Employees and elected officials in Columbus will receive a two-percent raise next year. The city council gave its final approval to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) proposals Tuesday night. The first ordinance, proposing only with city employees, passed unanimously. The second ordinance, dealing with a proposed increase for the mayor, clerk-treasurer and member of the city council, encompassed much more discussion.

During the first reading two weeks ago, Councilman Tim Shuffett proposed an amendment to the ordinance, exempting members of the city council from receiving a COLA. He cited an ongoing salary study encompassing all city positions that won’t be ready until later this year. Shuffett argued that council members shouldn’t see a pay increase until the study is finished, meaning that members likely wouldn’t see a pay raise until 2019. That amendment ultimately passed on a vote of 5 to 2.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Councilman Tom Dell proposed an amendment, reintroducing the COLA for council members. He argued that it is important for city pay adjustments to be consistent. He says that the ongoing salary study may show a large disparity between what council members in Columbus earn, versus those in cities of similar size. Delaying an increase may make it more difficult for Columbus to keep pace with these other cities. Councilman Frank Miller echoed Dell’s sentiments that increases for elected officials need to be consistent. Councilman Dascal Bunch agreed, noting that the increase would amount to approximately $1,050 per year, divided among all seven council members.

The amendment to include city council members passed on a vote of 4 to 3. The final vote approving a COLA for the mayor, clerk-treasurer and council members passed on a vote of 6 to 1.

Two people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on State Road 46 East near County Road 300 North.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies were sent to the crash, involving a car and a semi, at 9:20 a.m. While deputies were in route, they learned that one of the drivers was trapped in their vehicle. Myers says that she was ultimately pulled to safety by a passing driver before authorities arrived.

Sheriff Myers says that the investigation revealed that 33-year-old Brandon Murphy, of Dayton, OH, was eastbound on State Road 46 when he lost control of his semi on wet pavement and crossed into the westbound lane. He says that Murphy’s semi jack-knifed and went off the road. This reportedly caused 42-year-old April Johnson, of Greensburg, to crash into a ditch. Johnson was headed west on State Road 46 when the incident occurred. Myers says that both vehicles collided in the ditch, causing the semi’s trailer to become unhitched. The trailer then caught fire. Authorities say that fire crews spent

approximately one hour fighting the blaze, which caused the eastbound lane of State Road 46 to be shut down for several hours.

Johnson was flown to an Indianapolis hospital for unknown injuries. Murphy was taken to Columbus Regional Health with abdominal pain.

Two Jennings County parents are facing charges after police investigated suspected drug activity over the weekend.

A Jennings County Sheriff’s Department spokesman says that on Sunday, Deputy Tom Mellencamp was dispatched to a home on South State Road 7. Deputy Mellencamp says that he spoke to the homeowner and was invited inside to look around. After looking in and around the residence, the deputy says that he was unable to find any drug related items. However, he did report seeing six children, between the ages of six-months and 15-years-old, in “extremely filthy living conditions with trash everywhere.” In addition, authorities say that there was no edible food in the home and one “very young” child was allowed to play near the highway. Deputy Mellencamp says that he retrieved the child because the parents refused to do so.

During the investigation, Deputy Mellencamp reported that one of the children told him that she was looking forward to going to school the next day so she could have a good meal. The Sheriff’s Department called the Department of Child Services, who removed all six children.

Deputies arrested 34-year-old William J. Waltermire and 35-year-old Roberta R. Waltermire, both of North Vernon. The pair are each facing preliminary charges of five counts of Neglect of a Dependent. Authorities say that the Waltermires were each booked in the Jennings County Jail on $1,055 bond.

Sheriff Gary Driver says that tips from the community are an important component in the work of law enforcement. He is using this case as a platform to encourage people to report any situation that may be dangerous for a child. Authorities say that tips and information can be left anonymously.

Work continues on Columbus’ State Street Revitalization Project. Heather Pope, the city’s redevelopment director, says that work on the bridge over Haw Creek is nearly finished…

09-19 HEATHER POPE-1

Phase 1 also includes tying the gateway nodes to the people trail connection along Haw Creek.

Pope says that Phase 2A is “coming along nicely,” noting that all of the right-of-ways on the south side of the street are in place…

09-19 HEATHER POPE-3

Pope says that work on lighting, landscaping and other architectural elements on the north side of State Street likely won’t get underway until this winter.

The Bartholomew County Commissioners officially signed an agreement with the city on Monday as it relates to the overpass project taking vehicle traffic over the railroad at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike. The county is set to contribute $2 million dollars over the next three years.

Dave Hayward, Columbus city engineer, explained during Monday’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission that the county commissioners signed the pledge that morning. John Dorenbush, a member of the Railroad Community Committee, explained that the county will contribute $1.5 to the railroad fund by mid-November, with the remaining $500,000 paid out over the next two-years.

The cost of the project, estimated at $30 million, will be split between the state and local governments. Of the $15 million local contribution, the downtown Cummins TIF District is expected to contribute $5 million, while CSX and the Louisville & Indiana railroad companies have reportedly pledged to cover $1.5 million. However, Dorenbush says that the city does not yet have a signed agreement from the railroads. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that the city is working on securing the remaining funds. He, as well as Dorenbush and other city officials, indicated that they were confident that the funding will be in place well before work is slated to begin. The city is scheduled to make a payment out of the railroad fund to the Indiana Department of Transportation before the end of the year.

