Ivy Tech Community College has received a contribution for a suicide prevention and intervention program from a Columbus North High School senior who organized a run/walk event in memory of her brother.

Chris Schilling, Ivy Tech spokesman, says that Lauren Frederick donated the proceeds from Scotty’s Mile, a one-mile run/walk on July 20, to the Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer program designed to train students how to provide outreach to students in distress with a direct connection to the local mental health system.

Schilling says that Frederick’s brother, Scotty, passed away from suicide at the age of 23 in December of 2010. Frederick was in the fifth grade at the time. Her family held a one-mile run/walk to raise money for suicide awareness and prevention two years ago in memory of Scotty. Frederick organized the event again this year as part of her high school senior project.

“For me and my family, this event is a really good way to make something positive out of this situation and remember Scotty,” Frederick said.

More than 100 people participated in Scotty’s Mile this year. The family hopes to make Scotty’s Mile an annual event.

Ivy Tech is developing the Hope Squad in partnership with IUPUC and community stakeholder support through a grant from Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to teach Ivy Tech Columbus and IUPUC students how to intervene in and prevent possible suicidal threats by peers.

“We are so grateful to Lauren and her family for their thoughtful and kind donation to the Hope Squad as we work with IUPUC and our community stakeholders to develop this imperative program,” said Therese Copeland, Ivy Tech Executive Director of Resource Development. “We believe the Hope Squad will prepare our students and our community to gracefully and effectively intervene and prevent tragic loss of life.”

Organizers say that members of the Hope Squad work together with college counseling staff and mentor advisors who assist in triaging to emergency operations or mental health as appropriate. Additionally, Ivy Tech will be using suicide gatekeeper training in the community and at the college to provide skills and knowledge about suicide risk factors, how to respond to someone in distress, and how to assist them in seeking help.

The program will begin this fall with the start of the 2017 academic year. Schilling says that the Hope Squad is in the process of planning events for Suicide Prevention Week, starting on Monday, September 11.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department has announced a set of road closings in the coming days. They are:

County Road 300 South, between County Roads 550 West and 650 West, and Carlos Folger Road will be closed to through traffic on Monday for paving.

Lowell Road, between County Road 250 West (to the south) and 250 West (to the north), will be closed to through traffic from approximately 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday for road improvements. County officials say that this section is scheduled to be closed again on Thursday morning in the hopes that it will be reopened on the evening of Friday, Aug. 4th.

You are asked to avoid these areas during these times.

The trial of a man wanted for abducting and molesting a girl in Jackson County more than 18 years ago has been continued. “The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that 61-year-old Charley Hollin, of Salem, Oregon, had been set to stand trial Aug. 22nd in Jackson Circuit Court. The newspaper is reporting that Jackson Circuit Court Judge Richard W. Poynter agreed to Hollin’s request to push the trial back to Feb. 6th.

Hollin was arrested and charged in January in connection with the 1999 incident where a 10-year-old girl was abducted at knife-point from outside Girls Inc. on West Second Street in Seymour. The girl was taken to a secluded area, molested and released naked on a country road near Cortland. Her abductor threw her clothing out of the vehicle before she was found and rescued by a passing motorist.

According to the report, Hollin is facing three counts of Child Molesting and two counts of Criminal Confinement. He was initially was charged in 2000 by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office but disappeared before police could arrest him.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall exhibit arrived in Columbus yesterday. The half-sized replica followed a parade route through the city before being assembled by staff and veterans at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds. A welcoming ceremony was held last night, where a proclamation was read by Mayor Jim Lienhoop. The mayor reflected on veterans and the price of freedom.

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Mayor Lienhoop says that it’s important for all of us to remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by veterans and active military personnel.

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Lienhoop read a proclamation proclaiming July 27 through July 31 as “The Moving Wall Week” in the city of Columbus.

Organizers say that special programs, including music, an invocation and a speaker, will be held through Sunday at noon and 6 p.m. In addition, a mobile vet center is located at the fairgrounds to help provide veterans with information on their medical benefits and assist with medical referrals.

