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

The vest is thanks to the not-for-profit Vested Interest in K9s group from Massachusetts. The organization provides the vests to dogs working in police and other agencies. Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 4,900 vests to K9s in all 50 states.

The agency accepts donations and $985 will sponsor one vest.

You can get more information at www.vik9s.org

Photo: Deputy Kevin Settle and Zanko. Submitted photo

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

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

The Bartholomew County Historical Society is looking for donations of historic artifacts to add to its collection.

According to the society, this month is being dedicated to increasing the museum’s collection in certain areas of interest.

The historical society already has more than 80,000 items in its care, including photos, memorabilia, clothing, paintings and other items. The society wants to direct the donation of new items into certain areas where it is currently lacking. Among the areas where it is seeking donations include:

• The history of Cosco
• The 1970s and newer
• Black and minority group history
• Immigration to the county
• Rural history
• History of fire and police departments in the county.
• Civil War artifacts
• Architectural salvage
• The histories of Hope, Elizabethtown and Hartsville
• County military history.
• Historic photographs
• Scrapbooks
• Newer photographs of Local Families and Areas,
• Local merchandising & advertisement
• Stephen Sprouse

If you have items you would like to donate, you can contact Jared Anderson, the collections manager and curator at 812-372-3541 or by email at [email protected] Or you can stop by the museum, Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The United Way of Bartholomew County will be kicking off a food drive next month to ensure schoolchildren have enough to eat at home during the summer.

According to the agency, the community wide spring food drive is being organized by the United Way and the Bartholomew County Food Insecurity Coalition. The goal is to collect enough food and cash donations to provide 100 tons of food for the community’s children.

Kelly Daugherty, executive director of Love Chapel, the community’s largest food pantry, said Bartholomew County pantries are seeing increased need. In the last year, Love Chapel, has seen a 40 percent increase in need and the pantry is now serving 1 in 10 people in the county.

The food and donations collected during the spring food drive will be split between pantries at Love Chapel, the Salvation Army, and the Community Center of Hope.

Many local churches will be running collections during April. you can also drop off food at any First Financial Bank location in the county or at YES Cinema in downtown Columbus.

You can donate money toward the cause online at https://www.uwbarthco.org/events.html/event/2023/04/30/community-food-drive/425064

Some of the most needed items include:

• Peanut Butter
• Soups/Stews- low sodium
• Cereal
• Pastas
• Pasta Sauce
• Rice
• Canned Veggies- low sodium
• Canned Fruits- in fruit juice
• Jelly
• Bagged side dishes (instant mashed potatoes, noodles, rice, etc.)
• Canned Pastas (beefaroni, ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs).

Seymour police have arrested a man on child solicitation charges after he allegedly asked a girl if she wanted to have sex with him.

Seymour police say that the incident began in late February, when the department received information about two girls getting into a vehicle with an older man. After investigating, police learned that the man made the overture toward one of the girls.

Yesterday, deputies stopped a vehicle driven by the suspect, 29-year-old Ismael Diego-Nicolas and he was arrested for driving a vehicle without ever receiving a license. Investigators interviewed Diego-Nicolas and he allegedly admitted to asking the girl to have sex with him.

He is facing a felony charge of child solicitation.

The city of Columbus will save more than $300,000 by paying off bonds early that were used to fund the creation of The Cole, a downtown apartment complex.

Heather Pope, the city’s redevelopment director explained at this week’s City Council meeting that the city issued the bonds for $1.6 million in 2011 to fund part of the design, construction and other costs associated with project. The Cole includes 146 apartments and 8,000 square feet of commercial space at the corner of Second and Jackson Streets.

By paying off the remaining $939,000 early, the city will save an estimated $310,471, Pope said. The money would come from a surplus bond fund and from the city’s central-area tax increment financing district. Councilman Tim Shuffett pointed out that none of the money would be coming from the city’s general fund.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission signed off on the plan last month, but because it requires spending more than half a million dollars, it also requires City Council approval.

Columbus City Council approved the plan unanimously this week.

The Lucabe Coffee Co. move into the architectural landmark and former Irwin Union Bank and Trust office building in Eastbrook Plaza is being recognized by an Indiana landmarks preservation organization.

Indiana Landmarks Association featured the coffee shop in an article on its website this week. It focuses on the efforts of Lucabe owners Alissa and Tyler Hodge to adapt the former bank building to its new use. The couple worked with Landmark Columbus Foundation to find ways to use the building for the new purpose while respecting the architectural design by Chicago architect Harry Weese.

The article details efforts such as finding rooms for a coffee bar and restrooms in Weese’s office space design. And turning the former bank vault into a children’s play area. The shop also uses Weese’s original blueprints and concept sketches as artwork in the building.

The couple plans to nominate the building to the National Register of Historic Places according to the article.

For more information go to https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2023/03/modernist-bank-finds-new-use-as-coffee-shop

Cummins is combining its zero emissions programs into a new brand called Accelera under the New Power business unit.

The company is combining the branding of its various zero-emissions solutions offerings under the new brand, including hydrogen-producing electrolyzers, battery and fuel cell power solutions, e-axles and traction systems. The goal is to provide Cummins solutions to decarbonize industries and their equipment, including buses, trucks, trains, construction equipment, stationary power and industrial processes.

Amy Davis, head of the New Power business unit will serve as president of Accelera. Davis said “the purpose of Accelera is simple – to secure a sustainable future for the industries that keep the world running.”

Cummins Destination Zero strategy focuses on moving to zero emissions across Cummins products by 2050.

The company unveiled the new branding yesterday.

For more information, go to https://now.cummins.com/nextbreakthrough

The Columbus Area Arts Council is promoting its interim director, Brooke Hawkins, to the role permanently.

The arts organization made the announcement yesterday that Hawkins would be taking over as permanent executive director —  the role she has been filling since last May after the departure of the previous director, Kathryn Armstrong.

Hawkins has been the organization’s brand manager and graphic designer for five years, including overseeing its rebranding in 2017. Hawkins has also twice served as co-chair of Uncommon Cause, the non-profit’s largest annual fundraiser.

Arts Council Board President Mike Elwood said Hawkins “has led the organization with focus and a collaborative spirit.” and “She is deeply committed to the arts and culture in this community.”

The Arts Council is responsible for popular arts-related events in the community including First Fridays for Families and events held in the 6th Street Arts Alley.

A Nevada man is under arrest after cocaine was found in his vehicle on Interstate 65 near Seymour Tuesday.

According to Indiana State Police reports, a trooper stopped a southbound SUV just north of the Seymour exit at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The trooper became suspicious and his police dog alerted to the odor of drugs in the vehicle. A search revealed two kilos of cocaine, and about $8,000 in cash. Trooper estimate the drugs had a street value of about $50,000.

27-year-old Jhonatan S. Carrillo of Las Vegas, Nevada, was arrested on preliminary charges of Dealing in and possessing Cocaine, as well as for operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license.

The cocaine, money and SUV were all seized as part of the investigation.

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police.