The town of Edinburgh is looking for your thoughts on the proposed comprehensive plan for the community.

According to the town, Edinburgh is working on the comprehensive plan which would outline a future vision for the community and help guide government decisions on growth and development. Organizers of the survey say the plan will also help residents and business owners better understand decisions made by community leaders.

The town has contracted with HWC Engineering and the survey is one part of the information gathering which will also include conversations with community members and analyzing community data.

The deadline to take the survey is March 31st. You can take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XVKHP7B

Former NBA player and former University of Kentucky star Rajon Rondo is looking to remove a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

That came after a traffic stop in Jackson County in January by Indiana State Police. WDRB TV in Louisville reports attorneys for Rondo argued in court it was against his 2nd Amendment rights to be prevented from carrying a weapon. The Jackson County prosecutor argued that the basketball player has a protective order in Indiana which prevents him from possession a gun. The basketball player has turned down a plea agreement and is set to stand trial in April.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

The Bartholomew County Jail will be turning over the feeding of inmates to an outside company.

According to the proposal by the sheriff’s department outsourcing the work will allow the county to save money, to solve employment issues and to ensure the quality of the meals.

Major Brandon Slate with the sheriff’s department said that there were two bids for the contract, and recommended approving a bid with Trinity Services Group out of Florida. He said the price per meal per inmate was comparable with the competing bid. However the Trinity proposal would provide a better compensation package for the workers in the jail kitchen. Under the contract the existing county employees would be transitioned to the new company and retained when the contract goes into effect.

The proposal by Trinity would include a premium meal option, where inmates with the funds can purchase cheeseburgers, chips and salsa or similar items in addition to their regular meals.

Slate said it is hard to get an exact figure due to variables, but he expected the contract would save the county $50,000 a year under current jail population levels.

The county commissioners approved the plan this week. The new plan would go into effect in four to six weeks.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The deadline is coming up next week to register for the next sessions of the Bartholomew County Works 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 March 18th and run through March 22nd at Yes Cinema.

An orientation session will be held March 14th from 10 to 11:30 in the morning.

The deadline to sign up is Wednesday, March 13th.

To get more information on signing up, you can call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-378-2638.

The Ivy Tech Foundation is planning a statewide day of giving next month to help support students pursuing higher education.

The day of giving will be held on Ivy Tech Day on April 23rd. This is the second year for the initiative which is part of the Foundation’s 5-year, $285 million campaign. Last year’s fund drive generated 2,032 gifts with more than $243,000 raised.

Ivy Tech was founded on March 15, 1963. The school now has 19 campuses and more than 190,000 students. Of those more than 40 percent are the first in their families to attend college, and 25 percent are students of color. The school says 93 percent of graduates stay in Indiana to pursue their careers.

Just after midnight on April 23rd the school will begin accepting donations toward its goal of breaking down barriers to higher education.

You can make a donation starting at 12:01 a.m. on April 23rd online at ivytech.edu/giveday .

The Columbus Bluegrass Jamboree is returning to Donner Center on Saturday.

The bluegrass and gospel music show begins with an open jam at 4 p.m. and you are encouraged to bring your instrument. Group performances will begin at 5 p.m. and will include bands such as High Sierra, Rocky Branch and Mt. Liberty Way.

The Jamboree is free but donations are accepted and concessions will be available for sale.

The show is sponsored by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center. To get more information you can call 812-376-0714.

Tonight is Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon’s first state of the city address.

The event will be taking place at Nexus Park, the former Fair Oaks Mall on 25th Street. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the mayor’s remarks will be at 6 p.m.

The speech will be followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park.

A quorum of City Council members, along with members of other boards and commissions are expected to attend but the council will not be in session and no council business will be conducted.

The event is free and you are invited to attend. You should park in the southeastern lot off of 25th Street near Dunham’s Sports and signs will direct you to the location inside the former mall.

If you can’t make it in person, you can listen to it live on air at News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM or on the WCSI website at 1010wcsi.com

Bartholomew County residents will be able to receive remote assistance with their mental health needs under a new service approved by the county commissioners Monday.

Cheryl Buffo, with the Bartholomew County Mental Health Matters coalition, presented the proposal to the commissioners, saying that the remote service would be free and available to anyone in the county who needs it. The platform called CredibleMind is billed as a one-stop shop for personalized mental wellbeing.

She said CredibleMind is an evidence based online mental health platform that allows users to take 5-minute long surveys to assess mental health concerns and then based on that information provide personalized services. The service will be available via apps or on a computer. The program operates through the University of California Berkeley. She cautioned that people frequently turn to unvetted and unverified online services to address their mental health challenges.

The service would also allow the county to track demographic information such as the age or sex of the person being helped, Buffo said. In the case of Fishers, which already is using the system, it has been found that it being used most by teen girls with anxiety and eating disorders, she said.

The program can be completely anonymous or a user can login and maintain their information, such as to provide information to healthcare providers.

The county commissioners agreed to a contract for $8,910 plus a $2,000 implementation fee to be paid out of jail commissary funds.

The Bartholomew County Humane Society is raising money this month to take care of senior animals, through the Jackie (Kleine) Watts Memorial Fund.

Watts died in March 2017 trying to rescue an elderly dog from flood waters on Flat Rock River.

The fund provides for senior dog medical needs including blood tests and x-rays, heartworm testing and treatment, eye and skin problems and heart problems.

The goal is $12,000 to help take care of senior dogs, which are those that are older than seven years.

You can get more information or make a donation: https://www.bartholomewhumane.org

Legal Aid is holding a Free Legal Aid Phone Clinic today.

The clinics are meant for low-income residents of Legal Aid’s eight-county district to receive legal advice and assistance.

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. The clinic will be from from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

To take part, you must first register between noon and 2 p.m. by calling 812-378-0358.