Monthly Archives: August 2021

Report: Full marathon called off for Mill Race Marathon

The Republic newspaper is reporting that the full marathon has been called off for the Mill Race Marathon.

The decision was announced by organizers Friday. According to the newspaper, the decision was made largely because of the difficulties finding enough volunteers to staff the full race and of maintaining social distancing with the larger crowd. The half marathon and the 5k are both still scheduled for Sept. 25th

You can get more information at  millracemarathon.com

Bulldozer joyride leads to arrest in downtown Columbus

A Saturday morning joyride in a bulldozer led to the arrest of a Kentucky man in downtown Columbus.

According to police reports, Columbus officers were called out on a John Deere bulldozer driving recklessly near U.S. 31 and Hawcreek Boulevard at about 4 a.m. Saturday. Three Columbus police units with their lights activated tried to convince the driver to stop but he allegedly made obscene gestures at police while continuing to recklessly drive the bulldozer at speeds of up to 6 mph. He drove the vehicle, estimated at more than nine tons, over medians, drove near the People Trail and almost into Haw Creek.

Police called the sheriff’s department for assistance and Bartholomew County deputies arrived in the department’s armored vehicle. Shortly after deputies pulled beside the bulldozer and ordered him to stop, the driver stopped the vehicle in the Cummins Parking Lot near Third Street. 26-year-old Adam Jackson, of Gray, Ky. was taken into custody by deputies. He is facing charges of resisting law enforcement, vehicle theft and criminal recklessness.

Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Seymour woman dies in crash near Jennings/Jefferson county line

A Seymour woman died in a motorcycle crash early Saturday morning in Jefferson County.

According to Indiana State Police, 34-year-old Emma Kiefer was a passenger on a motorcycle that crashed on northbound State Road 7 near the Jefferson/Jennings County line. Kiefer sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.

According to police reports, the motorcycle was being driven by 39-year-old Jason K. Mace of Seymour when he lost control and crashed, throwing Mace and Kiefer from the bike.

Two northbound vehicles driven by 29-year-old Danielle R. Newton and 38-year-old Andrew J. Downs, both of North Vernon, then struck the wreckage, according to troopers. Neither of those drivers were injured.

Mace was flown to the University of Louisville hospital for treatment of his injuries.

State Road 7 was closed for about five hours while the crash was investigated and the scene was cleaned up.

Bartholomew County health officer issues new guidances; urges precautions

Dr. Brian Niedbalski, the Bartholomew County health officer, issued the following statement Friday, Aug. 27th.

“The current surge caused by the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to be felt locally and nationwide. Particularly concerning is that cases involving children and adolescents are occurring at rates not seen with previous variants. The overall rise in cases and hospitalizations is once again greatly impacting our healthcare systems, including regional children’s hospitals.

“I would like to stress, again, the importance of vaccinations, mask wearing, social distancing, and good hygiene. These are the weapons in our arsenal in the fight against COVID. Vaccines are still showing a significant reduction in serious cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Over 85% of COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide involve the unvaccinated. Numbers don’t lie. Furthermore, the value of masking has been shown in multiple scientific medical studies. Do all of these measures succeed 100% of the time? No, but collectively, they are our best defense against a repeat of what we witnessed with COVID in late 2020. Our current numbers are quickly approaching that level, unfortunately.

“I want to recognize our city and county governments for taking the steps to require masking within their designated offices. BCSC should also be commended for continuing their mask mandate in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID and other respiratory illnesses within their schools. This is an important step to keep our kids in school and avoid a return to virtual learning.

“I hope that our local businesses will learn from these examples and require masking within their walls as well. As we approach the Fall and Winter months, it is uncertain what we may see with the current strain or additional strains of COVID-19. We may continue to see more virulent strains on the horizon. Now is the time to work as fervently as ever to stop the spread.”

Dr. Brian Niedbalski

Sept. 11th remembrance ceremony set for 20th anniversary

Columbus rescue workers will be recognizing the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a ceremony at City Hall on Saturday, Sept. 11th.

