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

According to the agency, the current weather front has stalled above southern Indiana. That has trapped us under a hot, humid, and stagnant airmass. Mostly sunny skies combined with light winds and high temperatures today may cause ozone levels to rise to unhealthy levels.

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 is offering several tips on how to help reduce the ozone levels. You can find more information here: https://www.in.gov/idem/files/factsheet_oaq_airquality_aqad.pdf

Columbus native and founder of Lucas Oil, Forrest Lucas, received the lifetime achievement award this week from the National Hot Road Association.

According to the company, Lucas received the award at the Annual Sportsman Appreciation Dinner during the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. In addition to sponsoring the Indianapolis raceway, Lucas Oil has been one of NHRA’s most prominent supporters, serving as the title sponsor of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the NHRA National Finals and Winternationals.

Lucas grew up in Columbus, and started work as a truck driver before starting his own trucking company. In 1989 he got out of the trucking business and he and his wife Charlotte founded Lucas Oil Products. Lucas Oil provides a wide range of engine oils, additives and fuel treatments for a variety of machines.

Photo courtesy of Lucas Oil.

Local government offices will be closed on Monday, due to the Labor Day holiday.

In Columbus, there will be no city trash, recycling, brush or compost collections on Monday and collections will be running a day behind for the rest of the week. Which means Friday collections will be done on Saturday next week.

Columbus City Utilities offices will be closed on Monday. If you have a problem with your water or sewer service on Monday, you can call the offices at 812-372-8861 to report an emergency.

The Bartholomew County Solid Waste District and Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center will both be closed Monday, as well as the Bartholomew County Landfill.

In Seymour, trash, recycling and yard waste normally picked up on Monday, will instead be picked up on Tuesday.

The deadline is coming up Wednesday to sign up for a workshop series and support program to help you find and keep a job.

Bartholomew County Works is a program committed to helping members improve their lives, gain full-time employment, and achieve economic self-sufficiency. In addition to the week-long workshop series, a support team provides resources to those accepted into the program in a wide range of areas including finances, transportation, attire, and more. The services continue for at least the first year on the job.

The workshop will be from Monday September 9th through Friday the 13th.

If you want to sign up or would like more information, call 812-378-2638 or email at [email protected].

The Columbus Fire Department is back to a full staff after eight firefighters were sworn in Tuesday by Mayor Mary Ferdon.

The new firefighters are:

• 29-year old Jesse Taulman and 28-year-old Brayden Warfield, from Columbus,
• 22-year-old Andrew Vehslage of Seymour,
• 25-year-old Jacob Corya and 29-year-old Jeffrey Gilliam, both from Jennings County,
• 26-year-old Caleb Meeks of Edgewood
• 27 year old Jason Yelland of North Branch, Michigan
• 41-year-old Matthew Shorten who has served with the Greensburg and Batesville departments.

The new firefighters will going through a department orientation and training program. If they are not already certified, they will obtain certifications as a Basic Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter I & II and in Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness. After finishing the training, they will receive their station and shift assignments.

More about the new firefighters, from the Columbus Fire Department:

