The Bartholomew County Council for Youth Development will now be a program of Foundation for Youth. The two non-profit groups announced the change this week.

The Council for Youth Development focuses on initiatives engaging youth voices through leadership development, youth voice advocacy, and collaborative partnerships. It annually organizes a group of youth ambassadors to the community and hosts an annual youth empowerment summit.

The council has operated as an independent organization but its staff have been FFY employees and its non-profit designation already came under the FFY umbrella. The change will officially integrate the council into the FFY, allowing the two to better align their resources, expertise and visions, the agency leaders say.

Chuck Kime, executive director of FFY says the groups have a shared vision of a community where youth and families have access to the support, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed.

Sara Dunlap, Director of the Council for Youth Development says that as a unified organization they will be able to streamline operations, maximize impact, and better support youth, families, and the
evolving needs of the community.

Fabric and craft store chain Joann will now be closing all of its locations.

In central Indiana, the chain has stores in Columbus, Franklin and Bloomington.

A liquidator has agreed to buy all of Joann’s assets and going-out-of-business sales will be held at stores. The company made the announcement Monday. The Ohio-based retailer previously announced plans to close nearly 500 of its approximately 800 stores after filing for bankruptcy for the second time in two years.

Joann was founded in 1943 in Ohio.

The Jackson County Chamber will be holding its annual agri-business breakfast later this month.

Organizers say the breakfast is an opportunity to connect, build & grow the relationship between the agriculture and business communities in Jackson County.

The breakfast will be at 8 a.m. on March 14th at Jackson Live & Event Center.

You can sign up to attend or to sponsor the event through a link on the chamber website at jacksoncochamber.com or by calling 812-522-3681.

Schneck Medical Center in Seymour will be holding an event next week to recognize those fighting colorectal cancer.

According to the hospital, the Sparks of Strength ceremony will be Friday, March 7th in the main lobby. The event will include reflection and remembrance of those who have battled the illness. Participants will hold a blue tea light symbolizing awareness of the disease and will be invited to pass the candle to someone to encourage screening colonoscopies.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. But experts say that 90% of cases are curable if detected early. They say you should talk to your doctor about scheduling a colonoscopy if you are 45 or older or have risk factors such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, or heavy alcohol use.

Sparks of Strength will start at 10 a.m. on March 7th.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health says eight more flocks in the past week have been confirmed to have avian influenza.

Since the start of the year, officials say 20 flocks have been impacted. There were just two flocks infected by bird flu last year, and one in 2023. In 2022, Indiana had 16 flocks that were infected.

The most recent flocks to be reported with the bird flu are two commercial turkey facilities in Washington County and a duck breeder in Elkhart County. In our area, Rose Acre Farms Cort Acre Egg Farm facility in Jackson County tested positive in late January along with a non-commercial farm in Shelby County.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks

The Bartholomew County Commissioners are revising their priorities for capital projects using income tax revenues.

At their meeting yesterday, the commissioners revised their plan that outlines how they plan to spend economic development income tax funds on capital projects for the next year. The annual plan is a requirement of using the funds, but it can be changed as needed throughout the year.

County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said that the newest plan includes a revision that will allow for more money to be spent on road improvement projects. Bids for those projects came back higher than anticipated, so the revision will add another $150,000 to the road funding under the plan, bringing that total up to $650,000.

Among the largest items outlined in the plan are $800,000 for improvements to county buildings, and $800,000 for the project improving the infrastructure around the Interstate 65 and U.S. 31 interchange in Taylorsville, $500,000 toward the bonds for the new highway garage building and $400,000 for pickleball courts.

The plan also includes almost $5.9 million in funds carried over from previous years that has already been allocated for ongoing capital projects.

The plan will now go to the county council for their consideration.

You will have a chance to learn more about the night sky with a stargazing event hosted by Ivy Tech Community College Columbus science department faculty members.

According to the school, the event will start at 6 p.m. Saturday night at the Greensburg Fishing Area. Participants will not be allowed to fish, but only to take part in the event which will include a science department telescope set up for stargazing.

The fishing area is on the west side of Greensburg off of State Road 3.

All community members are welcome and you are invited to attend. If you have any questions, you can reach Dr. Tom Sobat at [email protected].

Image: Greensburg State Fishing Area aerial map courtesy of Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The Bartholomew County Health Department is organizing a community baby shower for moms who are currently expecting or who have recently delivered.

According to the agency, at the event you will be able to learn more about what community resources are available. Groups scheduled to part include the Indiana Department of Health, Su Casa, Human Services Inc., Healthy Communities, Firefly, Anthem, Family School Partners, WIC, the Indiana Diaper Bank, Safe Kids and more.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the health department nursing division. That is at 2625 Foxpointe Drive in Columbus.

Registration is not required and you are invited to attend.

Low-income Bartholomew County residents will have a chance for free legal advice Tuesday.

River Valley Legal Aid will be offering a walk-in legal clinic on Tuesday. If you take part you will have a brief consultation with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or to receive other advice.

The walk-in clinic will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Public Library on Fifth Street.

State Road 135 between County Line Road and Fairview Road in Johnson County will see some restrictions starting next week as crews work to resurface a bridge there.

INDOT says that contractors will be closing lanes while the work is ongoing. The project will be completed in three phases and during the first phase there will be no right or left-hand turns from southbound S.R. 135 onto Fry Road and no left-hand turns from northbound onto Fry Road. Northbound and southbound S.R. 135 will be reduced to one lane between Stonegate Drive and Michele Lane.

Milestone will be the contractor for the work, which is part of a $3.7 million contract,

INDOT urges you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to use extra caution for worker safety in all work zones.