Monthly Archives: September 2021

Hope United Methodist Church hosting COVID vaccine clinic

Windrose Health Network will be offering free COVID-19 vaccines at Hope United Methodist Church from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12th.

The clinic will be giving the Pfizer vaccine to those 12 and older and the Pfizer booster shot to those who had their second dose more than six months ago. Your original immunization card must be presented for the booster shot.

Children between 12 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent.

Walk-ins are welcome or you can schedule an appointment at 317-680-9901.

The church is at 432 Washington Street in Hope.

Oktoberfest festivities, food, fun takes off today in Seymour

The 48th annual Seymour Oktoberfest gets into full swing today with music, crafts, food, carnival rides and other activities in the downtown area.

Entertainment today on the north stage includes the Seymour High School band at 4:45 p.m., opening ceremonies at 5:30 p.m., Southern Indiana Taiko show and workshop at 6 p.m. and Killin’ Smalls band from 8 to 10 p.m. Other entertainment includes cloggers, bluegrass, stilt walking and Schulhaus 4+3 German Band playing on the German American Bank Stage from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

The carnival is open from 5 to 11 p.m. today and ride bracelets can be purchased at the Boys and Girls Club of Seymour on O’Brien Street.

Seymour Oktoberfest runs from 11 to 11 each day through Saturday.

Paving work underway in Tipton Lakes today; Bartholomew County road closed

The Columbus city engineering department is announcing more street work as part of the city’s overlay project starting today in Tipton Lakes.

Crews with Robertson Paving will begin patching asphalt, milling and overlaying on Turtle Bay Parkway and Black Oak Drive from Treeline Drive to Honey Locust Drive. The intersection of Channel Drive and Leatherback Court will be done half at a time so residents can access their homes.

Starting by the middle of next week, crews will be working in the Oakbrook subdivision for two days.

You will see No Parking and Tow Away Zone signs in the project areas until the work is done.

The city asks that you obey the signs, use caution in work areas and be patient with the crews as they work to improve the city streets.

Bartholomew ounty Road 550W will be closed today and Friday between County Roads 300S and 450S for road maintenance according to the county highway department. The work will be from 8 until 3 each day. Only emergency traffic will be allowed in the area.

Flu shot clinic today at YES Cinema in Columbus

Walgreens and Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center are hosting a flu shot clinic from 2:30 to 4 p.m. this afternoon at YES Cinema.

The event is for those who are uninsured, underinsured or who have insurance including MdWise HIP2.0 and Medicare Part B. Vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis. They are for anyone 11 and older.

Appointments are not necessary, but if you want to check to see if vaccines are still available you are encouraged to call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at (812) 379-1630.

YES Cinema is at the corner of 4th and Jackson Streets in downtown Columbus.

Rubber duckies ready for adoption before drop into Mill Race pond

The Meridian Kiwanis Club is offering up rubber ducks for adoption for its 18th annual Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash.

Thousands of the ducks will be dropped into Round Lake at Mill Race Park by helicopter on Saturday, Oct. 9th. Those who have adopted ducks have a chance to win cash and prizes with the top prizes being a new vehicle from Chevrolet of Columbus or $50,000 cash.

The cost to adopt a duck is $5 each, or five ducks for $20, and 30 ducks for $100. You can adopte a duck from any Kiwanis member or at Midwest Computer Solutions at 3028 State Street. You can also adopt a duck at Mill Race Park starting at 10:30 in the morning on Oct. 9th.

Money raised goes to benefit several programs for children and the Kiwanis club. You can get more information at kducks.com.

Local groups work to help Afghan refugees with donation drive

Several area organizations are gathering items for the Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury in a donation drive.

Organizers are looking for donations of new items including fall and winter clothing, winter coats, menstrual pads, diapers and infant formula. Other needed items include combs, brushes, towels, deodorant, pacifiers, baby wipes, infant blankets, Pedialyte, Qurans and prayer rugs.

Donations will be accepted today and tomorrow at the Columbus and Hope branches of the Bartholomew County Public Library and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Columbus locations including Love Chapel, Fairlawn Presbyterian Church, the Islamic Society, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, First Presbyterian Church and the downtown library branch, as well as Nashville United Methodist Church in Brown County and the Hope branch library.

After October 2nd you can still donate at the libraries and at Love Chapel.

Photo credit: Santo Carollo, a Team Rubicon volunteer, folds clothes Sept 11. at Camp Atterbury. Photo By Spc. Raekwon Jenkins | 

Schneck hit with cyberattack; IT working to restore services

Schneck Medical Center in Seymour has been the victim of a cyberattack disrupting some operations, the hospital announced last night.

According to the hospital, access to all IT applications within hospital facilities is suspended and the hospital is enhancing its IT security protocols. The hospital is also bringing in third-party security partners to restore operations as quickly as possible.

The hospital cautioned that the cyberattack will take time to fully resolve. IT security experts are investigating the situation, law enforcement is being notified and the hospital is taking actions to resolve any disruptions.

Most services are unaffected by the attack, according to hospital officials. Patients should still plan to arrive for their scheduled appointments and services, unless they are contacted by the hospital and told otherwise. If you have any questions, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Schneck Urology and Schneck Pulmonology patients with questions can call 812-522-0530. Schneck Endocrinology and Schneck Neurology patients can call 812-523-5202.)

Two taken to hospital after State Street crashes

Two drivers were sent to the hospital after a crash yesterday afternoon on State Street in Columbus.

According to Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reports, deputies were called to the scene of the crash at about 1:31 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of State Street and South County Road 250E.

A pickup truck, traveling southbound on the county road entered the travel lane on East State Street crashing into a second pickup hauling a trailer. That sent the second pickup into the westbound lanes into a semi hauling a 40-thousand-pound steel roll. The roll went through the trailer and crushed the rear of the semi.

Two drivers were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The intersection was closed for several hours.

Columbus adds new firefighter to roster

A Taylorsville resident was sworn in yesterday as the newest Columbus firefighter.

25-year-old Cody Melton was sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety.

Melton is a graduate of Columbus East High School and has previously served with the  German Township Volunteer Fire Department, Clay Township Fire Department, Harrison Township Fire Department and Edinburgh Fire Department.  He is certified as a basic EMT, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics and Fire Instructor I along with others.

Melton will be attending a department orientation program before getting his station and shift assignment.

Chief Andy Lay, Firefighter Cody Melton, Shelby Carter and Mayor Jim Lienhoop. Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.

Columbus man facing drug charges after traffic stop

A Sunday morning traffic stop led to the arrest of a Columbus man on drug charges.

According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy stopped a vehicle in the 10 thousand block of north U.S. 31 at about 6:41 a.m. Sunday morning. The deputy noticed a syringe in the vehicle and a search revealed 7.16 grams of methamphetamine, two syringes, drug paraphernalia, spice and marijuana.

The driver, 46-year-old Chadrick Hoeltke was arrested on preliminary charges for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.