This past weekend the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Walmart, and WKKG held their First Pre-Kamp Out For Kids event. White River Broadcasting partnered up with the Cheer Fund and Walmart for the first of two toy drives at both Columbus area Walmart Locations.  From Noon until 4:00 PM on Saturday the two locations combined brought in a few hundred toys.  On top of the toys the Cheer Fund raised a total of $1,633 in cash donations.  If you would like to help there is still time!  This weekend Walmart will again be taking toy and cash donations at the customer service desks at both Columbus Walmart Stores! Additionally on November 6^th and 7^th toy and cash donations will also be accepted during WKKG’s Kamp Out for Kids broadcast at Fire Station Number 1.

On Election Day, Tuesday November 3^rd, The City Collection Office will be closed but trash/ compost/ brush/ recycling and loose leaf collection will be running on a normal schedule. The office will reopen the following day on the 4^th.

If you have any questions check out w-w-w-dot-columbus-dot-in-gov or call 812-376-2509.

An Indiana University student was killed by a stray bullet in New York City early Saturday morning.

Police say Ethan Williams, 20, of Indianapolis, was sitting with a group of friends in Brooklyn when several shots were fired around 2:30 a.m. Williams was shot in the chest. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

Williams was a sophomore in the I-U film media program. He was also a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council of Indianapolis.

No arrests have been made.

We interviewed both candidates for Bartholomew Consolidated School Board District 7, Lacretia Ulery and Nicole Wheeldon.

The interviews had to be trimmed to run on air, but you can listen to the entire interviews below:

Lacretia Ulery:

Nicole Wheeldon:

We interviewed candidates for Indiana State Representative District 59.

The district covers most of Columbus and Bartholomew County. Both interviews had to be trimmed for time. You can hear the complete interviews below:

Republican Ryan Lauer, incumbent for the District 59 seat:

Democrat Dale Nowlin:

Columbus police say a suspect is in custody after a stabbing this morning in Lincoln Park.

Police were called to the 2500 block of Lincoln Park Drive at about 6:30 a.m. this morning on a report of a woman being attacked in a parking lot. A male suspect allegedly crashed a stolen vehicle into the car she was driving and then stabbed her. As officers arrived, they saw the suspect run away.

Officers provided aid to the victim, who was flown by Lifeline helicopter to IU Methodist Hospital where she is in stable condition.

Police found the suspect hiding outside a home ithe 2500 block of 23rd Street where he was taken into custody.

The names of those involved and the preliminary charges have not yet been released.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

IUPUC financial and economic experts will be taking a look ahead with the 2021 Indiana Business Outlook Panel to be held virtually on November 17th.

Dr. Steven Mohler will be providing the local economic outlook, Dr. Ryan Brewer will be discussing the Indiana outlook, Dr. Bill Witte will talk about the national and international outlook, and Dr. Catherine Bonser-Neal will give an overview of the financial markets.

Organizers say that a new feature for this year will a C-Suite perspective from Kelley School of Business alumni on how COVID has affected local businesses.

This panel will be held virtually this year via Zoom starting at 8 in the morning on November 17th. Reregistration is required to attend. The panel is free, however the event serves as the primary fundraiser for IUPUC Business student scholarships. It is sponsored again this year by Centra Credit Union and co-hosted by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

You can make a donation or register for the panel online at iupuc.edu/events/business-outlook-panel.

Indiana State Police are partnering with the DEA on Saturday for the 19th Drug Take Back Day.

Unwanted medications can be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post, between 1 a.m. and 2 p.m. The program is mainly meant for liquid and pill medications that are expired, unused, and unwanted. They will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment. Vaping pens without batteries and vaping cartridges will also be taken.

Needles, new or used, will not be accepted for disposal.

According to the State Police, studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.