Tuesday was officially “Dell Bros. Day” in Columbus. Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop made the special proclamation, marking the men’s clothing store’s presence in Columbus for a century, during Tuesday night’s Columbus City Council meeting.

A visibly-surprised At-Large Councilman Tom Dell said that he moved by the gesture. He says that he was glad that he could share the moment with family, who entered council chambers as Lienhoop made the announcement, as well with colleagues that he admires and respects.

Dell says that his is the third generation of Dells to run the family business. He attributed the business’ success to the philosophy put forth by his grandfather, who stressed that they would always make more friends than customers. Dell says that once you recognized that, “the business would take care of itself.”

Increased heroin availability, and use, is on the rise locally. Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that Columbus, as well as the rest of the county, is not immune.

Sheriff Myers says that within a 48-hour period, early Sunday to early Tuesday, there were three suspected heroin overdoses in Bartholomew

County, one of them fatal. In all three of the overdose calls that deputies responded to, Narcan was administered to the subject, according to the Sheriff. Narcan is a highly effective opioid antidote that blocks the effects of an overdose. “Sheriff’s deputies have used Narcan eight times since April, 2015,” said Myers. He notes that seven people were saved, while Tuesday morning’s death was the first time that the subject was not revived. Myers says that a 21-year-old Bartholomew County woman passed away after first-responders were unable to resuscitate her.

“The cause of death is presumed to be a drug overdose possibly involving ‘bad heroin’,” said Myers. He says that there is also a possibility that an “ultra-potent” type of heroin has been unleashed locally. The Sheriff describes this kind of heroin as being “so pure it can kill unsuspecting users instantly.” He adds that if so-called “bad heroin” is coming into Bartholomew County, law-enforcement must learn where it is coming from.

Sheriff Myers stresses that this is not a job for law-enforcement alone. “Families and friends must step up to save the lives of their loved ones,” he pleaded. “Even if they have already given up on these people, don’t let them die. Find out where they are getting this stuff and call the Sheriff’s Office,” said Myers.

To drive home the point that heroin is infesting Bartholomew County, Sheriff Myers shared the following information related to heroin bookings at the Bartholomew County Jail:

2014: 12 heroin bookings;
2015: 21 heroin bookings;
During the first two months of 2016: Seven heroin bookings.

Myers says that addicts will take tremendous steps to get the fix of their drug of choice. He pointed to a recent incident where a prisoner inside the jail suffered an overdose. “Although our Corrections staff does an excellent job searching inmates and their property at Intake, to the extent that the law allows, recently, Narcan was administered and saved the life of an inmate who overdosed,” said the Sheriff.

Myers says that his office has been in contact with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to discuss the heroin problem. “We have been told that this problem will get much worse before it gets better,” he said. With that, Myers stresses that heroin is “our number one priority, just as it is for the DEA, FBI, and Indiana State Police.” He adds that the meth problem is more predominant in our area, but he says that the heroin problem is “killing people.”

Despite the uptick in heroin use and suspected overdoses, Myers says that Bartholomew County has not yet reached “crisis-mode.” He notes that the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) is working around the clock. JNET is a joint effort of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Police and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. Myers again stresses that law-enforcement cannot do this job alone. “Now it is time for families and friends to step up and reach out to their loved ones,” said the Sheriff.

To aid in the fight against drug abuse and overdoses, the Sheriff’s Department is urging those who are hooked on drugs, or have loved ones who are addicts, to view “Chasing the Dragon.” Myers describes the 45-minute video as a look into the life of opioid addicts. “It is heart-wrenching but should be viewed by every parent, teacher, grandparent, or anyone else who cares about others,” said the Sheriff. You can find the video online at http://1.usa.gov/1TQ9yK0.

Myers says that heroin addicts have two choices: “They die, or go to jail, unless families and friends get them help now.”

A Columbus man was arrested Monday night after a short stand-off with with police.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 11:07 p.m., Deputy Dane Duke responded to the report of a possible domestic disturbance in the 5100 block of Willa Way.

When deputies arrived, they were told that the suspect, 28-year-old Daniel Roberts, of 5142 Willa Way, had battered two other people inside the home. Jackson says that Roberts was holed-up in a bedroom and, following a short standoff, was taken into custody with the help of Columbus Police and Indiana State Police.

Roberts was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Intimidation (Level 6 Felony), Resisting Law Enforcement (Level A Misdemeanor) and Battery (Level B Misdemeanor). Jackson says that Roberts is being held on $16,000 bond.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies likely saved the life of a local man on Monday morning.

Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 6:3p a.m., Deputy Jessica Pendleton responded to the 10000 block of West Hillview Place after receiving word that a possible overdose of a a 49-year-old man had taken place. When the deputy arrived on the scene, she found the man lying on the floor unresponsive. Authorities say that there were two empty prescription medication bottles and pills lying on the floor next to the man.

Jackson says that Deputy Pendleton administered two doses of the drug Narcan to the man, who was then transported to Columbus Regional Hospital. The Sheriff’s Department is thanking the Wayne Township Fire Department and EMS responders for their work in this incident.

A suspected heroin overdose claimed the life of a Bartholomew County woman early Tuesday morning.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that Deputy Adam DeBoth was dispatched to the 14000 block of South Jonesville Road at 2:13 a.m. after receiving a call about a possible seizure. Jackson says that When the deputy arrived, the woman’s boyfriend told him that it was a possible heroin overdose. Deputies administered Narcan and began CPR before medical responders arrived and took the woman to Columbus Regional Hospital. She was pronounced dead by Emergency Room staff shortly after arrival.

Jackson says that deputies found a metal spoon with white residue, along with an empty syringe at the home. She adds that several people were in the house at the time of the incident, but were sleeping at the time.

Indiana State Police are reporting that a Greensburg woman has died after being struck by a car last night while she was running.

Troopers say that a passenger car, driven by 94-year-old Rosemary Schroeder of Greensburg struck the runner, 20-year-old Dorothy Whitmore at about 7:15 p.m. on Moscow Road near Veterans Way. Whitmore was struck after she entered the intersection in front of Schroeder’s vehicle.

Whitmore suffered head and internal injuries and was flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where she later died.

Trooper Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Versailles state police post, says that Schroeder is cooperating with the investigation.

Agencies assisting at the scene included Greensburg Police Department, Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, Decatur County EMS, and Greensburg Fire Department.

Columbus police are looking for your help in solving a theft of a laptop computer at the westside Walmart Sunday.

The police department has released photos of a man and woman they believe were involved in the theft. The woman allegedly distracted a clerk, while the man is accused of taking the laptop. They were last seen leaving the store parking lot in a small red car.

If you know who they are, you can contact Detective Bill Zeigler at 812-376-2627.

Bartholomew County Commissioners and Columbus Regional Hospital are putting a deal together that will give the county health department’s nursing division a permanent home. The nursing department had been in the State Street annex building which has now been demolished and plans to build a new annex discarded.

The county has been renting space for the department in a former doctor’s office on Fox Pointe Drive. But under the new deal, Columbus Regional Hospital has made an offer to the owner to buy the building. If the deal goes through, the county hospital would then continue to rent the building to the health department.

County Commissioners President Rick Flohr says that the county would eventually buy the property from the county hospital. The county could even consider swapping the empty former annex property on State Street for the building, Flohr said.

County Councilwoman Laura DeDomenic, a Realtor, estimated that the two properties seemed to be roughly equivalent in value.

There are also two other tenants in the building with the nursing department whose leases would be unaffected, Flohr said.

Bartholomew County department heads will still be asked to make a case to the County Council to refill any vacant employment positions. But according to the council’s attorney, they don’t have the authority to make that a requirement.

After last year’s budget crunch, several County Council members said the county needed to reduce its workforce through attrition by up to 10 employees. In the salary ordinance for this year, the council included a requirement that any county departments with open positions needed to justify refilling those before the County Council.

But after reviewing the situation, the council’s attorney, Chris Monroe, said that the council did not really have the authority to make that a requirement. The council’s only authority would be to amend the salary ordinance to eliminate funding for a position either immediately or during budget hearings, but it couldn’t require department heads to leave positions unfilled that were already funded during the budget process.

Council members said at their work session last night that they were still interested in having department heads come to discuss open positions. Any department head to chooses to fill a vacant position without going through the discussion should know that the council could kill the spot for the next year or even at the next council meeting by amending the ordinance, they said.

Council members were divided on whether this year’s ordinance should be revised to remove the unenforceable requirement.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials say that the project that is adding lanes on Interstate 65 between Greenwood and Franklin will see an increase in work this week.

INDOT Spokesman Harry Maginity says that mainline construction activities have begun on the $84 million Major Moves 2020 project. He says that crews are setting concrete barrier walls between mile markers 90 and 94 and 97 and 99. Maginity notes that this work is requiring closures of the right lane at northbound and southbound worksites starting at 9 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. throughout the week.

INDOT officials are hopeful that favorable weather and minimum construction delays will lead to this portion of the project, between Greenwood and Franklin, being finished by the end of October.