The Candy Cane Brigade, through American Legion Post No. 24, in Columbus, is organizing a Christmas card writing campaign for U.S. service members.

You can sign or leave a message for the troops at several locations over the next few weeks, with the first event being held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hope Volunteer Fire Department. They will be at Columbus Fire Station 1 at Washington and 11th streets from noon to 2 on Dec. 3rd and at German Township Volunteer Fire Department from noon to 2 on Dec. 10th.

If you have extra cards you would like to donate you can bring them to any of the events, or drop them off at the American Legion Post on 25th Street Columbus.

While there won’t be an official Christmas tree lighting ceremony at City Hall this year, city officials say there is still a celebration to be enjoyed, downtown.

Shanda Sasse is the manager of the Commons. She explains that the Commons will be hosting the fourth annual Festival of Light Christmas Village on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sasse says that the event features local, handcrafted items for sale, along with activities for kids and the Columbus Area Railroad Club returning with their train display. This event leads directly to the annual Festival of Lights Parade through downtown.

For more information, visit www.TheCommonsColumbus.com.

Officials at the Columbus Municipal Airport would like to bring commercial air service back to the city.

The airport is looking for your thoughts on the availability of passenger flights at the facility. They have set up an online survey and are asking you to take the five minute questionnaire so that they can gauge interest.

Link to the survey.

An automobile buying website, AutoList.com, says that Bartholomew County is in the top third of the cheapest Indiana counties to buy a car.

In a study tied to Black Friday shopping, the website says that used vehicles here are $46 more than the state average, which makes Bartholomew County the 29th cheapest county in the state to purchase a car.

The site also breaks down what the best car deals are in Bartholomew County, with a Chrysler 300 selling for $795 dollars less than the state average and a Toyota Tacoma selling for $792 dollars less than the state average.

AutoList.com places Indiana as the 42nd most affordable state to buy a car.

The Hope Police Department is looking for help, so officers can help children in the northeastern Bartholomew County community.

Marshal Matt Tallent says the police department has set up a Go Fund Me page online as they try to raise $2,000 to bring some Christmas cheer to children for their annual Hope Cops Christmas for Kids.

He said the police department tries to help 10 children a year at a cost of between $150 and $200 each. The effort relies heavily on donations. Last year, the police set up a Go Fund Me page and the response was so successful that they are trying it again, Tallent said.

As of this morning, about $760 had been raised toward the $2,000 goal.

Go Fund Me for Hope Cops Christmas for Kids.

A Greenwood woman was taken to an Indianapolis hospital after being hit by a car Tuesday night.

Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox says that at about 6:15 p.m., deputies were called to the scene near Cobblestone Drive and Berry Road. He says that the driver, 64-year-old Donna J. Kelker, of Greenwood, was headed north on Berry Road when she slowed down to turn left on to Cobblestone Drive. As Kelker made the turn, authorities say that she struck 59-year-old Young S. Choi, who was walking her dog.

According to a 10-year-old witness, when Choi was struck, she bounced off the hood of the vehicle, went up in the air and landed on the ground. First responders had a difficult time communicating with Choi, as Sheriff Cox says that she does not speak English very well. Medics on the scene made the decision to have her transported to Methodist Hospital for broken bones and possible internal injuries.

Kelker reportedly told police that she did not see Choi. Sheriff Cox says that while there were some streetlights in the area, it is not a location that is very well lit. He adds that Choi was wearing dark clothing, which made it difficult for her to be seen.

Sheriff’s deputies say that Kelker showed no signs of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, however she did consent to a portable breath test. Cox says that test showed that she had no alcohol in her system.

The incident remains under investigation.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission listened to a proposal to extend International Drive in the Woodside Industrial Park at Walesboro. Jason Hester, president of the Greater Columbus Indiana Economic Development Corp. …

Under the proposal, International Drive would be extended north by 580 feet. Hester says that there’s an immediate possibility of utilizing 15 acres for new 19-million-dollar investment which would create 88 jobs. Regardless of whether or not that project actually materializes, Hester says that the need for business space remains. He went on to say that, based on current operations at the industrial park, another 300-plus jobs could be supported, with up to $300,000 coming in to the city via property tax revenue. Hester stresses that the actual property tax amount will depend on any abatements granted by the city.

Russ Poling, Sr., a member of the City Plan Commission, took issue with the proposal. He was in the audience during Monday night’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission. Poling explained that the Plan Commission recommended the annexation and rezoning of property near the industrial park be approved. He says that one of the conditions of the approval was that International Drive be extended up to the southern boundary of the new property, with the developer bearing those costs.

No action was taken by the Redevelopment Commission during its meeting this week.

Bartholomew County deputies are trying to locate two people who fled the scene of a burning stolen vehicle last night.

Deputies located the vehicle, stolen out of Wabash, Indiana., burning on East County Road 900N last night. Two suspects fled from the area on a red ATV, says Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department.. A deputy lost sight of the two in the woods near the river. A long search with police dogs was unsuccessful in finding the suspects.

The two were last seen in the area of Oak Manor near County Roads 650N and 50W.

Deputies are looking for any information about the suspects or the vehicle, no matter how seemingly insignificant. If you can help, you can call the sheriff’s department tip line at (812) 379-1712.

Some big travel days are ahead as Thanksgiving draws near. Law enforcement across the country, including in Columbus, are urging you to be safe. Lt. Matt Harris is the public information officer for the Columbus Police Department…

Harris says that safety should be a concern for everyone on Thursday night and Friday as attention turns to holiday shoppers looking for bargains…

Thieves won’t just be targeting vehicles, says Harris…

With holiday shopping moving beyond traditional brick-and-mortar stores, Harris says that those taking part in “Cyber Monday” shopping also need to be careful. He urges you to take care when shopping online and to be wary of any deal that looks “too good to be true”…

Lt. Harris ads that theft is always one of the biggest issues this time of year. He stresses that a few moments of prevention can save you from a big financial loss.

The Jennings County School Corporation is looking for substitute teachers for the remainder of this school year.

If you are interested in learning more, the school corporation is inviting you to an orientation meeting on Wednesday, Dec 7. It will be held at the JCSC Central Office on 34 Main Street in North Vernon, beginning at 9 a.m. This meeting will provide information through an in-service activity for those wishing to apply for placement on the school district’s approved list of substitute teachers.

The JCSC says that substitute teacher rates for this school year are as follows:

LEVEL I: $60.00/day – High School Diploma/Transcripts;
LEVEL II: $65.00/day – Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree or Passing of the Parapro Praxis Test;
LEVEL III: $70.00/day – Hold a Valid Indiana Teacher’s License;
LEVEL IV: $80.00/day – Retired Teacher (verification required).

School officials say that they have modified requirements to include those who have graduated from an accredited high school and have documented educational experiences.In addition to attendance at this meeting, those attending are also required to submit updated credentials and complete employment applications.

If you would like to attend, you are asked to call (812) 346-4483 to be enrolled for the orientation meeting. JCSC says that, if you are unable to attend this meeting, the corporation will be offering additional orientation meetings on the first Wednesday of each month.