A nationwide group is protesting a progam by the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department to offer baptistms in the county jail.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation announced today that it was calling on Sheriff Dave Durant to stop the ceremonies, calling it a violation of the First Amendment. The issue came up when photos were posted to the sheriff’s department’s social media in December, showing inmates being baptized inside the jail, saying “nearly 300 men and women have given their life to Jesus Christ while incarcerated at the Decatur County Detention Center. All glory to GOD!”

According to a foundation attorney, the government is prohibited from taking action that advances, shows preference for, or coerces individuals to participate in religion. The group said that the sheriff was opening the department up to legal action to stop the ceremonies.

Photo courtesy of Decatur County Jail Facebook page.

The National Weather Service is warning of strong gusty winds expected this afternoon and evening.

The agency says sustained winds of up to 25 mph are likely with up to 45 mph wind gusts.

Isolated thunderstorms are also possible with strong to severe storms possible. Damaging winds will be the primary threat.

You should check on your outdoor furnishings to make sure that they are secure. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

The city of Columbus is making plans to add almost 154 acres to the city limits near Walesboro — property that could help lure in new industries.

Columbus City Council approved proposals from TMC Developers to annex the property in the Walesboro area and to rezone it from agriculture to heavy industrial use.

The property is between County Roads 300 and 400 west on the north side of County Road 450S or State Road 58.

Jason Hester, president of the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation, spoke in favor of the proposals, saying that the project would be the only available land for industrial development of more than 100 acres in the city limits. He said in the last two years the development group has received 38 inquiries from industries looking for that size or larger, which meant Columbus lost out on more than $40 billion in development opportunities.

A neighbor in a nearby home said she was concerned about how development on the property would affect the view from her land in what had previously been an agricultural area.

The annexation ordinance passed unanimously.

You will see lanes closing on State Road 3 near Greensburg, starting today.

According to reports from INDOT, Central Railroad of Indiana plans to close lanes on the highway, south of State Road 46 at the recently-replaced railroad crossing. Those closures are expected to happen between 7 a.m. in the morning and 5 p.m. in the afternoon.

Crews will be installing new signs, wiring and LED signal indicators. The project is expected to be finished by the end of the month, but the schedule is dependent on the weather.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to use extra caution and to drive without distractions in all work zones. The work schedule is dependent on the weather.

IUPUC and Mill Race Center are inviting you to a community disucssion on the post-pandemic challenges and opportunities later this month.

The discussion is part of the Columbus Conversations forums, which focus on current events of special interest to the Columbus community. The event is made possible through a grant from Innovate Indiana, a program administered by the IU Council on Regional Engagement and Economic Development.

The forum’s panel will include Mill Race Center Executive Director Dan Mustard, and Ryan Brewer, Anna Carmon, Paige McDaniel, Jon Padfield and Crystal Walcott from IUPUC

The session will be at 6:30 p.m. on January 26th at the center. This event is free and open to the public. For more information click go.iu.edu/4LnQ.

The Columbus Area Visitors Center is seeking applications for the next round of tourism development grants in Bartholomew County.

The grant funds are meant to create new tourism attractions or programs, to enhance current tourism attractions or programs, or to encourage collaboration in the creation and enhancement of tourism attractions/programs.

Grant applications are being accepted through February 15th. The grant recipients will be announced by March 15th.

Grant applications are available on the visitors center website at columbus.in.us/grants-info

Columbus City Council has approved a plan to save the city nearly $2.5 million dollars by paying off bonds for a Cummins improvement project early.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission suggested the city spend about $15 million to pay off the bonds early. The early payoff comes with a 4 percent discount. The bonds are not due to be paid off until 2031, which would cost the city about $17.5 million.

The city set up a special taxing unit for Cummins Engine Plant in 2009, with the money paid in taxes going to pay off $12 million in bonds issued for improvements to the plant and its facilities. However, the property taxes coming in have exceeded the bond payments over the years, leaving more than $20 million in the unit’s fund.

Councilman Frank Miller pointed out that the special taxing district would continue to collect revenue until it expires, with the money under the control of the redevelopment commission.

Council voted unanimously to approve the change, with Elaine Hilber abstaining because she works for Cummins.

Three Columbus firefighters are being promoted to fill a vacancy left by retirement.

According to the Columbus Fire Department, Captain Mike Sieverding has been promoted to the Rank of Battalion Chief. Sieverding is a twenty-five year veteran of the department and was promoted to Captain in 2013.

Lt. Aaron Eichel has been promoted to the rank of captain. Eichel has served sixteen years with the Columbus Fire Department.

Firefighter Chris Tuttle has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Tuttle has served been with the department for 16 years.

Battalion Chief Jeff Cain retired on January 6th.

Former Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says he is dropping out of the race for mayor of Columbus.

Myers, a Republican, ended his second term as sheriff at the start of the year and filed to run for mayor on the first day of filing the next week. Myers is a former Columbus city police officer and prior to that worked for the sheriff’s department as a jail officer. He said he has spent more than 30 years in public service roles.

In an announcement yesterday, Myers said “with much thought and prayer I have concluded that my heart’s desire is to bring my public service career to an end and to seek new opportunities within the private sector.”

He said that he is grateful for the support he received in his campaigns for sheriff and for mayor. He said it was the honor of a lifetime to serve two terms as sheriff.

Myers said that he will continue to assist new Sheriff Chris Lane as his chief deputy during the transition period, until the end of February.

The deadline to sign up for the next Bartholomew County Works job readiness training workshop is coming up today.

Bartholomew County Works is committed to helping members improve their lives, gain full-time employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. It provides resources in areas including transportation, finances and budget setting.

The workshop itself will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  starting Monday. Workshop topics will include: applications, resumes, interviews, personality and skills inventories, interview attire and body language and other subjects.

To get more information on signing up, you can call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-379-1630.