The trial for a former reserve Nashville police officer accused of two misdemeanors in a pursuit of a motorcycle that ended in a fatality has been delayed. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that the new bench trial date for 25-year-old Leonard Burch, of Columbus, is set for June 29 in Bartholomew Superior Court 2.

Burch is accused of taking part in a high-speed chase of 18-year-old Xavier Scrogham, of Hope, last August. Scrogham later crashed and died.

The paper is reporting that Burch was charged with False Informing and Reckless Driving, both misdemeanors, and could spend up to 240 days in jail.

For more, visit www.therepublic.com.

Work on determining the best use of the former airport in Walesboro is ongoing. Jeff Bergman, city county planning director, explains…

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Bergman talks about the flooding issue at the site…

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Bergman asked for the Columbus Redevelopment Commission this week to approve a resolution to have a surveying company conduct a tributary topographic survey of the property.

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Bergman says the survey should be done this spring.

The Redevelopment Commission approved the request.

Student groups from Decatur County and Shelby County were among those that joined the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for the 2016-17 My Community, My Vision event Wednesday afternoon. Each of the five student groups, with support from graduate students from Ball State University’s School of Urban Planning, presented their community vision plans during a luncheon in downtown Indianapolis.

“The students did an excellent job of identifying opportunities for their communities to invest,” said IHCDA Executive Director Jacob Sipe. “We look forward to supporting these five municipalities as they implement all or portions of these plans in the coming months.”

Last September, local units of government were encouraged to identify high school students in their community to participate in the program. Organizers say that over the past several months, students from Greensburg and Shelbyville worked alongside their city leaders, IHCDA staff and Ball State University faculty and students to outline their ideas for enhancing the development and quality of life in their hometowns.

“Young people should always have a seat at the table when municipalities – both small and large – identify strategies to make their communities better,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch who serves as board chair of IHCDA. “I’m excited to see the plans presented today and visit these communities in the future to see some of the projects become a reality.”

Officials say that the MCMV was developed so that young people in Indiana won’t feel that they have to leave their hometowns in order to achieve their dreams.

Other students taking part in Wednesday’s event were from Crawfordsville, Fort Wayne and Greenfield.

Schneck Medical Center has been awarded The Advisory Board Company’s 2017 Workplace of the Year Award. The annual award recognizes hospitals and health systems nationwide that have outstanding levels of employee engagement.

Schneck officials say that the Seymour hospital is one of twenty organizations nationwide to receive the award. This marks the second consecutive year Schneck has been honored.

“We’re honored to receive this award, especially for a second consecutive year. We are proud to be recognized for having a healthcare team that go above and beyond, and live Schneck’s mission to improve the health of our communities,” said Kathy Covert, MSM, CHM, Vice President of Workforce and Organizational Development. “It’s a celebration of the individuals who work at Schneck and a testament to their dedication and commitment.”

Engaged employees, as defined by The Advisory Board Company, are those who exhibit both loyalty and commitment to the organization.

The Columbus City Council voted Tuesday night to approve just over $2.4 million in additional appropriations to this year’s budget. Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, explained that these requests were expected when the city put its budget together late last year.

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The Department of Local Government Finance initially mandated a $3.6 million property tax credit amount for the city. City officials believed then that the final number would be closer to two-million dollars. Tuesday night’s action returned $1.6 million to the budget that was removed under the DLGF’s earlier estimates.

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As for what the additional appropriation will be spent on.

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The city council’s vote to approve the additional appropriation was unanimous.

Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing has announced plans to expand its North American corporate headquarters in Columbus. Company officials say that construction is expected to begin this month. They add that this $17.5 million investment will add more than 150,000 square feet, bringing the facility’s total space to 1.3 million square feet.

TIEM explains that the goal of the expansion is to reduce internal logistics route distance by 50 percent, as well as expand space for the business’ growing aftermarket parts enterprise.

