LATEST NEWS

The Southwestern Consolidated School Board of Trustees ratified the 2023-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Southwestern administration and the Southwestern Consolidated Classroom Teachers Association (SWCCTA) on Nov. 13. The agreement increases the starting teacher salary at Southwestern from $40,000 to $46,000 per year. Experienced teachers will receive significant increases in...

Indiana schools are not yet able to report teacher injuries to the state, this despite a new law that requires them to do just that.

INDIANAPOLIS – Staffing levels for family case managers meet 99% of the need statewide, according to the annual staffing and caseload report from the Department of Child Services (DCS), but some areas of the state face a greater need than others. “Some of the most integral among the agency’s...

This week in Columbus, Indiana, there were three incidents that occurred. A teenager tragically lost his life after being critically injured in a car accident. A fire broke out at a homeless camp, causing a significant amount of smoke but no injuries. Lastly, a car crashed into the front of a building, fortunately resulting in no injuries.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Police Department has announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Columbus Public Safety Academy next spring. The 11-week course is designed to educate participants about public safety operations in Columbus and Bartholomew County. Some of the topics scheduled to be covered...

The Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Morphey Construction is announcing lane closures on State Road 9 near Shelbyville. Beginning on or after Monday, crews will close State Road 9 in both directions between County Road W. 350 N. and County Road W. 500 N. This closure will allow crews to complete tile work under State Road 9.

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest, Edinburgh, Indiana may seem unassuming, but it carries a historical significance that belies its size. Founded in 1820 by John Campbell, this small town claims a surprising title: it is older than its famous Scottish namesake, Edinburgh, Scotland, which was not officially established until 1822. Despite the debate over its name's origin, whether it celebrates a Scottish heritage or hails from more local roots, Edinburgh, Indiana's claim as the 'original' Edinburgh adds a unique twist to its identity.

Nestled in the heartland of Indiana, Camp Atterbury's inception in 1942 marked a period of rapid transformation, driven by the urgency of World War II. Named after Brigadier General William Wallace Atterbury, a World War I veteran, the camp was a testament to American resilience, quickly becoming a crucial training ground for over 275,000 soldiers. Among them were the celebrated 83rd 'Thunderbolt' and the 92nd 'Buffalo Soldiers' divisions.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Court documents revealed further details after a Kentucky man reportedly stashed a “pipe bomb” in his work truck. On Nov. 13 just before noon, the Columbus Police Department responded to the 700 block of 13th Street on a complaint of a dangerous device being located. A man reported that he was in […]

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Your family is invited to kick off the holiday season and continue an over 30-year tradition. Lohmeyer Plumbing’s QMIX Christmas Musical Fireworks, presented by Sunright America, is coming up Friday night, December 1, at Cera Sports Park and Campground, 3989 S. County Road 525E, in Columbus.

FRANKLIN, Ind. – A portion of Graham Road in Franklin is closing today, Monday, November 27, in preparation for a roundabout project. It will be closed from Paul Hand Boulevard to Earlywood Drive until Friday, December 1, according to a Facebook post by the City of Franklin. To get...

Blue River Community Foundation received a $2,500 grant from Centra Credit Union to further its mission. This organization was nominated by Centra Team Members who feel passionate about the work they do in the community. “Centra Team Members are really involved in our Communities, and they love being able to...

SOUTHWESTERN (1-0) BOYS PICK UP THEIR THIRD STRAIGHT VICTORY IN THE SERIES AND SIXTH OF THE LAST SEVEN OVER MADISON (0-1)TO CLAIM THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET 80-55 SCORING FOR SOUTHWESTERN PEYTON CLOUD 19PTS, JAMISON LEWIS 18PTS, BRADY COOK 17PTS,LANDON KIDWELL 14PTS,JACKSON TAYLOR 5PTS, BRAXTON LEWIS AND LANDON HIGGINS 2PTS, CALEB SEALS 1PT.

Columbus, Indiana, may be a pinpoint on the map of the Midwest, but it looms large in the world of architecture. Dubbed 'The Athens of the Prairie,' this vibrant city is ranked sixth nationally for architectural innovation and design by the American Institute of Architects. With a legacy shaped by architectural giants such as Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Cesar Pelli, Columbus is a testament to the vision of industrialist and philanthropist J. Irwin Miller. His dedication to design excellence spurred the creation of over 70 modernist buildings and public artworks that dot the cityscape, transforming Columbus into a beacon of modernist architecture.

Approaching one year ago, in the March issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer, “Local farmers feed the flock” appeared on Page 4 and online. Regan Nichalson, Columbus, Ind., then a senior student at Purdue in agricultural communication, wrote the article as a class assignment and to gain real-world experience in writing. Farmers Feeding the Flock is a volunteer effort shepherded by Merrill Smith, a purebred Berkshire breeder in Decatur County, Ind. It raises money annually that supports Bread of Life, a ministry feeding hungry people in the Greensburg, Ind., community.

Legal Aid announces a free Legal Aid Walk-in Clinic on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Bartholomew County Public Library, located at 536 Fifth St. in Columbus. The clinic will be held from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. The free clinic is for low-income residents. The Legal Aid Clinic...

COLUMBUS, Ind. – “A Not So Silent Night” is set for December 7, from 4 to 8 p.m., in downtown Columbus. Among other activities, you will be able to enjoy extended shopping hours at the downtown Columbus merchants, food trucks, an elf scavenger hunt, a kid’s craft table at The Commons, and window display riddles.

Lung cancer is the Leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and responsible for 27 percent of all cancer deaths in United States. Unfortunately, more people die of Lung Cancer in United States than Breast, Prostate, Colon, Kidney and Melanoma combined. With these trends, about one incidence of lung cancer diagnosed every 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

Southwestern Consolidated Schools board has placed the school system’s superintendent on administrative leave pending an investigation. Joshua Edwards, superintendent at Southwestern since March of 2022, was essentially suspended before the start of the school board meeting on Nov. 8 at the administrative building. He was not present at the meeting.

Bloomington business owner and father of two dies in plane crash. Just 3 weeks after earning his Pilot’s License, Bloomington business owner Nathan Finney died in a plane crash on Wednesday, a day before Thanksgiving. Finney and Warren Bruhl, his Gambit Aviation Flight Instructor, were the only two onboard the Cirrus SR22T when the plane crashed in Shelbyville, Indiana.