Jennings County officials are urging residents to learn how to use a drug that will counteract the effects of a narcotics overdose. That comes after a surge in fentanyl and heroin overdoses and associated deaths in the community.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, the use of Narcan also known as naloxone can be the difference between life and death in those overdoses. Sheriff Kenny Freeman said that if you suspect someone has overdosed, you need to act swiftly. Don’t hesitate to call for medical help or to administer Narcan.

The Sheriff’s Department is encouraging you to familiarize yourself with overdose symptoms and how to administer Narcan, especially if you know someone you think might be at risk.

Forecasters say it is going to be windy later today and tomorrow. The National Weather Service in Indinapolis has issued a wind advisory for our area starting at 6 tonight and lasting through 6 Tuesday evening.

According to the agency, we can expect south winds of 20 to 30 mph with wind gusts of up to 45 mph possible. They say that the gusty winds will be strong enough to blow around any unsecured items in your yard. You can also expect tree limbs to be knocked down and some power outages are possible.

If you are going to be on the road, you should use extra caution, especially if you are driving a high profile vehicle.

Two men have been arrested in an Interstate 65 shooting incident, after a victim turned up in Seymour with a gunshot wound.

According to the Indiana State Police, a man reported to Seymour police on March 17th that he had been shot while driving on the interstate near County Line Road in Indianapolis. The man was taken to the hospital to be treated and police discovered several gunshots had hit his vehicle. The investigation was turned over the Indiana State Police post in Indianapolis.

The investigation revealed that the victim had argued with two men at a business. The men then followed him onto the interstate where they pulled up beside him and opened fire. Troopers say that an object was placed over the vehicle’s license plate to make it unreadable.

Troopers along with Indianapolis police found the vehicle on Tuesday and arrested one of the suspects, 21 year old Guiver C. Juarez of Indianapolis. The second suspect, 19 year old Alejandro L. Rosales was arrested at an apartment on Thursday in Indianapolis with the assistance of the Indy police SWAT team.

Both men are facing preliminary charges of attempted murder and criminal recklessness.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be giving a first look at possible plans for a west side elementary school, this afternoon and Wednesday.

The proposed school would be located beside Westside Community Church on Tipton Lakes Boulevard. Four design architects will present proposals including Howeler+Yoon from Boston, Snow Kreilich from Minneapolis, and SO-IL and Studio Sumo, both from New York.

The design architect presentations will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. today and Wednesday at Westside Community Church. The school district is looking for your thoughts on the proposals and you are invited to attend.

You could see traffic tie-ups on U.S. 50 in Jackson County starting tomorrow.

INDOT says crews will be reducing the highway to one lane just east of Seymour to clear the right of way and relocate utilities. The work will be happening between North Jackson County Roads 1225E and and 1250E. Flaggers will be in place during the operations.

The work is expected to be completed by early April, but the work schedule is dependent on the weather.

Milestone Contractors will be doing the work as part of a $1.9 million dollar contract.

Legal Aid is holding a free walk-in Legal Clinic On Tuesday in Bartholomew County.

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. The clinic will be from from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Bartholomew County Public Library.

From 3 to 4 p.m. the session will focus on general legal counsel. From 4 to 5 p.m. the clinic will focus on evictions.

A nine-month long investigation into drug trafficking in Johnson County led to the arrest of 15 people Wednesday.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, deputies along with Edinburgh, Bargersville, Franklin and Greenwood police and the county SWAT team were involved in the arrests after 32 drug-related warrants were issued. Of those arrested Wednesday, all but one are facing various drug dealing charges including dealing in methamphetamine, marijuana and narcotics. The sheriff’s department says additional arrests are expected this week as warrants continue to be served.

Officials praised the cooperation between the agencies and the county prosecutor’s office. Sheriff Duane Burgess said that he along with Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran and Greenwood Police Chief James Ison have made drug enforcement a priority. The sheriff’s departments undercover narcotics detectives are working with community partners to combat drug sales in Johnson County, Burgess said.

The White River and Bargersville fire department medics also assisted in the operation.

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A two-day music festival in downtown Columbus next month will benefit several local not for profit groups.

The two-day long Hutchfest will feature bands performing on Friday April 19th at The Commons and an all-ages show on Saturday April 20th at The Crump Theater. The Friday show will start at 5:30 in the afternoon and will feature bands Stone Carnival, the Revelators and Greenback Dollars, all from Columbus

Saturdays performances will also begin at 5:30 and will include Weird Sisters from Nashville, Tenn., the Duma Collective and Mycota both from Bloomington.

Hutchfest is named in honor of local businessman Hutch Schumaker and celebrates his birthday with the fundraiser.

According to Landmark Columbus Foundation, proceeds from the events will be split between the foundation, restoration efforts at The Crump and the Miller House and Garden. Tickets for both performances will be $10 each. There are also four sponsor levels ranging from $100 to $2,500.

You can get more information or buy tickets at hutchfest.org.

Photo courtesy of Landmark Columbus Foundation

The Columbus AirPark Campus at the Columbus Municipal Airport will be holding a career fair next month with more than 50 area employers.

According to IU Columbus, the career fair will feature jobs in business, construction, education, engineering, communications, hospitality, health care, human services, and technology. Employers will be searching for full time and part time employees.

This event is free and you are invited to attend. You should bring printed copies of your resume.

The career fair will be on April 3rd from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the afternoon throughout the Columbus Learning Center at 4555 Central Avenue.

Columbus Learning Center photo courtesy of the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

The Columbus Department of Public Works will be closed on Friday, March 29th for Good Friday. However trash collections will be running on their normal schedule. You should have your trash and recycling at the curb by 7a.m. next Friday.

For more information you can go to the city department’s website at www.columbus.in.gov/public-works or find them on Facebook at Columbus Recycles.

The Bartholomew County and Columbus Recycling Center will be closed on Friday, March 29th in recognition of Good Friday.

According to the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District, the closure will also affect the commercial cardboard recycling route. The center will reopen Monday at 7:30 a.m.

The Bartholomew County Landfill will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 30th.

You can get more information online at BCSWMD.com.