Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are announcing that schools will be going virtual starting Monday due to dangerous increases in COVID-19 rates.

According to an announcement from the school district this evening, “Although our county color designation by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is yellow, our internal numbers lead us to believe that we will be moving into orange next week.”

The district reported that rising cases and subsequent quarantines of their close contacts, are impacting the district’s ability to properly staff buildings and provide bus routes.

The district plans to go virtual through Nov. 24th, the last student day before Thanksgiving Break. The hope would be to return to in-person teaching with remote options after the break, on Monday, Nov. 30th.

“However, we will closely monitor the level of community spread and make a final determination on a return date prior to Thanksgiving,” the district announced.

Local COVID-19 indicators, released today on the COVID-19 Community Task Force website show per capita rate and hospitalizations in the red category, with positive test rates nearly red.

The Columbus Area Arts Council is looking for asphalt art. The arts group has issued a request for qualifications from an artist or team of artists to create a ground plane mural along 16th Street between the intersections of Home Avenue and Union Street.

The project is mean to create a visually appealing piece of artwork that will inspire and uplift residents and visitors. It should improve walkability, safety and increase foot traffic in the area, which is seen as a budding neighborhood commercial node.

The budget for the project is going to be $20,000. Five thousand dollars will be used to cover design fees, insurance, and travel and lodging during the project. The remaining $15,000 will be used for expenses, materials, supplies and implementation.

This project is being made possible by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative grant program, the City of Columbus and Columbus Regional Health’s Healthy Communities initiative.

Applications are due by Dec. 4th at 4:30 p.m. in the afternoon.

You can get more information at columbus.in.gov.

The Chili Cook Off for the Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund will look different this year, as it becomes a drive-through event on Friday evening.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department explains that the cook off will be held at Fire Station 1 at the corner of Jackson and 11th Streets starting at 5p.m.  Friday evening and lasting until the pots of chili run out.

To prevent traffic congestion, drivers will be routed to 15th Street where it becomes Jackson Street and the will exit after getting chili at the fire station west onto 11th Street.

Wilson said this year’s event will be a free-will donation to help with the fundraising for the annual holiday toy drive. Cash or checks will be accepted.

Wilson explained that like many events and organizations, the Cheer Fund has been affected negatively by the pandemic including limits on accepting used toys. The decision to go to a drive-thru cook off was made to protect firefighters and the community from the coronavirus.

The cookoff will overlap with the Kamp Out for Kids, where Indiana Country 101.5 WKKG will be having live broadcasts and a toy drive from the fire station Friday and Saturday.

Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund is the oldest charitable organization in Bartholomew County. Money raised goes to provide Christmas gifts for the needy children of the community.

Columbus will allow fireworks to be set off for the celebration of Hindu religious holidays later this month, under a proposal approved last night by the City Council.

Council members voted last night to approve the use of fireworks for the holidays of Dussehra and Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. The fireworks would be allowed between 6 and 10 p.m. at night ,  Nov. 13th, 14th and 15th under the resolution.

The issue was first brought to the council last month, after it was brought up that the city ordinances, in accordance with state law, only allows fireworks around the 4th of July and New Year’s holidays.

The resolution outlined the desire of the city government to promote and protect religious freedom as well as diversity, while also to protect the health and safety of the citizens as well as safeguarding property.

Councilman Frank Miller spoke against the resolution, not because of its content, but because the change had not come through the city’s ordinance review committee. Ultimately, all six members of the council that were present voted for the resolution.

Council also gave its first approval to a change in the city ordinances for the New Year’s Eve fireworks, after an error was found in the ending time when fireworks are allowed.

More details are being released in the Indiana State Police investigation into a Sunday night police shooting in Seymour.

Officers there shot and killed 43-year-old Jason S. Cline of Beech Grove after he ran from officers and displayed a gun during a shoplifting investigation Sunday night. According to troopers, the incident began at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night when officers were called to the Walmart store on East Tipton Street. They found Cline pushing a shopping cart containing items allegedly taken from the store.

Rather than stop, police say Cline ran across Tipton Street and into a deep ditch near the Taco Bell store at Burkhart Boulevard. The officers caught up to Cline and attempted to take him into custody. But Cline would not let the police handcuff him and pulled a handgun. Both officers opened fire, hitting Cline. They then provided medical treatment until he was taken to Schneck Medical Center by medics, where he later died.

State police say that the gun was loaded and had been reported stolen. State police were called in by Seymour authorities to investigate the incident.

An autopsy was performed Tuesday confirming Cline’s identity. He also went by the names Jason Tabor and Jason Tabor Cline.

