Several area businesses have made the super sixteen round of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s Coolest Thing Made in Indiana competition. The voting for the next round kicked off this morning and ends on Nov. 13th.

This is the second year for the competition, where winners for each round are chosen by fan voting, with the products receiving the highest votes in each bracket moving to the next round.

While a company does not need to be headquartered in Indiana to enter, the product must be manufactured in the state.

Among the area products making the cut this round are Guardian Bikes made in Seymour, Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream made in Nashville, and Hiker Trailers made in Columbus.

Also on the list is Wood-Mizer Portable Sawmill based in Batesville and Indianapolis.

After the field of 16, the quarterfinal voting will start Nov. 14th.

The winner of the competition will be announced December 13 at the Indiana Chamber’s Best IN Manufacturing Awards Luncheon.

You can find more information or vote here: https://www.indianachamber.com/coolest-thing-made-in-indiana-tournament/

The Columbus Area Arts Council will be hosting a nationally recognized poet for a special Open Mic Poetry and Prose event tomorrow at Hotel Indigo.

The event will featuring readings by Ron Whitehead, the US National Beat Poet Laureate. Whitehead has presented thousands of performances worldwide, and his work has been translated into 20 languages, according to the arts council.

“Open Mic Poetry & Prose” is an opportunity for artists of all levels to share their written work with a live audience in a relaxed and non-judgmental space. You can sign up to share your own poems.

It will be hosted by local poet Skye Nicholson and will also feature Chris Dean, a local poet and open mic regular. Musician Cheryl Liz will play acoustic music throughout the evening

The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday evening at Hotel Indigo. Sign-ups for poets will start at 5 p.m. and will be on a first-come basis.

Participants are asked to keep language at a PG-13 level but the event is recommended for ages 14 or older. The event is free and you are invited to attend.

Note: A previous version of this story had the number of votes for Mayor-elect Mary Ferdon incorrect.

Less than a quarter of eligible voters turned out for Tuesday’s municipal elections in Columbus.

According to the Bartholomew County clerk’s office, there were 7,089 voters yesterday, or just over 23 percent of the 30,801 registered voters in the city.

The election saw 3,763 people cast ballots at the city’s eight voter centers yesterday. 3,326 people cast absentee or early ballots in the election, with 394 mail in votes and 2,932 people voting early at either Nexus Park or the Governmental Office Building in the weeks leading up to the election.

The closet race was in the City Council District 3 race where incumbent Democrat Jerone Wood, defeated Republican challenger Sue Normal-Chapple with 52.34 percent to 47.66 percent.

The widest vote margin was in the race for Council District 4, where incumbent Republican Frank Miller defeated Democrat Keegan Hill, 61.6 percent to 38.4 percent.

Newly elected Mayor Mary Ferdon drew the most votes in the election, with 4,755 voters giving her the nod in her win over independent Sean Burton. That included 2,433 voters on election day, 259 paper absentee ballots and 2,063 walk-in early votes.

You will be able to take a look inside the Ivy Tech aviation education program at the Columbus Municipal Airport on Thursday.

Ivy Tech Community College Columbus Campus and Lift Academy will be holding an open-hanger event for those interested in aviation or in becoming a pilot and how to begin a flying career in Columbus.

Ivy Tech Columbus offers a degree in aviation and the college has partnered with LIFT Academy to provide flight training. After completing the program, graduates can get hired directly into Republic Airways.

You will be able to find more information on tuition incentives, airline-readiness, and training on state-of-the-art flight simulators.

The open hanger event will be from from 4-7 p.m. Thursday afternoon at 4760 Andrews St. on the airport property. It is open to the public and you are invited to attend. You can find a link to register at https://liftacademy.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/targetx_eventsb__events

Bartholomew County Road 300E will be closed today for road work.

According to the Bartholomew County Highway Department, the road will be closed to all traffic from 8 until 4, while crews repave the road. That will be between State Street or State Road 7 and County Road 275S.

You should avoid the area if you can and find another route.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department’s police dog Creed has been chosen to receive a bulletproof and stab protecting vest, sponsored by a woman from South Carolina.

According to the department, Creed’s vest is sponsored by Jeanne Ryan of Greer, SC and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.”.

The not-for-profit Vested Interest in K9s group from Massachusetts provides the vests to dogs working in police and other agencies. Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 5,300 vests to K9s in all 50 states.

