A Kentucky man was seriously hurt in a Wednesday morning crash on I-65. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at around 5:55 a.m., deputies were dispatched to southbound I-65 near the 61.5-mile maker.

Upon arrival, first-responders reported finding a semi-tractor with heavy damage. It appeared the driver, 65-year-old Scott Pearson, of Louisville, had run off the roadway. Jackson says that Pearson was extracted by fire units and stabilized by EMS before being flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

A man trying to flee from Columbus police last night on a stolen bicycle was arrested.

Police report that an officer noticed 47-year-old Thomas D. Crouch of Columbus riding the bike near Cherry Street and Indiana Avenue at about 8:45 last night and recognized that Crouch was wanted on a Bartholomew County warrant. Police attempted to stop Crouch, but he allegedly fled on the bike. He was captured a short time later in the 600 block of Parkway Drive.

A check of the bike’s serial number revealed that it had been reported stolen earlier this month from a Columbus resident.

In addition to the outstanding warrant, he is facing preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and possesion of stolen property.

The Columbus movie will be returning to Yes Cinema for a one-week long engagement.

The not for profit theater on Jackson Street downtown is operated by the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center. Randy Allman with the family center explains that this is the one-year anniversary of the film’s local premiere.

The first showing of the film in its re-release will be at 6:30  p.m. Friday evening, Aug. 31st. That will be surrounded by special activities including an event at the Inn at Irwin Gardens and the showing of deleted scenes and other extras. Allman says.

There will also be $10 tickets for a drawing to win a Columbus-themed gift basket. That includes dinner at Henry Social Club, a stay at the Irwin Gardens, tickets for the upcoming Yes film fest and more.

Allman says last year’s run was the best-selling movie in Yes Cinema history.

All proceeds from movies and concessions sold at Yes Cinema, as well as the Columbus movie related fundraisers, go to benefit the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Center on 10th and Sycamore streets. Allman explains:

You can get more information and showtimes at yescinema.org

The town of Hope is without a tornado siren. That’s after the tower was hit by lightning.

Town Manager J.T. Doane said the town was contacted by Bartholomew COunty emergency officials after a test revealed the siren was not working. Repair crews were called in and said the electronics for the siren had been fried by the lightning strike. The repair cost is estimated at about $16,000 and the town is working with its insurer to cover the cost of the repairs.

In the meantime, if there is a tornado watch or warning, the town’s police department and volunteer firefighters will patrol the streets with sirens activated and use their vehicle’s PA system to warn residents.

Doane briefed the Town Council members on the situation at last night’s Hope Town Council meeting.

Plans for a new assisted-living facility in Columbus are on track after action taken Tuesday night by the Columbus City Council. Vivera Senior Living of Columbus, LLC wants to construct the facility at the former site of the Bartholomew County Annex at 1971 State Street. According to documents filed with the city, this $15 million project will consist of 114 total units. Fifty-two will be efficiency units and 62 will be one bedroom units.

The developer is requesting that the State Street site be designated as an Economic Revitalization Area. A public hearing on that component will be held at the next council meeting on September 4th. If the ERA designation is granted, that will allow the developer to apply for state tax credits needed to make the project financially feasible. Vivera officials say they will also be applying for local tax abatements.

The town of Nashville and Nashville Utilities have issued a boil order after a contractor struck a water line on State Road 46 West. The following areas are under the order:

468 – 2000 Upper Schooner Road;
870-893 Mullis Road;
Lake Turner Lane;
Cowboy Way;
2087-4243 State Road 46 West;

Residents and businesses in these areas should boil their drinking and cooking water until 4 p.m. on Friday.

The Columbus Fire Department has announced the hiring of Firefighter Joshua Meadows, of Trafalgar. Meadows was sworn in by Mayor Jim Lienhoop at Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Meadows will under-go a department familiarization training program. After completing this training, Meadows will receive a shift schedule and station assignment.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission has taken action on some subcommittees after the Indiana Public Access Counselor says the subcommittee meetings are covered by the state’s Open Door Law. Commission President Sarah Cannon read a statement at Monday’s meeting…

08-22 SARAH CANNON-1

Cannon says that the public access counselor’s decision contradicted the opinion of redevelopment commission attorney Stan Gamso, who was of the opinion that these subcommittee meetings did not fall under the purview of the open door law.

Three subcommittees, one dedicated to the railroad, one dedicated to improvements on State Street and another to look at the riverfront, have already been closed down. Cannon says the work of those committees have been completed. However, she says that another subcommittee for a third phase of improvements to the State Street corridor may be appointed in the future. If that happens, those meetings will be covered by the state’s Open Door Law.

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic will be holding its annual meeting next week. That will be Monday at the Columbus Area Visitors Center on Fifth Street.

The keynote speaker will be Robert S. Kaspar, Managing Principal of The Windsor Group based in Indianapolis.

The Stephenson|Gan Duo will provide musical entertainment. They are a violin and piano duo that promotes diversity and equality on the concert stage.

The meeting will start at 5:30 with appetizers and beverages starting at 5.

A national association is recognizing Thrive Alliance in Columbus for its program to help caregivers who are taking on the responsibility of raising the children of other family members.

The Relative Caregiver Support Program began last year and provides information, support groups, legal training and enrichment for those families. The program is tailored for cases like those where a grandparent has to take over care of their grandchildren because the parent has a drug problem.

The program was recognized recently by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging with the Aging Innovations Award.

Thrive Alliance partnered with Family Services Inc., Legal Aid and psychologist Dr. Darla McKeeman for the programming. Funding is coming from the Bartholomew County United Way and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.