Columbus City Council has approved a $2.6 million dollar spending plan to move ahead with turning parts of the former Fair Oaks Mall into a parks facility for the city, but that’s over the objections of a single councilwoman.

Councilwoman Elaine Hilber said she was opposing the spending because none of the money would go to improvements or plans at the aging and crumbling Donner Center.

Columbus City Council was asked to give its final approval to the spending appropriation this week. It includes architect fees for about $1.5 million and a construction manager for about $685,000, along with just over $442,000 to be used for various expenses including demolishing the former Goodies store space, permits and other necessities to get the project started.

The first phase for the city will include a fieldhouse where the former Goodies store now stands, and administration offices for the city parks department, fitness areas and locker rooms and activity spaces.

Mary Ferdon, director of administration and community development for the city, and parks director Mark Jones addressed Hilber’s concerns, saying that much of the parks department administration and functions would be moved from Donner to the new facility, to be called NexusPark. And until those plans are fleshed out in the NexusPark design, there is no way to judge the future needs for Donner.

City Council gave its final approval to the spending at its meeting Tuesday with Hilber voting against the proposal.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day alert for an area including Bartholomew, Brown and Shelby counties because of expected high levels of ground ozone.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors, according to IDEM.

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.

The alert is in effect until midnight. You can get more information at SmogWatch.IN.gov.

A Columbus company is offering a $1,000 reward to find those responsible for vandalism at the Anderson Falls Park in Bartholomew County.

Overhead Door of South Central Indiana has been working with the county parks system to renovate and reopen the restrooms at the park, before extensive vandalism was discovered, the county parks foundation announced this morning. Volunteers and parks department staff have been working to restore the park for visitors and are heartbroken by the damage, according to the foundation.

The foundation reports that vandals overturned the portable restroom facility, defaced buildings and features with profane graffiti and caused other damage to the rural park in the eastern part of the county.

Overhead Door is offering the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Any information left will be kept confidential. You can call with tips to 812-379-2358 or by leaving a private message on the Bartholomew County Parks Foundation Facebook page.

A motorcyclist was revived with Narcan Tuesday morning after passing out from a fentanyl overdose.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of an unconscious man as a result of a motorcycle crash at 9:51 a.m. Tuesday morning in the 16 thousand block of East County Road 200S. Witnesses said the driver was walking down the road after leaving the motorcycle, when he collapsed.

Deputies found that the motorcycle had not been crashed, but the driver did appear to be suffering from an overdose. 30-year-old Brandon B. Jacobs of Nashville was revived with Narcan. He allegedly told deputies that he had taken fentanyl before losing consciousness. A search revealed he was carrying methamphetamine.

Jacobs was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out before being taken to jail on a preliminary charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Photo of methamphetamine evidence courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department

An Elwood, Indiana man stopped for gas in Taylorsville Wednesday morning, only to have his vehicle stolen when he went inside to pay.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says they received a report of a vehicle theft in the 10000 block of North U.S. 31 at about 9:02 a.m. yesterday morning. The 64-year-old victim left his keys in the ignition of his pickup and saw it drive away, including an attached flatbed trailer, when he went inside to pay.

A 60-year-old Taylorsville man saw the theft and followed the stolen vehicle into a nearby restaurant where he blocked the vehicle in until authorities arrived.

31-year-old Timothy E. Wilder Jr. of Edinburgh was arrested on a charge of auto theft.

Sheriff Matt Myers cautions that if you see a crime in progress, make sure to keep yourself safe, gather information and report it to law enforcement.

Indiana State Police are promoting a Johnson County resident to head up the agency’s Benefits and Employment Services Section and the Human Resources Division.

Sergeant Ronneal L. Williams is being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, according to State Police superintendent Douglas G. Carter. Originally from Gary, Williams graduated from Merrillville High School and IU with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is a 2012 graduate of the Indiana State Police Academy.

During his career, Williams has served the Indiana State Police as  Field Training Officer, Tactical Intervention Platoon, Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor, and Advanced Crash Reconstructionist.

Williams and his wife live in Johnson County.

The Bartholomew County Circuit Court Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative will be holding a workshop on improving police and community relations Thursday evening at The Commons.

The session is open to those 13 or older and is designed to promote a better understanding between the community and law enforcement. Residents will also learn about their role in crime prevention and what they can expect from the police.

A boxed dinner and snacks will be provided. The session will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Nugent Custer Performance Hall at The Commons. If you have any questions you can contact Bobbie Shake at 812-565-5641.

Photo courtesy Carol M. Highsmith, from the Library of Congress collection.

A contingent of parents turned out at this week’s Bartholomew Consolidated School board meeting to urge the school district to end COVID-19 restrictions for the upcoming school year.

The governor has given school officials, starting on July 1st, the mandate to make community-by-community decisions on what restrictions will be in place for the next school year.

The BCSC parents that spoke Monday night about the upcoming decisions were largely united in their desire to end the wearing of masks and not to require vaccines.

Parent Kelly Wheeler said that parents are responsible for their children’s health, safety and education. She talked about her family’s decision:

Parent Christy Stackhouse said that masks once made sense because at the time there were no other ways to protect from the disease.

Parent Megan Johnson pointed out that the state has school recommendations but said that ultimately it is a parent’s decision.

BCSC plans to make decisions for the 2021-22 school year at its July 19th meeting, according to school officials. Preliminary recommendations will be released the week of July 5th.

A new format for Ethnic Expo will kick off this weekend in downtown Columbus with the first of four multicultural events over the next few months.

Robin Hilber with the city’s community development department said the decision to break up Ethnic Expo into smaller events came after last year’s event had to be canceled due to the pandemic.

This year’s festivities will also be moved from City Hall to Fourth Street:

Haley Anderson with the Columbus Area Visitors Center talks about the partnerships the city is building to present Ethnic Expo in the new format.

Juneteenth will be held on Fourth Street from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and will feature African-American culture and cuisine organized by the Columbus and Bartholomew County NAACP. It will feature food and information booths, a DJ and main stage performances including dancing, music, drill team and spoken word.

The other three events will be the Chinese Expo on August 28th, Ganesh Festival of India on September 11th and Fiesta Latina on October 2nd.

You can get more information online at ethnic expo dot org

The Yellow Trail Museum in Hope will be crowning the fourth annual Little Miss Sparkler and Mr. Firecracker during the Old-Fashioned Independence Day festivities on July 2nd.

Area children between 3 and 10 years old are invited to take part. To win votes, decorate cans for donations and place them around town, or solicit donations from friends and family members. Every penny raised counts as one vote.

Turn in your can to the Yellow Trail Museum before Wednesday June 30th. All proceeds benefit the Yellow Trail Museum. The winners will be announced at 6:15 p.m. on Friday July 2nd on the Hope Town Square. They winners will then then lead the bike, trike and stroller parade around the square.