The Columbus Redevelopment Commission will be moving its meeting next week.
The commission normally meets on Mondays, but this week will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at Columbus City Hall. Among the items to be considered are funding a 2nd Street Improvement Project, and an economic impact study for the riverfront project.
Work is starting soon on a new medical facility in Nashville — a partnership between IU Health and the Brown County Community YMCA.
The new medical office building will be just off of State Road 46 and Maple Leaf Boulevard and will be home the home to IU Health’s primary care, walk-in and orthopedics services. There will also be the possibility of more specialty services in the future.
Brian Shockney, senior vice president for IU Health System Regional Operations, said the project is possible through help from the IU Health Foundation and a generous gift from Burt Borgelt in honor of his wife, Sue, for whom the health center will be named. The Borgelts fostered the creation of the present Brown County Community YMCA.
A ground-breaking at the site was held this week and the project is planned to begin by mid-October, with an estimated completion date next July.
IU Health will manage the construction and when finished will rent the space from the YMCA.
INDOT will be holding a hiring event later this month in Columbus for those who want to work during the winter season.
The state will be hiring for full-time seasonal positions include highway maintenance and traffic maintenance, snow and ice removal and other winter operations duties.
They will also be hiring for on-call snowplow operators. A valid CDL is required to be considered for full-time or on-call positions. Pay starts at $21 per hour for full-time operations and $25 per hour for on-call snowplow operations.
The state agency will hold the events at 13 locations around the state on Tuesday, Sept. 26th from 10 to 3. The Columbus event will be at the local INDOT sub-district office at 3545 Two Mile House Road.
Two men are facing drug-related charges after a traffic stop Thursday in Jennings County.
According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy noticed a vehicle with an invalid registration in Vernon and pulled the vehicle over.
After interacting with the two people in the vehicle and suspecting illegal activity, a police dog was brought to the scene who alerted to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle. A search by police recovered 16 grams of fentanyl and several other controlled substances.
52-year-old John J. Meisberger of Butlerville, and 49-year-old Cecil Ernstes of Hayden were taken into custody. They are facing charges of dealing in a narcotic and for possessing the narcotic and a controlled substance.
You will see streets closing in downtown Columbus starting Saturday morning as White River Broadcasting celebrates the 27th annual Hot Rods & Rock n Roll car show and concert.
According to the Columbus City Engineer’s Office, starting Saturday afternoon, Washington Street will be closing from 3rd to 8th Streets, and Franklin to Jackson streets will be closing from Fourth through Seventh streets until 11:30 p.m. Saturday night.
The annual event hosted by 106.1 the River brings hundreds of classic cars to downtown Columbus. Registration for vehicles will be at the Bartholomew County government parking lot across from the county jail with the lot opening at 8 a.,/ and registration ending at 1:30 p.m. If you don’t register, you won’t be allowed to enter your vehicle in the show.
The car show opens to the public at 3 Saturday afternoon. The event is capped off by a free concert from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.by Rick K and the Allnighters in front of The Commons
Hot Rods and Rock & Roll is free and you are invited to attend.
Pickleballers in Columbus will have a chance to compete in the 6th annual Discover Columbus pickleball tournament starting Friday afternoon.
The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and the Columbus Pickleball Club are co-hosting the tournament at the Burnett Tennis Courts and Donner Park Pickleball Courts.
Proceeds from the event will help grow and maintain pickleball facilities in Columbus.
The event is open to all ages and for skill levels 3.0 to 5.0. Senior events happening Friday only.
The tournament will begin with round-robin play, then move into a single elimination bracket .Matches will be live streamed on two courts Friday thru Sunday starting and can be watched on gamechanger.tv
You are invited to come, to cheer on the athletes and to enjoy food from food trucks.
The tournament will begin Friday at 5 p.m. and wrap up Sunday afternoon.
Four people have been arrested after an investigation into rape and human trafficking in Bartholomew County .
According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, three people were arrested on Tuesday by deputies and a fourth Wednesday in Washington County with the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
According to an affidavit filed in the case, the investigation started in July after Columbus Regional Hospital Police and Adult Protective Services became involved in a case where a child was born to the victim, a mentally disabled adult with the cognitive abilities of a toddler. Authorities say that she did not have the mental ability to consent to enter into a sexual relationship.
Further investigation revealed sexual material involving the victim had been shared on an internet chat line and on a website frequently used to sell adult sexual content. A court document also alleges that the victim was taken to Salem, Indiana up to 15 times to be sexually assaulted by a suspect there.
Sheriff Chris Lane said that he is shocked by those “who would take advantage of and abuse others for their personal gain or desires.” He also praised Lt. Kevin Abner who led the investigation into the allegations.
Those arrested on felony charges of promotion of human sexual trafficking and rape were 37-year-old Brandon A. Jacobs of Jonesville, 27-year-old Christina L. Moffatt of Seymour, 41-year-old Christopher S. Lovell of Seymour and 65-year-old Jon A. Arnold of Salem.
Their bond was set at $450,000 each.
Edinburgh is receiving a $50,000 grant from the state to develop community and economic development projects.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch is announcing $318,310 in planning grants to seven communities through the Community Development Block Grant program through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The planning grants are meant to encourage communities to plan for long-term community development with the aid of experts and community input.
Denny Spinner, executive director of the state office, said he is encouraged to see “Hoosier cities and towns work towards their long-term visions and local community development needs.”
Edinburgh was awarded the $50,000 through the comprehensive planning grant program which helps communities to evaluate their assets and to identify opportunities to address current needs. Those needs can be in areas such as land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, broadband access and historic resources.
Saturday night’s season opening performance for the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic will feature music with a fantasy adventure tone.
Maestro Isaac Selya, the new conductor for the orchestra explains his first show in the new role. He said the performance called called Swordcraft features music from the Legend of Zelda video games and the Lord of the Rings movies.
Selya said this season will feature several collaborations with other community organizations, a theme he stressed when he was interviewing for the position. Those will include concerts with mental health themes, a “Nutcracker” performance with Dancer’s Studio Inc., and an architecture themed concert working with Landmark Columbus Foundation.
The show will start at 7:30 at Columbus North’s Erne Auditorium. Tickets will start at $8 and are available by phone, at the box office on Franklin Street from 9 to 5 through Friday, or online at https://www.thecip.org/tickets/buy-tickets/
A new study outlines plans to help Seymour grow along its recently fully opened Burkart Boulevard Bypass in what officials are calling an opportunity zone.
The Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation worked with the Brookings Institute to release the study this week.
The corporation, the city and the Community Foundation of Jackson County were the core team that worked with the institute to develop the study. There were also community focus groups including employees of Pet Supplies Plus, Aisin, Seymour Young Professionals and leaders of the Margaret R. Brown Elementary School.
The city’s population grew from just over 17,500 in 2010 to about 21,500 in the 2020 census and that was largely due to an increase in the Latino population. One of the goals of the study was to find ways to better connect the immigrant population with the overall community.
The study recommended several action items including small business and entrepreneur support, developing an immigrant resource center, expanding the city’s trail system and making more options for affordable living. The study recommends a new neighborhood called Freeman Village to support first time homebuyers.
You can find more information here: https://jcidc.com/2023/09/11/seymour-rolls-out-brookings-study-plan/