Columbus officials continue their efforts to battle the opioid epidemic. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says the next big update on those efforts will be in the coming weeks.

Lienhoop talks about what we can expect to hear in his address.

The mayor says that these education efforts will, hopefully, stem the numbers of those becoming addicted. He says that Judge Kelly Benjamin is heading an effort to establish a drug court locally.

Lienhoop adds that it will be important to ensure that those who receive drug treatment don’t relapse.

Lienhoop says that his State of the City address will take place the evening of March 8th from the Commons.

The state’s Healthy Indiana Plan has received a reprieve from federal officials. Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday that the HIP has received an extension to continue through Feb. 28. The program was set to expire on Wednesday.

“We had hoped to receive approval of our expanded HIP program by Wednesday. We’re close but we are still working through the final details of our new plan with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” said Gov. Holcomb. “This extension allows us to continue HIP until the waiver application is approved. Our more than 400,000 HIP participants will see no change in service.”

Indiana submitted a HIP waiver application in January 2017 and filed an amendment in the summer. When the waiver is approved, state officials say that Indiana will expand treatment options to Hoosiers impacted by the drug epidemic, enhance opportunities to connect eligible HIP participants to meaningful employment and community engagement, and ease administrative burdens for HIP members.

HIP was created in 2007 by Gov. Mitch Daniels. The program focuses on improving health outcomes and reducing the costs of healthcare delivery for all who participate. Gov. Mike Pence expanded the program in 2015 as Indiana’s alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion.

An Edinburgh man was arrested early Sunday morning after he was seen traveling northbound in the southbound lanes on US 31, nearly struck a Columbus Police Department patrol car who then tried to stop him. Lt. Matt Harris, CPD spokesman, says that at approximately 4:40 a.m., Officer Danielle Stigers attempted to stop the vehicle when it nearly struck her patrol car and sped past her at a high rate of speed. Stigers was able to get the vehicle stopped on US 31 near Market Street and took the driver, 52-year-old Johnnie K. Streeval, into custody.

Harris says that Streeval refused all field sobriety tests as well as a blood test. Officers later received a search warrant for a blood test and Streeval was eventually arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with a Prior Conviction Within Five Years, and Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with a BAC of .15% or Greater.

Columbus’ current prosperity is a direct result of the foresight of previous city leaders. That was one of the messages delivered by Mayor Jim Lienhoop during the recent “Columbus Present” presentation at the Columbus Learning Center.

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Mayor Lienhoop says that one of the things that make Columbus stand out is its educational opportunities, something that can easily be taken for granted.

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Lienhoop says that educational opportunities directly tie-in to the local economy, which he calls “very strong.”

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The Mayor adds that Columbus is a welcoming community that values immigration and diversity. He says that about 50,000 people live in Columbus.

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Mayor Lienhoop says that Columbus remains the envy of several communities and that the city must continue working to maintain what makes it special.

This event was the second of a three-part series that looks at the past, present and future of Columbus. The next event, “Columbus Future,” is set for March 29th at the Columbus Learning Center.

Columbus Fire Department Investigators continue to investigate the cause of Wednesday’s commercial building fire. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that investigators heard eyewitness accounts of the buildings occupants who reported seeing the lights flicker within three occupied businesses. A short time later, witnesses reported seeing smoke within the CrossFit gym. The owner of the gym exited the building. In the complex parking lot, the gym owner met a representative of Carpet Mania, who had exited the carpet store to investigate the source of the electrical problem. At that time, the carpet store employee saw flames through a window in the warehouse section of the carpet store warehouse and informed the gym owner to evacuate the building. Wilson says that police and firefighters arrived on the scene about four minutes after the initial dispatch. When they arrived, flames were shooting from a window and door of the carpet store.

Wilson says that firefighters were on the scene for 29 hours, applying water to hot spots from Wednesday night through the evening hours on Thursday. Damages to the building were so significant that an excavator was called to the scene to assist investigators in removing debris and accessing flames underneath. Wilson says there was a total roof collapse in the building occupied by the CrossFit gym and carpet store, which hampered efforts to battle the blaze, as well as investigator access within the building.

Using eyewitness accounts, reports from the first arriving responders and evidence viewed at the scene, investigators have determined that the origin of the fire was located within Carpet Mania’s warehouse. This portion of the building is where firefighters reported heavy fire conditions as they arrived at the scene. Fire conditions within the structure were so intense that steel structural members failed.

Investigators have found no indication of foul play. Damages are estimated at two-million dollars, which included building and contents to the three affected businesses: Carpet Mania, CrossFit Retaliation Gym, and Advantage One Imaging Center.

