Columbus Regional Hospital is announcing that work has finished on the hospital’s expansion and renovation of the Cancer Center.

Work on the project began in 2014, says Kelsey deClue, spokeswoman for the hospital. Declue says that the center added 6,600 feet of floor space and now offers an expanded waiting area, larger chemotherapy bays and a bigger pharmacy. There are also more private patient rooms and the center will be adding two new radiation oncologists and more cutting edge treatment options.

An open house will be held on March 24th at the center to show the improvements off to the public. That will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The center is part of the main hospital campus off of 17th Street.

Advanced Mold and Engineering is planning a $1.5 million dollar investment in its facility on South International Drive. The company plans to add more than 12,000 square feet to their facility for new production equipment.

The company will come before Columbus City Council tonight with a request for a tax abatement. According to documents filed with the city, company officials say the expansion will allow them to will retain 23 full-time jobs and add three more by the end of 2019.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop said that the company’s tax abatement application appears to be in order and he expects the request will be approved during a short council meeting tonight. There are no other action items or discussion items on the agenda, he said.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop

The city council meets at 6 p.m. tonight at Columbus City Hall.

North Vernon residents can expect to soon have a better chance of hearing warnings about approaching tornadoes. Last night, the North Vernon City Council agreed to pay most of the costs associated with a new tornado warning siren.

Jerry Shepherd, director of the Jennings County Emergency Management Agency, asked the council for $22,000 for a new siren. He says that the total cost of the siren, and installation, is $24,152. Shepherd told council members that the balance will be paid for by the county agency.

Shepherd says that the city has several options on where the new siren is placed. One option is to replace the current siren, located near the downtown post office, with the new one. The second option was for the city to purchase a second siren, with one being placed near Fire Station #62 and the other at the county EMA building at 925 South State Street in North Vernon.

Council members Connie Rayburn and Jack Kelley brought up a third option — keeping the current siren and installing the new one in an area that would provide coverage for the entire city. Rayburn noted that the city wasn’t in the financial position to purchase two new sirens, especially if one is still working.

The council approved the plan to buy one siren and will discuss where it will be placed at a later date.

The Columbus Police Department (CPD) says it has been getting multiple calls from area residents about individuals calling them claiming to be employees with the IRS.

CPD Spokesman Officer Justin Black says that during these calls, victim’s report that the person acting as an IRS employee tells them that they owe money to the IRS. They also say that if they do not pay during the phone call, they could be faced with arrest and additional penalties. Black says that with the increase in these types of calls, the CPD is reminding you of following:

• The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment without first having sent paperwork via mail.
• The IRS will never demand you pay taxes without first allowing you to question or dispute the claim.
• The IRS will never require you to use a specific type of payment method such as a prepaid debit card.
• The IRS will never threaten to acquire the use of local police to arrest you for nonpayment.
• The IRS will never ask for debit/credit card information via telephone.

Black adds that often, these calls are made from overseas by people who are able to alter the Caller ID so that it appears that the victim is indeed receiving a phone call from the IRS. CPD says to never give out any personal information, credit card numbers or bank account information over the telephone to unsolicited callers.

Congressman Luke Messer, who represents Indiana’s sixth Congressional District, announced Monday that his team will hold “Constituent Services Workshops” in Greensburg, New Castle and Shelbyville over the next few months.

Messer’s office says that these workshops are an opportunity for residents of the district to receive information and assistance with any Federal matter. Caseworkers are scheduled to be on-site to help with Social Security, VA and Disability issues as well as to answer any other questions or concerns regarding government agencies. The “Constituent Services Workshops” are scheduled for:

Greensburg Adult Center
Wednesday, March 23rd
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
905 East Main Street
Greensburg, IN 47240

Henry County Senior Center
Wednesday, April 13th
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
108 South Main Street
New Castle, IN 47362

Shelby Senior Services, Inc.
Tuesday, May 24th
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
1504 South Harrison St.
Shelbyville, IN 46176

Messer’s office says that more “Constituent Services Workshops” are being scheduled.

Applications for this year’s Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Youth Academy are now being accepted.

This year’s Academy will include a pair of camps. The Sheriff’s Department says that a two-day camp, scheduled for June 2-3, is for Bartholomew County youths ages six to nine, at a cost of $25 per child. A four-day camp, set for June 7-10, is for local kids age 10 to 14, at a cost of $35 per child. Department officials say that scholarships are available.

Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that the curriculum will consist of hands-on, interactive educational activities as well as physical training activities.

With the motto “Integrity, Professionalism and Trust” the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Youth Academy aims to educate Bartholomew County young people about public service and law enforcement, said Jackson.

“Designed by law enforcement professionals, this Academy provides participants with a real understanding of the law enforcement experience,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “This unique opportunity allows young people to focus on strengthening their life skills of self-respect, respect of others, teamwork, and commitment to one’s goals.”

Parents can register their children by visiting www.ceraland.org.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) plans to close State Road 46 southeast of Columbus next week for up to five months.

INDOT Spokesman Harry Maginity says that crews will demolish and rebuild the three-span bridge over Fishers Fork Creek, located two miles west of State Road 9. He says that a detour will route motorists around the closure via State Road, State Road 750 at North Vernon and State Road 3.

Maginity notes that Milestone, INDOT’s contractor for this nearly $1.4 million project, has scheduled operations to begin next March 21, weather permitting. He says that a new slab-top superstructure, measuring 81-feet in length with 44-feet of clear roadway side-to-side, will replace the existing concrete beam bridge over Fishers Fork.

Maginity says that the contract calls for the work to be finished by August 19.

A Jennings County man was arrested after allegedly running from a vehicle after a traffic stop by Jennings County deputies.

According to police reports, a deputy pulled over a vehicle at 5:20 p.m. Saturday on County Road 300N, when one of the back-seat passengers jumped out and ran away. The deputy chased the man through a field before capturing 38-year-old William Baker of Holton.

Baker allegedly told police he ran because he had a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested on the warrant for a parole violation and on a preliminary charge of resisting law enforcement.

The Seymour mayor’s office is announcing that Walnut Street will be closed tomorrow.

That will be between 5th and 6th streets and it will be closed to traffic in both directions, starting at 8:30 a.m. in the morning and running until early evening.

Kings Excavating will be digging in the street for a sewer connection to Redeemer Lutheran Church.

A Columbus woman was arrested on several drug charges Friday night after city police assisted the community corrections department with a home visit.

The agencies went to a home in the 1600 block of Union Street at about 9:15 p.m. Friday night. Drugs were allegedly found and police tied them to a resident, 29-year-old Amanda M. Sedam, says Officer Justin Black, spokesman for the police department.

She was arrested on preliminary charges including possession of heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, a controlled substance, a synthetic drug and drug paraphernalia.