The next symposium for Exhibit Columbus will be next week with events here in Columbus and in Indianapolis.

The opening programs including a reception will be held at Newfields, the former Indianapolis Museum of Art on Wednesday. On Thursday, the group of architects, designers and fans will come to Columbus with walking tours and events at local landmarks.

Richard McCoy, director of Landmark Columbus, said that both local leaders and national leaders will be taking part in symposium events.

The Exhibit Columbus program, which began in 2016, calls for a symposium on even years, and then the installation of displays, sculptures and other elements around the community, tying into important Columbus architectural, design and artistic landmarks.

For example, last year a popular site was the wooden “conversation plinth” built around the Large Arch sculpture on the front patio of the Bartholomew County Public Library.  At next week’s symposium, those who are designing and creating next year’s installations will be on hand to discuss their projects, while they are still a work in progress, McCoy said.

McCoy explains that there is a special $100 rate for Bartholomew County residents that remains in effect until the start of the events next week:

That price does not include the Wednesday reception.

The symposium events run through Saturday. For more information, you can go to ExhibitColumbus.org.

The Mill Race Marathon is Saturday, but you will see some street closings and parking restrictions starting as soon as today.

According to the city of Columbus, there will be no Parking on 5th Street between Jackson and Franklin streets and on 7th Street between Jackson and Washington Streets from 6 a.m. until noon for placement of the portable restrooms.

Street and parking restrictions starting on Friday include:

•  No Parking on 6th St between Jackson St and Washington St from noon Friday until 4 p.m. Saturday.
• No Parking on Washington St between 5th St and 7th St from 6 a.m. Friday until 4 p.m. Saturday.
•  6th Street will be closed between Washington St and the alley west of Franklin St from 6 a.m. Friday  until 4 p.m.  Saturday.
•  4th St will be closed between Jackson St and Franklin St from noon Friday until 9 p.m. Saturday.
• No Parking on Washington St between 3rd St and 5th St from noon Friday until 9 p.m. Saturday .
•  Washington Street will be closed between 3rd St to 5th St from 6 p.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Saturday. The intersection at 4th Street will be closed .
• Washington Street will be closed from 5th Street to 7th St between 6 p.m. Friday until 4 p.m. Saturday. The intersection at 6th Street will be closed.

Saturday closings and delays include:

