Bartholomew Consolidated Schools recognized two of the district’s teachers earlier this week for receiving the William and Sally Hanley Excellence in Teaching Award.

Clarissa Cook, a fourth-grade teacher at CSA Lincoln and Pat Jones, with Southside Elementary were honored.

The award is administered through Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County and it honors elementary school teachers for their dedication to their job, their initiative and their contributions improve the school and its environment.

According to the Heritage Fund, Cook was nominated for her energetic teaching style and dedication to ensuring her students leave the classroom prepared for the future.

Principal Brett Findley wrote in his nomination: “While Clarissa exceeds in all the criteria needed to be considered for this award, it has been her commitment to making sure CSA Lincoln continues to be successful that stands out the most to me.”

Cook has served as the school’s Universal Design for Learning coach and is a member of the district STEM committee and a literacy and cheerleading coach.

The Heritage Fund reports that Jones is a 35-year educator and teaches third- and fourth-grades. She was nominated for her love of teaching that brings out the best in each of her students.

In his nomination, Principal Jeff Backmeyer wrote: “Mrs. Jones is the teacher that you want teaching our young people.”

Jones is an Instructional Consultation Team leader and the former special education teacher was praised for using expertise from her experiences and training to help facilitate strategies in her classroom as well as the classrooms of others.

Amy Laker, the scholarship manager for the Heritage Fund, explained the origins of the award:

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The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that 92 seat-belt related tickets were issued by deputies during this year’s “Click it or Ticket” campaign.

The 25-day enforcement effort in May was funded by federal money distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. According to the institute, in 2014, seat belts saved an estimated 12,802 lives nationwide.

Seat belt use in Indiana in 2014 was estimated at 90.2 percent, compared to 88 percent nationwide. More than 250 Indiana agencies took part in the Click It or Ticket campaign.

A mostly closed community center on the east side of Columbus will be seeing new life under a plan being developed by community activists and the United Way of Bartholomew County.

Eastside Community Center closed last fall under financial problems but the United Way has reopened the center on a part-time basis for programs and events.

But soon, the State Street Area Association will be taking over and operating the center, now known as the America and Roby Anderson Community Center. Julie Bilz is president of the association, a network of residents and business owners concerned about the east side of Columbus.

If all goes according to plan, the association will begin operating the center this fall.

Bilz said the association would be operating the center with volunteers, rather than a paid staff. And the association will be looking for feedback from residents on the sorts of classes and events to be held regularly at the center.

Bilz said she thinks it is important to have the center open regularly again.

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The building itself is owned by the city of Columbus. Bilz expects the organization to take over this fall.

YES Cinema will be hosting a free showing of “Yankee Doodle Dandy” for veterans and their families.

The event, organized by Friends of the Veterans will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 1st at the Jackson Street theater in Columbus. Seating is on a first come first serve basis and the doors open at 10 a.m.

The event is sponsored by Kessler Investment Group and Barkes, Weaver and Glick Funeral Home.

Bartholomew County COuncil will investigate an increase in local income taxes to help fund public safety operations, but few council members are supportive of the idea.

The County Council will be considering an increase of about one quarter of one percent on residents’ income taxes, to raise about $5 million for local governments.

County Auditor Barb Hackman explains that the tax rate would increase from 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent.

Hackman said the funds could only be used for public safety, but that is broadly defined. And any property tax money now going to fund public safety, could be freed up for other purposes by using the income tax.

The way the law is structured, the largest chunk, or about $2.8 million would go to the city of Columbus, while $2 million would go to the county and the rest of the $5 million would be distributed to small town governments in the county. But County Council would also want to take cues from Clark County, which enacted the same tax, but used inter-local agreements to take back about a quarter of the city and town portions to fund operations of the emergency operations center.

The most vocal proponent of the public safety tax has been Councilman Mark Gorbett, who was previously Bartholomew County Sheriff.

About 200 people turned out last night at First United Methodist Church for a vigil, recognizing the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando.

The names of the victims were read aloud in a sometimes emotional ceremony that touched on remembrance and forgiveness.

Rev.Felipe N. Martínez from First Presbyterian Church was one of those who spoke for the victims:

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Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop said that the events in Orlando were horrifying:

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A 13-year-old girl driving an SUV was arrested this morning for driving without a license while two drunk teenagers were in the vehicle.

Columbus police received a report of a suspected drunk driver when an officer noticed an SUV hit the curb while pulling into a subdivision on Taylor Road near County Road 300N at about 3:40 a.m. As the officer approached the car, she noticed the driver switch places with a passenger. The 17-year-old boy now in the driver’s seat appeared intoxicated and a portable breath test revealed a blood alcohol level of .08 percent according to Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.

An 18-year-old passenger in the back seat, Joseph R. Chasteen of Taylorsville, was also allegedly intoxicated and had a blood alcohol level of .17 percent.

The 13-year-old driver passed a breath test but was taken into custody on preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license. Two passengers were released to their parents, Harris said.

Residents in the Hickory Hill subdivision will be without water from 9 a.m. until about noon tomorrow for a water main repair.

Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. reports that after the work is finished, customers will be under a boil water advisory until 4 p.m. Friday. You should boil water for five minutes before drinking it or using it in any food preparation.

For more information, call 812-342-4421.

Outgoing Superintendent John Quick gave his last advice to the Bartholomew Consolidated School board last night, with a presentation of the schools’ master facilities plan that recommended a new elementary school on the westside of Columbus.

Quick reminded the board that the school district owns about 22 acres on West State Road 46.

From the information presented last night, Southside Elementary school already has more than 1,000 students and the only school with any capacity left is Taylorsville. Quick said the crowding would get worse, should the state and school district continue to work toward pre-kindergarten for all eligible children.

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The Bartholomew Consolidated School Board bid farewell and happy trails to outgoing superintendent Dr. John Quick last night.

Quick said he decided to hold his last school board meeting at Central Middle School because it holds a special place in his tenure. It is the only school built completely from the ground up during his 40 years as an educator

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Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop presented Quick with the keys to the city and a proclamation, while Rep. Milo Smith presented a Sagamore of the Wabash award from Governor Mike Pence.

Quick is retiring after 13 years as superintendent. Mayor Lienhoop noted during his reading of the proclamation that the children who started kindergarten the same year as Quick started his job graduated from high school this year.

Quick will be replaced by Batesville superintendent. Dr. Jim Roberts.

Dr. Jill Shedd, president of the school board, looked back on Quick’s time as superintendent.

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