The Redevelopment Commission also gave its blessing for Hayward to continue his work in negotiating with an engineering firm to serve as project manager for the overpass work. While this will be an INDOT project and the state will have its own project manager, Hayward says it is important for the city to have its own project manager to keep the project moving along and to work on Columbus’ behalf. The commission agreed with Hayward that the position is necessary. Redevelopment Commission member George Dutro, who also serves on the Railroad Community Committee, says that the position is needed to ensure that the overpass is built “the Columbus way.” Don Trapp, another member of the Redevelopment Commission, said it just makes good sense having someone on-site looking out for the city’s best interests. He, as well as other city officials, have stated that the project should be aesthetically pleasing and compliment Columbus’ architecture.

No official action was taken on Hayward’s continuing work to negotiate a professional manager services contract. An update on these negotiations are expected at next month’s meeting of the redevelopment commission.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has announced a number of promotions among staff at the jail. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Jail Commander, Major John Martoccia, announced that they are:

Lieutenant Nichole Kinman promoted to Captain.

Martoccia says that Capt. Kinman has been with the jail for 13 years. She is a 2003 graduate of Columbus East High School. Capt. Kinman earned a BS in Criminal Justice from IUPUI’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice with a Criminal Behavior concentration from Tiffin University and a second Master’s degree in Homeland Security.

Sergeant Tyler Stillabower has been promoted to Lieutenant.

Martoccia says that Lt. Stillabower has been employed by the jail for almost 10 years. He is a 2008 graduate of Jennings County High School.

Correction’s Officer Kyle Weaver has been promoted to Sergeant

Martoccia says that Sgt. Weaver has been employed by the jail for two-and-a-half years. He has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

“These are excellent choices,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. He added that the three “have the experience they need and this is a good opportunity to advance their leadership skills.”

Two Jennings County residents were arrested on burglary charges earlier this week after an observant neighbor noticed suspicious activity.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that the 911 dispatch center received a call on Sunday, Sept. 10th about a suspicious vehicle parked in a neighbor’s driveway in Geneva Township. Deputies were able to intercept the vehicle and stopped it. They say that the vehicle’s trunk was open, exposing an air compressor and a weed eater. Authorities determined that the air compressor, weed eater and a gas can were stolen from an outbuilding behind a residence located on County Road 740 North.

Deputies arrested 35-year-old Jeremiah Anderson, of North Vernon, and 35-year-old Jerry L. Woodson, of Scipio. Authorities say that both men are facing preliminary charges of Burglary, Theft and Criminal Trespass.

The recovered property was returned to the owner.

A Columbus man was arrested Wednesday night on drug charges after Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity in the 600 block of Collier Street in Columbus. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department, says that when deputies arrived shortly after 11:30 p.m., they called out to a man in the area. They say that man, 46-year-old Timothy Kristian David, picked up a bat and began walking toward them. After several commands to “drop the bat”, deputies say that David complied.

Deputies report that as they spoke with David, one of them noticed a syringe with an orange cap sticking out of David’s sweatshirt pocket. David was then taken into custody. A search allegedly revealed a plastic baggie from David’s front sweatshirt pocket containing a large amount of a white crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. The baggie also contained three additional baggies with green leafy substances inside, which appeared to be marijuana.

After being taken to Columbus Regional Health for clearance, David was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Resisting Law Enforcement,
Possession of Methamphetamine,
Possession of Marijuana, and
Possess of a Legend Drug Injection Device.

Jackson says that David is being held without bond.

North Vernon Mayor Mike Ochs took part in the second annual Climate Leadership Summit this week. The gathering brings together mayors from across the state to take part in discussions and exercises aimed at progressing green jobs and a cleaner environment. Mayor Ochs says it was important for him to go to share North Vernon’s story about how it is transitioning from conventional to solar power…

09-15 MIKE OCHS-2

Mayor Ochs says that the change had to make financial sense for the city…

09-15 MIKE OCHS-3

The switch to solar is expected to take a couple of years before it is completed.

The White River Broadcasting family of stations presented the proceeds of last week’s “Help for Harvey” Radiothon Wednesday afternoon to the American Red Cross. Beth Baker is the philanthropy officer for the Southern Indiana Chapter of the Red Cross.

09-14 BETH BAKER-1

Baker specifically thanked the listeners of 101.5 WKKG, 106.1 The River and WIN 104.9 who took part in the 12-hour radiothon. Bob Morrison, station manager for White River Broadcasting, says that the results were far beyond what he had hoped for.

Baker says that donations are still pouring in to help those affected by Hurricane’s Harvey and Irma. She says that while all donations are appreciated, cash and check contributions help the most. Baker explains why.

09-14 BETH BAKER-2

Baker noted that the help received from area residents goes far beyond financial contributions.

09-14 BETH BAKER-3

Baker says a deployment sees volunteers serving in a disaster area for two weeks. During that time, they work 12-hour shifts, sleep on cots and sacrifice creature comforts. Despite this, she says that these volunteers are eager to serve.

For more information on how you can help the mission of the Red Cross, go to redcross.org.