• The intersection at Washington St and 5th St will be closed from 5:00 am until 4:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• The intersection at Washington St and 7th St will be closed from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on Washington St between 7th St and 11th St from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Washington St will be closed between 7th St and 11th St from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm on Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on Jackson St (east curb) between 2nd St and 3rd St from 6:00 am Saturday 9/22 until 4:00 pm Saturday 9/22 for shuttle bus drop off/pick-up.
• 11th St will be closed between Washington St and Indianapolis Rd from 7:30 am until 8:00 am Saturday 9/22 for start of the races.
• Indianapolis Rd will be closed from Brown St to Carl Miske Dr from 7:30 am until 8:00 Saturday 9/22 for start of the races.
• Carl Miske Dr will be closed from 7:00 am until 8:15 am Saturday 9/22.
• Lindsey St will be restricted to one lane between 5th St and 3rd St from 7:00 am to 8:30 am Saturday 9/22.
• 3rd St will be closed from Lindsay St to Jonathon Moore Pike from 7:40 am until 8:10 am Saturday 9/22 for transition of runners onto bridge. One lane of bridge will be available when safe to allow traffic to cross through the runners/walkers.
• Jonathan Moore Pike/Brown St restricted to two lanes from State Road 11 to 2nd St. from 7:00 am to 8:30 am Saturday 9/22.
• Traffic control at Brown St and 2nd St from 7:45 am until 8:30 am Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to cross.
• Traffic control at Brown St and 3rd St from 7:45 am until 8:30 am Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to cross.
• 3rd St. restricted to one lane from Central Ave to Brown St from 7:00 am to 9:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• Central Ave will be closed from 10th St to 3rd St from 7:30 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22. Northbound lanes open from 7th to 10th St.
• 6th St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road between Cottage Ave and Chestnut St from 7:45 am to 9:30 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on south curb 6th St between Cottage Ave and Chestnut St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• 5th St. will not be restricted but runners will use entire road between Chestnut St and Franklin St from 7:45 am to 9:45 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on 5th St between Chestnut St and Franklin St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• Franklin St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road from 5th St to 11th St from 7:50 am to 10:00 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on Franklin St between 5th St and 11th St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• 11th St will be closed from Washington St to Michigan St and 10th St from Michigan St to Central Ave from 7:45 am until 10:15 am Saturday 9/22.
• State Street will have two eastbound lanes open and one west bound lane open from Central to Marr Rd. from 7:30 am to 11:00 am Saturday 9/22. No center turn lane.
• Coovert St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road between State St and Indiana Ave. No Parking on Coovert St between State St and Indiana Ave from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday
• Indiana Ave will be closed from Coovert St to Gladstone Ave from 8:10 am until 10:30 am Saturday 9/22.
• Gladstone Ave will be closed from Indiana Ave to 10th St from 8:10 am until 10:30 am Saturday 9/22.
• Traffic control at Gladstone Ave and 10th St to allow runners/walkers to cross from 8:15 am until 10:45 am Saturday 9/22.
•  Gladstone Ave southbound lane from 10th St to 17th St will be closed from 8:15 am until 11:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• 17th St will be closed to traffic east bound from Gladstone Ave to Orinoco St from 8:20 am to 11:15 am Saturday 9/22.
• Orinoco St will be closed between 16th and 17th St from 8:20 am until 11:15 am Saturday 9/22.
• 16th St will be closed between Gilmore St and Orinoco St from 8:25 am to 11:30 am Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on south curb of 16th St between Orinoco St and Gilmore St from 6:00 am until 12:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Michigan Ave between 16th St and 13th St will be restricted to traffic between 8:25 am to 11:30 am Saturday 9/22
• No parking on north curb of 13th St between Michigan Ave and Chestnut St from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm (noon) Saturday 9/22.
• Chestnut St west curb lane closed from 13th St to 23rd St from 8:00 am to 11:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on east curb between 13th St and 16th St from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Lafayette St closed from 17th St to 27th St from 7:50 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22. No Parking on Lafayette St from 17th St to 27th St between 6:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• 17th St closed from Lafayette St to Washington St from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on 17th St from Lafayette St to Washington St from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Washington St one lane open for north bound traffic and one lane for south bound traffic between 11th St and 18th St from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Saturday 9/22. Runners will be in two east side lanes.
  Traffic control at Washington St and 11th to allow runners to cross.
• 5K – Franklin St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road from 11th St to 15th St from 7:50 am to 8:30 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on Franklin St between 11th St and 15th St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22
• 5K – 15th St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road from Franklin St to Lafayette St from 7:50 am to 8:30 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on 15th St between Franklin St and Lafayette St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• 5K – Lafayette St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road from 15th St to 13th St from 7:50 am to 8:30 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on Lafayette St between 15th St and 13th St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22.
• 5K – 13th St will not be restricted but runners will use entire road from Lafayette St to Chestnut St from 7:50 am to 8:30 am Saturday 9/22. No Parking on north curb 13th St between Franklin St and Chestnut St from 6:00 am until 10:00 am Saturday 9/22. 5K joins marathon/half-marathon route at this point.
• Traffic control at Lafayette Ave and 25th St from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to cross.
• No Parking on east curb of Franklin St between 27th St and 26th St from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on south curb of 26th St between Franklin St and Lafayette St from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Traffic control at Lafayette St/Franklin Drive/Franklin St from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm to allow runners to cross.
• No Parking on south curb of Tipton Ln between Franklin Dr and Sycamore St from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on north curb of Tipton Ln between Sycamore St and Home Ave from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Home Ave/Westenedge Dr west curb lane (southbound) will be closed to traffic from Tipton Ln to Rocky Ford Rd from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22. Northbound will be open.
• Traffic control at U.S. 31 and Westenedge Dr/Home Ave from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to cross.
• Rocky Ford Rd south curb lane (eastbound) will be closed to traffic between Washington St and Westenedge Dr from 8:30 am until 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22. Rocky Ford Rd north curb lane  westbound) will be closed to traffic between Washington St and Westenedge Dr from 8:30 am until 11:30 am.
• Washington St east curb lane (northbound) will be closed from Rocky Ford Rd to 37th St from 8:35 am until 11:10 am Saturday 9/22.
• Washington St west curb lane (southbound) will be closed from 37th St to Rocky Ford Rd from 9:25 am until 1:30 pm Saturday 9/22.
• 37th will not be restricted but runners will use entire road. No Parking on south curb between Washington St and Woodfield Dr and No Parking on north curb between Woodfield Dr and Sycamore St from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on Sycamore St between 37th St and Roselawn Dr from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on east curb of Roselawn Dr between Sycamore St and Royal St from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Traffic restricted in west curb lane (southbound) on River Rd between Ridgeway Dr to Washington St from 8:45 am until 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on south curb of Washington St between River Rd to Ridgeway Dr from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on west curb of Washington St between Ridgeway Dr to N Riverside Dr from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on east curb of N Riverside Dr between Washington St and River Rd from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on west curb of N Riverside Dr between house 4232 and house 4250 (inclusive) from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• No Parking on west curb of N Riverside Dr between N Riverside Ct and house 4390 from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• River Rd will be closed to southbound traffic between N Riverside Dr and Cunningham Dr from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22. Northbound traffic will be sent north on River Rd at Cunningham Dr.
• No Parking on north curb of Peregrine Dr between Northern Goshawk Dr and People Trail from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Cunningham Dr will be closed to traffic from Central Ave to River Rd from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Arnold Dr will be closed to traffic from Cunningham Dr to Kelly St from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22.
• Traffic control on Poshard Dr at Wade St from 9:00 am until 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to cross.
• Traffic control on Poshard Dr at Chapa Dr/Ray Boll Blvd from 9:00 am until 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to cross.
• Traffic control on Arnold St at Andrews St from 9:00 am until 2:30 pm Saturday 9/22 to allow runners to turn toward airport gate.

