Two area organizations were among the six recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence for extraordinary initiatives in protecting the environment.

“I am pleased to award this year’s Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence,” said Bruno Pigott, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “These Awards recognize Indiana’s leaders who have implemented the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects.”

Cummins, Inc. was recognized for Energy Efficiency/Renewable Resources. The Columbus-based company entered into a virtual power purchase agreement in August 2017 with EDP Renewables North America to expand a wind farm in northern Indiana, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Jennings County Pollinator Committee in North Vernon was recognized for Land Use/Conservation. The “Share Some Space” initiative is about protecting and increasing local pollinator populations in Jennings County. Since the start of the project in 2015, 800 total habitats have been created throughout the county. In addition, a total of 2,500 acres of new pollinator habitat has been created and 7,700 new native flowering plants have been planted.

Commissioner Pigott and Rebecca Holwerda, Senior Operations Director for Governor Eric Holcomb, presented the awards during the 22nd annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Tradeshow held at the Marriott North in Indianapolis.

The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence is an annual program to recognize Indiana’s leaders who have identified and implemented innovative environmental practices into their programs and facilities.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers, who serves on the National Homeland Security Committee and Drug Enforcement Committee for the National Sheriff’s Association, is back home after attending the Southwest Border Sheriffs’ Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Myers was joined by five other Indiana Sheriffs and the Director of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association.

The Sheriffs were briefed by the Chief of the United States Border Patrol about the apprehension numbers, the conflicting reports of children being separated from their families. In addition, fraudulent families were explained, along with how children are being exploited by cartels.

Sheriff Myers and the others were then given a 10-hour inspection tour of the border, stretching for more than 40 miles. In addition to human trafficking, there is a large amount of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl being smuggled into the USA on a daily basis. Sheriff Myers says, “The border issues between Mexico and the United States is definitely a National Security issue for the United States and should NOT be a political issue.” “Drugs coming into our country is a national problem – it affects all Americans, not just those living in bordering cities and counties. This is a problem that reaches across America and even into Columbus, Indiana.”

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers has been appointed to the National Sheriff’s Association Drug Enforcement Committee. This appointment comes after Myers’ appointment to the NSA Homeland Security Committee, earlier this year.

“Since 2015, our agency’s greatest focus and number one priority has been/is drug eradication – particularly targeting people who provide illegal narcotics to Bartholomew County residents”, said Sheriff Myers.

“I am honored to serve on two National Committees,” said Myers. “My goal remains to focus on keeping drugs out of Bartholomew County and and to continue working with other law enforcement agencies. Both of these appointments give me a better opportunity to do so.”

Daviess County, KY Sheriff Keith Cain, chairman of the NSA Drug Enforcement Committee, said: “Sheriff Meyer’s knowledge and experience will provide our Committee invaluable input as we continue to combat the challenges of substance abuse in our respective Counties.” “I’m pleased he has accepted our invitation to serve in this capacity.

Saturday is the 32nd annual Hope Ride and you will see more more than 1,000 bicyclists converging on northeastern Bartholomew County and heading into surrounding counties.

Organizer Paul Ashbrook explains the event:

There are six different routes available ranging from 13 to 100 miles. Proceeds from Hope Ride benefit the Hauser Dollars for Scholar program, Boy Scouts, church youth groups and local food banks.

There will be several new features this year, Ashbrook says, including the addition of two covered bridges near Moscow, and a street party at a rest stop in St. Paul.

Riders will also see that the traditional breakfast and lunch has been condensed to a single brunch meal on the Hope Town Square.

Ashbrook urged motorists in the area to take care, to be patient and to enjoy the spectacle of the bicycling event.

Online registration is until noon today at hoperide.org. You can register at Hauser High School tomorrow morning from 7:30 to 9 a.m..

The Bartholomew County Radio Flyers are holding a special event this weekend.

John Vinson is an organizer for the Joe Grube Memorial Warbird Fly-In, taking place at the reclaimed Petersville landfill, located about 3.5 miles east of Columbus on 25th Street. Vinson spoke recently with John Foster on AM Columbus.

Vinson says this is the 10th annual edition of this event. It takes place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is free to attend and concessions will be available.

