Jennings County Middle School is going virtual, as just over a third of its students are out of the classroom due to COVID-19.

The school district announced on Friday that there have been 9 students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and another 30 students who are out of class pending test results. Adding in close contacts with those students, nearly 34 percent of the middle school students are either absent or already working at home.

The district said it will be moving to virtual middle school classes starting today through September 6th, meaning students could return to the classroom after Labor Day weekend. Athletic events and practices are also suspended. Students are expected to attend virtual class during their school day schedule.

Meals will be provided on Wednesdays from 11 to 1 and from 5:30 to 6:30.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing that it has awarded $82,000 in grants to local non-profit groups from its Community Grant fund.

The awards include:

• Nearly $43,000 to the Columbus Area Chamber Foundation to support startup costs for the new Propeller Innovation Center at the Columbus Airpark Campus.
• More than $10,000 to Su Casa Columbus to support the summer Making Education Thrive Around Summertime learning program
• $10,000 to the NAACP of Bartholomew County to support expansion of the Targeted Investment in Minority Entrepreneurs (T.I.M.E.) program
• $10,000 to Just Friends Adult Day Services to support strategic planning
• And just under $9,500 to Energy Matters Coalition to support a waste diversion pilot program at Ethnic Expo events

Community Fund grants help Heritage Fund to meet emerging needs in Bartholomew County in the areas of Youth Development, Substance Abuse, Neighborhood Revitalization, Innovation and Creativity and being a Welcoming Community.

The next quarterly grant application deadline is September 1.

You can get more information at heritagefundbc.org

Columbus police say that a Michigan woman is facing charges after striking an officer during a traffic stop Friday morning.

According to police reports, officers stopped a suspected drunk driver at about 12:20 a.m. that morning near Third and California streets. The driver began causing a disturbance, including trying to call 911 saying the police were harassing her, yelling obscenities, attempting to slap an officer in the face and then hitting an officer in the chest.

The driver, 28 year old Jenna A. McClellan or Roseville, Michigan, was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out. Police say that is where she tried to give money to an officer to release her from custody.

She was arrested on charges including:

• Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
• Bribery
• Misuse of 911
• Disorderly Conduct
• Resisting Law Enforcement
• Public Intoxication

Local and state police agencies are taking part in an enforcement effort cracking down on drunk and impaired drivers through Labor Day weekend.

More than 200 agencies around Indiana, including the state police, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and North Vernon police are taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over blitz, showing zero tolerance for anyone caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The high-visibility overtime patrols are being funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

According to the institute, of the 898 traffic fatalities in the state last year, 151 were alcohol related. That’s up from 130 in 2019. Last year, during the Labor Day weekend there were 12 fatal collisions with one involving a drunk driver.

In Indiana, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or greater. Drivers under the age of 21, can lose their license for three years if they are found with a blood alcohol content of .02 or greater.

If you think you have encountered a drunk or impaired driver on the road, call 911.

Jennings County deputies arrested a man Friday after he allegedly neglected an elderly woman he was a caretaker for.

Deputies were called to the home in Country Squire Lakes at about 2:20 Friday morning on a report the woman had been injured. An investigation revealed that those injuries were caused by neglect and physical abuse, according to police reports. She was taken to an area hospital by Jennings County medics.

Her caretaker, 69-year-old Milton “Charles” Hauk of North Vernon was arrested on felony charges of neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury and domestic battery.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is warning of hot and humid conditions in our area today and tomorrow.

The agency says the heat index for Columbus could reach 102 today and Columbus and Seymour will seem like 103 by tomorrow afternoon.

The agency warns that you should take extra precautions if you are going to be working outside or spending an extended time outdoors. Heat related illnesses may happen quickly for people and pets with prolonged outdoor exposure.

Seymour High School students and staff have been released from a hard lockdown after an incident earlier today involving a gun.

Seymour police responded to the school after reports of a student with a gun on campus. However, the police department stressed that this was not an active shooter situation. There were no incidents or injuries. All students and staff were safe and sheltered during the indecent, police say.

Seymour High School Principal Greg Prange said on social media:

“Collaborative efforts between SHS administration, SROs, Jackson County Emergency Management, Jackson County Sheriff department, Seymour Police department, Brownstown Police Department, and cooperative parents revealed the potential threat and the handling of the situation.

“At no time were any Seymour High School students, staff, or facilities in danger. Parents, please maintain open lines of communication with your teenagers. Our society has evolved to the point that any and every threat is taken seriously and we deal with them in a swift and definitive manner. We do not take any threat lightly and are very appreciative of students who “see something, say something.”

“We appreciate your help, understanding, patience, and prayers as we work as a team, with parents, to educate our youth.”

Police say the school is notifying parents when and how students will be released.

The Seymour Police FOP will be holding their 6th annual Pre-Scoop Cruise-IN & “Tom Gray Memorial” Car Show from 5 to 8 p.m. today in the 100 block of South Walnut Street.

There will be raffles, silent auctions, and live music with Six Ways To Sunday playing from 6 to 8. Food and drinks will be for sale. FOP Lodge 108 will be making Big Red and A&W Root Beer ice cream floats.

Parking starts at 3 this afternoon. This year’s event will have a special Jeep category with awards for first, second and third place.

The cost to register your vehicle is $15. Proceeds benefit the FOP’s Cops & Kids programs.

Bartholomew County officials are reporting that County Road 750E, between State Road 46 and Road 200S, will be closing at about 8 a.m. Monday for a culvert replacement. The road will be closed until further notice and you should avoid the area if you can.

The Columbus East Food Pantry will be distributing food to the community from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. this evening. There will be enough pre-bagged collections of food to support about 200 families.

The Columbus East Food Pantry is available to the entire community and is not limited to BCSC families. The pickup point is at door 31 in the west parking lot behind the school near the tennis courts.