INDOT is going to be inspecting the Interstate 65 bridge over State Road 46 today.
You are going to be seeing lane closures and the closing of on and off ramps from 9 to 3 today. Jonathan Moore Pike/State Road 46 will be down to two lanes in each direction during the inspection.
INDOT suggests that you slow down, use extra caution and drive without distractions while you are in the work zone.
If you live or work in Johnson County, your taxes are about to go up.
The Indiana Department of Revenue says that, effective October 1st, a number of county income tax rates will increase. The local tax rate in Johnson County is increasing 20 percent, from .01 to .012. after county officials approved the change.
These tax rates affect businesses with employees who live or work in Johnson County. County tax rates for individuals are based on the employee’s Indiana county of residence as of Jan. 1, 2019.
A complete list of current rates for all Indiana counties is available at dor.in.gov by clicking on the “Legal Resources” icon, then choosing “Tax Library” and selecting “Departmental Notices.”
A missing cat was reunited with her owners, courtesy of Columbus firefighters.
At approximately 9:47 a.m. on Wednesday, firefighters responded to service call at a hotel on Carrie Lane. They arrived and learned that Molly, a two-year-old cat, was last seen late Tuesday evening after her owners went to sleep.
The couple told firefighters they stopped at the motel as they traveling home home to Florida. When they awoke Wednesday morning, there was no sign of Molly. While searching the room, the cat’s owners discovered a small hole in a wall located under a sink. Suspecting that Molly may have entered the hole, a call was placed to the Columbus Fire Department asking for assistance.
Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that Engine Company 5 arrived on the scene a short time later. Firefighters consulted with motel management and removed a two-foot by two-foot section of drywall. There were than able to see Molly tucked behind the bathtub area in a void space. When crews tried to reach for the cat, she moved away from the location where she was first seen.
Firefighters advised the owners that the cat would likely emerge when the scene calmed down. In the event that Molly did not return, firefighters provided the fire station phone number and an invitation to call back. After two hours, firefighters were called back to the scene.
When firefighters returned to the scene, they came with the fire station’s leaf blower. Wilson says firefighters placed the blower into the void space opposite of where Molly was seen. When the blower was turned on, Molly ran from her hiding place and was reunited with her owners. She was unharmed.
Nightly lane closures are scheduled to begin on the north and southbound lanes of I-65 beginning Friday.
The Indiana Department of Transportation says crews will be doing lane and shoulder resurfacing from mile-markers 64.5 to 65. Work will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each evening as part of the I-65 reconstruction and added travel lanes project in Jackson and Bartholomew Counties.
Lane closures are scheduled as follows:
• Friday, September 27 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Lane closures from MM 64.5 to MM 65, travel lanes milling/paving
• Monday, September 30 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Lane closures from MM 64.5 to MM 65, travel lanes milling/paving
• Tuesday, October 1 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Lane closures from MM 64.5 to MM 65, shoulder milling/paving
Drivers should continue to adhere to the 55 mph speed restriction and use extra caution in the ongoing construction zone between Columbus and Seymour. All trucks should use the left lane for travel.
The project is expected to be complete by next August. All work is dependent on the weather.
The Southern Indiana Center for the Arts has announced its October exhibit, “Mellencamp: Three Generations of Art.” The exhibit will feature works from John, Marilyn and Speck Mellencamp.
Officials with the Jackson County Visitors Center say this exhibit is sponsored by JCB and will feature many newer works from John Mellencamp. Also featured will be more paintings from Marilyn, John’s mother, who painted at SICA as a part of the Wednesday group which still meets at the center. Rounding out this family show will be the work of Speck Mellencamp, who graduated from Rhode Island School of Design earlier this year.
“We are thrilled to have this talented family of artists featured here at SICA. John’s generosity has provided SICA with the opportunity to reach so many people with Art in this region. To have a show of this caliber at our center is another example of John’s passion for art in the area. We will be hosting a special members only reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 10,” said Executive Director Sean Hildreth. This event will be for SICA members only and reservations will be required in advance.
