The 29th annual Hope Ride bicycle event kicks off Saturday morning at Hauser High School.

Organizer Paul Ashbrook said he is expecting more than 1,200 riders. He said the ride is a chance to show off the scenery in south-central Indiana. Most of the ride is in Bartholomew County, but it also goes into Shelby, Decatur and even Rush County for some of the longer routes.

“The riders will get to ride over the restored Moscow Bridge in Rush County and another covered bridge in Rush County at Gowdy on the Flat Rock River,” Ashbrook said.

He said riders come from seven states to enjoy the ride.

“Riders enjoy our low traffic,” he said. “There’s no stop lights, there are no multi-lane roads. It is just a leisurely ride and riders come out and enjoy this beautiful south-Central Indiana countryside this time of the year. It is very impressive for folks visiting.”

He said every year the routes change. And people seem to enjoy hearing bands playing along the route including rock and folk music.

One of the key aspects of the Hope Ride is how it contributes to community charities. There is a largest team competition with the winners earning money for local food banks. And various charities also help out to earn money. Breakfast will benefit the Hope Volunteer Fire Department and it starts at 7 a.m. at Hauser. The lunch on the Hope Town Square is provided by and benefits the Hauser Dollars for Scholars scholarship fund.

Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.

More information available at hoperide.org

Bartholomew County Commissioners continue their work to rebuild the now-decimated information technologies department, which is responsible for the county’s computers, networks and systems. The last county IT employee left the job on Friday.

Rick Flohr, president of the commissioners, asked the County Council Tuesday night to allow the transfer of funds to help that along…

Flohr explains what that money will get the county…

Flohr says this arrangement will give the commissioners some time to establish a new IT department…

The council voted six-to-one to approve the transfer, with Laura DeDomenic casting the “no” vote. This after reading a statement taking the commissioners to task for the turnover within the IT department.

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Columbus is trying to be recognized as a more bike-friendly community. Laura Garrett is with the Health Communities Initiative at Columbus Regional Health.

She explains that four years ago the city was given a “bronze” designation from the Bike-Friendly Community Awards. Garrett says that the city has now applied to be a “silver” community…

Garrett says that the city has made significant strides recently in an effort to be a more “bike-friendly” community.

Garrett says that this reclassification effort includes a public survey. She says that you don’t have to be a bicyclist to take part in the survey, as it is aimed at all members of the community.

The deadline to take the survey is tomorrow, Sept. 15th. You can find the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ColumbusIN-BFC

The Columbus Economic Development Commission meets Thursday afternoon to discuss the possibility of a new senior housing development. Mary Ferdon is the city’s Executive Director of Administration…

That site is located at 25th and Midway Streets.

Ferdon says this meeting is the first step in an effort to establish an Economic Development Target Area for the site…

Ferdon says that, if approved, the development would have some 70 units, at below-market-rates for seniors. Thursday’s meeting is at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help locating this week’s most-wanted fugitive.

Judy Jackson, the department’s spokeswoman, says that deputies are looking for 25-year-old Jacob Daniel Rothrock, of Columbus. She

describes Rothrock as a white male, five-feet 11-inches tall and weighing 185 pounds. He has blond hair, hazel eyes and multiple tattoos. Jackson notes that Rothrock is wanted for Failure to Appear for Driving While Suspended.

Jackson asks that if you have any information on Rothrock’s whereabouts, no matter how seemingly insignificant, please contact Capt. Dave Steinkoenig at (812) 565-5940. You may also call the Sheriff’s Department Tip Line at (812) 379-1712. Authorities stress that information can be submitted anonymously.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be looking at an increase in spending of just over 1 percent next year.

The school board heard a presentation on next year’s budget during a work session at last night’s meeting. A formal public hearing on the budget is set for Sept. 26th at Southside Elementary School.

Dr. Vaughn Sylva, assistant superintendent for financial services, explains that the proposal would mean a balanced budget in all funds.