The outdoor ceremony will begin at 8:40 a.m., with a moment of silence at 8:46, the moment the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. There will be a dispatch over the emergency radios honoring the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that day in the attacks on New York City, the Pentagon and on Flight 93, that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Members of the Columbus Fire Department and Police Department Color Guard will take part in the ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled to last about 30 minutes.

Community to recognize overdose dangers Tuesday at City Hall

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County will be holding an event on the steps of Columbus City Hall Tuesday in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day.

The event seeks to create a better understanding of overdoses, to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and to reduce the harms associated with drug use.

The event will include remarks and a proclamation signing by Mayor Jim Lienhoop. Sherri Jewitt, ASAP’s executive director, is encouraging members of the community to come out and support those who have been personally affected by overdoses.

The event will be from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 31st.

Forbes: Ivy Tech makes list of best places for women to work

Forbes has chosen Ivy Tech Community College as one of the top 100 best employers for women.

Forbes teamed up with research company Statista to identify companies most liked by women workers and that include female representation at the executive and board level. The rankings also take into account initiatives to improve gender equity and recent or unresolved allegations regarding discrimination or misconduct.

Ivy Tech was one of only two community colleges to make the list and one of 21 educational institutions.

Women make up 59 percent of the school system’s nearly 4,000 employees. That includes 64 percent of the full-time workers, 60 percent of the full-time faculty and 54 percent of the part-time employees. 50 percent of the school’s leadership team are women.

Support Our Hospice through upcoming events; Fish fry today at American Legion

Although Our Hospice of South Central Indiana has canceled its free Labor Day weekend concert at Mill Race Park, there are still events coming up that will allow you to help the not-for-profit hospice.

There will be a drive-thru fish fry at the American Legion Post 24 on 25th Street in Columbus from 11 to 8 today. The dinner will include fish, baked beans and cole slaw. It is free but donations will be accepted. You can dine in or drive through. There will be a limit of four meals per vehicle.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week, you can purchase fresh baked cookies or T-shirts in the Fair Oaks Mall parking lot from 11 to 1 and from 4 to 6 each day.

The $10,000 raffle will still be going on. You can purchase $10 tickets at the Fair Oaks Mall events next week, from any employee or on Saturday, Sept. 4th in front of the hospice center. You can also purchase the tickets online until 5 p.m. the afternoon of Sept. 4th at www.crh.org/hospiceraffle.

The raffle will be held at 7 in the evening on Sept. 4th. Winners will be notified by phone and results will also be posted on the Our Hospice Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/OurHospice) and Instagram pages (https://www.instagram.com/OurHospice.)

Extreme heat continues along with dangers of heat illnesses

You can expect another hot and humid day today with heat indexes approaching 105 in central Indiana. And forecasters with the National Weather Service say you can expect that sticky heat to be around through at least Saturday afternoon.

The scorching weather can quickly cause heat-related illnesses. According to Columbus firefighters if a victim feels faint or dizzy, has excessive sweating, cool, pale or clammy skin, a rapid weak pulse and muscle cramps, they could be suffering from Heat Exhaustion. You should get them to a cool, air-conditioned place, have them drink water if they are conscious and take a cool shower or use cool compresses.

Heat Stroke is more serious and you should call 911 if someone is experiencing the symptoms. Those include a throbbing headache and confusion, but no sweating. Their skin could be red, hot and dry. There will be a rapid, strong pulse and a victim could lose consciousness. You should get a heat stroke victim to a cool place and use cool cloths or a bath to cool them down. You should not give liquids to a victim of heat stroke.

Graphic courtesy of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Hot weather continues across Indiana; Heat advisory starts at noon

Hot and humid weather continues across much of Indiana again today.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory that is in effect from noon to 8 today. You could see heat index temperatures that feel like 105 across the state. Columbus is expected to have a heat index of 99 and Seymour will feel like 100.

You should drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, wear lightweight, light colored and loose clothing and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.