The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for Saturday, July 13, for much of the state.

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making simple changes to their daily habits. You can:
• Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
• Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
• Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above

Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.

The first of four public sessions to discuss the master plan for the Fair Oaks Mall property was held Thursday night at the mall.

The Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation, made up of Columbus Regional Health, The Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County and the City of Columbus, have contracted with MKSK to develop a Master Plan. Eric Lucas, project lead for MKSK, explained to a standing-room only crowd that, while there are no set plans in place, the idea is to turn the property into a sports complex and office space for the city parks department. Some health services provided by CRH would also be included. Connectivity to other parks and the people trails system would also be addressed.

Lucas explained that MKSKS is also looking to optimize space at Donner Park and Donner Center. While the mall is structurally sound and capable of being modified, the Donner Center building has little adaptive use. Engineers note the age of the building, a number of deferred-maintenance issues that have led to damage and ADA compliance issues offer a set of challenges on what can be done with the structure. As for the park property, it is believed that connectivity and parking could be improved.

The second public meeting is set for Aug. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the mall.

You can get more information about the Fair Oaks Mall project, as well as offer your suggestions, online at reimaginefairoaksmall.com.

Digital access cards are now available at the Bartholomew County Public Library.

Library staff say that by obtaining such a card from the library, area residents will have access to the library’s collection of downloadable materials of eBooks, audio books, digital magazines and music. This new service also provides access to databases for language learning, genealogy research, online courses, financial information, and more.

To obtain a digital access card, go to mybcpl.org and click “Your Account” at the top of the page to find the link to the digital access card application.

The digital access card does not allow items to be checked out from the library building.

A motorcycle fire in Jackson County led to the arrest of a Marion County man. At approximately 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Indiana State Police responded to the fire on southbound I-65 near the 51 mile marker.

Investigators determined that 36-year-old Jerry Ray Jones was piloting the motorcycle when it became disabled. They say Jones pulled the motorcycle into the southbound scales area and began to work on it. At some point, the motorcycle caught fire. When troopers arrived, they could not locate Jones. Workers in the area told them that they saw a man leave the area and head west across a field.

Troopers located Jones on County Road 1000 East, just north of Seymour. Upon identifying him, he was found to be wanted on a warrant for Possession of a Syringe and an additional warrant for a parole violation. When troopers searched the bag Jones was carrying, they reportedly found a loaded handgun, approximately 120 grams of suspected methamphetamine, suspected Xanax, syringes and approximately $1,600 in cash.

Jones was arrested on new felony charges of Dealing

Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of a Syringe. He is also facing a misdemeanor charge of Driving While Suspended.

The Redding Township Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the bike fire. No injuries were reported.

A Columbus man is facing drug charges after a traffic stop early this morning. Columbus police are reporting that they stopped a vehicle at about 4 a.m. near State and Cherry streets.

A police dog alerted to the smell of drugs at the scene and a search of the driver revealed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia concealed in in this clothing.

35-year-old Joshua S. Perry is facing preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and of drug paraphernalia.

You will have a chance tonight to give your thoughts on the future of the Fair Oaks Mall property. The first of a series of public sessions to discuss the mall master plan will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the mall.

The Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation, made up of  the City of Columbus, Columbus Regional Health and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, have contracted with MKSK to develop a master plan for the property. The three entities came together to buy the mall at the end of last year with the idea to turn it into a sports complex and office space for the city parks department as well as offering some health services for the hospital.

City officials say the company will also be designing ideas for the best use of Donner Center for recreation and community wellness purposes.

You can get more information about the Fair Oaks Mall project at reimaginefairoaksmall.com

Five people were arrested on drug charges in Jennings County Tuesday after police found more than 90 grams of meth as well as guns at a home while serving an arrest warrant.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies were serving an arrest warrant on 54 year old John Boyd at about 12:36 p.m. Tuesday afternoon in Columbia Township when they saw drugs in plain view at the home.

A search revealed the meth, four guns, drug paraphernalia and more than $2,200 in cash.

In addition to the outstanding warrants from Jennings and Marion counties, Boyd is facing new charges of possession of more than 28 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, along with charges for possessing a syringe and a controlled substance.

Rodney Mead and Hope Tarpley are facing charges of possession of more than 5 grams of meth and of syringes.

Heather Cheesebrew and Tamara Ross are being accused of possessing meth and drug paraphernalia.

You will see some traffic changes on Interstate 65 in Bartholomew and Jackson counties, starting this weekend.

INDOT says that contractors will be switching traffic on the northbound lanes of I-65 south of Walesboro starting Friday evening. That traffic will be moving to the new concrete pavement on the northbound side for about three miles through the end of the construction zone.

Both the median and the shoulder will stay closed while work continues. Southbound lanes will continue to be constricted until median work is done.

INDOT also says that the bridge over I-65 at Jackson County Road 800N will be closing for 55 days starting Monday while that bridge is rehabilitated. The bridge is expected to reopen in September. The work is dependent on the weather.

The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County is looking for many volunteers with a variety of skill levels to help staff the group’s Hub.

Tracey Clark, the volunteer services manager for ASAP, explains that they need people to volunteer for positions ranging from front desk reception, to life skills educators and recovery coaches.

Some of those volunteer roles will require special skills, she said.

They are also looking for anyone who can donate time, she said.

The Hub will be a centralized location where people who need to get into recovery from drug addiction can go to start the treatment process and to get directed to the services they need. It will be opening in the Doug Otto United Way Center building on 13th Street in August, organizers estimate.

ASAP is an alliance formed two years ago between Bartholomew County, Columbus and Columbus Regional Healthy. Its efforts are largely funded by income tax revenue. Saving money is a key to the need for volunteers, Clark said.  The Hub will only have three paid positions — an director, volunteer organizer and health care navigator.

Clark says she will be keeping close track of volunteer hours to chronicle the impact they make.

They are having a volunteer recruiting drive and information session  this morning at 11 a.m. at the Community Church of Columbus on Marr Road. Other recruiting drives are taking place later this month including:

• Tuesday July 16th, 6 p.m. at Faith, Hope and Love Church of God in Christ on East State Road 7 in Elizabethtown.
• Monday, July 22nd, 3 p.m. at Bartholomew County Public Library Red Room, on Fifth Street.

For more information, you can call 812-375-2734 or email Clark at tclark@asapbc.org.

A large pot of food left unattended on a stove top filled a local restaurant with smoke Tuesday morning. At approximately 7:44 a.m., Columbus firefighters were called to a possible structure fire in the 3800 block of 25th Street after a passerby called 911 to report smoke coming from the roof the building.

The restaurant was closed and all doors were locked, causing crews to force open a door. Once inside, firefighters encountered a large amount of smoke. While searching through the kitchen area, firefighters found a large pot of food product burning on gas stove-top. Firefighters turned off the gas supply to the stove and carried the cooking pot to the parking lot.

A secondary search of the business confirmed the building was empty. Investigators determined that the fire was accidental. Damages from the smoke are estimated to be minimal.