Century 21 Breeden Realtors is gathering donations of food, children’s shoes and toys to help those in need this holiday season with its Pack the Bug drive this week.

You can donate non-perishable food items that will go to Love Chapel, news children’s shoes to benefit Meridian Kiwanis and new toys that will go to Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center. You can drop off the items from 9 to 5 today through Friday at the Breeden offices at 700 Washington Street.

From noon to 2 p.m. on Friday there will be a Pack the Bug outdoor event under a tent with Santa and hot chocolate.

Breeden’s mascot is a vintage Volkswagen Beetle painted like a ladybug. This is the third year for the Pack the Bug drives.

Lynn Dole, office manager for the company explains:

Photo courtesy of Century 21 Breeden Realtors

Johnson County REMC will be receiving a $35 million loan from the US Department of Agriculture to help build up the power network in the community.

USDA Rural Development Indiana Acting Director Curtis Johnson is announcing the loan through the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program. The loan wjll help connect more than 3,500 customers and improve 280 miles of powerlines. That will include $1.2 million in smart grid technologies.

Johnson County REMC is based out of Franklin and serves more than 30,500 customers in Brown, Johnson, Morgan and Shelby counties.

The director said that the loans are an investment in sustainable technologies and resources making communities more resilient and attractive for families and businesses. They are meant to ensure customers in rural Indiana has access to reliable electricity.

Overall the USDA announced $76 and a half million in investment in five projects in Indiana.

Forecasters say we can expect to see snow squalls this afternoon and evening, leading to the low visibility and icy spots on the road.

According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, the intense bursts of snow and winds could create whiteout conditions and deteriorating road conditions. Parts of the area could have as little as a quarter of a mile in visibility. Snow is likely to be heavy at times and wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph are possible. The worst of the squalls are expected between 2 and 8 this afternoon and evening.

It is expected to get much colder tonight into Thursday morning. Wind chills could make it feel as low as -5 by tomorrow across central Indiana.

Due to the expected cold, the city of Columbus is opening a warming station at Donner Center off of 22nd Street.

You will be able to stop by the shelter from 8 to 5 today and Thursday to get warm. Animals are welcome at Donner Center, but they must be kept in crates and will be kept in a designated part of the facility. Routes 1 and 2 of the city bus service will stop at Donner Center to drop off people at the warming station and that will continue until 8 p.m.

After 5 today, Brighter Days will continue to offer shelter services to those in need.

Columbus city offices will be closing on Friday for the city employees Christmas luncheon.

The offices will be closing at 11 in the morning and reopening at about 1 in the afternoon.

According to the city, a quorum of the members of the City Council are expected to be attending the luncheon but the council will not be in session and they will not be conducting any business at the luncheon.

Columbus City Utilities will be closed. If you have a problem with your water or sewer service during this time and need immediate assistance, you can call 812-372-8861.

A $5,000  grant from Duke Energy will help Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus provide day camps for elementary and high school students focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics related subjects.

The campus is announcing that the day camps would be held in the campus’s service area and would focus on offering hands-on experiences in biology, aviation, advanced manufacturing, and engineering

Students will use virtual reality headsets, which will allow them to explore different STEM careers in an immersive environment. They will also be taking parts in activities such as building birdhouses, toolboxes, Bluetooth speakers or taking part in STEM stations. The Columbus Propeller makerspace at the airport will partner with Ivy Tech to facilitate some of the camps.

Therese Copeland, Ivy Tech Columbus Vice Chancellor of Development said the grant will enable enriching experiences that inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.”

The day camps will be held starting this spring. The exact dates are still being developed.

An Austin man died in an morning crash Monday in Washington County.

According to Indiana State Police, 62-year-old James Fox died when this pickup crossed the centerline and collided with another pickup on State Road 56 at about 7:31 a.m. Monday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the SUV had to be rescued from the wreckage and was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital. The highway was closed for about four hours.

Bartholomew County deputies shared holiday cheer with children in the community over the weekend.

According to the sheriff’s department, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office Diversity Team hosted a Decorating with Deputies event on Saturday. Deputies helped children with cookie-decorating, holiday crafts and games. Each child who participated received a gift to take home.

Sheriff Chris Lane said events like Decorating with Deputies allows officers to interact with children and families in a fun and relaxed environment. He said it helps people see that deputies are just ordinary people, despite their job.

The Diversity Team is made up of sworn deputies, civilian staff and community members working to build positive relationships between law enforcement and community members.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Duke Energy has allotted $300,000 this winter to help Hoosier families struggling with their electric bills.

According to the power company, Duke’s Share the Light Fund offers assistance to Indiana customers facing financial hardship this winter season. Qualifying Duke Energy customers can receive up to a $300 account credit annually.
Over the last year, the program has supported more than 2,000 Indiana households.

Duke Energy works with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute funds to qualifying customers to pay energy bills, deposits and reconnection/connection charges. Eligibility is based on income, family size and the availability of resources.

To apply for assistance or for more information on your eligibility, you can contact the local community action organization. In Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby Counties that is Human Services, Inc., in Brown County it is South Central Community Action Program, and in Jennings County you can apply through Ohio Valley Opportunities in Madison.

The Columbus Park Foundation will be offering a new twist on its polar plunge fundraiser next month.

The Plunge into the Parks event will offer you a chance to make donations to encourages prominent local residents into taking a dip into icy waters in downtown Columbus, the same as last year. But with the new twist, organizers will also be accepting donations to keep the local residents from the cold water.

Among the local celebrities taking part will be Jen Rumsey, Jim Roberts, Sam LaVelle, Ike DeClue, Hutch Schumaker, and Brandon Andress.

Polar Plunge activities will be taking place between Jackson and Washington Streets from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 11th. There will be a Polar Plunge 5k starting at 2:30 p.m. followed music and warming stations. Food and drinks will be available for purchase to benefit the foundation.

The first dip into the frigid pool will be at 3 p.m. and parks supporters can take the plunge themselves with a $20 donation.

Attending the event is free. You can find more information or sign up through the Columbus Park Foundation website here: https://cbusinparks.com/cpf-events

Bartholomew County and Columbus have agreed to continue a contract with Columbus Regional Health to provide ambulance services in the community at a cost of just over $868 thousand dollars a year.

The county commissioners signed off on the three-way agreement yesterday.

Local resident Mike Lovelace protested the decision. He argued that instead of simply agreeing to the terms of CRH, the county should instead open up the contract for other bidders possibly saving taxpayers money.

Commissioners said that they appreciated Lovelace’s view. But they said it is an essential service and there needs to be uninterrupted services to the community. Commissioners President Larry Kleinhenz pointed out that in previous years, the county had sought bids for the service and chose not to go with the low bidder. Within a year that low bidder had gone out of business.

Commissioner Tony London said that Putnam County had the local hospital win the bid for ambulance services, then the hospital went bankrupt. That led to the county itself having to buy the ambulance service out of bankruptcy and provide services paid for with a public safety tax on the community. London said that approving the contract now will allow time to consider other solutions.

Under the new contract, CRH will add another ambulance to the service, with five instead of four. The hospital will also be looking into where to best house the ambulances, providing the best service to the community.

The hospital, county and city are each paying a third of the contract and the County Council has already budgeted the funds for next year. The four-year contract goes into effect January 1st.