Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is asking for an increase in the jail budget of over $625,000, as the department makes more room for inmates.

The sheriff made his case for a $4 million 2019 budget to the County Council yesterday during budget hearings.

The sheriff said that the jail has been operating right at its maximum over the past year, with an average daily population of 232 inmates, which is also the capacity. Myers said that when the jail population gets above about 180 inmates, there is no way to separate out inmates by the levels of crimes or by other criteria.

To get down to that level, the sheriff is planning to reopen half of the old, unused portion of the county jail. Myers said that he needs to add seven jail staff to make that happen. The County Council and Commissioners recently approved a plan expand and upgrade the security system in the jail, so that the old cell blocks can be reopened, but that work likely will not be completed until spring of next year.

The largest portion of his budget increase, almost $427,000 would be for wages and overtime.

The council budget hearings, including final deliberations are scheduled to continue this afternoon.

Authorities have made an arrest in a string of church vandalism in Bartholomew and Brown counties during the summer of 2017.

Renzo Signorino of Columbus is facing preliminary charges of burglary, theft and institutional criminal mischief according to an announcement by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Churches in Brown and Bartholomew counties were vandalized, items were stolen and fires were set in the incidents. Among the churches affected were Brown County’s Way of Holiness Tabernacle Church, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Pike’s Peak Church of Christ and Bartholomew County’s Ohio Chapel United Methodist Church.

Local authorities received a tip from the Carmel Police Department and the FBI  August 19th concerning a case they were working in Carmel. Detective Will Kinman of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and Detective Brian Shrader of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest yesterday.

A 17-year old juvenile is also connected to this case and charges will be pending.

Family Service, Inc celebrated its 50th anniversary Thursday at Simmons Winery. The not-for-profit group provides mental health care and other services for those in need on a sliding fee scale. Julie Miller, the agency’s executive director, says the program started as a mental health initiative.

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We asked Miller how the mission of Family Service, Inc. has changed over a half-century.

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Miller says the mission has since grown to include early childhood services and child abuse prevention efforts. Last year, more than 15,000 people were served by the agency.

Susan Kell, a former board member and director, talks about how the group has changed over the years…

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Dozens of people turned during Thursday’s event to celebrate. That included the reading of a proclamation by Mayor Jim Lienhoop.

For more on Family Service, Inc., visit familyservicebc.org.

The City of Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Department is inviting you to the Final Draft Presentation of the Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan. The presentation will take place on September 10th at the BCSC Administration Building. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. with an open house to follow until 8 p.m.

Development of the Columbus Central Neighborhood Plan began in early 2017. The plan focuses on the neighborhood surrounding the former Golden Casting Foundry, which for the purpose of this plan was designated as the Columbus Central Neighborhood. City officials say this area, once a significant industrial presence within the city, has experienced a significant transition over the past seven years as several former factories have been replaced with multi-family developments or re purposed as stores and restaurants. This continued change in neighborhood composition led to a number of questions about the future of the area, particularly related to whether the condition of streets and sidewalks could accommodate the new residents in the area, whether more residents could be supported in the neighborhood, and how potential conflicts between new residents and existing industrial uses could be minimized.

The presentation will summarize the final draft recommendations included in the plan. Following the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to further review the recommendations and provide final comments.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, announced Thursday that more than $10 million in federal grant funding is being awarded to 19 rural communities.

“Rural communities are the next great economic frontier for our state, and it is vital they are receiving support to keep Indiana moving forward,” Crouch said. “With these funds, local governments are able to complete various projects like improving their infrastructure, downtown revitalization and public facilities improvements.”

Area communities to receive grants include:

– The City of Greenwood: Public Facilities Program grant of $500,000 for renovation of a senior center, The Social of Greenwood. The project will renovate the roughly 6,500 square foot center to include updates to the wellness areas, multi-purpose program rooms, a food pantry and administrative spaces.

– Jackson County: Public Facilities Program grant of $225,000 for the rehabilitation of the Vallonia Community Center. The project will renovate the interior and upgrade the Joseph Jackson Hotel that was originally built in 1914.

– The City of Greensburg: Main Street Revitalization Program grant of $600,000 for downtown street improvements. This revitalization project will upgrade the southern half of Main Street between Broadway and Franklin streets and on the south side of the courthouse square.

The the 13th annual Johnson County Sheriff’s Charity Ride is Saturday. Sheriff Doug Cox says this police-escorted ride will leave the Franklin Walmart at 10:30 am. He adds that in years past, there have been upwards of 200 to 250 motorcycles involved. This may cause a brief inconvenience for other motorists. Stops include Skillman Ford in Martinsville, Fletcher Chrysler in Franklin, Mann’s Harley Davidson in Edinburgh and The Nest (formerly Johnathan Byrds) in Greenwood.

Registration is Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $40 for single rider or $60 for a rider and passenger.

Officials say the schedule is as follows:

– Leaving Franklin Walmart at 10:30 and going to Skillman Ford in Martinsville (23.2 miles)
– Leaving Skillman’s around 11:35 a.m. and going to Fletcher Chrysler in Franklin for lunch (31.8 miles)
– Leaving Fletcher’s at or around 1:30 p.m. and going to Mann’s Harley Davidson in Edinburgh/Taylorsville (21.5 miles)
– Leaving Mann’s around 2:35 p.m. and going to The Nest in Greenwood (30.9 miles)

Sheriff Cox says that riders will be having dinner at the Nest and this is where we will hand out door prizes and finish up the day.

White River Broadcasting’s WKKG will be recognized this afternoon for its community service efforts.

Brand Manager Kelsey James explains that the station is receiving the Cardinal Award from the Indiana Broadcaster’s Association for the annual Campout for Kids to benefit the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund.

The Cheer Fund is the oldest charity in Bartholomew County and provides presents and food gifts for families throughout the community at Christmas time.

James has been taking part in the event since it started five years ago. She said it is a great chance to help out such an important community group.

She said she is always impressed by one particular type of donor.

The station will be recognized at a ceremony this afternoon.

You can get more information on the Cheer Fund at their Facebook Page, Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, or at cheerfund.com.

Family Service Inc. will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with an event tonight at Simmons Winery on County Road 450N.

The not-for-profit group provides mental health care and other services for those in need on a sliding fee scale, says Julie Miller, the agency’s executive director.

The agency started as a mental health initiative.

Last year, more than 15,000 individuals were served by the agency.

The mission has since grown to include early childhood services and child abuse prevention efforts.

Tonight’s event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop will read a proclamation recognizing the anniversary at 5:30 p.m. and the band, Brothers From Another Mother, will be performing. Food and a cash bar will be provided by Simmons Winery.

Crew Carwash will be making a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bartholomew County this afternoon.

The $3,300 donation is proceeds from the company’s July Crew for Kids fundraiser. Crew Carwashes at 31 locations donated 50 percent of all Works washes and Ultimate washes to the cause. Crew also accepted cash and credit donations at all locations on July 28th.

The proceeds from all the locations meant $94,100 dollars in donations to community Big Brothers, Big Sisters organizations. The Columbus ceremony will be at 1 p.m. this afternoon at the Crew Carwash on  National Road.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, along with VIPs from Ivy Tech and the Indiana National Guard, cut a network cable Wednesday afternoon to officially open the Muscatatuck Cyber Academy near Butlerville. The academy fully immerses students in an accelerated associate degree program in which students complete a two-year degree in 11 months in the nation’s most exclusive and realistic cyber-physical training environment.

“This academy will continue to improve our state’s security, prosperity and competitive edge,” Holcomb said. “Building on Indiana’s global reputation as a growing tech hub, the Muscatatuck Cyber Academy is an important program to help us develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce.”

Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann, Ivy Tech Columbus Campus Chancellor Dr. Steven Combs and Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Courtney P. Carr joined the governor during the opening ceremony.

“The nation requires a workforce that is relevant, agile and adaptable if it is to remain technically competitive in the global economy and successfully address the continually increasing emergent cyber threats from around the globe,” said Carr, who’s organization hosts the academy at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

Jay Carlisle, of Columbus, is an academy student and member of the military. He explained why the program, which sees a two-year program diluted to an intensive 11 month period, was attractive to him…

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Officials say that 43 students, ranging in age from recent high-school graduate to 60, are taking part in this first academy.

Dr. Combs talks about his hopes for the academy over the next few years.

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The students in the first cohort began their work last week.

For more information about the Muscatatuck Cyber Academy go to in.gov/igr/cyber-academy.htm.