As the holidays draw near, you may want to think about helping out those who less fortunate. “Toys For Tots” is one of those options. Nate West is a volunteer for the program, put on by the Marine Corp. Reserves. He says that last year, Toys For Tots help more than 1,600 children in Bartholomew and Jennings counties.

West adds that the toy drive began in earnest just a few weeks ago.

West says there are more than 40 white boxes labeled “Toys for Tots” in Bartholomew and Jennings counties. You can drop off your donation and volunteers will gather them and make sure they are delivered to a child in need.

If you are a Bartholomew County resident with a child up to age 18, you can request assistance by calling Bartholomew County United Way at 812-375-2216. In Jennings County, visit ToysForTots.org.

The number of overdose deaths in Bartholomew County are an the rise again. County Coroner Clayton Nolting said we have already passed last year’s total with two more cases pending and a month and a half left in the year.

Nolting went before the Bartholomew County Council last night to ask for more money for his office to make it through the year.

Nolting says there have been 18 overdose deaths, with two more pending so far this year. In all of last year, there were 17 overdose deaths in the county.

Additionally, there have been five investigations into the sudden death of infants this year.

Council voted 6-0 to approve the $23,000 additional appropriation from the county’s general fund.

Bartholomew County’s newest Deputy Sheriff, Dustin Allman, took his Oath of Office Tuesday from Sheriff Matt Myers.

Deputy Allman is a 39-year-old graduate of Columbus North High School and Thomas Edison University. He retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2018.

“Dustin is well-qualified and will serve our agency well,” said Sheriff Myers.

Also sworn-in was Karen Hargett as BCSO’s newest chaplain.

BCSO Chaplains offer guidance and assistance to members of the department during crisis situations and can be called upon to provide comfort and counseling during difficult times.

Chaplain Hargett joins Chaplain Robert Vestor, Chaplain David C. Bosley, Chaplain Keith Maddox and Chaplain Dave Burnett.

An artist with a history of visiting Columbus is coming back this week. Caitlyn Smith, with the Columbus Area Arts Council, explains that Buddy Wakefield, a three-time international champion of slam poetry, and a spoken-word artist, will be performing Thursday evening at Yes Cinema.

Tickets for Wakefield’s Thursday night performance are $10.

Wakefield’s workshop will be Friday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 411 Sixth Street. Tickets for the workshop are $40.

Tickets for both events are available online at artsincolumbus.org.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will be closed on Nov. 19th.

BCSC Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts made the announcement on Tuesday. He says that a number of staff members have requested personal time off to participate in “Red For Ed Action Day” in Indianapolis. The Indiana State Teachers Association says the goal of the event is to let state legislators know about the importance of adequately funding public education.

Roberts says that school will now be in session on Tuesday, Mar. 10 to make up for this missed day. Monday, Mar. 9 will be used to make up for school having to be closed on Nov. 12.

BCSC will not have an e-learning day on Nov. 19 due to an expected lack of educators who will be in Indianapolis.

A full call out of snowplow trucks is underway across the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Southeast District in anticipation of accumulating snow.

INDOT says that plow drivers will work in 12-hour shifts until snow subsides and road conditions improve. Below is the call out schedule by subdistrict:

– Columbus: 31 plow trucks beginning at 3 p.m.
– Bloomington: 29 plow trucks beginning at 3 p.m.
– Madison: 30 plow trucks beginning at 4 p.m.

Tips for drivers:

– Reduce speeds: Allow extra time to reach your destination, be patient as snowplows travel below posted speed limits.
– Safe distance: Do not tailgate and give snowplows plenty of room to work, allow plenty of time to slow down.
– Pay attention: Drive distraction-free, focus on safe driving, be aware of surroundings and changing road conditions
– Know before you go: Check road and traffic conditions at indot.carsprogram.org or the INDOT mobile app.

Republican incumbent Columbus City Councilman Dascal Bunch will file for a recount after losing the District 1 race by a single vote. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Bunch met with attorney Scott Andrews on Monday to discuss his options. Bunch told the newspaper that he will officially request a recount by the end of this week.

Democratic challenger Jerone Wood defeated Bunch, 260 to 259. Wood was one of four Democrats who won city council seats last week, giving the Democrats their first majority on the council since the 1980s. A recount has the potential keep the council in Republican hands.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

Veterans Day is Monday and Bartholomew County will be honoring county veterans who have passed away in the past year.
Veteran Zack Ellison says expected poor weather is moving the event indoors.

Monday’s event was originally scheduled to be held at the county’s Memorial for Veterans on the grounds of the

Bartholomew County Courthouse. It will still be held at 11 a.m. with a balloon release to follow. As each name is read, a balloon is released by funeral home staff.

Ret. Air Force Gen. Mark Pillar talked recently with John Foster on AM Columbus about the remembrance ceremony.

You are invited.

If you can’t attend the ceremony in person, you can listen to it live on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM beginning at 11 a.m. Monday.

A local woman was arrested on drug charges after a Thursday night traffic stop. Just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy was near the intersection of Second and Sycamore Streets in Columbus when he observed a car without taillights. The deputy pulled the vehicle over and spoke with the driver, 45-year-old Carrie Pitts, of Columbus.

While speaking with Pitts, the deputy smelled a heavy odor of marijuana coming from inside her vehicle. A vape pen was located as well as two corner cut baggies. One bag containing a grey power suspected to be heroin and the other containing a white power believed to be methamphetamine.

Pitts was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Possession of a Controlled Substance
Possession of Heroin
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Paraphernalia

She remains behind bars in lieu of $126,000 bond.

The Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation is sponsoring another public input session on Tuesday, Nov. 12, starting at 6 p.m. The meeting will be across the main mall aisle from the old J Nicole Store space at the mall.

Organizers note that this will be the third public input meeting in support of the master planning project with MKSK Studios. Members of the FOCDC Board, Columbus City Council and Columbus Parks and Recreation Board may be in attendance, however, no business will be done and no decisions will be made.

You are encouraged to attend and take part.

You can keep up to date on the development of the mall property by visiting reimaginefairoaksmall.com.