County highlights: new GIS history tool, veteran-record help, free tests and upcoming community events
May 21, 2026 | Monroe County, Indiana
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Monroe County used part of its May 21 meeting for community and department updates that included a new historical mapping tool, veterans‑services guidance, public‑health testing availability and local event announcements.
GIS and local history: John Baiton, the county GIS coordinator, and staff from the surveyor's office demonstrated "Who's Your Character," an interactive website produced with Monroe County Public Library that allows users to search historical maps, field notes, last names and federal land patents. Baiton said the project received a special‑achievement award from the Indiana Geographic Information Council and described features that let visitors zoom to historic addresses, view 19th‑century atlas backdrops and access linked federal‑land‑patent images. "This is an interactive website and it's growing and it's going to continue to grow," he said during his demonstration.
Veterans services and record errors: Stephen Miller, the county's director of veterans affairs, outlined Memorial Day volunteer opportunities and ceremonies and recounted a recent case in which a veteran's DD214 contained an administrative checkbox error that complicated Social Security claims. Miller urged veterans to review military discharge paperwork and offered assistance: he provided a contact number for his office (812-349-2537) to pursue a board of correction of military records submission.
Health department services: Miss Kelly from the health department reported low COVID wastewater concentrations and minimal flu activity in Monroe County. She also announced free walk‑in testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and free rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing, scheduled for June 25 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Chamber and local events: Christopher MG of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce promoted recent Valor Awards, encouraged nominations for the 2026 Women Excel Bloomington Awards (nominations due June 26 at 5:00 p.m.), and invited the public to the Showcase Bloomington business expo on May 28 at Switchyard Park.
What’s next: The county will continue to post public‑health resources and event information on the county website and related organization pages; the GIS project will continue to add new data in partnership with the library.
GIS and local history: John Baiton, the county GIS coordinator, and staff from the surveyor's office demonstrated "Who's Your Character," an interactive website produced with Monroe County Public Library that allows users to search historical maps, field notes, last names and federal land patents. Baiton said the project received a special‑achievement award from the Indiana Geographic Information Council and described features that let visitors zoom to historic addresses, view 19th‑century atlas backdrops and access linked federal‑land‑patent images. "This is an interactive website and it's growing and it's going to continue to grow," he said during his demonstration.
Veterans services and record errors: Stephen Miller, the county's director of veterans affairs, outlined Memorial Day volunteer opportunities and ceremonies and recounted a recent case in which a veteran's DD214 contained an administrative checkbox error that complicated Social Security claims. Miller urged veterans to review military discharge paperwork and offered assistance: he provided a contact number for his office (812-349-2537) to pursue a board of correction of military records submission.
Health department services: Miss Kelly from the health department reported low COVID wastewater concentrations and minimal flu activity in Monroe County. She also announced free walk‑in testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, and free rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing, scheduled for June 25 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Chamber and local events: Christopher MG of the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce promoted recent Valor Awards, encouraged nominations for the 2026 Women Excel Bloomington Awards (nominations due June 26 at 5:00 p.m.), and invited the public to the Showcase Bloomington business expo on May 28 at Switchyard Park.
What’s next: The county will continue to post public‑health resources and event information on the county website and related organization pages; the GIS project will continue to add new data in partnership with the library.
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