The Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program is underway. Organizers say that Bartholomew County families who are in financial need may register children entering Kindergarten through 12th grade who are enrolled in any school throughout Bartholomew County. This includes the Flatrock-Hawcreek School Corporation and private schools. The program offers free basic school supplies.

To register, call United Way’s 2-1-1, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Preference will be given to those who register by July 20th.

If you would like to help, organizers say that donations are also being accepted. Financial donations are preferred, as they enable the committee to make bulk purchases. Tax-deductible cash, check or money order donations can be made payable and sent to BCSSAP, 1531 13th Street, Columbus, IN 47201. You should list “School Supplies” in the memo area. Material donations are being accepted at the United Way Center and Sans Souci. During 2017, over 2,000 students in Bartholomew County received free school supplies.

The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety approved an interlocal agreement on Tuesday between the city and the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority. City officials say the agreement allows the two agencies to cooperate in providing transportation to local employees.

In early 2017, a committee made up of Mayor Jim Lienhoop, several city department heads, employers, staffing agencies, social service providers, the Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Economic Development, and other stakeholders was formed to discuss employee transportation solutions. Those discussions identified the need for a bus route to the Woodside Industrial Park.

Columbus officials say that the committee determined a vanpool program to be the preferred solution, as it was found to be more flexible and less expensive than a bus route. A vanpool consists of a number of people commuting from similar points to similar destinations each workday. The program, expected to begin in the next few months, will be managed by CIRTA, which now operates vanpools in nine central Indiana counties.

“Carpooling is hardly a new idea, but when a city, its employers and their employees apply the concept in a new way, it is a model of civic innovation,” said Cindy Frey, President of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. “I applaud the city and our local employers for creating a vanpool program that provides reliable, low-cost transportation for employees. This is smart government.”

Columbus officials say the cost of renting and operating the vans will be shared by the city, employers, sponsors and riders. They add that vanpools will be required to have an origin in Columbus and a destination in Columbus or Bartholomew County, or an origin in any county and a destination in Columbus.

Seven candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, are actively campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. The district covers most of Bartholomew County. Mary Kohen and Dale Nowlin are running in the Democratic primary. We asked them about what actions they would specifically like to see taken to improve the lives of those who live and work in the district.

Kohen says the opioid epidemic is what initially drew her into the race.

Nowlin says he’s interested in doing what his constituents want. A big concern, he says, is education.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary being contested between Lew Wilson, JoAnne Flohr, Ryan Lauer, John Counceller, and Allen Smith. Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.

Counceller says that improving infrastructure and education is important.

Flohr says it’s important to “listen and observe.”

05-02 Election JoAnne Flohr Q3 RAW

Wilson says that improved educational opportunities lead to improved economic conditions for everyone.

05-02 Election LEW WILSON Q3 raw

Lauer says we must look out for the most vulnerable among us…

Smith says that education and job-training is key.

05-02 Election Allan Smith Q3 RAW

The primary election is May 8th.

Columbus Police arrested two men Monday morning on outstanding warrants after one of the men was seen wearing a mask while sitting in a vehicle.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the department, says that at approximately 8:40 a.m., Officer Ivan Shultz observed three men sitting in a vehicle in an alley near Ninth and California streets. The officers identified the back seat passenger as 33-year-old Winston C. Zink, of Columbus, who was wanted on a warrant. Officers say that the front seat passenger was wearing a mask and initially refused to identify himself. He was later identified as 23-year-old Seth A. Banks, of Columbus. He was also wanted on a local warrant.

Harris says that both men were arrested without incident.

Seven candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, are actively campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. The district covers most of Bartholomew County. Mary Kohen and Dale Nowlin are running in the Democratic primary. We asked them about state legislators recent actions to legalize CBD oil and the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana in Indiana.

Kohen says CBD oil and marijuana can benefit those who are suffering…

Nowlin says that making CBD oil legal in Indiana was the right move…

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary being contested between Lew Wilson, JoAnne Flohr, Ryan Lauer, John Counceller, and Allen Smith. Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.

John Counceller says the action taken on CBD oil was “adequate.”

JoAnne Flohr says she supports CBD oil being legal.

05-01 Election JoAnne Flohr Q2 RAW

As for marijuana, Lew Wilson agrees…

05-01 Election LEW WILSON Q2 RAW

Lauer says he supports the legislature’s action on CBD oil. As for medical marijuana…

Smith says he supports CBD oil being legal, so long as it is tightly regulated…

05-01 Allan Smith Q2 RAW

Smith adds that he is unopposed to medical marijuana, as long as it is tightly regulated.

