Year in Review by AIM Media Indiana

2023

On the cover Clockwise from top left: The fire-damaged Irwin Block building in Columbus is shown Jan. 9 as brick-by-brick demolition began. // Levi Carothers receives a champion banner from Bartholomew County Fair Queen Lilly Smith for one of his entries in the sheep show during the Bartholomew County Fair at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds in Columbus on June 28. // Dance group Bollywood Beats performs for Exhibit Columbus’ Rock the Block party under Exhibit Columbus installation InterOculus on the opening weekend of Exhibit Columbus on Saturday, Aug. 26. // Columbus police officers search for evidence after a drive-by shooting at crowded Lincoln Park wounded four people on May 23. // Director Robert Moniot, gesturing, talks out the next scene with actors and crew members during a break between shooting scenes for “The Ice Cream Man” movie at Zaharakos in Columbus on March 15. The production team needed a location that looked like a vintage 1940’s ice cream parlor for the movie. The Republic file photos

Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023

City officials were preparing for what they described as a “pretty busy” year in 2023, outlining a range of priorities for the year ahead that included making significant progress on NexusPark and “downtown activation,” among other plans.

First United Methodist Church

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8th & Lafayette, Columbus 812-372-2851

Local fire departments and emergency medical services are now using new, automatic dispatching software in the hopes of improving efficiency and response times.

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Changes to K-12 curriculum: increased access to earlychildhood education and a response to Indiana’s ongoing teacher shortage were top-of-mind for Indiana lawmakers as the 2023 legislative session neared.

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The Indiana Department of Transportation began installing permanent supplemental hanger systems on the I-65 Gateway Arch Bridge over State Road 46 as a precautionary measure after corrosion was found during recent inspections.

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Bartholomew County high school graduation rates dipped for the Class of 2022, with all four high schools showing a decline in the percentage of students graduating.

Now that Lindsey Holden-Kay has become only the third person in 44 years to be elected Bartholomew County prosecutor, she said she’s ready to get to work.

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Like mother, like son, Bartholomew County’s first baby of 2023 carried on a family tradition. River Nashtyn-Michael O’Brien was born at 12:30 a.m., Jan. 1 to mother, Erica O’Brien, and father, Kyle O’Brien. Like her son, Erica also had been a first baby — the first born in Decatur County in 1995.

An investigation went underway by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to determine if Latino students enrolled in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. have been discriminated against when moved to alternative education programs within BCSC.

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Marnie Schwartzkopf, the 2022 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair queen, was among the top 10 finalists in the 2023 Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant.

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For the second consecutive year, a Bartholomew County lawmaker is asking the state to pay for a study about the decommissioning and disposal of solar panels.

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Team 4926, also known as GalacTech, invited members of the public to attend their workshop for the 2023 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition kickoff.

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Left to Right: Erica O’Brien holds newborn River Nashtyn-Michael O’Brien, Bartholomew County’s first baby of 2023, accompanied by daughter, Evie, and husband, Kyle, after River was born at 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1 at Columbus Regional Hospital. // Brick-by-brick demolition of the Irwin Block building in Columbus, Ind., consumed by fire in December 2022, began in January. The Republic File Photos

Lilly Breedlove and Arrabella Fortino became the first Columbus North High School athletes to qualify for the girls wrestling state finals. Jennings County High School’s Harlie Winningham and Bresa Coan also qualified for the state meet.

After maintaining a presence at the Bartholomew County Fair for 70 years, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church is the second organization to announce they will no longer prepare and provide meals and food items. The first nonprofit to cease their food operations at the fair was the Lion’s Club, which disbanded last year after 78 years of operation.

Local officials said they are preparing to launch a community-wide initiative this year aimed at addressing what they described as a deepening mental health crisis in Bartholomew County and the surrounding area.

An online registry showed that Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge Jon Rohde’s court issued significantly fewer protective orders over the course of last year than Bartholomew County’s other two courts.

Toyota Material Handling associate Kim Douglass made history by becoming the first woman to ever place in the Toyota Material Handling Group Global Skills competition, earning a gold medal in the assembly category.

