Monthly Archives: November 2017

Downtown riverfront plans unveiling set for Thursday

A plan for the riverfront in downtown Columbus will be formally presented to the City Council and Redevelopment Commission at a special meeting tomorrow night.

The plan is centered around a $1.9 million dollar People Trail connection that will loop under the downtown bridges, says Heather Pope, director of the Columbus Redevelopment Department. That will include a substantial amount of “armoring” — a process to protect the project from erosion.

The city’s consultants, the Hitchcock Design Group, will be breaking the overall project down into smaller components.

After the People Trail connection there are various add-on projects that could be considered, Pope says.  Those include items such as  drops installed in the river for kayaking and tubing.

Thursday’s meeting will include funding options for the council and commission to consider, Pope said.

The meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Donner Center and city officials hope you will attend.

 

 

 

County seeks thoughts on Anderson Falls future

The Bartholomew County Parks Board is looking for your thoughts on ways to preserve and improve the Anderson Falls Park. You will have that opportunity at an open house they are holding next week.

The open house is a follow-up to meetings with residents near Hartsville and Columbus last year under a Purdue Extension Program called Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces. Kris Medic, with the local extension office, says that those meetings generated seven goals for the park including making it a welcoming place in regards to maintenance, safety and access, along with informational signs and wayfaring information.

Other goals identified included:

  • Well-maintained trails as well as rich native flora that is free from invasive species.
  • Information about the park readily available on site and at other locations.
  • Community participation in park projects and on social media.
  • Regular activity at the park, which discourages vandalism and other criminal activity.
  • An awareness of cultural and natural history opportunities offered by the park, and having appropriate groups taking advantage of those.
  • Improved funding and planning to make it possible for Anderson Falls Park to meet the future recreational needs of a growing population with an appropriately-planned public space built around an outstanding natural feature.
  • Developing the park as a  resource that offers enriching historical, natural, and cultural experiences in an environment that is welcoming, safe, and staffed.

Anderson Falls is a 44-acre county park that includes the falls on the Fall Fork of Clifty Creek. For more information on the falls, you can click here. 

The open house will be from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7th at the County Commissioners Chambers in the Governmental Office Building on Third Street.

For more information on Anderson Falls, click here.

Christmas home tour starts Friday in Hope

The Yellow Trail Museum in Hope is hosting its annual Christmas Homes Tour on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.

This self-guided tour includes five decorated homes and a business.Tickets are available at the Yellow Trail Museum, Willow Leaves of Hope, and Reflections. They are $10 each.

Tickets will also be available the night of the tour at the museum on the north west side of the Town Square beginning at 5 p.m.

New CPD officer sworn-in

The Columbus Police Department is one officer stronger after 25-year-old David Knight was sworn-in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop Tuesday morning. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the department, says that Knight is a native of Vigo County. He is a graduate of Terre Haute North High School and attended Marian University in Indianapolis where he studied History and Political Science.

Harris says that Knight is a certified police officer through the state of Tennessee and where he was a law enforcement officer for nearly two years. He adds that Knight will begin the Columbus Police Department Field Training Program after a short orientation period.

Movement possible for new Jennings County Jail

There may be some movement on a new jail for Jennings County. During Monday night’s meeting of the North Vernon City Council, the body approved a measure that will allow its attorney, Larry Greathouse, to enter into preliminary discussions with county officials to discuss possible ideas. Greathouse says this came about after the county contacted the city, making inquiries about possibly purchasing 16 acres on County Road 350 near the industrial park.

Monday night’s action also allows Greathouse to address other, unspecified, issues between the city and county. He would not elaborate, only saying that some issues have been long-standing and that there is a need for both sides to work together.

Monday night’s action was approved unanimously, but there is no word as to when discussions will begin.

Nineveh man facing charges after Monday night stop

Jason Sanders; photo courtesy of Johnson County Sheriff’s Dept.

A Nineveh man was arrested Monday evening on various charges after a Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed suspicious behavior. Sheriff Doug Cox says that just before 6:30 p.m., Deputy Brett Davis was patrolling County Road 200 East when he spotted a scooter pull into the driveway of a pair of homes. When confronted, the driver of the scooter allegedly gave a false name several times. After repeatedly questioning the man about his name and birth date, deputies say he began giving contradictory information, leading to his arrest.

Police then learned that the scooter the man was riding had been reported stolen out of Edinburgh. During the investigation, deputies reported finding a scale with meth residue inside the scooter’s storage compartment.

When the suspect was taken to jail, they learned his identity as 34-year-old Jason Sanders. He is facing preliminary charges of Theft, False Identifying, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Columbus police reaccredited by oversight group

Columbus Police Chief Jonathan Rohde

The Columbus Police Department has been reaccredited by a national organization that sets standards for law enforcement agencies.

The police department announced this morning that it had successfully completed the program by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. That comes after a three year long review of the department’s polices and procedures.

Columbus police were first accredited in November of 2014. The process requires compliance with nearly 190 standards ranging from codes of conducts to hiring practices.

Police Chief Jonathan Rohde said this is all part of building the community’s confidence and trust in the department and ensuring that the local police are providing professional services to the public.

211 Center ready to help elderly apply for Medicare aid

The Bartholomew County 211 Center is taking on a new role — trying to help low-income seniors pay their medical bills.

The center is now set up to help those residents navigate the sign up process for the assistance available to some low-income Medicare recipients.

Alicia Monroe, director of the center, explains that the aid is income dependent but could include help paying premiums, co-pays, prescriptions or for other medical needs.

The 211 center is a United Way agency and Monroe said the new mission fits in with the goals of the United Way, to promote better health and financial stability.

If you need help, you can call 211 from 8 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to get signed up.

You will need to provide income information.

 

North Vernon honors long-time police officer

Det. Nick Megel, Mayor Mike Ochs and NVPD Chief James Webster

A 20-year veteran of the North Vernon Police Department was honored Monday night. Police Chief James Webster read a letter of appreciation singing the praises of Det. Nick Megel during last night’s city council meeting.

Webster says that Megel began his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. Five years later, he was hired on to the North Vernon Police Department. Megel became a detective in 2016, with a special focus on interviews and drug crimes.

Riverfront liquor license approved for new restaurant owners

New owners of a downtown Columbus restaurant hope to make a seamless transition. That’s after the Columbus Redevelopment Commission last night recommended approval of a riverfront liquor license for the new owners of Tre Bicchieri on Washington Street.

The city controls 15 riverfront liquor licenses meant to enhance the downtown area. But the riverfront liquor licenses are non transferrable and the DeClue family which has owned Tre Bicchieri since it opened in October 2006 are selling the restaurant in January to a group called the Grandview Associates LLC.

Grandview Associates is Barbara Piotrowski and Christopher Braun according to documents filed with the city.

Heather Pope, director of the city’s redevelopment department, said that the next steps will be for the mayor to approve the application and send a letter to the state liquor control authorities. The local alcohol control board will then hold a hearing and give its final approval recommendation to the state for the new license.

Jeff Rocker, attorney for the partners, said that they expect to have the new license in hand by January after that month’s board hearing, but there are allowances under state law that will let the restaurant continue serving alcohol in the interim.

The restaurant will officially transfer hands at midnight Dec. 31st and after an inventory on Jan. 1st, will reopen Jan. 2nd. Plans are for the restaurant to be open Monday through Saturday serving lunch and dinner. The restaurant will have about 20 employees, with three being salaried and the rest hourly, according to the application.

Of the 15 liquor license controlled by the city, 10 are in use, Pope said. The DeClues will surrender their liquor license when the new license is issued to the Grandview Associates.