Both officers, who have yet to be named, have been placed on administrative leave by Seymour Police Chief Bryant Lucas. Once Indiana State Police finish their investigation, the results will be passed on to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration.

In the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board races, Todd Grimes has won the District 3 seat with almost 60 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for Mike Jamerson and just under 16 percent for incumbent James Persinger.

Todd Grimes reacts to the victory:

Incumbent Pat Bryant has won re-election in the District 5 race over Jennifer Corsi, 54 to 46 percent.

Bryant thanked his supporters:

And Nicole Wheeldon has won the District 7 race over Lacretia Ulery with 63 to 37 percent.

Wheeldon talked about what she thinks made the difference in the race:

Bartholomew County voters have set an all-time record for ballots cast, according to Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.

Voters cast 36,673 votes, passing the 2016 record turnout of 33,198 voters.

The vast majority of this year’s votes were cast before Election Day, with 20,867 in-person early votes and 6,700 mail-in absentee votes. In person voting Tuesday ended with 9,100 voters. That is a voter turnout of just under 69 percent.

With all the votes tallied, Bartholomew County Republicans have won all the contested races across the county.

Incumbent Republican State Rep. Ryan Lauer defeated his Democratic opponent Dale Nowlin 60 to 40 percent in the race for District 59. State Rep. Jim Lucas, also a Republican, has won District 69 with 70 percent of the vote over Democrat Jefferey Prewitt with 17 percent, and independent Katrina “Kat” Hardwick with 13 percent. That district includes portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson counties.

In the Bartholomew County Council at-large races, all three Republican incumbents have won re-election. Bill Lentz is the top vote getter with 22.5 percent, followed by Evelyn Pence with just under 21 percent and Matt Miller with 20.6 percent of the vote. Democrats Tiffany Bosley and Claudette Schroer have about 12 percent and Olisa Humes has about 11.5 percent of the vote.

Bill Lentz talked last night about the win:

Matt Miller talked about his thoughts watching the results come in:

In Hope, incumbent Democratic Town Councilwoman Nellie Meek has lost to Republican challenger John Walstad 63-37 percent.

Several Bartholomew County races went uncontested last night and will continue to be held by Republicans. That included long-time County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz and political newcomer Tony London winning their races. Former Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde will serve as Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge after having no Democratic opponent yesterday. County Coroner Clayton Nolting and Surveyor E.R. Gray also won re-election last night without an opponent.

Columbus Republican Congressman Greg Pence has won re-election to the Sixth Congressional District seat with nearly 72 percent of the vote over Democrat Jeanine Lee Lake with 24.8 percent. Libertarian Tom Ferkinoff drew 3.6 percent of the vote in that race.

Updated 8:35 p.m.

With all the votes tallied, Bartholomew County Republicans are leading in all the contested races across the county.

Incumbent Republican State Rep. Ryan Lauer defeated his Democratic opponent Dale Nowlin 60 to 40 percent in the race for District 59. State Rep. Jim Lucas, also a Republican, has won the Bartholomew County portion of District 69 with 74 percent of the vote over Democrat Jefferey Prewitt with 19 percent, and independent Katrina “Kat” Hardwick with just over 7 percent.

In the Bartholomew County Council at-large races, all three Republican incumbents have won re-election. Bill Lentz is the top vote getter with 22.5 percent, followed by Evelyn Pence with just under 21 percent and Matt Miller with 20.6 percent of the vote. Democrats Tiffany Bosley and Claudette Schroer have about 12 percent and Olisa Humes has about 11.5 percent of the vote.

In the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board races, Todd Grimes has won the District 3 seat with almost 60 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for Mike Jamerson and just under 16 percent for incumbent James Persinger.

Incumbent Pat Bryant has won re-election in the District 5 race over Jennifer Corsi, 54 to 46 percent. And Nicole Wheeldon has won the District 7 race over Lacretia Ulery with 63 to 37 percent.

In  Hope, incumbent Democratic Town Councilwoman Nellie Meek has lost to Republican challenger John Walstad 63-37 percent.

Jennings County High School is moving to virtual learning for the next two weeks due to positive COVID-19 cases.

The district announced that starting today through at least Monday, Nov. 16th, all students will be learning from home and will receive their coursework through Google Classroom. ALL Jennings County High School extracurricular and athletic events, practices, contests, and performances are postponed during the closure.

Students are to quarantine at home during the closure. If you must go out in public, be certain to follow social distancing guidelines and to wear a mask.

The high shool will be distributing food to students in need and those details will soon be announced.