The Columbus City Council gave its final approval to an ordinance updating the city’s policy on taxi cabs. Police Chief John Rohde explained that this was an effort at modernizing the rules.

Chief Rohde says changes include removing the requirement that taxis are equipped with two-way radios, so long as the driver can reach dispatch immediately. He explained that another change includes how taxi cabs can be identified.

City Council members briefly discussed allowing magnets to be used to identify taxis, but Chief Rohde argued that allowing that would make it easier for non-licensed vehicles to operate as taxi cabs in the city. He says that, currently, there are two licensed taxi companies operating inside Columbus.

City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the changes.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency says that you need to be careful about where you’re driving. Authorities say that County Road 225 North between Newbern Road and State Road 9 and South Gladstone Avenue south of the bridge is closed. In addition, the gates at County Road 400 North are closed.

High water is on:

South Gladstone Avenue (south of the bridge);
County Road 620 North (east of the bridge);
County Road 800 North (west of CR 100W);
County Road 400 West (between CR 200S and CR 250S);
County Road 450 North (east of CR 225E and Tally Road);
Newbern Road (north of the bridge);
County Road 850 S (at CR 400W);
County Road 930 S (between CR 300W and CR 400W);
Rockyford Road west of Marr Road;
Tellman Camp Road; County Road 600 East and CR 850S;
County Road 100 West between CR 650S and 700S

Authorities urge you to never try to drive through water. Turn around. Don’t drown.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Management Agency says that you need to be careful about where you’re driving. Authorities say that County Road 225 North between Newbern Road and State Road 9 is closed. In addition the gates at County Road 400 North are closed.

High water is on:

South Gladstone Avenue (south of the bridge);
County Road 620 North (east of the bridge);
County Road 800 North (west of CR 100W);
County Road 400 West (between CR 200S and CR 250S);
County Road 450 North (east of CR 225E and Tally Road);
Newbern Road (north of the bridge);
County Road 850 S (at CR 400W);
County Road 930 S (between CR 300W and CR 400W);
Rockyford Rd west of Marr Road;
Tellman Camp Road

Authorities urge you to never try to drive through water. Turn around. Don’t drown.

The Columbus City Council is expected to give its final approval to an ordinance updating the city’s policies on taxicabs. Mary Ferdon is the city’s director of administration…

Ferdon says the changes include allowing vehicles to have magnets marking them as taxis instead of requiring paint jobs and removing the requirement for two-way radios in the vehicles, so long as the driver has a way to reach dispatch immediately.

Another big change gives the city’s code enforcement officer the authority to inspect taxis. That responsibility currently falls to the police department…

City Council meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. inside city hall and you are invited.

The Indiana Department of Transportation closed State Road 3 Monday at a bridge in Decatur County between South County Road 700 West and South County Road 800 West. Crews have been contracted to remove the existing structure at Turnover Creek, north of Sardinia. INDOT says that a new single-span concrete beam bridge measuring 76 feet in length will be constructed at the site. At the same time, a nearby concrete culvert will be removed and replaced.

Dave O’Mara is the state’s contractor for this $2.6 million project. INDOT officials add that five other small structures will be replaced under this contract, each requiring a closure of up to 20 days. Those culvert locations are:

• S.R. 3 at Wyaloosing Creek in Decatur County, 16.1 miles north of S.R. 7, north of Westport
• S.R. 3 at Poplar Root Creek in Decatur County, 8.6 miles north of S.R. 7, between CR 1300S and CR 1400S
• S.R. 3 over an unnamed creek tributary in Jennings County, 1.9 miles north of S.R. 7, just north of North Vernon
• S.R. 7 over a tributary to Six Mile Creek in Jennings County, 0.3 miles north of the S.R. 3 junction at North Vernon
• S.R. 3 over an unnamed tributary in Jennings County , 2.6 miles south of the S.R. 7 junction at Vernon

Detour signs route motorists around the State Road 3 closure site. This closure will affect more than 2,600 vehicles per day.

With growing concerns about antibiotic resistance, public perception about the use of antibiotics in food animals has called into question what’s best for the animal and our food supply.

On Tuesday, dietitians attending the Southeast Chapter meeting of the Indiana Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics will hear why responsible antibiotic use is essential to protect animal health and produce safe food. Jeffrey Harker, DVM, of Swine Health Services in Frankfort, will address the group at 2:30 p.m. at Schneck Medical Center.

Titled “Our Health Is All Connected,” the speech by Harker will explain how animal health and human health go hand-in-hand, and why responsible antibiotic use is a shared commitment by human and animal health professionals, and all farmers who raise food animals, from pigs and chickens to honey bees.

“Just as in human medicine, we realize pig farmers and veterinarians play a role in maintaining the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations,” said Harker. “Pig farmers are committed to finding new ways to reduce the need for antibiotics and are working with veterinarians like me to ensure responsible use.”

“I’d like to thank the Southeast Chapter of the Indiana Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics for giving me an opportunity to share why antibiotics used responsibly are essential for healthy pigs and safe food,” said Harker.

A Jennings County elementary school is set to see drastic improvements to its playground after it received word that it will receive a grant of over $70,000. Karen Villa is a physical education teacher at North Vernon Elementary.

Villa talks about how that money will be spent.

Villa says that the playground equipment needed replaced, as much of it had been there since the school opened.

Villa gave all the credit to members of the community for their help in the online poll.

Villa says that Culturelle Kids and KaBOOM are dedicated to improving the health of children through play, exercise and other physical activity.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is inviting area youths to take part in the 39th annual Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Youth Leadership Camps. He says there are two camp sessions this year:

NORTHERN SESSION
June 26 – 29, 2018
Pine Creek Camp
Pine Village, IN
Warren County

SOUTHERN SESSION
July 9-11, 2018
Waycross Episcopal Camp
Morgantown, IN
Brown County

Information and application forms have been mailed to every Middle/Junior High School Counselor within the state.

Sheriff Myers says that ISA’s Youth Leadership Camp is a program provided by the ISA for boys and girls who are currently in the 7th or 8th grade and interested in learning more about a possible career in law enforcement.

“The camp provides a very meaningful experience and relationship with other campers from throughout the state as well as sheriff officers who serve as counselors and instructors,” said Sheriff Myers. He notes that this is not the same camp as the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Youth Academy which will be held June 4-8, at CERAland.

You can download an application at http://bit.ly/2INKJhA.

Authorities in Jennings County were able to net 10 arrests during a county-wide sweep. Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that on Tuesday evening, North Vernon Police joined deputies from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Jennings Superior Court Probation Officers, Jennings County Circuit Probation Officers and Parole agents from the Indiana State Parole District Nine in carrying out the sweep.

Richmond says that NVPD officers assisted parole agents and probation officers with compliance searches and warrant services. He says that charges on those arrested include Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Resisting Law Enforcement and active arrest warrants.

Authorities say this is a continuation of a program started last fall that allows multiple departments to work side by side and sharing critical information to make communities safer.