Almost all of our area counties remain under a travel advisory today as crews work to clear streets and a danger of freezing fog and drizzle continues this morning.
Under a yellow travel advisory routine travel may be restricted in some areas because of a hazardous situation. You should use caution and avoid those areas. Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings and Johnson counties all remain under a travel advisory.
Local government offices are closing Friday and Monday for the New Year’s holiday, including Columbus City Utilities. If you have a problem with your water or sewer service, you can call 812-372-8861 and follow the prompts.
Trash collections this week are running a day behind this week with normal Monday routes being picked up today and Friday routes being picked up on Saturday, New Year’s Eve. They will also be running a day behind next week.
Columbus is changing up its parking restrictions downtown, hoping to make it easier for shoppers and workers.
The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a change last week, removing the 3-hour parking limits on side streets downtown. The change will start in January. Going forward, the 3-hour limit will only be enforced on Washington street between First and Eighth streets.
Columbus City Councilman Tom Dell, who heads up the city parking commission, said that the change will be made on a trial basis, as a way to help relieve parking issues downtown.
Dell said that customers primarily park on Washington Street. The change would allow workers and others to use the side streets for parking if they need parking spots for a longer time.
Dell said that statistics on the effect of the change will be analyzed after the first quarter to see if the change helps with downtown parking problems. The review will be used to decide whether to recommend permanent changes to the downtown parking ordinance.
Columbus city crews will begin picking up Christmas trees during their normal trash and recycling collection routes starting today. You should have your trees curbside on the same day as your normal pickups.
All trees must be removed from bags and they must be free of ornaments, hooks, stands, or nails.
Call-ins will not be accepted for Christmas trees and collections will not be made on private streets or on alleys.
Christmas tree collection will continue through January 27th.
Public safety officials are warning about the dangers of space heaters and other forms of emergency heating.
Columbus Fire Department is passing along recommendations from the U.S. Fire Administration, saying that half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February. They say that you should plug only one heat-producing appliance into an electrical outlet at a time and you should never use an extension cord or power strip with a space heater, instead plug it directly into the wall outlet. Space heaters should be at least three feet away from anything combustible.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning of a higher potential for carbon monoxide poisoning during extreme winter weather. With high winds and ice increasing the possibility for power outages, some homeowners may turn to gasoline or diesel generators in order to use heaters and other appliances. Commission officials say generators should never be used indoors and should be placed at least 20 feet away from homes, with the exhaust faced away from the structure. They also warn against burning charcoal indoors.
Indiana State Police are offering tips for driving in this winter weather.
Troopers say that there are several things you can do help keep safe before you hit the road. You should check your tires and make sure that they are fully inflated. Check your battery and charging system to make sure they are operating properly. Windshield wipers that are worn or damaged won’t help in the snow. You should also make sure your wiper fluid reservoir is full. And pack an emergency kit including a blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, road flairs and emergency lights.
Once you leave the house, make sure you dress appropriately when headed out. Troopers say a quick trip to the store could turn into a long wait for a wrecker or attempts to dig yourself out. You need to clear your windows and lights of snow and ice, making sure you can see and be seen.
State police also suggest:
And you are urged not to crowd snowplows or drive beside them on two-lane roads. Troopers say that you should give them the space they need.
Columbus city crews will begin picking up Christmas trees during their normal trash and recycling collection routes starting next week.
You should have your trees curbside on the same day as your normal pickups. All trees must be removed from bags and they must be free of ornaments, hooks, stands, or nails.
Call-ins will not be accepted for Christmas trees and collections will not be made on private streets or on alleys.
Christmas tree collection will continue through January 27th.
Image courtesy of https://www.cambridgema.gov
The blast of winter weather has caused some power outages.
Bartholomew County REMC is reporting 49 customers without power early this morning, with most of those in the German Township area. Jackson County REMC is reporting 46 customers without power, with most of those between Seymour and Brownstown.
Duke Energy is reporting more than 550 customers without power this morning with 500 of those in northeastern Bartholomew and southern Shelby counties, between Hope and Flat Rock. About 57 are reported without power near Brownstown.
Local emergency officials are announcing that some Columbus city facilities will be open to get shelter from the weather for those in need. Some of these times have changed from earlier reports.
The Commons will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Foundation For Youth will be open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Nexus Park will be open until 7 p.m. Columbus city buses will be running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hamilton Center and Donner Center are now going to be closed.
On Saturday, The Commons will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nexus Park will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. FFY will be closed Saturday. City buses will only be running to Brighter Days Homeless Shelter on Saturday.
All city facilities are closed on Sunday, Christmas Day.
The Brighter Days Homeless Shelter will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. tonight into Saturday. It will be open all day on Sunday, Christmas Day. A meal will be served at the shelter tonight and Saturday evening, and all three meals on Sunday.
If you need to find a warming center in your community, you can call 2-1-1. Community navigators are available around the clock and can provide you with updated locations and hours of warmings centers in your area.
Our area is now under a winter storm warning. The National Weather Service says temperatures will be in the single digits today, with up to 50 mph winds. That will make it feel like 25 to 35 below zero. The winter storm warning is in effect until 7 this evening.
All area counties have issued travel restrictions this morning. Jackson and Jennings counties are in the red warning level, meaning that travel is restricted to emergency workers only. You should refrain from all travel under a travel warning.
Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur and Johnson counties are under an orange travel watch this morning. That means conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. Only essential travel, such as to work, or in emergency situations is recommended.
Local road conditions remain largely snow-covered due to blowing and drifting snow, according to emergency officials. If you have to travel this morning, you should do so with extreme caution.
INDOT has had nearly 1,000 trucks out statewide treating roads since Thursday afternoon. They say they will remain on duty until conditions improve. Each snow plow takes a route that takes two to three hours to complete.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that if possible you should stay off the roadways and take every precaution if you spend time outside today.