Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps will be leading the Association of Indiana Counties’ legislative committee.
Among other roles providing information, communication and training to local county governments, the association is the only entity that represents the legislative needs of Indiana counties before the Indiana General Assembly.
Previously, Phelps has been legislative chair of the Indiana Clerk’s Association. He said that role has prepared him for the more in-depth role with the counties association. Phelps serves as vice president of the Indiana Clerk’s Association, on the governor’s cybersecurity committee, and on the governor’s oversight committee on public records.
In person visitation is still off-limits at the Bartholomew County Jail, but the sheriff’s department is launching a new program today to allow virtual visits with inmates.
Sheriff Matt Myers announced that the HomeWav system will allow for voice and video calls with inmates, as well as video messaging.
The program charges 20 cents per minute for a phone call, 30 cents per minute for remote video visits and video messages are 50 cents per minute.
Bartholomew County Jail videos are subject to recording and monitoring, virtual visitors must dress appropriately and no obscene behavior will be allowed, the sheriff said.
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is announcing details of its virtual Labor Day weekend concert.
The show will stream live on the hospice Facebook page and will feature Yacht Rock Revue. The band includes Columbus natives Nicholas Niespodziani and Peter Olson. The band performs smooth songs from the 70’s and 80’s and have trademarked the term “Yacht Rock” to describe their style. The two met in fourth grade here in Columbus, went to Indiana University and formed the band Y-O-U before Yacht Rock Revue.
The concert will start at 7 in the evening on Saturday Sept. 5th.
The hospice is looking for sponsors, contributors and benefactors. If you are interested in sponsorship, you can contact Julie Davis at (812) 371-7973.
The event will include a raffle for a chance to win $10,000. Tickets are $10 and are available online at crh.org/hospice-donate.
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is a not-for-profit hospice providing care to patients and families in 16 counties, with offices in Columbus, North Vernon and Greensburg.
Joseph Michael-Wayne Scott. Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police
Indiana State Police say a Seymour man is facing a felony neglect charge after a six-week-old boy died while his father napped with him in a recliner.
The investigation started in March when the child was found unresponsive in the 500 block of Colvin Court, just east of Seymour. Rescue workers tried to save the boy but they were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s office.
Troopers report that 31-year-old Joseph Michael-Wayne Scott was holding the boy when he fell asleep in the chair. A family member noticed that the boy was not breathing because of his position in the chair.
According to police reports, Scott was found to have marijuana and methamphetamine in his system while the boy was in his care.
A warrant was issued for Scott on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. He was arrested on Thursday and taken to the Jackson County Jail.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that a blessing of good weather and the hard work of Milestone Contractors means we will soon be driving on the overpass heading into downtown Columbus.
Lienhoop says that Jonathan Moore Pike heading east into downtown Columbus is down to a single lane for about two weeks as crews begin to connect State Road 46 to the new overpass.
Heading west, two lanes remain open on Jonathan Moore Pike/State Road 46. Lienhoop says that once the east bound lanes finish connecting, the old east bound lanes will be removed so the westbound connections can be built.
Work is also continuing on the Third Street bridge deck overlay, and you will see lanes closed there into early July. INDOT says that May’s rains caused some delays on that portion of the project.
The closure of State Road 11 between Jonathan Moore Pike/ State Road 46 and Garden City is expected to be lifted by the Fourth of July weekend. That has been closed since the first of June while crews reconstructed pavement and did storm sewer work in the area.
All the work is supposed to wrap up by Christmas, Lienhoop said.
Applications are now open for families who will need help with school supplies in the coming school year in Bartholomew County.
Diane Doup with Lincoln Central Neigbhorhood Family Center explains to participate in the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program, children must be registered in a Bartholomew County school in kindergarten through 12th grade to be eligible for assistance. That includes BCSC, Flat Rock-Hawcreek and private schools in the county.
Last year, about 2,000 students received free basic school supplies through this program. All supplies are provided through community contributions.