There are a couple of events this week aimed at helping and honoring our nation’s veterans, MIA and POWs. A special event Thursday is aimed at helping local veterans. Bob Miller is event coordinator for the Fourth Annual Veteran Stand Down event.

Miller says the purpose of this event is to help veterans find services they may need, but not be aware of.

These events evolved from a concept that was created during the Vietnam War. Thursday’s event will include informational booths, blood pressure tests and haircuts for veterans who need them.

Miller says that there is an event Friday evening in Columbus to remember and honor our nation’s MIA and POWs.

Miller says that the whereabouts of more than 82-thousand American soldiers are unknown. Friday night’s event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans. The ceremony is expected to last 30 to 45 minutes and you are invited.

The Southern Indiana Center for the Arts will host a “Souper Supper” Fall Festival at Chateau de Pique in Seymour next month. Organizers say the fundraiser will be October 27 at 5 p.m. in the event tent at 6361 N. Co. Rd. 760E. in Seymour.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. The first 100 ticket buyers will be guaranteed a handmade bowl, created, glazed and fired in the Don Hill Pottery Barn at SICA. Guests can enjoy a variety of soups, courtesy of the Pines, with all of the fixings and desserts. Chateau de Pique’s wines and beers will be available for purchase.

Entertainment will be provided by the Actor’s Community Theater of Seymour and Don Hill, portraying James Whitcomb Riley. A variety of raffles will be held during the evening and include Indiana Pacers tickets, Indiana University men’s basketball tickets and John Mellencamp autographed items, among others. Raffle tickets are $50 each and all proceeds from sales will benefit the operation of the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts.

For tickets, call (812) 522-2278.

Ivy Tech Community College and Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg. Inc. will unveil the new Toyota Industrial Equipment Welding Laboratory at Ivy Tech Columbus with a special ceremony next week.

Ivy Tech officials say the lab is part of a significant $367,800 gift TIEM has donated to the college. Of the gift, Ivy Tech used $250,000 to renovate, expand and upgrade its welding lab, nearly tripling its size and giving students access to advanced equipment that aligns with industry standards. TIEM also provided 19 engines valued at $117,800 that will be distributed to the Ivy Tech campuses throughout the state.

