Bartholomew County officials are considering going it alone on a van to transport veterans to the Indianapolis VA center for medical treatments.

County Commissioners received a report from the county venterans service office yesterday saying that the number of trips made by the sponsored vehicle have dropped to a level that the state is consideirng taking the vehicle back. County Commissioner Rick Flohr explains:

County officials say that the restrictions on volunteer drivers including the training requirements and the lack of reimbursement is leading to so few drivers volunteering that they can’t make the needed trips.

The county is currently operating with only two drivers Flohr says.

Rather than a reimbursement, drivers receive a $6 meal voucher that can only be used at the VA cafeteria. And the drivers frequently spend most of a day at the center for a trip.

And rather than a van, the provided vehicle is only a small SUV, further limiting the number of veterans that can be served.

Commissioners said that the county could spend up to $25 thousand dollars to purchase its own van.

Columbus Firefighters battled an early morning fire in an empty rental home in the 1500 block of Union Street on Monday. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that firefighters were called to 1528 Union Street just after 5 a.m. after a passerby saw smoke coming from the home. When Firefighters arrived on the scene they found smoke pushing out of windows. Unsure if there was anyone inside, Wilson says that firefighters breached the front door to do a search. He says the firefighters met intense smoke, heat and flames in the kitchen and an adjacent bathroom. The fire was extinguished “within minutes,” said Wilson.

Columbus Fire Department investigators learned that the home has been vacant for two weeks while the residence was being treated for bedbugs. They say the tenants have been staying in a hotel at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damages are estimated at $40,000. No injuries were reported.

Two brothers escaped their second story apartment after being alerted to a fire on a wooden patio deck on Sunday morning. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says that firefighters were called to the building in the 1600 block of Cottage Avenue, shortly before 11 a.m.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the blaze had begun to melt the vinyl siding as well as the rubber membrane roof that the patio deck was built on top of. As firefighters advanced through the damaged patio door, they found heavy smoke and fire on the exterior wall of the apartment, as well as fire on the wood deck. Wilson says that 50 percent of the approximately 12’ x 8’ wooden patio structure was destroyed. The interior of the apartment sustained minor smoke and water damage.

Columbus Fire Department investigators determined that the accidental fire was caused by a cigarette discarded near combustible materials. Damages to the apartment are estimated at $25,000. No one was hurt.

Smoke alarms were found inside the property, though they did not sound during the fire. Wilson says that investigators manually tested the alarms and found that they sounded throughout the apartment. However, it was learned that the alarms were more than 10 years old. Firefighters say this incident illustrates the importance of replacing smoke alarms every 10 years or sooner.

A Columbus man was arrested over the weekend after being revived from a drug overdose, according to Columbus officers.

Police were called to a reported overdose in a home in the 1300 block of Cottage Avenue at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday. They found 29-year-old Michael A. Dunham unconscious and he was breathing very shallow. Officers gave Dunham two doses of Narcan to revive him, but officers also found out that Dunham was wanted on a Bartholomew County warrant.
While searching him, they allegedly found a plastic bag with marijuana in his pants pocket.

After being taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment, he was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of marijuana along with the outstanding warrants.

Bartholomew County Democrats are looking for candidates for next year’s elections.

They will be holding an open house on Thursday where you can learn more about the positions up for election, as well as how to file for office. They say that this event could be helpful whether you are committed to running for public office, or just considering it. The open house will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Democratic Party Headquarters, at 1417 Chestnut Street.

Developmental Services Inc. is merging with Four Rivers to become one of the biggest agencies of its type in the state.

The two agencies will combine to serve children and adults with disabilities in 56 counties after the merger goes into effect in November. According to an announcement from the agencies, they provide supported living, group homes, job placement and supported employment, work services, adult day services, preschool, health and wellness, affordable housing and information and referral.

The agencies do not expect to reduce services, but do believe they will save costs by merging.

Four Rivers was founded in 1986 and serves 14 counties, while DSI opened in 1975 and serves 44 counties. There is already some overlap in their service areas.

A Columbus woman was arrested on drug charges early Saturday morning after an officer saw her driving suspiciously near Ohio Avenue and Cleveland Street.

Columbus police report that records showed the registered owner of the vehicle, 58-year-old Sandra K. Carr, was found to have a suspended driver’s license. Officers stopped the car near McKinley and Gladstone avenues at about 12: 15 a.m. and arrested Carr. She allegedly had prescription pills in her pocket that did not belong to her.

She is facing charges of driving while suspended and possession of a legend drug and of a controlled substance.

Organizers have chosen the grand marshals for this year’s Hope Heritage Days parade. Multi-term clerk-treasurers John and Shirley Robertson were announced at a ceremony yesterday at Hope United Methodist Church.

Michael Dean, CEO of Heritage of Hope, made the announcement, which came as a surprise to the couple.

Dean said that John’s family ties to the community go back to three of the families that accompanied Martin Hauser to Indiana to found the town.

Shirley Robertson served as the town’s clerk-treasurer for 17 years, while John served for eight years. Among other accomplishments, the Robertsons have been longtime team sponsors for Hope Summer Playground, Future Jets Basketball, Hope Babe Ruth and the Hauser Athletic Department as well as the Hauser Dollars for Scholars program.

Shirley M. Robertson

• Member of Hope United Methodist Church, held numerous board positions
• 22-year employee of Sweet Chiropractic
• Served 17 years as Hope Clerk Treasurer
• Helped form the Hawcreek-Flat Rock Endowment and served as a board member.
• Helped form the Hope Chamber of Commerce and the Hope Area Welcome Center
• Instrumental in bringing the Hope Health Clinic to town
• Board Member of the Windrose Health System
• Helped form the Hope EDIT Committee
• Board member of the Columbus VIP board

John K. Robertson

Lifelong resident of Hope

• Lifelong member of the Hope United Methodist Church, held numerous board positions
• 8 years as Hope Clerk Treasurer
• Past member of the Hope Yellow Trail Museum
• 6th generation business owner
• Descendant of three families that came with Martin Hauser (Bruner, Branum, and Rominger)
• Navy Veteran
• Little League Baseball coach

The 50th annual Hope Heritage Days is the weekend of Sept. 22nd.

Bartholomew County’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested two men Friday on Azalea Drive on drug charges after complaints from neighbors.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that officers found more than a pound of methamphetamine, heroin, Ecstasy, marijuana, other controlled substances and drug paraphernalia when they raided the home in the 1400 block of Azalea Drive Friday night. They also found drug packaging material, scales and firearms according to the sheriff. The meth alone was worth about $50 thousand dollars on the street, Myers said..

56-year-old Stanley D. Edelen was at the home at the time of the raid. He is facing preliminary charges of possessing meth, maintaining a common nuisance and two outstanding warrants.

Police also allegedly saw 64-year-old Dexter R. Pigg drive away from the home, Myers says. They stopped his vehicle because he is a habitual traffic violator. Further investigation led to preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, possessing meth, heroin, a controlled substance, marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well as maintaining a common nuisance.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined effort of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbus Police Department and the county prosecutor’s office.

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic is holding its annual meeting Monday evening. Katelyn Ice, the CIP marketing director, explains that the event is being held at YES Cinema…

Vocalist Sylvia McNair is scheduled to provide entertainment, while Bob Jones, Chairman & CEO of Old National Bancorp, is the keynote speaker.

For more information, visit thecip.org.