The 26th Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast unfolded as part spirited call to action and part revival-style church service. Keynote speaker, Kendall Wright, urged an estimated 350 attendees at The Commons to reach beyond their normal circle to gain new understanding, especially from those who could be battling injustice or oppression.

Columbus Robotics expanded its mission to an international outreach. In the words of mentor, Gayatri Adi, the mission of Columbus Robotics is to provide “STEM inspiration” for students, and recently, they provided that inspiration to children in Pune, India.

Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus, introduced a bill to the Indiana General Assembly that would prohibit medical professionals in Indiana from providing genderaffirming health care to transgender youth.

Coordinators for local schools’ food pantries relayed concern after their distribution numbers indicated some students who could use help are not applying for assistance because of concerns about the stigma associated with receiving food assistance.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s English Language Learning (ELL) Director Denise Recarte was notified of her termination and placed on administrative leave, pending due process before the school board.

Turning Point Domestic Violence Services officials said that they plan to start meeting regularly with Bartholomew County’s judges to take a systemic look at how to prioritize domestic violence prevention in the community.

Indiana legislators visited Rockcreek Elementary School to meet with an unusual teacher — one that happens to be wired a little differently. They met Milo, a robot designed to help students who have autism.

A brick-by-brick demolition of the Irwin Block building began seven weeks after a fire destroyed the structure in downtown Columbus.

Seven Hispanic realtors from local real estate agencies collaborated to support one another and Hispanic homebuyers with a new organization.

The community and Columbus North High School gathered to honor and remember Ariel Roberts, the greatly loved and positive Bull Dog cheerleader, who lost her life to glioblastoma on Jan. 20.

Three more candidates filed to run for Columbus City Council. Incumbent Councilwoman Elaine Hilber, a Democrat representing District 2, is seeking re-election. Republican Sue NormanChapple and Democrat Tony Hayden also filed, seeking the District 3 seat.

A group of high school students got a peek at a major construction site — as well as some insight into careers that might be in their future. About 30 female students from Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. C4 construction and architecture/civil engineering classes were given a hard hat tour of NexusPark and heard from a panel of leaders on the project.

An animal sedative that authorities said was being increasingly mixed with fentanyl and other illegal drugs could increase the chances of unintentional overdoses and death. Xylazine, also known by its street name “tranq,” is a veterinary drug developed in the 1960s as a sedative and muscle relaxer for cattle, horses, elk and other animals, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

New York City architect Vishaan Chakrabarti aimed to strike a careful balance in his PAU Studio firm’s presentation of its Exhibit Columbus installation plans at The Commons in downtown Columbus. He wanted to highlight a surprise or two on his project, while also allowing the more than more than 100 local residents who offered ideas and input for his work to easily notice the fruit of some of their suggestions.

Dennis Bland, the keynote speaker at the annual Columbus/Bartholomew County Branch of the NAACP meeting and dinner said that leaders must help young people find better paths to academic and overall achievement, given poor performance results on many standardized tests in recent years.

Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023

From history to movies to jazz to a downtown tour, Bartholomew County’s Black heritage stepped to the forefront via a new, first-of itskind website and calendar to mark February as Black History Month.

Columbus will contribute some of its COVID relief funds to help low-income residents connect their homes to new broadband infrastructure. The Columbus Board of Works approved an agreement between the city and Hoosier Networks LLC for a digital access program.

The Republic File Photo

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department paid more than 15,000 hours in overtime wages last year as the department struggled to contend with staffing shortages and keeping enough deputies on the road while also trying to maintain a jail staff.

A Bartholomew County Public Library survey about its teen department showed that out of almost 800 respondents, most agreed that the department is a “safe, welcoming space” with diverse and relevant materials, though there were some concerns about sexual content in materials there.

Kirk Parsons, 48, who has been in the Marine Corps Reserves for nearly 27 years, started his own company importing and wholesaling a range of wines from the nation of Georgia after falling in love with the country, culture and wine during numerous trips there as a military contractor.

