Drivers in Seymour need to prepare for possible changes to their driving routines.
The city’s Street Department says that storm sewer construction on West Second Street is set to begin on Monday. City officials say that Second Street will be closed between Lasher Drive to Vehslage Road Monday through Friday, then will reopen during weekends. The road is also scheduled to be open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
City officials say the construction period is expected to last the next few months. They add that residents who live in this area will have no trouble leaving, or getting to, their property.
A Bartholomew County man was arrested Thursday on Child Molestation charges.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that Detectives Capt. Chris Roberts and Jason Williams arrested 56-year-old John L. Zook, of 5983 S Jonesville Road, for multiple counts of child molestation. Sheriff’s Department officials are revealing much about the case, other than to say that Detective Williams has been working on it since September.
Zook was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary three Felony counts of Child Molesting. Jackson says Zook’s bond is set at $750,000.
The reconstruction of Indiana Avenue, from Marr Road to State Street on Columbus’ east side, is nearly complete.
To mark the occasion, Mayor Kristen Brown held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon to mark what she called “the city’s first substantial infrastructure improvement to the east side of Columbus since East Columbus was annexed nearly sixty years ago.” The ceremony took place at Indiana Avenue and Brooks Street and included representatives from the contracting firm that did the work, the city’s engineering department, Councilman Dascal Bunch and area residents.
Mayor Brown says that the $6.2 million project includes eleven-foot driving lanes, a new storm sewer system, curbs and gutters, five-foot sidewalks and bicycle lanes, as well as seven-foot-wide parking lanes on both sides of the street. She added that the work in this area is not quite complete, as crews are set to return in the spring to place thermoplastic pavement markings, trees and other elements to beautify the area.
Mayor Brown and Councilman Bunch thanked everyone involved in the project. They heaped additional praise on area residents who had to live with work being done right outside of their homes for two years.
The Mayor noted that Indiana Avenue is a major route for students to get to school and added that these improvements will make it safer for them and will continue to pay dividends in the community. Bunch noted that this project was a long time coming. He said the project faced obstacles for years, including opposition from some in local government. Bunch went on to say that it was a good day and that this project marks a new focus on Columbus’ east side.
The former St. Bartholomew Catholic Church property on Eighth Street will get a facelift and a new use under plans approved this week by the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals. N
Nick Surak, vice president of the Woda Group, says the company plans to replace the school building on the lot with two apartment buildings. He said the 30 apartments will be for low-income residents.
The former church building itself will remain and be used for common space. Surak said part of the goal is to provide an affordable place for artists to live and space for them to work.
Surak also said that the company would be keeping most of the stained glass in the former church building.
Two residents spoke at the hearing and were largely in favor of the project. One did ask that the company change the proposed “St. Bartholomew” name of the apartments, because of the sacred nature of that name.
Ryan Lauer, who lives behind the building, said he was in favor of the project but did have concerns about parking and traffic flow in the neighborhood.
The Board of Zoning Appeals approved two variance requests to let the project move forward including allow the new buildings to sit closer to the street than normally allowed and to waive some of the parking space requirements.
The Possum Glory Bridge on County Road 1150E in eastern Bartholomew County has been closed after a bridge inspection revealed it was unsafe.
County Engineer Danny Hollander said the inspection results were expected and the county is already working through the process of repairing the bridge, including approving the creation of new design plans about two months ago.
Hollander said that the county expects to go out to bid on the project early in 2016.
The National Society of Leadership and Success Columbus chapter has recognized two Ivy Tech Community College employees for their commitment to student success.
Randy Proffitt, executive director or Marketing and Recruitment, says
Dr. Thomas Sobat
that Dr. Thomas Sobat, Department Chair for Science, Mathematics and Psychology, has been awarded with the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Honorary Membership Award. Dr. Neil Bagadiong, Director of Student Life, Development, and Leadership, has received the Excellence in Service to Students Award.
Proffitt says the Excellence in Teaching Award is given to individuals who teach with passion, inspire students beyond the classroom, demonstrate dedication to developing students beyond academic qualifications and make a positive difference in the lives of society members. He says that the Honorary Membership Award is given to faculty, staff, or administrators who demonstrate leadership qualities in a personal and professional capacity and has played an integral role in fostering opportunities for growth and development among the administration and students.
Sobat has been a full-time professor with Ivy Tech Columbus since August 2008, said Proffitt. He adds that Sobat also serves as the Statewide Chair of the Life Science Curriculum Committee, the Academic Lead for the Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP), and the Director of Undergraduate Research at Columbus.
Proffitt says the Excellence in Service to Students Award is given to an individual that exemplifies leadership and mentorship and has demonstrated commitment to bettering the lives of students.