Everyone, veterans and civilians are encouraged to visit the display.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall exhibit has arrived in Columbus. After a parade through the city Thursday morning, organizers assembled the half-sized replica at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds for a five-day stay. Organizers say that the exhibit will be open, and guarded 24-hours a day. It is free to visit, though good-will donations are being accepted.

A special welcoming ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. That will include remarks from Mayor Jim Lienhoop, special music from Southern Indiana Pipes & Drums, as well as a three volley salute and the playing of “Taps” by the American Legion Post #24 Color Guard. You are invited.

Congressman Luke Messer, a Republican representing Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, is set to formally announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Messer’s campaign announced Wednesday that the announcement will come during a family barbecue next month.

“The Senate has struggled in recent weeks, and Hoosiers are tired of it. We need a proven conservative leader in the U.S. Senate to work alongside Senator Todd Young and get things done,” says Messer Statewide Finance Chairman Greg Pence.

Messer will campaign to replace incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly. The Republican National Committee has identified Donnelly as a vulnerable candidate and is expected to pour money into the state in an effort to expand the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate.

Rep. Messer is set to make his candidacy official on Aug. 12th at 1 p.m.

The Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. has announced a boil water advisory for a number of its customers. The utility says that a contractor cut into a water main on Georgetown Road Wednesday afternoon, which left customers in the area of Baker Hollow Road and Georgetown Road, including those on County Roads 850 West, 700 West and 600 West, without water. The same customers are under a boil water advisory until noon on Saturday.

Utility officials say that these customers should bring water to a full boil for five minutes before consumption or use in cooking and food preparation.

Customers with questions should call the Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. at (812) 342-4421.

Cummins announced Tuesday that it will be unifying its brand strategy across its Power Systems business. The portfolio has featured the Cummins, Cummins Power Generation and Cummins Onan brands. Company officials say that, effective immediately, the branding will be consolidated under the Cummins brand. The Cummins Power Generation and Cummins Onan brands will be retired and the Onan name will be “repositioned as a generator product line under the newly unified Cummins brand in the RV market.” Cummins says that it will also be permanently changing all “Fun Roads” branding to Cummins RV, retiring the Fun Roads brand.

“Looking to unify Cummins into one cohesive, unified brand, we decided that consolidating both products (engines and generators) into the Cummins RV family only strengthens the brand and more uniformly speaks to our manufacturers and consumers,” said company executive Jodie Wilson. “The brand changing will not affect product or service offerings, but will help us to continue on our promise of delivering dependability across the globe.”

While rebranding on all marketing activities began Tuesday, Cummins says that product branding changes across all manufacturing plants will be implemented this month.

A Columbus man was arrested on drug charges early Tuesday morning after police allegedly found methamphetamine in his clothes. Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman, says that at approximately 12:30 a.m., Officer Drake Maddix stopped a vehicle near Ninth and Pearl streets. He says that none of the three people inside the vehicle had a valid driver’s license. Harris says that a CPD canine responded to the scene and detected the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. Officers later found a jacket that contained a small amount of methamphetamine inside the vehicle where 29-year-old Justin D. Jacobs had been sitting. Jacobs was arrested and upon arriving at the jail, Bartholomew County corrections officers reported finding more meth that Jacobs had concealed in one of his socks.

Jacobs is facing preliminary charges of Trafficking with an Inmate and Possession of Methamphetamine, both felonies.

Cummins announced Monday that two executives have been promoted within its components business. Jon Mills, company spokesman, says that Mahesh Narang has been named Vice President, Cummins Emission Solutions, and Shon Wright has been named Executive Director and General Manager of Cummins Turbo Technologies, succeeding Narang.

The positions are effective August 1 and Narang and Wright will report directly to Tracy Embree, the president of Cummins’ components segment.

“Mahesh is perfectly suited for this role,” said Embree. “Over his career, Mahesh has consistently delivered terrific results and exemplified strong operational capabilities while ensuring we provide increased value to our customers. CES is at an exciting, pivotal moment and Mahesh’s capabilities are uniquely suited to lead CES during this period.”

“I am equally pleased that Shon will lead the Turbo Technologies organization,” Embree continued. “Shon has significant experience in building relationships with customers and understanding which products are needed in the market. I am confident that CTT will continue to excel as a strong organization under Shon’s leadership.”