Cummins Inc. announced that three leaders were named vice presidents, effective March 1 – Jane Beaman, Andreas Lippert and Jose Samperio.

A local analyst said that a potential deal for Cummins Inc. to acquire part of Faurecia’s commercial vehicle exhaust aftertreatment business, including a manufacturing facility in Columbus, could offer benefits for both companies.

Local man Jacob Rice, 40, who was shot while police were investigating a possible attempted burglary in the Forest Park neighborhood in Columbus, was sentenced to 36 years in prison after he was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and found to be a habitual offender.

Property owners and local historians had workers salvage pieces of the Irwin Block Building as demolition continued to bring the fire-damaged building down. This included the “BLOCK” portion of the building’s nameplate that fell the night of the fire and has been donated to the Bartholomew County Historical Society.

Drug overdose deaths in Bartholomew County soared to 39 last year — roughly one death every nine days. The official annual total — the highest on record — according to the Bartholomew County Coroner’s office, which recently released its 2022 annual report.

Significant improvements will be made this year at the two biggest revenue generators for the Bartholomew County Parks Department. One upgrade deals with water erosion at Heflen Park, 433 W. County Road 700 N.

The local Cintas Uniform Services announced they will donate approximately 600 pairs of new, steel-toed boots of various brands to nonprofit Sans Souci in Columbus as a way to assist workers with a financial need for this safety equipment required by many industries.

City officials announced a name for the new NexusPark Fieldhouse during the ceremonial groundbreaking event. The 150,000 square-foot fieldhouse will be known as the Circle K Fieldhouse, and the fields inside will be named for the late John McCormick, said Columbus Parks Board President Mark Levett.

A local judge planned to establish a Mental Health Problem Solving Court in Columbus. Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton filed a letter of intent to create the court with the Indiana Office of Court Services. If approved, Chief Probation Officer Brad Barnes will be the program coordinator.

Kirk Parsons, founder of Parsons Fine Imports, and his wife Lauren pose for a photo while holding bottles of Georgian wines outside of their business Parsons Fine Imports in Columbus. The Parsons will import and distribute Georgian fine wines through his business starting in March. The Republic File Photo

Columbus police asked for the public’s help in trying to find out who is responsible for dozens of instances of white supremacist vandalism downtown.

A Bartholomew Circuit Court jury deliberated for 68 minutes before finding a local man guilty of murder. Patrick E. Doyle, 40, was convicted of the August 2021 killing of his live-in girlfriend, Heather Ann Steuver.

Faurecia, a company of the FORVIA Group, entered into exclusive negotiations with Cummins for the potential sale of a designated part of its commercial vehicle exhaust aftertreatment business in Europe and the United States for an enterprise value of more than $160 million.

After 50 years at its Franklin Street location, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce announced they are searching for a new home.

One of the 13 Exhibit Columbus exhibition temporary installations will include 2,500 bricks from the Irwin Block Building on Fifth Street in downtown Columbus that was destroyed by the fire on Dec. 3, 2022.

The 25th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for the hungry left organizers filled with satisfaction. Richard Boyce, a member of the organizing committee, said an estimated crowd of 340 people came to the Cental Middle School cafeteria, and they raised an estimated $18,000.

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Columbus East senior Ashlynn Waddle poses for a photo behind warmers full of grilled cheese sandwiches on Grilled Cheese Thursday at St. Peter’s Lutheran School in February. As part of her senior project, Waddle organized a fundraiser featuring a concert by Christian musician Colton Dixon — and grilled cheese.

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After 11 years in downtown Columbus, a local butcher shop and eatery is preparing to close its doors. The Savory Swine, located at 410 Washington St., announced the news via social media. Owner Lisa Abendroth said that “economic downturn” led to the decision.

Schmitt Elementary won the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s 2023 Cheer Day Competition, marking the school’s first time in more than a decade taking home that honor.

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CivicLab announced the launch of a new, national fellowship program and has selected George Towers, an IUPUC professor, as the group’s first member. Towers is the head of IUPUC’s Division of Liberal Arts and a professor of geography.

