The deadline is coming up next week to register for the next sessions of the Bartholomew County Works job readiness training 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 January 6th and run through January 10th at Yes Cinema from 9 to 4 each day.
An orientation session will be held Thursday from 10 to 11 in the morning.
The deadline to sign up is Tuesday.
To get more information on signing up, you can call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-378-2638.
Columbus Fire Department is looking for your thoughts on a survey evaluating the agency’s services.
According to the department, an online Community Stakeholder Survey is seeking your feedback on the services the department provides. It includes an overview of those services and then asks for your opinions on services, expectations and priorities. The city says community feedback for the department will be key to help reimagine how best to provide service to the community.
The department is asking for residents and for those who work in Columbus or visit Columbus on a regular basis to take the survey.
A reminder, that Columbus Animal Care Services will be holding a Kitty-Palooza on Saturday at Nexus Park, the former Fair Oaks Mall. The city animal shelter will be bringing more than 30 cats and kittens to the center for the one-day adoption event.
The event will include reduced adoption fees of $40. that will include spaying or neutering, up to date shots and microchipping.
If you are hoping to bring a new pet home, you should bring a cat carrier, as only a limited number of cardboard cat carriers will be available.
Kitty Palooza will be from noon to 4 Saturday at Nexus park on 25th Street in Columbus.
Columbus Regional Health is announcing the winners of a revamped nursing awards program.
According to the hospital, the annual awards now are meant to honor those who exemplify the system’s The Way We Care model and are now called the The Way We Care Excellence in Nursing awards. Members of the hospital’s Nursing Shared Governance Council worked closely with leadership at CRH to ensure the nomination process is equitable and unbiased for all of the nominations.
There were 30 nominees for this year’s awards in three categories – Nurse of the Year, Patient Care Tech of the Year, and Friend of Nursing.
Cari Wheeler was recognized as Nurse of the Year, Madelynn Burns as Patient Care Tech of the Year and Andrea Valentine as Friend of Nursing,
Each of the winners received a certificate, pin, and a custom-made jacket. Their departments will also be presented with a plaque to display throughout the year.
Bartholomew County Auditor Pia O’Connor. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County.
Bartholomew County is wrapping up spending all of its federal COVID relief funds, with only funds set aside for rural broadband yet to be spent.
County Auditor Pia O’Connor updated the county commissioners this week, saying that when they approved this week’s claims, they were agreeing to pay off the last bills from the various spending under the American Rescue Plan.
The county received more than $16 million in relief funds, which were used for various large projects including heating, cooling and ventilation projects at the county jail and at the county courthouse as well as an expansion and move of the county health department. Money was also allocated for bonuses to frontline employees during the pandemic, vaccination clinics and IT projects for the county. County officials say that by using the federal funds, the county has been able to accomplish needed projects, without burdening the local taxpayer.
O’Conner said that it was required to allocate all of the funds by tying them to a specific contract before the end of 2024. But she felt it was most safe to have the funds all spent by the end of the year. After paying this week’s bills all of the funds have been spent, except the rural broadband project. The county allocated $4 million to the countywide broadband internet project which is ongoing She said that contract will end in 2026 and Commissioner Tony London estimated that the work will be finished next year.
The United Way of Bartholomew County is honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Service planned for Jan. 20.
According to the agency, volunteers are needed to take part in projects benefiting United Way’s mission and those of its certified non-profit partners. The agencies are posting their needs for volunteers through the United Way Volunteer Action Center website and you can begin signing up on Jan. 2nd.
You can find a listing of needed volunteers for the Day of Service, or throughout the year through the Volunteer Action Center link on uwbarthco.org or by clicking here.
A reminder that due to the Christmas holiday, trash and recycling routes in Columbus are running a day late for the rest of this week. Normal Thursday routes are being picked up today and normal Friday routes will be picked up on Saturday.
The city will follow the same schedule next week around the New Year’s holiday. Local government offices will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday next week. There will be no trash or recycling pickup in Columbus on Wednesday and routes will be running a day late for the rest of the week. Normal Wednesday routes will be picked up on Thursday and normal Friday routes will be picked up on Saturday.
A reminder that the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge will be conducting a winter bird count on New Year’s Day and you are invited to take part.
According the Muscatatuck Wildlife Society, a non profit group supporting the refuge on U.S. 50 near Seymour, the annual winter bird count, will be happening on New Year’s Day. You should expect to be outside for at least half a day.
If you want to take part, you should be at the refuge at 7:30 a.m. on January 1st. Volunteers who take part will be provided a hot lunch from the society.
For more information you can call 812-522-4352 and hit extension 12.
Due to the Christmas holiday, trash and recycling routes in Columbus are running a day late for the rest of this week. Normal Wednesday routes are being picked up today, normal Thursday routes on Friday and normal Friday routes will be picked up on Saturday.
Columbus city crews will begin picking up Christmas trees during their normal trash and recycling collection routes starting today. You should have your trees curbside on the same day as your normal pickups.
All trees must be removed from bags and they must be free of ornaments, hooks, stands, or nails.
Call-ins will not be accepted for Christmas trees and collections will not be made on private streets or on alleys. Christmas tree collections will end on January 26th
You can get more information on the CurbCycle or Columbus Collect apps, or on the city website at https://www.columbus.in.gov/public-works/
The Johnson County Community Foundation is announcing the opening of scholarship applications for 2025.
According to the organization, applications go live online on January 1st, with the application deadline for scholarships on February 24th. Guides to all the available scholarships are available at local high school guidance counselor offices, or you can pick up a guide at the foundation offices on South Main Street in Franklin. You can also find the scholarship guide here: https://tinyurl.com/2v9hmpvt
This year the foundation awarded 123 scholarships for a total of $370,000. Organizers say the foundation is dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams through scholarships funded by generous donors.