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The budget is built with an anticipation of a slight increase in assessed value throughout the school district, although the community still hasn’t recovered to the level of assessed values it had prior to the 2008 economic crash.

Sylva explained that one of the challenges is increasing healthcare costs. For BCSC, costs are estimated to be up about 20 percent over last year. Sylva said that some of that has to do with young teachers starting families. But the increase has drawn down the cash reserves in the health care fund.

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Sylva said the total spending in all budgets for BCSC next year is estimated at $112.6 million, up from this year’s $111.3 million.

The Columbus Fire Department has announced the promotion of firefighter Josh Allman to the rank of lieutenant.

Allman is a 15-year veteran of the Department. Allman  has certifications as an emergency medical technician, vehicle and machinery rescue technician, hazardous materials technician, rope rescue technician and swift water rescue technician.

Capt. Mike Wilson says that the promotion fills a lieutenant vacancy created after the retirement of Lt. Tony Shipley. Shipley, a paramedic firefighter, retired in August after serving 31 years with the department.

A woman riding on the back of a moped in Columbus was arrested yesterday on drug charges, police say.

An officer saw the traffic infraction at about 7:05 p.m. near 17th Street and Central Avenue. After pulling the vehicle over, the officer realized the passenger 36-year-old Ern M. Jenkins, had three outstanding felony warrants. She was arrested and as she was being searched, officers allegedly found methamphetamine, syringes and other drug paraphernalia in her purse.

She was arrested on preliminary possession charges as well as warrants for failing to appear in court on earlier drug possession charges, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.

Bartholomew County Commissioners are still working on a solution to the county’s information technology problems.

The last worker in the IT department quit on Friday, leaving the commissioners to patch together a system to keep the county’s computers operating using contractors. The county IT department is responsible for essential computers including those in the emergency dispatch center, the court system and the county jail and other administrative and financial systems throughout county government.

Commissioners President Rick Flohr said the county has interviewed a possible IT director already, but the commissioners are still working through how the newly reformed department might look. He estimated that it would be some mix of county employees and contractors going forward.

The County Council is scheduled to consider a request tonight for $50,000 to pay contractors in the interim. Auditor Barb Hackman said that would be a transfer from other funds and not a new appropriation. The council meets at 6 p.m. in the governmental office building on Third Street in Columbus.

The city of North Vernon’s proposed annexation of surrounding properties has a potentially expensive side effect, via the extension of city sewer service.

The annexations, say city officials, run along State Road 7. Wastewater Superintendent Russell Vaught explains that the work to extend sewer service will take place in two parts. One following State Road 7 to County Road 750, the other to State Road 3.

The issue, explain city officials, is that in order for the project to break-even, cost-wise, 805 new customers will be needed to hook up to the service. At this time, only 102 new customers are available, Vaught told City Council members on Monday night.

Noting the disparity in numbers, council members pondered their options. They discussed the possibility of passing the costs on to current sewer customers, as well as the city covering the shortfall. Council member Connie Rayburn was vocal in her opposition to implementing a “major” increase in utility rates to customers, a position echoed by other members. Members indicated a desire to potentially pay for project out of Tax-Increment Financing funds.

Larry Greathouse, North Vernon city attorney, advised that the City Council and TIF will have to pay, noting that customers won’t be able to afford it.

Prior to Monday night’s adjournment, Clerk-Treasurer Shawn Gerkin expressed his opinion on the subject. He cautioned the council against counting on TIF dollars to fund the project. Gerkin noted the increased number of items that TIF money has been pledged to fund. While he stated that some TIF funding can be utilized, Gerkin suggested a blended approach: a combination of tax-dollars and an increase in utility rates. Gerkin suggested that such a move could be made with an increase of around $3 per month, per customer.

Council members agreed to consider the issue and agreed to work with the city’s Utilities Board in a way that makes the most sense.