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Columbus North High School seniors Darren Li and Molly Hotek were winners of the 2023 Brown Music Competition hosted at the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s Helen Haddad Hall at 315 Franklin St. in downtown Columbus.

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Local parent and unsuccessful school board candidate Eric Grow compiled a catalog of books he says are present in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. libraries that he thinks “may be problematic.”

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Left: People look over handmade bowls crafted for the Empty Bowls fundraiser at Central Middle School in February. The Republic File Photo Above: The Schmitt Rockets celebrate winning Cheer Day at Columbus East High School in February.

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Music, faith and grilled cheese: Columbus East High School senior Ashlynn Waddle said these are her favorite things in life — and they all tied in to her senior project. Waddle organized a youth outreach concert at East featuring Christian musician Colton Dixon, who previously competed on “American Idol.”

The Jennings County prosecutor filed a criminal charge against Eric E. Smith, who was accused of taking a gun into the North Vernon Elementary School office earlier in the month.

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Hope, the groundhog, predicted six more weeks of winter. The moment that the playfullynicknamed “Groundhog Groupies” were forced to squint to address the crowd, there was no question about the prediction from the 10th annual Groundhog Day event in downtown Hope.

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Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023

Amy Davis, who has led Cummins’ new power business since 2020 and will serve as president of Accelera, speaks at the debut of Accelera in Washington, D.C. The Republic File Photo Scaffolding is set up at First Christian Church as renovation work on the tower began in March.

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The Friends of First Christian Church Architecture Fund at the local Heritage Fund secured a long-hoped-for $500,000 challenge grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation toward renovation of the iconic church tower.

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Bartholomew County Health Department dental coordinator Colleen Ferry Sullivan, aka “the Tooth Ferry,” visited Busy Bees Academy to teach students about dental hygiene with some memorable methods — including checking stuffed dinosaurs for cavities and introducing the class to her colleague, a dinosaur puppet named Dr. Flossasauris.

A list of the planned design presentations for “Public by Design,” the next set of installations for Exhibit Columbus, was announced. More than 350 community members previewed the design concepts for the fourth Exhibit Columbus Exhibition.

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With a unanimous vote, the Bartholomew County commissioners agreed to seek a $50,000 grant through the Indiana Office of Energy Development for the development of a community development security plan.

A multi-disciplinary group, called the Bartholomew County Suicide and Overdose Fatality Review (SOFR), began reviewing local overdose deaths and suicides as part of an effort to identify data-informed initiatives that officials hope will prevent future deaths.

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While hundreds of bills made it to the halfway point, two major themes rose to the forefront — disputes over transgender and gay youth and a Republican push for tax cuts.

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As Indiana passed the halfway mark of its legislative session, lawmakers continued to look at a number of education related decisions — including whether to strip legal protections from school librarians and provide funds for teachers to receive firearm training.

The City of Columbus set a date for the official grand opening of its main bicentennial project. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the 1821 Trail was scheduled for April 6 at the intersection of First and Washington streets, said Redevelopment Heather Pope.

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Cummins’ new power business will be renamed as the company seeks to emphasize its portfolio of zero emissions technologies. The Columbus-based company announced that its new powerbusiness segment, will now be called Accelera by Cummins.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop is leading a delegation of local officials to Japan to reaffirm the city’s longstanding relationships with employers and its sister city Miyoshi.

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The Republic File Photo

ABC Stewart Montessori School celebrated Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, in a very colorful way. The school serves a diverse community with students from all over the world, said Whitney King, a teacher and one of the organizers for the event.

new kindergarten and sixth-grade wings had been completed.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts received the EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year Award from the Consortium for School Networking and The School Superintendents Association. Roberts was presented with the award at a conference in Austin, Texas.

Former Indiana state Rep. Milo Smith and high-ranking Columbus city official Mary Ferdon made the ballot for the Republican nomination for Columbus mayor in the May 2 primary.