“This is an important step to position Toyota Industrial Equipment for the future,” said Tony Miller, senior vice president at TIEM. “This expansion will enable us to improve our operations, drive out waste and reduce total lead time,” said Miller.

Toyota completed a $16 million dollar expansion at this facility in 2015, which added more than 50,000 square feet. The company grew further in Columbus earlier this year when it constructed a fitness and wellness facility for associates and their families.

TIEM officials did not give a timetable for when they expect this latest expansion to be completed.

Community leaders in Bartholomew County will be kicking off a new effort to stem the heroin and opiate epidemic in the community with an event Wednesday night at The Commons.

The “Move the Needle” community forum was to feature author Sam Quinones, who wrote the book “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic.” However, organizers say that a medical emergency will keep Quinones from attending. Organizers say that the community will still get to hear from the author, as Quinones’ family has granted permission for them to use a video presentation that covers many of the topics he would have addressed in person.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that he and members of the city council will be at the event. Prior to taking office last year, Lienhoop talked about the growing problems caused by drug addiction in and around Columbus. Despite that, the Mayor says he was surprised by the depth of the problem and how it affects addicts, their families and the community as a whole.

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While council members will be in attendance, no official action will be taken. The event is scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is free to attend.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close State Road 135 near Freetown on Monday to replace a drainage structure. The structure, at a branch of Salt Creek’s south fork about five-miles north of U.S. Highway 50, is being replaced as part of a $456,650 two-bridge contract.

INDOT officials anticipate installation of the new 10′ X 5′ concrete box culvert will take about three-weeks to complete.

INDOT says that Olco of Batesville, the state’s contractor, will also build a 142-inch arch culvert on State Road 135 at a branch of Hamilton Creek, about 7.5 miles north of State Road 58 just east of Christianburg Road in Brown County. Officials say that work on this structure will begin once the highway reopens in Jackson County. The Brown County project is expected to close traffic there for one month.

INDOT says that other area bridges on State Road 135 will be impacted over this construction season. They are:

• S.R. 135 over Little Beanblossom Creek located 1.7 miles north of S.R. 45 in Brown County
• S.R. 135 over Moser Branch located 1.57 miles north of S.R. 45 in Brown County
• S.R. 135 over Bear Creek located 1.26 miles south of S.R. 252 in Morgan County
• S.R. 135 over a branch of Bear Creek south of Morgantown in Morgan County
• S.R. 135 over Hamilton Creek located 9.45 miles north of S.R. 58 in Brown County

In addition, INDOT says that a nearby Jackson County bridge on State Road 58 at Bee Creek located, about three-miles west of State Road 135, is also being replaced.

Main Street of HOPE is holding another public workshop next week about the Downtown Revitalization Plan. Organizers say that this workshop will be held at 6 p.m. on April 27th in the Fellowship Hall at Hope Moravian Church. Residents are invited to give their thoughts on recommendations and priorities for the plan prior to the completion of a study on the project.

Officials say the town received a planning grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for a Downtown Revitalization Plan. The plan is meant to “establish a road map to create a market-viable and sustainable downtown, as a unique destination within the tri-county region.”

Organizers say that ideas and concepts are grouped into three main categories. They are: Building appearance and business vitality, Main Street as Hope’s “front door” and the Town Square as a community focal point.

Those who take part in the workshop will have an opportunity to review the revised recommendations and strategies, provide comments and talk to Main Street of HOPE board members and the consultant team.

Business is great at Columbus Municipal Airport. Bryan Payne, airport director, told the Columbus Redevelopment Commission Monday night that there is a need for additional hangars.

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Payne says that a recent survey sent out by the airport gleaned some important information.

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Payne says that plans that the airport had in place for additional hangar development had to be changed.

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The plan now is to further development on the south side of the property, near existing hangars and the self-fuel depot. Payne says that there are utility concerns that must be addressed, but airport officials are meeting with utility representatives on Tuesday to gather more information. Payne says he expects to have an updated plan to present to the Redevelopment Commission next month.