Columbus firefighters battled a grass fire Tuesday near Haw Creek and a homeless camp.

When Columbus firefighters arrived on the scene at about 5:21 p.m. Tuesday afternoon they discovered a fire burning in the woods just south of Rocky Ford Road. Realizing that their engines could not operate in the woods, authorities called in Columbus Township’s brush truck — a four wheel drive pickup with a water tank, hoses and pump.

The fire was soon under control. No one was found in the area but firefighters did discover a large amount of trash and camping materials, including a large liquid propane tank, plastic totes and a wheeled cart. What appeared to be debris from a tent was discovered in the fire area. Investigators believe that an unattended campfire may have been the cause of the blaze.

No injuries were reported and the fire remains under investigation.

More counties are turning red in our area, showing a severe spread of COVID-19.

With the latest update from the Indiana State Department of Health this afternoon, Johnson and Shelby counties are both joining Jackson County in the red zone on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 spread map. Bartholomew, Decatur, Jennings and Brown counties remain orange showing a serious spread of the disease.

According to today’s figures, Shelby County is showing a 7-day positivity rate of 19.8 percent, second only to Dearborn County in south-eastern Indiana. Jackson County is at 19 percent and Johnson County is at 15.4 percent.

Bartholomew County has a 7-day positivity rate of 13.8 percent with 49 new cases reported.

Jennings County reported four new deaths from the disease, Shelby and Jackson had 1 new death each.

The state is reporting that southeastern Indiana’s District 8 has 163 people hospitalized, the highest number since the start of the pandemic.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb says the rising tide of COVID-19 means putting a pause on non-emergency surgeries throughout the state. In a press conference yesterday, Holcomb said he is trying to take the stress off of an already exhausted and overwhelmed hospital system and it’s workers.

Holcomb said the inpatient elective procedure pause will last for three weeks starting on Dec. 16th through Jan. 3rd.

11 people were left homeless after a fire destroyed a building in the Two Worlds Condominium Complex in Columbus yesterday morning.

The Columbus Fire Department is reporting that firefighters were called to the area of Abundance and Prosperity drives at about 10:54 a.m. Wednesday morning, where they found a heavy smoke and fire coming from a condo. As firefighters worked on the blaze it entered the attic space and spread quickly to three other units in the building.

As firefighters got the exterior flames under control, they were able to enter the buildings and recover some essential items from the residents. But much of the property was destroyed by the combination of fire, smoke and water damage.

The Salvation Army is providing assistance and shelter for some of the occupants.

According to the fire department, a contractor first noticed the blaze by smoke coming from a neighboring apartment where he was working. He began alerting residents and everyone was evacuated safely.

26 firefighters were on scene for about four hours, using seven different fire apparatus to get the fire under control. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.

The United Way of Bartholomew County is making plans for the upcoming Canstruction event to benefit local food pantries, including looking for teams of can artists to participate.

The event, now in its 12th year, uses colorful canned food to build large structures in Fair Oaks Mall. Community members vote for the winners and the cans are then donated to local food pantries including Love Chapel, the Community Center of Hope and the Salvation Army.

Magen Pillar with the United Way explains:

The event is coming up on Feb. 20th but registrations are going on now. Teams can register here.

Indiana has now seen more than 6,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Indiana reported 5,457 new positive cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon’s update from the Indiana State Department of Health.

The state is also reporting 124 deaths and a 7-day positivity rate of 14 percent. Tuesday’s additions brings the total of deaths from the disease since March to 6,109. Some of those deaths reported yesterday dated back to mid November.

Bartholomew County had 73 new cases to report, with a 7-day positivity rate of 12.2 percent. Decatur had 11 new cases, Jennings 18 Jackson 34, Brown 4, Johnson 158 and Shelby 42. Johnson County had 3 new deaths reported this afternoon, Jackson and Brown counties reported two deaths from the disease, while Shelby County had a single death.

Jackson County continues to be red on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 spread map, showing a severe spread of the disease. Bartholomew and other surrounding counties remain orange, showing serious spread of the disease.

Authorities are crediting the Columbus Police Intelligence Led Policing Unit with the arrest of an Elizabethtown man on drug-related charges Monday afternoon.

According to police reports, a Columbus police officer and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputy working on the unit stopped a driver of a suspicious vehicle on Tellman Road at about 5:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.

The driver got out and began yelling at police according to the report. Police tried to detain the man, who scuffled with officers before being put in handcuffs.

The driver, 49-year-old Ronald L. Miller turned out to have a suspended driver’s license and a search revealed methamphetamine in his wallet. He is facing charges for possessing the meth, resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended and disorderly conduct.

An armed Bartholomew County man was arrested Sunday evening after a domestic dispute left a woman injured.

The victim, who appeared injured, told deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department at about 6:16 p.m. Sunday evening that she had been battered at a home in the northeastern part of the county. She said the suspect, 48-year-old Virgle Massie, had a loaded gun and had threatened to shoot at police if they showed up.

When deputies arrived at the home, Massie came out a side door and said that he would not show police his hands. A deputy hit Massie with a Taser to subdue him and he was taken into custody without any further problems.

A loaded shotgun was found in the home.

Massie is facing preliminary charges of criminal confinement, domestic battery, domestic batter with a prior conviction and resisting law enforcement.

Downtown Columbus merchants and restaurants will be open late tomorrow night to encourage local shopping on a Not So Silent Night.

The downtown event will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday night, explains Cindy Frey, president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

Frey said that businesses have figured out innovative ways to provide their goods and services while remaining socially distanced and protecting their customers. Masks will be required.

You will be able to find special deals, sample foods and beverages and take part in a “find the elf” scavenger hunt. Diane Robbins with the Bartholomew County Historical Society and the downtown merchant’s group explains the elf hunt:

The passport card to start the elf hunt will be available at the visitors center.

Robbins said the Historical Society museum on Third Street will have a socially distanced Wave to Santa event. The Crump will have a cocoa and cookies event from 5 to 7.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

The event is being organized by the downtown merchant’s association, the Columbus Arts District and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

You can get more information here