The Edinburgh Police Department’s police dog Xta has received a bulletproof and stab protecting vest.

The not-for-profit Vested Interest in K9s group from Massachusetts provides the vests to dogs working in police and other agencies.

According to the department, XTA’s vest is embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”.

The group has provided more than 5,500 vests to K9s in all 50 states. The organization accepts donations and $985 will sponsor one vest.

You can get more information at www.vik9s.org

Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Police Department

The Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society are planning a river cleanup this weekend.

The 15th annual “Kevin’s Kleanup” is set for Saturday, with registration starting at 8 a.m. in the morning at the Vernon Commons off of Jackson Street. The cleanup is conducted in memory of Kevin Jayne, the former president of the society.

Volunteers will be walking along the banks of the Muscatatuck collecting trash, or you can paddle the river, but you must provide your own watercraft.

You are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and for outdoor work.

The cleanup will finish at noon and a volunteer lunch will be provided.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Parks.

A Columbus canine police officer is heading into retirement.

The Columbus Police Department announced earlier this week that police dog Argo has retired after 12 years of service to the city. According to the department, Argo was born in Poland in 2012 and brought to the U.S. where he was trained for police patrols and narcotics detection.

Argo had more than 3,000 training hours during his career. He was responsible for 482 arests and 443 narcotics seizures over his career. He searched 105 buildings and was used for 150 trackings. He also helped find a missing child.

Argo is retiring at the age of 13 and will continue to live with his partner and handler, Officer Branch Schrader.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon declared K-9 Argo Day in Columbus and read a proclamation earlier this week.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

The body of a woman found last month in East Fork White River by kayakers has been identified.

She was 59-year-old Betsy J. Gehrt of Columbus according to Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting.

Her body was discovered at about 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon on March 27th. Nolting says a forensic autopsy was performed on March 29th at Columbus Regional Hospital. However her identity remained known.

Nolting says the the coroner’s office worked with Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, and the Indiana State Police laboratory to identify the woman using her fingerprints and DNA.

Nolting praised the agencies involved and extended condolences to the victim’s family.

The coroner’s office is still awaiting toxicology test results from the autopsy.

A fire damaged a home in Hope last night.

According to the Hope Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters were called to the fire at about 8:40 Wednesday night in the 1000 block of Washington Street. When they arrived they found light smoke coming from the front door. Firefighters found a fire in the utility room and extinguished it.

The homeowner was home at the time and was able to escape without injuries.

Other departments assisting at the scene included: Clifford and Hartsville volunteer fire departments, Hope police and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s departments and Columbus Regional Health medics.

Photo courtesy of Hope Volunteer Fire Department.

Two area hospitals will be the scenes of simulated disasters next week as troops and military helicopters take part in the Guardian Response exercise.

According to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, you can expect to see the soldiers working with simulated patients and mannequins along with Black Hawk helicopters and military ambulances at Columbus Regional Health and Ascension St. Vincent Jennings. The exercises will be going on at the hospitals from 9 to 11 a.m. in the morning on on April 29th, May 1st and 2nd.

Military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Jennifer Menard said that the hospital’s portion of the exercise will be evaluating the military unit’s ability to treat, triage, and transport patients from a simulated disaster area to a civilian medical center. Civilians will also be learning how to to move patients from a military aircraft and ambulances into the hospitals.

Guardian Response is used to validate that the U.S. Army is trained and ready to respond to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear incident.

The military warns that you can expect to hear loud noises during the training, as well as the scenes of military gear at the local hospitals.

The exercise is being coordinated by U.S. Army Reserve 78th Training Division.

Photo: HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter courtesy of U.S. Army

Sign ups are now open for this summer’s Dr. Bud Charity Golf Tournament which raises money for nursing scholarships for students in Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties.

The tournament will be held June 26th at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour and there will be morning tee times starting at 8 a.m. and afternoon times starting at 1:30 p.m.

You may sign up as an individual or a team of 4 for the golf scramble. Corporate sponsorships are also available.

This is the 43rd Annual Dr. Bud Charity Golf Open. Dr. H. P. “Bud” Graessle was a practicing physician and surgeon for 53 years until his retirement in 1971. The Dr. “Bud” nursing Scholarship was established in his honor.

You can sign up here: https://www.schneckmed.org/events/2024-dr-bud-charity-golf-tournament/2024-06-26

If you are heading south on Interstate 65 in southern Indiana, you could see some lane closures in coming days.

According to INDOT, there will night lane closures in Jackson, Scott and Clark counties starting on Monday night to wash bridges on the Interstate. Crews will be closing the lanes between Seymour and Henryville for up to three nights next week for the work, weather permitting. The interstate will be reduced to one lane northbound and southbound while the work is going on.

The northbound work will begin in Clark County and end in Jackson County, while the southbound work will begin in Jackson and end in Clark. It will be going on from 7 p.m. in the evening to 6 a.m. in the morning, with the work schedule depending on the weather.

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

The United Way of Bartholomew County is looking for volunteers to help community organizations with the annual Day of Caring next month.

The Day of Caring is being held on May 17th and registration will start at noon today for the volunteer slots.

The annual Day of Caring is a full-day volunteer event that connects local businesses and community members with non-profit agencies and organizations. Nearly 500 volunteers are needed to help 21 organizations that make a positive difference in Bartholomew County.

Volunteer projects will include tasks such as planting flowers, mulching, painting, organizing, and sorting donations. According to organizers, volunteers of all ages and skill levels can take part.

The deadline to register for a volunteer slot is May 15th. You can sign up by going to : https://uwbarthco.galaxydigital.com/need/

Ivy Tech Community College Columbus campus will be hosting a showcase of student businesses as well as a pitch competition next week.

The activities will be going on April 30th at the airpark campus on Central Avenue in Columbus. The showcase will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and the pitch competition will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

During the pitch competition, students will present their business ideas with the chance to win cash prizes. They will have a chance at $2,500 for 1st place; $1,250 for 2nd place; and $750 for 3rd place. Students in the college’s Garatoni School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation will be presenting. Students in the college’s other programs as well as alumni are welcome to enter the competition. You can  enter the competition here: link.ivytech.edu/competition

Community members are encouraged to attend the showcase and pitch competition to hear the student’s proposals and give your feedback.

The event is free and you are invited to attend.