The Columbus Municipal Airport will keep a tract of land at Walesboro off the market for at least a year on behalf of a potential tenant or buyer. The Columbus Board of Aviation Commissioners approved a land option contract with SR Assets, a third-party firm working for another company that is interested in the property.

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, announced Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri, a junior at Columbus North High School, is the 2023 Indiana Poetry Out Loud state champion. Munjuluri represented Indiana in the 2023 Poetry Out Loud national finals.

Bartholomew County Commissioners said they will apply for a $200,000 federal grant to provide wellness support for police and other first responders, as well as their families. They have agreed to allow the sheriff’s office to apply for a Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness grant available through the COPS program within the U.S. Department of Justice.

City officials announced that a trial of free, all-day parking in downtown Columbus would be expanded to remove three-hour time limits on selected sections of Jackson Street.

Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum, in downtown Columbus, stood in as the convincing setting for a 1941 location in Amsterdam to be featured in the short film “The Ice Cream Man”.

Criminal, biker-gang leader Michael J. “Billy Goat” Karnuth, 34, of North Vernon, was sentenced to 120 years in prison following his conviction for the 2021 DuPont murder of Dustin B. Lindner, 35, of Georgetown, Kentucky.

An attorney representing former Columbus resident Jon Schaffer, who pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him by the District of Columbia over his role in the attack.

After Hauser High School’s girls softball team reached the semistate final in 2022, the Jets had tougher competition in store, moving up from Class A to Class 2A competition.

Scaffolding was erected so that $3.2 million worth of repair work officially can begin on the iconic, 165-foot First Christian Church tower, long a landmark of Columbus’ small-town structural silhouette.

Students returning from a break in several grades at Parkside Elementary had something to look forward to — their first day in brand-new classrooms. The school’s

A local man convicted of killing his live-in girlfriend and hiding the crime for 18 days received the maximum possible sentence of 85 years in prison. Patrick E. Doyle, 40, was ordered to serve 65 years for murder, as well as an additional 20 years for being a habitual criminal, by Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin.

Leaders from Columbus, Bloomington and Nashville gathered to announce a new climate initiative that they acknowledged requires both urgency and a deliberate, multi-year process for the communities to work together to set goals and policy.

All three Bartholomew County commissioners stated that they will not consider changing current animal control ordinances or a county animal control board, despite public pressure from local animal advocacy groups.

The members of the first local delegation to Japan since the coronavirus pandemic returned to Columbus in what officials characterized as a successful trip to reaffirm the city’s longstanding ties with employers and its sister city Miyoshi.

The three Democratic candidates for Columbus City Council District 3 met in a candidate forum hosted by the Columbus Rotary Club to talk about city projects and plans for the future.

A federal judge ruled that former Vice President and Columbus native Mike Pence will have to testify before a grand jury in the Justice Department’s investigation into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Smith Elementary’s Sonic Cyborgs, a VEX IQ Elementary team, competed in the Indiana State Robotics Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. The team’s performance in Indianapolis qualified them for world competition three times over, said STEM teacher and coach Lisa Haines. The Sonic Cyborgs had a qualifying skills score, won the Create Award and came in third place for the Teamwork Challenge Award.

Jay Baer, keynote speaker for the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, delivered a timely message to the area business community and a full house at The Commons: More than ever, speed of service is essential when it comes to satisfying customers.

Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023

A federal judge dismissed part of a lawsuit filed by the District of Columbia against former Columbus resident Jon Schaffer and dozens of other far-right extremists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A longtime community leader received Indiana’s highest honor. Sherry Stark was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash award at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the 1821 Trail. The award honors an individual who has rendered a distinguished service to the state or to the governor.

Local food pantries said that they are continuing to see increasing numbers of Bartholomew County residents turning to them for help with groceries as inflation continues to drive up prices and squeeze budgets.

Soldiers with the Indiana National Guard held a change of command ceremony for one its largest and most historic battalions at Camp Atterbury. Indiana National Guard Lt. Col. Ben Tooley took command of 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment from Lt. Col. Nick Roukas, who had led the Columbusbased battalion since January 2021.

