Jackson County has joined Bartholomew County in declaring a burn ban due to the continuing dry and dangerous conditions. The bans are in place until further notice.

Under the burn bans, you can not have campfires and other recreational fires, open burning of any kind with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane, the burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and the use of burn barrels at residential structures.

The National Weather Service is also again warning about an enhanced risk of wildfires this afternoon.

According to the agency, the very dry air and low moisture is making for dangerous conditions.

Columbus leaders will be working to understand the scope of the community’s homeless population and possible solutions at a workshop tomorrow evening.

The Navigating Homelessness Together community conversation is being organized by the Columbus City Council and is meant for a chance to learn from experts on the issue and to hear from the community. There will be a panel discussion and a question and answer session. The conversation will be moderated by Lena Blackstock.

Councilman Frank Miller talked recently about the need.

Councilwoman Grace Kestler talked recently about the forum.

Although a quorum of council members are expected to attend no official action will be taken and council members will not be presenting at the event.

The community conversation will start at 5:30 at Donner Center on 22nd Street. It is open to the public and you are invited to attend.

Three products made in the local area have made it on to the next round in the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Coolest Thing Made in Indiana tournament.

The voting for the next round, the quarterfinals with 8 teams competing, ends on Friday.

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.

All three of the locally made products in last week’s competition made it onto the quarter final round. Those are Guardian Bikes made in Seymour, Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream made in Nashville, and Hiker Trailers made in Columbus. According to the Chamber, Hiker Trailers made it to last year’s semifinal round, Hard Truth Distillery made the quarterfinals a year ago and Guardian Bikes is in its first year in the tournament.

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 Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is kicking off its annual “Pack a Patrol Car” holiday season food drive with events this weekend.

Canned foods and non-perishable food items are being accepted to benefit Love Chapel and the Salvation Army.

The Sheriff’s Department will have their patrol car at locations this weekend, including the Jay C on Jonathan Moore Pike from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, the Walmart on Merchant Mile from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and the Whitfield Drive Walmart from 11:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.

Donation boxes are available in the front lobby of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, on Second Street, in Columbus, the Bartholomew County Courthouse and the Governmental Office Building on Third Street.

Photo: In 2022, Bartholomew County deputies delivered more than 6,000 pounds of food to Love Chapel and Salvation Army through the Pack a Patrol car effort. Submitted photo

Area police agencies will be out in force over the next week, and are encouraging you to plan for a sober driver on your way to or from Thanksgiving festivities.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department is announcing that deputies are taking part in the “Plan a Sober Ride” initiative, organized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

According to the federal agency, impaired driving and fatal crashes spike during the Thanksgiving holiday. In 2021, 190 people throughout the nation died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes from the day before thanksgiving to the Monday following Thanksgiving. Over the four years from 2017 to 2021, 137 drivers nationwide were involved in fatal alcohol-impaired crashes on the night before Thanksgiving.

During the initiative, officers will be on the roads on high alert for impaired drivers. You are encouraged to plan ahead by designating a sober driver or by using public transportation or a ride service

Police say you should never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

An Edinburgh area company is planning a $26.6 million expansion.

The George Utz company asked the Bartholomew County Council for a tax break for the proposed investment last night saying that would include $15.1 million in real property with $11.5 in personal property such as equipment.

According to a Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation presentation, the company plans to add 87,000 square feet to its facility for a production hall, technical area and employee facilities. The equipment will include new manufacturing, logistics and IT equipment,

The expansion would add 32 jobs by the end of 2025 with an average wage of over $21 an hour. The company already employs 218 people at the plant.

The council approved the tax abatement request. Under a tax abatement, a company is allowed to phase in property taxes on the equipment and construction over 10 years.

Earlier Monday, the county commissioners signed off on the plan certifying that the project is in an economic revitalization area.

The company received a similar tax abatement in 2019 on a $23 million investment.

Bartholomew County Road 1175E will be closed today due to paving.

According to the Bartholomew County Highway Department, the work will be going on between 800N and Stafford Road today depending on the weather. You should avoid the area if you can and find an alternate route.

IU Columbus will be hosting its annual Business Outlook Panel Wednesday at The Commons.

The speaker panel will give their forecast on the economic outlook locally, statewide and nationally for next year, including their insights into interest rates, inflation, jobs, unemployment, GDP, and the effect on our community.

The speaker panel will include PHDs Andrew Butters, Kristoph Kleiner and Phil Powell from the from the Kelley School of Business at IU and Steven Mohler from IU Columbus.

The event is a partnership between the IU Columbus division of business, the the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, the IU Kelley School of Business and the Indiana Business Research Center.

Check in begins at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday

Tickets are $40. The event includes lunch and all proceeds help to fund scholarships for IU Columbus business students.

You can get more information or buy tickets at columbusareachamber.com

The Bartholomew County Commissioners have declared a burn ban in the county, until at least next week.

Citing continuing dry and dangerous conditions the commissioners enacted the burn ban yesterday. It specifically prohibits campfires and other recreational fires, open burning of any kind with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane, the burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation and the use of burn barrels for any open burning at residential structures.

The burn ban also urges you to make sure any charcoal is fully extinguished before removing it from a grill and discourages the use of fireworks.

The National Weather Service is warning about an enhanced risk of wildfires this afternoon.

According to the agency, the very dry air and low moisture in possible fuel will make for dangerous conditions.

The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department is announcing that the parks restrooms are closed for the winter.

The department says that employees have finished winterizing the drinking fountains and closing all of the outdoor restrooms through the city parks system. They will reopen in April.

For more information you can call the parks department at (812) 376-2599.