Bartholomew County Commissioners say regular bridge inspections help prevent accidents that could lead to a school bus crashing through a failing bridge into the river below.

Commissioners approved an agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation to fund bridge inspections throughout the community at their meeting yesterday. County Highway Engineer Danny Hollander said the agreement would be for more than $237,000 and would pay for 80 percent of the cost of bridge inspections over the next two years.

County Commissioner Tony London pointed out that under the agreement, the county would end up paying about $30,000 a year to have all of the county bridges inspected. Commissioners President Larry Kleinhenz said that the regular inspections discover problems that can be fixed before a bridge fails under the weight of a school bus or truck.

Kleinhenz said the inspections discovered dangerous conditions on a County Road 400W over East Fork White River earlier this year which led to an emergency closure of the bridge.

Indiana State Police will be holding Drug Takeback events around the state on Saturday in partnership with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Unwanted medications may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. This program is for liquid and pill medications. Vaping pens without batteries and vaping cartridges will also be taken. Needles will not be accepted for disposal.

You are encouraged to take the opportunity to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment.

This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department is announcing that the Jolie Crider Skate Park at Clifty Park will be closed today and Wednesday for maintenance.

You can get more information at columbusparksandrec.com 

Nashville Utilities has issued a boil water advisory for some customers due to a water main leak on Orchard Hill Road.

The advisory affects customers in the 1700 through 1900 block of Orchard Hill Road.

Affected customers should boil any water for five minutes before drinking it or using it in food preparation. The advisory is in effect until 4 Wednesday afternoon.

If you have any questions, you can call Nashville Utilities at 812-988-5526.

The Seymour Museum Center will be using a Heritage Support Grant from the Indiana Historical Society to repair the marble floor in the foyer and to install a Knox Box at the center.

A Knox Box is installed on the exterior of a building and holds keys, allowing emergency personnel to access the building if needed.

The center announced the plans for the nearly $5,000 grant recently. Heritage Support Grants are provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Seymour Museum Center is at the southeast corner of Third and Chestnut Streets. The museum has been going through an extensive renovation and recently launched a capital campaign to raise funds for additional renovation work. You can mail contributions to the campaign in care of the museum center at P.O. Box 1138, Seymour, Indiana 47274.

Those in need of holiday help in Bartholomew County can begin signing up for assistance starting today through the United Way’s Holiday Helpline.

The helpline registers families and children for food and gift assistance with programs including the Community Center of Hope Angel Tree, Fireman’s Cheer Fund, Shop With A Cop, St. Bartholomew Giving Tree, Toys for Tots and Love Chapel Holiday Food Pantry.

Children may be registered for one gift program and households may receive one food box.

The deadline to apply is December 3rd. You can call from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays at 812-375-2216. If you need help in Spanish, you can call Su Casa at 812-375-9370.

Local health officials are offering suggestions for staying safe during trick-or-treating and other Halloween celebrations.

The Jackson County Health Department suggests that you incorporate a cloth or surgical mask into your costume. You shouldn’t use a costume mask as a substitute.

You should avoid crowded indoor parties and instead, enjoy outdoor activities. You should trick-or-treat in small groups. If you are feeling sick, you should stay home.

Before eating any candy, be sure to wash your hands. And adults should check all candy to make sure it is safe.

And you should get vaccinated. Adults and children 12 and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine, and everyone should get a flu shot, according to the agency.

A hunter was injured last week after falling 25-feet from a tree stand in Decatur County.

According to reports from Indiana conservation officers, 44-year-old Jeffrey Berkemeir of Greensburg was attempting to remove a hang-on tree stand at about 11:32 a.m. Thursday morning in the 8700 block of East County Road 150N. He was using a full-body safety harness but the lineman’s rope became untied for unknown reasons, leading to the fall.

Berkemeir suffered severe injuries to both his legs and was flown by helicopter to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment.

Jennings County authorities are looking for information after a dead dog was found in a ditch last week.

The dog, which appears to have been a black pit bull, was severely burned and it was dragged to the area with a leash or rope after being set on fire. The body was found in a ditch off of Country Manor Street in Country Squire Lakes.

The sheriff’s department asks that if you have any information on the case that you call investigator Ian McPherson at 812-346-4911. You can leave information anonymously.

Ivy Tech Community College is offering help today in Columbus if you need assistance filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The FAFSA is the starting point for financial aid including federal and state assistance as well as many scholarships.

You will need to bring your 2019 and 2020 tax returns, which are required to complete the FAFSA.

You can drop in any time between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Central Avenue campus.

FAFSA assistance sessions are also coming up in Seymour, Franklin and Shelbyville through December:

• Columbus: Central Avenue campus Nov. 15th and Dec. 20th
• Seymour: 323 Dupont Drive on Oct. 27th.
• Shelbyville: 2177 Intelliplex Drive on Nov. nd2 and Dec. 7th.
• Franklin: 2205 McClain Drive on Nov. 11th and Dec. 16th.)