Bloomington high-speed internet to be provided by GigabitNow
GigabitNow, announced that it will utilize the Hoosier Networks LLC (H-Net) fiber network to provide high speed internet services to at least 70,000 residences and businesses of the cities of Bloomington, Columbus, and Shelbyville, Indiana. This fiber-based, high-speed internet solution is expected to be made available to the first wave of Hoosiers by January 2023.
Hoosier Networks, the fiber network utility provider established by Meridiam, an asset manager specializing in transformational infrastructure, expects to invest more than $90 million to bring fiber based high-speed internet access to Bloomington, Columbus, and Shelbyville, where residents and businesses are currently underserved in terms of access to high-speed internet services.
Through a phased approach, the first residents are expected to receive fiber-based broadband services in Bloomington by the end of January 2023, with final premises receiving service by the first quarter of 2025. Columbus and Shelbyville residents will be able to sign up for service in the first quarter of 2023, with the final residents receiving service by the end of 2024. Residents will be offered multiple plan choices at various prices and internet speeds that fit their respective needs. Eligible low-income residents can utilize the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to attain access to a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mbps) plan at reduced or no cost to them.
GigabitNow was selected by H-Net for its expertise and track record of working within local communities. Hoosier Networks’ fiber network will offer service of at least 1 Gigabit per second symmetrical (equal upload and download) speed everywhere the network reaches. Bloomington, Columbus and Shelbyville residents with questions about GigabitNow’s services can go to GigabitNowIndiana.com and pre-register to ensure they have the latest information on service availability.
IU sanctions Alps Epsilon Pi with Cease and Desist order
Indiana University has ordered a ‘Cease and Desist to the Bloomington Campus Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi on the charge of alcohol and endangering others. According to the University, Alpha Epsilon Pi is banned from all organization social events/activities effective September 13 until further notice, The IU website states that that both Sigma Alpha Mu and Sigma Phi Epsilon are also suspended under the same statute. Greek organizations placed under Cease and Desist are not able to host, attend, or participate in any social events, recruitment activities, brotherhood/sisterhood events, philanthropy/service events, or social events.
Duke Energy Foundation invests nearly $100,000 for hunger relief in Indiana communities
The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding nearly $100,000 in grants to local food pantries and community organizations to help put food on the table for Hoosier families in need. The grants will support the purchase of canned goods, fresh produce and essential supplies to address food insecurity across the company’s Indiana service territory.
One such organization is Hoosier Hills Food Bank in Bloomington,. The nonprofit makes food donations available to over 100 area nonprofit organizations, including emergency food pantries, day care centers serving low-income children, youth programs, shelters, residential homes and soup kitchens. Each year, these agencies collectively serve 25,800 people in south-central Indiana.
“No one deserves to be hungry,” said Julio Alonso, executive director of Hoosier Hills Food Bank. “Food insecurity persists as a significant problem, and our partner organizations often struggle to meet demand. We are grateful for the financial support of companies like Duke Energy that enable us to expand our capacity to serve those in need in our community.”
The following organizations were awarded grants:
- Bread of Life Food Pantry (Decatur County) – $1,500
- Churches in Mission (Morgan County) – $1,000
- Clay County YMCA (Clay County) – $10,000
- Community Harvest Food Bank (Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties) – $6,000
- Dinner Before Bedtime (Shelby County) – $5,000
- Fayette County Food Council (Fayette County) – $3,000
- Fishers Youth Assistance Program (Hamilton County) – $2,000
- Food Finders (North-Central Indiana) – $5,000
- Food Finders (Tippecanoe County) – $11,000
- Franklin County High School (Franklin County) – $2,500
- Good Samaritan Food Pantry (Decatur County) – $1,500
- Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Program (Hamilton County) – $1,500
- Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition (Hendricks County) – $5,000
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank (Brown, Lawrence, Orange, Owen, Martin and Monroe counties) – $10,000
- Hope Southern Indiana (Floyd County) – $1,000
- Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (Monroe County) – $1,000
- Open Doors of Westfield (Hamilton County) – $1,000
- Princeton Salvation Army (Gibson County) – $5,000
- Riverview Health’s Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank (Hamilton County) – $3,000
- Rush County Community Assistance (Rush County) – $2,500
- Salvation Army of Southern Indiana (Floyd County) – $10,000
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana (Delaware County) – $2,500
- Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank (Vigo County) – $1,000
- United Way of Knox County (Knox County) – $6,000
- Western Wayne School Corporation (Wayne County) – $1,000
This Week in Hoosier History
1997 – Comedian Red Skelton died in California at age 84. As a boy, he entertained audiences in his hometown of Vincennes. He became a star of vaudeville, radio, movies, and television. The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy in Vincennes (pictured) provides visitors with his life story and many samples of his humor.
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