Category Archives: Local News

BCSC sees 2 positive COVID-19 tests in schools

Local News, Top Story

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have released data on COVID-19 cases among the staff and students.

Dr. Jim Roberts, BCSC superintendent, said this morning on our AM Columbus show that there have been eight positive tests of staff and students since the schools opened on Aug. 10th. Only two of those were actually in school, leading to nine people being identified as close contacts of those infected through the contact tracing process.

Close contacts are those who have been within 6 feet of the infected person for at least 15 minutes, looking back up to 48 hours before the positive test result.

BCSC has said that those with close contact must also quarantine for two weeks from that contact.

Editor’s Note: This story was first reported on by The Republic newspaper. 

CAP Adult Prom going virtual this year

Local News

Family Service Inc. is taking its CAP Adult Prom virtual this year, the agency announced Thursday.

In a statement released by Family Service, the group says the decision was made in compliance with Gov. Holcomb’s executive order which prohibits events with more than 250 people. Organizers said that they feel the responsibility to flatten the coronavirus curve and keep supporters safe.

Family Service plans to announce details of the virtual event in the coming weeks.

Money raised during the Adult Prom goes to support community education and child abuse awareness.

Raffle tickets, art auction raising funds for Our Hospice

Local News, Top Story
Poster courtesy of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana

The annual Labor Day weekend concert organized by Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is going virtual this year, but there is a very real need to raise money for the cause.

Julie Davis with Our Hospice explains that the goal remains to generate $120 thousand dollars for the hospice through the free concert. She says you can still make a donation to support the hospice work directly and the annual raffle ticket sales are going on.

Raffle tickets are $10 and you have a chance to win $10,000 in the grand prize, along with with a first through fourth prize winners of $500 down to $100. Tickets are available for purchase online, through hospice employees or you can call Davis directly at 812-371-7973

There is also an art auction going on featuring a piece by artist Donna Rosenberg called Hot Fun in Summer Time. It is on display at the Columbus Area Visitors Center until Aug. 28th and will then move to Mill Race Center.

And you can purchase T-shirts. Orders are available through this Sunday through Tony London’s webs site. Prices range from $17 to $20 depending on size.

The actual show will feature Yacht Rock Revue, a band playing smooth songs from the 70s and 80s, formed by Columbus natives Nicholas Niespodziani and Peter Olson. The concert will start at 7 p.m. in the evening on Saturday Sept. 5th and will stream live on the hospice Facebook page.

You can get more information about the event on the web at ourhospice.org.

Greensburg residents take honors in ag photo contest

Local News
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

Two Greensburg residents have been chosen as winning photographers in the 2020 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest and were recognized recently at the Indiana Statehouse during the Celebration of Agriculture event.

10 winning photographers were chosen from hundreds of entrants. The photos were in four categories: Agritourism, Conservation, Faces of Agriculture and On the Farm. The photo had to be taken in the state by an Indiana resident. Entrants were judged on creativity, composition and category representation.

The winning photos will be displayed throughout the year in the Lt. Governor’s business offices.

Christina Newby from Greensburg won in the Faces of Agriculture category with “Pollinator Protector”and “Kiss a Frog” by Barbara Hatton from Greensburg won in the overall category.

A gallery of winning photos can be found here

Bridge work to narrow traffic on Interstate 65

Local News
Interstate 65

You will see interstate lanes closed over the weekend for a bridge deck patching project in Jackson and Scott counties.

That will include patching on the Interstate 65 bridges over the Muscatatuck River near Austin and over Mutton Ditch Creek near Seymour. The left lanes of the southbound bridges will close starting at 9  p.m. tonight and going through 9 p.m. on Monday night. Northbound lanes will not be affected.

INDOT asks that you slow down, take extra caution and drive without distractions through all work zones. The work is dependent on the weather.

Traffic signal changes coming to U.S. 31/550N

Local News


INDOT says that you will see lane closures over the next few weeks around the intersection of U.S. 31 and Bartholomew County Road 550N near Taylorsville.

Crews will be upgrading the traffic signals at the intersection. That will mean replacing the existing signals with five-section heads on new cables, along with new railroad pavement markings and new traffic signs.

You will see temporary lane closures and intermittent stoppages as needed for overhead work. The project is expected to start on Monday and be finished by the end of September, weather permitting.

The work on the $94,000 contract is being done by The Hoosier Company Inc.

Two arrested on drug charges after traffic stops

Local News

Jessica D. Johnson. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Columbus police say they arrested two people on drug possession charges Tuesday after unrelated traffic stops.

The first happened at just after 1 a.m. Tuesday, when police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near 11th and Chestnut streets. The driver appeared nervous and a police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.

A search recovered methamphetamine and a syringe. 34-year-old Jessica D. Johnson is facing drug and injection device possession charges.

At about 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, officers stopped a vehicle near 20th Street and Cottage Avenue. A police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics and a search uncovered methamphetamine and paraphernalia in the trunk.

Benjamin T. Leonard. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

41-year-old Benjamin T. Leonard was arrested on charges of possessing methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a legend drug, as well as driving with a suspended license from a previous conviction.

Taylor Road work in Columbus to begin Monday

Local News, Top Story

Taylor Road in Columbus will be shutting down to through traffic on Monday for a road improvement project expected to last into early next year.

Design of Fairlawn Drive roundabout. Image courtesy of city of Columbus.

The city engineer’s office says that crews will be starting on the first phase of the project, from 31st Street to Rocky Ford Road. The road will become single 11-foot wide lanes in each direction, with an 8-foot wide concrete side path on the west side and a 5-foot concrete sidewalk on the other side. There will be new curb and gutter, pavement markings and signage.

And there will be two mini roundabouts created — at 31st Street and Taylor Road and at Fairlawn Drive and Taylor.

The second phase, from 25th to 31st streets will begin next year.

The goal is to make the road safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

You can find more information here.

Resurfacing work to start Friday between Edinburgh, Franklin

Local News
Interstate 65

INDOT says that asphalt patching will begin on the interstate between Edinburgh and Franklin starting Friday.

The work is expected to take six weekends to complete and you will see single lanes closed around the clock starting at 8 p.m. each Friday and lasting until 6 a.m. on Monday mornings. Trucks equipped with flashing lights and additional signage will be used to alert drivers of slowed and/or stopped traffic ahead.

Crews will start working on the northbound lanes on Friday and over the the next three weekends. After that they will switch to the southbound lanes. The work should wrap up in late September but the work is dependent on the weather.

INDOT asks that you slow down, use extra caution and drive without distractions in work zones.

Local artist wins design competition for bicentennial logo

Local News, Top Story
Courtesy of Columbus Area Bicentennial Steering Committee

A Columbus native and University of Louisville design student has been chosen as the winner of the Columbus Area bicentennial logo competition.

Ava Becker was chosen from about two dozen submissions to the contest that started late last year.

Becker, who is a junior at the University of Louisville, said that she drew her inspiration from the community’s iconic art and architectural history. She also sought to honor famous graphic designer Paul Rand.

The bicentennial steering committee is announcing that the theme for next year’s 200th anniversary will be “Common Ground.” The theme is meant to celebrate the past, present and future of the community by building on the things that residents have in common. The committee is looking to endorse and to be involved in a variety of events highlighting the greater Columbus area and its culture, diversity, heritage, people, arts, commerce and agriculture.

Through the end of this month, the committee has set up an online survey and is looking for community suggestions on events that the bicentennial committee can back. You can find a link to the survey at columbus.in.gov/ bicentennial