The Columbus Redevelopment Commission voted Monday to reassign the lease for 310 Washington Street in the Commons to Luciana’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina.

Heather Pope, director of redevelopment for the city, says this will be Alberto and Sarah Bravo’s third location. Naming the restaurant after their daughter, the Bravos opened their flagship location in the Broad Ripple neighborhood of Indianapolis in 2015. The following year, a second location was open on 82nd Street in the Keystone at the Crossing area of Indianapolis. The couple credits the chain’s fast success to its upscale feel, affordable prices and quality food. The couple explained that while they don’t offer a huge selection of dishes, the ones that are on the menu are well made with quality ingredients.

“We are very excited about coming to Columbus and being part of such a great community” said Alberto Bravo. “Luciana’s will be a great fit to this very vibrant downtown area.” The restaurant is expected to open on August 2. The Bravos explained that is a “lucky day” for the family, noting birthdays and other events important to them.

The Bravos anticipate investing between $250,000 to $300,000 in the facility in renovations and new equipment. They are not seeking any financial support from the Redevelopment Commission. The Bravos will take over all the terms and conditions of the previous lease. There are seven years remaining on the current lease, which was broken when former tenant, Jordy McTaggart’s, fell behind on its financial responsibilities and vacated the space.

City officials say they are “in negotiations” with the previous tenant to recoup unpaid funds.

A Bloomington man was rescued Sunday afternoon after his vehicle had been swept off of a Jackson County road. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, say the rescue happened just before 3 p.m. and involved multiple agencies.

Authorities say that 68-year-old Alexander Ferenczy, III, initially called 911 to report that his vehicle has stalled in flood waters on County Road 50 North near County Road 950 East in eastern Jackson County. Trp. Christopher Lockman, along with officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Crothersville Police Department and Indiana Conservation Officers responded to the scene. By time rescuers arrived, Ferenczy’s van had been swept off the road by rushing water.

Trp. Lockman, who is a member of the Indiana State Police Department’s Underwater Search and Recovery Team, determined that a water rescue was necessary immediately, determining that it was unsafe to wait for a rescue boat. Wheeles says the trooper donned his swiftwater rescue gear and entered the water while connected to a line that was being manned by other officers.

Trp. Lockman was able to successfully reach the vehicle, which by then was approximately 300 feet from dry land. Wheeles says that Lockman was able to attach a personal flotation device to Ferenczy and conducted a water rescue carry of the man, who was unable to walk due to a prior medical condition. Officers removed Ferenczy from the water and began administering first aid before he was taken to Schneck Medical Center for further evaluation. Ferenczy’s condition has not been updated.

Trp. Lockman was assisted by Deputy Rob Henley, Reserve Deputies Charlie Murphy and Greg Murphy, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Officer J L McElfresh, Crothersville Police Department and Conservation Officer Blake Everhart.

This was the weekend’s second water rescue from a vehicle locally. Indiana State Police and other law enforcement agencies are reminding you to avoid driving on roadways that are covered by water. Authorities say that just a small amount of moving water is capable of sweeping a heavy vehicle off the roadway. Remember: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”

Crews are working on the railroad line running down Jonesville Road/State Road 11 this week in Bartholomew County.

Today and tomorrow, crews are closing roads during the day from Deaver to County Road 200S as they replace tracks and railroad ties. The roads will reopen at night.

The work will move to Spear Street to County Road 100S starting Wednesday and Thursday.

A person was shot in the leg in Columbus on Friday evening but there are few details yet.

Columbus police say that the shooting happened at about 8:15  p.m. Friday night at Steinhurst Manor. That’s just across the street from Clifty Park. A man was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital with the gunshot wound to the leg. The shooter or shooters left the scene.

If you have any information, you can contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600.

Columbus police believe an Edinburgh pair were overdosing on opiates when they crashed their car into a Columbus home Sunday night.

The car hit the home in the 2900 block of 19th Street at about 10:10 p.m. last night. When officers arrived they found the driver and passenger, both unconscious with blue lips and labored breathing. After doses of Narcan, the driver 21-year-old Dillon M. Goff and passenger 21-year-old Samantha D. Artis regained consciousness, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.

Both were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment before being taken to the Bartholomew County Jail.

Goff is facing preliminary charges of driving while intoxicated causing endangerment and possessing a syringe. Artis is facing a possession of a syringe charge.

Three Columbus North High School students took honors in the 2017 National History Day in Indiana contest, organized by the Indiana Historical Society on Saturday.

The society says that Kristen Ballard and Kaitlyn Niebrugge won first place in the senior group website category. Vivek Hebber won third place in the senior paper category.

About 475 students took part in the Saturday competition.

All first and second place winners are eligible to compete at the National History Day conference in June at the University of Maryland’s campus in College Park, Maryland. There will be a field of about 3,000 students competing there.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center has released the following road closings due to high water as of 8 a.m. today:

• County Road 400N at Tinkey Bridge. Road is closed, gates are locked.
• County Road 900N  between 200E and 300E.
• Tellmad Road, west of Indianapolis Road.

You will have a chance to have coffee with a cop again this week in Columbus.

Lt. Matt Harris says that you can catch up with police from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning at Chick-Fil-A.

Harris said in addition to officers, you can chat with Chief Jon Rohde and Mayor Jim Lienhoop will also be on hand.

Bartholomew County Democrats will host columnist and IU economist Morton J. Marcus as the featured speaker at the party’s annual dinner to be held at 6 p.m. on May 19th at Donner Center .

Marcus is director emeritius of the Indaina Business Center and Kelley School of Busienss and is the chairman of Media Indiana LLC.

Tickets are $25 and can by ordered at the Democratic Party headquarters at 812-418-8594 or you can contact Jessie Hill at 812-378-4264.

The Columbus Area Arts Council has announced the lineup for this year’s JCB Neighborfest concerts.

The concerts are held on the first Thursday of the month, in front of The Commons in downtown Columbus June through September.

The shows this summer will include My Yellow Rickshaw on June 1st, Parrots of the Caribbean: A Salute to Jimmy Buffett, on July 6th, Terry Lee and the Rockaboogie Band, August 3rd and the Pork N. Beans Brass Band on September 7th.

The concerts are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and are free to the community through the financial support of JCB.

You can get more information online at artsincolumbus.org on Facebook at artsincolumbus, or you can call 812-376-2539.