Legal Aid District 11 is hosting a free walk-in legal clinic for Bartholomew County Today at the Legal Aid office in Columbus, located in the United Way Center on 1531 13th St.

INDOT contractor Force Construction will be doing patching work this week at the State Road 46 interchange at I-65 in Columbus.
The left lane of the exit ramp from northbound I-65 to westbound S.R. 46 will be closed for concrete patching most of the week.
The lane is expected to reopen on Thursday, weather permitting.
Patching work will affect signal functionality at the interchange.
Signals will be placed on timers rather than utilizing in-pavement loop sensors.
Delays are possible.
More ramp restrictions will be announced soon by INDOT. The schedule has not been finalized.

The Columbus/Bartholomew County COVID-19 Community Task Force recently released its latest coronavirus numbers, showing continued increases in cases while hospitalizations remain steady.

Based on weekly data last collected on August 2nd, there was an average of 30 new positive cases per day, up from 26 cases the previous week.

Columbus Regional Health’s COVID hospitalizations were at a daily average of 13 patients, the same as the previous week.

For more information about the impact of COVID-19 locally, visit covid19communitytaskforce.org.

The inaugural 4th Street Art Fair is scheduled for Saturday, August 20, from Noon to 5 p.m., in downtown Columbus. The event will take place on 4th Street, between Jackson and Washington Streets, in front of the Columbus Bar.

This first-time festival will feature art vendors, live art demonstrations, an open mic, a raffle, and art activities for the children.

Support for the 4th Street Art Fair is provided by the Columbus Area Arts Council, Good Vibrations Tattoos and Body Art, and the Columbus Bar.

Indiana State Police are offering advice on how to keep your kids safe this school year.

Some of their tips include:

1. Watching for stopped school buses.

2. Being patient while driving behind buses.

3. Remaining aware of kids or school crossing guards who are near or crossing the road.

4. Driving the posted speed, especially in school zones.

5. Walking to/from school on the same path every day, with no additional stops.

6. Walking in a group, if possible.

7. Reporting strange behavior.

8. Arriving early to bus stops and school, if possible.

9. Staying off mobile devices while driving.

10. Being respectful of bus drivers and their rules.

The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) has announced the retirement of Battalion Chief Terry Whitis, a 33-year veteran of the department.

Whitis, who joined the department in 1989, rose through the ranks earning officer promotions to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain before being promoted to Battalion Chief in 2016. He is also a state-certified Paramedic and Hazardous Materials Technician.

The long-time public servant retires from his current post at fire station # 1 as the highest ranking officer of Battalion A. The official retirement date for Battalion Chief Whitis is today (August 5th).

According to the BCSC Facebook Page, CSA New Tech High School’s Veronica Buckler was named Teacher of the Year for the BCSC School District.

Miss Buckler joined BCSC in 2016 as a facilitator at CSA New Tech. She has taught English/ Language Arts (9-12), World History, and US History.

She received her Bachelor’s of Arts in 2012 from Ball State University.

In 2014, she received her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Earlham College. She is currently enrolled at the University of Indianapolis for a Master’s in English.

Miss Buckler will be celebrated again at an upcoming School Board meeting and will  represent BCSC as their nominee for the Indiana State Teacher of The Year.

Cummins Inc. announced via a Press Release Wednesday that it had completed its acquisition of Meritor, Inc., a  global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket, and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets.

Cummins financed the acquisition, which had a total transaction value of approximately $3.7 billion, including assumed debt and net of acquired cash, using a combination of cash on the Cummins balance sheet, commercial paper, and debt. Meritor acquired Arvin industries of Columbus in July 2000.