Some customers of Eastern Bartholomew Water Corp. are under a boil water advisory.

The water company says there has been a water outage for the Wehmeier Addition after another company damaged a water main while working in the area.  Once the water is restored customers will be under a boil water advisory until 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

Under a boil water advisory, you should bring water to a full boil for three to five minutes before drinking it or using it in food preparation.

For more information, call the water utility at 812-526-9777.

A man found unconscious in the bathroom in a bar in Jennings County is facing a felony and several misdemeanor charges.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies arrived at the Lumberjacks Bar and Grill on Friday after reports of an unconscious man. Deputies knocked on the door and no one answered, but a deputy could see the man on the floor inside. After breaking open the door, the man began speaking to the deputies. In plain sight, deputies saw a large knife and illegal narcotics.

The man, identified as 28-year-old John Meisberger II of North Vernon was taken into custody and a search recovered suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a handgun.

Meisberger is facing a felony charge for possessing the meth along with the gun, as well as misdemeanor charges for possessing the paraphernalia, as well as marijuana and for public intoxication.

Story courtesy of our news-gathering partners at Hoosier Ag Today

At least six commercial poultry farms across Indiana have had a positive test for the bird flu virus since the beginning of the year. The most recent report from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health came on Saturday that more than 2.8 million chickens are being affected by an outbreak of bird flu in Jackson County. Rose Acre Farms says that the Cort Acre Egg Farm tested positive for the disease.

However, ag industry representatives and health officials say that eggs and poultry products that are currently on the grocery store shelves are still safe for you and your family to eat!

Becky Joniskan , President of the Indiana State Poultry Association, explains:

She says a national poultry testing program was started nearly a hundred years ago to keep a different disease called Pullorum (pull-LORE-rum) Typhoid from spreading.

As a poultry production facility receives a positive test for the virus, federal and state health officials work to depopulate and disinfect the premises before restocking of the flock can take place. That has recently caused a strain on egg and poultry supplies leading to an increase in prices.

According to USDA, Indiana ranks first in the U.S. for duck production, third for egg production and fourth for turkey production. Indiana’s poultry industry also employs nearly 13-thousand Hoosiers and contributes more than $18.3 in total economic activity to the state.

Starting today, Schneck Medical Center in Seymour will be welcoming patients to a newly revamped inpatient unit.

The area now features modern technology, equipment and furnishings. And the aesthetics of the space are meant to be more welcoming and comfortable for patients and visitors.

Amy Pettit, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for the hospital, explains the changes to the medical surgical floor.

Petit talked about how the new technological improvements will help patients and staff.

The renovations on the third floor unit are the first major changes to the floorplans since the 1960s. Later renovations, including the most recent in 2007, only involved paint, finishes and flooring upgrades, Pettit said.

Funding for the renovations came in part from state provided READI grant money. Planning for the renovations began in early 2023 and the work started late that year.

An open house was held yesterday.

IU Columbus will be holding a new event to support the campus and its students.

According to the school, the inaugural IU Columbus Glow Golf event is the first  of its kind in the area, and is meant to be an annual signature event for the school. Each year funds raised will support one campus program. This year’s event, to be held in May, will support the Crimson Pride athletic program.

The event will include 9 holes of glow-in-the dark golf, a neon laser show, food, a cash bar, prizes and live music from Lisa Frank and the Trapper Keepers band.

The event will be held May 30th and registration will begin in March.

The school is looking for sponsors for the event. If you would like to learn more, you can email Brittany Gray at [email protected].

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools say that a child’s immigration status does not affect their right to receive a public education. And the schools do not collect or maintain any information on students immigration status.

The school district released a statement yesterday, addressing issues facing the district related to a federal crack down on illegal immigration. The school said that it cooperates with law enforcement efforts, but it also encourages any interrogations or interviews between students and officers to be done off school property. The school district also said that if an immigration official requests to meet with a student at school, the schools will make every attempt to contact a parent or guardian.

The school said it is committed to core beliefs celebrating diversity, building strong community partnerships, and cultivating civic-minded citizens. And the schools expects students to treat others with respect and dignity as members of the school community.

The complete statement from BCSC:

In Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC), we remain steadfast in our mission to provide a welcoming culture built on respect and trust for all. In recent weeks,
immigration policy at the federal level has inspired reactions and emotions within our community and across the nation. It is important to understand that, by law, a child’s
immigration status (or that of their parents) does not affect their right to receive a public education. We remain committed to the core beliefs of celebrating diversity, building
strong community partnerships, and cultivating civic-minded citizens.

To our parents and families, BCSC will continue to educate all of our students in a welcoming, safe environment. We do not collect or maintain any information about the
immigration status of students or families. Policy 5540 acknowledges BCSC’s responsibility to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, but discourages legal
interviews or interrogations on school property whenever possible. BCSC officials will request that the law enforcement agency contact the parent/guardian to interview the
student at a time and location away from school. We will make every attempt to contact a parent or guardian if an immigration official requests to meet with your student at
school.

To our students, we will remain focused on your education and meeting your physical, social, and psychological needs while at school. We will be diligent in communicating and reinforcing expectations for students to treat others with respect and dignity as members of our school community. We encourage students and families to report any concerns directly to a teacher or school administrator so they can be addressed promptly.

