Shelby Thomas
The Republic
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Past articles by Shelby:
Just a call away: Student Support Line offers assistance to BCSC students, families
The woman behind the Student Support Line, an initiative of United Way of Bartholomew County and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., is always on the clock.But for Alicia Monroe, director of special projects at United Way of Bartholomew County, it’s not work. It’s service.When BCSC received a $1.1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to launch → Read More
University News – January 13
University newsAssociation accepting scholarship applicationsThe Indiana Sheriffs’ Association will award college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies.Applications for the $750 scholarships must be completed and received by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association on or before April 1.To qualify, the applicant must be an… → Read More
‘Read, lead, succeed’: Community leaders promote literacy through library reading series
There’s magic in the act of reading, says Kelly Kennedy, a youth and family engagement librarian at Bartholomew County Public Library.But there’s something even more notable about listening to someone read, said the former classroom teacher-turned-librarian.“Listening to someone read is something you’re never too young for and you’re never too old for,” Kennedy said.What Kennedy → Read More
Remembering a hero: East mid-year graduate inspired by late cousin for senior project
Seventeen-year-old Brea Hunter had always considered serving in the military, but she admits she was never serious about it until, at 23-years-old, her cousin, U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon M. Hunter, was killed on Aug. 2, 2017 in the line of duty.U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon M. Hunter, a 2011 Columbus East High School graduate, was just → Read More
City seal gets a makeover
Columbus officials are taking the city’s seal in a new direction, one that Mayor Jim Lienhoop describes as “fresh and contemporary.”The new blue, green and white seal is Columbus’ fourth version of a city seal, unveiled Tuesday by Mary Ferdon, the city’s executive director of administration and community development.Ferdon said Lienhoop started talking last year → Read More
Council gives initial approval to annexation
Columbus City Council members have approved on first reading a proposed annexation and rezoning of nearly 80 acres in Wayne Township for future industrial development.In November, council members approved annexing an adjacent 20-acre property in Wayne Township, even after nearby residents begged the council to reconsider before taking a final vote.The families live next to → Read More
The ‘to do’ list: Lienhoop outlines 2020 agenda, reflects on first term
It’s day five of the new year, and Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop already is looking beyond 2020.The city’s chief executive was sworn in Wednesday to a second term, having run unopposed in the November general election after defeating Republican challenger Glenn Petri in the May primary.With four years of experience, Lienhoop said he is ready → Read More
Bartholomew County schools see mixed results in federal evaluations
Public schools in Bartholomew County received mixed ratings from the Indiana Department of Education’s Federal 2018-2019 School Accountability Ratings, released to the public Friday.A school receives one of four ratings — exceeds expectations, meets expectations, approaches expectations or does not meet expectations — based on the points earned for each available accountability indicator.Schools… → Read More
Ringing in a new term: City leaders take oath of office on New Year’s Day
A full house crowded into the Cal Brand Meeting Room at Columbus City Hall Wednesday to ring in the new year — and the next four years — with one of the most diverse Columbus City Councils to date. Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin and Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge Kathleen “Kitty” Tighe Coriden → Read More
City officials sworn in during ceremonies at City Hall
A full house crowded into the Cal Brand Meeting Room at Columbus City Hall Wednesday to ring in the new year -- and the next four years -- with one of the most diverse Columbus City Councils to date. Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin and Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge Kathleen → Read More
CAP to offer gifts to first baby
To celebrate the first baby born at Columbus Regional Hospital in 2020, Child Abuse Prevention of Bartholomew County has teamed up with local businesses to put together a basket full of goodies to give to the baby’s family. The council, a division of Family Service, Inc., started gifting the baskets in 2019 after noticing that → Read More
First baby of 2020 to receive gift basket
To celebrate the first baby born at Columbus Regional Hospital in 2020, Child Abuse Prevention of Bartholomew County has teamed up with local businesses to put together a basket full of goodies to give to the baby's family. The council, a division of Family Service, Inc., started gifting the baskets in 2019 after noticing that → Read More
Reflecting on 2019: Top five Classrooms stories of the year
COLUMBUS — In today’s relentless news cycle, it’s easy to forget the stories that happened inside the classrooms where today’s youth are learning to become tomorrow’s leaders. Dozens of students across Bartholomew, Brown, Jennings, Decatur and Jackson counties had a hand in designing and building a house for a local first-time homeowner through Bartholomew Consolidated → Read More
Dance Marathon organizers seeking sponsors
COLUMBUS — Bartholomew County high school students are collecting donations and sponsorships for the 21st annual Dance Marathon, now being referred to as DM, to benefit Turning Point Domestic Violence Services. On Feb. 29 through March 1, hundreds of local students will collectively participate in a 10-hour overnight party at Central Middle School aimed at → Read More
Home for the holidays: Local missionary recounts teaching in Lebanon
COLUMBUS — Julia Bowling is home for the holidays following a rocky five-month stay in Beirut, Lebanon, a country whose crumbling economy has been exacerbated by a political crisis. A Columbus native, Bowling, 25, is currently in the midst of her second school year teaching the children of Syrian refugees in the heart of Beirut → Read More
Married in a winter wonderland: Couple marries on Columbus homeowners’ decorated front lawn
COLUMBUS — A hesitant Jacob Waltermire approached the white storm door on the front of Jimmy and Kim Howell’s home, uncertain how the Columbus couple would react when Waltermire, 29, planned to ask if he and his fiancée could get married on their front lawn. Waltermire and his fiancée, Olivia Steen, had earlier driven by → Read More
Airport shuttle service extends to Columbus
COLUMBUS — GO Express Travel is creating a more efficient, less expensive option for Columbus residents and tourists to travel to the Indianapolis International Airport. Beginning Jan. 2, the Columbus Express, a 14-passenger shuttle, will stop at seven locations across Columbus and Bartholomew County, nine times a day, 365 days a year, for anyone who → Read More
Behind the referendum: BCSC explains rationale for seeking a tax increase
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has lost 469 teachers — nearly 65% of its current certified teaching staff — to retirement and resignation since 2014. Jim Roberts, BCSC superintendent, attributes the loss of teachers to resignation to two reasons. “You have two buckets: Stress and demand, and pay and benefits being the other,” Roberts said. “People → Read More
City to dedicate new fire engine
The Columbus Fire Department is inviting the community to celebrate the arrival of the city’s new fire engine at a public dedication ceremony Monday at Columbus Fire Department Station 6. The dedication ceremony will be at 5 p.m. Monday at Columbus Fire Department Station 6, 1900 W. County Road 450S. Limited parking will be available → Read More
Senior profile: Ryana Hardin
Ryana Hardin Age: 18 School: Columbus Signature Academy — New Tech Parents: Nikia Hobbs, Shane Hardin and Zach Hobbs; grandparents: Robin Dean, Steve Dean, Cynthia Brown and John Hardin; siblings: Lilliana Hobbs, Annabelle Hobbs, Taylor Hobbs, Thomas Cross and Layla Hobbs Which elementary and middle school did you attend? W.D. Richards Elementary, L. Frances Smith → Read More