Columbus’ current prosperity is a direct result of the foresight of previous city leaders. That was one of the messages delivered by Mayor Jim Lienhoop during the recent “Columbus Present” presentation at the Columbus Learning Center.

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Mayor Lienhoop says that one of the things that make Columbus stand out is its educational opportunities, something that can easily be taken for granted.

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Lienhoop says that educational opportunities directly tie-in to the local economy, which he calls “very strong.”

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The Mayor adds that Columbus is a welcoming community that values immigration and diversity. He says that about 50,000 people live in Columbus.

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Mayor Lienhoop says that Columbus remains the envy of several communities and that the city must continue working to maintain what makes it special.

This event was the second of a three-part series that looks at the past, present and future of Columbus. The next event, “Columbus Future,” is set for March 29th at the Columbus Learning Center.

Columbus Fire Department Investigators continue to investigate the cause of Wednesday’s commercial building fire. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that investigators heard eyewitness accounts of the buildings occupants who reported seeing the lights flicker within three occupied businesses. A short time later, witnesses reported seeing smoke within the CrossFit gym. The owner of the gym exited the building. In the complex parking lot, the gym owner met a representative of Carpet Mania, who had exited the carpet store to investigate the source of the electrical problem. At that time, the carpet store employee saw flames through a window in the warehouse section of the carpet store warehouse and informed the gym owner to evacuate the building. Wilson says that police and firefighters arrived on the scene about four minutes after the initial dispatch. When they arrived, flames were shooting from a window and door of the carpet store.

Wilson says that firefighters were on the scene for 29 hours, applying water to hot spots from Wednesday night through the evening hours on Thursday. Damages to the building were so significant that an excavator was called to the scene to assist investigators in removing debris and accessing flames underneath. Wilson says there was a total roof collapse in the building occupied by the CrossFit gym and carpet store, which hampered efforts to battle the blaze, as well as investigator access within the building.

Using eyewitness accounts, reports from the first arriving responders and evidence viewed at the scene, investigators have determined that the origin of the fire was located within Carpet Mania’s warehouse. This portion of the building is where firefighters reported heavy fire conditions as they arrived at the scene. Fire conditions within the structure were so intense that steel structural members failed.

Investigators have found no indication of foul play. Damages are estimated at two-million dollars, which included building and contents to the three affected businesses: Carpet Mania, CrossFit Retaliation Gym, and Advantage One Imaging Center.

A Rockcreek Elementary School student had a segment on the Today show Friday, featuring her cancer-fighting fundraiser.

11-year-old Cierra McCauley recovered from Hodgkins lymphoma when she was four. She loves to dance and started a dance challenge video craze, with the hashtag Dancer Beating Cancer that has been taken up by major dance teams around the country. On the Today show she was surprised with a special guest, Meghan Trainor, as well as the New York Knick City Dancers.

The fundraiser benefits Riley Hospital for Children.

The segment featuring will air again at 5 tonight on WTHR according to the Bartholomew Consolidated Schools. You can also check it out on WTHR.com

You can also go to find more information at dancerbeatingcancer.org

Columbus police say that they recovered more than $100,000 in stolen property from several area communities after arrests and searches recently in an ongoing investigation.

The investigation started with a suspicious vehicle at a property in the 2800 block of Riverside Drive earlier this month. When officers confronted the two people in the vehicle, police noticed miscellaneous items inside including jewelry, dishes and clothing. After finding out that the two were not authorized to be on the property, the driver tried to flee.

Police arrested 35 year old Brian J. Stewart and 34 year old Norma J. Holley, both of Columbus, says Lt. Matt Harris, with the Columbus police. A search of the car revealed a handgun, more than 70 syringes, methamphetamine and items that had been reported stolen from Columbus, Edinburgh, Franklin, Seymour, Freetown, and Whiteland.

Officers served search warrants at a storage facility and a garage in the 1400 block of Lafayette Avenue, where they recovered more stolen items including tools, lawn equipment, stereo equipment, televisions and a shot gun. They also recovered a vehicle stolen from Rensselaer.

Stewart and Holley are facing charges of receiving stolen auto parts, three counts of theft, possession of a handgun without a license, trespass and three counts of conversion, Harris says. They are also being charged with possessing a legend drug injection device, methamphetamine and a controlled substance.

Columbus is doing well when it comes to jobs, education and other benchmarks, both historically and compared to surrounding communities. That was one of the messages delivered during the “Columbus Present” forum Thursday night at the Columbus Learning Center.

The event was hosted by Ivy Tech Community College of Columbus and sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa and the Ivy Tech Library. The panel discussion included talks by Mayor Jim Lienhoop, LaTosha Lafferty and Rick Scalf with Black Lives Matter, Columbus Municipal Airport Director Brian Payne and Kathy Oren from the Community Education Coalition.

Oren talked about how education is key to economic prosperity for area residents and the community as a whole. On that front, she says that Bartholomew County is doing better than average on post-secondary educational achievement. While the state rate for Hoosiers with an associate’s degree or higher is almost 36 percent, Bartholomew County is at 42.2 percent.

