The 2016 Columbus State of the City Address will be held Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m.

Mary Ferdon, the city’s Executive Director of Administration and Community Development, says that Mayor Jim Lienhoop will deliver the

address, his first as Mayor, from the Columbus Learning Center Auditorium, located at 4555 Central Avenue. You are encouraged to attend.

If you are unable to attend, you can listen to the Mayor’s address live on NewsTalk 1010 WCSI.

A law enforcement canine worked his final shift Tuesday morning, ending an eight year career with the Columbus Police Department (CPD).

CPD Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that after arriving from Czechoslovakia, K-9 Rex began working with his handler, Officer Chad

Lehman, during the summer of 2008. Over the course of his career, authorities say that Rex made nearly 250 apprehensions, searched over 100 building for suspects, and conducted 200 tracks for suspects. Last year, Harris said that Rex assisted local law enforcement with the recovery of more than seven pounds of methamphetamine.

Harris said that before the start of Rex’s final shift, he was treated to a large steak, courtesy of Texas Roadhouse in Columbus. During a reception with fellow officers Monday night, Rex was recognized for his service. Harris says that Rex will continue to live with Officer Lehman and his family during his retirement.

CPD officials are in the process of selecting a new canine which will begin serving the community later this year.

Jacob Williams became Columbus’ newest police officer when he was sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday morning’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at Columbus City Hall.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that Williams is a 24-year-old graduate of Shelbyville High School. He later

graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Harris says that before joining CPD, Williams was employed with the Indiana State Excise Police as a Compliance Surveyor. After a short orientation period, Williams will attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, said Harris.

Ivy Tech Community College’s student honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, will host the Indiana Region Spring Conference. School Spokesman Chris Schilling says that the local chapter of the honor society will welcome approximately 100 Phi Theta Kappa members from around the state on March 4-5.

Ivy Tech officials say the event will be held at the Clarion Hotel. Keynote speaker Jason Levasseur will feature his “Get Your Show on the Road” program, which Schilling says “provides a fun, informational, and inspirational message about finding your passion and transforming dreams into reality.”

Also speaking during the gathering’s first day will be Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Ivy Tech Community College Chancellor Chris Lowry, said Schilling.

The Spring Conference continues the following day with events at the Ivy Tech Columbus Campus. Schilling says that event for that day include workshops, regional officer elections, and service projects with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Youth Camp. He adds that an awards banquet will be held that evening at the Clarion Hotel.

Ivy Tech officials are thanking Trine University and Sunrise Rotary for their generosity in sponsoring the Spring Conference.

Seymour Main Street has announced a new downtown program for this year.

Julie Huff, Seymour Main Street Director, says this new program is called “Downtown Shop Around.” She explains that the goal of the program is to encourage local commerce. Huff says that by supporting local businesses, you could receive money to “Shop Around Downtown.” Huff says that by visiting participating merchants, you will have the chance to win gift certificates to local businesses.

The following dates for this program have been announced:

May 14
July 16
September 17
November 19

For more information on the Downtown Shop Around program, visit the Seymour Main Street Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/seymourmainstreet/.

CoreLogic says that their data reveals that the rate of Columbus-area foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 0.86 percent for December 2015. The global property information, analytics and data-enabled services provider says that is a decrease of 0.28 percentage points compared with December 2014.

CoreLogic says that foreclosure activity in Columbus was lower than the national foreclosure rate, which was 1.2 percent for December 2015. Also in Columbus, the mortgage delinquency rate decreased. According to the company’s data for December 2015, 2.49 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent. That’s considerably lower than the 3.15 percent reported for the same period last year.

Traffic on a section of State Road 3 in North Vernon is expected to slow down in the near future.

The North Vernon City Council voted Monday night to approve a plan to lower the speed limit on a section of the road, from the intersection of Madison Avenue to IN 750/US 50, to 45 miles per hour. City officials say that the affected section of State Road 3 was turned over from the state to local officials for maintenance within the past year.

North Vernon Police Chief James Webster pushed for the change, which he says is needed after a slew of traffic crashes in that area. A representative with the city’s Streets Department told council members that expenses will be minimal, as the road signs needed for the change are already available.

The city council unanimously approved the change. The body is expected to give its final approval to the plan in two weeks.

On the eve of National FFA Week, organizers have announced the formation of the Bartholomew County FFA Alumni Association.

Last week, organizers met at at the Bartholomew County 4H Fairgrounds and unanimously agreed that the Association should be formed. This began the process for obtaining a local charter from the National FFA Alumni Association. The Association elected its first slate of officers, approved a constitution and bylaws, and agreed on a $20 fee for annual membership dues.

Officials elected include:

• Don Barriger – President
• Jackie Arnholt – Vice President
• Cathy Robertson – Secretary
• Dianne Barriger – Treasurer

Officials say that regular meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month, inside the Family Arts Building at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Association President Don Barriger says that anyone interested in FFA and the promotion of its goals is welcome to join. He adds that there is no need to have been actively involved with FFA in the past.

A Bartholomew County man was accidentally killed by his young son, according to authorities.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at 9:17 p.m. on Sunday, deputies responded to a shooting in the 200 block of Clinton Street in Hartsville. On arrival, deputies reported finding 62-year-old James E. Lonaker with a gunshot wound to his upper body.

Investigators say that evidence at the scene indicates that Lonaker’s six-year-old son accidentally shot his father when he picked up an unsecured 38-caliber revolver and fired a shot that struck Lonaker. They say that Lonaker was apparently sitting at his desk and did not see the child pick up the handgun, which belonged to Lonaker.

Jackson says that Lonaker was being flown to Methodist Hospital when he died en route. She adds that Lonaker’s wife and one-year old child were also in the house at the time of the shooting. Authorities say that neither were injured.

Sheriff Matt Myers says this was a tragic accident. He is using this opportunity to remind all Bartholomew County residents to make certain that firearms in their homes are not accessible to anyone, especially children.

“Many firearms accidents in the home can be prevented simply by making sure that firearms are kept unloaded and safely stored, with ammunition secured in a separate location,” said Sheriff Myers. He continued, “Please keep your guns in a secure location out of reach of children”. Myers added, “This is a tragedy that is told and retold all across the country and a tragedy that is easily avoided. I urge every responsible gun owner and parent to take this tragedy to heart.”

Jackson says this incident remains under investigation. She adds that it is being led by This is being investigated by Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Detective Chad Swank and Lt. Greg Duke. The Sheriff’s Department also said that Child Protective Services were notified.

By Sam Simmermaker

The Columbus North Bull Dog girls basketball team won the school’s first state basketball championship a year ago.  Don’t look now, but the CNHS ladies are knocking on the door of the throne room for a second year in a row.

Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the Canines will meet the Penn Kingsmen for the 2016 4-A title.

Adding a bit of spice to the festivities is the fact that North defeated Penn in a holiday tourney earlier in the season, 67-52.

Tickets are $15 and will be available 9 a.m-3 p.m. at the North athletic office.  Broadcast:  1010 WCSI and 1010wcsi.com, beginning with the pregame show at 7:30 p.m.

Clear the decks for Penn (27-2) vs. Columbus North (27-1), Saturday at 8:15.

There will be a community rally at North’s Memorial Gymnasium, win or lose, when the team arrives home after the game.

Go Bull Dogs!