The Indiana Department of Transportation met with its contractor Thursday afternoon to discuss its nearly $1.8 million bridge replacement project in Decatur County. The project involving three structures on U.S. Highway 421.

INDOT officials say that HIS Constructors, of Indianapolis, is the state’s contractor for replacing the bridge over Sand Creek, approximately 0.65 miles south of State Road 46 on the south side of Greensburg. INDOT says that a three-span concrete box beam bridge measuring 111 feet in length with 43 feet of clear roadway side-to-side will be built, one-half at a time. Plans call for temporary signals to control traffic flow. Timeline for construction has not yet been set.

Officials say that contractors will also remove and replace two U.S. 421 small structures between Greensburg and Napoleon. That work will require closures of the north-south highway for up to 14 days.

INDOT says that construction of one of those small structures will be at Lost Fork, about 9.5 miles north of State Road 229, midway between Greensburg and Napoleon. That work is tentatively scheduled for July. Officials say the new structure will be a 20 x 14-foot three-sided concrete culvert with wing-walls. Drivers will be routed around the 14-day closure via State Road 46, State Road 129 and State Road 48.

INDOT says that construction of the second small structure will take place over a branch of Laughery Creek, about 1.7 miles north of State Road 229, just north of Napoleon. That work is slated to occur in August. Officials say that a new 12 x 9-foot concrete box culvert will be installed. The state highway detour for this 14-day closure utilizes State Road 46, State Road 129 and State Road 48.

INDOT says that the clearing work at all three sites should begin soon.

Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus has announced two large gifts from community leaders Gregg and Judy Summerville to support the campus’s $4 million capital campaign, now entering its final three years.

IUPUC officials say the capital campaign priorities include scholarship support, programs that cultivate a stronger workforce, endowed faculty positions that attract and retain top educators and updated facilities.

These gifts have established the Summerville Family Scholarship for undergraduate students and the Summerville IUPUC Program Support Fund. School officials say the Program Support Fund will be used to maintain priority programming set by IUPUC Vice Chancellor and Dean Reinhold Hill.

“This generous donation by the Summervilles will allow us to explore innovative programs at IUPUC and provides us flexibility in responding to emerging fields and disciplines,” Hill said. Officials add that as part of “For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign,” IU will match the income portion of the endowed Summerville Family Scholarship gift, increasing its impact.

Well, the rodent weather forecasters are mixed on their best prognostication of when winter will end.

Punxsutawney Phil had a bright sunny day in Pennsylvania and saw his shadow this morning for the annual Groundhog Day festivities there.

But here in Bartholomew County, Hope Town Manager J.T. Doane was on hand for Grubby the Groundhog’s best guess.

Grubby is a rescue groundhog that lives at Utopia Wildlife Rehablitators. After the festivities in downtown Hope, Grubby and her groupies stopped by Hope Elementary School for a visit.

Bartholomew County deputies are looking for your help finding their most wanted fugitive this week.

26-year-old Misty D. Davis is wanted on a warrant for burglary and theft according to the sheriff’s department. Her last known address was Phillips Lane in Seymour.

If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you can call Detective Jason Williams at 812-565-5928 or call the sheriff’s department tip line at 812-379-1712. Tips can be left anonymously.

The American Red Cross says that there is an urgent need for blood donations in central Indiana.

Rodney Wilson, spokesman for the agency, explains:

Wilson said that the Red Cross supports 80 hospitals across the state with their blood needs. In Indiana alone, the agency counts on about 550 people a day donating blood.

There are several local blood drive scheduled in the next few weeks. Among the locations:

Columbus:

• Feb. 17th: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Developmental Services Inc., 2920 10th Street
• Feb. 17th: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., La QUINTA, 101 Carrie Lane
• Feb. 22nd: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 531 Fifth St.
• Feb. 24th: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., La QUINTA, 101 Carrie Lane
• March 3rd: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., La QUINTA, 101 Carrie Lane

North Vernon

• Feb. 22nd: 1 – 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar

Greenwood

• Feb. 21st: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Johnson County Library White River Branch, 1664 Library Blvd.

