The city of Columbus and the proposed developer of a downtown hotel and conference center are parting ways.

The city redevelopment department is announcing that Sprague Hotel Developers will no longer be working with the city to build the project across the street from the Bartholomew County Jail.

The property between Second and Third Streets is owned by the city redevelopment department and contains a county government parking lot and was the former site of the county court services building. That building was demolished in April.

The city’s Envision Columbus Downtown Strategic Plan from 2018 called for a hotel and conference center in the downtown area, and market and feasibility studies still show a need for such a facility. Sprague has been the builder associated with the project since proposals were sought in 2019. But the pandemic put the project on hold as hotel use plummeted.

City officials say that planning for the project picked up again last year, however the city and Sprague were not able to come to an agreement. The city plans to continue to move ahead with the project as a priority.

Photo: The former Bartholomew County Court Services building is torn down in April. Photo courtesy of  Columbus Redevelopment Department.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has declared an Air Quality Action Day today for our area.

An Air Quality Action Day means that the weather is expected to produce conditions where high levels of ground-level ozone emissions may exceed federally mandated standards.

High ozone near the ground acts a lung irritant. It can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations. Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors today.

IDEM recommends that you take actions to lower ozone levels, including:

• Walking, biking, carpooling or using public transportation.
• Avoid going through drive-throughs.
• If your vehicle is going to be idling for more than 30 seconds, shut it off.
• Combine your errands into one trip.
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gas-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m. tonight.

The alert is in effect until midnight.

You can get more information at SmogWatch.IN.gov.

The annual Salute! concert is returning to downtown Columbus tomorrow evening to honor those who have fallen in service to their country.

The 23rd annual free concert, performed by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, will be held on Friday starting at 7 p.m. on the lawn of the Bartholomew County courthouse. The concert will be led by guest conductor Roger Kalia, and will include patriotic music, along with military equipment displays and two helicopter landings.

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic is also asking you to donate to support the Salute! concert. Donation information is available on the orchestra website at https://www.thecip.org/events/salute/  or you can stop by the philharmonic offices at 315 Franklin Street.

You will see changes to downtown traffic before and during the Salute! performance. According to the Columbus city engineer’s office, Jackson Street will be closed starting at 8 tomorrow morning between Second and Third Streets. The streets around the courthouse will be closed from 5:30 tomorrow afternoon to 11. That includes Washington Street from First to Third Streets, Second Street from Franklin to Jackson Streets and Jackson from first to third streets. The left hand lane of Third Street will also be closed.

Traffic will be re-routed coming off of the Robert N. Stewart bridge from First Street to Lafayette Avenue.

Government offices will be closed on Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday.

In Columbus, there will be no city trash, recycling or yard waste collections on Monday. Instead, routes will run a day late all week, with normal Monday routes running on Tuesday and normal Friday routes being picked up on Saturday. You should have your Toters to the curb by 7 a.m. on your delayed collection day.

Columbus City Utilities offices will also be closed. If you have a problem with your water or sewer service, you can call 812-372-8861 and follow the prompts.

In Seymour, normal Monday trash routes will be picked up on Tuesday.

The Schneck Foundation in Seymour is offering a program to help parents and caregivers of teens better understand the signs of possible substance abuse.

The foundation, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Seymour, will present “Hidden in Plain Sight” on Friday, June 9th and Saturday June 10th at the club on North O’Brien Street.

The program simulates a teenager’s bedroom and items have been placed inside that could be indicators that a teen is using tobacco, alcohol or drugs, or engaging in other harmful behavior. Organizers say that some of the items are obvious and in plain sight, while others are well hidden.

The presentation will also feature tips on discussing substance use with children.

The program is free. It will be June 9th at 7 p.m. in the evening and at 10 a.m. in the morning on June 10th. Registration is required and seating is limited. The deadline to sign up is June 2nd. You can sign up here: https://www.schneckmed.org/events

For more information, call 812-524-4244.

The Town of Hope will be holding its next Cruise-In to Hope on Friday, June 2nd at the Hope Town Square.

Any cars or bikes are welcome and a donation of $10 is recommended. Proceeds will go to support the Student Fund of Hope.

Music will be by Vinyl Escape. The Cruise-ins are held on the first Friday of the month through the summer. They are organized by Main Street of Hope and sponsored by the Columbus Area Visitors Center.

The Cruise-in will start at 5 p.m.

Two people have been arrested in connection with shootings Tuesday night at Lincoln Park in Columbus.