Two Columbus residents were arrested on drug charges Wednesday afternoon as authorities were about to serve a search warrant. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, Columbus/Bartholomew SWAT and members of the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force were about to execute the warrant at 3345 Westenedge Drive in Columbus, when the two suspects left the home. Investigators say the pair got into a vehicle and a traffic stop was initiated, but the driver refused to stop.

Authorities say that a short pursuit ensued before the vehicle was stopped by police in the area of Seventh and Central Avenue. The southbound lanes of Central Avenue were blocked between Seventh and 10th Streets until the scene was secured.

Jackson says that narcotics detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, leading to the discovery of approximately five pounds of methamphetamine. One narcotics detective estimated the meth had a street value of $225,000. In addition, police allegedly found two guns and more than $4,000 in cash inside the vehicle.

Authorities arrested 38-year-old Jorge Huberto Chavez on a preliminary charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine. He is being held on $200,000 bond. Also arrested was 27-year-old Jacklyn Munoz. Police say that she is facing preliminary charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Felon, Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Resisting Law Enforcement. In addition, authorities say that Munoz was wanted on an outstanding warrant. She is being held without bond.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that he is pleased with these arrests. “Anytime we can stop five pounds of meth, or any other dangerous drug, from hitting our streets, it is a win for law enforcement and a win for our entire community.” He added, “With multiple agencies working together, pulling resources together, and working as a team, this is the type of result that you will see.”

Authorities say that this investigation is ongoing and that additional are possible.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office. Its mission is to proactively target the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.

Eastern Bartholomew Water Corp. has issued a boil water advisory for all customers in Heritage Heights Mobile Home Park and Colony Park due to a controlled maintenance repair. Officials say that any water being used for drinking or cooking should be boiled for least three minutes. This boil water advisory is scheduled to remain in effect until noon on Saturday.

A number of parents were upset with BCSC’s decision to not delay or cancel classes on Wednesday. Many took to social media to vent. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says that he understands their frustration.

Roberts says it didn’t take long for school officials to realize that road conditions would be worse than expected.

Roberts says that by the time BCSC officials learned the severity of expected road conditions, it was too late to bring the buses back.

Roberts stresses that all buses made it to school safely, though there were some late arrivals. He says that this incident will serve as a learning opportunity and that the school corporation will work to do a better job in the future.

The presentation of the final riverfront report was presented Monday afternoon. Hitchcock Design Group put the report together and presented it to the Columbus Redevelopment Commission. Rick Hitchcock is with the design team. He talks about how the project would be implemented.

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Hitchcock is with the design team. He says that the “stars of the show” are the three-dimensional connections.

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Hitchcock explains that would allow access to the site for those with mobility issues, as well as maintenance vehicles. He adds that any work that will be done has to include the removal of the low-head dam.

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Hitchcock talks about the potential return on investment for the project.

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Hitchcock says the total price tag for the project is estimated to be $8.6 million. City officials have long said that the development of the riverfront will be a public/private effort and that has not changed. The city council will need to give final approval to implementing the project due to the cost.

The redevelopment commission gave Hitchcock the go ahead to begin the permitting process. If approved, Hitchcock says that design work and permitting could be done this year with construction to begin next year.

Five Columbus Police Officers were recognized Tuesday for their actions during the month of January. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that all five officers received letters of commendation during the Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety meeting from Chief Jon Rohde and Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

Those recognized were:

Officer Greg Ross was recognized for his actions in helping a driver after his vehicle had flipped over into the Flatrock River during a crash. Ross forced open one of the vehicle’s doors, pulling the driver to safety.

Officers Matt Prendergast and Danielle Stigers were recognized for assisting an elderly Columbus resident after the recent winter weather. Prendergast had given the woman a ride home from the hospital and during their conversation learned that the woman’s husband and child were deceased. Upon arriving at her home, he noted that woman’s driveway and sidewalks were covered in ice and snow. After helping her inide, Officers Prendergast and Stigers and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Lanning returned after their work shift was completed and shoveled the woman’s sidewalk and driveway.

Officers Matt Martindale and Logan Adams responded to check the welfare of a local resident after a caller had concerns that a family member was trying to harm themselves. After checking the home and not receiving an answer at the door, Officer Martindale returned to his patrol car and shut it off. After doing so, the officers could hear the faint

sound of music and a vehicle running in a nearby detached garage. The officers forced entry into the garage and removed the person inside away from the strong odor of the vehicle’s exhaust. The officers noted that this individual had a slight pulse and shallow breathing and they provided life saving measures. This person later regained consciousness at the hospital.