Residents in a northwestern Columbus neighborhood will still have a field behind their homes, but they will also soon have a lot more neighbors to enjoy the view.

That’s under recommendations made this week by the Columbus Plan Commission on a pair of unrelated but neighboring developments proposed south of Lowell Road between 200W and Indianapolis Road. The commission was asked to give its blessing to the annexation and rezoning of a new, 312- home development by Arbor Investments that be built on either side of 200W.

Jeff Bergman, director of the city/county planning department explains the commission’s action on the project, to be called Abbey Place:

The development would include several parks and ponds. Road 200W improvements would include a roundabout in the midst of the development and city officials also want a roundabout on Lowell Road.

That vote was unanimous. But by a 6-3 vote the commission turned down a request to rezone a neighboring property for industrial use.

That proposed change would affect property along Road 150W, allowing industrial use up against existing homes at Princeton Parks. The industrial project would also have been on the edge of the new housing development approved earlier Thursday evening.

Members of the commission said they thought it was unfair to the owners of neighboring homes to allow the property to be rezoned and turned to industrial use.

Michael McIver, an attorney representing the property owners, said that while homes were to the north and west, industrial properties were on the east and south towards Indianapolis Road.

The council voted 3-6 against approval of the request, and then 6-3 to recommend turning down the request.

The Plan Commission does not have final say over the decisions. That power rests with the City Council, Bergman says. Both of the recommendations will go before Columbus City Council on May 16th.

Family, friends and colleagues of Bartholomew County’s first female County Commissioner are mourning the loss of Juanita Harden.

Funeral services start today, April 13th, at 11 a.m. at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.

Nancy Ann Brown-Pointer, Columbus’ first female mayor and fellow Democrat, says that Harden was an asset to the community who will be sorely missed…

Brown-Pointer says that she and Harden were close even before they entered politics.

The former mayor talked about Harden’s legacy…

Harden served as a County Commissioner from 1982 – 1994. She helped design and establish the Bartholomew County flag, and served on the county planning commission. She was instrumental in establishing the Bartholomew County Juvenile Shelter.

County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz served with Harden when he was first elected. He says that Harden was great to him when he first joined the Board of Commissioners.

Kleinhenz says that Harden’s family has carried on her legacy of service and helping others.

Harden served on the Bartholomew County Fair Board and helped organize and chair the first pie baking contest at the Bartholomew County Fair, which she later helped judge. She was a longtime member of the Grandview Extension Homemakers Club.

She lived at, and co-managed, the Columbus Youth Camp for 22 years, along with managing the camp kitchen.

For more information, go to www.jewellrittman.com

Police arrested a man wanted on six warrants Tuesday night in a west Columbus home.

Officers from the Columbus police and the Bartholomew County sheriff’s department served the warrant on 23-year-old Alex R. Lawson at about 8 Tuesday night in the 2100 block of Shadow Fox Drive, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police.

Lawson was wanted for failing to appear in court on charges including possession of a syringe, driving while suspended, domestic battery, battery with bodily injury, resisting law enforcment, battery by bodily waste and contempt of court. There was also a warrant for his arrest out of Jennings County, Harris said.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is announcing the honorees for this year’s Women in Leadership awards.

Chamber president Cindy Frey says that the group will be honoring Jean Donica, with Re/Max Real Estate Professionals, Julie Quesenbery with the Columbus police, Lisa Shafran with Turning Point Domestic Violence Services and Jennifer Rumsey, chief technical officer for Cummins.

Each of the women will be recognized at the chamber’s annual Women in Leadership luncheon with a short video and each will talk about her career journey.

The Women in Leadership luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m. on May 19th at The Commons.Tickets are $40 for Chamber members and $45 for non-members. You can get more information or make reservations online at columbusareachamber.com

A North Vernon was recognized this week for her efforts in self-improvement.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development and its WorkOne Career Centers hosted their biennial WorkOne Achievement Awards on Tuesday at the Statehouse. The ceremony recognized the success of Hoosier employees and employers who have received services through WorkOne. Priscilla Jackson received an individual award for “overcoming several employment barriers and personal challenges, and for pursuing a better life for herself.” Jackson was nominated for the award by her local WorkOne center.

