Former Jennings County Sheriff and North Vernon Mayor Harold ‘Soup” Campbell passed away Monday evening in Indianapolis. He was 72. Campbell served as sheriff from 1974 to 1978 and two terms as mayor, ending in January 2016.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral and Cremation Services, located at 115 South State Street in North Vernon. Rev. Ricky Persons will officiate. Burial will be in Vernon Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral Home. A Masonic service will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home on Friday evening.

Mayor Campbell’s full obituary is available here: sawyerfuneralservice.com/notices/Harold-Campbell.

A reminder that the Canadian Forces Snowbirds flight demonstration team will be headlining the “Birds and Brews” event on Wednesday, Sept. 18th at Columbus Municipal Airport. City officials say that Columbus is one of 11 cities in the United States that will be hosting the Snowbirds this year.

The Snowbirds are based out of 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and are comprised of just over 80 Canadian Armed Forces members, 24 who will travel to 40 locations across Canada and the United States for the 2019 season.

Birds and Brews is a free community event held at the airport to celebrate aviation in the community. Activities begin at 4 p.m. and include children’s activities, a Beergarden, a U.S. military flight demonstration, C-130 parachute jump and hot air balloon glow. You are invited

For more information, visit columbus.in.gov/airport/programs-events/birds-and-brews/.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver who died Saturday in a fiery crash on I-65, south of State Road 46 in Columbus.

Coroner Clayton Nolting announced Monday evening that dental records were used to identify 25-year-old Kayze Danielle Gilstrap, of Bedford. Gilstrap was was reportedly backing up in the left lane of northbound I-65 prior when an SUV crashed into the rear of her car. Authorities say it appeared Gilstrap may have been trying to reach a crossover between the north and southbound lanes.

The driver of the SUV, 31-year-old Vanessa Rosborough, of Indianapolis was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Rosborough’s passenger, 28-year-old Emily McNiff, of Fishers, was flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.

The crash is being investigated by the Columbus Police Department.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission has given approval to pay for the increased cost estimates for the downtown overpass project.

Those cost estimates have jumped more than $5 million dollars. The city is responsible for half of the cost of the project. Dave Hayward, city engineer, spoke during Monday’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission about the project.

This means that an estimated $2.6 million dollars in additional funds will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project.

Hayward notes that work has gone fairly smooth thus far.

In addition to utility work, Hayward says state officials also did some archeology work.

Hayward adds that he doesn’t yet know if anything was found.

Hayward says bids on the project are due next month.

INDOT says that an estimated $2.6 million dollars in additional funds will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project. The city’s final payment to INDOT, expected to be around $4.6 million, is due December 1st.

The Redevelopment Commission approved making the payment out of funds from the Central Tax Increment Financing area. However this expenditure exceeds the commission’s spending authority, so the City Council would also need to sign off on the proposal.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop has announced the formation of the City of Columbus Bicentennial Commission. The team is charged with organizing the commemoration of the City’s bicentennial in 2021 in ways that best fit and honor past residents, current residents, businesses, guests and all who have been impacted by the city.

Honorary Bicentennial Chairs are Jim Henderson, Pam Lienhoop, and Sherry Stark. The Executive Committee will be chaired by Mayor Lienhoop. Appointments to this committee include:

• Dr. Jim Roberts – Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation
• Carl Lienhoop – Bartholomew County Commissioner
• Tyshaun Allen – CAMEO
• Cindy Frey – Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jim Bickel – Columbus Regional Health
• John Burnett – Community Education Coalition
• Cummins Inc. Representative
• Celeste Yonushonis – The Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County
• Claudia Sanchez-Davila – City of Columbus Human Rights Commission
• Ryan Hou – LHP
• Karen Niverson – Columbus Area Visitors Center

Diane Doup and Tobi Herron have been selected to co-chair the Bicentennial Steering Committee and will be planning the programming of events, fundraising, special projects, and historical data collection. Officials say that multiple sub-committees will be set up to help with various areas and will have opportunities for residents, schools, churches and other organizations to get involved.

You can more information online at columbus.in.gov/bicentennial/.

Thrive Alliance is partnering with the National Council on Aging and the Falls Free Initiative to celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness Day on Monday, Sept. 23rd. on the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza, beginning at 10 a.m.

Falls are a leading cause of injury for people aged 65 and older, but there are ways to prevent them. Thrive Alliance’s community event is designed to empower older adults to stay active, independent, and safe in their homes and communities. Activities include a free balance and strength exercise class, information booths, health screenings and education sessions. Participants include Zen Fitness, Family Chiropractic and Wellness, Mill Race Center, Just Friends, Thrive Alliance and Help At Home.

“If fall prevention is not something that you’re thinking about now, I promise there is someone in your life who’s worried about it,” said Shelby Eggers, Healthcare Integrations and Community Education Manager for Thrive Alliance. “This kind of education can change a community, and that’s why we’re proud to support Falls Prevention Awareness Day as part of our year-round commitment to supporting older adults in Bartholomew County.”

“Fall prevention is a team effort that takes a balance of education, intervention, and community support,” said Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of NCOA’s National Falls Prevention Resource Center. “This is an opportunity to empower and educate everyone about their roles in preventing falls.”

To find out more about Falls Prevention Awareness Day, go to ncoa.org/FPAD.

The final City Jam of the season is this Thursday, Sept 19, in Seymour.

The Seymour Main Street organization says that entertainment will be provided by “The Breakfast Club.” They are described as “a high energy band playing all the best jams from the 80’s.”

Food will be available at 6 p.m. and the band will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. at the JCB pavilion downtown. There will be a giveaway of $50 gift cards for the best 80s outfit.

You can get more information at SeymourMainStreet.org.

Entries are being accepted for the 2019 National Wildlife Refuge Week Photo Contest at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. The subject of the contest is any subject taken on Muscatatuck property. There are divisions for students and adults.

Prints must be by non-commercial photographers and at least 5” x 7” in size and mounted on a stiff backing (no frames or wires) with no significant alterations. An official entry form should be secured to the back of the photo. Two entries are allowed per photographer and the entry deadline is October 10th.

Entries will be displayed in the Muscatatuck Visitor Center until Jan. 1st.

For a complete list of rules/entry form contact Muscatatuck@fws.gov or stop in at the office or Visitor Center.

The current State Road 7 closure at Turkey Run in Jennings County will move one mile north on or after Wednesday, September 18, weather permitting, as crews begin work on the third of four box culverts between the Jefferson/Jennings County line and Vernon.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says the road will close Wednesday about 11.5 miles north of State Road 250, just south of Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area, for a box culvert replacement. The road will reopen at the second culvert location, where crews have been working since August 26. The new closure is planned for approximately 30 days.

The official state detour for the closure is State Road 3 to State Road 256. Drivers should plan ahead and use caution in and near the work zone. The project is expected to be complete by Halloween. All work is weather dependent.

Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc. was awarded the project in August 2018. Crews will begin work at the fourth location, about six-miles north of Jefferson/Jennings County line, approximately one mile south of State Road 3 / State Road 7 split.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

A Columbus man was arrested after an incident early Monday morning.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies were called to the area of N 1050 E/Summit Street at about 4 a.m. in reference to shots fired. Witnesses reported seeing a man fire two shots in the direction of their home before fleeing the area.

Deputies located and arrested 20-year-old Bradley Green on a preliminary charge of Criminal Recklessness with a Firearm.

He has since been released.