You will have a chance tomorrow morning to help Columbus, Bartholomew and Brown County and other area volunteer firefighters get training from some of the top fire chiefs in the country. And you can enjoy a stack of pancakes, while you are at it.

Columbus Township Fire & Rescue Chief Dave Thompson says that the county fire chief’s association is holding a flapjack fundraiser breakfast at Applebee’s in Columbus from 8 to 10 a.m. tomorrow to raise money for an upcoming seminar with Chief John Salka and Chief Rick Lasky.

Lasky is a former Lewisville, Texas fire chief who now tours giving inspirational speeches to firefighters.

Salka served 33 years with the New York City fire department, including being part of the incident command center during the 9-11 attacks.

The seminar with the chiefs will be held later this year at the Brown County Music Center. The goal is to make the seminar free for all first responders from around the state who wish to attend.

Admission for Saturday’s pancake breakfast is $10, Thompson says. There will also be door prizes given away.

Columbus police are reporting a string of thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles over the past month.

Thieves are using portable power tools to quickly cut off the emissions control devices, targeting large trucks, vans and sports utility vehicles. The thefts are happening all over the city, both during the day and at night, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police. The devices can quickly be sold at scrap yards or third parties, police say.

More than 20 of the thefts have been reported since Oct. 1st.

Police are suggesting that if you notice any suspicious activity, you should call the police department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

If you are concerned whether you have installed your child car seat correctly, you can get it checked out at an event this morning behind Columbus City Hall.

Columbus police and Dorel Juvenile group will be hosting the second and final car seat safety check from 9 to 11 this morning in the police department parking lot, behind 123 Washington Street.

You can have your car seat installation checked out by certified car seat technicians from Dorel and have it reinstalled if necessary. Police say that the process could take about 20 minutes.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police, says that officers are excited about the partnership with Dorel to help keep children and families safe.

A Columbus company is planning a multi-million dollar upgrade project at its plant on Arcadia Drive, as a way of drumming up new business, keeping its employees and growing the company.

PMG Indiana asked the Columbus City Council this week for a tax break on its proposed $4.7 million dollar investment in new equipment at their plant. The project would only add two jobs but would help the company retain 223 existing jobs, company officials said.

In paperwork filed with the city, PMG officials said that the company is in the ending life cycle of several parts it produces, plus one of its major customers lost business to a competitor. Without the upgrades, the company expects to see a loss of sales.

Because of the slide in business, the company still plans to reduce its staffing until the improvements are made, by cutting 20 positions temporarily. Without the improvements, the company estimated it would have to cut 50 positions.

Columbus City Council approved the tax abatement request.

The Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation is sponsoring another public input session on Tuesday, Nov. 12, starting at 6 p.m. The meeting will be across the main mall aisle from the old J Nicole Store space at the mall.

Organizers note that this will be the third public input meeting in support of the master planning project with MKSK Studios. Members of the FOCDC Board, Columbus City Council and Columbus Parks and Recreation Board may be in attendance, however, no business will be done and no decisions will be made.

You are encouraged to attend and take part.

You can keep up to date on the development of the mall property by visiting reimaginefairoaksmall.com.

INDOT is going to be having a public information session this evening (Nov. 7) to talk about a road improvement project coming up next year on U.S. 50 in Seymour. They are looking for your opinions on the project, which will fix the pavement on U.S. 50 from just east of Agrico Lane to U.S. 31. They are going to improve the intersection with U.S. 31, widen the bridge over Sandy Branch and add a multi-use pedestrian path, sponsored by the City of Seymour.

Tonight you will be able to look at displays and talk to the project’s designers.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., presentation begins at 6 p.m. at Seymour City Hall

The Columbus election results are getting attention from the national press with most media outlets focusing on Vice President Mike Pence’s hometown turning blue for the first time since the 1980s.

The story of the City Council flip from Republican to Democratic control was first picked up on by politics followers on social media and then spread to Newsweek, the New York Times and the Associated Press. Celebrities were tweeting about the switch yesterday including Bette Midler.

Barb Hackman, chairwoman of the Bartholomew County Republican party talks about the change following the election results Tuesday night after the polls closed.

She said the races were heart-breakingly close, particularly Republican Dascal Bunch’s loss to Democrat Jerone Wood by a single vote.

She also took note of Republican Josh Burnett’s narrow loss in the at-large races. Democrat Tom Dell edged out Burnett 3,409 to 3,339.

Democratic council members Elaine Wagner and Dell retained their seats in Tuesday’s election, while newcomers Wood and Grace Kestler also won, giving the Democrats a 4-3 majority on next year’s council. Republican councilmen Frank Miller, Tim Shuffett and Dave Bush retained their seats.

Republican Mayor Jim Lienhoop was unopposed in Tuesday’s election along with Republican Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer.

Two North Vernon men were arrested after a winding high speed chase through rural Jackson County in a stolen car Tuesday.

Brownstown police noticed the car, that had just been reported stolen out of Jennings County, driving in their town at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday evening. When police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver instead sped off down U.S. 50 toward Seymour, before turning around and heading back to Brownstown. The driver then headed toward Vallonia, back to Brownstown, then Courtland, and again back to Brownstown.

Eventually Brownstown officers used a maneuver to spin the car off the road into a field. The driver, 22-year-old Damion Patton is being accused of auto theft, resisting officers, driving while suspended, reckless driving at high speed and criminal mischief.

The passenger, 23 year old Taylor L. Wade is facing a charge of auto theft.

They were booked into the Jackson County Jail early Wednesday morning.

Columbus police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at the German American Bank on Jonathan Moore Pike in Columbus at about 12:30 p.m today.

Anyone with information on the two suspects pictured are urged to contact CPD at 812-376-2600.

Columbus police say that they arrested a drunk driver after he went through a stop light late Tuesday night.

An officer saw the car drive through the light at 25th Street and Central Avenue at just before midnight Tuesday.

The driver, 46-year-old William Lane of Columbus was pulled over shortly afterwards and police say that he had a strong scent of alcohol on his breath. He failed several field sobriety tests and a breath sample showed a blood alcohol content of .143 percent.

He was convicted of DUI in August and is now facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction.