Indiana Department of Transportation’s contractor plans to make full and partial-depth asphalt patches on U.S. Highway 50 in Jackson and Jennings counties between U.S. 31 and the roundabout construction site at the west end of the North Vernon bypass, beginning Monday, June 11th.

Motorists will encounter flaggers at worksites during daytime hours.

Dave O’Mara, INDOT’s contractor for this $1.9 million rehabilitation project, will mill and resurface along an 8.3-mile section of U.S. 50 once these pavement repairs have been completed. The project calls for road/drive approaches to be paved and center-line sinusoidal waves cut to warn drivers of cross-lane drifting.

The contract completion date is September 30th.

When the historic flood of 2008 hit, Columbus and Bartholomew County residents had little warning of the damage that was headed our way. Bob Morrison, station manager for White River Broadcasting, had just finished working at a station event and was heading home about 1 p.m. when he saw a Columbus police cruiser come to a sliding stop at the intersection of U.S. 31 and 25th Street.

Morrison describes about the initial stage of the flooding…

Morrison says that once the gravity of the situation was apparent, it was “all hands on deck” for White River Broadcasting staff. Morrison noted that the company’s 25-year-plus relationship with Columbus Regional Health paid dividends over the following hours and days…

Morrison went on to say that the spirit of community was strong throughout the area, adding that same spirit carried over to everyone here at the radio station.

Morrison noted that it was a humbling experience as White River Broadcasting staff went out into the affected neighborhoods to offer whatever help we could.

Thursday marks the 10 year anniversary of that historic flood. There will be a ceremony held in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood, starting at 5:30 p.m. and you are invited.

Complete interview with White River Broadcasting Station Manager Bob Morrison:

A number of Columbus city employees are set to see pay increases after the results of a salary study. The study, nearly two-years in the making, looked at every full-time position within city government and compared them against eight “peer” cities in Indiana. The goal, say city officials, was to determine if Columbus is competitive when it comes to salary and benefits packages. The measure is also an effort to recruit and retain employees.

The ordinance calls for public safety workers to see merit-based pay increases taking them to the “mid-range” of a new salary range within two years. Other non-elected city employees would be phased in over three years. The action would also give 11 city employees raises to the new minimum range, effective July 1st. Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, says the immediate pay bump for these 11 would amount for just under $10,000. He adds that no additional appropriations are expected to be needed.

The council voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance on second reading. Frank Miller was not in attendance.

The Foundation For Youth has announced it is once again the recipient of a $10,000 donation from Dorel Juvenile Group.

“Dorel has done amazing things for the Columbus community. They lead in support of agencies such as FFY. They provide exceptional leadership around the safety of all kids,” says Chuck Kime, Executive Director of Foundation For Youth.

FFY says the donation will support programs such as the Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Columbus Youth Camp, Girls on the Run, Trailblazers, Foundation For Youth Athletics and Aquatics, Communities That Care, and Safe Place. FFY officials say the gift was made possible by Dorel Juvenile Group’s annual golf outing, which benefits local non-profit agencies.

Columbus City Utilities has prepared its annual Water Quality Report and is in the process of distributing it to its customers. Monthly bills mailed in June will contain the report, and additional copies will be distributed to apartment complexes and other multiple user accounts.

The Columbus City Utilities is reporting that no element or compound has ever been detected in its water supply at any level deemed potentially harmful by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Additional copies of the report are available at the Columbus City Utilities offices located at 1111 McClure Road.

The city of Columbus will help fund renovations of the former offices of “The Republic.” The city council on Tuesday night approved a proposal from the redevelopment commission where it will contribute $1 million towards work on the building.

The Indiana University School of Art, Architecture and Design plans to open the J. Irwin Miller Master of Architecture program in the building this fall. The school is asking for local help of $2 million toward the renovations, with half of that coming from the city and half from other community partners. Since the commission cannot spend more than $500,000 on a project without city council approval, the council had to sign off on the plan.

John Burnett, with the Community Education Coalition, explains that this program has been years in the making.

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Burnett went on to say that this is another public-private partnership that will benefit the community as a whole.

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City Council voted 6-0 to approve the funding out of the city’s downtown TIF district. Frank Miller was absent.

A Columbus man will have to repay more than $32,000 after pleading guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says that 44-year-old Kevin Golden pled guilty in Marion County Superior Court Criminal Division 4. Through the use of agency records, a state employee began an investigation and determined that Golden was working and receiving wages while claiming unemployment insurance benefits.

Golden was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to repay the department $32,760 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.

State officials say that you can help combat unemployment insurance fraud and abuse by reporting it online at www.in.gov/dwd/fraud. You do not need to provide your name or any other identifying information in order to file a complaint.

Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center got its 38th commander and first female leader of the southern Indiana posts.

During a ceremony Saturday at Camp Atterbury, Col. Felicia Brokaw took command of the two training sites from Col. John Silva. She thanked him and Indiana National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Courtney P. Carr for the opportunity.

“I look forward to working with the command to ensure that we are ready, trained and equipped to execute any mission across the full spectrum of operations,” said Brokaw in her ceremony speech.

Brokaw will lead approximately 360 troops between Atterbury and Muscatatuck. Personnel at the Indiana training sites create and operate tailorable, contemporary, and realistic training and testing environments.

“To the civilians and service members of Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck, you are our most precious resource and our best hope for mission success,” said Brokaw.

Carr, the reviewing officer during the ceremony, noted the historic significance of the change of command.

“It is a historic day for Camp Atterbury, but in a broader sense Camp Atterbury is such a special facility. I mean this is a real gem,” said Carr. “So being able to be here today to see the passing of the flag from Col. Silva to Col. Brokaw is historic in and of itself between two great leaders.”

The two sites also host units with the U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Navy, Indiana Homeland Security, Indiana National Guard Regional Training Institute and the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Columbus police officers arrested a local man for trespassing and drug possession after he was observed inside an east side Columbus store early Tuesday morning. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that at approximately 2:20 a.m., officers were dispatched to Walmart in regards to a suspect who had been previously trespassed and was inside the store. Police found the suspect, 35-year-old Robert J. Norton, III, of Columbus and confirmed that a trespass warning was still valid. Norton was placed under arrest and while searching his clothing, officers allegedly found a crystal rock substance inside a pack of cigarettes that tested positive as methamphetamine.

Norton was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Trespassing and Possession of Methamphetamine.