A restaurant tenant in the Columbus city-owned Commons is calling it quits.

Stan Gamso, attorney for the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, explained yesterday that the owners of the Subway restaurant in The Commons, Estep & Co., has made the decision to close after the effects of COVID-19 crippled the restaurant by removing much of the downtown lunch crowd and foot traffic. Gamso said the Esteps explained that the restaurant’s business had already been marginal before the pandemic hit. The city closed the Subway area of The Commons first because of the pandemic and then because of ongoing playground renovations.

Last month, George Estep explained that the company was permanently closing the restaurant on Dec. 31st and requested that the city terminate their lease.

Gamso explained that the Columbus Redevelopment Commission became responsible for managing the leases in the city-owned restaurant spaces after the dissolution of Downtown Columbus Inc., a non-profit corporation the city created to find tenants for those spaces. The Subway lease in the Commons had been signed in 2011, and had been renewed after the first 5-year term for about $2,800 a month, Gamso said. He said that Subway has been an excellent tenant and about 18 months is left on the lease.

Late last year, the commission agreed not to charge any of the restaurants in city-owned property rent through at least June 30th. The commission considered holding off on making any decision until the rent abatement expires, but Estep & Co. still has been responsible for other expenses such as utilities and insurance, said Heather Pope, director of the city redevelopment department.

The redevelopment commission agreed to enter into negotiations to terminate or amend the lease.

Photo courtesy Carol M. Highsmith, from the Library of Congress collection.

More people in Indiana can now get the coronavirus vaccine. The state Department of Health yesterday said anyone who is 70-years old or older can now get a shot. The age threshold had been 80 and up.

The Bartholomew County Health Department is scheduling appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, for those who are eligible to receive it.

Amanda Organist, nursing director for the county health department, says that you can get more information on eligibility by going online to ourshot.in.gov, and also register to receive your vaccine.

If you do not have internet access you can call 211, Thrive Alliance at 812-372-6918, Mill Race Center at 812-376-9241, or WellConnect at 812-376-5136 to get help signing up.

There is no cost to you to receive the vaccine, but your insurance may be charged an administration fee. When you come to get a vaccine, you should bring a photo ID and an insurance card if you have one.

There will be no walk-ins for the vaccine, all appointments must be pre-scheduled.

Columbus Police Chief Mike Richardson recently presented five Columbus officers with letters of commendation after an incident last summer with mentally ill man brandishing a knife.

According to police, Sgt. Oscar Olmeda was called to a home in July to check on the welfare of a man, who had a history of mental illness. The man pulled a knife and threatened to harm Olmeda, who then retreated from the home and called for assistance.

Sgt. Robert Mitchell and Officers Alex Hill, Andrew Celik and John Busack arrived and police spoke with the man for 90 minutes to try to get him to drop the weapon. They eventually used Tasers and bean-bag rounds, but he retreated back inside the home.

Police soon noticed that he was no longer wielding the knife and after a short struggle, they restrained him. He was taken to an area hospital for mental health treatment.

Richardson praised the officers for deescalating the situation.

Donald Trump is the first president in history to be impeached twice by the U.S. House.

The final vote was 232-197. Ten Republicans joined Democrats in approving the latest impeachment resolution.

Indiana’s members of Congress split along party lines on President Trump’s second impeachment. Democrats Frank Mrvan and Andre Carson voted for impeachment.

Columbus Congressman Greg Pence joined with the rest of Indiana’s Republican congressional delegation to vote against impeaching President Trump.

In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Pence said that the President made it clear he will support a peaceful transfer of power on January 20th to President-elect Joe Biden. He said “It is time to move on, heal, and put our focus into where it truly helps the American people: recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring our economy.”

Columbus community groups are planning a full day of activities on Monday to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

The African American Pastors Alliance, the Bartholomew County NAACP, and IUPUC are working together to host a presentation on King’s Life and Legacy starting at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning by Zoom and Facebook Live. Jon Sims, the athletic director at St. Peter’s Lutheran School will be the keynote speaker.

Homeboyz and the NAACP will sponsor a “grab and go” lunch at 1451 Washington Street from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. To participate you are asked to remain in your vehicle on 15th Street and volunteers will deliver your meal.

