A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to improve a local skate park. The campaign is sponsored by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and offered through the crowdfunding platform developed by Patronicity. The campaign is led by Columbus Parks and Recreation.

“With unique amenities and rich architectural history, it is only fitting to have a world-renowned architect designing their first U.S. skate park in Columbus,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. “Not only will this be a place for people to practice skateboarding, but it provides an excellent location for outdoor concerts and events.”

If the campaign reaches its $50,000 goal by February 28th, the “Crider 2.0” project will receive a matching grant of $50,000 from IHCDA’s CreatINg Places program.

This campaign will enhance the Jolie Crider Memorial Skate Park located at Clifty Park. The architectural design will come from Finnish designer, Janne Saario, his first and only design in the United States. The space will be used by skateboards, longboards, roller derby, in-line skating, bmx and scooters. Crider 2.0 has a vision to be a place for individuals to hangout, have outdoor concerts and events, and practice their sport.

“We are excited about the possibilities,” said Stacy Findley, Project and Resource Development Director for Columbus Parks and Recreation. “There’s nothing like the Jolie Crider Memorial Skate Park. This is an unique opportunity with a world-renowned designer to renovate the park and keep it safe for generations to come.”

If you would like to donate to the cause, click here: bit.ly/2Co0itA.

If you receive food stamps, you’ll be getting February’s benefits even earlier than anticipated.

Officials with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration say they’ve been informed by the USDA that the state must issue Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the month of February this Wednesday, January 16th rather than the previously reported date of Saturday, January 19.

In Indiana, SNAP benefits are usually issued to recipients according to an alphabetical schedule over a 19 day period throughout the month. This one-time early benefit distribution was identified by USDA officials as a mechanism provide SNAP benefits during the partial federal government shutdown.

No SNAP benefits will be issued in the month of February, so recipients are strongly encouraged to budget their SNAP benefits to ensure the amount received provides for their food needs through all of February. January benefits are being distributed according to the normal schedule. The FSSA will continue to accept and process applications for benefits for January issuance through January 31st.

We’ve made it through the first major snowfall of the year. The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency says another storm may hit our area this weekend.

Officials say a Winter storm may push out of the southern plains on Friday night and push across Kentucky on Saturday. This may result in another significant accumulating snow for Central Indiana on Saturday.

Forecasters say it is still too early to determine how much snow we may be in store for. However, current forecast models suggest enough snow may fall to make it difficult to travel.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts will be giving the public an update on the school district’s concerns and priorities for this year’s legislative session.

The school district’s legislative discussion will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25th at the Columbus Learning Center. Coffee and pastries will be served starting at 8:30 a.m.

Roberts says that some of the hot topics will be tuition funding and how kindergarten students will be counted for school funding purposes.

Pre-kindergarten funding would become simpler and more widely available, under BCSC’s preferences, as would English Language Learning opportunities.

Safety items have been a priority for the school district, as well as teacher recruitment and retention efforts.

Roberts said that the public will have monthly chances to talk directly to legislators, when the Third House sessions kick off again later this month.

Third House sessions are organized by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and they will be held monthly this session, instead of weekly. The first Third House session will be at 7:30 a.m., Jan. 28th at Columbus City Hall.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop is outlining this year’s priorities when it comes to public safety in the community.

One of the milestones this year should be the completion of the training facility at the airport.

The mayor says that the facility will also allow other area agencies to come to Columbus to train. Those agencies will be paying to use the facilities, which will help offset the city’s cost to operate the facility, Lienhoop said.

The city will continue to address mold and safety problems at local fire stations this year. Lienhoop says that the city has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars repairing fire stations since he took office.

Lienhoop says that continuing efforts to clean up the city will be one of the public safety priorities this year.

The mayor said that property owners are more likely to voluntarily comply with the city’s cleanup efforts now that the track record is already laid for forcing cleanups.

A Columbus man was arrested Friday on drug possession charges, after drawing attention by swapping price tags in a store.

Columbus police say that they were called to the east side Walmart at about 7 p.m. Friday evening after store security reported the suspicious activity. Officers found that the man, 37 year old Matthew G. Ratliff had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. As he was taken into custody, a search revealed he was carrying methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and three other types of controlled substances.

He was arrested on drug possession charges and for the outstanding warrant.

A pair of North Vernon brothers are under arrest after the theft of a vehicle early Saturday morning.

A woman called in North Vernon police after her vehicle was allegedly stolen by her boyfriend, 27-year- old Dustin Gifford of Butlerville while she was shopping at a convenience store at U.S. 50 and State Road 7 at about 4:20 a.m. on Saturday.

Gifford also allegedly threatened to kill the victim earlier in the evening.

Police found the vehicle driving on U.S. 50 and attempted to stop it but the driver took off and shook police briefly before eventually stopping at a home in the 3000 block of County Road 550E. Police followed tracks at the rear of the home into a field and eventually caught 35-year-old Denver Gifford who was wanted on a warrant. That brother was also allegedly carrying methamphetamine in a cooler.

Dustin Gifford was was found laying in the field and was arrested on an outstanding warrant along with charges of auto theft, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, intimidation, criminal confinement and theft.

Denver Gifford is facing a new charge of possession of methamphetamine, in addition to outstanding warrants for possession of syringes.

The vehicle was returned to the victim.

Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jennings and Johnson counties are now under a travel advisory. That is the lowest level of local advisory, means that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.

If you need to submit a closing or delay today, email news@1010wcsi.com

You can check our our complete list of closings and delays here.

The Seymour City Council is slated to consider a new member when it meets Monday evening. At-Large Councilman Shawn Malone announced his resignation last month due to moving out of city limits.

City residents were given an opportunity to apply for the position. Those being considered are:

Gregory Vernon Prange;
Jeremiah Tracey;
Seth L. Davidson;
Darrin R. Boas;
Dovie Stidham;
John S. Burkhart;
Richard Meadors;
Nathaniel D. Bryant;
Steven Buffington;
Lisa Bryant Hoene;
Drew Storey;
Marcus L. Sewell;
Melinda Clay;
Paul Collins;
Lorne L. Coffey;

Seymour City Council meets Monday at 5 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall. You are invited.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal will be presenting Awards of Valor to two Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies. Deputy Andrew Dougan and Deputy Robert Cooper saved the life of a man by pulling him from his burning home on Nov. 6th.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department will also present a Certificates of Valor to Johnny R. Smith. He saved a woman’s life on Christmas Day by pulling a woman from her burning vehicle.

These ceremonies will be held Feb. 7th at 12:30 p.m. during the Merit Board meeting at the department’s office on Jackson Street.