• Corya is a 2019 graduate of Jennings County High School and a U.S. Navy Veteran. Corya is currently a member of the Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department and certified in firefighter I & II and hazardous materials awareness and operations.
• Gilliam is a 2014 Graduate of Jennings County High School. Gilliam has served 10 years with the Indiana National Guard and is currently serving as a 1st Lieutenant. Gilliam’s military training has included airborne, air assault, pathfinder, mountain warfare school and jumpmaster training. Gilliam is a 2018 graduate of Indiana State University where he majored in Criminology and minored in Military Leadership. Prior to joining the Columbus Fire Department, Gilliam served as a Columbus Police Officer for six years. In addition to being an emergency medical technician, Gilliam’s fire training includes firefighter I & II and hazardous materials awareness and operations.
• Meeks is a 2016 graduate of Edgewood High School. Meeks went on to study at Ivy Tech State College before earning an Associate’s Degree in Conservation Law from Vincennes University in 2018. Meeks’ prior emergency service experience includes working as a Jennings County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher. Meeks’ training includes firefighter I & II, hazardous materials awareness and operations and basic first response training.
• Shorten is a 2001 graduate of East Central High School and studied at Ivy Tech State College. Shorten joins the Columbus Fire Department with extensive experience including nine years of service as a full time firefighter in Greensburg (IN) and as a volunteer with the Batesville (IN) Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to firefighter I & II, hazardous materials awareness and operations training, Shorten is a basic emergency medical technician. Shorten has also obtained technician level certifications in rope rescue, swift water rescue, ice rescue and vehicle and machinery rescue.
• Taulman is a 2014 graduate of Columbus North High School. Taulman’s fire service experience includes volunteering with both Columbus Township Fire and Rescue and Southwest Fire Departments. Taulman is a nationally registered basic emergency medical technician.
• Vehslage is a 2021 graduate of Seymour High School. Vehslage is certified in firefighter I & II and hazardous materials awareness and operations. Vehslage carries on a firefighting legacy following in his father’s footsteps, Mark Vehslage, who is a retired firefighter with 25 years of service with the Seymour, IN. Fire Department.
• Warfield is a 2014 graduate of Columbus North High School. Warfield’s fire service experience includes five years with Southwest Fire Department and one year with Wayne Township Fire Department. Warfield is certified in firefighter I & II and hazardous materials awareness and operations.
• Yelland is a 2015 graduate of North Branch (MI) High School. Yelland is a 2019 graduate of Maranatha Baptist University (WI) with an Associate’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Yelland has been a volunteer firefighter with Columbus Township Fire and Rescue for one year and holds certifications that include firefighter I & II, hazardous materials awareness and operations and numerous national incident management system courses.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department. From left to right: Deputy Chief Mark Ziegler, Jesse Taulman, Matthew Shorten, Jacob Corya, Andrew Vehslage, Fire Chief Andy Lay, Brayden Warfield, Caleb Meeks, Jason Yelland, Jeffrey Gilliam and Deputy Chief Mike Kutsko.  

Base Road in Bartholomew County will be down to one lane today as crews work in the area.

According to the Bartholomew County Highway Department crews will be preparing for sewer improvements in the area. That will be from Della Road to County Road 300 East and will be going on until 5 today.

Flaggers will be directing traffic and you should avoid the area if you can.

The city of Seymour will be holding a community yard sale on Saturday to support the parks and recreation department.

The sale will be from 8 to 4 at Freeman Field Recreational Complex. Organizers say that a space equal to two parking spots will be $15 and you can rent as many spaces as needed. Setup will start at 7 a.m. Tables will not be available and you must bring your own.

You can register at Seymour City Hall on Chestnut Street, by calling 812-522-6420 or by going online. You can find find more information here: https://seymourin.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=386

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County will be distributing Narcan in the community as part of Overdose Awareness Day activities.

According to the group, August 31st is recognized each year to remember those who have been lost to overdoses, those in recovery and to work towards preventing future tragedies.

Narcan, also known as naloxone, works to counteract the effects of opioid overdoses.

The group will be delivering Narcan to local businesses and organizations that register by calling (812) 418-8705. You can also pick up Narcan 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the ASAP offices on 13th Street in Columbus.

The dangerously high heat is continuing today. According to the National Weather Service, a heat advisory is in effect from 11 to 8 today.

With actual temperatures in the mid 90s, the heat index is expected to reach up to 107 in parts of our area. Forecasters say that you should take extra precautions if you are going to be outside. You should try to limit strenuous activities to the early morning or evening. Drink plenty of fluids and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

You should also check in on relatives and neighbors who might be struggling in the heat.

The weather service says that yesterday’s high of 94 in Indianapolis was the highest so far this year. Terre Haute hit 97, the hottest day in five years.

Bartholomew County emergency officials say that there are several cooling stations around the community open so you can get out of the heat.

The city of Columbus has a cooling station open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday at Donner Center on 22nd Street.

The city says animals will also be allowed to cool off at Donner Center with their owners and crates will be available.

The Bartholomew County Public Library branches can also be used to cool off. The main branch on Fifth Street is open from 9 until 8 today. The Hope branch is open from 10 to 5 today.

A cooling station is a place where those who don’t have air conditioning can go to cool off. Food, showers, and sleeping areas are not available.

Vernon Jewell, a long-time Bartholomew County elected official and funeral home operator has died at the age of 85.

According to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home, Jewell died peacefully on August 26th. He served as a Bartholomew County Commissioner from 1985 until 1992, county auditor from 1993 until 2000, and treasurer from 2001 until 2008. He was the former owner of the Reed and Jewell Funeral Home and the current owner of the Jewell-Rittman funeral home

An Elizabethtown resident he is survived by his wife Phyllis, his children Diane Smith, Heeth Jewell, Nick Rittman, Todd Rittman and Vikki Henkle as well as 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Jewell – Rittman Family Funeral Home and one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Church of the Nazarene in Columbus. He will be laid to rest at Flat Rock Baptist Cemetery.

You can get more information at jewellrittman.com