The Columbus Area Visitors Center is launching new initiatives to try to draw people to Columbus and Bartholomew County in the wake of the pandemic.

Karen Niverson, executive director of the tourism agency, says that the center is investing in an advertising blitz to try to draw day travelers to spend the night in the community.

Niverson said that across the tourism industry, communities are struggling after the shutdowns caused by COVID-19. In Bartholomew County, for example, hotel occupancy was as low as 17 percent one week in April, down from a normal 83 percent occupancy rate.

Niverson said the promotion will include billboards and digital ads within about a 100 mile radius. In a normal year, the center would be trying to draw tourists from as far away as Chicago and Detroit, she said.

Niverson said there is also going to be a campaign to get people to come out to dine, especially in downtown Columbus. That will take the form of a social media and radio advertising campaign to tout a return to dining-in at local restaurants.

You can hear more of our interview with Karen Niverson here.

A Scipio motorcyclist was seriously injured when his trike was hit from behind by a highway department truck Monday morning.

Indiana State Police are reporting that 66-year-old James Gholson was riding the Harley Davidson three-wheeler at just before 11 on State Road 3 near the intersection of County Road 675N. He had slowed to turn onto the side road when a Jennings County owned truck driven by 50-year-old Mike Ponsler of Butlerville hit the rear of the cycle, throwing Gholson off.

Gholson was treated by Jennings County paramedics at the scene and then flown to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis by Stat Flight helicopter.

Ponsler was uninjured. The investigation is ongoing.

Columbus firefighters battled a blaze on Werner Avenue Sunday afternoon that caused $45,000 dollars in damages and left a resident homeless.

According to firefighters, witnesses made multiple calls to 911 about smoke and flames coming from a home in the 800 block of Werner Avenue at 4:37 Sunday afternoon. Firefighters discovered flames shooting from a window at the front of the home when they arrived on scene.

Firefighters determined the fire started in a bedroom and then up into the home’s attic. The home suffered serious fire and smoke damage.

The resident of the rental home said he was outside at the rear of the home when the fire started.

Salvation Army is providing emergency shelter services for the resident.

An inspection showed no working smoke alarms in the home.

Seven people were arrested Friday morning by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team after a warrant was served at a home on the east side of Columbus.

The warrant was served shortly after midnight Friday morning at a home on Reo Street. During the search, officers allegedly found prescription medications, marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and counterfeit money.

According to police reports, this is part of an ongoing investigation into narcotics in the community.

Charges for the seven ranged from drug possession, to visiting a common nuisance and forgery.  Those arrested include:

• Reggie K. Booker, 48, of Columbus- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule II Substance, Possession of a Schedule IV Substance, Possession of a Schedule V Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Danielle Allen, 30, of Elizabethtown, IN- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Counterfeit Currency, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Schedule III Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Fentanyl
• Stefan T. Hartford, 30, Shelbyville, IN- Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Counterfeit Currency, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Schedule III Substance, Two Counts of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Fentanyl
• Jennifer A. Nichols, 46, of Columbus- Maintaining a Common Nuisance
• Janeta M. Kimball, 59, of Columbus- Forgery, Outstanding Arrest Warrant
• Dale A. Harris, 56, of Columbus- Visiting a Common Nuisance
• Keith Stevenson Jr., 49, of Columbus- Visiting a Common Nuisance

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps will be leading the Association of Indiana Counties’ legislative committee.

Among other roles providing information, communication and training to local county governments, the association is the only entity that represents the legislative needs of Indiana counties before the Indiana General Assembly.

Previously, Phelps has been legislative chair of the Indiana Clerk’s Association. He said that role has prepared him for the more in-depth role with the counties association. Phelps serves as vice president of the Indiana Clerk’s Association, on the governor’s cybersecurity committee, and on the governor’s oversight committee on public records.

In person visitation is still off-limits at the Bartholomew County Jail, but the sheriff’s department is launching a new program today to allow virtual visits with inmates.

Sheriff Matt Myers announced that the HomeWav system will allow for voice and video calls with inmates, as well as video messaging.

The program charges 20 cents per minute for a phone call, 30 cents per minute for remote video visits and video messages are 50 cents per minute.

Bartholomew County Jail videos are subject to recording and monitoring, virtual visitors must dress appropriately and no obscene behavior will be allowed, the sheriff said.

You can get more information at www.homewav.com

In person visitation is suspended until further notice.

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is announcing details of its virtual Labor Day weekend concert.

The show will stream live on the hospice Facebook page and will feature Yacht Rock Revue. The band includes Columbus natives Nicholas Niespodziani and Peter Olson. The band performs smooth songs from the 70’s and 80’s and have trademarked the term “Yacht Rock” to describe their style. The two met in fourth grade here in Columbus, went to Indiana University and formed the band Y-O-U before Yacht Rock Revue.

The concert will start at 7 in the evening on Saturday Sept. 5th.

The hospice is looking for sponsors, contributors and benefactors. If you are interested in sponsorship, you can contact Julie Davis at (812) 371-7973.

The event will include a raffle for a chance to win $10,000. Tickets are $10 and are available online at crh.org/hospice-donate.

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is a not-for-profit hospice providing care to patients and families in 16 counties, with offices in Columbus, North Vernon and Greensburg.

Indiana State Police say a Seymour man is facing a felony neglect charge after a six-week-old boy died while his father napped with him in a recliner.

The investigation started in March when the child was found unresponsive in the 500 block of Colvin Court, just east of Seymour. Rescue workers tried to save the boy but they were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s office.

Troopers report that 31-year-old Joseph Michael-Wayne Scott was holding the boy when he fell asleep in the chair. A family member noticed that the boy was not breathing because of his position in the chair.

According to police reports, Scott was found to have marijuana and methamphetamine in his system while the boy was in his care.

A warrant was issued for Scott on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. He was arrested on Thursday and taken to the Jackson County Jail.