Monthly Archives: October 2016

CDC group touts local, statewide, small business loans

Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation provided more than $31 million to Hoosier small businesses in 2016 through the U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loan program.

Guy Johnson, with Indiana Statewide CDC, says that by working with its local lending partners, his group has approved loans to 44 small businesses in 17 Indiana counties, creating or saving 480 jobs. He explains that these figures are for fiscal 2016, ending September 30. Johnson says that companies receiving loans are engaged in software development, construction, manufacturing, home security, medical services, brewing, hospitality and a variety of other industries.

Locally, Johnson says the financing provided by Indiana Statewide CDC in 2016 to Columbus companies includes: The Eye Place and Columbus Massage Center and Salon, which was working with German American Bank. In addition, he adds that and Indiana Podiatry Group also received financing, with help from Jackson County Bank.

Johnson says that Indiana Statewide CDC has provided more than $475 million to 1,157 Indiana companies since 1983, creating or saving 26,500 jobs.

Candidates for State House District 59 discuss issues

A week from today, voters in much of Bartholomew County will be deciding who will represent them in Indiana House District 59. Incumbent Republican Milo Smith is running against Democrat Bob Pitman.

Smith is running for his sixth consecutive two-year term. Smith talks about the qualities that he feels he brings to the job…

Democrat Bob Pitman says that he has leadership experience…

 

Over the past couple if years, Bartholomew County has had a difficult time getting its yearly budget together. A number of local officials have blamed state lawmakers for the county’s financial issues. We asked if there is merits to those complaints and what could be done, on the state level, to help local municipalities raise revenue…

Pitman says…

As for Smith…

 

Bartholomew County, like much of the state, is dealing with a growing drug problem. We asked the candidates why they think that is and what can be done, at the state level, to combat the problem.

Smith says that no one group has the answer…

Pitman says the state could do more…

 

Narcan has proven to be a life-saver for those who have overdosed, with law-enforcement many times administering the drug. We asked if the state should mandate that police be equipped with the drug and should the state pay for it?

Pitman says yes…

Smith says it is a local issue…

 

We asked if those who overdose and are repeatedly revived by police should face criminal penalties.

Smith…

Pitman gives his thoughts…

 

We asked if the federal government oversteps its authorities on issues best left to state and local officials.

Pitman says yes…

Smith says some federal oversight makes no sense…

 

We asked Smith what he hopes to accomplish over the next two years…

As for Pitman…

 

We asked the candidates if there was anything else that voters should know about them…

In northeastern Bartholomew County, Shelbyville Republican incumbent Sean Eberhart is running unopposed in district 57, while Republican incumbent Jim Lucas from Seymour is running unopposed in District 69 which includes parts of southern Bartholomew County.

‘Pack a Patrol Car’ efforts continue to help the hungry

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department continues to ask for your help in feeding the hungry in our area.

Sheriff Matt Myers is thanking everyone who has contributed to the department’s “Pack a Patrol Car” efforts. The food drive, benefiting Love Chapel, began during this year’s Ethnic Expo in downtown Columbus.

While you can continue to drop off non-perishable food items at the department’s offices during normal, weekday business hours, Sheriff Myers says the next event is scheduled for this weekend. It will be held at the new Kroger location at 3060 North National Road, in Columbus, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Police arrest pair of wanted North Vernon men

Two Jennings County men wanted by law-enforcement were arrested Sunday evening after North Vernon Police were called to a report of suspicious activity.

Authorities say that officers responded to the area of 100 South State Street at 6:25 p.m. and found 20-year-old Daniel Kelsay and 24-year-old Christopher Asbury, both of North Vernon. Police say that Kelsay was wanted on a warrant for Possession of Marijuana, while Asbury was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear.

Sheriff’s Department has opening for a new deputy

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office has an opening for a new Deputy Sheriff.

Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED, a minimum of 24-months sworn law enforcement experience within the past three-years, as well as a valid driver’s license.

Applications can be obtained at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office or online at http://www.bartholomew.in.gov/sheriff.html#forms. Jackson says that applications must be received at the sheriff’s office, at 543 Second Street, no later than November 18, 2016.

Along with a salary ranging from $42,802 – $46,802 (plus shift differential), additional benefits include a take-home car, insurance and incentive pay for military experience and special assignments.

Driver arrested after running from traffic stop

Jesse L. Cameron
Jesse L. Cameron

A Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle Saturday night, but the driver tried to run away, authorities say.

Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department, says the incident happened at about 10:13 p.m. Saturday when a deputy pulled over the vehicle in the 6000 block of South Jonesville Road. The driver ran and entered a nearby residence, but as deputies approached, he allegedly fled again and was caught in a nearby yard.

26-year-old Jesse Cameron of Columbus is facing preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and driving while suspended. He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant from Bartholomew County and two warrants from Brown County, Jackson said.

Wanted man found hiding behind church dumpster

eric-peetz-2
Eric Peetz II

A wanted man was arrested yesterday afternoon in Columbus after he was found hiding behind a church dumpster.

Columbus police were called to Cardinal Lane and Rockyford Road at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the report of a disturbance. Officers saw a man running from the area and while searching the area, heard footsteps behind the dumpster at Community Church of Columbus.

Officers arrested 24-year-old Eric J. Peetz II on a local warrant to revoke his probation on an original charge of possession of methamphetamine, as well as preliminary charges of failure to comply, unlawful possession of a syringe and drug paraphernalia and resisting law enforcement, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department.

Local voting on track for record numbers

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps says that as of Friday, more than 5,200 Bartholomew County voters had voted early or by absentee. That is nearly double the number who had voted at this point in 2008 and 2012, Phelps said.

Three satellite locations for early voting open today in Bartholomew County. You can still cast your ballot at the Bartholomew County Courthouse from 8 to 5 through Friday.

But you can also vote at Main Source Bank on the west side of Columbus, at Donner Center and at Flintwood Wesleyan Church. Early voting at the satellite locations will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Friday. The satellite locations and the courthouse will be open from 8 to 3 on Saturday.

On the Bartholomew County ballot:

President/Vice President
Donald J. Trump/Michael R. Pence, R
Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine, D
Gary Johnson/Bill Weld, L

U.S. Senator
Todd Young, R
Evan Bayh, D
Lucy Benton, L

Governor
Eric Holcomb/Suzanne Crouch, R
John R. Gregg/Christina Hale, D
Rex Bell/Karl “K-Tat” Tatgenhorst

Attorney General
Curtis Hill, Jr., R
Lorenzo Arrendodo, D

Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jennifer McCormick, R
Glenda Ritz, D

U.S. Representative, District 6
Luke Messer, R
Barry Welsh, D
Rich Turvey, L

State Senate District 44
Eric A. Koch, R
Linda Kay Henderson, D
Darin S. Kinser, L

State Representative District 57
Sean R. Eberhart, R

State Representative District 59
Milo Smith, R
Bob Pitman, D

State Representative District 69
Jim Lucas, R

Circuit Court Judge
Kelly Benjamin, R

Coroner
Clayton R. Nolting, R
Paula K. Rothrock, D

Surveyor
E.R. Gray, R

County Commissioner, District 1
Larry Kleinhenz, R

County Commissioner District 3
Rick Flohr, R
Brad Woodcock, D

County Council at-large
William “Bill” Lentz, R
Matt Miller, R
Evelen Strietelmeier Pence, R
Pam Clark, D
Lynne Fleming, D
Diane Hawes, D
Joshua Brown, L

Hartsville Clerk-treasurer
No Candidate Filed

Hartsville Town Council
Michael W. “Mike” Crull, R
Rex L. Dora, R
Steven Rucker, R
Lisa L. Hayes, D
Mark Imel, D
Jeremy Kimball, D

Hope Clerk-treasurer
Diane Burton, I

Hope Town Council Ward 1
Edward Johnson, D

Hope Town Council Ward 2
Nellie Meek, D

Hope Town Council Ward 3
Ohmer Miller, R

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. District 3
James Persinger
Polly Verbanic

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. District 5
Pat Bryant
Tim Woods

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. District 7
Jeff Caldwell
Dennis White

Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. Flatrock District
Brian Rose

Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. Hawcreek District
Steve Wilson

Edinburgh School Board – Town of Edinburgh seat
Cathy J. Hamm
William “Bill” Jones
Curtis Rooks
Alice Nancy Taulman

Culvert collapse endangers NTN traffic flow

A collapsing culvert is endangering traffic into the NTN Driveshaft plant in Walesboro.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop said that the culvert is under the only way in, or out of the property. Until a few weeks ago, the 6-foot deep culvert had been full of water, but it recently dried out. And when someone checked underneath, they found that the pipe had corroded away :

Lienhoop says the city has the money on hand, but the spending must be approved by City Council.  Columbus City Council will be asked to make an emergency appropriation of about $88,000 to fix the failing structure.

Columbus City Council meets at 6 p.m.Tuesday in the City Council chambers at City Hall.