Jennings County Middle School will continue to be recognized as one of the best in the state.

The Indiana Department of Education released its list of Gold Star schools yesterday, and the North Vernon school was the only area school to make the list of 13. The Jennings County school was one of five to have their designation renewed this year.

State Schools Superintendent Jennifer McCormick said the Gold Star recognizes the school’s commitment to the positive impact that school counselors, school teams, and community members have in helping students become fully prepared for the future.

Since the program was started in 2004, more than 300 Indiana schools have been recognized with the award. Schools are graded on their process for raising student achievement and improving overall student success.

The award will be presented in November at the Indiana School Counselor Association fall conference.

The Bartholomew County Health Department will be offering a drive-thru flu shot clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 22nd in the Fair Oaks Mall parking lot. That will be in the same area where the farmers market is held.

Health officials recommend that everyone older than 6 months get the flu vaccine. According to the department, if you are uninsured or your insurance does not pay for the flu vaccine, you can get a vaccine at no charge.

For more information, you can call 812-379-1555 and hit option 1.

Columbus Parks and Recreation Department reports that the Jolie Crider Memorial Skatepark in Clifty Park is closing today.

It will reopen on Sunday. They say that the closure is so that crews can wrap up the work that needs to be completed prior to the official re-opening of the revamped skate park.

For more information: (812) 376-2599.

Two Scottsburg residents are dead after an early Tuesday morning crash in Jennings County that may have involved a deer.

Indiana State Police report that 20-year-old David T. Seropian was driving southbound on State Road 3 near Jennings County Road 650S, when he swerved off the road, striking a tree and the vehicle overturned. He was thrown from the vehicle and died.

A passenger, 21-year old Shaylla Jones also suffered fatal injuries. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jennings County Coroner’s office.

Troopers say that their initial investigation suggests a deer was involved and speed was a factor in the crash.

Thrive Alliance is looking for nominations for the local Family Caregiver of the Year Award. The agency is seeking nominations from Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties in three categories: unpaid family caregivers, paid family caregivers and paid professional caregivers.

An awards ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 5th in the Terrace Room of the Bartholomew Consolidated Schools headquarters on Central Avenue.

This is the second year for the awards and applications will be accepted through Oct. 25th. You can pick up applications at Thrive Alliance or call 1-866-644-6407 for more information.

A link to the application form is available here.

Alcohol was involved in a crash of a semi on Interstate 65 Monday evening and both the driver and a passenger were taken into custody, according to Indiana State Police.

The semi left the southbound lanes of the interstate near Crothersville at about 6:30 p.m. Monday evening, rolling over onto its side, according to police reports. The driver, 40-year-old Torris D. Robinson of Anniston, Alabama appeared to be intoxicated and was taken to Schneck Medical Center for testing. While at the hospital, he allegedly spit on a hospital employee. He was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle  while intoxicated, operating while intoxicated with endangerment and battery by bodily waste.

The passenger, 38-year-old Mary E. Thomson, of Anniston, Alabama appeared intoxicated also. Troopers say that she became  belligerent and  resisted arrest. She is facing charges of public Intoxication and resisting law enforcement.

Neither the driver nor passenger were injured.

I-65 was restricted to one lane through the area for nearly five hours for crash investigation and cleanup. The truck’s load of tires had to be removed from the trailer before it could be put upright, troopers report.

Indiana State Police were assisted at the scene by the Crothersville Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Jackson County EMS, Vernon Township Fire Department, and 31 Wrecker Service.

City elections are underway in Columbus and other Hoosier communities.

The election is Nov. 5th but early voting started today. That is available at the Bartholomew County Courthouse voter registration office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, until noon on Monday, Nov. 4th.

A second early voting center will open at Donner Center on Oct. 28th, the week before the election. Saturday early voting will be available from 8 to 3 on Oct. 26th and Nov. 2nd.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps said that more than 90 mail-in absentee ballots have already been received, more than the 12 on the opening day of the May primary election.

In Columbus, the only contested citywide race is for the City Council’s two at-large seats, where incumbents Democrat Tom Dell and Republican Laurie Booher are facing Democrat Grace Kestler and Republican Josh Burnett. Republicans, Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer, are both unopposed in their re-election bids.

Voters will also have a full slate of candidates for the district seats on Columbus City Council. District 1 will see incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch in a three-way race with Democrat Jerone Wood and independent Michael Kinder, District 2 will feature incumbent Democrat Elaine Wagner against Republican Jim Hartsook.

The District 3 race will feature Republican Councilman Dave Bush, who was appointed to his seat earlier this year, will face Democrat Katea Ravega.

In Council District 4, incumbent Republican Frank Miller is facing Democrat Michael Schoumacher. Incumbent Tim Shuffett, a Republican, is running against Democrat Ross Thomas in Council District 5.

Some voters in northwestern Bartholomew County will also be casting ballots in Edinburgh at-large council and clerk-treasurer races.

Corrections: The date of the opening of the Donner Center satellite voting site was incorrect in an earlier version of this story. Also, Michael Kinder’s last name was incorrect in an earlier version of the story.

For those needing help this holiday season, sign ups will begin next week in Bartholomew County for all of the community holiday help programs.

United Way of Bartholomew County’s holiday helpline will kick off Oct. 14th. The Helpline is the place to contact to register families and children for holiday food and gift assistance through the Community Center of Hope Angel Tree, Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Salvation Army Angel Tree,  Shop with a Cop, Toys for Tots, Love Chapel’s Holiday Food Pantry as well as other private organizations.

Families in need of help contact the Holiday Helpline through December 6th at 812-375-2216. That is Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. . If you need Spanish-language help, you can call SuCasa Columbus at 812-375-9370.

A North Vernon veterans organization is looking for volunteers to help those who served their country.

Vet to Vet will hold a volunteer organizational meeting this week. Willie Steele is an organizer for the group

The volunteer organizational meeting will be at 7 p.m., Thursday evening at the North Vernon Education and Training Center on O&M Avenue.

Steele says that the group holds a veterans breakfast on the second Saturday of every month from 8 to 11 a.m. at the ETC. The October breakfast was held last weekend.

You can call 812-292-0008 for more information or go to their Facebook page here.

The city of Columbus is calling off its previously scheduled public input session on the Fair Oaks Mall project, originally scheduled for today.

This would have been the third of four public input sessions guiding the future plans for the now city-owned mall property on 25th Street. The goal is to move some Columbus Parks and Recreation functions to the mall property, to develop sports and recreation opportunities and to use the facility for community wellness purposes.

The next Fair Oaks Mall Public Engagement Session is set for 6 p.m., the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 12th at Fair Oaks Mall.