The City of Columbus and Columbus Fire Department has announced participation in the 2019 “Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters.” This is a national campaign calling for the illumination of landmarks and fire stations to recognize firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

The Columbus Fire Department submitted a request to the City of Columbus Engineering Department, requesting that the Robert N. Stewart Bridge be illuminated in red from Sept. 29- Oct. 6, to coincide with the annual observation the of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

According to the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation website, Indiana currently has 4 cities that have landmarks scheduled to be illuminated. Outside of Columbus, they include:

– The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge- Fort Wayne;
– IPL Building – Indianapolis;
– River Lights Plaza – South Bend;

Fire Chief Andy Lay said he hopes that motorist will see the Robert Stewart Bridge glowing red and share in a moment of respect and reflection for all firefighters who have laid down their lives during the call of duty. Chief Lay states, “When a member of the fire service makes the ultimate sacrifice in a community hundreds of miles from Columbus, we feel the loss here at home. The Light the Night program illustrates our respectful connection with the communities and fire departments who’ve suffer a loss.”

Columbus City Cemetery, located south of Donner Park, is scheduled for clean-up on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Staff with Columbus Parks and Rec says those who have family plots in the City Cemetery are asked to pick up any items that they wish to save by Monday, Sept. 30. Parks Department personnel will remove and discard worn and out-of-season decorations that remain on the ground on October 1st.

The next clean-up is scheduled for April 1, 2020.

As Hope Town Councilman Ed Johnson worked to set up for Heritage Days Thursday afternoon, he took note of fellow workers using their e-cigarettes to vape around the town square. Up until Thursday evening, that was perfectly legal.

But after action by the council at a special meeting Thursday evening, vaping and e-cigarettes will be illegal in most public places in the community — treated just like cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The Hope Town Council suspended the rules that require new ordinances to have two public readings before a new town law can take effect.

The council held the special Thursday night meeting  in order to get the ban on the books before the start of Hope Heritage Days today.

A Burn Ban has been issued for Jennings County. Public Safety Officials have issued a burn ban due to the lack of rainfall and dry conditions in the county.

The following activities are prohibited in Jennings County:

1. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or any other combustible material, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes, propane or pellets.
2. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, including leaf litter, and other such debris that results from building construction activities.
3. Campfires and other recreation fires, unless enclosed. In addition, residents should refrain from using fireworks or other such devices during this ban.

This burn ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Columbus and Bartholomew County emergency officials want to remind you that traffic in large parts of the city will be disrupted tomorrow morning for the Mill Race Marathon.

The county emergency operations center sent out a warning over the Everbridge Alert System at about 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon, reminding residents that the downtown area will be especially constricted because of marathon activities tomorrow morning. They asked for your patience and that you pay extra attention for runners during your travels.

Some street closings are already underway. No parking is allowed on Washington Street from 5th to 7th streets. Sixth Street closed this morning from Washington Street to the alley west of Franklin and is closing soon from Washington to the 6th Street parking garage.

There will be no parking on Washington Street from 3rd to 5th streets starting at 4 p.m. this afternoon. Fourth Street will be closing at noon from Jackson to Franklin.

You can get more information, including the marathon route and list of street closings at MillRaceMarathon.com

A Columbus man is facing drug charges after he went back into a store he had been banned from earlier this year.

Columbus police are reporting that store staff at the east Columbus Walmart store reported that 29-year-old Cameron N. Dicken of Columbus was trespassing in the store at about 10 last night.

Officers arrested him inside the store. While searching his backpack, they reportedly found methamphetamine, syringes and a digital scale inside.

He is facing preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a legend drug injection device, as well as criminal trespassing.

The 52nd annual Hope Heritage Days kicks off today turning the small community in northeastern Bartholomew County into the busiest spot in the community.

Michael Dean is CEO of Heritage of Hope, which oversees the annual festival.

One of the biggest draws is the food. The town’s not-for-profit groups prepare all of the food for sale inside the Hope Town Square. Dean said those food booths generate between $175,000 and $200,000 for those local groups during the festival. For many it is their largest fundraiser of the year.

Heritage Days features activities, music and vendors around the Town Square starting at 5 p.m. today and running through 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

He said there will be new activities this year including a traveling interactive exhibit from the Indians Historical Society.

There will also be a car show featuring Studebakers. A parts distributor for the long-discontinued cars moved its headquarters to Hope last year.

Dean said there will be more than 100 vendors in the streets around the Hope Town Square.

You can hear more of my interview with Michael Dean on News & Views, our weekend news show where I chat with local newsmakers. You can catch that here on News Talk 10 10 WCSI and 98.1 FM at 930 a.m. on Saturdays and again at 9 a.m. on Sundays.

You can get more information on Hope Heritage days at hopeheritagedays.org

Two police cruisers were damaged in a Jackson County chase yesterday afternoon after a suspect stole a car and threatened that he had a gun .

The incident started at about 4:12 p.m. yesterday when a Brownstown officer stopped a vehicle near Jackson County Roads 300N and 225W. But after stopping the car, the driver jumped out, and a passenger took the wheel and sped away.

After a short chase, the driver plowed through several fields and yards before stopping and running away. Police continued the chase on foot, as the former driver ran into a home, claiming he had a gun and allegedly stole a vehicle. Brownstown police, Jackson County deputies, Crothersville police, Indiana conservation officers and Indiana State Police all took part in the chase which ended near County Roads 760N and 700W with damage to both a Brownstown and a Jackson County police vehicle.

The driver took off on foot again and was captured shortly afterwards. 24-year-old Lakota Snyder is facing a long list of charges including:

• Robbery
• Auto theft
• Never Receiving Driver License
• Refusing to submit to a chemical test
• Possession of Marijuana/Hashish
• Possession of Paraphernalia
• Residential Entry
• Resisting Law Enforcement
• Outstanding warrants

A 73-year-old man was severely injured early Wednesday morning as he was cutting firewood east of Brownstown.

“The Tribune” in Seymour is reporting that Richard Sowers, of Medora, sustained a severe wound to the abdomen and was flown to a trauma center in Indianapolis after the incident in the 1500 block of South County Road 100E.

Police say Sowers was conscious and alert and was treated at the scene before ultimately being flown to a trauma center in Indianapolis.

It is believed Sowers was cutting a piece of wood that became lodged in the saw when the accident happened.

You can get more information at tribtown.com.

The Columbus Walk to End Alzheimer’s is this weekend. Hundreds are expected to participate.

Funds raised support the care, support and research programs of the Alzheimer’s Association. Participants will honor those affected by the disease with Promise Flowers during the Promise Garden Ceremony. That is described as a “display of hope to represent the personal reasons participants join together to fight Alzheimer’s.” Participants can join a team or register to walk as an individual at alz.org/Indiana/walk.

The Columbus Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Sunday, Sept. 29. Registration is at 12:30 p.m at Mill Race Center. The opening ceremony is at 1:45 p.m., with the walk to follow.