The unveiling ceremony will be at the new welding lab at the Ivy Tech Columbus Agriculture Industrial Technology Center building, located at 2565 Grissom Street. The ceremony is set for Tuesday, September 25 at 10:30 a.m.

A Hope area man was seriously injured in a crash this morning on 25th Street, east of Columbus.

A Bartholomew County deputy noticed the crashed vehicle in the 8300 block of East 25th Street at about 2:08 a.m. this morning. A car had run off the road, hitting multiple mailboxes and snapping off a utility pole before stopping in the front yard of a home.

The driver, 24 year old Jordan Shehan of Hope, was flown by Lifeline helicopter to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. His condition is not yet known.

Agencies assisting at the scene included the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Hospital paramedics,  Columbus Township Fire and Rescue Department and Clay Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Brown County authorities are looking for three runaway teens. The sheriff’s department posted on social media that they are searching for  a 15-year-old boy Briar Sweeny, a 14 year-old boy David Brandenburg, and a 15 year-old girl Hailey Haywood.

All three were last seen leaving the Speedway gas station on South Van Buren Street in Nashville at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses told deputies that the three juveniles left in a black SUV or passenger car, possibly a Ford, with a broken rear window.

Sweeny is about 5 and a half feet tall, 123 lbs, and has blonde hair and blue eyes. Brandenburg is about 6 feet tall, 170 lbs, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Haywood stands about 5 8, 110 pounds with blond hair and brown eyes.

If you have any information on their whereabouts you can contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 812-988-6655 or the Nashville Police Department at 812-988-0341.

Caldwell Place in Columbus was closed down for several hours yesterday, after a backhoe hit a gas line.

Columbus firefighters report that they were called to the scene at about 10:13 a.m. yesterday after a crew from American Utilities breached the two inch gas line while working in the 2400 block of the street. Vectren arrived to repair the line and the street was reopened a few hours later.

Capt. Mike Wilson with the Columbus Fire Department said local homes and businesses were alerted to the leak, but no one had to be evacuated and no one was injured. Vectren told the fire department that the gas line had been marked before work began in the area.

The Columbus Food Co-Op is giving up on plans for a community-owned grocery store. The co-op’s board of directors met Monday to decide between two choices: opening a smaller store, or declaring bankruptcy. The board voted 5-4 to end the project.

According to a report released to members and investors, the cost to open a store on Central Avenue would have been about $585,000. But the co-op, after several years of fundraising and membership drives, has about $220,000 in cash on hand including pledges.

The board members will be discussing next steps with an attorney, including how to divvy up the remaining funds between member-owners and investors.

For the entire report, go to the co-op website here.

Jennings County Council members are still considering between building a brand new jail or upgrading the existing facility. That was their message during a public hearing Tuesday night in Vernon.

According to engineering estimates, the cost to update and expand the current facilities is $22 million. Construction costs for a new jail are estimated at $28 million. Both options will have additional costs of several million dollars. As for the new jail option, a site still would need to be selected.

County leaders would also have to figure out how to pay for a new jail. There are three options, all of them include the institution of a new public safety tax and less money for cities and towns.

Brian Hatfield, North Vernon City Council president, told the County Council that the city wants to partner and to help find a solution to the jail issue. He also urged County Council members to avoid taking any action that would hit local finances. Hatfield says that North Vernon is counting on that money to help pay for new firefighters, a new pool complex and more.

County taxpayers in attendance were split. Those in favor of a new jail spoke about the need to spend wisely now to avoid future, and more expensive, problems. Those against the proposal spoke about the need for more fiscal responsibility and less burdens on the taxpayer. Others argued that the county should do more to be proactive in addressing the root of crime locally — drugs.

Sheriff Gary Driver estimates that 50 percent of his jail population is there due to drug-related crime. However, he says that other inmates are in for crimes like theft and burglary and that many of those crimes may have had a drug component as well.

The County Council took no action, but invited residents to address the issue further at their next meeting on Oct. 2.