Forecasters say that wind chills as low as 10 below zero will continue across central Indiana through this morning. According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis we could still see some flurries through the morning but no additional snow accumulation is expected.

Columbus and Bartholomew County are offering several facilities as warming stations during this arctic weather. During the day, those include Donner Center on 22nd Street, the Doug Otto United Way Center on 13th Street, the Community Engagement Center on Second Street and the Bartholomew County Library branches in Columbus and Hope.

Authorities stress that food, showers and sleeping areas are not available at these shelter locations.

After 5 p.m. you can go to the Brighter Days shelter on Mapleton Street.

Authorities say that roads could be slick out there this morning, especially on bridges and overpasses or untreated surfaces. If you have to be on the road, they urge you to allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

A pet food pantry distribution is set for this afternoon at the Columbus Municipal Airport.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services will be holding their Furry Friends Food Bank giveaway from 4 to 5:30 p.m. this afternoon, or until the food runs out. The pet food will be distributed in the airport parking lot at 4770 Ray Boll Boulevard in front of the Charlie 119 cargo plane.

The purpose of the pantry is to assist community members who are in need to keep their pets in their homes and out of area shelters. If you take part you should stay in your vehicle and the food will be brought to you.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services is the non-profit partner of the city-operated animal shelter.

Jennings County Emergency Management Agency and the county Amateur Radio Association will be hosting a storm spotter training session next week.

The National Weather Service is looking for volunteer weather watchers in several area counties to help gather information.

According to the agency, ideally each county should have a minimum of 10 observers. However, the number of volunteers in Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson counties have dropped to three or less.

The only requirements are access to the internet to file reports, owning an approved rain gauge and having an enthusiasm for reporting weather conditions.

The training will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26th at the Jennings County Public Library.

You can find a link for more information here: https://www.weather.gov/ind/spotter_talks

A Switzerland County man is heading to prison for 40 years after police closed a 14-year-old cold case from a 2011 sexual assault on an elderly victim near Deputy.

Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter says that 37 year old Craig S. Long entered a home near Deputy early in the morning in July of 2011 and attacked and sexually assaulted an 86-year old woman. Police recovered a DNA sample at the scene, and although leads were pursued at the time, the break in the case came last year when new genealogical DNA investigative techniques by the Indiana State Police Laboratory revealed a family member of the suspect. That led to an arrest of Long in January by Indiana State Police on charges including rape, burglary and aggravated battery.

The prosecutor says Long was convicted of rape and sentenced Wednesday to the maximum sentence. Sutter said that due to the quick conclusion of the case the victim, who is now 100 years old, was spared having to testify at a trial.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon updated the community on the city’s direction and projects during her State of the City address last night at Nexus Park.

She said the state of the city is strong and that strength is from the community’s legacy of partnerships and cooperation and a continuing desire to make Columbus a welcoming community.

Among the updates, Ferdon explained the downtown riverfront project is being scaled back, the need for a new animal care shelter remains high, studies on affordable housing and reducing homelessness are underway and work on a new downtown plan is ongoing.

Her speech last night was made in the center field of the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park, with a stage, seats and bleachers set up on the field, while on adjoining fields teams practiced.

State Road 135 near Bean Blossom in Brown County will have traffic restrictions next week while contractors work on a culvert there.

INDOT says that contractors will begin work on the small drainage structure repairs starting around next Tuesday. The culvert is about one and a half miles north of Bean Blossom between 3 Brothers Road and North Old Settlers Road. Most of the work will be off of the roadway, but traffic will be tied up and flaggers will be in place intermittently.

The work is expected to be finished by late March but the work schedule depends on the weather.

New subdivisions in Columbus will be required to provide more open spaces such as parks and playgrounds under new rules given final approval last night by Columbus City Council.

The changes to the city’s subdivision control ordinance require larger subdivisions to provide space for public open areas. Jeff Bergman, the city planning director, said that there would be no change to the rules for subdivisions being planned for 50 or less homes, but developments with 50 to 299 homes will be required to have a mini park in their design, while larger subdivisions would be required to have a full neighborhood park.

The open space would have to be built into the design as a single space, with a regular shape suitable for a variety of recreational uses. After being constructed, the space would either be donated to the city of Columbus or the Columbus Park Foundation which would then maintain the area, or be designated as a common area maintained by a home owners association.

City Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on second and final reading.

Snow is in the forecast through tonight according to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.

The agency says our area is going to be the center of a system moving through southern Indiana this morning that is expected to bring isolated showers with up to half an inch of snow. That will turn to scattered flurries through this afternoon. Snow will pick up again this evening with an 80 percent chance but less than an inch is expected .

Wind chills as low as -3 are expected tonight.

The 2025 Brown Music Competition was held over the weekend and winners were chosen for the Betty F. Brown and Anna Newell Brown scholarships.

According to Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, Columbus Signature Academy New Tech senior Santi De Luna won the Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence for his performance. Columbus North senior Natalie Cantu Garcia won the Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence.

Both students will receive a $3,500 scholarship award.

23 students participated in the competition, with one senior receiving an instrumental award and two senior vocalists receiving an award.

Award winners and their scholarships included:

Senior Instrumental

• Rishabh Rajesh, $1,500

Senior Vocal

• Benjamin Planalp, $1,500
• Kate Franklin, $750

Underclass Instrumental

• Vincia Li, $2,400
• Nino Akhalaya, $1,500
• Carrie Wang, $1,500
• Gabriel Boggs, $800
• Max Hall, $800

Underclass Vocal

• Ava Burbrink, $2,500
• Danniella Riley, $1,250
• Elizabeth Alderfer, $1,000
• Addy Newman, $750
• Rebekah Woodruff, $500
• Liliana Martinez, $500

Robert N. Brown, a former chairman of The Republic’s former parent company, established the Betty F. Brown Awards in memory of his wife. Robert and Betty Brown established the Anna Newell Brown Awards in 1985 to honor  Brown’s late mother.

Both competitions are administered by Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

Bartholomew County emergency officials are expanding the number of local warming centers, as arctic temperatures are in the forecast for the rest of this week.

Due to the expected cold, the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County are offering some facilities as warming center.

The city is opening Donner Center off of 22nd Street as a warming station from 8 to 5 p.m. through Thursday. Also in Columbus, the Doug Otto United Way Center on 13th Street will be open as a warming center from 8 to 5 through Friday. The Community Engagement Center on Second Street will also be available to warm up from 7 to 5 through Friday.

After 5 p.m., Brighter Days will continue to offer shelter services to those in need. Brighter Days is on South Mapleton Street on the east side of Columbus.

Bartholomew County public library branches are open as warming centers also. The main branch on Fifth Street in Columbus is open from 9 to 8 today. The Hope Branch is open from 10 to 5 p.m. today.