A ceremony to remember those service members who are prisoners of war or missing in action is set for Friday evening. Bob Miller is an organizer for this event.

Miller explains that 55 Bartholomew County residents are among those who haven’t come home.

Miller talks about what drives him.

Friday’s ceremony is set for at 6:30 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans. Ret. Army Chaplain Col. Charles Hobert McDaniel, Jr. is the guest speaker. His father went missing during the Korean War. His dog tag was among the items and remains returned by the North Korean government last year.

You are invited.

Vaping is permitted in smoke and vape shops in Columbus, so long as those shops are in compliance with state law. That was the opinion city officials and legal counsel made during Tuesday evening’s city council meeting.

The council gave final approval on August 20 to amend the city’s smoking ordinance to include vaping and electronic cigarettes as being banned from businesses. Those devices are now treated as cigarettes. There was a question when the ordinance was amended about the possibility of exempting vape shops from the ban. That question is now settled in the eyes of local officials.

A number of organizations, including Healthy Communities and the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, asked for the ban earlier this year. All of those who spoke in favor of the ban specifically said it is needed to insure the health of area youth.

The ordinance goes into effect on October 16th.

Walgreens and the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center are hosting a flu shot clinic on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the LCNFC, located at 1039 Sycamore Street.

The event is open to the public, courtesy of Walgreens, and is for those who are
uninsured, under-insured or even have insurance including MdWise HIP2.0 and Medicare Part B. Vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis and are for ages 11 and over. Appointments are not necessary, but residents are encouraged to call to sign up so sufficient vaccines are available.

For more information or to sign up, call the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at (812) 379-1630 or email info@lcnfc.org.

A Columbus woman was arrested early Wednesday morning on auto theft and drug-related charges.

A Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 3000 block of North National Road at 2:11 a.m. Authorities say that the driver, 44-year-old Samantha Banks, was unable to provide paperwork for the vehicle.

Deputies confirmed that the vehicle was owned by an inmate in the Bartholomew County Jail. The inmate reportedly told officers that Banks should not be in possession of the vehicle and requested that it be reported as stolen.

Columbus Police responded with their police dog, Argo, who alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. A search allegedly revealed drug-related items inside. Banks was arrested on preliminary charges of Auto Theft, Possession of Drug-Related Items and Driving while Suspended

Banks remains behind bars in lieu of $70,000 bond.

A Jefferson County man was arrested Tuesday night in North Vernon.

The North Vernon Police Department says that at about 9:18 p.m., officers arrested 18-year-old Preston Bowling, of Deputy, after he allegedly battered a 14-year-old juvenile in the Walmart parking lot. The child was treated at St. Vincent Jennings Hospital for what are described as “moderate” injuries. Bowling is facing a preliminary charge of Battery.

North Vernon officers were assisted by deputies from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

A number of Jennings County High School students were detained and charged after they walked out of the school Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that the event began with a small group of students staging a demonstration inside the school. The students then moved their group to the side walk just outside of the building. The police department was asked to intervene when students began leaving the school grounds without permission.

Nine students were located, detained and brought to the police department. The students were charged with Truancy and released to a parent or guardian.

Police did not indicate what the students were protesting.

A reminder that the Canadian Forces Snowbirds flight demonstration team will be headlining the “Birds and Brews” event on Wednesday, Sept. 18th at Columbus Municipal Airport. City officials say that Columbus is one of 11 cities in the United States that will be hosting the Snowbirds this year.

The Snowbirds are based out of 15 Wing Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and are comprised of just over 80 Canadian Armed Forces members, 24 who will travel to 40 locations across Canada and the United States for the 2019 season.

Birds and Brews is a free community event held at the airport to celebrate aviation in the community. Activities begin at 4 p.m. and include children’s activities, a Beergarden, a U.S. military flight demonstration, C-130 parachute jump and hot air balloon glow. You are invited

For more information, visit columbus.in.gov/airport/programs-events/birds-and-brews/.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver who died Saturday in a fiery crash on I-65, south of State Road 46 in Columbus.

Coroner Clayton Nolting announced Monday evening that dental records were used to identify 25-year-old Kayze Danielle Gilstrap, of Bedford. Gilstrap was was reportedly backing up in the left lane of northbound I-65 prior when an SUV crashed into the rear of her car. Authorities say it appeared Gilstrap may have been trying to reach a crossover between the north and southbound lanes.

The driver of the SUV, 31-year-old Vanessa Rosborough, of Indianapolis was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Rosborough’s passenger, 28-year-old Emily McNiff, of Fishers, was flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis for treatment.

The crash is being investigated by the Columbus Police Department.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission has given approval to pay for the increased cost estimates for the downtown overpass project.

Those cost estimates have jumped more than $5 million dollars. The city is responsible for half of the cost of the project. Dave Hayward, city engineer, spoke during Monday’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission about the project.

This means that an estimated $2.6 million dollars in additional funds will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project.

Hayward notes that work has gone fairly smooth thus far.

In addition to utility work, Hayward says state officials also did some archeology work.

Hayward adds that he doesn’t yet know if anything was found.

Hayward says bids on the project are due next month.

INDOT says that an estimated $2.6 million dollars in additional funds will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project. The city’s final payment to INDOT, expected to be around $4.6 million, is due December 1st.

The Redevelopment Commission approved making the payment out of funds from the Central Tax Increment Financing area. However this expenditure exceeds the commission’s spending authority, so the City Council would also need to sign off on the proposal.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop has announced the formation of the City of Columbus Bicentennial Commission. The team is charged with organizing the commemoration of the City’s bicentennial in 2021 in ways that best fit and honor past residents, current residents, businesses, guests and all who have been impacted by the city.

Honorary Bicentennial Chairs are Jim Henderson, Pam Lienhoop, and Sherry Stark. The Executive Committee will be chaired by Mayor Lienhoop. Appointments to this committee include:

• Dr. Jim Roberts – Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation
• Carl Lienhoop – Bartholomew County Commissioner
• Tyshaun Allen – CAMEO
• Cindy Frey – Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
• Jim Bickel – Columbus Regional Health
• John Burnett – Community Education Coalition
• Cummins Inc. Representative
• Celeste Yonushonis – The Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County
• Claudia Sanchez-Davila – City of Columbus Human Rights Commission
• Ryan Hou – LHP
• Karen Niverson – Columbus Area Visitors Center

Diane Doup and Tobi Herron have been selected to co-chair the Bicentennial Steering Committee and will be planning the programming of events, fundraising, special projects, and historical data collection. Officials say that multiple sub-committees will be set up to help with various areas and will have opportunities for residents, schools, churches and other organizations to get involved.

You can more information online at columbus.in.gov/bicentennial/.