You will see more Bartholomew County deputies and Columbus police on the road this holiday season, as officers use grant money to crack down on unsafe driving.

The Click It to Live It campaign works to promote seat belt usage and to reduce impaired driving. Bartholomew County agencies received a $20.500 grant to pay for overtime patrols focused on those areas.

In Indiana, officers may ticket unrestrained drivers or passengers, even if no other traffic violation has taken place. According to the most recent data available, 53% of passengers killed in fatal crashes were not wearing seatbelts.

The Click it to LIve It grants are distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

A water main break has resulted in the issuance of a Boil Order for the town of Nashville and Nashville Utilities. Residents and businesses in the following areas should boil all cooking and drinking water through Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.:

– 474 to 610 Artist Drive
– West Drive
– Oak Run

Local electricity providers are reporting many outages caused by today’s high winds.

As of noon. Bartholomew County REMC was reporting 108 customers without power.

Bartholomew County REMC power outage map

Duke Energy is reporting more than 4,000 customers without power in our area, with more than 3,000 out in the North Vernon area alone. There are about 400 out in the Edinburgh area, 489 without power in the Seymour area, 181 out near Nashville, and  142 out in Columbus.

Chip Orben with Duke Energy says that statewide, there are more than 17,000 customers without power.

Duke Energy power outage map

“As with all outages, we need to first assess the damage before we can make repairs,” Orben said. “Customers without power should call 1-800-343-3525.”

Orben also urged people not to touch downed power lines and to leave the work of moving the lines to trained professionals.

Estimates for repairs in some areas indicate outages past midnight tonight. And Orben said that the wind appears to be picking up.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a high wind advisory until 9 p.m. tonight. The area is seeing sustained southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with possible gusts up to 55 mph. The worst of the winds should be done by about 2 p.m. this afternoon according to the weather service.

Thanksgiving is a day for family celebrations and grateful thoughts, but it also carries the potential for fire dangers.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department., says that statistically tomorrow brings the greatest chance for a kitchen fire, the most common type of residential fire. Frequently that is due to distractions, he said. Those can range from cell phone calls to football games or children underfoot in the kitchen.

Frying your Thanksgiving turkey is popular right now but that brings its own set of dangers..

Turkey fryers should never be used inside, including in a garage. When outdoors, Wilson said you should keep the fryer off of wooden decks and away from eaves or overhangs.

Wilson suggested that you make sure to have a non-water fire extinguisher on hand for your meal preparation safety. He wants to remind you to never try to extinguish a grease fire with water.

Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay said this is a time of year when remembering basic fire safety will help keep your family safe.

Lay said that includes checking your smoke detectors, making sure they are working and making sure you have a family escape plan.

First Christian Church and Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center will be continuing their annual tradition of a community Thanksgiving meal tomorrow.

Randy Allman with the center explains that everything is ready for the big event.

Allman talks about the history of the event.

Allman said that this is the 22nd year that the neighborhood partners have worked together to put on the meal.

Organizers expect to serve more than 600 meals tomorrow

The meal will be served from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the church on Fifth Street in Columbus. The meal is free and you are invited.

A time and date for the recount to determine the winner of the Columbus City Council District 1 race is expected to be set next week.

Councilman Dascal Bunch,a Republican, and Democrat Jerone Wood appeared with counsel before Superior Court I Judge Jim Worton Tuesday afternoon. Wood defeated Bunch, the incumbent, by a single vote, 260-259 in November’s general election. Independent candidate Michael Kinder received 81 votes.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Worton instructed both candidates to have their recount commissioner named by the end of business on Wednesday, Nov. 27. The court will work with Clerk Jay Phelps to name a third member to the commission, a “mechanic,” that understands how the voting machines operate. The three-member commission will be tasked with counting each ballot in the district’s seven precincts. Each side is also permitted to have a “watcher” on hand during the recount.

Judge Worton says he anticipates approving the candidates’ representatives and setting a date for the recount by the middle of next week.

By law, the recount must be complete and the election certified by December 20.

The town of Hope will again be holding a Deck the Town Christmas lights competition, sponsored by Main Street of Hope.

All of the decorated homes in the town limits before Sunday night, Dec. 15th will be photographed and entered to win. Photos of the homes will be posted on the Main Street of Hope Facebook page on Monday, Dec. 16th.

To vote you will need to “Like” your favorite photos. Voting will continue through 10 p.m. in the evening on Saturday, Dec. 21st . The winner will receive a traveling trophy that is a replica of the Leg Lamp from the movie “The Christmas Story.”

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new membership director. The chamber announced yesterday that Bob Schafstall is replacing Tim Cooney, when he retires at the end of this year.

Schafstall most recently served as the lead salesperson for Columbus-based Burt’s Pest Control. He was recognized as the 2019 Chamber Ambassador of the Year. Schafstall is originally from Columbus. He attended Columbus North High School and Purdue University.

Brown County authorities are working to identify the body of a man found at the scene of an unrelated house fire last week. The Brown County Democrat is reporting that the body was found inside an old GMC van on Leaf Hawk Lane.

Officials told the newspaper that the man appears to have been in his mid-50s to mid-60s, and had been dead for at least six months. The body had gone through extensive decomposition but he appears to have died of natural causes.

The paper reports that the home was destroyed in the blaze.

For more information, go to bcdemocrat.com

The Columbus City Garage is reporting that leaf-collecting crews are running about two days behind right now.

They said that many trees waited to dump their leaves all at once, which has set their schedule back. You should still have your loose leaves raked curbside to be picked up.