Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby counties are among among those sharing in $22.1 million in funding to improve internet access.

Governor Eric Holcomb announced the funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects across the state. All as part of the initial round of the Next Level Broadband program.

“Hoosiers need affordable, quality internet regardless of where they live, work or go to school,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Access to broadband brings countless opportunities and that’s why I’m excited to see these key infrastructure projects positively impact economic development, health, agriculture and quality of life.”

This funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and commercial locations in 12 counties.

The $100 million Next Level Broadband program is the largest single state investment in broadband. For the initial round of funding, service providers could apply for up to $5 million per project to expand service to unserved areas if they provided at least a 20 percent match.

In addition to the $22.1 million awarded through Next Level Broadband, state officials say the seven telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives contributed $14 million in matching funds, resulting in $36.1 million total investment for broadband.

Miles Communication Corporation will serve approximately 366 unserved households and 135 unserved businesses, in primarily rural portions of Bartholomew, Jennings and Shelby counties. State officials say that applicants will be provide unserved areas levels of up to one-gigabyte download and upload service, the highest speed available on the market.

The requested grant amount is $2.8 million. A local match of $2.9 million brings the total project cost to more than $5.7 million.

A local man was arrested after he reportedly caused a disturbance at a Columbus restaurant. At approximately 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Columbus Police were called to the drive-thru at Taco Bell on 25th Street. Officers stopped a vehicle leaving the restaurant parking lot after employees told them that the driver, 31-year-old Michael P. McGinity, of Columbus, was upset over a food order. He allegedly began punching the drive-thru window and demanding free food.

While speaking to McGinity, the officers detected the strong odor of alcohol on his breath and noted that his speech was slurred. Police say McGinity was uncooperative and ultimately taken into custody after he refused to submit to certified chemical test for intoxication. Officers got a search warrant for a blood draw at Columbus Regional Hospital, leading to his arrest on preliminary charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Failure to Identify and Obstruction of Justice.

A one-million dollar investment in new equipment is expected to create seven new jobs at Rightway Fasteners.

Company representatives approached the Columbus City Council this week to request a tax abatement on the costs of a new cold-forging machine, four sorting machines and two shot blast machines. Rightway says the equipment is needed to meet the needs of increased production demand.

Council approved the 10-year personal property abatement.

The Columbus Fire Department has two new firefighters. They were sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

Jared Lucas is a 30 year old resident of Morgantown and a 2007 graduate of Brown County High School. He is a volunteer Firefighter with the Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department and is employed as an Emergency Medical Technician with Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Services. In addition to the Emergency Medical Technician certification, Lucas holds an Indiana Firefighter I and II certification.

Thomas Nienaber is a 28 year old resident of Columbus and a 2010 Graduate of Columbus East High School. Nienaber is a volunteer with the Elizabethtown Volunteer Fire Department and was previously employed by the North Vernon Fire Department. Nienaber is certified as an Indiana Emergency Medical Technician, Rope Rescue Technician and Confined Space Rescue Technician. Nienaber also holds state certifications including Firefighter I and II, Hazardous Materials Operations, and Technical Rescue Awareness.

Lucas and Nienaber will under-go a department familiarization program as part of their on the job training. After completing this training program, both will receive shift and station assignments.

Columbus Police says rumors about a local kidnapping are false. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, explains that there was a social media post being shared online in regards to the abduction of a little girl on Wednesday. CPD says there have been no reported child abductions in Columbus.

Columbus Police are investigating a report of a domestic disturbance/battery between two adults involving a red van or SUV in the parking lot of Captain D’s on National Road, as well as an unidentified second location. They stress that this case does not involve a child.

If you have any information about the vehicle mentioned, or the people involved, you are asked to call the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

The Bartholomew County Highway Dept. says that Carr Hill Road, between I-65 and The Orchard Subdivision, will be closed to all thru traffic. You are asked to avoid this area until further notice.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

Electronic smoking devices and vaping will be treated as cigarettes and smoking under a proposal that received initial approval during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Columbus City Council.

Kylee Jones, tobacco awareness coordinator with Healthy Communities at Columbus Regional Health made a presentation to Columbus City Council in June, asking for the amendment. She says that use of e-cigarettes is skyrocketing among the youth in our community and the devices are possibly as harmful to public health as actual cigarettes.

Jones was joined by other supporters of the measure, including Dr. Thomas Sonderman, CRH vice president and chief medical officer. He says that such an ordinance would be beneficial to all workers in the city.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation also supports the change. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts says that youths of today have a lot oh hazards to look out for.

Council approved the measure on a unanimous vote. It will need to pass a second reading, set for Aug. 20, before it becomes codified.

The Seymour Police Department has received two new traffic safety grants from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. These new grants are meant to help cover the expenses of traffic safety efforts as Seymour children head back to school.

One grant was prepared to help stop distracted drivers, especially near school buses and student drop-off locations. The grant will cover SPD overtime enforcement expenses. The department says it will be putting officers on school buses to help spot distracted and dangerous driving.

The second grant targets school bus stop-arm violators. When a school bus has its stop-arm extended, drivers behind the bus and traffic flowing the opposite direction must stop and wait until the stop-arm is retracted. The Seymour Police Department is one of 39 law enforcement agencies across the state sharing in the $380,000 worth of grants. This money will be spent to cover officer overtime to look for violators for the next two months.

Seymour Community Schools resume classes on Thursday, Aug. 8.

The search for a man wanted in Jackson County ended with his arrest and the arrest of another man in Jennings County.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Aug.6, deputies with the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team-Counter Drug Unit continued their investigation into locating the whereabouts of Michael A. Thomas, who was wanted on a warrant for Battery. Police say that Thomas has a lengthy violent criminal history, including pistol whipping a female acquaintance then holding her against her will.

Deputies had received recent information that Thomas knew he was wanted and would attempt to evade law enforcement, while making comments that he would not go back to prison. With the assistance of the Indiana National Guard/Counter Drug Unit Helicopter, Thomas’ location was determined to be at 9340 N CR 200 E, a location which itself has an illegal drug history along with the homeowner, Russell Cathey.

Deputies arrived at the address and made contact with Cathey, as well as several other people. While on scene, surveillance units advised that a vehicle that was at the residence earlier was now back in the area, but quickly tried to leave the area upon seeing the police presence. Authorities were able to stop this vehicle and Michael Thomas was taken into custody without incident.

The investigation revealed that as deputies arrived at the residence, Thomas fled into the woods and had been picked up by the vehicle. That was the which was stopped by police. Thomas was arrested on the outstanding warrant.

As the investigation continued on scene, Cathey was found to be in possession of a baggie of methamphetamine. He was charged with a Possession of Methamphetamine and Maintaining a Common Nuisance, both Level 6 felonies.

The other subjects on scene were released. The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says the investigation is ongoing and more arrest are expected.

Some Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp. customers are under a Boil Water Advisory.

A water main repair Tuesday afternoon cut off water for about two hours for customers on South Wood Lake Drive, Wood Lake Lane, Crossing Lane and some customers on County Road 200 S and Woodland Farms Drive.

A Boil Water Advisory is in effect for these customers until 4 p.m. on Friday August 9. They should bring water to a full boil for five minutes before consumption or use in cooking and food preparation.