Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be holding signing ceremonies, to celebrate students who are dedicating themseves to a career as educators.

Organizer say this event will honor seniors who intend to pursue a career in education, acknowledging their commitment to positively influence the lives of children.

The first Future Educator’s Day will be held on May 1st, with events at both Columbus North and Columbus East high schools. Columbus North will be recognizing nine students and fourteen from Columbus East who are future educator prospects

The event at North will be at 8:30 in the morning and at East at 10:15 a.m.

A wanted man was arrested by Columbus police early yesterday morning after running through yards in east Columbus.

According to the Columbus Police Department, officers were called to South Mapleton Street at about 12:40 a.m. Thursday morning after reports of a suspicious person in the area. Police spotted a man running away and caught up to him in the 2700 block of Clifty Drive. They discovered that the man, identified as 34-year-old James M. Kapetanios of Columbus was wanted on a felony warrant for burglary.

He was taken into custody on the outstanding warrant.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is celebrating Indiana’s oldest state park and its recovery after a tornado just over a year ago that killed two people.

The two people were camping at McCormick’s Creek State Park near Spencer in March of 2023, when an EF3 tornado went through parts of Owen and Monroe counties. Nine tornadoes tore through Indiana that day, killing five Hoosiers.

The state agency wants to remind you of the parks features including the McCormick’s Creek waterfall, more than three and a half miles of trails, more than 500 species of plants and a variety of birds. The park is on the Indiana Birding Trail. You can also see what the area was like before becoming a park by visiting the Peden Farmstead which includes a restored springhouse used for refrigeration, and the remains of the barn and cabin.

McCormick’s Creek was founded in 1916 and is Indiana’s first state park.

A Jennings County man has been convicted of child solicitation.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, 64-year-old Douglas Cherry of North Vernon was arrested in December 2022. He was accused of having online sexual conversations with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. However, when he arrived at a home expecting a sexual encounter with the girl, he was arrested by deputies.

On Tuesday, a jury found Cherry guilty of a child solicitation, according to the sheriff’s department.. A sentencing date is not yet available.

The sheriff’s department warns parents to be vigilant of their children’s social media use, as online predators are always looking for victims. If you suspect your child has been contracted by an online predator, you should contact your local authorities.

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.  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 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.

Cat food will be distributed in 4.5 pound bags and dog food in 14.5 pound bags.

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

There is still time to take a community public health survey that will help determine the health needs of the area served by Columbus Regional Health.

A national organization is conducting the survey for Columbus Regional Health by phone and on the Internet through May. Information that is gathered will be used to help the health network identify and address the most critical community health issues. The survey is anonymous and you will not be asked to provide any personally identifying information.

The survey is questioning residents in Bartholomew County and some in Jackson and Jennings counties.

The survey is being conducted by PRC and you may receive a phone call with a caller ID representing Columbus Regional Health. The survey has been conducted every three years since 1996. It is meant to discover the the health, behaviors and needs of the community served by Columbus Regional Health. CRH’s Healthy Communities initiative will use the information to improve community health and wellness, as well as address equitable access to health services and discover health disparities.

Lisa Crane, director of Healthy Communities at CRH explains:

You may also take the survey online. You can find a link and more information here:
www.prcsurvey.com/begin/CRH2024CHNA

Columbus Regional Health is continuing its opportunity fair today, where you can check out careers at the hospital and explore your interests.

According to the hospital, the Discover CRH: Connect Your Skills to Healthcare fair will be going on from 8:30 a.m. to noon today. That will be in the Innovation Center, on the lower level of the hospital on 17th Street in Columbus.

In addition to medical careers, Discover CRH will also be showcasing the professional, technical, and creative fields and opportunities available at CRH. There are part-time, full-time and volunteer positions available.

You are encouraged to register for a time slot here: http://www.crh.org/events/discover-crh.

Applications are now being accepted for the Dr. Bud Scholarship through Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.

The scholarship benefits students working toward becoming a registered nurse. Candidates must have completed their first year of a registered nursing program. It is primarily for residents of Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties.

The scholarship is awarded in honor of Dr. H.P. Bud Graessle who was a physician and surgeon in Seymour for 53 years.

Applications for the scholarship are available at SchneckMed.org/careers. The deadline to apply is May 5th.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have chosen a designer for a new westside elementary school — Howeler+Yoon, a Boston-based architectural firm.

According to the school district, the decision was made this week by the school board after a selection process by a 16-member committee that reviewed proposals from four firms nominated by the Cummins Architecture Program.. The committee was made up of school administrators, teachers, a student, and community members. The school says Howeler+Yoon was chosen because of its “innovative and child-centric approach to design.”

The decision includes the appointment of Taylor Bros Construction and Pepper Construction as construction managers for the project.

The proposed school would be located beside Westside Community Church on Tipton Lakes Boulevard. It is expected to cost about $60 million dollars and will serve around 650 students. It is being planned to accommodate the city’s expansion on the west and southsides. t will be the district’s 12th elementary school and its first new school since 1982.

Several area state troopers were recognized at the Indiana State Police annual awards ceremony.

Trooper Payton Utterback was selected as the Versailles District’s Trooper of the District for this year. He was cited for his work in criminal investigations and traffic enforcement. Utterback graduated from Franklin Community High School and Indiana State University. He also has served in the Air National Guard. He and his wife live in Bartholomew County. Utterback is a two year veteran of the Indiana State Police. He is a two year veteran of the police force.

Trooper Clayton Saltzman received he “DUI Award” for the district Saltzman is a two and a half year veteran of the Indiana State Police.

Master Motor Carrier Inspector Mary Eglen was chosen as the recipient of the Ralph R. “Ray” Reed Motor Carrier Inspector of the Year. She is primarily assigned to the I-65 Northbound Scales near Seymour. The award recognizes motor carriers for their dedication to keeping roadways safe by enforcing the commercial motor vehicle safety regulations. She is a 34 year veteran of the Indiana State Police.