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COLUMBUS, Ind. - Do you have a storm shelter at your home or business? Bartholomew County Emergency Management (BCEM) is enhancing its support for emergency responders during severe weather by collecting voluntary storm shelter-location information throughout the county.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - If you have not yet discarded this year's Christmas Tree, the City of Columbus Department of Public Works reminds residents that crews will continue to collect the trees curbside (no alleys), on your regular trash day, through Friday, January 30.

COLUMBUS, Ind.–   The Bartholomew County Circuit Court has sentenced a Columbus man to 24 years in the Department of Corrections for the crime of Child Molesting.

INDIANAPOLIS— The Indiana Historical Society has announced the appointment of a new Indiana county historian in Jennings County.

NORTH VERNON, Ind. – The North Vernon Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the area of 5th Street and Buckeye Street, which resulted in multiple drug- and firearm-related charges on Friday morning, January 9.

Franklin College has selected five students to serve as Pulliam Fellows during the 2025-26 academic year.

GREENWOOD, Ind. - The Center Grove Community School Corporation has announced that four Center Grove High School (CGHS) juniors are among the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2027.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Jonathan (Jon) L. Rohde, 47, current Judge of the Bartholomew Superior Court 2 and former Chief of Police for the Columbus Police Department, has officially filed for re-election, seeking the Republican nomination for the Judge position he currently holds.   

COLUMBUS, Ind.– The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) is celebrating a historically high 92.4% graduation rate of the seniors of the Class of 2025.

SEYMOUR, Ind. — Schneck Medical Center will acquire several Family Drug Pharmacy locations in Brownstown and Seymour, further strengthening its long-standing commitment to locally owned, independent healthcare and personalized service for the communities it serves

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Alisha Roberts State Farm Insurance Agency has launched “Protect Those Who Protect Us,” a new community initiative pledging $1,000 each month to support a local volunteer fire department.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) reminds Hoosiers that the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs now through March 31.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The wave of retirees from the Columbus Fire Department (CFD) continues. CFD congratulates Firefighter Jeff Otte on his retirement after 21 years of dedicated service.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health (CRH) released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon regarding vaccinations and the protection they provide.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) has announced that firefighter Dan Bates has retired.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Mental Health Matters Bartholomew County, NAMI of South Central Indiana, and CRH Healthy Communities present a month-long Book Read Series beginning in early January.

WHITELAND, Ind. – Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation (CPCSC) recently announced that it is time to pre-register your child at the Clark-Pleasant Early Learning Center for the 2026-2027 school year.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The City of Columbus Department of Public Works reminds residents that crews will continue to pick up Christmas trees curbside (no alleys), on the same day as your regular trash collection, through January 30.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Area Arts Council presents Epilogue: Open Mic Poetry and Prose at Gramz Bakery in downtown Columbus on Thursday, January 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The City of Franklin Fire Department (FFD) has ordered the Relax Inn and Econo Lodge hotels to close due to extended fire alarm system outages that have created unacceptable life and safety risks for occupants.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Legislative Preview on January 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., in the Cal Brand Room at Columbus City Hall.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Students and parents are advised that the Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) scholarship applications are now open.

SEYMOUR, Ind. – The Jackson County Chamber will host a Legislative Preview Breakfast on Wednesday, January 7, at 8 a.m. at The Pines Evergreen Room in Seymour.

MORGAN COUNTY, Ind. – The Bargersville Fire Department’s Engine 202, Battalion 20, helped Green Township Fire and Rescue (GTFR) in extinguishing a residential fire on Tuesday afternoon, December 30, in the 500 block of Nast Chapel Rd.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health has announced that MyChart is now available in Spanish. MyChart is a secure online patient portal designed to help you manage your health care more conveniently than ever.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractor Milestone Contractors, L.P., is continuing work on Phase 2 of a six-phase intersection improvement project on U.S. 31 in Franklin. Phase 1 of the project was completed in late October 2025.

