that the McDonald’s System has purchased $34 million of raw products from the state of Indiana. We value our ongoing relationship between McDonald’s and our commodity suppliers – and we are hopeful it will continue.”

Bruce Kettler, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — Tipton County had the highest positivity rate of cases in all of central Indiana last week.

It came as federal health officials warned about a new phase of coronavirus.

“It is extraordinarily widespread,” said Dr. Deborah Birx with the White House Coronavirus Task Force. “It’s into the rural as equal as urban areas. To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus.”

If you come to Tipton’s Main Street, you’ll find a place where military veterans are honored with photos on banners hung on light poles outside the courthouse, the tallest building for miles around.

County resident David Sutton said he’s not too worried about the coronavirus. Still, he put on his mask before walking into a restaurant to pick up dinner.

“It’s also important that we protect each other,” Sutton said.

He’s got four children, including one with acute asthma.

That’s why Sutton especially doesn’t want to bring the coronavirus home, but he admits he wears his mask mostly out of respect for businesses. Many in downtown Tipton have signs on the door requiring masks.

“Just going to do what’s asked of me,” Sutton said. “If you want me to wear a mask into your business, I’ll wear a mask. I’m not going to go out of my way to wear one, but I do want to make sure I’m compliant because I’m not disrespectful.”

Tipton County has just 16,000 residents, with about a third living in the city of Tipton.

Last week, more than 15% of coronavirus tests here were positive.

“I think it was a wake-up call. We were patting ourselves on the back,” said Mayor Thomas Dolezal. “I think we may have been lulled into believing that it was something that was going to pass over small-town America but I think our numbers here within the last couple of weeks have shown were not exempted from the issue.”

Dolezal said for months he’s been trying to get the message out about social distancing and wearing a mask, all the while being careful to be a good example to others.

He said in some ways the data as well as the warning from Birx were not surprises, no matter the size of the population.

“It is an issue. It’s not going to pass us by. We’re going to have the same type of challenges large communities have,” Dolezal said.

But a different viewpoint comes from County Commission President Jim Mullins.

“It don’t scare me,” Mullins said.

While he believes social distancing and masks are important, he thinks this virus should be treated more like other pandemics he’s seen in his lifetime. He’s especially worried about the financial toll it’s having on businesses.

“They’re scaring people to death,” Mullins said. “It’s obviously serious. We’ve treated it seriously but I’m not sure it’s everything they’re making it out to be.”

Those like Sutton believe when you see the flowers, the banners and the quiet streets, it’s just a little easier to forget what’s going on elsewhere as well as right in the middle of Main Street.

“Yeah, because everyone is carrying on like their usual days,” Sutton said.

There was some positive news Monday for Tipton County. Its rolling 7-day average of positive tests dropped and stands at 13.9%. Compare that to Marion County’s 7-day average positivity rate on Tuesday of 9%.

Currently, state health officials said five counties statewide have positive test rates over the benchmark 15%. The only one in xentral Indiana is Grant County, which includes Marion, which is at 16.2%.

Coronavirus links

Indiana coronavirus timeline

With information from the Indiana Department of Health through March 4, 2021, this timeline reflects updated tallies of deaths and positive tests prior to that date.

TIPTON, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The new Tipton Solar Park is officially open. The solar park is located on 31 acres of land and houses 17,496 solar panels that are estimated to produce an  annual amount of energy to power about 800 homes. 

Officials say the park will operate on a single axis tracking system. The system allows the solar panels to move throughout the day following the path of the sun.

Tipton is one of 18 Indiana Municipal Power Agency member communities to have a solar park, including Advance, Anderson, Argos, Bainbridge, Crawfordsville, Flora, Frankton, Greenfield, Huntingburg, Pendleton, Peru, Rensselaer, Richmond, Spiceland, Tell City, Washington, and Waynetown. 

The IMPA says it is constructing solar parks in Centerville, Crawfordsville, Darlington, Gas City, Richmond, and Scottsburg.

“This is an exciting day for Tipton,” commented Mayor Don Havens.  “Not only will this solar park provide increased diversity in our generation resources, it will also serve as an excellent educational opportunity for our students, residents, and visitors, and is yet another community benefit to tout for quality of place and economic development purposes.” 

Tipton Mayor Don Havens, Representative Susan Brooks, Representative Tony Cook, and personnel from the offices of Senator Mike Braun joined with Indiana Municipal Power Agency Executive Vice President and COO Jack Alvey and city and county council personnel to cut the ribbon and celebrate the milestone in the community Monday.

