The Columbus Police Department says there are still openings for its next Women’s Self Defense Course, which kicks off in April.
The course will run for three weeks at the Evolution Training Center 2670 Verhulst Street east of Middle Road, near the Columbus Municipal Airport.
The session will start with a basic self defense and awareness PowerPoint followed by self-defense basics. Organizers say students will progress through striking, kicking, basic escapes and human targeting.
The classes will run April 2nd, 9th and 16th or Sept 3rd, 10th and 17th.
Three people have been arrested after an investigation into narcotics sales in Columbus.
According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team has been investigating drug sales at a home in the 700 block of 22nd Street and deputies and Columbus police officers executed a search warrant on Tuesday.
Inside the home they found 50 grams of methamphetamine, more than $2,700 cash, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and other evidence of dealing narcotics in the home. They also seized three firearms found at the home.
Three people at the home were arrested.
63-year-old Timothy Perry of Columbus is facing charges of dealing in and possessing methamphetamine as well as maintaining a common nuisance and for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
35-year-old Michael Coffey also of Columbus is being accused of possession of methamphetamine and visiting a common nuisance.
28-year-old Anna Arney of Hope is being accused of a misdemeanor for visiting a common nuisance.
The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department
A bill authored by a Columbus state representative supporting pediatric cancer research has passed the House and is now headed to the Indiana State Senate.
According to the House Republican press office, state Rep. Ryan Lauer, a Columbus Republican, says House Bill 1453 would establish the Pediatric Cancer Research and Treatment Grant Program to fund research into treatments and novel therapies for pediatric cancer.
Lauer said the bill “could lay the groundwork for Indiana to make more advancements to combat this terrible disease affecting young Hoosiers and their families.”
Hoosiers and businesses would be able to donate directly to the grant fund, Lauer said. The donations could be used to help pediatric cancer research already being done in Indiana, including through the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Schneck Medical Center’s leadership team is in the running for a prestigious award for rural hospitals.
According to the Seymour hospital, Schneck is a finalist for the 2025 Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award presented by the American Hospital Association.
The award celebrates excellence in rural healthcare leadership, innovation, and community impact. It is meant to recognize hospitals efforts to address the unique challenges of rural healthcare.
Dr. Eric Fish, President/CEO of Schneck said the team is honored to be named a finalist and said it “reflects the dedication and teamwork of our leadership, providers, and team members.”
Edinburgh police are warning of a scammer pretending to use a police phone number.
According to Chief Doyne Little, the scammer is trying to get your personal information. He is identifying himself as a Lt. Garvey and pretending to be affiliated with U.S. Customs and the Border Patrol. Although your caller ID will identify the call as if it is coming from the Edinburgh police line at 812-526-2636, they are spoofing the police department number through software.
Little says that if someone calls seeking personal information you should end the call. If you have already given your personal information, you should call local authorities directly, make a police report and go through the process of locking down your credit so the scammers can’t take advantage of your information.
If you have any questions you can call Little at 812-526-3500.
The Columbus Area Arts Council is announcing its lineup for First Fridays for Families performances this spring and summer.
The first will be next Friday, March 7th and will feature the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Youth Orchestra ensemble at Helen Haddad Hall. After the performance, there will be an instrument “petting zoo” where children can try out stringed instruments and learn more about them from ensemble members and from the orchestra mascot, Phil Harmonic.
Other concerts will be April and May. Dancers Studio Inc will be presenting Swan Lake on April 4th and Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be hosting Dinosaur Tails and Robot Tales, a STEAM family night on May 2nd.
First Fridays for Families is a free series meant as a chance for families to come together and enjoy the magic of live entertainment, says Brooke Hawkins executive director of the Columbus Area Arts Council. They are made possible by grants from the Nugent Foundation and Custer Foundation and with support from the city of Columbus.
Doors open for all performances at 5 and the shows start at 5:30 p.m.
The Seymour Fire Department is receiving a grant to buy new breathing gear.
According to the fire department, city firefighters will receive a $306,900 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the new self-contained breathing apparatus equipment. The new SCBAs are expected to have a lifespan of 15 years and are replacing outdated units. The new equipment includes upgrades such as communication systems, improved ergonomics and a system that will allow an incident commander on scene to monitor the status of all the firefighters using the gear.
The city praised the grant writers firefighters Kaleb McKinney and Brady Riley for their commitment to the department and the community.
The grant requires a local match of 10 percent, or $30,690 and is being made from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters program
The fire department says the gear went into use earlier this month.
Julie Davis. Photo courtesy of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is announcing a new service to assist those in need and to help them remain in their homes as long as possible.
The personal care service is meant to help provide care that can help clients remain independent. Personal care services can include daily living needs such as bathing and grooming, dressing and toileting, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping and laundry and transportation to appointments.
Client care for the new program will begin in April.
Julie Davis is leading up the new personal care program. The program will be in addition to existing hospice and palliative care programs provided by the non profit group.
Our hospice has a staff of physicians, nurses, home health aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and bereavement counselors, providing care to patients and their families.
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, based in Columbus, serves clients and their families in 22 counties. There are also offices in Greensburg and North Vernon.
Tonight’s National Weather Service storm spotter training in Jennings County is the last in person training event in the near future.
According to the agency, as of March 1st, all in-person trainings are being suspended. Previously, there were in person storm spotter trainings scheduled for Jackson and Decatur counties in our area. The agency says that virtual training sessions for volunteer storm spotters will soon be scheduled.
The trainings last about two hours and you will learn how to interpret cloud structures and radar images associated with severe weather.
Tonight’s seminar will start at 6 p.m. at the Jennings County Public Library on North State Road 3.
The Johnson County Community Foundation will be offering training for local non profit groups.
The Elevate Impact series of workshops area is meant to build capacity in local groups. The first workshop will be on grant writing later next month. The workshop will be facilitated by Morgan Carpenter, the author of “Prepare for Impact: Everything You Need to Know to Win Grants and Super-Charge Your Nonprofit.” She is a nonprofit consultant, grant writer and trainer.
The 5 Essential Tools for Grant Writing Success workshop will be March 20th, from 8:30 to
11:00 a.m. in the morning at the Johnson County Museum of History on Main Street in Franklin.
If interested in taking part in the workshop you can contact Stephanie Fox at [email protected] or
call (317) 738-2213.
