The Columbus Fire Department is thanking a local business for its donation of smoke alarms. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that CFD received 30 battery powered smoke alarms from the Columbus Lowe’s Store on Monday. He says these smoke alarms will be provided to families who are currently without working smoke alarms in the department’s ongoing efforts to save lives, homes and property.

Columbus Firefighters met with store management and employees to thank them for the contribution. “We are happy to do it,” said Chris Johnson, manager of the Lowe’s location in Columbus. “For a project like this, we have the opportunity to do the right thing for the right people,” Johnson said. He said that his team is always eager to be involved in the community. Wilson adds that Lowe’s has partnered with the Columbus Police and Fire Departments the past two years in providing a venue for the annual City of Columbus Public safety Family Fun Day event. This event, held in the Lowe’s parking lot, is a free community event where community member have the opportunity to learn more the City’s emergency services providers and equipment.

CFD Chief Mike Compton also thanked the store and its employees. “This donation comes at a time when our on-hand supply of alarms has been depleted. We are very appreciative of Lowe’s generosity,” said Compton.” He went on to say that the department relies on donations to be able to provide smoke alarms to families in need. Wilson says that these donations are needed. He noted that CFD has responded to 19 residential fires causing damages to property of at least $1000. Of those incidents, he says that eight homes did not have working smoke alarms.

If you are in need of a working smoke alarm, Wilson says they are available at the Columbus Fire Department Administrative offices at 1101 Jackson Street. He says an alarm can be picked up Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you would like to donate a new smoke alarm, you can do so at the same location, during the same hours.

Columbus police say that a social media spat turned into fight with a ball bat Tuesday afternoon.

Police were called to Marr and North National roads at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday after a man ran across the street and whacked another man in the back of the legs with a ball bat. The victim wrestled the bat away from his attacker before he could be hit again, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department.

Witnesses said the attacker, 22-year-old John M. Pheral ran into a residence in the 3100 block of 17th Street. He was arrested at the home on preliminary charges of battery with a deadly weapon, intimidation against a law-enforcement officer, intimidation with threats to commit a forcible felony and disorderly conduct.

A non-partisan group in Columbus is hoping Republicans representing the community in Congress will come to a town hall meeting tomorrow night.

But as of yet, there are no takers. Terry Whittaker is an organizer of the event with Bartholomew County Indivisible. He said invitations went out to Rep. Luke Messer and Sen. Todd Young. The group has put together 20 questions for the congressmen.

Topics include health care, gun control, North Korea, election integrity and national parks.

Without either member of Congress attending, or sending a representative, the town hall will go on with fill-ins for the Congressmen, Whittaker said.

An Earlham College professor will fill in for Rep. Messer, while local resident Bud Herron will take the positions preferred by Sen. Young, Whittaker said.

Whittaker said that a later event is being organized to feature a staff member from Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly’s office or the senator himself, however this week’s event was created for a conversation with Republican leaders.

The town hall is from 7 to 9 p.m.  tomorrow at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on California Street. You can find more information at BCindivisible.org.

The Columbus Area Arts Council is hosting a self-guided walking tour of downtown Columbus art and architecture. The Art Walk will be Thursday night, ahead of this weekend’s Exhibit Columbus kickoff events.

From 5:30 to 9 p.m. tomorrow night you can stop by one of nine downtown locations to pick up a map and start collecting stamps. After you collect five you can stop by Hotel Indigo at 8:15 p.m. for a reception and you will also be entered in a drawing to win tickets to the Columbus Movie.

The downtown locations and the artwork include:

1. Bartholomew County Public Library Gallery, Cleo Rogers Memorial Library, 536 5th St.  — Avenue of the Architects by Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives
2. Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 5th St.  — Charley Harper Exhibition
3. Hotel Indigo, 400 Brown St. — Graphic Design Celebration
4. kidscommons, 309 Washington St. Mural by Andy J. Miller also Live, Laugh, Love, Laugh Until You Cry by Tré Reising
5. Viewpoint Books,  548 Washington St. — Nomad Arts, art, spoken word and music by Dresden.
6. Former Brad’s Furniture,  538 Washington St. — Room Setting, a mid-century modern experience curated by Columbus Area Arts Council
7. IU Center for Art + Design, 301 Jackson St. — Redeveloping Downtown by Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives
8. IU Center for Art + Design,  301 Jackson St. — Shadow of an Unknown Bird, a large 3D printed sculpture by Cummins engineers and IU artists & designers.
9. Bartholomew County Historical Society, 524 3rd St. — The National Historic Landmarks of Columbus, Indiana by Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives and Ball State University

You can get more information at artsincolumbus.org.

The body of a fallen soldier has returned to his hometown.

The remains of U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon Hunter arrived in Columbus yesterday and were transferred to a downtown funeral home by a police-led procession accompanied by motorcyclists. About 500 people turned out at the airport to pay their respects, including local and state officials.

