Applications are now open for families who will need help with school supplies in the coming school year in Bartholomew County.

Diane Doup with Lincoln Central Neigbhorhood Family Center explains to participate in the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program, children must be registered in a Bartholomew County school in kindergarten through 12th grade to be eligible for assistance. That includes BCSC, Flat Rock-Hawcreek and private schools in the county.

Last year, about 2,000 students received free basic school supplies through this program. All supplies are provided through community contributions.

To register your children for assistance call (812) 375-2216 or 812-375-9370 for help in Spanish. Priority will be given to families who register by July 17th.

Doup said organizers want to stress that the supplies will still be needed for whatever form classes take in the new school year. And with the large number of layoff and the high unemployment rate, there is likely going to be a lot of need this year.

To donate money, which can be used efficiently to make bulk purchases, you can go through the United Way’s website at www.uwbarthco.org/bcssap.

Tax-deductible cash, check or money order donations can be made payable and sent to BCSSAP, 1531 13th Street, Suite 1100, Columbus, IN 47201

The 2020 Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program members are: Advocates for Children, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, Centra Credit Union, Columbus Regional Health, Columbus Sunrise Rotary, Community Center of Hope, Cummins, Inc., Flat-Rock Hawcreek School Corporation, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, Su Casa, and United Way of Bartholomew County.

Jonathan Moore Pike heading east into downtown Columbus is down to a single lane for about two weeks as crews begin to connect State Road 46 to the new overpass.

Heading west, two lanes remain open on Jonathan Moore Pike/State Road 46.

Work is also continuing on the Third Street bridge deck overlay, and you will see lanes closed into early July. INDOT says that May’s rains caused some delays on that portion of the project.

The closure of State Road 11 between Jonathan Moore Pike/ State Road 46 and Garden City is expected to be lifted by the Fourth of July weekend. That has been closed since the first of June while crews reconstructed pavement and did storm sewer work in the area.

INDOT says you should be alert for traffic changes around the new overpass. When you are in a construction zone, you should slow down, use extra caution and make sure to drive without distractions.

Indiana State Police are asking for the public’s help finding a driver who caused a fatal accident on Interstate 65 near Edinburgh last night.

Investigators say a white Chevrolet Cobalt with either Illinois or Kentucky license plates was driving recklessly at just after 8 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the interstate about a mile north of the Edinburgh State Road 252 exit. That included speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, braking suddenly and giving hand gestures to other drivers

The driver allegedly pulled in front of a pick-up truck and suddenly braked. The pick-up’s driver, 72-year-old Mark Raub of Nashville, then swerved to the right to avoid colliding with the Cobalt, and was struck by a semi. The pickup then crashed into a guard rail and flipped over.

Police say that Samaritans pulled Raub from the wreckage and tried to perform CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Anyone with a dash camera who was driving in the area between Indianapolis and Columbus and saw the white Cobalt with Illinois or Kentucky license plates should contact the Indiana State Police 317-899-8577.

Bartholomew County and surrounding counties have added three more deaths from COVID-19.

According to the most recent update from the Indiana State Department of Health, there are 40,786 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 440 cases since Monday’s update.

There have been 2,265 deaths in Indiana as of Tuesday afternoon’s update, an increase of 14 since Monday.

Bartholomew County has had 558 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 42 deaths, an increase of one since yesterday. Johnson County has had 115 deaths, an increase of one, and Shelby County added a death from the disease, bringing the county to 23 total.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is providing a few more details about an incident where a Columbus man is accused of attacking Sheriff Matt Myers in the jail building.

The department is reporting that 32-year-old Justin C. Eddelman, arrived at the sheriff’s department at about 10 a.m. Monday morning and told the staff at the front desk that he was going to commit serious bodily harm to the sheriff. He then went up the stairs to the administrative offices, where he met the locked door. The sheriff’s department reports that Eddelman never gained access to the administrative offices.

Sheriff Matt Myers began talking to Eddelman through the door with the goal to de-escalate the situation and to keep him at the door until deputies arrived, according to police reports.

When Eddelman attempted to leave the area, Myers opened the locked door to restrain the man. The two got into a scuffle which injured the sheriff’s knee, but left Eddelman in handcuffs.

The sheriff was treated for his injuries and released. Eddelman was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for evaluation before being arrested on charges including intimidation on a police officer, resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct.

The sheriff’s department stresses that  the front desk staff followed all proper procedures and took appropriate action.