The Bartholomew County health officer is urging you to continue taking COVID-19 precautions, despite the lifting of the mask mandate.

Dr. Brian Niedbalski said he feels it is extremely important to continue wearing a mask when out in public places among those who don’t live in your household. He is strongly encouraging businesses to require masks for customers and staff.

He said social gatherings and public meetings are limited to no more than 250 people and social distancing guidelines should be maintained. He said larger events will be reviewed based on the state’s color COVID-19 spread map.

Many businesses should screen their employees daily, Niedbalski said.

Bartholomew County health officer order for April 6th, 2021

Columbus police are asking for your help finding a vandalism suspect.

Authorities have released a photo of a suspect in a weekend spree of spray painting that left the logo of a white supremacist group on downtown Columbus buildings.

The Republic newspaper reports that spray-painted stencils with a logo for a Texas white supremacist group were found on buildings Saturday including First Presbyterian Church, the Cummins corporate office building, in Friendship Alley between Fourth and Fifth streets downtown and on the Jackson Street parking garage.

Authorities believe there is a single suspect who acted alone. Police describe the man as a white male, wearing eye glasses, a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans, and a black backpack.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop released a statement saying that the symbols in no way represent our community and that Columbus celebrates diversity.

The mayor said, in part that “In Columbus we welcome people of all colors, nationalities and ethnicities, who bring with them a rich culture and diversity that benefits us all. These contributions have not only enriched our community, but have allowed our community to flourish economically…”

If you have any information on the suspect’s identity, you can call the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be submitted anonymously.

The Columbus Department of Public Works is holding a spring cleanup through April 16th.

You can rake loose leaves, grass or pine needles to the curb for collection on the day of your regular trash collection. Leaf vacs will only be collecting loose yard debris during the cleanup.

A local professor has been named Coach of the Year for her work with the Columbus East High School speech team.

Anna Carmon, who is director of the Communication Studies program at IUPUC , has been named the National Speech and Debate Association Coach of the Year for the Hoosier Heartland District, according to the university.

Columbus East qualified four students for the national tournament, its most successful year in team history. But Carmon was also singled out for her work assisting the entire district navigating the technological challenges of a completely virtual season.

Carmon has been attending Columbus East practices for more than 10 years. She said the students learn more than just speaking, but also how to present themselves professionally, critical thinking skills, civic awareness and civic engagement.

The district includes 13 high schools across the state. More than 125 students participated in the first virtual speech tournament, traditionally held at IUPUC in December each year.

Columbus City Council will be considering its second and final approval of a new ordinance that seeks to limit puppy mills and other mass-production facilities for family pets, by limiting the local market for those animals.

The proposed ordinance bans the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at stores in the city. However, those stores can work with the city Animal Care Services or other rescue groups to assist with those groups’ adoption efforts, provided the store has no ownership in the animals up for adoption, and is not charging the city agency or groups a fee.

Violating the ordinance would mean a fine of up to $500 for each animal involved.

At the last Council meeting, Republicans Frank Miller and Tim Shuffett voted against the change, questioning the need as no local stores have those sales now, and asking whether the discussions have been sufficiently open to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The council meets at 6 tonight virtually. you can find a link at columbus.in.gov.

The Bartholomew County Health Department will be holding a mass vaccination clinic at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds this coming weekend.

Amanda Organist with the health department said you can get vaccinated at the Pavilion on the fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with the Moderna vaccine. Although you must leave your vehicle, social distancing will be observed, she said.

To take part, you must first register at ourshot.in.gov. As of Monday, Organist said there are still some slots available, especially later in the day.

Bartholomew County is extending its contract for COVID-19 contact tracing through mid-July, but health officials are hoping that it can end after that.

Amanda Organist with the county health department, explained to the Bartholomew County Commissioners Monday that since the start of the pandemic the state has taken the lead on contact tracing of those who test positive for COVID-19. But after that initial round of attempts to identify who the patient may have contacted, those follow ups have been delegated to the county level health departments.

Bartholomew County has hired a contractor to take over those calls and commissioners on Monday morning approved a contract to extend that contract through July 16th. Organist said that the hope is for the county to be able to handle the duties internally after that.

A North Vernon man was arrested after violating a protective order at the Walmart there.

North Vernon police say they were called to a disturbance in the parking lot at about 7:17 p.m. Friday evening.

Police discovered that 44-year-old Travis K. Blair had made contact with someone who had a protective order against him, and then began shouting at the victim in the parking lot.

Blair allegedly then followed the victim into the store, continuing the disturbance. He was arrested on a charge of invasion of privacy.

A fire at Pence Place Apartments was quickly contained this morning before it could spread to neighboring units.

Columbus Fire Department is reporting that they were called to the blaze at 5:09 a.m. this morning and found heavy fire coming from a second floor bedroom window. Neighbors said all the residents were out of town for Easter weekend.

Firefighters first attacked the fire from the outside before going into the apartment and moving up to the second floor. The fire was contained to the bedroom but heat and smoke damage spread to a bathroom and to another bedroom. The first floor also suffered water damage. Firefighters estimate the damages at about $25,000.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Photo: Pence Place apartment fire courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.

Eastern Bartholomew Water Corp. has issued a boil water advisory for the Royal View housing addition in the Petersville area.

The utility says that any water being consumed or used for cooking should be boiled for three minutes before use.

The boil water advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.