Ivy Tech Community College Columbus biology faculty are offering free local nature hikes for anyone interested in learning more about the natural environment around them.
The next hike will begin at 7:30 a.m. This Saturday, June 7th, at the Callie Nature Preserve east of North Vernon. Ivy Tech Columbus science faculty member Dr. Tom Sobat will lead the hike, focusing on birds and wildflowers.
The hike is open to the public, and all community members are welcome. Hikers will meet at the preserve’s parking area.
Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. The college will have some binoculars available for use, but participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars if they have them.
For more information, contact Dr. Tom Sobat at [email protected].

The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has announced its 5th Annual Golf Outing, set to take place on Thursday, September 25th, 2025, at Hillview Country Club in Franklin, Indiana.
Golfers from across the county are invited to enjoy a day on the course in support of the Johnson County Community Foundation. Registration begins at 11:00 a.m., with a shotgun start at 12:30p.m.
Participants can reserve a foursome for $500 or sign up individually for $125 per person. All proceeds from the event will benefit JCCF’s ongoing mission to support charitable initiatives and improve the quality of life in Johnson County.
For more information about sponsorships, please contact Stephanie Marten, VP of Development, at [email protected] or (317) 738-2213.

The Columbus Area Visitors Center announced Tuesday the results of a comprehensive brand study conducted by nationally respected tourism research firm Longwood’s International. The study conducted in March analyzed consumer perceptions, advertising effectiveness, and the broader economic image of Columbus and highlights the city’s growing strength as a compelling destination and a vibrant place to work, live, and invest. The research’s key findings found that a significant portion of travelers recalled seeing Columbus tourism advertising. Columbus performed well in image comparisons with similar destinations standing out for its architecture, public art, and welcoming atmosphere. Travels responded positively to the city’s historic charm and cultural appeal. Most significantly the study revealed that exposure to Columbus’s tourism advertising had a measurable positive impact on the city’s broader image. Most travelers who saw the ad campaign were more likely to rate Columbus highly as a place to live, start a career, retire, or start a business. The strongest image gains were observed among those who both saw the advertising and had visited Columbus in the past two years.

The 2025 Moonlight Loop bike ride will be held this Saturday kicking off at 9pm.The Moonlight Loop is a leisurely 19 mile evening bike ride around scenic Columbus passing several architectural gems along the way. The ride begins and ends in front of the Bartholomew County Public Library/ Columbus Area Visitors Center Plaza located at 536 Fifth Street. The Moonlight Loop is a fundraiser for Friends of Animal Care Services. Proceeds benefit Columbus Animal Care Services. Registration costs $35 in advance or $40 day of the ride.
For more information visit columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services.

Columbus Municipal Airport’s Aviation Day is coming up this weekend and expanding this year to a free two day event. Aviation Day will be held this Friday and Saturday June 6th and 7th.
On Friday, Aviation Day activities start at 5pm with static display aircraft and live music from the band Vinyl Escape.There will also be food trucks, a beer garden and plenty of interactive activities for the kids!
At 10pm the lights will go down and drones will rise for Columbus’s very first drone show!
On Saturday, the day starts at 8am with a pancake breakfast
followed by rides in multiple aircraft including the historic
Stearman biplane, a Huey helicopter and a T-6 Texan. The Yesterday and Tomorrow Car show will feature an automotive showcase of cars, highlighting pre-1965 cars as well as modern, alternative fuel-powered vehicles.
For more information you can visit the Columbus Municipal Airport Facebook Page.

Early Friday May 30th, the Seymour Fire Department responded to a structure fire at a single-family dwelling located on the west side of the city.
Fire crews arrived on scene in 4 minutes from the time the call was dispatched. Despite difficulty entering the home due to multiple obstructions inside the residence, firefighters performed an aggressive interior attack and extinguished the fire within 5 minutes.
There was one person in the residence at the time of the fire who was able to self evacuate and call 911. There were no working smoke alarms in the home at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
The Seymour Fire Department would like to remind everyone to make sure your home has working smoke detectors at all times.

(Photos Courtesy of Seymour Fire Department Facebook Page)

INDOT maintenance crews plan to begin chip seal operations on U.S. 31 in Jackson and Scott Counties on or after Tuesday, June 3rd. The Chip seal operations were previously scheduled to begin Thursday, May 29th, and have been rescheduled due to weather.

Crews will be active on U.S. 31 between West Booe Road located just over 1.5 miles north of S.R. 256 in Austin and the U.S. 31 overpass over I-65 located approximately 3.8 miles north of Uniontown in Jackson County. Motorists should expect lane closures and flagging operations while work is in progress. Chip seal work typically lasts up to three to four days per location depending upon weather.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and consider worker safety when traveling through active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

YES Cinema will be hosting Let Your Light Shine- The Lighthouse Concert A Benefit for Angels of Love this Friday June 6th.The event will be held at the YES Cinema’s Sarla Kalsi Confrence Center at 222 Fourth Street.
The evening will consist of the inspirational music of five different performers including Lei’gacy,Tina Wicker, Cousin Freddy, Daniel Bodemann, and Dale Sechrest.Testimonies will be given along with a time of rememberance of loved ones who has passed away.The concert is a benefit for Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center’s Angels of Love Christmas Gift Assistance Program. Food, beer, and wine will be available for purchase from YES’ Cinema’s Cafe. Handmade Jewelry by Mell Freeman will also be for sale. Admission to this event is free, but donations for Angels of Love are encouraged. For more information, please call the LCNFC at 812-379-1630 or email [email protected].

Mayor Mary Ferdon and The City of Columbus has invited the community to “Wear Orange” this Friday to honor and remember all victims and survivors of gun violence for National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The Wear Orange Campaign began in 2015, as a way to remember 15 Year old Hadiya Pendleton, who was killed by a stray bullet in Chicago in January 2013.Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others. Anyone can join this campaign by wearing orange this Friday June 6th. Every day 125 people are killed by gun violence and more than 260 are shot and wounded, with an average of more than 19,000 gun homicides every year. Indiana has 1,167 gun deaths every year, with a rate of 17.1 deaths per 100,000 people, costing the state $13.2 billion each year, of which $293.1 million is paid by taxpayers. Indiana has the 19th highest rate of gun deaths in the US. For more information on Nation Gun Violence Awareness Day and the Wear Orange Campaign you can visit wearorange.org

Federal officials are considering Camp Atterbury as a temporary holding site for immigrant detainees.

Homeland Security confirmed that it’s “exploring all options” as nationwide deportation efforts increase and detention space becomes more scarce. This potential move comes as Indiana has also ramped up its own state-level immigration enforcement measures.

Camp Atterbury is a federal installation spanning parts of Bartholomew, Brown and Johnson counties. It is operated by the Indiana National Guard.

The base as a history of being involved in significant national operations. In 2021 it was repurposed during Operation Allies Welcome to temporarily shelter over 7,000 Afghan refugees evacuated after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. This large-scale humanitarian mission utilized 82 lodging structures across six distinct, fully-serviced neighborhoods—complete with dining and medical capabilities—offering varied accommodations from family dormitories to individual barracks, all climate-controlled and equipped with plumbing.

Using Camp Atterbury for detentions could offer federal cost savings for immigrant detention, a crucial consideration as recent think tank reports estimate between 11 and 12.2 million unauthorized immigrants nationwide, driving the need for such facilities.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana