The United Way of Bartholomew County is kicking off its annual fundraising campaign today.

The annual fund drive supports the 17 non-profit agencies and 32 programs that are partners of the local United Way. Megan Pillar, spokeswoman for the United Way says that the campaign runs from now until about February. Unlike previous years, there will not be a large kickoff event today due to concerns over COVID-19.

The United Way’s goal is to raise $4.1 million this year.

Pillar said there will be more than 100 presentations at local businesses so people can sign up through their workplaces, but you can also donated directly online at uwbarthco.org.

The city of Columbus is announcing that all city offices will be closing Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to a city employee event.

That includes the drive-through window at Columbus City Utilities. The ColumBUS transportation services will not be available during the event.

Two people were arrested on drug-related charges after a traffic stop on the east side of Columbus Tuesday night.

According to Columbus police reports, officers pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation near 7th Street and Gladstone Avenue at about 9:35 p.m. A police dog alerted to the odor of drugs in the vehicle and a search uncovered fentanyl and a digital scale in the car’s center console. Police also discovered drugs and paraphernalia that a passenger had hidden in her clothes.

The driver, 55-year-old Scott W. Bryant and the passenger, 31-year-old Courtney Bullington, both of Columbus, were arrested on preliminary charges of possession of a narcotics drug and of drug paraphernalia.

Culvers in Columbus will be holding a fundraiser today for the family of a Columbus East High School student who was killed last week while crossing rural Gladstone Avenue to get on a school bus.

Culvers is announcing that 25 percent of the sales from 10 to 10 today will be donated to the family of Lily Streeval to help cover funeral expenses.

The store is at 90 Johnson Boulevard. For more information you can call 812-799-0035.

Jennings County deputies are investigating after a truck driver was injured when an object was thrown from another vehicle, shattering the semi’s windshield.

According to police reports, the driver was headed north near State Road 7 and Crystal Glades when the object was thrown from a southbound vehicle. The truck driver suffered minor injuries including glass in his eyes.

If you have any information on the incident or if you were a witness, you can contact the Jennings County Central Dispatch at 812-346-4911.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

Many Columbus city employees would see a raise of up to 3 percent under a salary ordinance given its first approval this week by City Council.

Jamie Brinegar, director of finance for the city, explains that 2 percent cost of living raises would go to non-police and firefighter employees, with an additional 1 percent possible as merit raises.

Although health insurance costs for employees are expected to also increase, the highest planned hike is just over $117 a year for the most expensive plan, Brinegar said.

Police and firefighter salary increases were calculated separately, because those employees can not receive merit raises under statute, Brinegar said. Their pay is increasing three percent.

The pay increases, along with the city’s portion of health insurance and retirement, are budgeted to cost the city about $1.2 million more next year, Brinegar said.

The salary ordinances require a second and final approval by the council.

The Bartholomew County and Columbus Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested three people after a search of a Columbus home uncovered more than 35 marijuana plants and other drugs.

According to police reports, officers served a search warrant at a home in the 700 block of Maple Street on Tuesday, discovering narcotics and the marijuana growing operation.

Police arrested 39-year-old Ian Nunez, 23-year-old Sarah Ball and 22 year old Sierra Hollenbeck, all of Columbus; and 31-year-old Derrick Burge of Greenwood.

Preliminary charges include:

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.

The head of Major Hospital in Shelbyville is asking the community to give its help to a hospital that has reached its capacity and a staff that is stretched to its limits.

In a letter to the community yesterday, Jack Horner, president and CEO of Major Health Partners, said that the hospital’s share of  COVID-19 patients have increased significantly in the last 30 days. In addition to Major Hospital being at capacity, he said the Indianapolis hospitals are at the breaking point.

Horner said there are simple actions the public can take to help the hospital, the most important being vaccinated against COVID-19.

He said there is no more effective tool in preventing the spread of symptomatic COVID-19 illness. The vaccine has been given approximately 2 billion times around the world and has been shown to be safe and effective.

Every major public health organization, every major medical scientific organization, and every major medical university has recommended vaccination against COVID-19.

He said choosing to receive the vaccine is the best step you can take in protecting yourself, your family, your friends, and the community.

The Student’s Fund of Hope will be holding Movie Night on the Hope Town Square this Friday featuring the Pixar film “Coco.”

The film night is at no charge but free will donations are accepted to help the efforts of the Students Fund to provide for those in need in the Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools.

Activities will begin at 6 p.m. with crafts including making and decorating cardboard guitars and Mexican sugar skulls, and at 7:30 p.m. there will be Mexican dancers performing at the bandstand.

The film will start at dusk. You will need to bring your own seating.

You can get more information on the Students Fund of Hope Facebook page.

An Indiana State Police Trooper avoided injuries during a collision earlier this week with a cow in Jefferson County.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the State Police Versailles Post, says that Trooper Rick Stockdale was driving in rural Jefferson County on Tuesday morning when he hit the cow.

The cow struck the front of the cruiser crunching the hood, before flipping over the roof and the trunk, causing more damage.  While the trooper was uninjured, the cow suffered serious injuries and had to be put down.