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) – A Chicago man has been charged with attempted murder after shootings early Wednesday at a truck stop in Tipton County, police said. 

The shooting was reported about 6:50 a.m. Wednesday at Love’s Travel Plaza at the intersection of U.S. 31 and State Road 28. That is west of Tipton. 

Javier Thurman, 25, of Chicago, was arrested on two counts of attempted murder, a count of criminal recklessness and six other lesser counts, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. 

An investigation found a motorist, who was not identified, had parked at the fuel pumps and went inside to prepay for fuel. As he was in the store, the motorist saw his vehicle’s lights flash, police said, and then watched Thurman exit the vehicle. As the motorist approached, Thurman pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and fired twice at the motorist, police said. One bullet hit a knife in the motorist’s pocket. The injury did not require immediate medical attention. 

A news release from the department said Thurman then tried to get another motorist’s help to escape, but that motorist, who was not identified, declined. Thurman then fired another bullet that struck that motorist’s vehicle, police said. 

Thurman fled on foot until police caught him. 

The news release did not indicate a motive for the shootings. 

Anyone who witnessed the shooting was encouraged to call Deputy Jordan Wiseman of the sheriff’s department at 765-675-2111. 

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — Police are looking for someone who fired a gun into a home early Friday morning. 

It happened just before 2 a.m. in the 1600 block of S. Tipton County Road 25 West. A mobile home was shot at. There were people inside, and they are OK. 

In a Facebook post, detectives asked for any possible surveillance video of the area. 

Police obtained a photo of a car that may be of interest. 

Anyone with information was asked to call Tipton police at 765-675-1282.

UPDATE: Tipton County Sheriff’s Department confirmed just before 8 p.m. Sunday that Meadows had been found safe.

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — State police have issued a Silver Alert for a woman last seen in Tipton who they believe to be in extreme danger and require medical assistance.

Authorities are seeking help to locate 27-year-old Shainna R. Meadows, last seen on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. in Tipton driving a black 2017 Nissan Versa Indiana plate 940TDP.

Meadows is described as 5-feet-4, weighing 200 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a black blouse, blue jeans and flip-flops.

If you have any information about Meadows’ whereabouts, contact the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department at 765-675-2111 or dial 911.

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — Tipton officials say they’ve found human remains in the debris of an early morning house fire Saturday.

It happened just after 4:15 a.m. when authorities were dispatched out to a structure fire in the 1800 block of North County Road 700 East.

Upon arrival, officials located the home completely engulfed in flames and partially collapsed, making it unable for authorities to gain entry.

Fire officials with the Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department and Wildcat Township Volunteer Department extinguished the flames after a three hour battle.

A firefighter with one of the agencies sustained non-life threatening injuries in the fire.

An Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office Investigator was later contacted to assist in the fire as well as a canine cadaver unit, who would later find human remains in the debris. The identity of the deceased has not been released.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — Tipton police on Sunday night said they were investigating rumors of a threat against Tipton Community Schools and that they had found no credible evidence of a threat.

Authorities had interviewed 20-30 people about the matter and were encouraging people to send any mention of a threat or rumor of a threat to the police department directly rather than sharing those posts on social media, Officer Brad Robins with Tipton Police Department said.

Tipton police and Tipton Community Schools released similar statements on their Facebook pages Sunday, explaining that the rumor circulating alleged “a student will attempt to bring a firearm to school” and that parents and students could contact the Tipton Police Department with any information about the threats.

School was scheduled to be session on Monday, with local law enforcement on campus.

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) — A jailed Tipton man will now face additional charges in connection to child molesting.

Police received information that 29-year-old Johnathon Parsley was involved in other illegal activities prior to being incarcerated at Tipton County Jail.

Detectives served Parsley a warrant for the alleged misconduct at the jail and he was promptly arrested.

Parlsey faces charges of child molesting where the defendant is at least 21 years of age and child molesting, fondling or touching with a child under 14 years of age.

TIPTON, Ind. (WISH) – Crews responded to a Tuesday morning house fire in Tipton and upon arrival discovered a person deceased.

According to the Tipton Police Department, the fire occurred at a residence in the 100 block of Third Street just after 12:30 a.m.

Once on scene, officers tried several times to enter the engulfed structure but were unsuccessful.

After battling the flames for close to an hour, firefighters were able to enter the residence and did locate a single occupant deceased.

The name and identity of the occupant has not yet been released.

Cause of death hasn’t been determined.