The primary election is May 8th.

Eight candidates, six Republicans and two Democrats, are campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. We asked Republicans John Counceller, JoAnne Flohr, Lew Wilson, Ryan Lauer and Allan Smith about Gov. Holcomb’s decision to call a special session of the legislature to finish up business that lawmakers were unable to complete.

Counceller says this special session was unavoidable.

Flohr says it’s important to get the state’s business done correctly.

04-30 JoAnne Flohr Q1-1

Lew Wilson says that these short sessions allow for the opportunity for legislators to come back to the statehouse…

04-30 LEW WILSON Q1-1

Lauer says it’s important to prioritize and be willing to work together.

Smith says agrees, but adds that sometimes events conspire to make special sessions unavoidable.

04-30 Allan Smith Q1-1

Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Mary Kohen or Dale Nowlin in November’s general election.

We also asked Kohen and Nowlin about special legislative sessions.

Kohen says it’s all about priorities and planning.

Nowlin agrees.

The primary election is May 8th.

We’ll be back with the candidates on Tuesday to talk about CBD oil and marijuana.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to chip seal State Road 58 beginning Thursday, May 3rd, weather permitting, from 0.83 miles east of State Road 135 to just west of Interstate 65. INDOT says that first-day surface treatment operations will begin in northern Jackson County and proceed to a terminus in Bartholomew County. The work is expected to take three days.

Officials say that work on these 27 lane miles of State Road 58 requires closing the roadway between Spraytown and Ogilville to thru-traffic. INDOT pilot vehicles will escort school buses and local traffic through the work zone.

Four people are facing charges after police in North Vernon responded to a report of suspicious activity at a fast-food restaurant. Sgt. Andrew Richmond, department spokesman, says that on the evening of April 22nd, officers were called to the Burger King on Main Street for questionable activity in a van. He says that an investigation led to the discovery of a syringe and a small amount methamphetamine.

The investigation led to the arrest of Christopher Asbury, 26, of Butlerville, Joshua Acree, 37, of North Vernon, Patricia Perkins, 20, of Seymour, and Shandie Johnson, 29, of North Vernon.

The event began when officers responded to a report of suspicious activity involving 4 persons in a van at Burger King. Sergeant Kyle Hall led the investigation which revealed a syringe and a small amount methamphetamine. All four occupants were arrested, charging information as follows:

Arrested were:

1. Christopher M. Asbury, 26, Butlerville, – Visiting a Common Nuisance (B misdemeanor);
2. Joshua P. Acree, 37, North Vernon, – Visiting a Common Nuisance (B misdemeanor);
3. Patricia S. Perkins, 20, Seymour, – Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 felony), Visiting a Common Nuisance (B misdemeanor);
4. Shandie Johnson, 29, North Vernon, – Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 felony), Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 felony), Visiting a Common Nuisance (B misdemeanor)

A North Vernon man was arrested after being accused of sexual misconduct with a 12-year-old girl. Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that the incident began Tuesday as they were investigating a reported runaway situation. He says that the parents of the child reported the girl as a runaway and noted that they had witnessed their daughter get into a car belonging to 20-year-old Mark Liles at the North Vernon City Park. The parents reported they followed and tried to confront Liles, however he sped away before they could recover their daughter from him.

On Thursday, Detectives Nick Megel and Ivory Sandefur received information that the child and Liles were at an address in the 1700 block of County Road 675 North in Jennings County. The detectives arrived and were able to find both Liles and the girl. Both were taken into custody and brought to the police department. While in custody, Liles allegedly confessed to having sexual contact with the 12-year-old.

Liles is facing preliminary charges of Child Molesting and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The girl was released to the custody of her parents.

Work begins next month on a documentary about North Vernon. Satolli Glassmeyer is documentary filmmaker known for his series called “History in Your Own Backyard.” Glassmeyer says that he has produced more than 310 documentaries in Indiana and surrounding states. He approached the North Vernon City Council this week to gauge interest in producing a documentary for the city.

During Glassmeyer’s presentation, he said the idea behind the project is education. He says that projects like these help educate residents about their city’s past, as well as bring awareness of the area to those who may not know about it. Glassmeyer says this documentary will also serve future generations as they learn more about the city and its historic sites and buildings.

Glassmeyer says these documentaries normally cost $1,799 to produce. However, he says that a co-sponsor has agreed to cover $1,000 of the cost. Once completed, the master copy of the documentary will be delivered to city officials to use as they wish.

City Council voted to fund the project. Glassmeyer says shooting is expected to take place on Saturday, May 5th and Sunday, May 19th.