The Columbus Area Arts Council’s annual fundraiser is set for Saturday, October 21st. With a nod to the event’s tagline: “Designing the Future,” spokeswoman Kathryn Armstrong explains that this year’s event will be held at the Columbus Learning Center.

Armstrong says the Columbus Learning Center represents the future of arts and design in the community.

Tickets go on sale soon.

For more information on UnCommon Cause, visit artsincolumbus.org.

The Bartholomew County Public Library has received an $11,000 grant digitize historic materials related to the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller family and 301 Washington Street, the former site of Irwin’s Bank and of Irwin Management Company. The project, titled “301 Washington Street: Cornerstone of Columbus, Indiana,” is a partnership between Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives and Bartholomew County Historical Society.

Jason Hatton, director of the Bartholomew County Public Library, considers this project an important first step in making the County’s history available online. “Receiving this grant is an opportunity to bring together materials held by three different cultural institutions: the Library, Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives, and Bartholomew County Historical Society. Bartholomew County has such a rich history, and this digitization project will bring a small but significant collection of materials spanning a century to the public’s eye.” According to Tricia Gilson, CIAA archivist and curator, 301 Washington Street collection is of interest to researchers locally, nationally, and internationally. “Noted architect Alexander Girard designed the interiors at 301 Washington Street for J. Irwin Miller in 1962 and 1972. With the opening of the Miller House and the current exhibition devoted to Girard and organized by the Vitra Design Museum, CIAA’s 301 collection is the most frequently requested collection,” says Gilson.

When the project is completed, officials say that approximately 500 documents, 120 photographs and slides, 36 architectural drawings, and 70 material sample boards will be available on CIAA’s website, the Indiana State Library’s Indiana Memory portal, and the Digital Public Library of America. The project is slated to be finished by May 2018.

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Indiana State Library.

Work continues on State Road 135 in Johnson County. The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it will relocate milling and paving operations next week to the nearly 5.5 mile-long section between Bargersville and Stones Crossing. This work is part of an ongoing $6.1 million pavement preservation project in Johnson County that includes U.S. Highway 31, between County Line Road and Stop 18, and State Road 135 between County Line Road and Curry Road.

INDOT says that crews are scheduled to begin milling the asphalt pavement in State Road 135’s southbound lane near Smokey Row Road at 7 a.m. Monday. Next Wednesday, paving should begin along the same route. INDOT officials anticipate paving could continue for up to ten days. They add that all of this work is scheduled to take place during daylight hours. No work is scheduled over the Labor Day weekend, including Friday, Sept. 1. INDOT stresses that all of this work is dependent on the weather.

INDOT officials note that while paving operations on that section of State Road 135 are starting up, construction activities within the section between County Line Road and Curry Road are winding down.

In the north section, mainline paving resumes Wednesday night in State Road 135’s northbound left lane north of Meridian Parke Drive. The schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday & Thursday night—milling and paving
• Friday night—milling only
• Sunday & Monday nights—paving only

The Columbus Fire Department is thanking a local business for its donation of smoke alarms. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that CFD received 30 battery powered smoke alarms from the Columbus Lowe’s Store on Monday. He says these smoke alarms will be provided to families who are currently without working smoke alarms in the department’s ongoing efforts to save lives, homes and property.

Columbus Firefighters met with store management and employees to thank them for the contribution. “We are happy to do it,” said Chris Johnson, manager of the Lowe’s location in Columbus. “For a project like this, we have the opportunity to do the right thing for the right people,” Johnson said. He said that his team is always eager to be involved in the community. Wilson adds that Lowe’s has partnered with the Columbus Police and Fire Departments the past two years in providing a venue for the annual City of Columbus Public safety Family Fun Day event. This event, held in the Lowe’s parking lot, is a free community event where community member have the opportunity to learn more the City’s emergency services providers and equipment.

CFD Chief Mike Compton also thanked the store and its employees. “This donation comes at a time when our on-hand supply of alarms has been depleted. We are very appreciative of Lowe’s generosity,” said Compton.” He went on to say that the department relies on donations to be able to provide smoke alarms to families in need. Wilson says that these donations are needed. He noted that CFD has responded to 19 residential fires causing damages to property of at least $1000. Of those incidents, he says that eight homes did not have working smoke alarms.

If you are in need of a working smoke alarm, Wilson says they are available at the Columbus Fire Department Administrative offices at 1101 Jackson Street. He says an alarm can be picked up Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you would like to donate a new smoke alarm, you can do so at the same location, during the same hours.

The Town of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for a number of their customers. Officials with the utility say that the relocation of a water line is affecting the following addresses:

4106 Yellowwood Road to 4127 Yellowwood Road;
3505 Mockingbird Lane to 3601 Mockingbird Lane;
3479 Somerset Lake Road to 4294 Somerset Lake Road;
2100 Bambi Lane to 2260 Bambi Lane;
3664 Cardinal Drive to 3691 Cardinal Drive.

Residents and businesses in the affected areas should boil all cooking and drinking water through 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Columbus Fire Department is fully staffed after the hiring of three new firefighters. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that Firefighters Chris Baker, Monty Ball and Ryan Hirtzel were sworn in by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

Baker is a 33-year-old Batesville resident. CFD says that he is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician and Vehicle and Machinery Extrication Technician. He also holds a State of Indiana Firefighter I & II certification. Baker has served 12 years with the Batesville Volunteer Fire Department and four years as a full time firefighter with the Greensburg Fire Department.