The organization accepts donations and $985 will sponsor one vest.

You can get more information at www.vik9s.org

Photo: Jennings County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Officer Creed. Photo courtesy of Sheriff’s Department.

Republican Mary Ferdon will be the next mayor of Columbus, after Tuesday’s municipal elections.

Ferdon won the race over independent Sean Burton, 73 to 27 percent in unofficial vote totals.

Ferdon has served under current Mayor Jim Lienhoop for eight years as director of administration and community development for the city.

She talked about her win.

Ferdon thanked the voters who supported her in her first run for elected office:

Ferdon reflected on the end of a long campaign:

Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Republican Luann Welmer has defeated Democrat Quisha Jackson for the city’s new clerk position 61 to 39 percent.

Republicans will take back control of the Columbus City Council after Tuesday’s municipal elections.

Four years ago, Columbus drew national attention when local Democrats won control of the council 4-3 in Vice President Mike Pence’s home town. But after last year’s move to a second class city status, the council will be expanding to nine seats, which Republicans won 5-4. Incumbent council members had a successful night, with all five winning re-election.

In the three at-large races yesterday, incumbent Democrats Tom Dell and Grace Kestler won re-election, with Republican Josh Burnett picking up the third seat.

Dell talked about his election win

Kestler gave her thoughts on re-election

Burnett talks about winning this election

Also winning re-election were Democrats Jerone Wood and Elaine Hilber, along with Republican Frank Miller.

Hilber thanked her family and supporters.

Wood talks about the differences from his first election win

Miller missed the Republican celebrations last night after coming down with COVID. With his win he plans to get back to work.

Joining them on the council next year will be Republicans Chris Bartels, Kent Anderson and Jay Foyst.

Bartels talked about his election win

Anderson praised his opponent, Democrat Eric Riddle, and the campaigns they ran.

Updated: 7:30 p.m.

It is Election Day in Indiana with municipal races on the ballot. Columbus voters are choosing a new mayor, clerk and nine seats on City Council.

With early votes and all eight vote centers reporting in, in unofficial totals:

Republican Mary Ferdon has won the race for mayor over independent Sean Burton, 73 to 27 percent.

Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Republican Luann Welmer has defeated Democrat Quisha Jackson for the new clerk position 61 to 39 percent.

In the race for the three at-large seats on Columbus City Council, incumbent Democrat Tom Dell has 21 percent, Republican Josh Burnett has 20.5 percent and incumbent Democrat Grace Kestler has 20.06 percent. Republican Alex Englebert had 14 percent, Democrat Paul Hoffman had 13 percent and Republican Chris Rutan had 12 percent.

In Council races by district:

District 1
Republican Chris Bartels 55 percent
Democrat Nick Slabaugh 45 percent

District 2
Democrat incumbent Elaine Hilber 54 percent
Republican challenger Vicki Griffin 46 percent

District 3
Democratic incumbent Jerone Wood 52 percent
Republican challenger Sue Norman-Chapple 48 percent

District 4
Republican incumbent Frank Miller 62 percent
Democrat Keegan Hill 38 percent

District 5
Republican Kent Anderson 52 percent
Democrat Eric Riddle 48 percent

District 6
Republican Jay Foyst 60 percent
Democrat Bryan Munoz 41 percent

Election Day is today in Indiana and in Columbus, voters will be choosing between two candidates for mayor, two candidates for city clerk and nine seats on the City Council.

At the top of the ticket, Republican Mary Ferdon is running against independent Sean Burton to be the next Columbus mayor. Republican Luann Welmer is running for the newly created city clerk position against Democrat Quisha Jackson.

There are also nine council seats on the ballot for the first time, instead of the previous seven. That will be six seats by district and three at large seats on the council after this election, all of which are contested races this year.

There are 8 vote centers around Columbus where you can cast your ballot. Those are at Flintwood Wesleyan Church, St. Johns Masonic Lodge, NexusPark (Formerly Fair Oaks Mall),
Donner Center, River of Living Water Christian Church, the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building on Third Street, Terrace Lake Church and Westside Community Church.

Bartholomew County Clerk Shari Lentz explains what you will need to bring with you to cast your ballot:

Vote centers are open until 6 p.m. tonight.

You can hear the election results tonight on air and on our website starting at 7 p.m. If you have any questions about voting in Bartholomew County, you can call the voter registration office at 812-379-1604