Editor’s Note: This story has been updated

The American Red Cross is looking for blood donors as the group is facing a nationwide shortage.

According to the Indiana Red Cross offices, there has been a shortfall of about 30,000 donations this summer. They say distribution of blood products is now outpacing donations. In addition to regular summer slump in donations, Hurricane Idalia forced the cancellation of dozens of blood drives.

During the ongoing Race to Give promotion, if you donate you will be entered to win a VIP NASCAR racing experience.

The Red Cross has several upcoming blood donation opportunities in our area including on Sept. 18th from 1 to 6 in North Vernon at First United Methodist Church on Poplar Street. And Sept. 29th from 1 to 6 in Columbus at First United Methodist Church on 8th Street

You can schedule an appointment to give through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.

Developers of a gigantic bakery in the northwestern corner of Bartholomew County, will be asking the County Council for a tax break on their project tonight.

Called “Project Whiteboard” in its planning documents, the Kings Hawaiian plant would be built just north of the the intersection of U.S. 31 and Interstate 65 on an 88-acre parcel. In documents filed with the county, the developers, R&T Woodside, outlined their initial plans to build up to a 400,000 square foot facility with an investment of $80 to $90 million dollars.

They said that when fully built out it would be more than half a million square feet, an estimated $180 million investment and is expected to employ more than 140 people. The average wages at the plant are expected to be almost $30 an hour.

Representatives asked the Bartholomew County Commissioners yesterday morning to sign off on the project, by approving a resolution asserting that the project would fall within the economic revitalization area in the Edinburgh and Taylorsville areas. Before the developers of a project seeking a tax abatement can take their project to the county council for approval, they must receive that designation.

Commissioners voted to approve the request.

That will open the door to the developers seeking a tax abatement tonight. Under a tax abatement taxes are phased in over a period, normally of 10 years, instead of being immediately liable for the full amount.

Commissioners said that they fully support the project. Commissioners President Tony London said that the developers would also be asking for infrastructure help from the county, by using money from the special taxing unit in that area to extend County Road 700N as an access road to the property. London said that the road has been platted for years, but has never been built.

There is no estimate yet on how much that work might cost.

Last week the developers received several approvals they needed from the county’s board of zoning appeals.

The Bartholomew County Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street in Columbus.

State Road 58 in Jackson County will be closing later this week for up to a month while crews replace a culvert in Kurtz.

According to INDOT, the road will close at the intersection of State 58 and Cleveland Street in Kurtz. While the road is closed, traffic will be routed from State Road 446 to US 50 and then to State Road 135.

The work is expected to take up to 30 days. The work schedule is dependent on the weather.

Force Construction will be the contractor for the project. It is part of a $4.5 million dollar contract awarded to Force.

INDOT asks you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

A southern Indiana man was seriously injured in a crash Thursday in Jackson County.

According to the Indiana State Police, a pickup being driven by 31-year-old Logan M. Light of Charlestown was southbound on U.S. 31 near Jackson County Road 50N at about 9 a.m. in the morning when it crossed the north bound lanes, leaving the road, hitting a culvert and rolling several times. Light was thrown from the vehicle.

He was taken by Jackson County EMS ambulance to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour before being flown to to an Indianapolis area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Vernon Township Fire Department and Coomer’s Wrecker Service.

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police.

A reminder that Columbus emergency workers will be observing the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks with a ceremony at the Columbus City Hall plaza on Monday.

The outdoor ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a moment of silence taking place at the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. There will also be a dispatch over the emergency radios honoring the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that day in the attacks on New York City, the Pentagon and on Flight 93, that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Members of the Columbus Fire Department and Police Department Color Guard will take part in the ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled to last about 30 minutes.

The rain location will be the Cal Brand meeting room in City Hall.

Photo: The Columbus Police and Fire Color Guard present the colors during the 2018 9-11 remembrance ceremony in 2018. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.