The town of Hope and surrounding areas lost power for hours in an outage which Duke Energy initially said appeared to have been caused by a crossbar breaking loose atop a utility pole.

Local officials stated Bartholomew County has seen an increase in homelessness over the past year, including a higher prevalence of severe mental illness among people living on the streets, since the community emerged from the coronavirus pandemic.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. approved a new math curriculum for elementary school students. The school board voted on April 3 to adopt the Eureka Math2 curriculum from Great Minds. The cost of acquiring this resource for kindergarten through sixth grade is $1.325 million, according to curriculum specialist Gail Koors.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. officials plan to amend the 2023-24 school year calendar in light — or lack thereof — of an upcoming total solar eclipse.

Demolition of the former Bartholomew County court services building at 507 Third St. began. Demolition of the more than 100-year-old building was the latest step in the city’s plan to build a hotel and conference center on the block surrounded by Second, Franklin, Third and Lafayette streets.

With Earth Day approaching, some local officials said the effects of climate change are already in Bartholomew County and it’s time to adjust to a new reality.

An individual with a long history in education and volunteerism was honored for her service to the community. Janice Montgomery was named The Republic’s 2022 Woman of the Year. The annual award, which dates back to 1981, is given to a woman from Bartholomew County who has contributed to creating a vital community.

An estimated 550 people attended HutchFest, a firsttime music festival and fundraiser that rocked The Commons, benefitting Landmark Columbus Foundation and efforts to reopen the historic Crump Theater downtown.

Unemployment in Bartholomew County ticked up in March but remained among the lowest in Indiana as the U.S. economy seemed to be showing some signs of softening.

Local officials said that they expect to receive supplies from state regulators within the next month to start testing Columbus’ drinking water for long-lasting and highly toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other illnesses.

Cummins Inc. said that it has signed an agreement with one of India’s biggest automakers, Tata Motors Inc., to manufacture a range of low- to zero-emissions products over the next few years.

One thing seemed apparent the moment Columbus North High School sophomore Kate London finished a nearly dead-on perfect rendition of Shocking Blue’s 1969 hit “Venus” before about 900 people at Judson Erne Auditorium. As the song says, “She’s got it. Yeah, baby, she’s got it,” — her vocal gift, stage presence, and this-is-mymoment sensibility made the annual “American Pie: The Magical History Tour” a unique experience to rock your world.

State lawmakers representing parts of Bartholomew County voted in favor of a proposal that could make it easier for parents and other community members to challenge books in school libraries.

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Local election officials said early voting for the May 2 primary has slowed down, though turnout is still higher than it was at the same point during the previous municipal primary.

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Columbus Foundation for Youth officials had positive financial news during the organization’s annual meeting. Agreements have been reached with the Lilly Endowment that will provide FFY with approximately $750,000 over the next three years, Executive Director Chuck Kime revealed.

Columbus firefighters helped in a military operation, working with Camp Atterbury personnel to extricate a paratrooper from his parachute, which was stuck in a tall tree on the Atterbury property.

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Dennis Livesay, dean of computing at Michigan Technological University, was inducted into Columbus East High School’s Alumni Wall of Fame and was honored with an award reception at the school.

The nonprofit Landmark Columbus Foundation’s board of directors selected a new board chair and vice chair, marking the first significant board leadership change for the organization. Mark Elwood moved from vice chair to chair, and current board member Tracy Haddad moved to the vice chair position.

City officials continued to work with state and federal regulators to get permits to move forward with a proposed riverfront redevelopment between the Second and Third Street bridges in downtown Columbus that has been dragging on for the past few years.

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Preserving Columbus’ architectural legacy that includes historic structures such as The Crump Theatre will build on a rock beat with a new music festival fundraiser called HutchFest, planned for April 21 at The Commons in downtown Columbus.

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The former Bartholomew County Court Services Building will soon be torn down to make way for a new hotel conference center.