To register your children for assistance call (812) 375-2216 or 812-375-9370 for help in Spanish. Priority will be given to families who register by July 17th.
Doup said organizers want to stress that the supplies will still be needed for whatever form classes take in the new school year. And with the large number of layoff and the high unemployment rate, there is likely going to be a lot of need this year.
Tax-deductible cash, check or money order donations can be made payable and sent to BCSSAP, 1531 13th Street, Suite 1100, Columbus, IN 47201
The 2020 Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program members are: Advocates for Children, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, Centra Credit Union, Columbus Regional Health, Columbus Sunrise Rotary, Community Center of Hope, Cummins, Inc., Flat-Rock Hawcreek School Corporation, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, Su Casa, and United Way of Bartholomew County.
Jonathan Moore Pike heading east into downtown Columbus is down to a single lane for about two weeks as crews begin to connect State Road 46 to the new overpass.
Heading west, two lanes remain open on Jonathan Moore Pike/State Road 46.
Work is also continuing on the Third Street bridge deck overlay, and you will see lanes closed into early July. INDOT says that May’s rains caused some delays on that portion of the project.
The closure of State Road 11 between Jonathan Moore Pike/ State Road 46 and Garden City is expected to be lifted by the Fourth of July weekend. That has been closed since the first of June while crews reconstructed pavement and did storm sewer work in the area.
INDOT says you should be alert for traffic changes around the new overpass. When you are in a construction zone, you should slow down, use extra caution and make sure to drive without distractions.
Indiana State Police are asking for the public’s help finding a driver who caused a fatal accident on Interstate 65 near Edinburgh last night.
Investigators say a white Chevrolet Cobalt with either Illinois or Kentucky license plates was driving recklessly at just after 8 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the interstate about a mile north of the Edinburgh State Road 252 exit. That included speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, braking suddenly and giving hand gestures to other drivers
The driver allegedly pulled in front of a pick-up truck and suddenly braked. The pick-up’s driver, 72-year-old Mark Raub of Nashville, then swerved to the right to avoid colliding with the Cobalt, and was struck by a semi. The pickup then crashed into a guard rail and flipped over.
Police say that Samaritans pulled Raub from the wreckage and tried to perform CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Anyone with a dash camera who was driving in the area between Indianapolis and Columbus and saw the white Cobalt with Illinois or Kentucky license plates should contact the Indiana State Police 317-899-8577.
Bartholomew County and surrounding counties have added three more deaths from COVID-19.
According to the most recent update from the Indiana State Department of Health, there are 40,786 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 440 cases since Monday’s update.
There have been 2,265 deaths in Indiana as of Tuesday afternoon’s update, an increase of 14 since Monday.
Bartholomew County has had 558 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 42 deaths, an increase of one since yesterday. Johnson County has had 115 deaths, an increase of one, and Shelby County added a death from the disease, bringing the county to 23 total.
Justin Eddelman. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is providing a few more details about an incident where a Columbus man is accused of attacking Sheriff Matt Myers in the jail building.
The department is reporting that 32-year-old Justin C. Eddelman, arrived at the sheriff’s department at about 10 a.m. Monday morning and told the staff at the front desk that he was going to commit serious bodily harm to the sheriff. He then went up the stairs to the administrative offices, where he met the locked door. The sheriff’s department reports that Eddelman never gained access to the administrative offices.
Sheriff Matt Myers began talking to Eddelman through the door with the goal to de-escalate the situation and to keep him at the door until deputies arrived, according to police reports.
When Eddelman attempted to leave the area, Myers opened the locked door to restrain the man. The two got into a scuffle which injured the sheriff’s knee, but left Eddelman in handcuffs.
The sheriff was treated for his injuries and released. Eddelman was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for evaluation before being arrested on charges including intimidation on a police officer, resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct.
The sheriff’s department stresses that the front desk staff followed all proper procedures and took appropriate action.
