The IUPUC nursing program will become part of the core university nursing programs, joining with IUPUI, IU Bloomington and IU Fort Wayne.

According to an announcement from the school, this is part of a plan to streamline access to nursing education statewide. all four campuses will have a unified curriculum and student access to degree programs will be expanded and it will increase faculty development opportunities.

Robin Newhouse, dean of the IU School of Nursing said that this would formalize the relationships between the four schools, advancing “academic excellence and student success through a unified academic approach.”

The Division of Health Sciences at IUPUC currently offers an IU Bachelor of Science in nursing degree that includes traditional and accelerated degree tracks. The IU School of Nursing graduate programs offer a master’s degree with nine different tracks as well as two doctoral programs. The transition of nursing programs at IUPUC into the core school will provide a clearer path for nursing students at IUPUC so they can benefit from the graduate programs.

School officials said the change is coming as IUPUI works to increase undergraduate enrollment by 50 percent on the Indianapolis campus over the next three years. The changes at IUPUC would provide stronger brand identity and consistency for prospective students, school officials hope.

The changeover is expected to be completed by 2025.

Photo courtesy of IUPUC. An IUPUC instructor demonstrates the placement of a nasogastric  tube on a SIM manikin with a group of students in the nursing simulation center.

The Columbus Fire Department is welcoming three new firefighters, hired to fill vacancies left by retirements and advancements.

The three were sworn in this week by Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

23-year-old Firefighter Tyler Bullard is a graduate of Seymour High School and attended the University of Indianapolis. Bullard is the son of retired Seymour, IN. Firefighter, Joe Bullard.

26-year-old Firefighter Jacob Hempstead is a graduate of Greensburg High School. Hempstead previously worked for the City of Rushville Fire Department for a year and has served as a volunteer Firefighter for the Letts Volunteer Fire Department for eight years.

29-year-old Firefighter Johnathon Rogers is a graduate of Columbus Signature Academy, attended Ivy Tech Community College and the Community College of the Air Force. Rogers served six years of active duty with the Air Force and two years with the Air Force Reserves. He has been working for Columbus Regional Health’s Ambulance Service for a year.

All firefighters will undergo a department orientation training program before receiving a station and shift assignment.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department. Firefighters Johnathon Rogers,  Tyler Bullard and Jacob Hempstead were sworn in at Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

There is a slight risk of severe weather in our area this morning.

The National Weather Service is warning of showers and thunder this morning with scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Primary threats will be damaging winds, hail and possibly a tornado across southern Indiana. A quarter to half an inch or rain is expected today.

Far southeastern Indiana is under an enhanced risk of severe weather today.

The storm motion will be from the southwest moving at around 50 mph.

Local emergency officials say that a chemical spill on a Columbus street that shut down traffic yesterday afternoon was not a hazardous chemical.

City officials announced that all lanes of 25th Street from Central Avenue east to Pennsylvania Street were closed due to a spill at about 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon. And they asked that people avoid the area.

However, the announcement drew questions about the nature and safety of the spilled materials. According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management, the material was non-hazardous. However cars driving through were spreading the material while crews worked to clean it up and keep it out of the storm drains.

The city announced that the street had been reopened at about 10:30 p.m. last night.

Organizers are planning a diaper drive to beneift Clarity Pregancy Services of Columbus.

Diapers are especially needed in sizes 5 and 6 and pull-ups in all sizes.

The event is in memory of Zhyair King Wasmuth, who died in September 2020.

The diaper drive will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday March 5th in the parking lot of American Rental, in Eastbrook Plaza. For more information you can call 812-569-8573

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing that nominations are now open for two new annual awards.

The awards were established by the estate of Donald W. & Catherine G. Jurgemeyer to honor a community hero and community leadership project. The couple were long-time Columbus residents with Donald Jurgemeyer, an attorney in the community for 29 years, serving as legal counsel for the community foundation in its early years. Catherine Jurgemeyer served as president of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation and chaired the American Bar Auxiliary and the Indiana Lawyers Auxiliary.

The Jurgemeyer Community Hero Award will recognize those who have performed life-saving measures, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety, security and resiliency of our community. Nominees must be either a professional or volunteer serving in Bartholomew County as a law enforcement official, firefighter, first responder or in the medical or healthcare field. It will come with a $5,000 award will be presented.

The Jurgemeyer Community Leadership Project of the Year Award will recognize a project in the community that exemplifies the Columbus community leadership values. Nominees will be nonprofit organizations, volunteer groups, government entities, coalitions or businesses serving Bartholomew County. A $15,000 award will be presented.

The deadline for nominations is March 20th. You can get more information at heritage fund bc dot org.

You will see a closure on State Road 58 in Bartholomew County starting next month and lasting about a month.

Bartholomew County officials say that that INDOT will be closing the highway over an unnamed tributary of East Fork White River, about two miles west of Interstate 65 between County Roads 400W and 500W for the replacement of a small structure.

The work is scheduled to start at about 7 a.m. on March 13th. The work schedule is dependent on the weather.

Authorities suggest that you avoid the area if you can.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to use extra caution and to drive without distractions in all work zones.

Bartholomew County’s state representatives are touting a bill that will exempt active-duty military members from Indiana state income taxes.

State Rep. Ryan Lauer, a Columbus Republican, is a co-author of the bill and a member of the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. The new bill would start with a 25% exemption on military pay in 2024 and increase it annually ending with a full exemption by 2027.

Lauer says the exemption is “a great way to say thank you and serves as a motivator for them to call Indiana home.”

State Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican who represents part of southern Bartholomew County, is vice-chair of the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee, and co-author of the bill. He said that veterans, with necessary leadership and technical skills, could help fill the state’s 85,000 open job positions.

Shelbyville Republican State Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, who represents northeastern Bartholomew County, said neighboring states including Michigan and Kentucky offer a complete military income tax exemption for residents. She said that the state’s strong financial standing puts it in the position to cut taxes for those who serve our country.

House Bill 1034 now moves to the Indiana Senate for consideration.

Indiana Statehouse photo courtesy of iga.in.gov

A wind advisory remains in effect this morning with strong gusts possible.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says that we could see southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph along with gusts of up to 50 mph expected.

You can expect the winds to blow around unsecured objects in your yard. Tree limbs could be blown down and there could be some power outages.

A wind advisory is in effect through 10 a.m. although forecasters say strong winds could continue into the afternoon.

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Ivy Tech Community College Foundation is planning its first Day of Giving, a chance for supporters of the school to help grow the college as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations.

Organizers are calling the event Ivy Tech Day and for 24 hours starting at midnight on April 11th, the school will be looking to generate 600 gifts, whether it’s $5 or $5,000, in celebration of the anniversary.

Ivy Tech was founded on March 15, 1963. It now has 19 campuses and 150,000 students and is the largest singly accredited community college in the U.S. Ivy Tech awards more than 20,000 degrees and certificates each year.

Ivy Tech Day is part of the Foundation’s 5-year, $285 million campaign. Participants can give to the College through the Ivy Tech Foundation –– starting at midnight on April 11 by visiting ivytech.edu/giveday