The Columbus Police Department is welcoming its newest officer. Officer Haley Cox was sworn in Monday morning by Mayor Mary Ferdon.
Cox is originally from Shelbyville. She worked for two years as an officer for Shelby County Community Corrections before joining the Indiana Excise Police as an officer.
She has already attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and after several weeks of training with Columbus Police instructors, she will start the field training program before becoming a solo patrol officer.
Authorities are warning that you could be punished for taking someone else’s political sign.
According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and prosecutor’s office, taking or damaging political signs is a crime under Indiana law. It could be considered theft if you take them, or criminal conversion if you take control of someone else’s property.
Sheriff Duane Burgess said that his department will treat the taking of political signs as the same as taking any other kind of property, with the danger of facing legal consequences including fines and potential jail time.. He said he encourages residents to respect the rights and property of others.
Prosecutor Lance Hamner said his office will continue to protect resident’s rights, including the right to display political signs.
Johnson County authorities called political signs, a crucial part of the democratic process, and say that they can be expensive. They encourage you to call authorities immediately if you see anyone stealing or damaging political signs.
Forecasters say that fall weather is really here, with a chance for frost or even freezing temperatures in the next few days.
According to forecasters with the National Weather Service, temperatures could dip down to 33 by Wednesday morning, and it will be down close to freezing early Thursday morning with temperatures as low as 29 across central and southern Indiana.
A frost advisory is in effect tonight from 2 until 6 Wednesday morning. They say that sensitive outdoor plants could be killed if left uncovered.
However, forecasters say that conditions are expected to remain largely dry across the area with some isolated showers possible this morning.
Schneck Foundation is hosting a seminar to help seniors navigate MyTruAdvantage Medicare Advantage plans.
MyTruAdvantage was founded by local doctors and hospitals and is a provider-led plan. MyTruAdvantage offers a $0 member premium, $0 primary care provider copays, low co-pay for specialist visits, plus dental, vision, hearing, and fitness benefits.
Seminars will be held on Monday Oct. 28th and Tuesday 29th. at the Schneck Professional Building on West Tipton Street in Seymour. The October 28th seminar will be at 9:00 am and October 29 at 6:00 pm. For questions or more information you can call (833) 213-6731.
Area legislators are touting a new program to recognize Indiana’s heroic first responders.
Applications are now open for the Hoosier First Responder Medal of Honor. It will be awarded to Indiana first responders who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. They must have distinguished themselves above the call or duty or at great risk to their lives.
In their weekly radio address Indiana House Republicans talked about the new legislation creating the honor.
State Rep. Jim Lucas of Seymour was author of the new law. He explains:.
State Rep. Dave Hall of Norman, explains the purpose of the new law.
Otter Creek Golf Course will be holding an open house later this month to show off the updated plans for the iconic Bartholomew County course.
That is coming up on October 30th. Bob Haddad Jr. explains
The management of the formerly city-owned course announced plans last week to build two new short courses aimed at getting children, families and seniors to be able to play together at Otter Creek. They will be called the Pup and Romp courses, after the names for baby otters and a family of otters. The classic Robert Trent Jones designed championship course will be known as the Otter.
There also will be changes to several of the holes on the classic course as well as dealing with failing infrastructure such as sprinkler and drainage systems. The work on the classic course will start after the end of the LPGA tournament in June.
The course was originally gifted to the city of Columbus in 1964 by Cummins executive J. Irwin Miller and Cummins. But by 2022, the course and club house needed substantial improvements and city officials made the decision to sell the facility. Haddad bought it in 2022 and last year announced that renowned golf course designer Tom Kite would be leading the renovation of the aging course.
You will be able to find out more at the Golf & Ghouls open house from 5 to 9 on October 30th. In addition to layouts of the new course, you can review new season pass options, check out the golf studio, and there will be raffle items, glow golf and prizes for best costumes.
The course is off of County Road 50N, east of Columbus.
Photo: Bob Haddad Jr. unveils the new designs for Otter Creek golf courses last week. WRB photo
The Bartholomew County Humane Society along with the Greensburg and Decatur County Animal Shelter are offering low-cost adoptions through Tuesday as part of the Bissell Pet Foundation’s fall Empty the Shelters event.
Through October 15th Bissell is partnering with shelters nationwide to offer adoptions for a cat or a dog for $50 or less. That will cover the cost for a fully vaccinated, spayed/neutered and microchipped pet.
Bissell is partnering with 22 shelters in Indiana for the event.
The project has led to more than 282,000 pets finding homes. The foundation was started in 2011 and the Empty The Shelters events began in 2016..
The foundation does want to remind potential pet owners, that adopting a pet is a long-term commitment.
The local humane society encourages you to check out the animals available for adoption on the website, and to call the Humane Society to set up an appointment. You can go online to https://www.bartholomewhumane.org/
A reminder that early in person voting is underway for the November general election.
In Bartholomew County you can vote early at Donner Center, off of 22nd Street weekdays from 8 to 5 on Mondays through Fridays. The county will add Saturday voting on October 26th and November 2nd, available at both Donner Center and the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building on Third street from 8 to 3 on those Saturdays.
Early voting wraps up by noon on Monday, Nov. 4th with Election Day on Nov. 5th. In Bartholomew County you will be able to vote at any of 14 vote centers throughout the county from 6 to 6.
If you have any questions, you can call the Bartholomew County voter registration office at 812-379-1604.
The streets around Columbus City Hall will be bustling this weekend with Ethnic Expo kicking off at 11 today.
This year will feature three stages and 15 entertainment acts, 39 food vendors and 17 market vendors.
Jody Coffman, organizer of the event for the city, talks about some of the activities going on today and tomorrow.
If you haven’t been in the area recently, Jody Coffman, organizer of the event for the city, explains what the completion of the 1821 Trail behind City Hall brings to the Ethnic Expo experience.
This is the 40th year for the festival. Events kick off starting at 11 today and run through 10 tonight and Saturday night. Tonight’s headline entertainment will be Brett Wiscons taking the main stage at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday you can see Bashiri Asad starting at 8:30 p.m.
The Jackson County Chamber will be honoring first responders later this month with an appreciation breakfast.
Members of all Jackson County first responder agencies are invited including law enforcement, firefighters, medics and corrections officers.
Dan Robison, Director of the Jackson County Chamber, said “This event gives us the opportunity to give back and show some respect and appreciation to the folks who serve our community with great commitment.”
The Jackson Chamber Foundation will be awarding up to $500 grants to agencies to help support life-saving services in the community.
The breakfast will be Friday October 25th starting at 8 at Pewter Hall in Brownstown.
The chamber is still looking for businesses, organizations or individuals who would like to sponsor the event or support the Chamber Foundation. You can get more information by emailing [email protected]
