Toyota Material Handling is touting an upgrade to the parts distribution center at its headquarters in Columbus.

According to company officials, Bastian Solutions, part of Toyota Automated Logistics has installed its AutoStore system here. They say the AutoStore integrates cutting-edge robotics, automation and artificial intelligence to improve delivery of parts to customers across North America.

It more efficiently uses vertical space, dramatically increasing storage capacity at the center.

And the AutoStore system operates on rechargeable battery-powered robots, consuming energy only when they are in motion. The system uses 28 of the robots, which each can process 175 toters per hour, allowing the company to fill 700 orders per hour.

Photo: Toyota Material Handling held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company’s AutoStore installation within its Parts Distribution Center this week in Columbus Pictured from left, Bastian Solutions Chairman Hito Matsuoka, Toyota Material Handling Vice President of Aftermarket Operations Bret Bruin, AutoStore Director of Sales – North America Joe Elie,  Toyota Material Handling North America President & CEO Brett Wood and Toyota Material Handling President & CEO Bill Finerty. Photo courtesy of Toyota Material Handling

United Way of Bartholomew County’s We Help Line for Holiday Assistance is now open for families to sign up who will need help bringing holiday cheer.

The Helpline registers families and children for holiday gift assistance from programs including:

· Community Center of Hope Angel Tree

· Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund

· Shop With A Cop

· St. Bartholomew Giving Tree

· Toys for Tots

· Christmas with a Veteran

Families can call the Holiday Helpline from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 812- 375-2216. Those who speak Spanish may call Su Casa at 812-375-9370.

Children may be registered for one gift program only. The Helpline runs through Dec. 6th.

Crews will be patching state Road 250 in Jennings and Jefferson counties over the next few days.

According to INDOT, crews start today on the patching work between State Road 3 and North Innes Road and will be continuing through Monday. The work will be going on from 8 to 3 each day and the work schedule is dependent on the weather.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to use extra caution to worker safety in all work zones.

Bartholomew County voters will be making a choice in the Nov. 5th election between six candidates for the three at-large seats on the County Council.

Democrats Zack Patchett, Dr. Nancy Merbitz and Michelle Carr re running against Republicans Kim Bennett, Marcus Speer and Michael Bell.

We interviewed the candidates and talked to them about why they are running for office…

Patchett explains

We interviewed the candidates and about what challenges the county will face in the upcoming years:

Patchett said:

We interviewed the candidates and asked them about the integrity of the voting process and whether voters can feel safe at their polling places here:

Patchett said

You can hear more from our interview with Patchett here:

Early voting is underway now in Bartholomew County. You can vote on weekdays from 8 to 5 at Donner Center off of 22nd Street in Columbus. The county has Saturday voting hours this weekend, both at Donner Center and at the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building on Third Street from 8 to 3 on Saturday.

Early voting wraps up by noon on Monday,  with Election Day on Tuesday. In Bartholomew County you will be able to vote at any of 14 vote centers throughout the county from 6 to 6.

A downtown event Saturday will help raise funds to provide medical care for local dogs in need.

In 2020, Angie and David May created the Nala Fund, named after their dog who had recently died. The goal of the Fund was to help local veterinarians provide emergency medical care for dogs in need and those waiting to be adopted at local shelters.

On Saturday morning, CSA New Tech High School seniors Olivia Walker and Sofia Kotowski are hosting Nalapalooza at Mill Race Park as their senior project.

Part of the events will include a Scavenger Bingo Hunt. Players will be able to buy 1 to 3 cards with activities to complete for a chance to win prizes with 100 percent of the funds raised going to help the Nala Fund.

There will also be food and other vendors on hand, with a portion of their sales going to support the Nala Fund, a bounce house and free dog microchipping.

You can start your scavenger hunt at 9 a.m. and drop your card off by 11:30 a.m. to take part in the prize drawings.

The Nala Fund is administered by Heritage Fund: The Bartholomew County Community Foundation and the Bartholomew County Humane Society.

The event is free and you are invited to attend. Pets on leashes are also welcome.

Public safety officials are urging you to be extra careful on area streets and roads tonight as trick or treaters will be out having Halloween fun.

According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management, trick or treating hours in Columbus are from 5:30 to 8 p.m., from 5 to 8 p.m. in Hope, in Edinburgh from 6 to 8:30 p.m., in North Vernon from 5 to 7:30 p.m., in Nashville from 5 to 8 p.m., in Brownstown from 6 to 8 p.m. and in Seymour from 6 to 9 p.m.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says the chances of rain drop off after 7 p.m. tonight, but you could still see gusty winds of almost 30 mph.

Officials are encouraging drivers to be extra alert because of the increased numbers of pedestrians on city streets.

Bartholomew County voters will be making a choice in the Nov. 5th election between six candidates for the three at-large seats on the County Council.

Democrats Dr. Nancy Merbitz, Michelle Carr, and Zack Patchett are running against Republicans Kim Bennett, Marcus Speer and Michael Bell.

We interviewed the candidates and talked to them about why they are running for office…

Merbitz said:

We interviewed the candidates and about what challenges the county will face in the upcoming years”

Merbitz said:

We interviewed the candidates and asked them about the integrity of the voting process and whether voters can feel safe at their polling places here:

Merbitz said:

You can hear more from our interview with Merbitz here:

Early voting is underway now in Bartholomew County. You can vote on weekdays from 8 to 5 at Donner Center off of 22nd Street in Columbus. The county has Saturday voting hours this weekend, both at Donner Center and at the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building on Third Street from 8 to 3 on Saturday.

Early voting wraps up by noon on Monday, Nov. 4th with Election Day on Nov. 5th. In Bartholomew County you will be able to vote at any of 14 vote centers throughout the county from 6 to 6.

The Lincoln Central Neighborhood Homebuyer’s Program is organizing a workshop for first-time homebuyers next month at Yes Cinema.

The workshop will be presented by Apprisen, in partnership with Fifth Third Bank, the Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation and Lincoln Central.

Workshop topics will include preparing for homeownership, working with a real estate agent and understanding budgets and credit history. After finishing the workshop, participants will receive a HUD homebuyer certificate of completion.

The workshop is free. It will be from  9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9th. Registration is required. For more information or to register, you can call the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-379-1630 or email [email protected].

YES Cinema is at 328 Jackson Street in downtown Columbus.

According to the Highway Department,
South Lane of E Base Road, between 300 East and Della Street, will be closed thru Friday from 7:30 am until 6 pm. Drive Slow and Please watch for a flagman or avoid the area if at all possible.

The Columbus Department of Public Works has announced that there will be no collection delay on Election Day November 5th. All collections will be running on time. Please remember to have your toters out by 7am.
The office will be closed on November 5th and will reopen at 7am on the 6th. For more information visit their website at www.columbus.in.gov/public-works.