Blue Öyster Cult will be he headline act for the annual Labor Day weekend concert in Columbus by Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, the organization announced this morning.

The free concert is the Columbus-based agency’s largest annual fundraiser. It is held the Saturday of Labor day weekend, on Sept. 2nd this year, at Mill Race Park. Suzie Singer, spokeswoman for the hospice, explains.

Although the concert is free, the hospice raises money through raffle ticket sales, concessions and through donations and sponsorships. The agency serves 16 counties, providing end-of-life care for patients and their families.

Blue Öyster Cult is best known for hits such as “Don’t Fear The Reaper” and “Godzilla.”

The opening act will be Indianapolis-based, The Woomblies Rock Orchestra.

Faurecia is the title sponsor for the concert and and Columbus Regional Health is the partner sponsor.

If you are interested in supporting this community event, contact Sheryl Tracey, Manager of Resource Development at 812-314-8053.

Blue Öyster Cult on the Web

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana

The Columbus City Council has approved an increase in the Cumulative Capital Fund Rate. Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, explained during Tuesday night’s city council meeting that the increase is being recommended by the state’s Department of Local Government Finance. The increase would see the rate increase from .0316 cents per 100-dollars of assessed value to five-cents, beginning next year…

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Brinegar talked about how the increase could affect home owners.

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Brinegar says that additional money brought in from this rate increase would be earmarked for public safety.

The council approved the ordinance on first reading. Frank Miller and Laurie Booher voted against it.

Dorel Juvenile USA celebrated moving production of a product line from China to Columbus. Company officials were joined Tuesday by executives from Walmart at Dorel’s State Street plant to tout the move, which they say is part of Walmart’s efforts to sell more products manufactured in the U.S. Paul Powers, President and CEO of Dorel Juvenile USA, says that his company, and its products, are a perfect candidate for this effort…

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Powers talks about the production line coming to Columbus…

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Powers says that he sees a resurgence of American manufacturing…

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Steve Bratspies, merchandising officer for Walmart U.S., says that the retail giant committed in 2013 to sell 250-billion more American-made products…

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Dorel officials say that the move will create roughly 60 jobs in Columbus, with hiring expected to begin this fall. They add that products from the relocated production line will start shipping from Columbus by the end of this year.

The victims in Sunday’s triple-homicide in Washington County have been identified. Sgt. Jerry Goodin, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post in Sellersburg, says that autopsies on all three victims were completed Tuesday morning by the Washington County Coroner. They have been identified as 58-year-old Danny G. Newlin, 41-year-old Kelley Kay Newlin and their son, 14-year-old Austin Newlin. Goodin says that the cause of death for each of the victims was gunshot wounds.

State Police say the family was murdered in their home, in the 5500 block of South Beck’s Mill Road near Salem, by Richard Lee Burton, Jr. Police found Burton’s body Monday morning in the Hoosier National Forrest. He is believed to have committed suicide with a gun. It is unknown at this time whether or not it was the same gun used in the Newlin murders. Burton’s autopsy is being performed by the Monroe County Coroner’s Office.

Police say that Burton was living in the Newlin home. There’s been no word on any potential motive for the killings.

Indiana State Police add that these autopsies are preliminary, as it will take up to six weeks to get final toxicology reports.

The Hope Community Center’s largest annual fundraiser, Smoke on the Square, will be Friday and Saturday on the Town Square.

The 7th annual BBQ cookoff will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until the food is gone on Saturday. Adult meals are $7 and children’s are $4. The People’s Choice Award will be judged at 5:30 Saturday evening. You can participate in the voting by purchasing samples for $5 per tray.

White River Broadcasting staff with WKKG will be one of the teams taking part in the People’s Choice contest. Our team name is Rub Me Tender, Smoke Me Sweet.

Bartholomew County Commissioners took a step yesterday morning toward a new tax to build up a special fund for building projects and repairs.

The commissioners gave their first approvals to the creation of a cumulative capital development fund. Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop says that the state began docking the county almost $700,000 a year for not having such a fund.

County Commissioners can only create the fund and are expected to consider final approval next week. County Council would have to approve any money going into the fund. The amount going into the fund would ultimately be based on whatever tax rate the County Council would choose to set.

Lienhoop explains the purpose of a cumulative capital development fund would be to ensure that the commissioners have enough money to build new buildings, or to repair existing buildings.

Council President Laura DeDomenic asked the commissioners if they would consider expanding the scope of the fund to include vehicles or other equipment, but commissioners chose to keep the fund for buildings and building maintenance only.

Two local elementary school teachers have been chosen for this year’s William and Sally Hanley Excellence in Teaching award.

That award, which recognizes outstanding Bartholomew Consolidated elementary school teachers, will go to Wendy Foster, of Richards Elementary, and Jill Prestel, at Southside Elementary.

The award, which is given through Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, includes a $750 stipend. Teachers are recognized for their dedication, initiative and contributions to improve the school and its environment, says Amy Laker, scholarship manager for the Heritage Fund.

Foster has been a sixth-grade teacher for the past three years at W.D. Richards Elementary School. Prestel has been with Southside Elementary School for 20 years. The sixth-grade teacher was nominated for her love of teaching that brings out the best in every student.

Foster and Prestel will be recognized at the Bartholomew Consolidated School board meeting on June 12.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center will be asking for approval to transfer funds in order to purchase new camera equipment. At Monday night’s county council work session, an official with the center explained that the equipment would go towards making the center, located on Cherry Street in Columbus, more secure, while providing a safer environment for those who work there.

Center officials say that the request came about after a number of incidents this year that caused dispatchers concern. These include two occasions where contractors tried to cut locks from gates near the tower, threats to dispatchers over the phone, strange vehicles in the parking lot and people trying to get in to the locked building. Personnel say that not only are incidents such as these unnerving, but some also require dispatchers to leave their consoles to investigate.

The EOC is asking for the transfer of $13,900 to purchase the equipment. This will allow the purchase of four outdoor cameras to better monitor the property.

The request is expected to come before the county council at its meeting next week.

Work on the city of Columbus’ crack sealing project is scheduled to begin Tuesday. The city’s engineer’s office says that Hasco, Inc. will be doing the work, which is expected to take three-weeks.

City officials say that streets will be posted “No Parking” 24-hours prior to the scheduled work. In the event of rain, the “No Parking” signs will remain posted and work will resume when the pavement is dry. Regardless of the weather, you should pay attention to any traffic maintenance as you travel on these streets.

For a list of streets being crack sealed, click this link: http://bit.ly/2qZvbgA.

Last month’s flooding has led to Gov. Holcomb requesting help from the federal government for Washington County. If approved, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program will be made available for residents, businesses and non-profit groups for that county. In addition, the contiguous counties of Jackson, Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Lawrence, Orange and Scott would also qualify for the loans.

“This flooding devastated residents of Washington County,” Gov. Holcomb said. “It left homes and businesses severely affected, and our goal is to offer assistance. The state is applying for low-interest disaster loans to provide that measure of help.”