Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus will be helping new students get on board at an Express Enrollment event tomorrow on the campus.

Ivy Tech employees will be on hand to help anyone interested in enrolling at the College. Among the activities: you will be able to complete enrollment steps, to get financial aid questions answered, to meet with an advisor, to register for the semester and to find out about orientation.

Classes start January 13. Express Enrollment Day will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ivy Tech’s Columbus facility on Central Ave.

One person was arrested after deputies with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office partnered with members of the U.S. Marshal Service to conduct a county-wide surprise check on registered sex offenders on Thursday, Nov. 14th.

Deputies conducted surprise offender checks on about 100 sex offenders throughout Bartholomew County to determine the validity of information provided by individuals currently registered with Bartholomew County’s Sex Offender Registry.

Convicted sex offenders are required to report any residential and/or employment changes to the Sheriff’s Office within 72 hours of the change.

One arrest was made during the sweep when an offender was found to be in possession of marijuana. Details of that arrest have not yet been released.

Four others were found to be out of compliance with the terms of their registry. This could result in additional charges for them.

Authorities say this sweep was conducted in addition to regular checks that are conducted throughout the year.

The annual “Great American Smokeout” is coming up and groups in Jackson County want to help smokers quit.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, smokers nationwide will be encouraged to quit smoking as part of the nationwide event, which takes place the third Thursday of every November.

Schneck Medical Center, Healthy Jackson County-Decreasing Tobacco Use Workgroup, and the American Cancer Society are partnering to support this cause.

“We’re inviting people to commit to healthy, smoke-free lives. To quit smoking is extremely difficult. Just the idea can be intimidating. However, with the right support, the chances for success spike,” said Dr. David Wilson, Schneck Pulmonology and Medical Director of Healthy Jackson County-Decreasing Tobacco Use Workgroup.

The annual event challenges people to quit smoking for at least 24 hours with the goal that the decision not to smoke will last longer, ideally forever. According the American Cancer Society, quitting, even for one day, reduces cancer risk.

“The Great American Smokeout is the perfect occasion to commit or recommit to kicking this life-threatening habit. You don’t have to quit in a day—we’re encouraging people to use this platform as a first step in their journey toward a tobacco-free life,” said Dr. Wilson.

Schneck Medical Center and the Jackson County Health Department offer a free smoking cessation program. Call 812-522-0401 or 812-522-6474 to learn more.

Cummins Inc. on Friday announced its next environmental sustainability strategy. Company officials say this strategy includes science-based goals that meet or exceed the goals in the United Nations Paris agreement on climate change. Cummins is targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Our communities and our business depend on our collective response to improve the health of the planet while creating prosperity for all,” said Tom Linebarger, Cummins Inc. Chairman and CEO. “It’s clear that government, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and communities must unite behind swift, decisive action to address the environmental threats we face.”

The strategy, called PLANET 2050, is focused on three priority areas: addressing climate change and air emissions, using natural resources in the most sustainable way, and improving communities.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission will be discussing the proposed downtown hotel and conference center at its meeting Monday afternoon.

Heather Pope is the city’s director of redevelopment. She explains that the hotel/conference center team will be making recommendations to the Redevelopment Commission.

Pope says there has been talk of purchasing property downtown to bring this project to fruition.

Monday’s meeting begins at 4 p.m. at city hall.

You are invited.

The U.S. Post Office will be having special Sunday hours leading up to Christmas at select post offices throughout the state, including Columbus.

The goal is to help customers  get cards, letters and packages to their destination in time for the holidays.

The Columbus post office will be open on Dec. 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd from 10 a.m.  to 2 p.m.

Other area post offices with Sunday hours include Seymour, Greenwood and Bloomington — Woodbridge which are also open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bloomington from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Madison from 12 to 4 p.m.

A Columbus woman died after a car crash Wednesday near Holton.

Indiana State Police say that 61-year-old Sally Schneckenberger was taken by ambulance to King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, where she died as a result of injuries from the crash.

She was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by 62-year-old Craig A. Schneckenberger. He was seriously injured in the crash and was flown by helicopter to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

According to police reports, the family was driving westbound on U.S. 50 at about 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon when a northbound car on Michigan Road in Ripley County entered the highway into the path of their SUV. The Schneckenberger hit the passenger’s side of the car being driven by 21-year-old Marion W. T Harding of Holton. Harding and a passenger, 77-year-old Minor W. Adams were taken by helicopter to the University of Cincinnati Hospital with serious injuries.

A 16 year old backseat passenger in their vehicle was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation by Ripley County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police.

North Vernon Police arrested two area residents after a traffic stop Wednesday night.

Shortly after 11 p.m. officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Norris Avenue. Inside, they found 21-year-old Hannah R. Teipen, of North Vernon, who was wanted on a Jennings County warrant. During the investigation, police also arrested her on preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Police also arrested 24-year-old Corby D. Deaton, also of North Vernon, on preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Possession of Paraphernalia.

The Ivy Tech Community College Columbus campus is hosting a special enrollment event next week.

Express Enrollment Day will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Ivy Tech Columbus, located at 4475 Central Ave. Ivy Tech employees will be on hand to help anyone interested in enrolling.

At Express Enrollment Day residents can:

• Complete steps to enroll as a student;
• Get financial aid questions answered;
• Learn about and meet assessment requirements;
• Meet with an advisor;
• Register for the semester;
• And find out about orientation.

Ivy Tech Columbus has more than 30 programs in business, healthcare, information technology, education, aviation, and manufacturing.

Classes start January 13th.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that crews will be conducting two traffic switches on I-65 in Jackson and Bartholomew Counties as part of the $143 million reconstruction and added travel lanes project. INDOT says these switches will be the first step toward moving traffic into the project’s winter shutdown configuration.

On Friday night (Nov. 15), southbound traffic will be shifted back to the southbound side of I-65 from just south of State Road 11 to Seymour. On Saturday night (Nov. 16), northbound traffic will be shifted back to the northbound side of I-65 from just north of State Road 11 to south of State Road 58.

INDOT says that motorists should continue to adhere to the 55 mph speed restriction and use extra caution in the construction zone. All trucks should continue to use the left lane for travel.

The project is expected to be complete in 2020.