Two local men were arrested Friday morning on felony drug charges after a traffic stop led to their arrest. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that shortly after midnight, a truck occupied by 30-year-old Isaiah A. Perry and 27-year-old Jacob A. Burch, of Columbus, was stopped for a minor violation near 14th Street and Cottage Avenue. While speaking with Perry and Burch, the officer noted that the pair were visibly nervous. A police K9 was requested and later alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle.

Harris says that a search of the truck resulted in the discovery of a syringe as well as drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. Both Perry and Burch were taken into custody and transported to the Bartholomew County Jail. Upon arriving at the jail, the officers and corrections staff reported finding additional drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine that Burch attempted to conceal in his underclothes.

Burch is facing preliminary charges of Obstruction of Justice, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Perry is facing preliminary charges of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Family Service, Inc celebrated its 50th anniversary Thursday at Simmons Winery. The not-for-profit group provides mental health care and other services for those in need on a sliding fee scale. Julie Miller, the agency’s executive director, says the program started as a mental health initiative.

08-24 Julie Miller-1

We asked Miller how the mission of Family Service, Inc. has changed over a half-century.

08-24 Julie Miller-2

Miller says the mission has since grown to include early childhood services and child abuse prevention efforts. Last year, more than 15,000 people were served by the agency.

Susan Kell, a former board member and director, talks about how the group has changed over the years…

08-24 SUSAN KELL-2

Dozens of people turned during Thursday’s event to celebrate. That included the reading of a proclamation by Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

For more on Family Service, Inc., visit familyservicebc.org.

The City of Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Department is inviting you to the Final Draft Presentation of the Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan. The presentation will take place on September 10th at the BCSC Administration Building. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. with an open house to follow until 8 p.m.

Development of the Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan began in early 2017. The plan focuses on the neighborhood surrounding the former Golden Casting Foundry, which for the purpose of this plan was designated as the Columbus Central Neighborhood. City officials say this area, once a significant industrial presence within the city, has experienced a significant transition over the past seven years as several former factories have been replaced with multi-family developments or re purposed as stores and restaurants. This continued change in neighborhood composition led to a number of questions about the future of the area, particularly related to whether the condition of streets and sidewalks could accommodate the new residents in the area, whether more residents could be supported in the neighborhood, and how potential conflicts between new residents and existing industrial uses could be minimized.

The presentation will summarize the final draft recommendations included in the plan. Following the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to further review the recommendations and provide final comments.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, announced Thursday that more than $10 million in federal grant funding is being awarded to 19 rural communities.

“Rural communities are the next great economic frontier for our state, and it is vital they are receiving support to keep Indiana moving forward,” Crouch said. “With these funds, local governments are able to complete various projects like improving their infrastructure, downtown revitalization and public facilities improvements.”

Area communities to receive grants include:

– The City of Greenwood: Public Facilities Program grant of $500,000 for renovation of a senior center, The Social of Greenwood. The project will renovate the roughly 6,500 square foot center to include updates to the wellness areas, multi-purpose program rooms, a food pantry and administrative spaces.

– Jackson County: Public Facilities Program grant of $225,000 for the rehabilitation of the Vallonia Community Center. The project will renovate the interior and upgrade the Joseph Jackson Hotel that was originally built in 1914.

– The City of Greensburg: Main Street Revitalization Program grant of $600,000 for downtown street improvements. This revitalization project will upgrade the southern half of Main Street between Broadway and Franklin streets and on the south side of the courthouse square.

The the 13th annual Johnson County Sheriff’s Charity Ride is Saturday. Sheriff Doug Cox says this police-escorted ride will leave the Franklin Walmart at 10:30 am. He adds that in years past, there have been upwards of 200 to 250 motorcycles involved. This may cause a brief inconvenience for other motorists. Stops include Skillman Ford in Martinsville, Fletcher Chrysler in Franklin, Mann’s Harley Davidson in Edinburgh and The Nest (formerly Johnathan Byrds) in Greenwood.