Local legislators are announcing they are searching for paid interns during next year’s session of the General Assembly.

They are looking for candidates to fill spots for the session which lasts January through mid-March. Those who intern in downtown Indianapolis will be paid $900 bi-weekly, says Rep. Ryan Lauer. Intern positions are full time, Monday through Friday, and include free parking, career and professional development assistance, enrollment access to an Indiana government class, and opportunities to earn academic credits.

State Rep. Alex Zimmerman of North Vernon said that he served as an intern and now as a state representative hopes to see young Hoosiers participate.

Students can apply for internships in a variety of departments related to their field of study, including legislative operations, policy, and communications and media relations.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 31st. You can get more information online at http://www.IndianaHouseRepublicans.com/Internship.

Indiana Statehouse photo courtesy of iga.in.gov

The Bartholomew County Health Department is offering a drive-thru flu clinic next month at the Nursing Division offices on Foxpointe Drive.

Most insurances can be billed for flu vaccines. If you are uninsured or your insurance does not pay for flu vaccines, you are eligible to receive a free dose. The clinic will also accept cash, credit and debit cards. The quadrivalent vaccine will be $20 and the high dose for those 65 or older, or flublok for those are immunocompromised will be $60.

Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present.

The flu clinic will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday October 3rd at the offices at 2625 Fox Pointe Drive.

You can get more information at 812-379-1555, option 1.

Schneck Primary Care will be offering drive-thru flu clinics starting later this month in Jackson County.

The vaccine is available in regular dose and high dose for those 65 and older. The cost of the flu vaccine is covered by most insurance plans or you self-pay. You should bring your identification and your insurance information.

The clinics will be September 30th and October 14th from 8 to noon on Level 4 of the Schneck Professional Building Parking Garage in Seymour. And October 7 from 8 to noon in the Schneck Primary Care Parking Lot in Brownstown.

The vaccines will be available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call 812-522-1613.

A wanted man was arrested in Columbus after fleeing from deputies and police officers in a car and then on foot.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the incident started at about 7:12 p.m. Wednesday night when deputies were tipped off to 38-year-old Chawn Coomer of Columbus driving a car near U.S. 31 and Random Road. Coomer was wanted on several outstanding warrants. When deputies located the vehicle, they tried to pull Coomer over, but say that he refused to stop.

The chase continued into Columbus where city officers also joined the pursuit. Eventually, Coomer stopped at a home on McCullough Lane, jumped out of the car and tried to run away. But he was soon taken into custody.

He is facing new charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and reckless driving.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department

Columbus Township Fire & Rescue Department is announcing a memorial climb of the Mill Race Tower Monday to recognize those firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The climb will start at just after 8:46 with the dispatch over emergency radios honoring those who died. Then the climbing will start, as participants work to scale the 78 floors the firefighters reached that day before the tower’s collapse. Locally, that will mean 11 times up the Mill Race Park tower with a partial 12th climb.

The goal is to remember those lost that day and you are invited to participate.

Columbus rescue workers will also be holding a ceremony at the City Hall plaza on Monday, starting 1t 8:30.

First Financial Bank is receiving a national award for its support of community action, and helping children and families through economic growth and increased opportunities.

According to the bank, the organization received the Corporate Partnership Award from the National Community Action Partnership and is one of only two organizations to receive the award this year.

The association is a national nonprofit organization that assists the nation’s more than 1,000 local community action agencies.

Last year, First Financial Bank associates provided more than 12,000 volunteer hours and over $4.3 million in donations to organizations. The staff members are able to donate their time because First Financial offers up to 8 hours of paid time off for full-time associates to pursue volunteer activities during work hours.

Roddell McCullough, chief corporate responsibility officer for First Financial said that “This is a welcome reminder of our focus in recent years on being a positive influence to help our clients and communities thrive.”

McCullough accepted the award at the association’s annual meeting in Atlanta last month.