Lane closures on Interstate 65 in Bartholomew and Jackson counties are slated to begin on Monday. The Indiana Department of Transportation says that crews will begin restricting travel lanes in both direction between mile markers 64 and 68. INDOT says that a number of lane closures are being scheduled in conjunction with several different construction operations over the next eight weeks. They include:

July 23-26:

– Overnight closures of an inside or outside I-65 lane for shoulder strengthening and partial-depth patching between mile markers 64 and 68. Sections of one lane in either direction will be closed at a time from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

July 27/weekends:

– INDOT says that single-lane closures impacting both northbound and southbound I-65 traffic will be required for six weekends to allow crews to prep and overlay the bridge deck on the structure over Denois Creek at mile marker 65.5. Restrictions are set to begin at 6 p.m. Fridays and continue through noon on Sundays. In addition, INDOT’s contractor will pour new 20-foot approach slabs and make full-depth concrete patches near the bridge.

– Starting July 27, the inside or outside lane of northbound or southbound I-65 will close either Friday night or Saturday night for six weekends between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. as crews will saw-cut deteriorating pavement and form full-depth concrete patches from mile maker 64 to 68.

After Labor Day:

– I-65 north of State Road 58/Walesboro to the ramps at State Road 46 at Columbus will be milled and resurfaced. INDOT officials say this work requires single-lane closures at moving worksites. Paving activities will continue for approximately two weeks.

August 4:

– A major change in the I-65 traffic pattern is tentatively scheduled to be implemented on Saturday, August 4. At that time, all southbound traffic will be routed to the northbound side of I-65 at a median crossover north of State Road 58 near mile marker 64. INDOT says that southbound drivers will be routed back to the southbound side at a median crossover near mile marker 61.5.

INDOT says this work is part of the three-year, $143 million, Next Level Roads project on I-65 between Seymour and Columbus. The project calls for full-depth construction of a six-lane roadway between U.S. Highway 50 and State Road 58, then repairing and resurfacing the existing four-lane pavement section between State Road 58 and State Road 46. This includes bridge work at 27 difference structure sites along the 17-mile route.

Police in North Vernon arrested two people Tuesday morning after responding to suspicious activity in the 2000 block of Hickory Manor. Authorities say that officers were called to the area at 11:13 a.m. on a report of people inside of an abandoned trailer. Officers reported finding and arresting 44-year-old Michael Wimberly Jr., of Deputy, and 48-year-old Laura Lamb, of Westport. Police say the pair are facing preliminary charges of Residential Entry and Trespassing.

The suspect in the Sunday shooting of an Edinburgh man will remain behind bars. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash requested an additional 72-hour hold on 34-year-old John Cornett, of Columbus. That request was granted.

The paper says that Cornett had been held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond on a preliminary charge of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. However the report says that bond for Cornett has since been set at $500,000.

Cornett is accused of shooting 32-year-old Joshua L. Music multiple times in the incident at the Quail Run Apartment complex. Music remains in an Indianapolis hospital.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

An assisted-living facility on the east side of Columbus is a step closer to becoming a reality after action taken Tuesday night by the city council. The council approved a resolution to support the issuance of up to $15.5 million in bonds for the project, called Vivera Senior Living. The facility will be located at 1971 State Street, which was formerly home to the Bartholomew County Annex.

Robin Hilber, with Columbus Economic Development, explained that the project calls for a 114-unit complex. This equates to 52 efficiency units and 62 one-bedroom units. Hilber stresses that the city would not incur any liability once the bonds are purchased. She says that repayment of the bonds would be made by the developer. In addition, Hilber says the move would not negatively impact the city’s ability to bond future projects. She explained that the revenue bonds and are being sought by the developer, Marian Development, because of the city’s tax-exempt status. Federal law requires a unit of government to act as the issuer of the bonds.

Council members were supportive of the project, though Councilman Dascal Bunch expressed concerns. Bunch, who represents much of the city’s east side, says that there is a feeling among residents that projects that may not be palatable to other parts of the city are “being dumped” on the east side. While conceding that the project is needed, Bunch says that more needs to be done to make sure that east side residents are having their voices heard.

Hilber says the project is still a ways off from breaking ground. The developer is expected to request the space be designated an economic revitalization area. Such a move would allow significant tax savings on the project. Hilber adds that if the project goes through, approximately 65 jobs will be created with a payroll of approximately $2 million.

Council voted 6-1 to approve the resolution. Bunch was the “no” vote.

