Schneck Medical Center is accepting applications for the Dr. Bud Scholarship for registered nursing school students.

Applications for the scholarship are available at schneckmed.org/scholarships. Applications must be completed in their entirety and returned to Schneck no later than May 17th to be eligible for consideration.

The Dr. Bud Scholarship was established in honor of Dr. H.P. “Bud” Graessle (1893-1977). Born in Seymour, Dr. Graessle was a practicing physician and surgeon for 53 years until his retirement in 1971.

Candidates pursuing a course of study to become a registered nurse and have successfully completed their freshman year of registered nursing program at an accredited school and registered in a registered nursing program are encouraged to apply for consideration. Primary consideration will be given to Jackson, Jennings, Scott, and Washington County residents. Acceptance for enrollment at a nursing school is required for the scholarship to be officially awarded.

A program aimed at helping young women be safe as they transition into adulthood is being held locally this week. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, explains the SAFE program…

SAFE stands for Situational Awareness for Everyday. The free program includes instructors offering advice and tips on how to stay safe, along with physical tactics training.

A session for 12-grade girls at Columbus East is set for Thursday during the regular school day. CPD adds that 12th grade girls from Columbus Christian School and Hauser High School are welcome to attend

A second class will be held on March 29th for 12th grade girls who attend Columbus North High School.

Cummins announced Monday that it has begun delivering eight Cummins-powered all-electric vehicles to the United States Postal Service. The fully-electric Cummins PowerDrive equipped vans are expected to eliminate vehicle emissions and reduce fuel and maintenance costs.

The pilot program, made possible by a grant from the California Air Resources Board to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and administered by CALSTART, will place the zero-emission vehicles in Fresno and Stockton. Cummins will also provide operator training, vehicle support and data collection to support the program.

“We’re excited to provide the US Postal Service with these fully-electric vehicles for demonstration and testing. Cummins has a storied history of providing dependable, quality innovations to help power a world that is always on,” said Julie Furber, Vice President – Electrified Power, Cummins. “This program demonstrates our ability to help customers do real work in the real world. Cummins is committed to continue as the leading power supplier in all the markets we serve. As infrastructure and customer demand evolve, we’ll have the right technology at the right time.”

The eight Cummins-powered vans are expected to be in service by the end of March. The company says the vans have an all-electric range up to 85 miles with a full load on urban drive cycles typical of USPS collection vehicles.

Company officials say this move is the latest in its ongoing efforts to invest in electrification across many applications, markets and regions.

Local college students are looking to help spruce-up the community. IUPUC has scheduled its annual spring service project, “The Big Event,” for Saturday, April 13th. Crews looking for Columbus-area homeowners in need of yard work such as raking, weeding, and mulching or indoor chores such as washing and window cleaning that the volunteers will perform free of charge.

“We are excited to continue the tradition again this year,” said Bailey Moss, Coordinator of Leadership and Community for the Office of Student Affairs at IUPUC, adding “this is just one example of how IUPUC strives to deepen our commitment to community engagement.”

The Big Event was first initiated in 1982 at Texas A&M University as a way for students to say “Thank You” to the surrounding community. Since then, colleges and universities across the country have begun participating in this day of service.

Columbus-area residents who are interested in having the volunteers come to their homes on April 13th can go to iupuc.edu/events/thebigevent to download and submit an application form. The application forms must be received by April 6th.

A boil advisory has been issued for Eastern Bartholomew Water Corporation customers in Wayne Township, from County Road 650 S to County Rd 900 S & North to County Road 550 S. This includes Waynesville and Jonesville Road.

Customers should bring all water to a rolling boil for at least one-minute before consumption. This boil advisory will be in effect through noon on Thursday, March 7th.

A Bartholomew County Jail inmate is facing charges after allegedly trying to hide contraband. On Friday, the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team and Bartholomew County Jail Officers suspected that 34-year-old Joanna Gearhart, of Columbus, was using a body cavity to conceal illegal narcotics while incarcerated.

A search warrant was obtained for Gearhart’s person. Investigators reported finding multiple narcotic related items including Methamphetamine, Suboxone and Marijuana.

Gearhart is facing new preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Trafficking with an Inmate.