Officials say that Jackson’s nomination came about after she enrolled in the WIOA youth program as a 23-year-old single mother of two boys. Her case manager set up a six-week work experience with a local daycare provider. After completing the work experience, Jackson was hired on full-time, and is currently employed there. WorkOne staff say that Jackson is currently in the process of buying a house, with the hope that she will be able to open an in-home daycare next year.

Authorities have released the name of the victim of Wednesday afternoon’s plane crash near Hartsville.

Jay Frederick, Bartholomew County Chief Deputy Coroner, says that the pilot, 77-year-old Ren Sagaert, of Shelby Township, MI, was declared dead at the scene by Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting. Frederick says that Sagaert was the only person in the plane, which crashed in the area of 20950 East County Road 200 North, just east of Anderson Falls. Investigators with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department say that they believe that the plane was attempting to take off when it crashed.

Nolting’s office says that an autopsy has been scheduled to be performed by a forensic pathologist on Thursday.

The crash itself is being investigated by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Lobsterfest, an annual fundraiser organized by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, returns to downtown Columbus on Saturday, May 13th. Sponsored by Old National Wealth Management, the event takes place along Fifth Street between Franklin and Washington Streets in the Columbus Arts and Entertainment District.

The authentic New England clambake and lobster boil, catered by Foster’s Clambakes and Catering, begins at 6 p.m. for a Happy Hour complete with a cash bar and for a Happy Hour complete with a cash bar and live music provided by Dan and Linda Mustard. A Philharmonic Youth Ensemble, one of the programs benefiting from proceeds raised, has a special musical presentation just prior to dinner.

“Lobsterfest will have some new features this year,” said Margaret Powers, Executive Director of the Philharmonic. “The Lobsterfest committee, led by Tracy Haddad, has several ideas to extend the party after dinner including live music and lobster races. Race details, including which type of toy lobster to use and the means of propelling them around a track, are in the works.”

Lobsterfest tickets are divided into two levels: $100 Patron and $150 Patron Plus. Food will be prepared on-site in a lobster boil built on Fifth Street specifically for the occasion.

Proceeds from this event will help support the Philharmonic’s concert and music education programs that reach more than 13,000 adults and children each year in South Central Indiana. Additional support provided by Johnson Ventures, Hutch & Kevina Schumaker, Tracy L. Haddad Foundation, Enkei America, and Agresta, Storms & O’Leary.

To make reservations, call the Philharmonic Box Office at 812-376-2638, x1 or visit the Philharmonic website at www.thecip.org.

Authorities continue their investigation of a small plane crash that killed one person near Hartsville.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokeswoman, says that the plane went down in the area of 20950 East County Road 200 North, just east of Anderson Falls. She says that the first call for help came in at 12:52 p.m. and that deputies arrived on the scene within seven minutes.

The Sheriff’s Department says that the plane was a 1940’s Tecmo Swift model. It is believed that the plane was attempting to take off when it crashed, killing the male pilot. His identity has not been released.

Jackson says that Indiana State Police, Hope Police, the Columbus Fire Department and Hartsville Fire Department are assisting at the scene.

Legal Aid announces its “Legal Aid Clinic” program. The first clinic will be held on Monday, April 24th, at the Legal Aid Office in Bartholomew County. Additional Legal Aid Clinics are scheduled to take place on the fourth Monday of each month in Bartholomew County.

Officials at Legal Aid say the organization is in the process of planning several clinics at local sites throughout Indiana’s Pro Bono District I. That district includes Brown, Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Shelby and Rush counties.

Organizers say the program will utilize local volunteer attorneys, which will offer free legal consultations to low-income residents for the provision of legal advice. They say the clinic is an important component in furthering “equal access to justice within our community who might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.”

Organizers say that residents coming to these clinics can expect to receive a 10 to 15 minute consultation to answer general questions, offer legal information, or to receive other limited assistance. They add that the help will be offered in person, or a first come, first serve basis. There is no need to register in advance.

For more information, contact Legal Aid at (812) 378-0358.

Authorities are investigating a small plane crash that killed one person near Hartsville on Tuesday afternoon.

Ed Reuter, director of the Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency, says that the plane went down just east of Anderson Falls. He says that the first call for help came in at 12:52 p.m. The name of the victim has not been released and it is unclear as to whether or not there are additional injuries.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.