Congressman Greg Pence (IN-06) released a statement Thursday following the Senate passage of President Trump’s new North American trade deal, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The Columbus Republican says:

“Signing USMCA into law will bring billions to our nation and tens of thousands of new jobs for Americans. This is a huge win for American workers, farmers and manufacturers, and it’s about time Congress got to the People’s work instead of a partisan impeachment circus,” said Congressman Pence. “I applaud the Trump Administration’s dedication to our nation’s farmers and manufacturers.”

A local education advocate was recognized at the Indiana State House Thursday for her efforts in the Latino community.

Luz Elena Michel, the Latino Education & Outreach Program Manager for the Community Education Coalition, received the Trailblazer Award at this afternoon’s 29th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration.

John Burnett, president and CEO of the Community Education Coalition explains.

Burnett says that Michel is a passionate and caring servant leader.

Burnett says Michel has been leading a mentoring effort to help Latino students move from high school to higher education.

Michel has also been working to help Latino students and their families connect the link between education and economic opportunity, Burnett said.

Michel has been with the Community Education Coalition since 2011. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission’s Trailblazer Award recognizes those who are the ultimate pillar of their community and whose efforts have afforded rights and liberties that did not exist previously.

Recent Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde is the first candidate to file for judge of Bartholomew Superior Court II in this year’s elections. Rohde filed his paperwork yesterday to run for the bench as a Republican.

Rohde stepped down from the chief’s role at the end of last year after six years and is now an administrative captain with the police department. He is approaching 20 years on the force. He earned his law degree from IU in 2007, taking classes while working the night shift on the police force.

Judge Kathleen “Kitty” Tighe Coriden plans to retire at the end of the year. Several other candidates have announced their intention to run for the seat, but Rohde is the first to actually file, according to the Indiana Secretary of State elections division.

In addition to judge, Bartholomew County voters will be chosing two members of the county commissioners this election year, along with at-large seats on County Council, surveyor and coroner.

If you want to file for election, you can drop off your paperwork at the voter registration office in the Bartholomew County Courthouse. You have until noon on Friday, February 8th. The primary election is May 5th.

The Ivy Tech Community College Criminal Justice Program will host a State of Indiana Court of Appeals hearing from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Columbus Learning Center Auditorium.

The hearing, which is part of the court’s traveling “Appeals on Wheels” program, is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the judiciary and appeals process. The court will hear oral arguments from attorneys in a real appeals case.

Following the hearing, the court will take questions about the law and the judiciary in general, but not about the case they’ve just heard.

The Schneck Foundation Scholarship Committee is accepting applications for the Allied Health Scholarship and the Amanda M. Dick Honorary Scholarship for female medical students.

Applications for both scholarships are available online at schneckfoundation.org, schneckmed.org, or by contacting the Schneck Foundation at 812-524-4244. Applications for the Allied Health Scholarship will also be available from counselors at local high schools.

Applications must be completed and returned to the Foundation no later than March 15th to be eligible for consideration. For more information, contact the Foundation at 812-524-4244 or foundation@schneckmed.org.

C4 Columbus Area Career Connection will conduct an open house later this month. Organizers say the idea is to introduce its programs and courses to potential students and their families. The open house will be held Jan. 29th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the C4 facilities at Columbus North High School. C4 provides career and technical education to students in Jackson, Bartholomew, Brown and Decatur counties and Edinburgh.

C4 classes encompass a wide variety of fields, including nursing, cosmetology, welding, precision machining, criminal justice, engineering, graphic arts, electronics and education. Emphasis is placed on hands-on learning that prepares students for higher education and the workforce. College credits can be earned in many of the classes.

C4 students will lead tours of the facilities, taking visitors to classrooms and labs such as culinary arts, auto technology, early childhood education, engineering and automation and robotics. Displays from
classes such as criminal justice, dentistry and cosmetology will showcase classes at Columbus East High School and McDowell Education Center.

“There will also be representatives from colleges and businesses who will explain how C4 prepares students for careers after high school,” C4 director Gene Hack said. Students who will be in high school next school year, freshmen through seniors, are invited.

Visitors should enter at Door 15 closest to 25th Street.

For more information, visit bcsc.k12.in.us/c4.

U.S. Congressman Greg Pence (R-IN-06) released the following statement on the signing of the United States and China Phase One trade agreement:

“In an historic victory for Hoosier farmers and workers, President Trump has delivered a fair trade deal with China,” said Congressman Pence. “I have long maintained that Congress has the utmost responsibility on behalf of our farmers to pass USMCA. With that landmark trade deal moving forward, the Trump Administration has hit it out of the park with the Phase One China trade deal. The steadfast loyalty and support from American farmers has been rewarded, and today’s signing will only bolster the booming Trump economy.”

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers has announced three staff promotions.

Sergeant T. A. Smith has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in BCSO’s Road Division. Lt. Smith began his career in law enforcement in 1981. He is a graduate of the National FBI Academy.

Deputy Brent Worman has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in BCSO’s Road Division. Sgt. Worman began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 2010 as a Correction’s Officer. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Deputy Andrew Whipker has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in BCSO’s Road Division. Whipker began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a Merit Deputy in 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

“These deputies have the qualifications they need for their new positions and I am pleased that they have accepted the opportunity to expand their leadership skills,” said Sheriff Matt Myers.

These promotions come after three other deputies were suspended and demoted for their inaction in serving an emergency detention order for 38-year-old Derek Henderson, of Columbus. He died after being shot in the head, chest and abdomen in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 4th. Authorities say that he was carrying a baseball bat when he entered the home of a neighbor he didn’t know in the 2000 block of Home Avenue. The homeowner shot and killed Henderson.

Sheriff Myers says the investigation revealed that deputies saw and talked with Henderson in his home on Home Avenue hours before his death, but he refused to leave the home or to allow the deputies inside. Myers says the deputies eventually left the scene and made no further attempt to serve the emergency detention order.

A local man was arrested for driving while intoxicated after he was reportedly spotted passed out behind the steering wheel of a vehicle at a Columbus intersection on Tuesday night.

Columbus Police responded to the area of Second Street and Brown Street at about 9 p.m. in regards to the man, who was apparently unconscious for several minutes. CPD identified the man as 26-year-old Matthew Scott Barker, of Columbus. While later speaking with Barker, the officers noted that he had a strong odor of alcohol beverage on his breath and had difficulty maintaining his balance.

Barker refused to submit to a chemical test and officers applied for and received a search warrant for a blood draw at Columbus Regional Hospital. Barker was arrested on a preliminary charge of DUI (endangerment).

The 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. day breakfast in Columbus is set for Monday at The Commons.

A hot buffet breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. followed by a program starting around 7:30 a.m. This event is sponsored by the African American Pastors Alliance. The breakfast is free and you are invited to attend.