Local communities will be getting their share of $6.5 million in grants to step up traffic enforcement against reckless drivers.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute announced the grants recently saying that the funds would go to fund overtime patrols at more than 200 police departments throughout the state. Indiana is on pace to break 900 traffic fatalities this year, one of the highest years in the past decade. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is providing the funding for the grants administered by the state agency.

The grants will go to crack down on those driving without seatbelts, speeding and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

In local counties, Bartholomew County is getting $20,000, Brown $20,900, Decatur $5,000, Jackson $62,000, Jennings $4,000, Johnson $82,500 and Shelby County $38,500.

A driver was trapped in a vehicle after a single vehicle crash Monday morning took out an electronic sign in front of Trafalgar’s municipal building.

Trafalgar Fire Department reports that units were dispatched to the scene at about 8 a.m. and found that the driver could not get out of the vehicle. A vehicle door was removed by rescue workers to free the driver, and the driver was taken to a local hospital.

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar Fire Department.

Note: This story has been updated.

A bridge leading into downtown Columbus will be mostly closed Tuesday.

According to the Bartholomew County Highway Department, Indianapolis Road will be closing between Mill Race Park and Tellman Road from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. while repairs are completed on the bridge.

Milestone Contractors will allow through traffic, but you can expect delays.

In other Bartholomew County road work, according to the county, oad 50N will stay closed today while pavement is overlaid. Marr Road will now close on Wednesday instead of today for the overlay project.

You should avoid these areas if you can. The work schedule is dependent on the weather.

Indiana has rules in place that prevent cameras from being used inside of an Indiana court room. But that could be changing.

The Indiana Supreme Court is launching a four-month trial period, where court proceedings will be streamed to the internet live. Initially the viewing will be limited to members of the media and at the discretion of the trial judge.

The Indiana Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judges from allowing court proceedings to be broadcast. However under the pilot program, starting on Dec. 1st, five trial courts around the state would allow streaming from the courtroom, and even rebroadcasting with the approval of a judge.

Courtroom decorum must be maintained for the media coverage and are detailed in the order. Permission must be requested 48 hours in advance and be in writing on a court-provided form.

The broadcast pilot project was developed in conjunction with the Hoosier State Press Association and the Indiana Broadcasters Association under the direction of the Community Relations Committee and the Court Security Committee.

Schneck Medical Center in Seymour will be offering a pediatric COVID-19 vaccination clinic this weekend. That will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday on the fourth floor of the Schneck Professional Building.

No registrations are required and the clinic will be for walk-ins only.

Children ages 5 through 11 years will receive one-third of the adult dose of the Pfizer vaccine using smaller needles that are designed specifically for children. A second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is needed three weeks after the first shot and will be scheduled at the clinic.

Children receiving the vaccine must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

In addition, first, second and booster COVID vaccines will be available for everyone.

Centra Credit Union is announcing grants to several community organizations in Bartholomew County and Columbus.

The non-profit organizations were chosen by Centra team members who feel passionate about the work being done in the community. Three organizations received nominations from multiple teams. Because of that, Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter will receive a $7,500 grant, while Our Hospice of South Central Indiana and Sans Souci will both receive $5,000 grants.

Organizations receiving $2,500 grants include Advocates for Children, ASAP of Bartholomew County, Bartholomew County Humane Society, Beloved, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bartholomew County, Community Animal Rescue Effort, Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Columbus Police and Fire Youth Academy, Foundation for Youth, Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center, Love Chapel and Su Casa.

39 organizations have been awarded grants through this program this year. You can get more information at Centra.org.

Columbus police defused a pipe bomb found at a golf course Sunday evening.

According to reports from the police department, officers were called to Greenbelt Golf Course on North Gladstone Avenue at about 6 p.m. Sunday night after the device was found in a ditch.

Members of the department’s Hazardous Devices Unit were called to the scene and rendered the device safe.

No more explosive devices were found in a search of the area. Police say that they do not believe there was any danger to the public. The investigation is ongoing.

If you have any information on this pipe bomb, you can call the police department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

The Indiana State Health Department will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Jackson County this week.

The Jackson County Health department announced the clinic will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 p.m. at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be available.

Walk ins are welcome or you can make an appointment online at ourshot.in.gov.

Legal Aid is holding a Free Legal Aid Phone Clinic from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Legal Aid offers the clinics for low-income residents of its eight-county district. That includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush, and Shelby Counties.

If you take part you will have a brief consultation with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or to receive other advice over the phone.

To take part, you must first register between noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday by calling 812-378-0358.

An annual drive to gather food for local food pantries is underway, as the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department kicks off its Pack-a-Patrol Car efforts.

The effort, in its sixth year, seeks to raise non-perishable food items over the next week, which will then be donated to Love Chapel food pantry. Last year’s food drive was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

You can donate items at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department offices in the county jail building on Second Street. If you need help bringing items inside, you can call the sheriff’s department and someone will come to assist you. The sheriff’s department will also pick up items if you have multiple items to donate.

The sheriff has suggested that you consider setting up a collection box at your workplace, school or other locations.

You can also make cash donations directly to Love Chapel.

The donation drive ends on November 22nd.

You can call the sheriff’s administrative office at 812-379-1650 to get help or to get more information.