Bagadiong has served in a number of roles supporting students since
Dr. Neil Bagadiong
joining Ivy Tech 15 years ago, including admissions/registrar, career development, and now student life and leadership development, said Proffitt. He adds that Bagadiong started at the Ivy Tech campus in Anderson in 2000, then joined the Columbus region in 2004.
Columbus’ curb-side recycling program is proving to be a success.
The city has offered this free service to most its residents since February. City Spokesman Mike Nolting says that curb-side recycling is available for single-family city residences and apartments with no more than four units that are currently city sanitation customers.
The program collects recycling materials, curbside every other week at residents’ homes for no additional user fees, said Nolting. He says that all materials currently recyclable in Columbus will be accepted as part of the service, as well as additional plastics materials currently not accepted in Columbus. Nolting adds that no sorting of materials is required.
More than half of the city’s eligible customers are utilizing the service, said Nolting. He says that 51-percent of the city’s 16,839 sanitation customers participate in the program. This has necessitated the purchase of a second recycling truck, Nolting added. City officials say that, so far, the program has prevented 1,556 tons of recyclable material from entering the landfill.
“The enthusiastic support from the public demonstrates how valuable and important residents view their responsibility to be conscientious caretakers of the environment,” Mayor Kristen Brown said.
In addition to saving landfill space, officials say that recycling benefits the air and water by creating a net reduction in ten major categories of air pollutants, eight major categories of water pollutants and saves raw materials. Along with the environmental benefits, advocates say that recycling is good business for Indiana. Reports say that recycling employs 75,000 statewide, generating $19 billion in revenue, $3 billion in payroll and generates $285 million in state tax revenue.
An emergency housing program in Columbus is set to receive a cash infusion under a directive by Mayor Kristen Brown.
City Spokesman Mike Nolting says that the Mayor has directed the reallocation of up to $42,654 in Community Development Block Grant money to assist with construction of Brighter Days Housing. Nolting says that a public comment hearing for the amendment will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. in Columbus City Hall Conference Room #3. You are encouraged to attend.
Nolting says that Brighter Days Housing is expected to contain space for an additional 36 people in need of emergency housing. He says the space will include bathroom facilities for men, women and the disabled. It is expected to operate seven-days-a-week from the time free meal sites close until the following morning, said Nolting. The shelter is set to be placed at 421 South Mapleton Street, formerly the Columbus Township maintenance building. City officials say the additional emergency housing is needed. Nolting says that currently, there are emergency facilities available for up to four families at the Horizon House, up to six individuals in the Caldwell House operated by Centerstone and nineteen more individuals at the Cherry Street location operated by the Columbus Township Trustee and Love Chapel.
“This project addresses a vital need in our city and gives people the resources needed to overcome the issues that cause chronic homelessness. Providing this assistance to the network of agencies that offer the support demonstrates our commitment to offer a hand-up to those in need,” Mayor Brown said. She added that over the last two years, more than $100,000 has been allocated from the Community Development Block Grant program to address homeless issues, the only time the city has tapped into the program to address the homeless problem.
The reconstruction of Indiana Avenue, from Marr Road to State Street on Columbus’ east side, is now complete.
To mark the occasion, Mayor Kristen Brown has announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark what she calls “the city’s first substantial infrastructure improvement to the east side of Columbus since East Columbus was annexed nearly sixty years ago.” The ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at Indiana Avenue and Brooks Street. You are encouraged to attend.
Mayor Brown says that $6.2 million project includes eleven-foot driving lanes, a new storm sewer system, curbs and gutters, five-foot sidewalks and bicycle lanes, as well as seven-foot-wide parking lanes on both sides of the street.
“We greatly appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation of the public, particularly the residents on Indiana Avenue, during the two year construction period,” said the Mayor. “This long-overdue improvement project has had a transformational effect on the area and it makes Indiana Avenue, a main artery serving Columbus East High School, significantly safer for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and residents who live in the neighborhood.”
Mayor Brown added that the work in this area is not quite complete. She says that crews will return in the spring to place thermoplastic pavement markings, ninety trees, about 2,500 plants and seeding.
A home on Central Avenue was damaged after a Wednesday fire.
Columbus Fire Department Spokesman Capt. Mike Wilson says that firefighters were called to the home at 3205 Central Ave. at 12:10 p.m. The homeowner told firefighters that the fire was located in the kitchen. The blaze was quickly brought under control.
Wilson says that fire investigators learned that three people, a father, son and the son’s grandchild, were in the home at the time of the fire. The homeowner told firefighters that he walked into the kitchen and found the stove was on fire, with flames reaching the ceiling.
The homeowner’s son reportedly told fire investigators that he was preparing lunch for his four-year-old grandson when he walked to the rear of the home to check on him. The man reportedly said, “ I forgot all about the stove.”
All three people, as well as two cats, were able to escape the fire, which was ruled “accidental.” Wilson says that damages have been estimated at $30,000.
