The Indiana Department of Natural Resources confirmed more than 70 Walmart stores and 18 Rural King stores in the state have received rhododendron plants infected with sudden oak death (SOD), a fungal pathogen that kills oak trees. Shipments containing infested material were sent to nine other states as well.

Workers from the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology have been visiting stores across Indiana to destroy any stock that has been found infested and quarantine any stock that is symptomatic. DNR says the division has made this its top priority.

The DNR has destroyed approximately 1,500 infested rhododendron so far and pulled another 1,500 from stores. The DNR has also ordered these stores to stop selling rhododendron until further notice. Any quarantined material not infected will be released following testing at Purdue University.

The DNR is also following up with homeowners that have called in to say they’ve purchased material that they believe is infested or are seeing signs/ symptoms of sick trees in the environment.

DNR officials say SOD has killed large tracts of oaks on the West Coast. The disease can kill standing oak trees, which could happen if SOD-positive rhododendron were planted within approximately six-feet of a standing oak.

The City of Columbus will spend the summer collecting information about local government operations greenhouse gas emissions as one of 13 communities selected to be a part of Indiana University’s first Resilience Cohort.

The city’s office of community development explains that findings will be used to help Columbus employees identify greenhouse gas reduction strategies and begin work on the creation of an action plan to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and improve air quality. Data will also be collected concerning community-wide greenhouse gas emissions.

“The City of Columbus is known for being innovative and forward thinking. We want to address greenhouse gas emissions, create efficiencies in local government, and encourage the same in our community. Building a sustainable community today will benefit current residents and create an environment that will attract and benefit future residents,” said Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

The Resilience Cohort was established by the Environmental Resilience Institute, an Indiana University Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative. The Cohort is made up of 13 Indiana cities, towns and counties that will complete their inventories this summer.

“We are delighted that these 13 Indiana communities have chosen to take a critical early step on the path to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing air quality,” said Ellen Ketterson, Director of IU’s Environmental Resilience Institute. “The findings from these greenhouse gas inventories will provide a roadmap for local officials to address emissions produced in their own backyards, improve public health, and strengthen the resilience of Hoosier communities.”

Other Resilience Cohort participants include Bloomington, Carmel, Delaware County / Muncie, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Gary, Greencastle, Goshen, Michigan City, Oldenburg, Richmond and West Lafayette.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has been made aware of a shipment of boxwood plants at Home Depot stores that contain the boxwood blight fungus. They have originated from a nursery named Cottage Gardens in Ohio.

Boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculata) is a fungal disease that infests members of the popular Buxaceae family, and is often transported through the nursery trade. Hosts include Buxus (boxwood), Pachysandra (Japanese spurge) and Sarcococca (sweetbox). Annual inspections of nursery stock by the DNR verify that this pathogen is not indigenous to Indiana, nor can it be found in nursery stock that is sourced locally.

When the fungus, which can lay dormant in drier conditions, is present, it can be found on all above-ground portions of the plant and presents itself as dark leaf spots. It causes rapid defoliation, which typically starts on the bottom of the plant and moves toward the top. This fungal pathogen can move through sporulation in water and from dropped leaves. As a result, infection can spread to surrounding plants from a single infected plant.

The infected nursery stock is currently being pulled from shelves in 13 Home Depot stores and will be disposed of.

There are several varieties of boxwood sold in Home Depot stores. The only species that is currently testing positive for the fungus is Korean boxwood (Buxus Koreana), however the DNR is testing other species to ensure the pathogen has not spread.

If you have purchased a Korean boxwood from a Home Depot store in the last month please contact the DNR for further guidance at 866-NO EXOTIC.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is welcoming the newest members of its K-9 Division. Deputy Leah Burton and K-9 Shadow join Deputy Matt Bush and K9 Diesel.

Department officials say that Deputy Burton spent several weeks attending K-9 handler training where she and Shadow were assigned together. Shadow will live with Deputy Burton and her family.

Deputy Burton and K9 Shadow specialize in the following areas:
Drug Detection
– Suspect Tracking
– Building Searches
– Area Searches
– Criminal Apprehension
– Article Searches

Deputy Burton and K9 Shadow are set to begin patrolling Bartholomew County soon.

Authorities have released the name of the person injured in a Sunday shooting in Jonesville. The incident happened at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the 300 block of Jackson Street

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says the victim has been identified as Susan Tolbert, 49. She was flown by medical helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital with from a gunshot wound. Tolbert was last listed in stable condition.

A suspect, 51-year-old Vicki Shade, is remains behind bars on a preliminary charge of Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon. Bond is set at $1,015,000.

The investigation is ongoing.

INDOT will be holding a community meeting tonight to get your thoughts on the proposed overpass into downtown Columbus and its environmental impact.

The overpass is being built to relieve traffic congestion that will come with increased train traffic through the downtown area. INDOT plans will lift the traffic on State Road 46 over the railroad tracks at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike.

Cloverleaf ramps will be built and the State Road 11 intersection would be moved about 900 feet south of its current location.

The project will also allow the People Trail system to connect between Mill Race Park and First Street.

INDOT has released environmental documents and is looking for the public’s thoughts on the impact of the project. You can review the documents at  the Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 5th Street, or at the  INDOT Seymour District offices at 185 Agrico Lane, in  Seymour.

Comments for the official public record will be accepted immediately following tonight’s  formal presentation.  In addition, written comments may be submitted to: INDOT Public Hearings, IGCN Room N642, 100 N, Senate Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204. E-Mail: mwright@indot.in.gov.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the Cal Brand meeting room at Columbus City Hall.

Rocky Balboa’s favorite band will be appearing in Columbus Labor Day weekend, headlining the annual hospice concert at Mill Race Park.

Survivor is slated to perform at the August concert. The band is best known for its hit “Eye of the Tiger” which was also the theme for Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky III. The band’s second big hit was “Burning Heart,” from the film Rocky IV.

The opening act will be The Woomblies Rock Orchestra from Indianapolis.

The annual hospice concert, sponsored by Faurecia, is the largest annual fundraising event for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. The concert, in its 33rd year, is free to the public with funds being raised through sponsors, raffle ticket sales, donations, concessions and T-shirt sales.

The concert will be Saturday, Aug. 31st at Mill Race Park.

For more information, you can go to ourhospice,org.

The North Vernon City Council is set to give final approval for an ordinance relating to UTVs on city streets. Council members say they recognize the increased popularity of these vehicles and want to make sure they can be safely enjoyed by everyone who is legally allowed to do so.

Under the proposed ordinance, operators must have a valid drivers license and proof of financial responsibility in order to legally operate within city limits.

Council is also restricting the use of these vehicles on certain streets. They include U.S. 50, State Road 3 and State Road 7, except to cross at a 90-degree angle. Council members are considering adding additional restrictions ahead of the second reading on Wednesday, May 29th.

Elizabethtown is the recipient of one of eight planning grants from he Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The town was awarded a $35,000 wastewater utility grant to assess the wastewater system. That includes the wastewater treatment plant and collection system.

“These grants will allow communities to make significant improvements to the quality of life for their residents,” Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch said. “These small steps on things such as infrastructure and water utilities make a huge difference for these communities.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant assists local units of government with various community projects, which include infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization, public facilities improvements and economic development.

A special meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission is set for Thursday afternoon. Heather Pope, the city’s director of redevelopment, explains the commission will consider the purchase of just under an acre in the 800 block of Second Street.

The property, at 867 Second Street, formerly served as a gas station.

Pope says the property is connected to other property owned by the city.

The Redevelopment Commission meets at 4 p.m. Thursday at city hall.