This is the latest in the jail’s efforts to fight drugs and other contraband entering the jail. Officers received a tip days before that another inmate was going to try to smuggle drugs into the jail after she was sentenced. Authorities obtained a search warrant and she was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for a search. That search revealed the inmate had hidden two and a half grams of heroin, Suboxone pills, two other, unidentified pills and two unopened packs of cigarettes.

On Thursday, jail staff searched all of the cells in the county jail. That ended with the discovery of a small amount of methamphetamine. That case remains under investigation.

“We are serious about stopping the flow of drugs comings into the jail,” Chief Deputy Chris Lane said. “The Joint Narcotics Team along with Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office detectives continue to receive intelligence on a daily basis regarding illegal activity in our jail, and we will continue to address this problem until it ends.”

Drivers from the Indiana Department of Transportation pre-treated roads Thursday and Friday in preparation for 2 to 3 inches of snow across the region on Sunday morning.

By 6 a.m.Sunday, INDOT says there will be a full call out with more than 160 drivers treating and plowing routes as needed across southeast Indiana. INDOT crews will remain active until conditions improve and will continue to treat routes after the snow has stopped to prevent refreezing of melted snow as temperatures are expected to drop significantly Sunday night into Monday morning.

You are asked to avoid unnecessary travel. If you must be on the roads during winter weather, remember to slow down, expect delays and be on alert.

Jennings County authorities have located an escaped inmate after nearly 24-hours. Authorities say that 41-year-old Kim Lynn Patton was able to remove his restraints and escape the Jennings County Courthouse in Vernon on Friday. The Sheriff’s Department announced Saturday afternoon that he had been captured by Sgt. Mike Mowery and Deputy Kyle Lee after acting on a tip from a concerned citizen.

Patton will be facing additional charges for the escape. Authorities say they will also charge any accomplices that might have helped Patton. Deputies from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Jennings County EMA and Indiana Conservation Officers were involved in the search.

Jennings County Dispatch is looking for an escaped inmate. Authorities say that 41-year-old Kimlynn Patton was able to remove his restraints and escape the Jennings County Courthouse in Vernon.

Patton is a white male standing 5’9″ tall and weighing 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was wearing a black and white jail outfit.

Authorities say Patton could be dangerous. If you are in the Vernon area and see anything suspicious, call 911. If you live in Vernon and a stranger knocks on your door, dispatch urges you to not open the door. Call 911 first.

We’ll have more details as they become available.

Five finalists from six counties in southeastern Indiana recently presented their ideas for a chance at winning $2,750 as part of the next-generation youth entrepreneurship initiative known as the Maverick Challenge.

The Maverick Challenge program is designed to give high school students hands-on experience in the practice of entrepreneurship. Students from Bartholomew, Scott, Jennings, Jackson, Franklin, and Ripley counties took part in the regional competition. It was started in 2008 by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Columbus. Since then, over 1,000 students from more than 15 high schools across eight counties have participated in the Challenge and over $75,000 has been awarded to students.

Organizers say that finalists presented their ideas to a panel of regional judges consisting of entrepreneurs, service providers, educational representatives, and other community leaders.

2018-2019 Maverick Challenge Winners

1st Place- P.E.F.F. Co-Treyton Brown and Sam Everett- Scott County;
Business Idea: Created a quality farm animal feed, using biodegradable burlap bags, with premium quality ingredients while lower the cost to the consumers and farmers.

2nd Place- Kolt Electronic- Koltan Hauersperger and Brooks Wathen- Jennings County;
Business Idea: Created a system called “PLSS” (Power Line Safety System) to help regulate the voltage in power lines and stop the flow if there is a drop. Helping to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with power line malfunction.

Honorable Mention- Growing Memories- Alex Bamonte- Franklin/Ripley County;
Business Idea: Created a business for those looking for alternatives to traditional burial services when a loved one dies. Custom memory vessels that also allow their loved ones and pets to be remembered.

Finalists included:
TempSense- Emils Vigants, Krista Blackburn, Kiersten Meister- Hauser High School;
Business Idea: Created a product and service that will help kids get interested in computer science.

The Blue Rose Project- Katie Rohlfing- Brownstown High School;
Business Idea: Created a non-profit mobile organization that helps young girls improve self-esteem, image, and self-worth.