The Bartholomew County Council voted 4-3 to grant Sheriff Chris Lane’s request to fund two new merit deputy positions, but the council rejected his request to revise pay standards for corrections staff and courthouse security.

An Indianapolis man accused of shooting his girlfriend in the head and then smothering her to death was charged with murder. Anthony W. Carter, 49, of 3018 E. Raymond St., Indianapolis, was arrested for the April 16 killing of Ashley E. Neville, 40, at a home Neville occupied in the 500 block of East County Road 650 S.

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Columbus Regional Health officials raised concerns that a proposal to ban gender-affirming care for children in Indiana could lead to an increase in mental health challenges and have other negative impacts for local, transgender youth who will be denied care they need.

Every BCSC elementary school collected canned goods for a Community Food Drive being organized by United Way and the Bartholomew County Food Insecurity Coalition. Students will use the cans to build different designs in their schools’ STEM labs, said Director of Elementary Education Laura Hack.

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After troubleshooting and getting inspections, Bartholomew County Public Library library staff concluded that the elevator could not be fixed and needs to be entirely replaced, a process that was expected to take months.

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Left to Right: Lisa Shafran, The Republic Woman of the Year for 2022, puts a medallion on The Republic’s 2023 Woman of the Year, Janice Montgomery, during a ceremony at The Commons in downtown Columbus in June. Montgomery was selected for the honor in April. The Republic File Photo // Columbus Fire Department firefighters use a specialized “quint” firetruck and ladder to rescue a paratrooper from a large tree on the base property at Camp Atterbury in April. Photo provided by Columbus Fire Department

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Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023

how to respond to a parent’s worst nightmare — missing and abducted children.

C4 held its annual “Forensic Field Day,” with criminal justice and biomedical students investigating mock crime scenes in the morning and conducting autopsies on the “victims” — which were actually fetal pigs — in the afternoon, with guidance from a variety of law enforcement, health care and government officials.

In commemoration of National Police Week, a memorial service was held in Columbus to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Local officials stated they are continuing to step up efforts to reduce the number of infants in Bartholomew County who die before their first birthday and have set what they describe as a “lofty goal” to reduce the county’s rate of infant deaths by about a quarter by the end of the decade. Columbus police officers search for evidence after four people were shot on the basketball court at Lincoln Park in Columbus in May. The Republic File Photo

Columbus City Utilities announced it will build an elevated water tank in southern Bartholomew County, with officials hoping to break ground in late May.

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Despite a cost that a number of officials describe as unsustainable, Hope officials said they will continue to offer recycling services through the rest of the year. Smith Elementary’s Sonic Cyborgs competed at the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas. Teams at the VEX IQ Elementary level were split into 10 divisions. According to STEM teacher and coach Lisa Haines, the Cyborgs came in 23rd in their division, which was made up of about 75 teams.

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The ABC-Stewart Montessori School began looking to revamp or replace its current building after 40 years in the same westside facility. As school leaders considered the project, they turned to another educational institution for insight: Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program.

A team of students from local high schools recently put their cooking skills to the test at a national competition. C4’s culinary arts team competed at the National ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C. According to Chef Instructor Carrie Douglas, the local team came in 14th place out of 46 teams.

A national social justice leader carefully outlined the reality of political and racial division in the United States — and his still determined hope of unity shaped by what the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called the beloved community. The Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, president of Sojourners and a Virginia Christian pastor, presented those two extremes and more in his message “Where Do We Go From Here? Toxic Polarization or Beloved Community?”

Shareholders of Cummins Inc. voted in favor of directors nominated by the company’s

Contractors found some savings for Turning Point Domestic Violence Services’ shelter remodel. The Columbus Board of Works approved a change order from Taylor Brothers Construction Co. that reduced costs by more than $14,000.

Efforts to improve the exterior of local makerspace Columbus Propeller were being finalized. As beautification work continues, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Frey has estimated a possible July or August completion date for the project. She added that because the final piece will be a wall mural, this timeline will depend on the artist.