You can hear more of John Foster’s interview with John Vinson on our website at 1010wcsi.com. You can click on Programs and then AM Columbus.

For more on the Bartholomew County Radio Flyers, visit bcrcfliers.org.

An investigation by Indiana State Police Detectives into the falsification of a handgun purchase application led to four Bartholomew County residents being arrested on numerous charges.

Detectives began the investigation in July when the Indiana State Police was notified that 59-year-old Frank L. Hiatt, of Columbus, had allegedly falsified a handgun purchase application while attempting to buy a handgun from a business in Greensburg. The investigation determined that Hiatt attempted to buy a handgun from the store on June 28th. While completing the required paperwork to purchase the handgun, authorities say that Hiatt indicated he was not currently under any indictment for felony charges and was not an unlawful user of marijuana or any other controlled substance. Hiatt’s handgun purchase application was denied at the time and he was not able to purchase the gun.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Hiatt had pending charges in Bartholomew County from March 11 of this year after he was arrested by the Indiana State Police-All Crimes Policing Team on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

As a result of the investigation, a warrant was issued for Hiatt. On September 10th, troopers from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post along with deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department went to Hiatt’s home in the 16000 block of East County Road 265 North. While at the residence, troopers reported finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Hiatt, along with three other men at the home, were arrested on drug-related charges.

– Hiatt was arrested on the original warrant. He was additionally arrested on charges of Obstruction of Justice, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

– Charles Hiatt, age 62, of Columbus, is facing charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Visiting a Common Nuisance and Possession of Paraphernalia.

– Rodney Hiatt, age 52, Columbus, was arrested on a charge of Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

– Johnny Watson, age 53, Hope, was arrested on a charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance.

A Columbus man was arrested after a foot-chase Wednesday evening.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at about 6:12 p.m., Deputy Dylan Prather was traveling south on Pearl Street when saw a local man that he knew had an outstanding arrest warrant. After making contact with the subject in the 800 block of Pearl Street, the man 47-year-old Shawn Mace, of Pearl Street, allegedly took off running.

Following a pursuit and a short altercation, Mace was taken into custody on preliminary charges of:

Resisting Law Enforcement
Possession of Methamphetamine
Outstanding Warrant

Mace remains in BCJ in lieu of $122,500 bond.

Prather is a member of the Intelligence Led Policing Unit which is a collaboration among the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. The ILP Unit focuses on high profile offenders who are involved in drug related crimes and property crimes throughout Bartholomew County.

The Columbus Park Foundation will cease operation of the ColumBike program.

Chip Orben, Columbus Park Foundation President, announced Thursday that the foundation will cease operation of the program on November 1st. “We tried several different business models to sustain the program and while we had many very loyal riders, it never reached enough rides and sponsors to allow it to be sustainable,” added Orben.

Foundation officials say that residents may continue to use ColumBike, for free, through October 31st.

A Columbus woman is being accused of driving under the influence after crashing into the side of a National Road restaurant.

Columbus police report that a vehicle drove into the side of the National Road Dairy Queen at about 10:25 a.m. yesterday morning. The driver, 37 year old Jessi E. Baldwin told officers that she swerved to avoid a vehicle driving at her. But officers noticed that she seemed to be impaired.

After a blood test at Columbus Regional Hospital, a search of her purse revealed marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on preliminary charges of driving while under the influence and possession of the drug items.

A Hope business is planning a nearly three quarters of a million dollar expansion.

Stephanie Long of Indiana Custom Fabrication and Long Family Enterprises brought a request for a tax break on a new building on Raymond Street to the Hope Town Council this week. She said that the company plans to build across Raymond Street from its current facility.

She said the company has seen enormous growth in its business since it started three years ago. The company primarily fabricates racks for the automotive industry, she said.

The new building will allow the company to expand to between 30 and 50 employees. The company is paying an average wage of $18.76

Long said the new building will cost about $500,000 and a new laser cutting system and other equipment will require about $200,000 in investment. The company will return seeking the equipment tax abatement after the building is finished, Long said.

The council asked its attorney Scott Andrews to review the proposed ordinance and plans to set a special meeting next week to consider the company’s request for a tax abatement on the building construction.