Columbus officials are set to make a presentation for a proposal to further develop the city’s downtown riverfront in a few weeks. Heather Pope, the city’s director of redevelopment, says that presentation will be made November 8th.
She says that the plan will also address the dam near Second Street.
On the opposite side of the river, Pope says that the proposal tackles overgrown foliage, among other things…
The November 8th presentation will be held at Hamilton Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
A Columbus man was arrested Wednesday night after he was allegedly caught driving a stolen car. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that officers were able to recover a stolen classic car after observing it traveling on US 31 near Taylorsville. Shortly before 6 p.m., officers were checking the area after receiving tips from the public when they spotted the stolen 1968 Chevy Chevelle, which was stolen Monday from a garage in Columbus. Harris says that a high-risk traffic stop was conducted by the officers, resulting in the arrest of 33-year-old Dustin M. Freese. Harris adds that deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office as well as detectives from the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted with the recovery of the stolen vehicle.
Freese was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and Operating a Vehicle without ever Receiving a License. He remains behind bars on a 48 hold as the investigation continues.
A reported overdose in Jennings County led to the arrest of two people Wednesday night.
The North Vernon Police Department says that officers responded to the 300 block of Long Street at 7:38 p.m. after receiving the call. They ultimately arrested 27-year-old Clinton Maschino and 24-year-old Darcey Heitz, both of North Vernon. Police say that pair are facing preliminary charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.
Columbus city officials say that several propaganda flyers from Midwest Alliance, a white supremacist group, were recently found at area bus stops. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, says the flyers were found at the ColumBus Depot at Mill Race Center, at bus shelters at Columbus Regional Health, near the west side Walmart and at Franklin and Seventh Street. Another flyer was found on a pole at Seventh and Third Street.
Ferdon says the flyers appeared sometime after bus service ended Saturday night and early Monday morning when the first flier was found at Mill Race. She says that the flyers were immediately removed by city officials. Ferdon adds that the Columbus Police Department is investigating to find who is responsible for putting them up.
A statement from the city reads:
There is no place in the City of Columbus, or society at large, for racist ideology espoused by the group represented on this flyer, or any other white supremacist group. Their views are in direct opposition to the values we live by of equality, justice and fair play.
Our City continues to welcome everyone and is proud to be home to persons of all faiths, races, ancestry, and backgrounds, some from different nations, who bring with them a rich culture and diversity that benefits us all. These contributions have not only enriched our community, but have allowed our community to flourish economically, enabling us to continue to bring in a dynamic workforce to support local, regional, national, and international companies. Recent events and initiatives such as Ethnic Expo, Exhibit Columbus, the Cummins Marathon and celebration of Diwali highlight the benefits of these contributions for all residents. Columbus celebrates this diversity, and this is what makes it the “Unexpected and Unforgettable” community we are proud to call home.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help locating this week’s most-wanted fugitive. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that detectives are looking for 38-year-old Ricky E. Mathews, Jr., who’s last known address was in North Vernon. Mathews is described as a white male, standing 5’11” tall and weighing 130 pounds. He has red hair that is usually shaven or very short, as well as blue eyes. Authorities say that Mathews is wanted on a felony warrant for Petition to Revoke Probation.
If you have any information on Mathews whereabouts, you are asked to contact Det. Jason Williams at (812) 565-5928, or via email at ljwilliams@bartholomew.in.gov. You can also call the department’s tip line at (812) 379-1712. Authorities stress that tips and information can be left anonymously.
North Vernon city employees will be paying a little more for their health insurance coverage next year. The city uses SIHO as its insurance carrier. Initially, SIHO quoted a premium increase of 7.1 percent over 2017 rates, says Shawn Gerkin, North Vernon clerk-treasurer. Ultimately Gerkin says he was able to negotiate an increase of 3.6 percent.
City officials say that equates to an annual increase of $240 per year for those on an “employee-only” plan, up to a $696 annual increase for employees on the “family” plan. Council members stress that employees won’t have to absorb the entire increase, as the city covers 75 percent of the premium costs. Gerkin says that equates to an actual out-of-pocket increase for employees of $2 to $6 per pay period. Councilwoman Connie Rayburn suggested that the city look into the possibility of the city absorbing the entire rate increase, without passing it on to the employees. Gerkin says that he will crunch the numbers to see if that would be financially feasible and the council is expected to discuss the possibility further at its next meeting on November 6th.
City officials are still waiting to hear from Anthem in regards to any potential rate increases for employee dental and vision insurance. They anticipate a premium increase, but to what extent is unknown. They hope to have that information by the next meeting as well.
The Columbus / Bartholomew County Planning Department is hosting a three-day public workshop to develop the Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan. The first session was held Tuesday night and was framed as “visionary session” aimed at identifying room for improvement for the area just northeast of downtown.
Jeff Bergman, with the city/county planning department, says that the principal players in developing the plan are the community, Design Collective, out of Baltimore, MD and the consulting firm, Green Street. The major points being discussed are:
– Improving access to jobs, recreation and health food options;
– Promote mixed-use and mixed-income redevelopment;
– Mitigate any environmental concerns for the area;
– Examine land use possibly adjusting zoning;
– Recommend roadway improvements;
According to a marketing analysis done by Green Street, residents in the area of the central neighborhood plan make up six-percent of the Columbus population. The area has a higher rate of lower-income residents, with 23 percent living in poverty. Green Street says that, in addition, the incomes of residents living in this area are expected to grow more slowly than the rest of the city. The consulting firm says that the average value of a single-family home is $96,674, considerably less than the Columbus average. In addition, 47 percent of residents in the area pay more than one-third of their income towards housing.
Organizers say that the workshops continue Wednesday and Thursday nights at the United Way Center on 13th Street. Public discussions and open houses are scheduled for both nights, beginning at 6 p.m. In addition, they say that a closing presentation will be offered at the end of Thursday’s session.
Three men were arrested early Tuesday morning after a log splitter was stolen from a Columbus business. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that officers were called to Rural King on National Road at approximately 3:15 a.m. in regards to an exterior alarm. When officers arrived, they reportedly found that a log splitter, valued at approximately $1,500, was missing from near the front of the store.
A short time later, Harris says that a Bartholomew
County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a truck carrying a new log splitter on a trailer on Washington Street near Riverside Drive. After confirming the equipment was stolen, the three men inside the truck were arrested. Police arrested 23-years-old Jacob R. Edwards, of Freetown, 25-year-old Paul E. Browder, of Columbus and 41 year-old Michael E. Kelly, of Columbus. Each of the men are facing a preliminary charge of Theft. In addition,
Browder also faces a preliminary charge of Possession of Marijuana.
The Columbus / Bartholomew County Planning Commission is hosting a three-day public workshop to help in the development of the Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan. Emilie Pinkston is a senior planner with the planning department.
Pinkston says that one area that will be discussed extensively is the site of the former Golden Castings Foundry.
Pinkston says these changes has resulted in a number of questions that need to be answered.
Workshops will be held inside the Doug Otto United Way Center Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night, beginning at 6 p.m.
For more information on these workshops, visit columbus.in.gov/planning.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop’s office has announced that he will be holding a joint press conference with Naoki Ito, the Consul-General of Japan in Chicago. The event is being held in conjunction with Ito’s first visit to Columbus. The main purposes of the Consulate are to serve Japanese nationals, to represent the Japanese government and to provide travel services and cultural information about Japan to non-Japanese residents.
Lienhoop’s office says that Ito’s visit to the city is an important one. He noted that there are over two-dozen local companies that have a Japanese parent company.
This press event is set for Tuesday at 11:15 a.m. in council chambers inside of city hall.