The Columbus Police Department has been recognized for its commitment to members of the National Guard and the military reserves.

The Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve association presented the department with its “Above and Beyond” award at a recent awards banquet in Indianapolis. According to the department, the awards are presented by the ESGR to recognize employers who support the legal requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act “by providing their National Guard and Reserve employees additional, non-mandated benefits such as differential or full pay to offset lost wages.”

According to Police Chief Jon Rohde 11 of the current officers are also serving in the Armed Forces on active duty, in the National Guard or the reserves. He said that a third of the department either have previously served or are serving now.

Rohde said the department is proud to work with the officers to ensure that they can attend the training and exercises they need to keep their military commitments. He said that the officers who are serving understand the importance of service.

The Columbus Museum of Art & Design is making four grants to arts efforts in Columbus and Bloomington. The group announced recently that the grants will focus on short-term visual art and design experiences in the greater community.

The largest grant went to Columbus Area Arts Council with $5,000 for a mural by Lulu Loquidis and Daniel Luis from LAA Office called Learning Patterns that will be installed on the side of the 411 Gallery building.

The Friends of Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives, is receiving $2,250 for the “Cleo Turns 50” exhibit, curated by Tricia Gilson. That work celebrates the completion of the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library.

An Exhibit Columbus installation called Thank U Next by LA-Maz received $2,500 to created a informal meeting space for the duration of the three-month exhibition.

The City of Bloomington received $2,500 for the “Paper Pavilions: 2X2X” exhibition that will activate various sites in Columbus, Bloomington and the greater southern Indiana community. That includes one-month long exhibitions in both Columbus and Bloomington.

CMAD is a volunteer-led granting organization that supports and works with organizations to bring visual art and design projects to the Columbus community.

The city of Columbus would start regulating rental scooters and pedal cabs under a proposal to be considered by Columbus City Council Tuesday night.

The pedal cab proposal would would require a $200 per pedal cab licensing fee, proof of insurance and a check of the criminal backgrounds of operators and company officials.

It would also ban motorized rental scooter operations until such time as the city comes up with rules covering their use.

Many larger cities have struggled with a surge of interest by businesses in providing the rental scooters to tourists and others. Issues in other cities have focused on the safety of the scooters and the clutter, because most scooter companies allow the devices to be abandoned once they reach their destination and until they are rented by another customer.

Columbus City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday night in the council chambers at City Hall.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies say a missing 14 year old boy was found unharmed Sunday night, in part due to a monitoring bracelet provided by Project Lifesaver.

The boy, who is prone to wander, was reported missing around 10:30 Sunday night from his Garden Street home. He had been outfitted with a Project Lifesaver bracelet that includes a transmitter for just these sort of incidents. However, when the device was tracked to a store on Merchant’s Mile, the bracelet had been removed and was found in a store restroom.

Video from store surveillance confirmed that the boy had recently been in the store and the bathroom. And after a search in the area, the boy was found unharmed by Chief Deputy Chris Lane.

TRIAD, a partnership between the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and senior groups, and Sgt Jim Stevens used a grant from the Custer Nugent Foundation to get the Project Lifesaver program up and running locally.

Authorities say that a modification to the boy’s bracelet will now be added so that a special tool will be required to remove it.

A motorcyclist from Hope was flown to the hospital after a crash involving an intoxicated driver yesterday morning in North Vernon.

The North Vernon Police Department is reporting that the crash happened on South State and West College Streets at about 9:45 a.m. Sunday  when a passenger car turned in front of Michael D. Harden’s motorcycle. Harden was thrown from the cycle.

According to police and witnesses, the driver of the car, 44-year-old Aaron Malan of North Vernon, began swallowing items that turned out to be a prescription medication that Malan did not have a prescription for. More yellow pills were found near his vehicle. He was also allegedly carrying marijuana and drug paraphernalia and admitted to police that he had been taking drugs before the crash.

Malan was first taken to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital to be checked out and then arrested on preliminary charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting Law Enforcement, obstruction of justice, legend drug deception and for possession of the marijuana, controlled substance and paraphernalia.

A man with area ties is running 300 miles to raise awareness and money for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. Harold Killinger says this is the fourth consecutive year that his son Kyle is making the journey to raise awareness of the high rate of suicide among military vets. He left from Bowling Green, IL over the weekend.

Killinger adds that you can take part in an associated 5k.

Funds raised go towards “Operation Combat Bikesaver.” This is a workshop for veterans suffering from PTS, traumatic brain injury and/or depression to learn from those trained in motorcycle mechanics, restoration and customization. You can learn more about them at combatbikesaver.org.

For more information, to donate, or to learn how you can run the final stretch with Killinger, visit 300milesbecausehesmybrother.org.

Three people were arrested after an incident with a knife early Thursday morning on State Street in North Vernon.

The North Vernon Police Department is reporting that a victim was confronted by two men and a woman near State and Scott streets at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning. After an argument, one of the men allegedly held  a knife to his throat and then he was told to empty his pockets. As he called police, the woman allegedly tried to take his phone.

As police talked with the victim, one of the suspects was seen walking nearby and the other two soon emerged from between two houses. All three were detained and  knives were take from one of the male subjects. They were also allegedly carrying several bags containing items stolen from multiple vehicles.

Police were able to locate more victims and return some of the stolen items. The three were arrested including:

Nashville and Nashville Utilities have issued a boil water advisory, due to a water valve break.

The affected areas include:

• 726-1170 Clay Lick
•  597 Cofey Hill Road
• 801-989 Eads Lane
• 637-935 Highland Drive
• 1098-1104 Hill Top Trail
• 768-845 Mail Pouch Lane
• 465-765 McGee Road
• 418- 1408 Old State Road 46
• 1055-1080 Treetop Lane
• 204-1185 Tuck-A-Way Ridge

Residents and businesses are asked to boil their drinking and cooking water before using it.

For more information: Nashville Utilities  (812) 988-5526.

A stolen car was recovered in Columbus Thursday after police saw the driver swerving.

Columbus police stopped the vehicle at about 10 p.m. last night at Jonathan Moore Pike and Jonesville Road and realized that it had a fictitious registration. A check of the vehicle identification number revealed that hit had been reported stolen out of Jackson County in 2017.

The driver, 28-year-old Kyra S. Anderson of Columbus, was arrested on a preliminary charge of auto theft/ receiving stolen property.

A wanted man was arrested by Columbus police after allegedly trying to flee on a bicycle.

Officers saw 29-year-old Zackary C. Townsend of Columbus riding the bike near 11th and Chestnut streets at about 2:45 p.m. Thursday afternoon. They recognized that he was wanted on an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant, but when officers tried to speak with him, he refused to stop.

After fleeing through several alleys, he was caught in the 800 block of Reed Street, police report. In addition to the warrant, he is facing a new preliminary charge of resisting law enforcement.