Four people were shot in the incident which started at about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday night. According to Columbus Police, rescue workers were called to the basketball court area of the park and police, firefighters and paramedics provided medical care to the victims.

According to Columbus Regional Hospital, three of the victims have been flown to Indianapolis hospitals with critical injuries. One is in stable condition at Columbus but has not been admitted to the hospital.

Police say that witnesses identified a vehicle involved in the shooting and a search began for suspects. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department found the vehicle and stopped it. 18 year old Alexander Parker of Columbus was taken into custody.

A second suspect was identified as 18-year-old Edmarius Oats of Columbus. Members of the Columbus and Bartholomew County SWAT team took him into custody outside of a home in the 3400 block of Old Field Lane at about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Oats and Parker were arrested on preliminary charges of aggravated battery and criminal recklessness with a weapon. Parker is also facing charges of assisting a criminal.

More charges are possible, police say.

The Jennings County prosecutor says a deputy was justified in using lethal force and no charges are warranted after an armed fugitive was shot and killed in February.

According to a report issued by Jennings County prosecutor Brian Belding, 29-year-old Devin Lark was shot and killed in a confrontation with deputies on Feb. 3rd. Deputy Cody Low fired the shot that killed Lark as the two wrestled for control of a gun carried by the suspect.

Lark had been convicted on February 2nd of charges including burglary, auto theft, theft and battery resulting in bodily injury but did not show up to court for his trial. An arrest warrant was issued for him and he also had an arrest warrant out of Clark County.

Deputies received word from informants that Lark was armed and planned to shoot it out with police. The Jennings County SWAT team was called out to take Lark into custody and Deputy Low accompanied the team, along with his police dog Axel.

Lark was found outside a barn on West County Road 175N and ran from officers. After warnings, Low sent Axel in to apprehend the suspect and the dog brought Lark to the ground. But the deputy saw a gun in Lark’s hand. A struggle for the gun began with Low warning Lark that he was going to get killed if he did not let go of the gun. Lark reportedly said “Kill me” repeatedly and the deputy fired his department handgun striking Lark in the chest and killing him.

The entire encounter lasted 21 seconds from the deputy getting out of his vehicle to the shooting.

An autopsy revealed that Lark had drugs in his system including methamphetamine, THC and fentanyl. The cause of death was the gunshot wound.

The investigation was conducted by Indiana State Police and included video from body cameras from Low and from Sheriff Kenny Freeman, who was right behind the deputy.

Columbus Regional Health and the city of Columbus are looking for your thoughts on a plan for nearly 700 acres of farmland near the western entrance to the city.

The hospital is proposing a new district, called the City View district, to cover the development of the property on the south side of Jonathan Moore Pike, which stretches from Interstate 65 to the railroad tracks just to the west of the downtown area. The area has previously been known as Garden City Farms.

The plan, if adopted, would guide the future development of the property by becoming a master plan for the hospital and a part of the city of Columbus Comprehensive Plan. The district plan includes a future health care facility, residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, and a research & development campus. It sets aside open spaces, green corridors, and room for other amenities.

The hospital’s goals for the property include being connected to nature, a catalyst for growth in Columbus, a focal point of community-focused health and well-being and innovative in promoting healthy lifestyles.

The city planning department and the hospital will be holding an open house on Wednesday, May 31st at Nexus Park, between 6 and 8 p.m. You will have a chance to view information on the plan and give your thoughts on the use of the land and its development, proposed parks and open space and housing planned for the area. There will be a presentation on the details of the plan at 6:45 p.m.

You should park on the southside of the former Fair Oaks Mall, closest to the 25th Street and Herman Darlage Drive entrance.

You can find the draft plan here: https://www.columbus.in.gov/planning/comprehensive-plans/

The U.S. Forest Service is looking for your thoughts on improvements at facilities in the Hoosier National Forest.

According to the agency, improvements are planned a three campgrounds, a boat ramp and a group campground.

The affected campgrounds include Blackwell, Shirley Creek and Youngs Creek. Proposed improvements will include parking pads, fire rings, picnic tables, the planting of native trees, replacing some hitch rails, work on drains and culverts and other improvements.

Also proposed is the addition of a non-motorized boat loading and unloading ramp at Celina Lake in the Indian-Celina Lakes Recreation Area and the installation two small picnic shelters at Primrose and Goldenrod Group Campgrounds within the Tipsaw Lake Recreation Area.

You can find more information on the proposals and how to leave your feedback here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/hoosier/?project=64183

Photo: Blackwell Campground, in Monroe County. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.