Bloomington

• Feb. 16: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• Feb. 18: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• Feb. 21: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Indiana University Health Bloomington, 601 West Second Street
• Feb. 22: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• Feb. 23: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Indiana Memorial Union Building, 900 E. 7th St.
• Feb. 23: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• Feb. 25: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• March 1: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• March 2: 8:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Hoosier Hills Career Center, 3070 Prow Road
• March 2: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.
• March 4: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bloomington Blood Donation Center, 1600 W. 3rd St.

You can also search on the Red Cross website at redcrossblood.org or call 800-RED CROSS

Warren Forgey, President and CEO of Schneck Medical Center, has been named one of the “60 Rural Hospital CEOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Hospital officials say that the list features leaders “dedicated to advancing healthcare in small towns and rural communities.” Forgey and Emmett Schuster of Gibson General Hospital in Princeton were the only CEOs named from the state of Indiana. This is Forgey’s second consecutive year to be named to the list.

Schneck officials say that those who made the list include CEOs and administrators of hospitals located outside of major metropolitan areas or healthcare hubs. The Becker’s Review editorial team selected leaders through a review process where a number of factors were considered, including awards received; local, regional, and national leadership positions held; and the organization’s performance.

Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin says that the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center, under Directors Anita Biehle and Brad Barnes, were recently notified they are in “Full Compliance” with the juvenile detention standards set forth by the Indiana Department of Corrections. Judge Benjamin explains that there are 26 mandatory compliance standards, as well as an additional 16 proposed new mandatory compliance standards. Compliance with 100-percent of the mandatory standards is required to attain the highest level of “Full Compliance.”

Officials say the “Full Compliance” award is based upon juvenile detention audits consisting of a review in the following areas: Safety and Security, Food Service and Hygiene, Programs and Services, Medical and Mental Health, Justice and Order, and Administration and Management.

The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a job fair for potential part-time employees on Thursday afternoon. The department says it is looking for candidates of all ages and experience during the event, being held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Donner Center. Organizers say that those who take part in the job fair will have the chance to meet with representatives from the various facilities and departments in which parks staff work.

Thursday’s job fair is free and you are encouraged to attend.

Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at 40 sites throughout the state to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2 p.m. on Feb. 12.

Organizers say the free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. Officials say the FAFSA must be filed by March 10 to be eligible for Indiana financial aid.

The event in Columbus will be held at the Columbus Learning Center. Other College Goal Sunday events in the area will take place at Franklin’s Ivy Tech campus and Jennings County High School in North Vernon.

Event organizers say that students should attend College Goal Sunday with a parent or guardian. The parents should bring completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax returns, W-2 Forms and other 2015 income and benefits information. Students who worked last year should bring their income information as well. Officials say that students, age 24 and over, may attend alone and bring their own completed 2015 IRS 1040 tax return, W-2 Form or other 2015 income and benefits information. Students and parents are encouraged to apply for their U.S. Department of Education FSA IDs at fsaid.ed.gov before coming to the event.

North Vernon Police had a busy day dealing with drug issues on Tuesday.

The department is reporting that officers pulled over a vehicle for a traffic infraction in the area of Brownstown Road and Noon Drive at 11:12 a.m. During the stop, police say that Matthew W. Schmitter, of Lexington, IN, and Sarah B. Thomas, of North Vernon, were arrested on charges of Unlawful Possession of Syringes and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Approximately 90-minutes later, officers responded to an overdose call at Walmart. Police say that James Porter, of North Vernon, was found to be unconscious and unresponsive. EMS were able to revive Porter, who was transported to St. Vincent Jennings and treated. Police say that once Porter was released from the hospital, he was arrested on charges of Possession of Syringes and Possession of Paraphernalia. They say that additional charges are possible.

That evening, North Vernon Police arrested three people on drug charges after a traffic stop Tuesday night. At 11:17 p.m., an officer reported stopping a vehicle in the area of North State Street after noticing that a headlight was out. During the stop, a K9 was alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers reported finding drug paraphernalia and a small amount of heroin. Officers arrested 27-year-old Chad Stearns and 31-year-old Justin Richardson, both of North Vernon, on charges of Possession of Paraphernalia and 23-year-old Jarvie Williams, III, also of North Vernon, for Possession of Heroin.