Columbus legislators celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra with a ceremony at the Statehouse Tuesday.
State Sen. Greg Walker and State Rep. Ryan Lauer celebrated the orchestra with Senate Concurrent Resolution 36, recognizing the orchestra for its 100th anniversary season, called “Celebrating a Century of Great Music.” The CSO is the oldest continuous musical group of its kind in Indiana, according to organizers.
Walker thanked those who have been “a part of this wonderful ensemble” and said he looked forward to hearing more music from the orchestra for years to come.
Lauer said that Columbus is “fortunate to have a diverse group of volunteers sharing their talents, inspiring generations with their songs and bringing people together.”
The orchestra’s next performance is “Sharing the Gift of Music… Times Two!” at 3:30 on April 23rd at The Commons. This season of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra will conclude on June 4.
Applications are now being accepted for the Dr. Bud Scholarship through Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.
The scholarship benefits students working toward becoming a registered nurse. Candidates must have completed their first year of a registered nursing program. It is primarily for residents of Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties.
The scholarship is awarded in honor of Dr. H.P. Bud Graessle who was a physician and surgeon in Seymour for 53 years.
Applications for the scholarship are available at SchneckMed.org/careers. The deadline to apply is May 19th.
The Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management district will begin offering mulch and compost loading for ths season starting on Friday.
You can get a load of either mulch or compost for $10 per scoop, every Friday through October. To take part, stop by the Solid Waste Management District offices at the Columbus/Bartholomew County Recycling Center at 720 S. Mapleton Street from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. When you pay you will get a loading ticket. Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted.
No businesses can participate in the program.
The opening has been delayed a week due to Good Friday.
For more information you can go online to https://bcswmd.com or call 812-376-2614.
A new Columbus firefighter was sworn in Tuesday morning by Mayor Jim Lienhoop.
28-year-old Jeremiah Tracey is a 2013 graduate of Seymour High School and a 2016 graduate of Ball State University. Tracey has previously worked for the Seymour and Bloomington fire departments. He is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and certified as a Firefighter I & II.
Tracey will now go through a department orientation and training program before receiving his station and shift assignments.
Photo: Firefighter Jeremiah Tracey was sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at City Hall. From left, Fire Chief Andy Lay, Firefighter Jeremiah Tracy, Kinley Tracey, Mrs. Kelly Tracey, Mayor Jim Lienhoop. Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.
Three executives overseeing the White River Broadcasting Company in Columbus have been promoted.
The promotions were announced today at the annual board of directors meeting of the Findlay Publishing Co., which operates the four White River Broadcasting stations in Columbus as well as three stations in Findlay, Ohio through the Blanchard River Broadcasting Co.
President Karl L. Heminger has been elected chairman of the board. Heminger has been with the company since 1987, serving as president since 2002. Heminger has been active in various professional and non-profit organizations including The Ohio News Media Association, The University of Findlay, Black Swamp Council Boy Scouts of America and Habitat for Humanity. Heminger and his wife Dawn reside in rural Findlay.
Vice President David P. Glass has been elected president. Glass has been with the company since 1981 and has held the position of vice president since 2004. Glass has been active in various professional and non-profit organizations including most recently the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, Findlay Rotary Club, Raise the Bar Hancock County, University of Findlay Center for Civic Engagement, Findlay-Hancock County Workforce Development and St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish. Glass and his wife Carrie reside in Findlay.
Vice President Kurt F. Heminger has been elected executive vice president. Heminger has been with the company since 1985 and has held the position of vice president since 2004. In addition he continues to serve as Company Treasurer. Heminger has been active in various professional and non-profit organizations including most recently Findlay Rotary Club, Findlay AAA and Findlay Family YMCA. Heminger and his wife Sue reside in Findlay.
The Findlay Publishing Co. is a small, family-owned, privately-held communications company and is the parent company for two wholly owned subsidiary companies which operate seven broadcast radio stations. White River Broadcasting Co. operates WCSI, WKKG, WINN and WWWY (106.1 The River), in Columbus. The Blanchard River Broadcasting Co. operates, WFIN, WKXA and WBUK (106.3 The Fox), in Findlay, Ohio.
Ivy Tech Community College will be offering free classes for high school students this summer, where they can explore their future career path and earn college credits.
The program is for students in 9th through 12th grades and students who qualify will receive free tuition and textbooks, with no limit on the number of courses students can take.
To qualify for enrollment for the free summer classes, students must be Indiana residents at any high school, including eighth graders entering ninth grade, graduating seniors, homeschool students, and students at adult high schools.
The Columbus Area Arts Council is organizing a poetry and prose event on Thursday at Hotel Indigo featuring readings by a Columbus North High School student who won the statewide Poetry Out Loud competition, along with audience readings.
Local poet Skye Nicholson is hosting the “Open Mic Poetry and Prose” event. North High school junior Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri will be the featured poet, reading her work, followed by an open mic session. The event is meant to allow poets and spoken word artists of all levels to share their work with a live audience. Sign-ups to present your work will begin at 5:00 pm and will be on a first-come basis.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, attendees are encouraged to bring their poetry on a topic of their choice to share. Participants are asked to keep the language at a PG-13 level.
Local musician Cheryl Liz will play acoustic music throughout the evening
The event is recommended for those 14 or older. It will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in the evening at Hotel Indigo. It is free and you are invited to attend.
The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department says that portions of the People Trail will be closing while new trail is constructed.
That includes a portion of the Hawcreek People Trail system near Rocky Ford Road and the Mill Race Trail, south of the Fifth Street entrance. The trails are scheduled to close starting today.
Bartholomew County Works is now accepting applications for its upcoming job readiness workshop.
Bartholomew County Works is committed to helping members improve their lives, gain full-time employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. It provides resources in areas including transportation, finances and budget setting.
The day-long workshop series will start on Monday April 24th and run through April 28th at Yes Cinema. Workshop topics include: applications, resumes, interviews, personality and skills inventories, interview attire, body language and other subjects.
The deadline to sign up is April 19th and an orientation session will be held April 21st from 10 to 11:30 in the morning.
To get more information on signing up, you can call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-378-2638.
Drivers on State Road 7 can expect delays starting next week as crews work on bridge overlays.
INDOT says that its contractor, E&B Paving, will begin work next week on a resurfacing project on the State Road 7 bridge over Big Graham Creek in Jennings County. The bridge is about four and a half miles south of Vernon and State Road 3. You will see temporary traffic signals in place as crews reduce the highway to one lane while overlaying material on the bridge deck. The work is scheduled to start on Monday.
Crews will also begin work on State Road 7 in Jefferson County, south of Dupont, performing overlay work on the bridge over Big Creek.
You can also expect speed reductions and width restrictions while this work is going on.
The work is part of a $1.6 million contract with a completion date late this fall.
INDOT asks you to slow down, to use extra caution and to drive without distractions in all work zones.
