Bartholomew County legislators are looking for student pages for the 2019 legislative session.

Republican Representatives Ryan Lauer from Columbus and Jim Lucas from Seymour are encouraging local teens to apply to spend a day at the Statehouse helping staff and local legislators as well as touring government offices and learning about the legislative process. The day at the Statehouse counts as an excused absence from school.

You can get more information at www.indianahouserepublicans.com/pageprogram or call 800-382-9841. The 2019 session begins Jan. 3rd.

An Ivy Tech Community College history professor has had his research on how World War I impacted Major League Baseball featured on a popular internet series.

College officials say that Dr. Aaron Miller, associate professor of history at Ivy Tech Columbus, shared his research with the YouTube channel “The Great War.” The channel, which has nearly one-million subscribers, featured Miller’s work extensively in its episode “Baseball Season 1918.”

In the video, the episode’s host recounts Miller’s work and adds commentary. The video has received more than 45,000 views since it was uploaded in late October.

Miller earned his doctorate in history from Miami University, where he wrote his dissertation titled “Glorious Summer, a Cultural History of 19th Century Baseball, 1861-1920.” He is currently rewriting his dissertation into a manuscript for a book.

The episode featuring Miller’s work can be viewed by searching for “The Great War” channel on YouTube and selecting the “Baseball Season 1918” episode.

A Seymour man was the driver killed in a crash on Interstate 65 near Greenwood yesterday morning.

52-year-old Warren Bullard of Seymour was killed Wednesday morning in a crash involving his car and a semi near Greenwood.

Indiana State Police say a semi was stopped in the northbound lanes due to a lengthy traffic back-up because of  bridge work. At about 7:35 a.m., Bullard’s car, moving at a high rate of speed, struck the rear end of the semi’s trailer. The impact sent the car underneath the back of the trailer, killing Bullard. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

The city of Columbus wants your help deciding on how bicyclists and pedestrians will get around the town in the future.

The city/county planning department is looking for 12 to 15 people interested in serving on the steering committee for the city’s bike and pedestrian plan update. The city’s first bike and pedestrian plan was adopted in 2010.

The committee will be identifying opportunities to expand the city’s bicycle and pedestrian network with an eye to make the system more convenient, safe, and comfortable for users, says senior planner Emilie Pinkston.

Steering committee members will help identify key issues related to bicycle and pedestrian mobility, offer comments and opinions on new ideas, and provide feedback on draft plans.

Th ecommittee will meet 5 times next year, typically on weekday evenings. If you are interested, you can call the Planning Department at 812-376-2550.

Chestnut Street near Donner Park in Columbus will be closed until about 3 p.m. this afternoon as a tree service removes a large tree from the park that is hanging over the street. The city engineering department is asking that you avoid the area during the street closure and find alternate routes.

A woman died last night while walking across 25th Street in Columbus.

Columbus police say that 62-year-old Bao Y. Qiu  of Columbus was walking south across 25th Street near Taylor Road at about 7:20 p.m. when she was struck by an SUV driven by 41-year-old Jennifer Pearson, of Waldron. The victim was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where she later died from her injuries, police report.

Coroner Clayton Nolting pronounced Qiu dead due to blunt force trauma.

The accident remains under investigation.

One person was killed in a serious crash involving a car and a semi in Johnson County. Indiana State Police say that at approximately 7:35 a.m. Wednesday, emergency crews were called to the scene on 99 mile marker of northbound I-65. Despite life saving efforts, the driver of the car was pronounced deceased on scene.

Investigators believe a semi tractor-trailer was stopped in the northbound lanes due to a lengthy traffic back-up. They say a car struck the rear end of the semi’s trailer at a high rate of speed. The force of the impact caused the car to go underneath the back of the trailer. The driver of the semi was not injured.

The driver of the car has been identified and the next of kin has been notified, however authorities have not yet released his name.

A national organization that promotes the separation of church and state has asked Jackson County officials to remove the Nativity scene from the courthouse lawn.

“The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that an attorney for the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Jackson County Commissioners, stating that a “concerned local citizen” contacted the organization and requested assistance. The Madison, Wisconsin-based organization is asking the county to immediately remove the lighted Nativity display from the courthouse lawn.

County officials have indicated that they will not comply with the organization’s request, noting that the display will come down after Christmas.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.

The American Red Cross is recognizing a Seymour man for his lifesaving skills.

Aaron Wilkins was honored last week with the Certificate of Extraordinary Action Award. The award is the highest award given by the Red Cross to an individual who saves a life using skills gained from a Red Cross Training Services course

Wilkins was working out at a gym when another man collapsed while exercising. The victim was unconscious and turning blue. Wilkins used CPR and the gyms automatic external defibrillator to tend to the man until paramedics arrived. The victim has now had had two major surgeries and his life was saved by Wilkins’ action, according to the Red Cross.

Wilkins was presented the award at the annual holiday gathering for his employer, Enterprise Products of Seymour.

Columbus City Councilman Frank Jerome is making a move to Noblesville with his new wife.

He submitted his letter of resignation from the City Council earlier this month, effective at the end of the year. Jerome looks back on his 7 years on City Council, saying that the city is in good hands.

Jerome said the city has made some great strides in his time on the City Council.

He said that the efforts at downtown revitalization, including Exhibit Columbus, have been particular highlights, but he is also pleased with recent efforts to acquire Fair Oaks Mall, which he expects to be a great success for the city.

He said the “Columbus Way” of solving problems has been a big success.

Jerome said he and his wife, Belva, are closing on a new home in Noblesville today. Jerome had a long career in Columbus as a dentist before retiring.