Columbus City Council tonight will be considering giving final approval to a controversial loan to a developer to build an apartment and retail building on a small downtown lot.

The council is considering a $5.8 million forgivable loan to developer Flaherty & Collins to build an estimated 50-apartment complex on the small lot at Sixth and Washington Streets beside the Cummins parking garage. The company, which is also building the Taylor apartments next to the Bartholomew County Jail, plans to construct a complex with first floor commercial space and apartments above. The apartments are expected to rent for local market rates, in the neighborhood of $1,300 a month according to the developer.

Many residents spoke out against the project at its first hearing before the council earlier this month, with concerns about why the city is subsidizing a higher-end apartment building, when there is such a need for affordable, low-income housing in the city. They also were upset about the loss of the green space on the empty lot.

The loan funds would come from the city’s tax increment financing district revenue, which comes from the growth in property taxes in the city’s special taxing units.

A divided council gave its first approval on Dec. 5th.

The council is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at Columbus City Hall.

Photo courtesy of Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation.

Forecasters are warning about the danger of possible snow squalls today.

According to the National Weather Service, snow squalls are intense bursts of snow with strong gusty winds. They say that the squalls can rapidly reduce visibility making travel conditions treacherous and leading to chain reaction accidents. The squalls are usually short lived. You could see snow squall warnings across central Indiana today, similar to a severe thunderstorm warning.

The weather service is warning that wind gusts of up to 34 mph are possible, but snow accumulations are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch.

Two Johnson County officers were involved in crashes Sunday morning with drunk drivers, with one deputy suffering injuries.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy was patrolling in Franklin at about 1:09 a.m. Sunday morning when a driver pulled into the officer’s path on King Street, failing to yield the right-of-way The sergeant tried to swerve to avoid the crash, but struck the rear right side of the vehicle. 31-year-old Jacobee A. Doolin of Indianapolis was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

At about 2:48 a.m., Deputy Clint Abbott was responding to a domestic dispute call on Morgantown Road just south of Old Smith Valley Road when a vehicle traveling southbound entered the northbound lanes hitting Abbott’s vehicle head-on.

Deputy Abbott was transported by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital South and later transferred to a trauma center in Indianapolis. Police say Abbott has suffered a broken leg as a result of the accident.

The driver, 21-year old Fabion S. Craig of Greenwood was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended resulting in injury and resisting law enforcement.

Photo courtesy of Johnson County Sheriff’s Department

Local legislators are looking for students interested in being pages during the upcoming short session of the Indiana General assembly.

According to State Rep. Jim Lucas, the Indiana House program is open to students who are 13 to 18 years old. Pages assist state lawmakers and Statehouse staff with daily duties while having the opportunity to tour the governor’s office, the Supreme Court, and House and Senate chambers.

Page opportunities will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pages will receive an excused absence from school. Students will be responsible for their own lunch along with transportation to and from the Statehouse

The legislative short session begins on Jan. 8 and must conclude by March 14th.

You can find more information and a sign up here: https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/pageprogram

Decatur County authorities say that there will be a new public notification system for the county.

The new system will be operated by Code Red. Public safety and emergency messages will come from Decatur County authorities and the National Weather Service will provide weather alerts.

To sign up you can text DecaturCO to 99411. You will be sent a link to a website to finish your sign ups and set your preferences.

The current system will only remain active until March.

If you have any questions, you can email [email protected].

Seymour will be holding a Christmas Lights Parade along with fireworks on Saturday.

According to the city parks and recreation department, the parade will start in downtown Seymour at 5:30 p.m. The parade route will take St. Louis Avenue to Chestnut Street, then to Fifth Street, to Indianapolis Avenue and end on Second Street.

The parks department says that there are 50 entries for the parade as of Friday. All of the entries in the parade must be illuminated by Christmas lights. Santa Claus will also be in the parade and there will be an opportunity for children to get their photos taken.

Fireworks in the B&O parking lot behind the Knights of Columbus will follow the parade.

Columbus police were able to return a man’s tricycle that he needs to ride to work, after an investigation into multiple thefts and burglaries in the city.

According to Columbus Police Department, city officers and county deputies with the Intelligence Led Policing Unit investigated the crimes in downtown Columbus. They reviewed security footage and recognized the suspect as 48-year-old Russell “Rusty’ Rossman.

Detectives tracked Rossman to a home in Jewell Village where he was taken into custody. That’s where police found the stolen three-wheeler.

Rossman was arrested on preliminary felony charges of burglary and theft.

The investigation into the theft/burglary cases remains ongoing.

CPD Officer Sam Lucas and Devon Reece after a stolen tricycle was returned. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department

The American Red Cross says there is still time to give the gift of your blood donation, before Christmas.

The Red Cross anticipates difficulties providing enough blood for patients in need during the winter months.

Through the end of December, those who donate will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and be entered into a chance to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card and 65-inch television.

There will be several local donation opportunities including on Tuesday, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Columbus Municipal Airport on Ray Boll Boulevard and from 2 to 7 p.m. at Tea Creek Baptist Church, on Jennings County Road 300W. You can also donate blood on Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m. at Decatur County Memorial Hospital on North Lincoln Street in Greensburg.

You can schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Next week’s meeting of the Columbus City Council is being rescheduled.

While the meetings are normally held on Tuesday nights, next week’s meeting will be Monday evening. The council will meet at 6 p.m. Monday evening in the Council Chambers at Columbus City Hall.

The agenda for Monday night’s meeting has not yet been released.

Saturday is delivery day for the Columbus Firem3n’s Cheer Fund.

The Cheer Fund is the oldest charity in Bartholomew County, operating for 93 years. The effort provides Christmas gifts for the needy children of the community.

The Cheer Fund is looking for those interested in making deliveries Saturday morning. No registration is needed and organizers say you can just show up and they will give you directions from there.

Firefighter Justin Sims explains the process:

The doors to begin distributing deliveries open at 8 a.m. but drivers will begin lining up much earlier. The delivery pickup location is at the fire department facility at 2674 Verhulst Street. You will be able to follow the signs off of Middle Road to Verhulst.