Thrive Alliance is partnering with the National Council on Aging and the Falls Free Initiative to celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness Day on Monday, Sept. 23rd. on the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza, beginning at 10 a.m.

Falls are a leading cause of injury for people aged 65 and older, but there are ways to prevent them. Thrive Alliance’s community event is designed to empower older adults to stay active, independent, and safe in their homes and communities. Activities include a free balance and strength exercise class, information booths, health screenings and education sessions. Participants include Zen Fitness, Family Chiropractic and Wellness, Mill Race Center, Just Friends, Thrive Alliance and Help At Home.

“If fall prevention is not something that you’re thinking about now, I promise there is someone in your life who’s worried about it,” said Shelby Eggers, Healthcare Integrations and Community Education Manager for Thrive Alliance. “This kind of education can change a community, and that’s why we’re proud to support Falls Prevention Awareness Day as part of our year-round commitment to supporting older adults in Bartholomew County.”

“Fall prevention is a team effort that takes a balance of education, intervention, and community support,” said Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of NCOA’s National Falls Prevention Resource Center. “This is an opportunity to empower and educate everyone about their roles in preventing falls.”

To find out more about Falls Prevention Awareness Day, go to ncoa.org/FPAD.

The final City Jam of the season is this Thursday, Sept 19, in Seymour.

The Seymour Main Street organization says that entertainment will be provided by “The Breakfast Club.” They are described as “a high energy band playing all the best jams from the 80’s.”

Food will be available at 6 p.m. and the band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. at the JCB pavilion downtown. There will be a giveaway of $50 gift cards for the best 80s outfit.

You can get more information at SeymourMainStreet.org.

Entries are being accepted for the 2019 National Wildlife Refuge Week Photo Contest at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. The subject of the contest is any subject taken on Muscatatuck property. There are divisions for students and adults.

Prints must be by non-commercial photographers and at least 5” x 7” in size and mounted on a stiff backing (no frames or wires) with no significant alterations. An official entry form should be secured to the back of the photo. Two entries are allowed per photographer and the entry deadline is October 10th.

Entries will be displayed in the Muscatatuck Visitor Center until Jan. 1st.

For a complete list of rules/entry form contact Muscatatuck@fws.gov or stop in at the office or Visitor Center.

The current State Road 7 closure at Turkey Run in Jennings County will move one mile north on or after Wednesday, September 18, weather permitting, as crews begin work on the third of four box culverts between the Jefferson/Jennings County line and Vernon.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says the road will close Wednesday about 11.5 miles north of State Road 250, just south of Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area, for a box culvert replacement. The road will reopen at the second culvert location, where crews have been working since August 26. The new closure is planned for approximately 30 days.

The official state detour for the closure is State Road 3 to State Road 256. Drivers should plan ahead and use caution in and near the work zone. The project is expected to be complete by Halloween. All work is weather dependent.

Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. was awarded the project in August 2018. Crews will begin work at the fourth location, about six-miles north of Jefferson/Jennings County line, approximately one mile south of State Road 3 / State Road 7 split.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

A Columbus man was arrested after an incident early Monday morning.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies were called to the area of N 1050 E/Summit Street at about 4 a.m. in reference to shots fired. Witnesses reported seeing a man fire two shots in the direction of their home before fleeing the area.

Deputies located and arrested 20-year-old Bradley Green on a preliminary charge of Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm.

He has since been released.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission meets next week and will address the increased construction estimate for the overpass project into downtown. Those cost estimates have jumped more than $5 million dollars. The city is responsible for half of the cost of the project.

New estimates from INDOT indicate that the project is now expected to cost $35.66 million dollars instead of the previous $30 million estimate. Officials say that the extra expense comes from the state spending more than expected to buy up property for the right-of-way, along with increased construction costs.

The Redevelopment Commission is scheduled to meet Monday, Sept. 16 at City Hall. INDOT says that an estimated $2,662,005 will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project. This would put the city’s total contribution to the project at $4,662,065. The remainder of the city’s portion is being covered by contributions from the Cummins Allocation Area, Bartholomew County, L&I Railroad and CSX Railroad.

City officials say they are prepared to fund this additional request by way of the Redevelopment Commission’s Central TIF Allocation Area. This expenditure exceeds its commission’s spending authority, so the city council would need to sign off on the proposal.

The city is responsible for half of the cost of the project and has been given help from Bartholomew County, the Louisville & Indiana Railroad and Cummins. When completed, the overpass will lift traffic over the train tracks at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike.

Monday’s meeting of the Redevelopment Commission begins at 4 p.m. at you are invited.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department says that County Road 1000 East between County Road 400 South and the town of Grammer will be completely closed to all traffic next week. Crews will be replacing a culvert.

Officials say the closure is scheduled to go into effect at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 16 and will reopen, weather permitting, on Thursday, Sept. 19 at approximately 5 p.m.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

Two area residents were arrested after a 10 mile pursuit that crossed county lines.

Indiana State Police say that around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, a Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy advised he was northbound on I-65 near the 18 mile marker and behind a car that was reported stolen earlier in the day out of Bartholomew County. When the Deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, the car sped up as the driver tried to flee. Numerous officers were in the area and joined in the pursuit including officers from the Indiana State Police and the Clarksville Police Department.

ISP says the car continued north on I-65 and into Scott County, eluding officers attempts to use Stop Sticks along the way. The passenger was also observed throwing an unknown substance out of the passenger window of the car. Realizing the car was equipped with a subscription-based navigation and security service, Indiana State Police Dispatch contacted the service and requested the vehicle be remotely disabled. Once the vehicle was disabled, it began to slow down and safely stopped on the side of the road. After officers detained both occupants, they reported finding meth and paraphernalia inside the car.

The driver, 40-year-old Ryan Andrew Moody, of Columbus, and his passenger, 20-year-old Audrey Fay Crank, of Hope, were taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Jail. They are both charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia. Moody is also charged with Auto Theft and Reckless Driving.

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared.

The Fort Wayne Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Jack Hevel, an 81 year old white male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, gray hair with hazel eyes, last seen wearing a plaid short sleeved button up shirt over a gold t-shirt, brown shorts, and driving a silver 2000 Chevy S10 truck with Indiana license plate TK133LRV. Jack has a tattoo on his upper right arm that says “Nancy” and a skull and cross bones on his upper left arm.

Jack is missing from Fort Wayne, Indiana which is 126 miles northeast of Indianapolis and was last seen on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 1:00 pm. He is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. 

If you have any information on Jack Hevel, contact the Fort Wayne Police Department at 260-417-1222 or 911.

Friday, Sept. 13 is a big day for all school districts across the state. Bartholomew Consolidated School Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts explains.

ADM stands for “average daily membership.”

Roberts says that the district receives about $6,000 per student, making attendance on Friday very important. He adds that BCSC is expecting a smaller student count than last year, but the size of the difference is not yet known.

Roberts says that once the count is known, BCSC and its educators can participate in collective bargaining efforts. That work is set to begin next week.