NEEDHAM, Ind. – The Needham Community Fire Department, along with other nearby fire agencies, battled a residential fire on Monday morning, December 29, near County Roads 700E and 100N.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is reminding Hoosiers of an update to Indiana Code that will be in effect on January 1, 2026.

NORTH VERNON, Ind. – The North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) arrested a local man following a late-night burglary at the Dollar General Store, 624 E. Buckeye St., on Saturday, December 20.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Even though it is wintertime, the Franklin Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting applications for summer jobs.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Registration is now open for the 2026 Public Safety Citizens’ Academy. Since the 1990s, the Columbus Police Department (CPD) has offered the academy to Columbus residents, allowing them an inside look at public safety in the community.

SCOTT COUNTY, Ind. – A Jackson County man was hit and killed while walking in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 on Sunday, December 28.

NORTH VERNON, Ind. – North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) Task Force Commander Graham Heffelfinger led an investigation at the Country Mark gas station on West Walnut Street after officers were dispatched Sunday, December 28, to perform a welfare check on a female passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and Columbus Pickleball Club will ring in the new year with a Pickleball Clinic at the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park on Friday, January 2.

INDIANAPOLIS – The National Weather Service in Indianapolis announced that a Tornado Watch is in effect until 9 p.m. on Sunday, December 28, for most central and southern Indiana counties, including Bartholomew, Jennings, Jackson, and Johnson.

HOPE, Ind. – The Hope Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the 15000 block of North State Road 9 for a single-vehicle accident with injuries on Friday morning, December 26.

COLUMBUS, Ind.– The Columbus Police Department (CPD) is investigating after a report of a bomb threat and suspicious item found at a local medical service provider on Tuesday, December 23.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health (CRH) has observed an increase in respiratory viral infections (RSV, COVID, and Influenza) in both Bartholomew County and among hospital inpatients.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – City of Columbus Department of Public Works crews will be picking up residential Christmas trees curbside (no alleys) the same day as your regular trash collection beginning Friday, December 26.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Johnson County. They are Anna Cromer of Roncalli High School, Marnie Moore of Franklin Community High School, and Andra Valeta of Center Grove High School.

SEYMOUR, Ind. – JCBank recently announced the promotion of two professionals in its Commercial Lending offices and two in its Treasury Management department. These appointments reflect JCBank’s dedication to internal talent development and strategic growth.

SEYMOUR, Ind. – The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 108 recently held its annual FOP Cops and Kids Christmas Shopping Program.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – All city offices in Franklin will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 24 through 26, to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The City of Franklin Fire Department (FFD) salutes Lt. Tyler Sneed on an incredible milestone: 20 years of dedicated service with the Department.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Local private school teachers Karie Sutton, Kendra Duke, and Micah McCormick are receiving the 2025 Reams Family Awards for Excellence in Teaching, administered by Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for excellence in 2025.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health (CRH) Heart and Vascular Center has announced that its cardiovascular services team recently completed its 100th Watchman procedure that treats patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).

JENNINGS COUNTY, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation is scheduled to reduce the speed limit on State Road 7/State Road 3 on or after Tuesday, December 23, between Vernon and North Vernon.

NEEDHAM, Ind. – A home in Needham, northeast of Franklin in Johnson County, was destroyed by fire on Sunday morning. The Needham Community Fire Department (NCFD) was dispatched to the house on County Road 700E just after 8 a.m.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – All city offices in Columbus, including Columbus City Utilities, will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 24 through 26, to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has announced that scholarship applications will open on January 1.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Sandra (Sandy) Beatty, chief deputy in the Bartholomew County Treasurer’s Office, is seeking the office of County Treasurer in 2026.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin Fire Department (FFD) recently conducted ice rescue training during last week’s winter weather.

BARGERSVILLE, Ind. – The Bargersville Fire Department (BFD) invites local families and businesses to sign up for Community Connect. The program helps build a better town through prevention, preparedness, and response.