A missing cat was reunited with her owners, courtesy of Columbus firefighters.

At approximately 9:47 a.m. on Wednesday, firefighters responded to service call at a hotel on Carrie Lane. They arrived and learned that Molly, a two-year-old cat, was last seen late Tuesday evening after her owners went to sleep.

The couple told firefighters they stopped at the motel as they traveling home home to Florida. When they awoke Wednesday morning, there was no sign of Molly. While searching the room, the cat’s owners discovered a small hole in a wall located under a sink. Suspecting that Molly may have entered the hole, a call was placed to the Columbus Fire Department asking for assistance.

Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says that Engine Company 5 arrived on the scene a short time later. Firefighters consulted with motel management and removed a two-foot by two-foot section of drywall. There were than able to see Molly tucked behind the bathtub area in a void space. When crews tried to reach for the cat, she moved away from the location where she was first seen.

Firefighters advised the owners that the cat would likely emerge when the scene calmed down. In the event that Molly did not return, firefighters provided the fire station phone number and an invitation to call back. After two hours, firefighters were called back to the scene.

When firefighters returned to the scene, they came with the fire station’s leaf blower. Wilson says firefighters placed the blower into the void space opposite of where Molly was seen. When the blower was turned on, Molly ran from her hiding place and was reunited with her owners. She was unharmed.

Nightly lane closures are scheduled to begin on the north and southbound lanes of I-65 beginning Friday.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says crews will be doing lane and shoulder resurfacing from mile-markers 64.5 to 65. Work will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each evening as part of the I-65 reconstruction and added travel lanes project in Jackson and Bartholomew Counties.

Lane closures are scheduled as follows:

• Friday, September 27 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Lane closures from MM 64.5 to MM 65, travel lanes milling/paving
• Monday, September 30 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Lane closures from MM 64.5 to MM 65, travel lanes milling/paving
• Tuesday, October 1 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Lane closures from MM 64.5 to MM 65, shoulder milling/paving

Drivers should continue to adhere to the 55 mph speed restriction and use extra caution in the ongoing construction zone between Columbus and Seymour. All trucks should use the left lane for travel.

The project is expected to be complete by next August. All work is dependent on the weather.

The Southern Indiana Center for the Arts has announced its October exhibit, “Mellencamp: Three Generations of Art.” The exhibit will feature works from John, Marilyn and Speck Mellencamp.

Officials with the Jackson County Visitors Center say this exhibit is sponsored by JCB and will feature many newer works from John Mellencamp. Also featured will be more paintings from Marilyn, John’s mother, who painted at SICA as a part of the Wednesday group which still meets at the center. Rounding out this family show will be the work of Speck Mellencamp, who graduated from Rhode Island School of Design earlier this year.

“We are thrilled to have this talented family of artists featured here at SICA. John’s generosity has provided SICA with the opportunity to reach so many people with Art in this region. To have a show of this caliber at our center is another example of John’s passion for art in the area. We will be hosting a special members only reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 10,” said Executive Director Sean Hildreth. This event will be for SICA members only and reservations will be required in advance.

The exhibit opens October 2. The paintings will be on display through November 2.

For more information, visit soinart.com.

The North Vernon Fire Department has a new firefighter.

Josh Skaggs was sworn-in during Monday night’s meeting of the North Vernon City Council by Mayor Mike Ochs. Skaggs served as volunteer firefighter for the city since 2016. Prior to that, he served as a volunteer firefighter for the Southwest Volunteer Fire Department in Bartholomew County.

Fire Chief Mike Cole explained that Skaggs will fill a position recently vacated when a firefighter left and joined the Columbus Fire Department.

The Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation has announced details of its upcoming Annual Meeting. It will be held Monday, Nov. 4th at The Commons from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Two cybersecurity experts, Christopher and Stephanie Domas, will deliver a joint keynote address.

“Each year, we are pleased to feature a keynote address that is of interest and importance to our community,” said Jason Hester, president of Greater Columbus EDC. “Chris and Stephanie Domas are individually by themselves sought-after speakers, so to bring this dynamic husband and wife duo to Columbus, Indiana, for their first joint presentation is a special treat.”