Starting at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon will be award presentations and speakers via Zoom call. That will include IUPUC Vice Chancellor Reinhold Hill giving the IUPUC Excellence in Diversity Awards. Kevin Jones, an IUPUC associate professor of management, will then give a keynote address.

The afternoon session will also feature a presentation on the COVID-19 vaccine in the black community and a panel discussion followed by the NAACP awards.

A silent march from the Bartholomew County Public Library to Columbus City Hall will start at 4 p.m. with a reading of King’s “I have a Dream” speech by Zacaria Scruggs.

For more information, including the full schedule of events, go to https://events.iu.edu/iupucwww/event/158514.

Martin Luther King Jr. photo courtesy of whitehouse.gov

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission will be considering an agreement to build a grocery and apartment complex just east of the Bartholomew County Jail in downtown Columbus, when it holds a special meeting this afternoon.

Heather Pope, redevelopment director for the city, explains that originally, the city envisioned a project that would also include a hotel conference center just across Second Street from the jail to be developed by Sprague hotels, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put that part of the project on the back burner.

The mixed use grocery and apartments would be developed by Flaherty & Collins of Indianapolis.

The project would be built on property the city owns in the area south and east of the Lafayette Avenue and Second Street intersection.

The developer would be on the hook for $500,000 a year to the city, which would be offset by any tax increment financing revenue the project brings in. If it brings in more than $500,000 the developer would not end up owing the city.

The redevelopment commission is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. today at Columbus City Hall.

Drawing courtesy of Flaherty & Collins.

A 14-year-veteran of the Columbus Police Department was arrested today, accused of battering a handcuffed suspect in a patrol car.

Indiana State Police say that Officer John Velten is facing felony charges of battery and misconduct after the investigation by state police detectives.

The charges came after an incident in June where a suspect in the back of Velten’s patrol car began hitting his head against the inside of the vehicle. In response, Velten allegedly punched the suspect, causing moderate injuries.

The case has been turned over to a special prosecutor and Velten turned himself in today at the Bartholomew County Jail. State police say the Columbus Police Department has been fully cooperative and Velten remains employed by the city in a non-law enforcement role, since the start of the investigation.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is accepting applications for grants to help local kids participate in sports and fitness programs.

This is the second year for Analytical Engineering Inc.’s partnership with Heritage Fund in the Youth Sports Fund.

Local not-for-profit organizations with youth athletic programs for those 18 and under are eligible to apply for funds of up to $5,000. Groups can get assistance with things such as sports lessons, clinics, travel, equipment, program fees or dues. The requests will be considered based on the financial need of the organization and the barriers to participation faced by the athletes in the program.

Grant requests may be submitted by coaches, team leaders or athletic directors.

The deadline to apply is March 1st. You can get more information or apply online at heritagefundbc.org.

A stolen SUV was recovered after a woman drove it to a convenience store on Gladstone Avenue Friday evening.

Columbus police say that a resident in the 3000 block of Griffa Avenue reported at about 6:30 Friday evening that he left his vehicle running in the driveway for a few minutes before noticing that it was gone.

Later that evening, the vehicle was seen at the convenience store. A witness said that the driver, 29-year-old Kaliegh R. Stogdill of Columbus got out of the stolen vehicle and entered the store. Police found her a short time later and she was arrested.

She is facing a felony charge of auto theft.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center saw a record number of emergency radio transmissions in 2020, according to an annual report discussed by the Bartholomew County Commissioners Monday.

Todd Noblitt, director of the center, reported that there were 2.7 million emergency radio transmissions in the county last year.

Although the total number of phone transactions were almost 142,000, that indicates the lowest number since 2016. The peak over the past 20 years was set in 2006, which had just over 200,000 phone transactions with the center. The center did see an increase in calls for service to law enforcement, fire service and medical calls in 2020, Noblitt said.

During the first months of the pandemic, the center saw a dramatic decrease in the number of calls, Noblitt said. The number of calls in March, April and May were down 17 percent, but increased throughout the year to bring up the overall numbers, Noblitt said.

Noblitt said that the center is responsible for the communications of more than 400 first responders in the county in 20 public safety agencies.