The Columbus Parks and Recreation department will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony later this month for the recently opened bridge over Haw Creek at Lincoln Park.

The bridge, which was originally built in Newbern, makes a People Trail connection across the creek. Prior to the opening of the bridge, walkers, runners and cyclists had to cross at 25th Street and National Road. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 4 p.m. on March 27th, at the bridge near the Hamilton Ice Arena.

A rain date will be Thursday, March 29th at 4 p.m.

Seymour police want to find the person who dropped a small dog into a dumpster yesterday.

Officers reported last night that employees at a business in the 100 block of East Tipton Street discovered the black dog, which appears to be a Chihuahua-mix, in the dumpster and rescued the animal, which was covered in sludge. Seymour Police Officer Ryan Cherry and Corporal Devin Cornwell took the dog to the Jackson County Humane Society where Cherry bathed the puppy, gave it food water and a treat.

Police say that the dog showed signs of recovering from its ordeal, including wagging its tail.

If you have any information on the owner of the dog or on the person responsible for abandoning the animal in the dumpster, you can contact the Seymour Police Department at (812)-522-1234.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop gave his annual State of the City Address Thursday night from The Commons downtown. He talked about some of the accomplishments made by the city in 2017. A big one, he says, relates to the railroad overpass project.

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A replacement of the bridge spanning Haw Creek is expected for later this year, which will allow for even more train traffic through the city. City officials have worked with INDOT to fund and implement the overpass project, which will take vehicle traffic over the tracks at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike. Lienhoop says it was the ongoing work of city officials that helped to get the project moved up on INDOT’s calendar years before it would normally take place.

Lienhoop noted that job and economic indicators are pointing to a bright 2018 for Columbus.

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The mayor also talked about the growing opioid epidemic.

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To help shine a lot on the problem, the mayor allowed Jeff Jones, the executive lead of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County, to make a short presentation.

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The city council took action earlier this week to form and fund a board that will help determine what efforts would benefit from public funding to help fight the battle against the opioid epidemic. That board would also include representatives from the county, Columbus Regional Health and other stakeholders.

State officials continue dealing with the fallout from the flooding that struck much of Indiana last month. Beginning February 15th, heavy rain and storms occurred, causing many rivers in Indiana to overflow their banks. County-level response continues in the southern portion of the state, as flood waters continue to move south and impact communities. The State Emergency Operations Center remains available for coordination and resource support.

As flood waters recede, property damage assessments are underway throughout the state, especially in northern counties. State and local teams continue to conduct assessments and gather information, which began February 28th. Teams from the American Red Cross are also assisting in damage assessment efforts. Assessments will continue in each county, until complete, at which time teams will continue to other affected counties.

Governor Eric Holcomb has issued a disaster declaration due to flooding that currently includes 31 Indiana counties. That declaration included Jackson County. State officials say that they have supplied a number of counties with doses of tetanus vaccine. Again, this includes Jackson County.

State officials remind residents in affected counties who suffered an uninsured loss to report it. That can be done online at bit.ly/2018rainfall.

Cummins Inc. took the opportunity on Thursday, which was International Women’s Day, to announce Cummins Powers Women. Company officials say the program is a “landmark community initiative to advance its long-term commitment to the empowerment of women and girls around the world.” As part of this program, Cummins says it has partnered with a network of trusted nonprofits to make a larger, more sustainable and long-lasting impact in the communities in which it operates.

“Cummins’ mission is to make people’s lives better by powering a more prosperous world and Cummins Powers Women epitomizes this purpose,” said Tom Linebarger, Cummins Inc. Chairman and CEO. “One way we seek to better communities is by investing in programs that improve the lives of women and girls. We’ve seen firsthand the positive transformation that happens when we ensure diversity and inclusion within our organization, bringing more women into our business at every level.”

Cummins officials say this is the company’s most ambitious community initiative ever, representing a multi-million dollar investment in proven programs designed to create large-scale impact in the lives of women and girls globally. They say the programs will focus on areas where significant barriers exist to the advancement of girls and women.

Through Cummins Powers Women, the company will partner with a network of non-profit organizations in the following regions that have existing, outcome-based programs to accelerate gender equality:

• Girls Inc. – North America
• Rosa Fund – UK
• Save the Children – Germany
• China Women’s Development Foundation – China
• Rise Up – Africa, Latin America and India
• Camfed, the Campaign for Female Education – Ghana
• CARE Australia – Cambodia
• Girls Academy – Australia

“We were rigorous in our evaluation, and we are pleased to partner with nonprofits around the world that have research-based programs, metrics in place and a really strong track record of success empowering women and girls,” said Mary Titsworth Chandler, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Chief Executive Officer of the Cummins Foundation. “We have invested in a wide range of programs from on-the-ground mentoring and teaching of women and girls, to financial empowerment through entrepreneurship to leadership development and advocacy at the regional level.”

