Updated: 4:45 p.m.

Bartholomew County officials have upgraded the county’s travel status to a Warning or Red level, which restricts travel to emergency travel only. The Bartholomew County commissioners have signed a Disaster Emergency Declaration that is in effect until noon on Tuesday.

During a travel warning level you are directed to refrain from all travel; to comply with necessary emergency measures; to cooperate with public officials and disaster services forces in executing emergency operations plans; and to obey and to comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.

Earlier:

Bartholomew County Emergency Management is announcing that the county’s travel status has been upgraded to a watch, or orange, level.

A travel watch means means that conditions are threatening to the safety of the public. During a “watch” local travel advisory, only essential travel, such as to and from work or in emergency situations, is recommended, and emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools, government agencies, and other organizations.

You should use caution when you are driving this afternoon.

The city of Columbus is announcing that due to the winter storm affecting the area today and tomorrow, all Columbus City buildings and non-emergency services, including transportation services, will be closed on Tuesday, February 16th. City emergency services will continue to operate.

The weekly Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, normally held on Tuesday mornings, is rescheduled to 10 a.m. in the morning on Thursday, February 18th. However, the regularly scheduled City Council meeting WILL be held on at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. You can view the meeting online, and find a link on the city website at columbus.in.gov.

City officials will also continue to update the city website with any further weather-related information.

Bartholomew County government offices will also be closed tomorrow due to the weather conditions.

Photo: INDOT snow plow in Columbus. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Emergency Management

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a winter storm warning for our area, with the possibility of 6 to 10 more inches of snow.

That warning lasts until 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The heaviest snow is expected to start falling from 4 p.m. this afternoon through the night. Snowfall rates in excess of an inch an hour at times are possible with locally heavier periods. Blowing snow will lead to higher drifts.

Winds will be 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. That will cause wind chill values as low as -2.

The hazardous conditions are expected to make this evening’s commute difficult.

The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross is offering safety tips if you must go outside in this weather.

Any trips should be as brief as possible. You should wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat.

You should cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air. Avoid taking deep breaths and minimize talking.

With wind chill values below zero expected you should watch for hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia symptoms include confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Frostbite symptoms include numbness, skin that looks flushed gray, white, blue or yellow or waxy feeling skin.

The Indiana Department of Transportation Southeast District plow drivers began working last night monitoring and treating state roads. Shift changes will take place at midnight and noon until roadways improve. The Columbus sub district has called out all 29 of its trucks.

The Columbus Transit Department is announcing that the ColumBUS system will shut down at 1 p.m. this afternoon and the last full run will be at noon. On Tuesday, there will be no bus service in Columbus. City officials will make decisions about the schedule later in the week based on weather at that time.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is kicking off a series of eight online seminars meant to help businesses find the employees they need.

Cindy Frey president of the local Chamber of Commerce explains the creation of the Talent Talks series:

Frey says that local businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector, are having a hard time finding good employees to hire.

The first session of the Talent Talks seminars starts at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning and is focused on tapping into local college talent. Future sessions include hiring those with disabilities and veterans.

You can get more information and sign up at columbusareachamber.com.

The 2021 Brown Music Competition was held virtually over the weekend and scholarship winners were chosen for the Betty F. Brown and Anna Newell Brown awards.

According to Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County: Columbus North High School senior Minjung Kim won the Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence for her violin performance. Columbus East High School senior Reagan Lykins won the Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence.

Four high school seniors competed in the instrumental contest on Saturday, and three participated in the vocal contest in this year’s competition. The performances were livestreamed to judges.

Both students will receive a $3,500 scholarship.

The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross is offering safety tips if you have to be out driving in this severe weather.

They say to make sure you let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If you don’t make it to your destination, help can look for you along your route.

If you do get stranded, stay in the vehicle and wait for help. Don’t leave the vehicle unless you can see help within 100 yards. You can quickly become disoriented and confused in blowing snow.

You should display a sign to indicate you need help such as hanging a brightly colored, preferably red, cloth on the antenna and raise your hood after snow stops falling.

You can run the engine occasionally to keep warm. Turn on the engine for about 10 minutes each hour (or five minutes every half hour). Running the engine for only short periods will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and conserve fuel.

Updated: 7 p.m. Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a winter storm warning for our area, with the possibility of 8 to 11 inches of snow.

That warning starts at 7 p.m. Sunday night and lasts through 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Locally, the affected area includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson and Shelby counties as well as the cities of Brownstown, Columbus, Greensburg, Greenwood, Franklin, Seymour, Shelbyville and North Vernon.

Heavy snow is anticipated and travel will be very difficult. Snowfall tonight is expected to amount to around 2 inches with the heaviest snow falling from 4 Monday afternoon through the night. Snowfall rates in excess of an inch an hour at times are possible with locally heavier periods. Blowing snow will lead to higher drifts of snow.

The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening commute. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The Indiana Department of Transportation Southeast District has issued a full call-out of plow trucks ahead of  the storm.

Plow drivers will begin reporting between 6 and 11 p.m. Sunday evening to start monitoring and treating state roads. Shift changes will take place at midnight and noon until roadways improve.

Truck totals for the southeastern district:

• Bloomington Sub District: 28 trucks (full call-out)
• Columbus Sub District: 29 trucks (full call-out)
• Madison Sub District: 30 trucks (full call-out)
• Aurora Sub District: 28 trucks (full call-out)
• Falls City Sub District: 24 trucks (full call-out)

The Columbus Transit Department is announcing  that the ColumBUS system will shut down at 1 p.m. Monday and the last full run will be at noon. On Tuesday, February 16, there will be no bus service. The city will make decisions about the schedule later in the week based on weather projections at that time. City officials say safety for riders and staff is their priority.

A Columbus woman is being accused of driving under the influence after both vehicles fled a crash scene Friday morning.

Columbus police report that Bartholomew County deputies stopped a damaged vehicle on 10th Street at about 1:45 a.m. Friday morning after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of National Road and 10th. Authorities determined that a passenger, 23-year-old Brittney A. Spears of Columbus, was actually driving at the time of the crash.

Spears failed sobriety tests and was arrested on preliminary charges of false informing, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is ordering flags at state facilities be flown at half-staff in remembrance of former Indiana first lady Susan Bayh and is asking businesses and residents to do the same.

Bayh died last Friday at the age of 61. She was an attorney and the wife of former Governor Evan Bayh. She had been battling brain cancer since 2015.

The family will be holding memorial services at a later date when health conditions allow, so Holcomb is ordering the flags remain at half-staff until sunset on Thursday.

A man seen littering is under arrest after trying to flee from police in downtown Columbus early Friday morning.

According to Columbus police, officers on a foot patrol saw a man littering in the 1500 block of Chestnut Street at about 1 a.m. Friday morning. But after stopping him and asking for his ID, police say the man ran away.

Officers followed his foot prints in the snow an found him hiding behind a shed in the 1400 block of Sycamore Street. 37-year-old Clifford D. Roberts, of Columbus was arrested on a new charge of resisting law enforcement and for outstanding warrants in Bartholomew and Jennings counties.

Two Columbus police officers have been commended for their actions helping an elderly woman in need.

Police Chief Michael Richardson said that officers Chris Strickland and Adam Wisenbaugh checked on the welfare of the woman on January 28th and found that she did not have food, water or electricity in her home. Strickland purchased food for the woman using his own money, Richardson said, while Wisenbaugh worked with a local charity to get the woman a temporary hotel room.

Richardson said that police have many roles and sometimes that involves being a caretaker for the less fortunate. He praised the officers for taking the extra steps to make sure the resident was cared for.

Both officers have both been with the department for about six years.