The exhibit opens October 2. The paintings will be on display through November 2.
For more information, visit soinart.com.
Four people were arrested Monday night in Columbus, after allegedly giving police fake names.
According to Columbus police, they were called to a reported suspicious person in the 1400 block of Sycamore Street at just after midnight Monday. While speaking to four people outside the residence, officers realized that a woman gave them a fake name. She turned out to be 36-year-old Debra J. Dollarhide of Columbus, who had two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants.
18-year-old Christopher M. Dollarhide, of Indianapolis and 33-year-old David D. Fields, of Columbus are also accused of giving fake names, as did a 16-year-old who was drinking alcohol.
Preliminary charges include:
The juvenile was taken to Bartholomew County Youth Services Center on offenses including illegal consumption, false informing, curfew violation and a Marion County warrant.
The town of Hope will be considering a ban on vaping on town property, just in time for Hope Heritage Days.
The town already bans smoking inside the town square and other town-owned property. But at last week’s meeting of the council, members said they wanted to ban vaping also.
The town attorney said he needed time to put together an appropriate ordinance. A special meeting of the town council will be held at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Town Hall to consider the vaping proposal. The three-day Hope Heritage Days festival starts at noon on Friday.
The council is also set to consider a tax abatement for Indiana Custom Fabrication and Long Family Enterprises Thursday afternoon. The company is planning a $700,000 expansion that will add 30-50 employees. A tax abatement would suspend property taxes on the new building and equipment for the first year, and then phase in taxes over the life of the abatement.
Columbus police say that they are investigating a threat or threats made on social media concerning Central Middle School today. There have been no confirmed credible threats found against the school as of last night.
According to police reports, officers are investigating a posting by a third party, which involved an unspecified act of violence today at the school.
Police are working to determine the source of the social media posting. Police want to stress that as of last night they had not confirmed any credible threat to the students or staff at the school. They say that there have been a lot of false and inaccurate information being conveyed online.
Bartholomew Consolidated Schools officials said they are working closely with the Columbus police and would update the public should more information become available.
Some of the commenters on the police Facebook post said they plan to keep their children home today.
The North Vernon Fire Department has a new firefighter.
Josh Skaggs was sworn-in during Monday night’s meeting of the North Vernon City Council by Mayor Mike Ochs. Skaggs served as volunteer firefighter for the city since 2016. Prior to that, he served as a volunteer firefighter for the Southwest Volunteer Fire Department in Bartholomew County.
Fire Chief Mike Cole explained that Skaggs will fill a position recently vacated when a firefighter left and joined the Columbus Fire Department.
The Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation has announced details of its upcoming Annual Meeting. It will be held Monday, Nov. 4th at The Commons from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Two cybersecurity experts, Christopher and Stephanie Domas, will deliver a joint keynote address.
“Each year, we are pleased to feature a keynote address that is of interest and importance to our community,” said Jason Hester, president of Greater Columbus EDC. “Chris and Stephanie Domas are individually by themselves sought-after speakers, so to bring this dynamic husband and wife duo to Columbus, Indiana, for their first joint presentation is a special treat.”
Christopher Domas is Senior Security Researcher for Intel Corporation. He specializes in embedded systems reverse-engineering and vulnerability analysis.
Stephanie Domas is Vice President of Research & Development for MedSec, a cybersecurity research company formed exclusively to help the health care industry and medical device manufacturers address cybersecurity at all stages of a medical device’s lifecycle. She is a registered Professional Engineer, a Certified Ethical Hacker and a frequent contributor and author on healthcare topics.
The ticketed luncheon event will also feature a report to the community on current and future activities of the Greater Columbus EDC. It is open to the public, but advance registration is required and space is limited. Individual tickets are $50 and reserved corporate tables of 8 are available for $400. Registration can be done online at ColumbusIN.org, or by calling 812-378-7300 by close of business on Oct. 23rd.