Walgreens and Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center are hosting a flu shot clinic from 2:30 to 4 p.m. this afternoon at YES Cinema.

The event is for those who are uninsured, underinsured or who have insurance including MdWise HIP2.0 and Medicare Part B. Vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis. They are for anyone 11 and older.

Appointments are not necessary, but if you want to check to see if vaccines are still available you are encouraged to call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at (812) 379-1630.

YES Cinema is at the corner of 4th and Jackson Streets in downtown Columbus.

The Meridian Kiwanis Club is offering up rubber ducks for adoption for its 18th annual Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash.

Thousands of the ducks will be dropped into Round Lake at Mill Race Park by helicopter on Saturday, Oct. 9th. Those who have adopted ducks have a chance to win cash and prizes with the top prizes being a new vehicle from Chevrolet of Columbus or $50,000 cash.

The cost to adopt a duck is $5 each, or five ducks for $20, and 30 ducks for $100. You can adopte a duck from any Kiwanis member or at Midwest Computer Solutions at 3028 State Street. You can also adopt a duck at Mill Race Park starting at 10:30 in the morning on Oct. 9th.

Money raised goes to benefit several programs for children and the Kiwanis club. You can get more information at kducks.com.

Several area organizations are gathering items for the Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury in a donation drive.

Organizers are looking for donations of new items including fall and winter clothing, winter coats, menstrual pads, diapers and infant formula. Other needed items include combs, brushes, towels, deodorant, pacifiers, baby wipes, infant blankets, Pedialyte, Qurans and prayer rugs.

Donations will be accepted today and tomorrow at the Columbus and Hope branches of the Bartholomew County Public Library and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Columbus locations including Love Chapel, Fairlawn Presbyterian Church, the Islamic Society, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, First Presbyterian Church and the downtown library branch, as well as Nashville United Methodist Church in Brown County and the Hope branch library.

After October 2nd you can still donate at the libraries and at Love Chapel.

Photo credit: Santo Carollo, a Team Rubicon volunteer, folds clothes Sept 11. at Camp Atterbury. Photo By Spc. Raekwon Jenkins | 

Schneck Medical Center in Seymour has been the victim of a cyberattack disrupting some operations, the hospital announced last night.

According to the hospital, access to all IT applications within hospital facilities is suspended and the hospital is enhancing its IT security protocols. The hospital is also bringing in third-party security partners to restore operations as quickly as possible.

The hospital cautioned that the cyberattack will take time to fully resolve. IT security experts are investigating the situation, law enforcement is being notified and the hospital is taking actions to resolve any disruptions.

Most services are unaffected by the attack, according to hospital officials. Patients should still plan to arrive for their scheduled appointments and services, unless they are contacted by the hospital and told otherwise. If you have any questions, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Schneck Urology and Schneck Pulmonology patients with questions can call 812-522-0530. Schneck Endocrinology and Schneck Neurology patients can call 812-523-5202.)

Two drivers were sent to the hospital after a crash yesterday afternoon on State Street in Columbus.

According to Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reports, deputies were called to the scene of the crash at about 1:31 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of State Street and South County Road 250E.

A pickup truck, traveling southbound on the county road entered the travel lane on East State Street crashing into a second pickup hauling a trailer. That sent the second pickup into the westbound lanes into a semi hauling a 40-thousand-pound steel roll. The roll went through the trailer and crushed the rear of the semi.

Two drivers were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The intersection was closed for several hours.

A Taylorsville resident was sworn in yesterday as the newest Columbus firefighter.

25-year-old Cody Melton was sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety.

Melton is a graduate of Columbus East High School and has previously served with the  German Township Volunteer Fire Department, Clay Township Fire Department, Harrison Township Fire Department and Edinburgh Fire Department.  He is certified as a basic EMT, Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Fire Officer Strategy and Tactics and Fire Instructor I along with others.

Melton will be attending a department orientation program before getting his station and shift assignment.

Chief Andy Lay, Firefighter Cody Melton, Shelby Carter and Mayor Jim Lienhoop. Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.

A Sunday morning traffic stop led to the arrest of a Columbus man on drug charges.

According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy stopped a vehicle in the 10 thousand block of north U.S. 31 at about 6:41 a.m. Sunday morning. The deputy noticed a syringe in the vehicle and a search revealed 7.16 grams of methamphetamine, two syringes, drug paraphernalia, spice and marijuana.

The driver, 46-year-old Chadrick Hoeltke was arrested on preliminary charges for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.

A driver died Monday afternoon after plowing through a field, a fence and then into a home on Osprey Drive in Columbus.

According to police reports, officers were called to the crash in the 4400 block of Osprey drive at about 12:30 Monday afternoon. They found the driver unconscious in the vehicle. He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The name of the driver has not yet been released. The crash remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

The Indiana National Guard says that the most critical need for Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury right now is baby formula and warm winter clothing.

Organizers are looking for donations of new clothing including jackets and coats, long pants, long-sleeve T-shirts, hats and closed-toe shoes. Diapers are also an ongoing need of those temporarily housed at the camp.

Last week an additional donation site opened across the road from Camp Atterbury at the Johnson County Parks and Recreation Amphitheater. Team Rubicon is receiving donations at the amphitheater from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. The amphitheater is at 7105 S. Kern St in Edinburgh.

This is in addition to private donation drives across the state and nine Indiana National Guard armories that are collecting items daily. The Guard is reporting that hundreds of Hoosiers are also volunteering on the base every day.

Columbus Regional Health is increasing its base wages to $15 an hour throughout the organization.

According to the hospital, pay ranges that are currently below $15 an hour will be raised to the new minimum effective October 24th. Any employees that are being paid less than $15 an hour, will be brought up to the new minimum or more. More than 580 employees will be affected and the adjustment will cost about $1.7 million dollars.

Hospital President and CEO Jim Bickel said the raises are meant to support the employees and to remain competitive in making new hires.