Bartholomew County authorities have lifted the countywide burn ban, originally put in place last week.

According to the county emergency operations center, the ban was lifted at the order of the county commissioners and request of the county fire chiefs.

There is still time to make a donation to help the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department pack a patrol car with food for local residents in need.

The effort to provide assistance for Bartholomew County residents who need a little extra help during this holiday season runs through Monday.

Donation boxes are available in the front lobby of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, on Second Street, in Columbus. If you need any assistance carrying items in, please call and someone will assist you.

Canned foods and non-perishable food items are being accepted to benefit Love Chapel and the Salvation Army.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department

Two area companies are still in the running for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Indiana tournament.

The second annual competition started with 54 companies in 43 communities and is now down to the quarterfinals. Hard Truth Distilling Co. in Nashville and Hiker Trailers in Columbus are still in the running, as well as companies in Westfield, Angola, Gary, Leesburg, Syracuse and South Bend.

The companies did not have to be headquartered in Indiana but their coolest product had to be made here. Entry to the contest was free.

Fan voting continues in this quarterfinal round through 10 p.m. on Friday evening in the single-elimination tournament. The entire competition wraps up on November 30th. The champion will be announced December 14 at the Indiana Chamber’s Best IN Manufacturing Luncheon.

You can cast your vote at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing.

Columbus native Mike Pence says the January 6th Committee has no right to his testimony.

In an interview on CBS’s “Face The Nation,” the former Vice President said he’s “closing the door” on testifying before the panel because Congress has no right to summon him. Pence said he has never stopped his team members from testifying, but that it would be a “terrible precedent” for Congress to question vice presidents about White House deliberations.

During a town hall with CNN on Wednesday, Pence talks abouts some of his private discussions with then-President Trump following the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Pence also said it was concerning that the January 6th Committee members were being appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks

Columbus was officially recognized as the 2022 Cummins Community of the Year at a ceremony last night in Indianapolis.

The formal presentation came at the Indiana Chamber’s 33rd Annual Awards program, presented by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, at the Indiana Convention Center.

The chamber presented a short video package introducing Columbus as the award winner. That included comments from Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

There were also comments from Cindy Frey, president of the Columbus Area Chamber:

First announced in August, Columbus was selected after a thorough review of all cities under consideration. Those nominations came from the communities themselves or through individuals recognizing an area’s progress and commitment to its businesses and citizens. They were then reviewed by a five-person Indiana Chamber panel.

Columbus-based Cummins signed on to be the award’s title sponsor,  after learning of Columbus’ recognition.

Columbus was one of the first community of the year recipients from the Indiana Chamber, back in 1992.

Local law enforcement officers took part in a training last week focused on helping community members experiencing a mental health crisis.

According to the Columbus police department, 20 officers, including 13 from the department took part in the 40 hour Crisis Intervention Training course focused on steps that officers can take to limit the use of force in encounters with those having mental health problems. The goal is to limit the number of people entering the criminal justice system who are experiencing a crisis.

Columbus police initiated their crisis intervention team last year and 24 of the department’s officers have completed the week long training course. The course features guest speakers and scenario training sessions that focused on de-escalation techniques.

In addition to Columbus police, deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and Columbus Regional Health Police Department took part.

Centerstone Health Services, Columbus Regional Health, Starbucks West, Lucabee Coffee Company, Donut Central and Foundation for Law Enforcement Chaplaincy sponsored the education efforts and food for the course.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

Columbus City Council considered a change to the city’s pay and benefits last night that could make it easier to rehire former employees and retain those with experience.

The ordinance change would raise the level of pay for faithful service. It would provide a pay bonus for employees after 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service. The bonuses would start at $500 for the first five years, going up to $2,500 for 25 years of service.

The proposal would also allow for additional vacation days for mid-career employees who start working for the city. Some new employees could receive up to five weeks of vacation time, if they had more than 20 years of employment in their field of expertise.

Arlette Tinsley, the city’s human resources director, said that the city has lost some potential employees because they would lose the longer vacation time they enjoyed at their previous job.

As proposed, the changes would not be retroactive for existing city employees.

The changes would take effect on January 1st, but could be implemented earlier in some cases.

Council gave its first approval to the changes to the personnel policies.

Congressman Greg Pence recognized Columbus businessman and philanthropist Tony Moravec on the floor of the U.S. House this morning. Moravec died at the age of 72 last week.

He had attended the election night celebrations of local Republicans at the Factory Twelve Event Loft in downtown Columbus Tuesday night and was later found dead in his vehicle.

Moravec owned BlairEx labs, Applied Laboratories, and is responsible for the restorations of both Zaharakos and the Pump House restaurants in downtown Columbus. Moravec had served on the Ivy Tech State Board of Trustees and was an advocate for community college education in Columbus.

Pence praised Moravec’s commitment to the community and to education.

Pence also passed along words of wisdom from Moravec’s recent speech when Ivy Tech in Columbus dedicated the new hall at the Columbus airport in his name.

A Greenwood man died after a crash in eastern Bartholomew County Monday night.

According to the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Department, 44-year-old Sarbjit Singh of Greenwood was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on State Road 46 and County Road E 100 S near County Road 750E at about 7:30 p.m. Monday night.

Singh’s SUV crossed the centerline and crashed into a semi, according to the sheriff’s department. Singh had to be cut from the vehicle by the responding fire departments. Singh’s cause of death was found to be massive trauma to his head.

Police say that a blood draw was done on the semi driver however the driver is not believed to have been impaired.

The crash remains under investigation by the county’s multi-agency Fatal Crash Reconstruction Team and the lead agency is the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.

Other agencies assisting at the scene included the Hope Police Department, Indiana State Police, Columbus Township Fire Department, Elizabethtown Volunteer Fire Department and Columbus Regional Health medics.