The city of Columbus continues its work ahead of an expected massive increase in train traffic through the area. Part of that work includes the establishment of a so-called “quiet zone” through the city. Dave Hayward, city engineer, explains that having such a designation will allow trains to not have to sound their horns at the crossings at State Road 46, Fifth Street, Eighth Street and 11th Street…

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Hayward says the work on establishing the quiet zone is moving slower than anticipated. He notes that the establishment of such a zone will require offsetting safety measures, such as crossing arms, to be put into place. Hayward added that this is the first quiet zone request made affecting the Louisville & Indiana Railroad, making it uncharted territory for both parties.

A North Vernon man is facing drug charges after a Monday morning arrest. The North Vernon Police Department says that officers responded to a suspicious person in the 100 block of West Walnut Street at about 11:15 a.m. After encountering 41-year-old Daniel Grider, police became suspicious. After a short investigation, police say they arrested Grider on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Hypodermic Needle, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Criminal Trespass.

A drug take-back event in Columbus produced a “significant haul.”That’s according to Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.

The AG says that an event on July 12 produced approximately 400 pounds of expired, unused and/or otherwise unwanted prescription drugs. The event, held at a Kroger store, was a collaborative effort by the Office of the Attorney General, Indiana State Police, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department. Hill says the 400 pounds was a record amount for a single event and brings the total collected by his office this year to 1,463 pounds.

“Abuse of prescription medicine is a big part of our overall drug crisis,” Attorney General Hill said. “Across the United States, more than 6 million people abuse controlled prescription drugs. Here in Indiana, nearly 1 in 20 Hoosiers report having used opioid pain relievers for non-medical uses, and a majority of abused medication comes from family and friends of users. We’re doing good work whenever we get these drugs out of people’s medicine cabinets and properly discarded.”

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation is set to receive additional money from the city of Columbus to help students prepare for life after the classroom.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts explains that the city’s redevelopment commission approved a resolution to provide a workforce development grant to BCSC. Along with iGrad, the funding will benefit the school corporation’s STEM programs.

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Roberts adds that this funding will also help with training and learning opportunities to help special-needs students transfer to the workforce. This $750,000 will come out of the city’s central tax-increment financing allocation area. This marks the third year that the city has provided such a grant.

The redevelopment commission voted unanimously to approve the request.

Ivy Tech Community College has appointed a new Director of K-12 Initiatives at the College’s Columbus Campus.

Mark Schneider began in his new role on July 9. The Director of K-12 Initiatives at Ivy Tech Columbus serves on the campus chancellor’s executive cabinet, which helps lead the campus, shape policy, and develop education initiatives.

As Director of K-12 Initiatives, Schneider will coordinate and manage the daily operations of K-12 initiatives, including alignment of high school dual-credit offerings with Ivy Tech dual enrollment, additional high school outreach and initiatives, and all evolving K-14 partnerships.

“Our partnerships with area school corporations offer students an outstanding opportunity to start the pathway toward a degree and better prepare for their futures while still in high school,” Ivy Tech Columbus Chancellor Steven Combs said. “Mark’s experience will help us continue to build upon our already strong relationships with these schools to ensure we are providing the best experience possible for these students.”

Schneider’s previous experience includes a number of positions at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. He also serves on the City of Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals.

“Ivy Tech provides such an important resource in our community for students who want to advance their education,” Schneider said. “I look forward to joining their efforts and partnering with our area schools to help students chart their futures and get a step ahead through Ivy Tech.”

A former Funeral Home Director in Jackson County was recently charged with numerous felonies related to the thefts of money from the funeral trust funds of several people.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says the investigation began in August of 2017 when an alleged victim reported that money given to the Winklepleck-Weesner Funeral Home for the purpose of establishing a pre-need trust was missing. Over the course of the next few months, numerous individuals reported they had paid Funeral Home Director James D. Weesner Jr. payments meant to be applied to trusts at a local Brownstown bank. When the victims checked with the bank, they were informed that no trusts existed. The trusts were intended to be established to pay for future funeral expenses through the funeral home. Investigators believe that Weesner never established the trusts and kept the money, totaling approximately $200,000 from 20 victims, for personal use.

Authorities say that Weesner, who lives in Indianapolis, was charged with 25 level felony counts of Wrongful Disbursement of Funeral Trust Funds and one felony count of Corrupt Business Influence. This case is still pending in the Jackson County Circuit Court.