Ball is a 40-year-old resident of Waldron. CFD says that he is a certified Paramedic Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, Vehicle and Machinery Extrication Technician, and holds a State of Indiana Firefighter I & II certification. Ball has worked for the Greenfield Fire Department for the past 10 years. He has also served as a part time firefighter for the Greenwood Fire Department and has worked in public safety for a 13 years.

Hirtzel is a 29-year-old graduate of Seymour High School. CFD says that Hirtzel is certified as a Paramedic Technician with additional training in Pediatric Life Support, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. He also holds a State of Indiana Firefighter I & II Certification and a Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness certification. Hirtzel has served with Jackson County EMS for 9 years.

Wilson says that these firefighters will undergo a department orientation and training program before receiving their shift and station assignments.

Monthly real estate statistics from F.C. Tucker Company show a housing market with homes fetching higher prices while being on the market a shorter amount of time. According to the report, year-to-date home prices in Bartholomew County rose 4.2 percent to $201,054 and homes flew off the market 13 days quicker.

Jennings County’s average home price dropped 3.1 percent to $108,432, while Shelby County’s dropped 0.5 percent to $126,249. F.C. Tucker says that these the only two counties in the region to dip in July. Brown County saw the largest year-to-year increase in average sale price, jumping 15.3 percent to $218,057. Johnson County say a substantial increase of 6.5 percent to $201,429, while Decatur County homes increased a modest 1.2 percent over last year, with an average sale price of $131,519. The report says that Johnson County was the only county in the region to see a decrease in year-to-year pending home sales, dropping 5.4 percent.

A suspect man who was wanted on a felony probation warrant for burglary was arrested Saturday after he allegedly fled from police after an early morning break-in was reported. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 6:45 a.m., a homeowner in the 1700 block of Chandler Lane reported a man broke into her home, stole her purse, and fled on a moped. A short time later, officers saw a man nearby riding a moped and attempted to stop him after he disregarded a stop sign. The suspect refused to pull over and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Police say the suspect, 20-year-old Brandon L. Richardson, of Columbus, crashed after traveling through a field in the 6200 block of Regency Drive. The chase continued on foot for a short time until Richardson was arrested.

Harris says that officers determined that the moped Richardson was driving had been reported stolen in Bartholomew County earlier this year. They also reported finding the stolen purse stolen inside the storage compartment of the moped.

Richardson, whom police say had three Bartholomew County warrants, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Burglary
Possession of Stolen Property
Resisting Law Enforcement (Vehicle)
Resisting Law Enforcement (on Foot)

The West Nile Virus has been found in Bartholomew County. The county health department says that mosquitoes collected in Bartholomew County have tested positive for the virus. This is the first time West Nile has been detected in Bartholomew County. Authorities say that they will be concentrating their mosquito control efforts in the areas where the virus was found.

You are urged to take steps to remove standing water from your property, as they are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. You should also take precautions at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. That includes wearing long sleeves and using an insect repellent containing DEET.

Authorities say that West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that have bitten an infected bird. Infected humans usually show symptoms three to 15 days after they are bitten. Health Department officials say that most people who get infected wither have no symptoms, or very mild symptoms. They add that those who suffer from the most serious cases are over 50 year of age or have weakened immune systems.

North Vernon Police arrested two people Sunday night after responding to a report of someone holding a knife to a baby at Oak Meadows Apartments.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that police received the call just before 7 p.m. Officers saw the vehicle pass them as they were entering the complex parking lot. They stopped the vehicle and detained 25-year-old Kelby R. Leonard and 26-year-old Joshua R. Collett, both of North Vernon. Richmond says the pair had two toddlers in the vehicle with them.

Sgt. Richmond says that the investigation revealed that Leonard had driven Collett to an address in Oak Meadow apartments with the two children in the car. Once there, they say that Collett began arguing with a family member about money. The argument became heated and Collett allegedly produced a meat cleaver style knife and demanded money and threatened the people in the apartment. In addition, police say that Collett threatened the people if the police were called, including a one-year-old child that was in the apartment. Police say that Leonard knew what was occurring in the apartment and left the two children, ages one and two, unattended in the vehicle to go warn Collett to leave with her before the police arrived.

Sgt. Richmond says that Collett and Leonard were both arrested and transported to the Jennings County Jail. He says that Collett was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, a prescription only drug, and methamphetamine. The knife used in the original complaint was located under the front passenger seat of the vehicle that was stopped by the officers.

Collett is facing preliminary charges of:

Robbery while Armed with a Deadly Weapon;
Intimidation;
Possession of Methamphetamine;
Neglect of a Dependent;
Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon;
Legend Drug Violation;
Maintaining a Common Nuisance;
Possession of paraphernalia;
Interfering with Reporting a Crime;
Disorderly conduct.

Police say that Collett was also wanted on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear on original charges of Criminal Confinement, Battery with Injury and Domestic Battery. Collect is being held without bond.

Leonard is facing preliminary charges of:

Conspiracy to Commit Robbery with a Deadly Weapon;
Aiding, Inducing or Causing Robbery;
Neglect of a Dependent;
Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

Leonard is being held on $1,055 cash bond.