INDOT says there will lane closures on Interstate 74 in Decatur County this week, as contractors paint a bridge.

According to the agency, crews will close the left lane of the bridge at Ross Road new New Point over Interstate 74 starting on Friday. The restrictions are expected to be in place for about two weeks. On or about September 9th, the work will switch to the right lane and an 11-foot width restriction will be put into place for the duration of the work. It is also expected to take about two weeks.

The work schedule is dependent on the weather. INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all construction zones.

Columbus firefighters are investigating two residential fires that happened within minutes of each other early Saturday morning.

According to reports from the Columbus Fire Department, firefighters were called to the 1800 block of Newton Street at about 3:58 a.m. Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the home. They put out the fire, which was extensive, causing an estimated $95,000 in damages to the home.

At 4:03 a.m., firefighters were called to a fire in a detached garage in the 900 block of 19th Street. The garage was showing heavy flames when firefighters arrived and heat from the fire was damaging the home’s vinyl siding. Firefighters say the garage was a total loss. Damages are estimated at $30,000.

No one was injured in either of the fires.

Bartholomew County has its first person focusing on the community’s early learning system full-time. Christine Waters has been chosen to lead the Bartholomew County Early Learning Coalition.

Waters previously worked at Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon, where she co-designed and implemented a county-wide universal preschool system. She also managing early childhood coaching programs, a local childcare subsidy program, Oregon’s first infant/toddler contracted slot pilot program, and a regional grant piloting early childhood shared business services.

Waters will be the early learning coordinator for Bartholomew County, a new position in the community. She will be a full-time employee of Ivy Tech Community College, working on loan to the Community Education Coalition. At Ivy Tech, Waters will work within the College’s School of Arts, Sciences, and Education and the Early Childhood Education program.

Funding for the position is through grants from Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, Heritage Fund’s Women’s Giving Circle, Bartholomew County United Way and the Community Education Coalition.

The Coalition’s goal for the new position is to ensure all families have access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early learning programs for children up to 5 years old.

Kathy Oren, executive director for the Community Education Coalition, said that 90% of brain development happens before the age of 5. Because of that, she said there’s no topic more important than the care and education of our littlest ones.

Starting in early September, you won’t be able to go into the Columbus City Utilities offices on McClure Road while the building is renovated.

The renovations will include an update to the building’s entrance, lobby, and business office as well as security upgrades. This is the first renovations since the building opened in 1987.

During the work, the staff will be relocated to another facility to continue daily operations.

Renovations are expected to start Sept. 6th and be underway through December.

During the closure, all in-person transactions will be done through the drive-thru window which will be open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You can also pay your bill by calling 812- 376-8861 or online at columbus utilities dot org (columbusutilities.org.)

Local and state police departments are going to be cracking down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, with a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign going on through Labor Day weekend.

North Vernon and Seymour police departments are taking part in the campaign which will include overtime patrols targeting those driving under the influence.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Data from the administration shows that an estimated 9,560 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first quarter of 2022 – a seven percent increase from the previous year and the highest number of deaths in 20 years.

In Indiana, traffic fatalities increased by more than 20 percent during that time compared to 2021. If the pace continues, 2022 could be the third straight year with record high fatalities.

With officers showing zero tolerance throughout the campaign, police recommend celebrating the end of summer responsibly by having a safety plan in place. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

INDOT says that work on State Road 58 in Jackson County is now being postponed due to material delays.

INDOT’s contractors had originally planned to close the highway at Branch Runt Run to replace the bridge starting this week. That is just over two miles east of State Road 258.

Milestone Contractors now expects to start the work in mid to late September.

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County will be holding a Faces of Recovery – Stigma Awareness Walk and Party starting at 5 p.m. today at the Doug Otto United Way Center on 13th Street.

Allison Grimes, community outreach coordinator for ASAP, explains:

After the walk there will be a party at the center parking lot including free food, face-painting, games and activities for children, live music and inspirational guest speakers.

Filing continues for school board elections in Bartholomew County. Since last week, three candidates have filed to run in Bartholomew Consolidated and Flat Rock-Hawcreek school board races.

David Vincent filed for District 1 on the BCSC School Board and Cheryl K. Miles-Vieth filed for District 6.

David J. O’Neill has filed for the Flatrock District seat on the Flatrock-Hawcreek School Board.

To run, candidates must submit petitions with 10 signatures from residents. After the petitions are checked and approved by the clerk’s office, the candidates then file to become certified.

The filing period runs through August 26th.

A wanted Columbus man was arrested Wednesday afternoon after running from police.

According to Columbus Police Department reports, officers noticed 27-year-old Joshua W. Olmstead walking in the 1000 block of Central Avenue at about 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The recognized that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant and began speaking with him, but Olmstead soon tried to run away.

Police caught up with him near Central Place and 10th Street, where they took him into custody.

He was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and false informing as well as the outstanding warrant.

Two Bartholomew County family farms were recently honored with Hoosier Homestead Awards for more than 100 years in operation.

Local legislators Rep. Ryan Lauer, Rep. Chip Perfect, and Sen. Eric Koch made the announcement yesterday.

The farms being recognized are the Bolte Farm which has been in operation since 1881 and the McKinney Farm, which started in 1883. Both received the Hoosier Homestead Centennial Award.

These families were among more than 100 to be recognized at the Indiana State Fair for their commitment to Indiana agriculture.

Farms owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more can qualify for centennial, sesquicentennial or even bicentennial Hoosier Homestead awards.

Awards ceremonies are held in the spring and summer each year commemorating the achievements of farm families across the state. More than 5,800 farms have received the designation as Hoosier Homesteads since the awards started in 1976.