To our community, we will continue to partner with other organizations and agencies to offer resources and support to families as needed.

Now more than ever, it is vital that we lead by example—treating one another with civility, listening with empathy, and modeling the respect and understanding we wish to
instill in our students.

Story courtesy of our partners at Hoosier Ag Today

A corporate representative with Rose Acre Farms, which is headquartered in Seymour, Indiana, has released the following statement to Hoosier Ag Today confirming that their egg production facility near Cortland, approximately six miles from Seymour, has been impacted:

“Over the weekend, our Cort Acre Egg Farm in Seymour, IN tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also commonly known as AI or bird flu. We are working with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the state veterinarian on best practices to combat the risk of spreading AI to other birds. We are continuing to monitor all of our facilities.

“It is important to note that while the risk to other birds (including migratory waterfowl, backyard poultry, and commercial poultry) from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infections is high, the risk to people remains low. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health is monitoring the current situation. The USDA is monitoring animal infections and the CDC is monitoring human infections.”

ORIGINAL STORY FROM SATURDAY, JANUARY 25:

The Bird Flu virus has been identified at a commercial egg production facility in Jackson County in southern Indiana impacting 2.8 million birds, according to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

State health officials on Saturday evening would not identify the name of the company, nor the specific location of the facility that has been impacted to Hoosier Ag Today.

This is the largest flock size of an Indiana commercial poultry farm to be impacted by the virus, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since the outbreak was first found in Indiana on a commercial turkey farm in Dubois County in February 2022. A commercial egg production facility in Jay County with 354,000 hens was depopulated after a positive test for HPAI was identified earlier this month.

As of January 3, 2025, there have now been six cases of HPAI identified at commercial poultry facilities throughout Indiana:

• Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 20,560 birds depopulated.
• Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 354,000 birds depopulated.
• Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 18,840 birds depopulated.
• Allen County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 26,000 birds impacted.
• Adams County – Commercial Turkey operation. 19,860 birds impacted.
• Jackson County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 2,800,000 birds impacted.

State health officials have set up a control area within a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) radius around the farm, which contains portions of Jackson and Bartholomew counties in Indiana. In addition, the state has set up a surveillance zone with a 20-kilometer (12.4 mile) radius around the farm which also contains portions of Jackson, Bartholomew, Brown, and Jennings counties.

Testing will be done at nearby flocks to determine whether HPAI has spread. USDA Wildlife Services and Indiana Department of Natural Resources are assisting with the surveillance of wild birds in and near the control areas.

Lactating dairy cattle must have a negative test before interstate movement under a federal order. USDA has expanded surveillance through testing milk at the farm or processor level to establish the health status of herds, as well as states.

Indiana ranks fourth in the nation in turkey production according to the USDA. The state also ranks first in the U.S. for duck production, and third for egg production. Indiana’s poultry industry directly employs more than 12,700 Hoosiers and contributes more than $18.3 billion in total economic activity to the state.

A Seymour man died after a multi-vehicle crash Friday on U.S. 50.

According to Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer, deputies were called to the scene of the crash on U.S. 50 at County Road 375N involving a car, SUV and pickup. The westbound SUV driven by Gary Jacobi was turning onto the County Road when his vehicle was rear-ended by the pickup driven by Michael Stevens of Orleans. The impact pushed Jacobi’s vehicle into the eastbound lanes where it was struck by a car driven by Maria Felipe-Nicolas of Seymour.

Jacobi suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead by the Jackson County coroner’s office. All of the occupants in Felipe-Nicolas’ car suffered serious injuries and were taken to the hospital by medics.

The sheriff says that the accident remains under investigation and toxicology reports are still pending.

Deputies were also assisted at the scene by the State Police Crash Reconstruction team, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Brownstown and Seymour Fire Departments and Tobin’s Towing.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon will hold her second State of the City address next month at Nexus Park.

The State of the City is an effort to update the community on the past year’s achievements and to outline upcoming priorities. At last year’s event, her first as mayor, Ferdon announced initiatives to improve public safety, reduce homelessness, address modern transit needs and improve Columbus Animal Care Services.

The presentation will be held February 19th in the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park. Doors will open at 5:30 with the presentation starting at 6 p.m. You are invited to attend.

An upcoming Black History Month event seeks to bring local religious leaders together to talk about love, unity and respect for each other.

The deadline to sign up for the MOU of Love talk organized by the Community Education Coalition is coming up on Thursday.

Felicia Garr with the Community Education Coalition explains that she has reached out to all the churches in Bartholomew County, asking groups to bring their senior religious leader and leaders of youth groups to attend:

The MOU of Love gathering is hosted by the coalition, the Black History Columbus Committee, the Bartholomew County African American Pastor’s Alliance, the Bartholomew County NAACP and the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County.

The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. the evening of February 13 at the Columbus Learning Center. Seating is limited and you are asked to RSVP with Garr by calling 812-371-5255 or by email at [email protected].

You can find a list of all the Black History Month events in Columbus at blackhistorycolumbus.com.