Starting today, Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be providing free breakfast and lunch meals to all students, regardless of their ability to pay.

School officials said that this will be thanks to a federal extension of the USDA summer meal program. The USDA recently announced that it would allow schools to serve free meals to all students through the end of 2020. The change applies to all BCSC students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in person or taking their classes online.

Students who have been paying for their meals will have funds credited to their lunch account going back to meals purchased since Sept. 1st.

According to the school district, students will go through the breakfast and lunch lines as normal, they just will not be charged. That is unless they wish to purchase additional items outside of the meal being served or if they go through the line a second time.

The change is going to be in effect until the end of the 2020 calendar year, or until federal funds are depleted, whichever comes first.

If you have any questions, you can talk to the staff at your school’s cafeteria.

The first wave of mail-in ballots will be going out today to the 4,000 Bartholomew County voters who have requested them.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps explains:

Phelps explains that the absentee voting board has convened early so that the ballots are ready to go out today. He said the voter registration office has also been working closely with the local post office to make sure that everything should run smoothly.

Your mail-in ballot will arrive in a thick manila envelope with an orange signature box on the front. In addition to instructions, it will contain a scantron sheet that must be marked with your voting choices by filling in the appropriate bubbles on the sheet. There will also be a note explaining that if you vote straight-party ticket, your vote will not be tallied for the at-large or school board races. To vote in those races you must directly choose your candidates, Phelps said.

Perhaps most importantly is the signature spot on the front of the envelope. Phelps said without signing that, your vote will not be counted on election day.

Phelps said that the deadline to request an application to vote by mail is October 22nd and you can do that either through the Bartholomew County voter registration office or online through indianavoters.com. The ballot has to be back in the voter registration office by noon on Election Day, whether you mail it back in or drop it off in person at the office in the courthouse, Phelps said.

The deadline to register to vote in the November election, is coming up on Oct. 5th.

A North Vernon contracting company has agreed to pay the U.S. government $4.25 million  to settle a complaint about road materials.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Indianapolis announced a civil settlement Thursday with Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. over the company allegedly misrepresenting that it was mixing steel slag into its asphalt mix, when it actually wasn’t. According to the government, without the required steel slag it gave the false impression that the roads the contractor paved contained enough binder to ensure that they would not prematurely deteriorate.

The asphalt was used in projects throughout central and southern Indiana, funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration.

Andrea M. Kropf, with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General office, said that the settlement sends a message that “putting the safety of the traveling public at risk for personal gain is an unacceptable way of conducting business.”

U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said that risking “the safety of the motoring public for the sake of saving money cannot be tolerated.”

The settlement followed a multi-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General office, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s office and the U.S. Department of Justice. INDOT also assisted the United States in its investigation.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

A legal complaint has been filed challenging the residency of the sitting president of the Bartholomew County Council.

Bartholomew County Democrats issued a statement Thursday saying that they are seeking a declaratory judgment from Bartholomew County Superior Court as to whether Republican Councilman Matthew Miller is eligible to serve on the County Council and to remain as a candidate on the ballot in November.

The challenge grew from a complaint by some of Miller’s neighbors saying that he does not live at the home he claims as his legal residence on County Road 550E. Instead, he is accused of actually living in Jennings County.

The complaint was filed by Democratic Party Chairman Steve Schoettmer, and Democratic County Council candidates Claudette Schroer, Olisa Humes and Tiffany Bosley.

Miller advanced in the Republican primary in June to run for re-election one of the three at-large seats on the council.

The complainants said that they were seeking the judgment because the Bartholomew County Election Board has not taken action to investigate the matter.

Miller could not be reached Thursday night for comment.

Columbus police are looking for leads in the robbery of a pharmacy Thursday morning.

The robbery happened at the Walgreens on Beam Road at about 5:10 a.m. Thursday morning. A man entered the store and told workers he had a firearm. He then fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash, police say.

The white man is described as having a slender build and was wearing a blue mask, flannel shirt, gray sweatpants and dark shoes. You can find photos of the suspect on our website.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is assisting the Columbus Police Detectives Division with the investigation.

If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be submitted anonymously.