Hospital event raises $56,000 for women’s health care
GREENFIELD — Organizers of Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation’s annual Women Helping Women event are calling the 2015 fundraiser a success after hundreds of people rallied together and donated thousands of dollars to support underinsured women in the area.
Nearly 370 community members who attended the event last month brought in about $56,000, which will be used to help cover the costs of breast health care for underinsured women in Hancock County.
That’s an increase from years past, said Allyson Smith, the hospital foundation’s manager.
The number of women the program can aid each year varies based on the treatments patients require, but the increase in donations in 2015 should allow hospital staffers to provide care to even more local women in need, said Becky Pohland, coordinator of the Andis Women’s Clinic at the hospital, where Women Helping Women patients receive their care.
City 1 of 6 up for economic development grant
GREENFIELD — The city of Greenfield is chasing an opportunity to grow and strengthen the business community through a state initiative that partners the city with economic development experts.
The city recently announced that it’s one of six semifinalists being considered for the Hometown Collaboration Initiative, a state-sponsored program that works with communities to achieve development goals and enhance their hometowns.
If chosen, the program is a year-long process. At the end of that process, the community will invest at least $10,000 — half of which comes from OCRA — into a community project of its choice.
The project should have lasting impact on the city, according to the application for the program.
School district pulling out of multi-county cooperative
FORTVILLE — Mt. Vernon Community School Corp. is pulling out of a multi-county cooperative that oversaw programming for the district’s special needs students, a move that could save as much as $350,000 each year and allow more control over local programming.
The school board voted unanimously Monday to end its partnership with Hancock Madison Shelby Educational Services. The cooperative, which is based in Greenfield, provides staff, training and other support services for about 2,500 students from five area school corporations.
About 600 Mt. Vernon students receive services through the agreement.
The district now will be able to adjust its programming based on enrollment, which could free up funding, Superintendent Shane Robbins said.
New Palestine mom accused in toddler’s drug overdose
GREENFIELD — A New Palestine mother was charged with felony neglect Monday after doctors were forced to use an overdose-reversing drug to revive her toddler when he ingested several forms of narcotic drugs, police said.
Brooke Copp, 23, was arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent causing injury after her 18-month-old tested positive for opiates and methadone, ingredients found in heroin and some strong prescription pain medicines, according to court documents.
Copp took her son to Community Hospital East in Indianapolis late last week after the child appeared lethargic, she told police. Staffers at the facility used Narcan, a brand name of the prescription drug, naloxone, to reverse the effects of the drugs, court records state.
