The city of Columbus is hoping to build out two spaces at Nexus Park that have been vacant since the former Fair Oaks Mall was created.

Mark Jones, head of the city parks department, said at this week’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission that there are two empty retail spaces inside the mall that still have dirt floors from when the mall was built in the late 1980s. He said that the city has had interest from tenants to the spaces and Nexus Park’s oversight committee would like to build out the space.

He said that the spaces are on the northeast side of the complex, near the Carlos Pizza restaurant and arcade. Jones said that these would be the last two retail spaces yet to be leased in the revamped former mall.

He said the goal would be to create a basic interior that would include basic furnishings such as utilities and bathrooms that the tenants could then finish outfitting.

The redevelopment commission approved spending $395,000 for the project with the money coming from the midtown tax increment financing district.

Area middle and high school students will be able to attend an array of free summer camps starting in June, being put on by Ivy Tech Community College Columbus campus.

According to Ivy Tech, the camps will provide hands on learning for students, allowing them to explore potential career paths ranging from STEM workshops and aviation, to information technology and engineering.

The camps will be going on in June and July. Spaces are limited and registration is required.

You can find a complete list and sign up at ivytech.edu/columbuscamps

Crews will be laying down chip and seal on parts of U.S. 31 in southern Jackson County starting on Thursday.

According to INDOT, the work will be going on starting on U.S. 31 in Scott County and extending north to the overpass with Interstate 65 almost four miles north of Uniontown in Jackson County. You can expect lanes to be closed in the work zone and flaggers will be on site. The work is expected to take three to four days, with the work schedule dependent on the weather.

When roads are treated with chip and seal, liquid asphalt is applied and then loose stone. The treatment seals cracks and provides waterproofing, which extends the life of the road and lowers maintenance costs.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

Columbus police will be encouraging area children to learn how to fish at an event coming up soon.

Signups are now open for children to take part in the Hook a Kid on Fishing Event. Children will be partnered with a law enforcement officer to fish or learn to fish.

To participate, children must be from Bartholomew County and between the ages of 9 and 13.

The event will be from 9 am to 2 pm. on June 13th. Registration is open until Tuesday. Children will be selected to participate by lottery and parents will be given more details if their children are selected.

No fishing experience is required. The event is free and lunch will be provided.

You can sign up here: https://www.columbus.in.gov/police/hook-a-kid-on-fishing/

The Seymour mayor’s office is still taking applications for high school students to be members of the Mayor’s Youth Council.

The youth council operates as an advisory board to the mayor on issues affecting youth in the community. Council members take part in city meetings, tour city facilities, hear from guest speakers and participate in other leadership activities. Participants will need to agree to take part in youth council meetings up to twice a month through the school year.

Applications are open to students who will be 9th through 12th graders starting this fall at Seymour High School or at home schools. You can find a link for more information or an application here or email [email protected]

The city of Columbus says that work on Deaver Road will be moving onto the next stretch of the street starting today.

The street has been closed between County Roads 150W and 175W as crews install sanitary sewer to the new Toyota Material Handling plant on the Road. Crews will be reopening that stretch of the road today and then closing the road from County Road 175W to the western entrance to Toyota.

The new Toyota Material Handling plant is being built near I-65 and Deaver Road, across from the existing Toyota plant.

The total sewer line work is between County Roads 225W and 150W and will involve laying more than 3/4 of a mile of sanitary sewers and supporting structures between four feet and 12 feet beneath Deaver Road. After the sewer is laid, Deaver Road will have to be reconstructed with patching and a complete milling and new overlay.

Work began in early May. The sewer work is expected to be completed by the end of July, and the road repaired and reopened by mid August.

If you have to drive in the area, you should use extra caution to worker safety and officials advise you to find alternative routes during the closure.

A State Board of Accounts audit has found that former Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson made hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchases through improper, personal use of a township credit card.

The audit was sparked after tips about improper purchases including travel involving Jackson and his family members.

The audit was released last week. According to the state document, use of the credit card went from just over $1,650 a year in 2013 to just over $271 thousand in 2023. The audit found $1.1 million of Jackson’s personal expenses were made through the card and nearly another $40 thousand in expenses were questionable.

The largest category of expenses was nearly $658 thousand in travel expenses unrelated to township business that included Jackson, his wife and their three adult children. The dozens of trips ranged from visits to Disney World in Florida, to Germany and Abu Dubai and Australia and New Zealand.

The report also documents almost $91 thousand in spending for university expenses for the three children and nearly $40,000 in personal expenses such as utilities and almost $19,000 in home improvements.

Separately, the report also identified more than $17,500 in personal expenses through the township Sams Club credit card.

The state audit calls for Jackson to reimburse more than $1 million in unauthorized expenses as well as reimbursements of nearly $78 thousand from Jackson and his three children jointly.

Jackson resigned last fall after the launch of the investigation. The audit says that information on the purchases have been sent to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office,, the Indiana Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. A criminal investigation has also been launched by Indiana State Police.

You can read the entire report here: Columbus Township Audit (PDF Download)

A reminder that there will be an open house Thursday at the Crump Theatre, to discuss the future of the historic downtown Columbus building and to unveil several design ideas for finishing the renovation.

In April, Heritage Fund: The Bartholomew County Community Foundation announced the launch of Project Encore, an effort to establish a formal charity to raise money to turn the theatre into the Crump Center for the Performing Arts. The goal is to finish revamping the theatre to make it viable for year-round live entertainment.

Thursday’s event will include an update on the current status of The Crump, introduction of its new Board of Directors and a discussion of the goals for the future. You will also be able to see three sets of design ideas for the projects.

The program is free and you are invited to attend. Doors will open at the theatre on Third Street at 5 p.m. and the program will start at 5:30 p.m.

You can get more information at thecrump.org.

The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently held its annual graveside memorial service in Garland Brook Cemetery, for Revolutionary War veteran Joseph Hart, the chapter’s namesake.

Originally from Virginia, Hart joined the military to take the place of his foster father who had been called up for service. During the war, Hart was seriously injured by a musket ball to the hip and discharged. After moving from Virginia and Tennessee to avoid slave-holding states, he and his family settled in Bartholomew County in October of 1820. Hart was a farmer and teacher and helped organize the Presbyterian Church of Columbus. Hart died in 1841.

During the ceremony, the Bartholomew County Honor Guard provided military funeral honors, including three rifle volleys, the playing taps and folding and presenting of the flag.

Next year is the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States. The Joseph Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are planning a campaign to celebrate all of the county’s Revolutionary War veterans in 2026. Hart’s contribution to the war effort will be recognized with the installation of a special informational marker, part of a national program by the Pomeroy Foundation that commemorates points of interest significant to the Revolutionary War.

Photo courtesy of Joseph Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mill Race Center will be hosting a day-long series of activities celebrating National Senior Health and Fitness Day on Wednesday.

Events will run from 8:30 in the morning to 8 at night. The will include fitness classes, a walk, line dancing and pickleball as well as two education sessions.

The first session, will be presented by Stephen Dishinger from Purdue Extension on plant based eating at 11:30 a.m. and the second will be about balance and vestibular conditions presented by Ascent Physical Therapy’s Bart Hudson at 1 p.m.

The activities are free and you are invited to attend.