A missing-man flyover preceded the procession as it passed through the city. Residents lined the route to Barkes, Weaver and Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street to honor the seven-minute long processional as it drove slowly through the city.

Sgt. Hunter was killed Aug. 2nd by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

Services for 23-year-old Hunter will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Columbus East High School gymnasium. Those services will be with full military honors by the Indiana Army National Guard Honor Guard. Calling will be start at 10 a.m. until the time of services.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that the family will hold a private service for their loved one sometime after the public service. He went on to say that final arrangements are still being made.

The Town of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for a number of their customers. Officials with the utility say that the relocation of a water line is affecting the following addresses:

4106 Yellowwood Road to 4127 Yellowwood Road;
3505 Mockingbird Lane to 3601 Mockingbird Lane;
3479 Somerset Lake Road to 4294 Somerset Lake Road;
2100 Bambi Lane to 2260 Bambi Lane;
3664 Cardinal Drive to 3691 Cardinal Drive.

Residents and businesses in the affected areas should boil all cooking and drinking water through 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Columbus Fire Department is fully staffed after the hiring of three new firefighters. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that Firefighters Chris Baker, Monty Ball and Ryan Hirtzel were sworn in by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

Baker is a 33-year-old Batesville resident. CFD says that he is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician and Vehicle and Machinery Extrication Technician. He also holds a State of Indiana Firefighter I & II certification. Baker has served 12 years with the Batesville Volunteer Fire Department and four years as a full time firefighter with the Greensburg Fire Department.

Ball is a 40-year-old resident of Waldron. CFD says that he is a certified Paramedic Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, Vehicle and Machinery Extrication Technician, and holds a State of Indiana Firefighter I & II certification. Ball has worked for the Greenfield Fire Department for the past 10 years. He has also served as a part time firefighter for the Greenwood Fire Department and has worked in public safety for a 13 years.

Hirtzel is a 29-year-old graduate of Seymour High School. CFD says that Hirtzel is certified as a Paramedic Technician with additional training in Pediatric Life Support, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. He also holds a State of Indiana Firefighter I & II Certification and a Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness certification. Hirtzel has served with Jackson County EMS for 9 years.

Wilson says that these firefighters will undergo a department orientation and training program before receiving their shift and station assignments.

A fatal accident in southern Johnson County yesterday was caused when a driver shot himself, leading his car to crash through several yards before flipping onto its side and hitting a parked vehicle.

The accident happened near Amity at about 5:40 p.m. Monday on old U.S. 31, says Sheriff Doug Cox. Witnesses estimated the vehicle was travelling at more than 100 mph when it went airborne.

The driver was found bleeding from his head and after he was removed from the vehicle the injury was discovered to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  A .22 pistol was recovered from the wreckage, deputies report

There is no word yet on whether the 37-year-old driver died from the gunshot or from the accident, Cox says. An autopsy is scheduled for today. Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in the accident.

Residents are being asked to line the route of the procession carrying the body of U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathon Hunter from Columbus Municipal Airport to Barkes Weaver and Glick Funeral Home this morning.

Sgt. Hunter was killed Aug. 2nd by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

The Columbus Police Department says that a military aircraft carrying Sgt. Hunter is scheduled to touch down at Columbus Municipal Airport at about 10:40 a.m. The procession will leave the airport at about 11 a.m.

The 4.5 mile procession route will begin on Ray Boll Boulevard, turning west on Arnold Street and then south on Central Avenue. It will turn west on 25th Street and then south on Washington Street, where it will conclude at the funeral home at 1029 Washington Street.

Space at the airport is limited, so authorities are urging you to line the procession route.

Services for 23-year-old Hunter will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Columbus East High School gymnasium. Those services will be with full military honors by the Indiana Army National Guard Honor Guard. Calling will be start at 10 a.m. until the time of services.

Hunter and 25-year-old Specialist Christopher Harris, of Jackson Springs North Carolina, died in the attack in Afghanistan

The “Fayetteville Observer” newspaper reports that Harris was laid to rest last week.

For more information on the funeral services for Hunter, you can go to barkesweaverglick.com

Monthly real estate statistics from F.C. Tucker Company show a housing market with homes fetching higher prices while being on the market a shorter amount of time. According to the report, year-to-date home prices in Bartholomew County rose 4.2 percent to $201,054 and homes flew off the market 13 days quicker.

Jennings County’s average home price dropped 3.1 percent to $108,432, while Shelby County’s dropped 0.5 percent to $126,249. F.C. Tucker says that these the only two counties in the region to dip in July. Brown County saw the largest year-to-year increase in average sale price, jumping 15.3 percent to $218,057. Johnson County say a substantial increase of 6.5 percent to $201,429, while Decatur County homes increased a modest 1.2 percent over last year, with an average sale price of $131,519. The report says that Johnson County was the only county in the region to see a decrease in year-to-year pending home sales, dropping 5.4 percent.