Additionally, as a major proponent of leadership training and development programs, Cummins is funding leadership training and strategic skills development for non-profit leaders.

“The growth and improvements we have seen in our own Company through an inclusive environment for women are the catalyst for us to dream about a future for all women that includes abundant opportunity for global leadership, invention, skill and creativity – a world powered by women in which progress accelerates, invention amplifies and solutions become easier to find,” said Chandler.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is offering training to help residents diffuse potentially dangerous situations. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that a Basic Verbal De-Escalation Session will be held April 10th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office Training Room.

Authorities say that how you respond to hostile or challenging behavior is often the key to defusing it. This session will be filled with simple and effective strategies to help residents respond to difficult behavior in the safest, most effective way possible.

Jackson says that a Basic Self-Defense Training course will be offered April 12th at Columbus North High School from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Authorities say this session promotes awareness and will help attendees to build the skills and confidence needed to protect themselves.

A Basic Firearms Training course is scheduled for April 14th at the department’s firing range from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Authorities say that the course is beneficial to those who are new to firearms, seeking to build on existing skills, want to feel more confident with firearms safety and those wanting to know the legal aspects of owning a firearm.

Requirements to take part in these training sessions are:

Resident of Bartholomew County;
At least 21 years of age;
No felony convictions;
Must provide your own handgun, with holster, – including 200 rounds of ammunition;
Provide photo ID;
Provide firearm carry permit

Authorities say that you must attend all three sessions to obtain a certificate. No more than 30 people will be accepted. Authorities say that there is no charge, however donations to the 2018 Sheriff’s Youth Academy will be accepted.

Bartholomew County residents who are interested in attending these basic personal protection classes may register now by emailing: sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov.

Please include your name, street address, and a telephone number. Attendees will be contacted with additional information before sessions begin on April 10th.

Authorities in Decatur County are investigating a crash involving a school bus. Network Indiana is reporting that the crash happened just before 8 a.m. on U.S. 421 near State Road 3, when the bus and a van crashed at a railroad crossing. Indiana State Police say several people on the bus were hurt, but none seriously.

A three-vehicle crash sent a North Vernon man to the hospital earlier this week.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department said that 34-year-old Derick Pendleton of North Vernon was taken to Schneck Medical Center after the crash at about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday morning on U.S. 50 near Biehle Electric. Deputies say that Pendleton was driving a cement mixer when he struck a semi that was stopped and turning into the electric supply company. That pushed the semi into a pickup truck.

U.S. 50 was shut down for about two and a half hours while the mess was cleaned up, including spilled cement.

Pendleton suffered minor injuries.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop will be giving his third State of the City Address Thursday night. Lienhoop says that 2017 had a lot of great things for Columbus, however…

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That includes a presentation from Jeff Jones, with the Alliance of Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County.

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Mayor Lienhoop says that it simply makes sense to tackle the opioid epidemic.

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Along with the opioid problem, the State Street Revitalization Project other issues, Lienhoop says that another area being addressed is pay for city employees.

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The Mayor’s address is set to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday from the Commons and you are invited. If you can’t attend in person, you can catch the speech live on News Talk 1010 WCSI.

Lobsterfest, an annual fundraiser organized by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, returns to downtown Columbus on Saturday, May 19th. Organizers say this event is being branded “Claws for a Cause.” They say the event raises money for the Philharmonic’s music education programs, including the Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir, the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and Strings in the Schools, which more than 13,000 adults and children each year in South Central Indiana. Lobsterfest, sponsored by Old National Bank, will take place along Fifth Street between Franklin and Washington Streets downtown.

Philharmonic officials say that an authentic New England clambake and lobster boil, catered by Foster’s Clambakes and Catering located in York, Maine, begins at 6 p.m. for a Happy Hour complete with live music, a “lobster lounge” sponsored by Thompson Furniture, as well as a cash bar provided by The Garage Pub & Grill. Happy Hour music will be supplemented by a special musical presentation by a Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Ensemble. A buffet-style dinner follows at 7 p.m. and includes New England clam chowder, steamed clams and mussels, lobster and more. Vegetarian options are available.

For more on this fundraiser, visit thecip.org.