Officials with Columbus City Utilities want you to be aware of recent attempts to scam some of its customers.

The company says that there have been two reports of customers being contacted over the past few days by an individual identifying himself as a Columbus City Utilities employee. This person is reportedly telling his targets that the customer’s water will be turned off if they do not pay him immediately.

Columbus City Utilities officials stress that they do not contact customers in person when trying to collect payment for their bill. They add that the utilities’ field crews are not authorized to accept payments from customers. All payments must be made through the Columbus City Utilities’ business office, or through its website.

Officials say that the department does provide an automated notification system that allows for over the phone payment, but this system announces the customer’s account number and the exact amount that is past due. They add that all customers should verify each bit of information before using the system. If there are any doubts, or concerns, customers should call the main extension at (812) 372-8861 and follow the prompts to verify the amount owed and make any required payments.

The Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce is looking for entrants for its annual awards including the Rising Star, Small Business of the Year, Corporate Citizen and Citizenship awards.

Nomination forms are available at the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce offices and on the Chamber website at www.seymourchamber.com. Nominations must be received by noon on Friday, January 22nd.

The 85th annual awards dinner will be held on Feb. 24th at Celebrations. For reservations you can go to the chamber website, email info at seymour chamber dot com, or call 812-522-36-81. Reservations are $40 per person.

Residents of the Ninth Street Park area in Columbus are concerned about suspicious people who appear to be walking up to doors, and rattling or knocking on them to see whether anyone is home.

Members of the community’s neighborhood watch group said the incidents are happening more frequently and at all times of the day and night. Several residents said at a recent meeting that when they get to the door, the person making the noise has already left, leaving when they hear a barking dog or resident responding.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, said there have been reports made of similar incidents in the area, but it is still an uncomon occurence.

He said that people should take precautions, such as locking their doors and windows, but they should also call police if something suspicious is occurring. He said officers could make an extra patrol through the neighborhood, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Lt. Matt Harris

Ethnic Expo has been chosen as an Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Project by the commission overseeing the celebrations.

The annual Columbus event is held in October and includes two days of international music, food and merchandise. Pam Lienhoop, the honorary chairperson for the the event, said that the city is honored by the designation, and the recognition could open up more opportunties to enhance the event.

The endorsement by the 15 member panel means the event will be included on the bicentennial website and the city can use the bicentennial logo in marketing, said Michael Nolting, spokesman for the city.

This year’s Ethnic Expo is set for the weekend of Oct. 7th and 8th, Nolting said.

A Bartholomew County Democrat has filed to run for County Commissioner.

48-year-old Brad Woodcock has filed to run for the District 3 seat on the County Commissioners, now held by Republican Rick Flohr.

Woodcock said he decided to run because he believes he can provide a fresh approach especially on long-term projects. He cited the collapse of the State Street annex replacement project as an issue of concern because it affected county employees, residents and the entire State Street area.

Woodcock worked at Toyota for 18 years and is now working in real estate investments. He is a Columbus East graduate.

Woodcock filed for office Wednesday. Other recent candidates to file for office in Bartholomew County include Flohr and Larry Kleinhenz, the long-time County Commissioner for District 1.

The filing period for this year’s elections closes on Friday Feb. 5th at noon.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information.

The reorganization of Columbus city government continues under new Mayor Jim Lienhoop as the administration agreed earlier this week to contract with four attorneys for city attorney duties. But city officials say the four contracts are comparable in price to the single-attorney arrangement under the previous administration.

Lienhoop and the Board of Public Works and Safety earlier this week approved the part-time contracts with Alan Whitted for $60,000, his son Alex for $35,000, Michael DeArmitt for $30,000 and Mary Stroh for $21,000.  As contractors, none of the attorneys will receive city employee benefits, but all of them would be reimbursed for office equipment and expenditures.  Alan Whitted served previously as a part-time city attorney during Mayor Fred Armstrong’s administration.

Previous Mayor Kristen Brown created an in-house. full-time city attorney position, which was later combined under a director of administration title. Jeff Logston filled that role for most of Brown’s administration and was paid $80,375 in 2014, not counting benefits, according to the Indiana State Government’s transparency website.

