Jackson County REMC is making plans to begin providing high speed internet to some Bartholomew County customers, according to county commissioners.

County Commissioner Tony London said that the REMC plan and other announcements will soon be unveiled after confidentiality agreements were lifted last week on bidders who offered to provide high speed internet to rural parts of the state under a federal bidding process.

London has been heading up the county’s efforts to improve internet access in remote parts of the county. He said that Jackson County REMC is definitely going to be building out service in the southeastern part of Bartholomew County. He said that work is expected to start early next year for a small part of the county.

A company called Charter won one of the auctions and they will be providing broadband internet in the southwestern part of the county. And at least two more companies are considering providing service in the northeastern and northwestern corners of the county. But commissioners stressed that the actual plans are not yet concrete and there are as of yet no dates for digging to start.

Following yesterday’s regular county commissioners meeting, the commissioners were meeting to discuss ways to lower any obstacles that companies might face in bringing broadband services to the county, said Commissioners President Larry Kleinhenz. Kleinhenz said the goal is to make the bidders want to come to Bartholomew County first, rather than waiting years to build services here.

Between state and federal funds, about $250 million dollars in new money is being allocated to improve rural broadband in Indiana, London said.

Two people were injured Monday morning after a crash on rural 25th Street east of Columbus.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 8300 block of 25th Street at about 5:20 yesterday morning to find two vehicles with heavy front-end damage.

The driver of a van, 66-year-old Wayne L. Fields of Hartsville was flown by helicopter to a trauma center in Indianapolis. The driver of a car, 25-year-old Lane M. Luhn of North Vernon was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital by CRH paramedics.

The accident remains under investigation. Indiana State Police, Clay Township and Columbus Township volunteer firefighters also assisted at the scene.

Bartholomew and Brown counties are under a travel watch this morning after the overnight blast of snow.

Under a watch, only essential travel such as to and from work or in emergency situations is recommended. Emergency action plans should be implemented by businesses, schools government agencies and other organizations. Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that crews are out working to clear the roadways, but many remain slick and snow-covered.

If you have to be driving, you should allow extra time when you are travelling and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Jackson and Jennings counties remain under a travel advisory, the lowest level of travel advisory under the state system.

6:30 a.m. update

Bartholomew County Sheriffs deputies are on the scene of a serious vehicle crash on State Road 46/25th Street at County Road 500E.

Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center says the road is closed in the 8300 block of 25th Street and is expected to be closed for an extended period. You should avoid the area if you can.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a winter weather advisory for our area starting at 4 p.m. this afternoon and running through 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The agency is forecasting up to two inches of snow with the heaviest snowfall late this evening. With the already cold ground, you can expect that the snow will stick and roads will get slippery. Which will mean a challenging drive into work tomorrow morning. The affected area includes Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson and Jennings counties.

Bartholomew, Brown, Jennings and Monroe counties remain under the yellow advisory level, the state’s lowest level of travel warning, meaning that routine travel or activities are restricted due to a hazardous condition. The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center says that some roads that were clear yesterday have likely refrozen overnight, leading to possibly hazardous condition.

The America and Roby Anderson Community Center on McClure Road will be opening to the public as a place to get warm during the severe cold weather expected this week.

Columbus City Councilman and center board member Tom Dell says that the facility will be open today, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a warming center.

The center is at 421 McClure Road.

The Bartholomew County Public Library branches will be opening to the public again today although with limitations.

The main library branch on Fifth Street in Columbus will be limited to 50 patrons at a time and the Hope Branch will have a limit of 20 people. You are encouraged to make your visit as brief as possible. All visitors will need to wear a mask at all times and maintain social distancing. You should bring your own mask if possible, but the library does have disposable masks you can use.

Chairs, tables, meeting rooms and children’s play areas are all closed. Computers for public use will be limited to 1 hour at a time and only 50 percent of them can be used. Exceptions will be allowed for those applying for benefits such as unemployment.

The library will still have curbside service available. If you need home delivery of items, such as if you are quarantining at home or are at high risk for the virus, you can contact the outreach department at 812-379-1278 or by email at bookmobile@mybcpl.org. If you have any questions, you can call the library at 812-379-1255.

The main library hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Hope branch hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.

Former Vice President and Columbus native Mike Pence is starting a podcast.

Pence is joining Young America’s Foundation as the Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar. One of the ways he plans to connect to young conservatives is through a new video podcast. He’ll also take part in campus lectures and student conferences, and publish a monthly op-ed on conservative issues. Pence said the YAF has been a “bulwark of the Conservative Movement” and he’s honored to join the team.

Last week, Pence’s office announced that he was taking on a new role as a distinguished fellow at Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank.

A Greenwood man is dead after driving the wrong way on Interstate 65.

Indiana State Police said reports started coming in at about 1:09 a.m. yesterday morning about the wrong-way driver, and then the driver hit an SUV head-on in the southbound lanes near Southport Road. Multiple vehicles then crashed, blocking all the lanes of the highway. One driver had to be cut from their vehicle and they were flown by helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital. Another driver was taken to a hospital by ambulance.

The wrong-way driver, 29-year-old Christopher Kattman of Greenwood, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Authorities were on scene for about six hours. During that time two more drivers passing through the scene were arrested on drunk-driving charges, including one who tried to drive around the wreckage and then backed into a fire truck.

Legal Aid will be holding a free clinic by phone for residents of the agency’s eight-county district on Tuesday, February 9th. That district includes Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Rush, and Shelby counties.

The Legal Aid Clinic uses local volunteer attorneys, to offer free legal consultations to low-income individuals. You can expect to receive a brief consultation over the phone to answer general questions, to offer legal information, or to receive other assistance or advice.

Although the clinic will be from 3 to 5:30 p.m., you must first register between noon and 2 Tuesday, by calling Legal Aid at 812-378-0358.