Despite those figures, a considerable number of people are struggling financially. Oren cited figures that, in spite of a county unemployment rate of 2.5 percent, nearly 30 percent of families live within two-times the poverty rate. That translates to 43.2 percent of county students qualifying for free or reduced lunches at school.

Oren says that these figures illustrate a need for community leaders, families and students to focus more on education. She notes that the percentage of jobs requiring some form of post-secondary education is expected to go up drastically by 2024.

Two Columbus residents were arrested on drug charges Wednesday afternoon as authorities were about to serve a search warrant. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, Columbus/Bartholomew SWAT and members of the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force were about to execute the warrant at 3345 Westenedge Drive in Columbus, when the two suspects left the home. Investigators say the pair got into a vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated, but the driver refused to stop.

Authorities say that a short pursuit ensued before the vehicle was stopped by police in the area of Seventh and Central Avenue. The southbound lanes of Central Avenue were blocked between Seventh and 10th Streets until the scene was secured.

Jackson says that narcotics detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, leading to the discovery of approximately five pounds of methamphetamine. One narcotics detective estimated the meth had a street value of $225,000. In addition, police allegedly found two guns and more than $4,000 in cash inside the vehicle.

Authorities arrested 38-year-old Jorge Huberto Chavez on a preliminary charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine. He is being held on $200,000 bond. Also arrested was 27-year-old Jacklyn Munoz. Police say that she is facing preliminary charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Felon, Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Resisting Law Enforcement. In addition, authorities say that Munoz was wanted on an outstanding warrant. She is being held without bond.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that he is pleased with these arrests. “Anytime we can stop five pounds of meth, or any other dangerous drug, from hitting our streets, it is a win for law enforcement and a win for our entire community.” He added, “With multiple agencies working together, pulling resources together, and working as a team, this is the type of result that you will see.”

Authorities say that this investigation is ongoing and that additional are possible.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. Its mission is to proactively target the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.

Eastern Bartholomew Water Corp. has issued a boil water advisory for all customers in Heritage Heights Mobile Home Park and Colony Park due to a controlled maintenance repair. Officials say that any water being used for drinking or cooking should be boiled for least three minutes. This boil water advisory is scheduled to remain in effect until noon on Saturday.

A four alarm fire destroyed a 81-year-old building in Columbus Wednesday afternoon. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says firefighters were called to Carpet Mania at 10th Street and Michigan Avenue just before 12:30 p.m.

At about 12:45 p.m.  the roof collapsed. A thick pillar of black smoke could be seen for miles around the community.

Before it was over, nearly 60 Columbus firefighters were called in to fight the blaze, including 30 who were off duty at the time and three from Columbus Township. Efforts involved six fire engines, two ladder trucks and the rescue squad. Volunteer fire departments from surrounding townships throughout the community were called in to cover any other emergencies.

The fire threatened several neighboring businesses and destroyed a cross fit studio in the same building.

The fire was marked “under control” at 4:48 p.m. in the afternoon, but firefighters remained on scene until at least 11:30 p.m. last night, fighting hotspots.

Wilson adds that there is still no word as to what may have caused the fire, but witnesses reported an electrical noise in the walls and flickering lights just before noticing the fire in the store’s warehouse.

He adds that two firefighters suffered minor injuries, but no civilians were hurt.  They were both taken to PromptMed for treatment.

There is no damage estimate yet.

A number of parents were upset with BCSC’s decision to not delay or cancel classes on Wednesday. Many took to social media to vent. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says that he understands their frustration.

Roberts says it didn’t take long for school officials to realize that road conditions would be worse than expected.

Roberts says that by the time BCSC officials learned the severity of expected road conditions, it was too late to bring the buses back.

Roberts stresses that all buses made it to school safely, though there were some late arrivals. He says that this incident will serve as a learning opportunity and that the school corporation will work to do a better job in the future.

Update: 5:30 p.m.

Columbus firefighters remain on the scene at Carpet Mania at 10th Street and Michigan Avenue. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that the fire was marked “under control” 4:48 p.m. He adds that crews remain on the scene battling pockets of fire under collapsed portions of the building. Still no word at this time as to what may have caused the fire. Wilson says that two firefighters suffered minor injuries, but no civilians were hurt.

Update: 2:15 p.m.

Columbus firefighters say that the fire at Carpet Mania on 10th Street has caused the evacuation of four businesses and they are asking that you steer clear of the area.

The fire was called in at 12:25 p.m., says Capt. Mike Wilson and firefighters found that the building being evacuated when they arrived.  The building is fully engulfed at this time and there is structural damage that is keeping firefighters from entering the structure.

He estimated that it is about two thirds contained as of 2 p.m.

Emergency workers ask that you steer clear of the area between 10th Street and Michigan, all the way to 13th and Cottage.

Cummins Child Development Center evacuated, asking parents to come and take their children home. They say that the evacuation was completed within seven minutes.

The  carpet store is at 1428 10th Street.

We will have more information as it becomes available.