The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that County Road 500E will be closing intermittently starting today.
The road between 25th Street and County Road 400N will be closing while crews perform asphalt paving today and again on Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. both days.
The work is being done by Milestone Contractors.
You should avoid the area if you can. You should expect delays if you have to drive through that area.
The United Way of Bartholomew County is still looking for about 150 volunteers for next week’s annual Day of Caring.
The annual Day of Caring is a full-day volunteer event that connects local businesses and community members with non-profit agencies and organizations. Volunteer projects will include tasks such as planting flowers, mulching, painting, organizing, and sorting donations.
The Day of Caring is being held on May 16th and registration began last week for the volunteer slots. Overall, more than 500 volunteers are needed to help organizations that make a positive difference in Bartholomew County.
Volunteers of all ages and skill levels can take part. You can sign up with others as a team, or offer to help by yourself.
You can sign up by going to https://uwbarthco.galaxydigital.com/need/
A Columbus man is being counted among those facing federal charges in a nationwide crackdown on people sexually abusing children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office the Southern District of Indiana says four Hoosier men are among 205 that have been charged nationwide in Operation Restore Justice.
Among those in the district counted is 35-year-old Eric Dicken of Columbus, who was originally arrested last August. According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force originally started the investigation after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Dicken was arrested on felony charges for possession of child pornography and child solicitation.
The U.S. Attorney says that Dicken now faces a federal charge of possession of child pornography.
The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.
Men from Evansville, New Albany and Lebanon have also been included in the results of the operation locally, announced yesterday.
Nominations are open for this year’s Jack Cramer Ideals of Athletic Competition Award, according to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.
The awards are presented annually to a local male and a female athlete, coach or sports organizer. All nominees must live or work in Bartholomew County and be a senior in high school or older.
The 2024 award winners were Sarah Frasier and Steve Souder.
The award is in honor of Cramer, a former local athlete who died in 1978 at the age of 33.
You can find information and nomination forms at Nexus Park or at https://columbusparksandrec.com The deadline to enter is June 18th.
Utility work is tying up traffic in Edinburgh today.
According to INDOT, crews from CenterPoint Energy have flagging operations going on today on State Road 252 between North Walnut Street and Holland Street in Edinburgh. You can expect up to a 15 minute delay on the highway while utility installation work is in progress.
The utility work is expected to be finished today but the work schedule is dependent on the weather.
This utility work is part of a planned district pavement improvement project and is part of a $15.4 million contract awarded to E&B Paving.
INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of South Central Indiana will be kicking off its annual NAMI Walks fundraising program with an event today in Columbus.
The kickoff event will be from 11 to 1 p.m. at the Dairy Queen on Third Street in Columbus. This event will bring together mental health advocates and supporters to raise awareness, build community, and energize the movement for mental health for all.
The local walk coming up in September is the largest annual fundraiser for the mental health advocacy group. Proceeds will benefit education, support, and advocacy efforts in Bartholomew and Jackson Counties. All donations will stay in these counties.
The walk will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at Donner Park on Sunday, Sept. 14th. Registration is free but if you donate or raise more than $100 you will receive an event T-shirt.
The walk is open to everyone and you are invited to attend. You can find more information and a link to register here: https://www.namiwalks.org/index.cfm
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Bartholomew County community’s Mental Health Matters coalition is organizing a full slate of activities. You can find a full schedule of this month’s events here: https://www.mhmbc.org/mentalhealthmonth
Drivers on State Road 135 in Brownstown will see traffic restrictions starting next week as crews replace a box culvert under the highway.
According to INDOT, the road will be reduced to one lane starting May 14th on State Road 135 just south of U.S. 50., between Vallonia Road and First street. Temporary traffic signals will be in place.
The work is expected to be finished by late July. The work schedule is dependent on the weather.
Force Construction is the contractor for the project, which is part of a $1.3 million contract.
INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.
Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services will be holding their Moonlight Loop bicycle ride next month to raise money for low-cost spay and neutering services.
According to the group, the ride is a leisurely 19-mile tour through the city the evening of June 7th with a stop halfway through at the Columbus Learning Center.
There will be a Light up the Night contest and riders are encourage to decorate themselves and their bikes with lights, glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark paint and other bright objects.
Registration is $30 per rider until midnight tonight, then $35 per rider through June 6th, with registration at the event of $40. If you do not register by May 16th, you will not be guaranteed a ride T-shirt.
The ride will start at the Bartholomew County Public Library plaza at 9 p.m. the evening of June 7th and end back at the library. On-site registration will begin that night at 7 p.m.
You can find a link to register or get more information here: https://secure.getmeregistered.com/get_information.php?event_id=MTczNDYzNzQxNjIyNDUCSCpZzH65K%2FwM
Bartholomew Consolidated Schools celebrated graduating seniors who plan to go into education themselves with an event yesterday.
According to the school district, the Educator Signing Day recognized 31 high school seniors from Columbus East, Columbus North, and CSA New Tech who plan to pursue a degree in education and become teachers. Each student was recognized with highlights of their educational journey and their college plans. The festivities also featured testimonials for each student from a teacher who influenced their path. Students also formally signed letters of intent.
This was the second year for the Educator Signing Day for the school district. Inspired by athletic signing days for student athletes going on to play in college, the Educator Signing Day is meant to honor students who are committing to the profession of teaching. School officials said the goal is to have the students return to become BCSC teachers and the district plans to support the students with field experience and student teaching opportunities.
Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner and Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon addressed the aspiring teachers.
No one was injured after a fire broke out at an assisted living facility in Seymour on Monday, however the residents had to be evacuated.
According to the Seymour Fire Department, firefighters were called to the facility at about 12:37 in the morning Monday to find the building on fire. The building’s fire alarm and sprinkler system had activated.
Firefighters say that the fire was contained to one room of the facility and appeared to start with an electrical or mechanical failure in a wall mounted heating and air conditioning unit.
Many of the residents had already been evacuated by the facility staff, but one bed-ridden patient was unable to escape. Firefighters used a stretcher from Jackson County medics to evacuate the patient.
Seymour Community Schools were contacted and provided a bus to transport the residents to a hotel and firefighters helped the residents check into rooms there.
Firefighters say no one was injured and all the residents were accounted for. The heating and cooling unit was taken to the fire department for further investigation.
Photo courtesy of Seymour Fire Department