Ivy Tech Community College Columbus is getting a new main campus building. School officials made the announcement yesterday on the Central Avenue campus.

Funding for the new $30 million building is included in the recently approved state budget.The new building will replace the current Poling Hall with a modern facility.

Columbus Chancellor Steven Combs said on social media that the tentative timeline is to break ground in fall 2021 and move-in during spring 2023.

Sheriff Matt Myers will be holding a community meeting in northwestern Bartholomew County at 6 p.m. the evening of May 23rd at the German Township Volunteer Fire Department station.

The sheriff says you do not need to live in German Township to attend. Any residents of Bartholomew County are encouraged to bring questions, comments or suggestions to discuss with the sheriff or members of the department’s leadership team.

A Hartsville man was arrested Sunday, accused of threatening deputies after a traffic accident.

Bartholomew County deputies were at the scene of a crash at about 10 p.m. Sunday night in the 19000 block of East County Road 500N. A passenger had been injured and the driver, 33-year-old Michael Henson of Hartsville showed signs that he was impaired, according to police reports. Deputies say that Henson made threats to harm the officers at the scene.

He was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to have his blood tested and then to the Bartholomew County Jail. But on the trip to the jail, he allegedly continued to threaten and resist deputies.

He is facing charges of operating a vehicle while Intoxicated with a prior conviction, intimidation and resisting law enforcement.

The injured passenger suffered a dislocated elbow in the crash.

Columbus Republican voters will be choosing candidates in three City Council races in the May 7th primary election – District 1, District 3 and the at-large races.

We asked the candidates for their thoughts on the city’s riverfront development plan and the riverfront as a whole.

In District 1, incumbent Dascal Bunch is running against Chris Rutan.

In District 3, incumbent Dave Bush is running against Russell Poling.

In the At-Large race, incumbent Laurie Booher is facing a challenge from John D. Counceller and Josh Burnett.

About the candidates:

Dascal Bunch, 64, is currently in his second term representing District 1 on the Columbus City Council. He also works part-time. Bunch has two adult children, six grandchildren and a seventh on the way. He attended Ball State University. Bunch is involved with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, specifically the church’s “Angels of Love” program.

Chris Rutan, 41, is a local property manager. He has previously run for city council, district 1, Columbus Township Trustee and the Columbus Township Advisory Board. Rutan is heavily involved with the Salvation Army.

David Bush, 34, currently serves District 3 on the Columbus City Council. He was selected by local Republican Party leaders to complete the term of former Councilman Frank Jerome, who moved out of the district. Bush is also a small business owner. He and his wife Katy are raising three children. Bush is a graduate of Columbus East and Purdue. He is involved with Turning Point and is a member of the operations board for St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Russell Poling, 56, is a quality manager at Cummins and a 20-year veteran of the Air Force. He and his wife Judy have two adult children and one grandchild. Poling has a degree in computer science from the the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is a mentor with the Bartholomew County Veterans Treatment Court and serves on the Bartholomew County Plan Commission and as vice president of the Columbus City Plan Commission. Poling previously ran for this council seat in 2015.

Laurie Booher is currently serving on the Columbus City Council At-Large. She is a small business owner that employs youths and adults with special needs. Booher has three adult children and a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis. Booher served as a member of the Columbus Service League, as well as on the boards of Turning Point and Riley Hospital Foundation.

John D. Counceller,72, is a local business owner. He and his wife have a blended family of seven adult children. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Trine University. Counceller ran unsuccessfully last year to represent Indiana House District 59.

Josh Burnett, 31, is a small business owner. He and his wife Katie are raising there young children. Burnett is a graduate of Columbus East and Cincinnati Christian University. His is a member of Columbus Young Professionals, the local Rotary Club and the board of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation. This is his first run at elected office.

There are no contested primaries on the Democratic side.