Columbus police are working on getting reaccredited by a national organization. The police department announced this morning that a team of assessors for CALEA will be arriving early next month to look over the department’s operations and procedures. that will include looking into management, operations and support services.

The police and assessors will be looking for your thoughts on the department. They will have a public information session starting at 7 p.m. the night of Wednesday, August 9th. That will be in the Council Chambers at Columbus City Hall. If you can’t make it but want to leave a comment you can call between 1 and 3 p.m. that afternoon at 812-376-2625.

Telephone and in-person comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address how the department does or does not meet the CALEA accreditation standards. You can get more information on the standards by calling 812-376-2600 and speaking with Capt. Brian Wilder.

CALEA is the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Agencies must seek reaccreditation every three years.

Columbus Young Professionals are rescheduling an outdoor movie night.

Part of the CYP’s Moonlight Movies film series, the showing of the film “Independence Day” at City Hall was called off Saturday due to the bad weather. The film will now be shown this Saturday.

They will start letting people in at 8 p.m. and the film will start at dusk. There will be a cash bar held by the Garage Pub and Grill, along with snacks and outdoor games like cornhole.

The Moonlight Movies are free and you are invited to attend.

Columbus police recovered a vehicle stolen from Jennings County and arrested the driver Monday evening.

An officer conducted a routine license plate check of a vehicle on Pearl and 12th streets at about 7:30 p.m. last night, and discovered it was reported stolen out of Jennings County, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department. Officers  arrested the driver, 21-year-old Evert L. Jimenez of Franklin on preliminary charges of auto theft and operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license.

Cummins announced Monday that two executives have been promoted within its components business. Jon Mills, company spokesman, says that Mahesh Narang has been named Vice President, Cummins Emission Solutions, and Shon Wright has been named Executive Director and General Manager of Cummins Turbo Technologies, succeeding Narang.

The positions are effective August 1 and Narang and Wright will report directly to Tracy Embree, the president of Cummins’ components segment.

“Mahesh is perfectly suited for this role,” said Embree. “Over his career, Mahesh has consistently delivered terrific results and exemplified strong operational capabilities while ensuring we provide increased value to our customers. CES is at an exciting, pivotal moment and Mahesh’s capabilities are uniquely suited to lead CES during this period.”

“I am equally pleased that Shon will lead the Turbo Technologies organization,” Embree continued. “Shon has significant experience in building relationships with customers and understanding which products are needed in the market. I am confident that CTT will continue to excel as a strong organization under Shon’s leadership.”

The Vietnam Moving Wall arrives in Columbus on Thursday. Organizers say that a parade will be held taking the wall throughout the city prior to it being set up at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Susan Thayer Fye, spokeswoman for the Moving Vietnam Wall Committee, says that the parade group is meeting at Sam’s Club on the west side of Columbus at 8 a.m. with the parade to begin at 9 a.m.

The parade is scheduled to take the following route:
East on State Road 46, following Second Street north on Central Avenue to 10th Street;
Right turn on 10th Street to National Road;
The parade will head left on National Road, turning left onto 25th Street;
At Washington Street, the processional will turn left and travel through downtown Columbus;
At Third Street, turn right and follow to the fairgrounds.

The Moving Vietnam Wall goes on display at noon and will remain at the fairgrounds through 10 a.m. on July 31st.

A Columbus man was arrested after he allegedly ran from police over the weekend. Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman, says that at approximately 8:50 p.m. on Saturday, Officer Skylar Berry attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle near Eighth and Pearl Streets. Moments later, he says the car’s passenger door opened as the vehicle slowed down and a man exited the vehicle and began running on foot. Officer Tony Kummer began chasing the man on foot. The suspect continued running between houses in the 700 block of Pearl Street where he was finally taken into custody.

Police identified the man as 39-year-old Derek B. Woodson. A short time later, Harris says that the officers were able to confirm that Woodson had two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants. Along with those warrants, Woodson is facing new preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of Marijuana.

A Flat Rock woman died last night in an accident in northern Bartholomew County.

The sheriff’s department reports that 51-year-old Venessia Emerick died in the accident at County Roads 350E and 900N. The accident happened at abut 6:52 p.m. Sunday when a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Max Dyer of Hope struck Emerick’s vehicle in the intersection.

Emerick was a passenger in her husband’s vehicle. She was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The accident remains under investigation.

Columbus firefighters battled a blaze at a home on the north side of the city yesterday. The utility room fire caused about $5,000 in damage to the home in the 4100 block of North Riverside Drive.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department,said crews were called to the home, which was under remodelling. at about 5:10 p.m. yesterday afternoon. The homeowner said he and a family member were trying to start a vent-less fireplace at the home and thought that might be the source of the fire. Instead, they  found that the smoke was coming from the basement.

Firefighters discovered the fire had started near a dehumidifier and it was quickly extinguished before spreading. The basement suffered smoke damage, Wilson said.

Itty bitty libraries are popping up around Columbus. The newest is in the 1100 block of Sycamore Street. The libraries are small bookshelves mounted in a box in front of homes and stuffed with books that people can borrow.

Jessica Murnane, organizer of the Sycamore St. Little Free Library, says that the idea is to spread the love of reading and to share good books. She is providing books for the library out of her own collection:

Murnane said she will also accept donations to help supplement her own donations. She tries to keep a rotation of a variety of books in the little library.

Murnane and her husband, Stephan Jilbert, set up their library earlier this month. He said they have had a good response so far.

Murnane said they can’t take credit for the idea as they saw many when they lived in Chicago.

Other local little libraries are on 25th Street near North High School and across from the Ninth Street Park.

You can find more information on the Sycamore Street little library on Facebook, including the newest books available on the tiny shelf. Search for Sycamore Street Little Free LIbrary.

Columbus Regional Health is warning area residents about a phishing scam. Kelsey DeClue, hospital spokeswoman, says that a scam phone call may come from a number masked as a Columbus Regional Health telephone number under the guise of discussing financial or service related inquires. The caller then attempts to get personal information.

DeClue says that when official representatives of Columbus Regional Health contact patients, they first identify themselves, then provides the pertinent patient information on file directly for verification. She stresses that CRH representatives do not ask for or discuss personal information over the phone without first verifying the reason for the call by stating the date-of-service in question.

If you have questions or suspicions regarding a recent contact for information from Columbus Regional Health, DeClue urges you to call (800) 841-4938 or local law enforcement.