Registration is Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $40 for single rider or $60 for a rider and passenger.

Officials say the schedule is as follows:

– Leaving Franklin Walmart at 10:30 and going to Skillman Ford in Martinsville (23.2 miles)
– Leaving Skillman’s around 11:35 a.m. and going to Fletcher Chrysler in Franklin for lunch (31.8 miles)
– Leaving Fletcher’s at or around 1:30 p.m. and going to Mann’s Harley Davidson in Edinburgh/Taylorsville (21.5 miles)
– Leaving Mann’s around 2:35 p.m. and going to The Nest in Greenwood (30.9 miles)

Sheriff Cox says that riders will be having dinner at the Nest and this is where we will hand out door prizes and finish up the day.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, along with VIPs from Ivy Tech and the Indiana National Guard, cut a network cable Wednesday afternoon to officially open the Muscatatuck Cyber Academy near Butlerville. The academy fully immerses students in an accelerated associate degree program in which students complete a two-year degree in 11 months in the nation’s most exclusive and realistic cyber-physical training environment.

“This academy will continue to improve our state’s security, prosperity and competitive edge,” Holcomb said. “Building on Indiana’s global reputation as a growing tech hub, the Muscatatuck Cyber Academy is an important program to help us develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce.”

Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann, Ivy Tech Columbus Campus Chancellor Dr. Steven Combs and Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Courtney P. Carr joined the governor during the opening ceremony.

“The nation requires a workforce that is relevant, agile and adaptable if it is to remain technically competitive in the global economy and successfully address the continually increasing emergent cyber threats from around the globe,” said Carr, who’s organization hosts the academy at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

Jay Carlisle, of Columbus, is an academy student and member of the military. He explained why the program, which sees a two-year program diluted to an intensive 11 month period, was attractive to him…

08-23 CYBER ACADEMY-1

Officials say that 43 students, ranging in age from recent high-school graduate to 60, are taking part in this first academy.

Dr. Combs talks about his hopes for the academy over the next few years.

08-23 CYBER ACADEMY-4

The students in the first cohort began their work last week.

For more information about the Muscatatuck Cyber Academy go to in.gov/igr/cyber-academy.htm.

A Kentucky man was seriously hurt in a Wednesday morning crash on I-65. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at around 5:55 a.m., deputies were dispatched to southbound I-65 near the 61.5-mile maker.

Upon arrival, first-responders reported finding a semi-tractor with heavy damage. It appeared the driver, 65-year-old Scott Pearson, of Louisville, had run off the roadway. Jackson says that Pearson was extracted by fire units and stabilized by EMS before being flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Plans for a new assisted-living facility in Columbus are on track after action taken Tuesday night by the Columbus City Council. Vivera Senior Living of Columbus, LLC wants to construct the facility at the former site of the Bartholomew County Annex at 1971 State Street. According to documents filed with the city, this $15 million project will consist of 114 total units. Fifty-two will be efficiency units and 62 will be one bedroom units.

The developer is requesting that the State Street site be designated as an Economic Revitalization Area. A public hearing on that component will be held at the next council meeting on September 4th. If the ERA designation is granted, that will allow the developer to apply for state tax credits needed to make the project financially feasible. Vivera officials say they will also be applying for local tax abatements.

The town of Nashville and Nashville Utilities have issued a boil order after a contractor struck a water line on State Road 46 West. The following areas are under the order:

468 – 2000 Upper Schooner Road;
870-893 Mullis Road;
Lake Turner Lane;
Cowboy Way;
2087-4243 State Road 46 West;

Residents and businesses in these areas should boil their drinking and cooking water until 4 p.m. on Friday.

The Columbus Fire Department has announced the hiring of Firefighter Joshua Meadows, of Trafalgar. Meadows was sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop at Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Meadows will under-go a department familiarization training program. After completing this training, Meadows will receive a shift schedule and station assignment.