Indiana State Police dog Rando has received a bulletproof and stab protecting vest, courtesy the not-for-profit Vested Interest in K9s group from Massachusetts.

Rando’s vest is embroidered with the phrase “Honoring those who served and sacrificed.”

The organization was founded in 2009 and provides the vests to dogs working in police and other agencies. Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 4,800 vests to K9s in all 50 states.

The custom-fitted armor weighs about 5 pounds and is valued at between $1700 and $2300 dollars. The agency accepts donation and $960 will sponsor one vest.

The program is open to U.S. police dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. Dogs with expired vests are also eligible to participate.

Rando operates from the Sellersburg State Police post.

You can get more information at www.vik9s.org

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

Battalion Chief Jeff Cain is retiring after 28 years with the Columbus Fire Department — a career starting in 1994.

According to the fire department, Cain rose through the ranks becoming a battalion chief in 2019, where he served at fire station 1 as the highest ranking officer of Battalion C.

Cain is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Vehicle and Machinery Extrication Technician and Fire Officer I.

You will see single lanes closed on Interstate 65 in Jackson and Scott counties starting today while crews patch ashphalt on the highway.

INDOT says that the routine maintenance work will be happening between Scottsburg and Seymour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through mid-February. One lane will remain open on in both the northbound and southbound directions during the work.

The work schedule depends on the weather.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to use caution and to be alert to worker’s safety in all construction zones.

Indiana Conservation officers are looking for your help after the shooting of a property caretaker in Union County.

The caretaker confronted four men who were hunting on the private property without permission early on Friday Monday. Officers say the confrontation escalated and the caretaker was shot.

If you have any information on the shooting or the suspects, you can contact Indiana Conservation Officer Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536, or leave a tip anonymously at 800-TIP-IDNR (800-847-4367).

Centra Credit Union has promoted four women to senior vice president roles in the organization.

Amanda Edwards, Chrissy Bailey, Christy Lee and Stephanie Cunningham have been promoted.

Edwards, who has been with the credit union for 22 years, is senior vice president operations. She is in charge of overall leadership and support of Centra’s strategic direction as well as oversight and direction of consumer loan operations.

Bailey is now senior vice president marketing after being with Centra for more than eight years. She is leading Centra’s marketing, corporate communications and community involvement departments.

Lee, senior vice president retail, has been with Centra for 15 years and in the credit union industry for 29. She now has oversight of 24 Centra locations as well as Centra’s Contact Center and newly created digital branch.

Cunningham, senior vice president risk management, has been with Centra for six years and her most recent role wasas vice president risk management. The new role adds the responsibility of Centra’s loss mitigation department, overseeing loss prevention and credit solutions.

INDOT is planning a public hearing tomorrow about a nearly $28 million in improvements planned for State Road 7 in Jennings and Bartholomew counties.

According to the state agency, The $27.8 million project includes safety and mobility improvements between U.S. 50 in North Vernon and just north of U.S. 31 in Columbus. Shoulders will be widened to six feet on each side of the road, passing lanes will be added at various locations and intersection and drainage improvements are also included.

The project is currently scheduled to go out to bid in the spring of 2026 with construction to follow

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Scipio Elementary School on Tuesday, where you will have a chance to learn more about the project, to view displays, to ask questions, and to provide comments to the project team.

A formal presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

You can ask your questions or make comments in-person at the hearing, on the project website, or via mail or email.

American Structurepoint Inc.
Attn: Hannah Walker
9025 River Rd., Unit 200
Indianapolis, IN 46240

[email protected]

All comments are requested by end of business on Monday, January 23rd.

The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is looking for nominees for awards to be given at the upcoming 92nd Annual Awards Dinner.

You can make a nomination for the Business Hall of Fame in the small, medium and large categories, for Young Professional of the Year and Spirit of the Chamber Awards.

Nominations are being accepted until Feb 10. You can pick up a nomination form at the Jackson County Chamber offices or online at www.jacksoncochamber.com.

The dinner will be held March 3rd at Pewter Hall. Reservations are $50 per person and you can make those through the chamber website or by calling 812-522-3681

The deadline is approaching for nominations for this year’s Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award.

Full-time elementary or secondary school teachers or educators working in a public, private, or parochial school in Bartholomew County are eligible. That includes classroom, special education, or specials teachers; certified educators; counselors; and administrators. Anyone or a group may nominate an educator to receive the award.

The award is sponsored by the Community Education Coalition and the IUPUC Center for Teaching and Learning. Traditionally, the award is presented at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.

You can find nomination forms at the IUPUC Center for Teaching and Learning, the Bartholomew Consolidated administrative offices and in the main offices of schools in the county. The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 20th.

You can download a nomination form here.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department’s police dog Zanko will get a bulletproof and stab-protecting vest, sponsored by a family from Cumming, Georgia.

Zanko’s vest will be embroidered with the phrase “This gift of protection provided by the Peery Family”

The vest is thanks to the not-for-profit Vested Interest in K9s group from Massachusets. The organization was founded in 2009 and provides the vests to dogs working in police and other agencies. Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 4,800 vests to K9s in all 50 states.

The custom-fitted armor weighs about 5 pounds and is valued at between $1700 and $2300 dollars. The agency accepts donation and $960 will sponsor one vest.

The program is open to U.S. police dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. Dogs with expired vests are also eligible to participate.

You can get more information at www.vik9s.org

Deputy Kevin Settle and Zanko. Submitted photo

Three Columbus police officers are being recognized for their life-saving efforts during an incident in November.

According to reports from the department, Police Officers Aaron Graham and Tyler Boswell along with Sgt. Lukas Nibarger were called to a medical emergency in the 900 block of Third Street on November 28th.

They found a man who was not breathing and did not have a pulse when officers arrived. The officers had been trained in CPR and were able to provide the procedure to the patient. An automated electronic defibrillator was also used to provide two shocks to the patient, allowing them to regain their pulse and begin breathing. The patient was then taken to a local hospital, police say.

Police Chief Michael Richardson praised the officers for their actions in helping save the man’s life. He said he was proud of the quick thinking and quality care provided by these officers saying that was critical to the positive outcome for the patient. Richardson issued letters of commendations to the officers earlier this week.