The four attorneys approved yesterday would be paid $146,000 and would each be responsible for different areas of city government, Alan Whitted said. Some of those duties would cover outside attorneys paid separately under Brown’s administration.

Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer said the previous administration had budgeted about $158,000 for the legal department this year, which included both Logston’s salary and benefits, office expenses and $34,000 for contracts with outside attorneys.

Under the new arrangement, Alan Whitted will cover attorney duties for the Board of Works, the City Council, fire and police departments  and the mayor’s office. Alex Whitted will work with planning, engineering and The Commons Board. DeArmitt will be attorney for parks, the insurance review committee, parking enforcement and other committees. Stroh will be working primarily with animal care and city aviation.

The city will also retain Stan Gamso as attorney for city utilities and redevelopment and the Board of Works approved a separate contract for Pete King for $5,000 to represent and advise the city clerk-treasurer’s office.

Ivy Tech Community College is inviting area 21st Century Scholars and their parents to learn more about the college, its programs, and career pathway opportunities at an upcoming event for high school students.

Chris Schilling, Ivy Tech’s Assistant Director of Marketing and Recruitment, says the event will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 27 at the Columbus Learning Center Auditorium. He adds that all 21st Century Scholar students in Grades 9 through 12 from Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, and Jennings counties are invited and encouraged to attend.

Schilling says that more than 2,000 students across the four counties are enrolled in the 21st Century Scholars program. The program offers income-eligible Hoosier students paid tuition assistance at an eligible Indiana college or university after they graduate from high school.

Schilling says the 21st Century Scholars event at the Columbus campus will introduce students and their parents to the campus, inform them about college resources, and provide information about Ivy Tech’s programs and how they prepare students for a career. He adds that students will also have the opportunity to learn more about the 21st Century Scholars program.

Those who would like to attend are encouraged to RSVP by contacting Monica Ozaeta, Ivy Tech Assistant Director of Admissions, by phone at (812) 374-5129, or by email at mozaeta@ivytech.edu.

The Schneck Foundation Scholarship Committee has announced that scholarship applications for allied health care fields will be available on Friday.

Stephanie Furlow, Schneck’s Director of Marketing, says that candidates who are interested in pursuing a course of study in a technical/professional allied health career are welcome to apply for consideration. She says that acceptance for enrollment at a school and program of study in a technical/professional field is required for the scholarship to be officially awarded.

Furlow explains that it is the desire of the Foundation to interest individuals in healthcare fields. She says that this scholarship program was started in 1992 and, since that time, has awarded over $385,300 in scholarships.

A scholarship application may be obtained online at www.schneckfoundation.org, www.schneckmed.org or from the Schneck Medical Center Foundation/Development Office. Applications will also be available from counselors at local high schools.

Applications must be completed and returned to the Foundation/Development Office no later than March 15, 2016. Questions should be directed to Cora Laymon in the Foundation/Development Office. She can be reached at (812) 524-4245 or claymon@schneckmed.org.

A Decatur County man was badly hurt in a one-vehicle crash Tuesday in Jennings County.

Officials with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department say that Deputies were dispatched to the 7000 Block North on State Road 3. There, they reportedly found 33-year-old Matthew Whiton, of Greensburg, who was traveling south on State Road 3. Investigators say that Whiton’s car went off the west side of the road, striking a concrete bridge barrier. Whiton was flown to St. Vincent in Indianapolis for treatment. As of Wednesday morning, Jennings County officials report that his condition is considered critical, but stable.

Investigators say that road conditions are not believed to have caused the crash. They say that the investigation is ongoing, but Deputies believe alcohol might have been a factor.

A Columbus man was arrested early Wednesday morning after crashing his vehicle.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 12:51 a.m., Deputy Leah Burton was dispatched to the scene of the crash, at the 74 mile marker of I-65.

Deputy Burton reported arriving at the scene to find the driver, 31-year-old Michael D. Wattjes, standing beside the vehicle. Wattjes reportedly told the Deputy that he was traveling north on I-65 when he ran off the road and went through a barrier cable.

Jackson says that Wattjes was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence of Drugs. He was booked in the Bartholomew county Jail on $2,500 bond.