The rain is putting a damper on some of the events for today’s United Way Day of Caring in Columbus and Bartholomew County.
Angie Huebel, head of the Bartholomew County United Way’s Volunteer Action Center explains that indoor events will go on, but the major outdoor events are being postponed until Friday, May 12th:
If you have any questions, you can contact Huebel or the Volunteer Action Center at 812-314-2706
A habitual traffic violator with a suspended license is facing drug-dealing charges, after deputies caught her driving Monday night.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reports that officers saw 35-year-old Heather L. Walker driving at about 10:30 Monday night on Executive Drive near the Edinburgh Outlet Mall. Deputies recognized Walker and knew she had a lifetime driving ban, so they stopped and arrested her.
During a search, they allegedly found 3.5 grams of what police believe is heroin, along with plastic bags and other drug related paraphernalia.
She is facing preliminary charges of possessing and dealing heroin along with possession of drug paraphernalia.
A hearing on a proposed water rake hike for customers of Eastern Bartholomew Water Corp., will be held close to home.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor announced today that there would be a hearing in Taylorsville on May 18th to gather customer comments on the proposed rate hike.
The water utility, which serves about 5,000 customers in eastern Bartholomew, Jennings and Decatur counties, hopes to raise its rates by almost 50 percent, according to the consumer counselor. That increase would cover bonds so the utility can replace two water treatment facilities that were bought used in the 1970s, as well as other work.
The average home customer would see their water bill increase from about $23 dollars a month to almost $34.
The town of Hope is one of the water utility’s largest customers and town officials there said they plan to testify against the rate hike.
The hearing is set for 7 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, May 18th at the Taylorsville Elementary cafeteria. Those that attend will be able to make their voices heard directly to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which will decide on the rate hike later this summer.
You can also submit comments:
Online via the OUCC’s Website at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm
By mail to: Consumer Services Staff, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204
By e-mail to: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
By fax to: 317-232-5923
Comments should include the consumer’s name, mailing address, and a reference to “IURC Cause No. 44903.” Written comments the OUCC receives by June 14, 2017 will be filed with the Commission to be included in the case’s formal evidentiary record.
Consumers with questions about submitting written comments may call the OUCC toll-free at 1-888-441-2494.
Case updates are being posted on the OUCC’s website at www.in.gov/oucc/2507.htm .
Columbus police say they picked up a wanted man after he was seen in a store Wednesday.
39-year-old Jayson C. George was arrested at a store in the 1800 block of North National Road at just after 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon on three outstanding Bartholomew County warrants.
Officers searched George while he was being arrested and allegedly found a syringe containing methamphetamine. That led to new charges for possessing those.
The Bartholomew County warrants were for failing to appear in court on charges of battery, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
As part of Bartholomew County United Way’s Day of Caring activities on Friday, downtown Columbus will come alive with Bloomin’ Corners.
Julie McCawley is an organizer of the effort to transform the wedges of property between the sidewalks and street on the corners of downtown streets.
Volunteers will be out Friday planting perennial flowers and other plants in the corners to beautify the area.
The city public works department says that you can plant flowers and other vegetation on the street corners, even though they are in the public right of way. However, it must remain short enough it will not block the sight lines of drivers and it can’t obstruct any fire hydrants.
More than 800 volunteers will be doing volunteer work across the community on Friday. If you want to participate you can call the Volunteer Action Center to get an assignment at (812) 314-2706
Columbus City Council approved a tax abatement on a $4.4 million dollar investment that Cummins plans to make in the Walesboro area.
The company is planning to take over and renovate an empty shell building that was originally constructed by Force Construction about two years ago on International Drive.
Michael Day with Cummins explains the work needed to create the company’s new Machine Integration and Rebuild Center :
Day talks about what the new facility will be used for:
According to company officials, the new facility will include 10 dedicated service bays, a wash bay, office space for about 45 employees, a fabrication shop along with an Integration lab and an engine build area.
In a press release, company officials said Cummins products are tested throughout the product development process including in model-based simulations, test cells and real world applications. The pilot center operations enables Cummins to integrate machines for testing. This testing helps ensure product performance, quality, and durability once the products are in production.
“We create innovative technologies our customers depend on, and we recognize that throughout the coming decades, some of our markets will include shifts to new and alternate technologies,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer. “This facility will become a key tool in our toolbox as we work to provide turn-key machine integration solutions for our global customers. In addition, we can showcase our global integration technology leadership and provide an enhanced workspace for our employees.”
The Columbus City Council voted unanimously to approve the 10 year tax abatement. Councilwoman Elaine Wagner abstained from the vote and Councilman Dascal Bunch was absent.
A pair of North Vernon brothers and their Crothersville cousin are being accused in a pair of murders last year in Scott County. That’s according to the North Vernon Plain Dealer and Sun newspaper.
The newspaper reports that Michele Brewer and Jesse Bowling were found shot to death in March 2016 in Brewer’s Lexington home. Police told the newspaper that Brewer had been working as a drug informant.
57-year-old Roger McIntosh, of Crothersville, is accused of hiring his North Vernon cousins, 52-year-old David and 54-year-old Phillip McIntosh, to kill Brewer. Bowling was visiting the home at the time of the murder and was also killed, the newspaper reports.
The paper reports that Roger McIntosh is already serving a drug trafficking sentence. He and Philip McIntosh are facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice. David McIntosh is being charged with murder and conspiracy.
The brothers were arrested recently and are being held in the Scott County Jail
State Road 252 through southern Shelby County will be closed, starting on Monday. The Indiana Department of Transportation will be setting up barricades near the town of Flat Rock at County Road 250W all the way to the Flat Rock River.
The road will be closed for several months while they replace pavement, widen the road and install storm sewers. They will also be working on the bridges at Lewis Creek and the Flat Rock River.
Through traffic will be detoured from Interstate 65 to the town. You will end up taking a detour from I-65 to U.S. 31, State Road 46 and State Road. 9. .
This is apart of a $12 million dollar project rehabilitating seven miles of State Road 252. Milestone is the state’s contractor for the project.
Indiana State Police say there were no serious injuries in an accident that left two vehicles upside down and tied up traffic for hours this morning on Interstate 65 between Columbus and Seymour.
The accident was at about the 59 mile marker, south of the Walesboro exit, and completely blocked both northbound lanes for more than an hour, officials said. An ambulance was sent to the scene but victims declined transportation to the hospital, according to the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center.
Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, pointed out that during the crash a broom was thrown from the trunk of one vehicle and penetrated through the sheet metal in the wheel well of another vehicle. He warned that you should be sure to secure items in your trunk properly.
Indiana legislators will study doing away with firearms licenses.
State Rep Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, says he opposes the government regulating and charging Hoosiers a licensing fee to use a basic American right. Lucas proposed legislation that would remove the requirement for a license for either an openly carried or concealed firearm. He calls the measure constitutional carry.
Under Lucas’ proposal, people who have felony convictions, are under 18 years old or otherwise not legally permitted to carry a firearm would remain ineligible.
“As citizens we have the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and I believe we shouldn’t have to pay for a government license to exercise that right,” Lucas said. “I am excited for the discussion we will have this summer, educating people on their constitutional right and stopping the misinformation about what constitutional carry does and does not do.”
Lucas said that the General Assembly will study the issue during its summer recess and take testimony from the public. Gov. Eric Holcomb approved Lucas’ proposal to study the issue.