Christopher Domas is Senior Security Researcher for Intel Corporation. He specializes in embedded systems reverse-engineering and vulnerability analysis.

Stephanie Domas is Vice President of Research & Development for MedSec, a cybersecurity research company formed exclusively to help the health care industry and medical device manufacturers address cybersecurity at all stages of a medical device’s lifecycle. She is a registered Professional Engineer, a Certified Ethical Hacker and a frequent contributor and author on healthcare topics.

The ticketed luncheon event will also feature a report to the community on current and future activities of the Greater Columbus EDC. It is open to the public, but advance registration is required and space is limited. Individual tickets are $50 and reserved corporate tables of 8 are available for $400. Registration can be done online at ColumbusIN.org, or by calling 812-378-7300 by close of business on Oct. 23rd.

A burn ban is in effect in Jackson County.

County Commissioners say that Jackson County has been impacted by moderate drought condition and is at an elevated risk of fire danger. A County Wide Burn Ban has been issued, including but not limited to the following:

1. Campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter X 6 inches high or larger;
2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane;
3. The burning of debris, such as timber for vegetation, including such debris that results from building construction activities and other open-air fires.
4. The use of burn barrels for any open burning at residential structures.

County officials say this declaration will remain in effect until further notice.

A two-vehicle crash closed a section of State Road 9 Monday night.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies were dispatched to the scene at State Road 9 and E CR 225 N at about 8:40 p.m. Investigators say that a vehicle driven by 51-year-old Victoria Hiatt, of Hope, had been traveling southbound on State Road 9 when she rear-ended a truck driven by 30-year-old Jared Rutan, of Columbus. Police say Rutan was stopped while attempting to turn eastbound onto E 225 N when his truck was hit from the rear.

Hiatt was transported by Lifeline to an Indianapolis hospital. Her condition is unknown.

A four-year-old child, who was in Rutan’s truck, was later transported to Columbus Regional Hospital where his condition is also unknown.

The crash remains under investigation.

Columbus Police arrested a local man on multiple charges including four warrants after he was spotted riding a bicycle on Saturday afternoon. At approximately 4:30 p.m., CPD officers saw 32-year-old Charles A. Reed, of Columbus, near 13th Street and Sycamore Drive. The officers confirmed several arrest warrants for Reed and he was taken into custody a short time later.

While searching a small bag that belonged to Reed, officers reported finding methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. In addition to the four outstanding warrants, Reed is facing preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Cummins Inc. on Monday announced a four-month pilot project in Indiana to evaluate an on-demand transit solution, in partnership with Purdue University and Energy Systems Network (ESN). The pilot begins September 30.

The collaborative experiment, called Leaper X, includes a web-based mobile application powered by Cummins, and a small trial fleet of designated campus shuttles in addition to Purdue’s traditional campus buses. Using the app, individuals can self-select how, when, and where they use Purdue’s campus transportation services.

The pilot initiative will allow Cummins to test connected technologies and gather data.

Select destinations on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus will allow commuters to initiate and manage transportation preferences using the Leaper X app. Once a ride is requested through the app and routed to a free Leaper X shuttle, users will be picked and dropped off within minutes. In addition to on-demand ride requests, users can view traditional campus bus routes, enabling riders to compare options and make informed, real-time decisions on the best way to travel.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested after a weekend car chase in Bartholomew County.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at about 7:11 p.m. Saturday, a deputy tried to make a traffic stop north of West Lowell Road on US 31. Police say the vehicle was being driven by the juvenile, who was weaving in and out of traffic and nearly striking multiple other vehicles in his attempt to evade capture at speeds over 80 mph.

Authorities say that passengers inside the vehicle called 911 during the pursuit, stating that the driver would not pullover to let them out.

The vehicle turned west onto West County Road 500 N at a high rate of speed, causing it to go airborne. The driver then lost control and the vehicle landed in a nearby field.

While the passengers remained inside the vehicle, the driver fled on foot. He was located a short time later and taken into custody without incident.

Police say that multiple bags of marijuana were inside the vehicle.

The juvenile driver was remanded to the Youth Detention Center on preliminary charges of:

– Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle
– Criminal Confinement
– Possession
– Reckless Driving

The two passengers were later released without charges.