Local community members announced a new organization focused on the vitality of downtown Columbus. The Office of Downtown Development announced the launch of its operations, along with the news that Ike DeClue will serve as executive director. The organization will be focused on investing into the downtown area and have its initial office at the former Casey’s Jewelers on Fourth Street.

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Twice as many Columbus voters casted ballots early for the May 2 primary election compared to the previous municipal primary, according to figures from the Bartholomew County Clerk’s Office.

board but rejected proposals to tie executive compensation to climate performance and split the chairman and chief executive officer roles.

Columbus North High School junior Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri is the 2023 Poetry Out Loud national champion. Photo Provided

Columbus North High School junior Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri was named the 2023 Poetry Out Loud national champion, awarded by The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Contractors neared completion on the initial framework of Columbus’ new fieldhouse at NexusPark. Force Construction project manager Brett Siepka said workers were past the halfway mark on putting together subassemblies for the fieldhouse and expect to be done with this phase within days.

The Columbus Fire Department asked the community for feedback about the department’s service delivery through a Community Stakeholder Survey.

The 2023 edition of the Mill Race Marathon will have some changes for those running the full 26mile course — changes that planners say will mean fewer potential run-ins with drivers.

Some local officials said they are surprised that Bartholomew County has seen a dramatic decrease in overdose deaths over the first five months of the year, with the county currently on pace for its lowest annual total in eight years.

Even after a recovery that many see as miraculous from a severe traumatic brain injury, and even after earning a law degree and launching a successful practice with personal injury clients, Columbus native Cameron Fathauer said he still feels a darkness descend every so often.

Local law enforcement officials began building a team of officers and deputies who have undergone specialized training on

Columbus Regional Health and the City of Columbus presented a concept to turn a nearly 700-acre, hospital-owned site west of Columbus into a hub of new development, including a hospital campus, housing options and a great deal of green space.

Two Columbus men accused of shooting and wounding four basketball players at Lincoln Park were put in custody, accused of what witnesses said was a drive-by assault.

Nearly 92,600 Hoosiers lost their Medicaid coverage in May, the first of many to lose their insurance following the “unwinding” of pandemic-related protections over the next year — and at a much higher pace than previously predicted.

On a night normally reserved for timeworn tradition, the new and novel stepped centerstage at the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s annual SALUTE! free concert. Instead of veteran and nowretired David Bowden leading the ensemble, there was guest conductor Roger Kalia, known to music followers here as the former music director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

One of the largest classes in the history of Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School graduated, begining a new chapter in their lives.

Indiana’s lottery officials said it expects to send a whopping $361.7 million to state coffers, up 4% from last year’s payout but down from a pandemic-era record-high.

Three different services with distinct themes were conducted in Columbus to commemorate Memorial Day. Two were held in the downtown area, while the third took place within one of Bartholomew County’s largest cemeteries.

Two suspects in the drive-by shooting in Lincoln Park — alleged shooter Edmarius Malik Oats, 18, Alexander I. Parker, 18, both of Columbus — were formally charged in Bartholomew Superior Court 1.

Year in Review

City of Columbus Planning Director Jeff Bergman welcomes members of the public to an open house at NexusPark for Columbus Regional Health’s and the city’s draft plan for development of the CRH property on the west side of Columbus. The Republic File Photo

Columbus native and former Vice President Mike Pence formally launched his campaign for president in 2024, becoming the first former vice president in modern history to take on his former running mate.

A judge agreed to reduce the bond for Emily Franklin, one of four young adults charged in the kidnapping and severe assault of a Columbus man.

The fourth suspect accused in the kidnapping and beating of a 19-year-old victim June 2 in a barn in eastern Bartholomew County turned himself in to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The number of students living within the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. who received public tax dollars to attend private schools through the state’s voucher program continued to grow, reaching the highest number on record and outpacing the program’s growth statewide over the past few school years.

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Rep. Jim Lucas, who represents Indiana’s District 69, which includes portions of Bartholomew County, was arrested by the Indiana State Police on multiple preliminary charges, including operating while intoxicated and leaving the scene after a property-damage accident on Interstate 65 involving his vehicle near Seymour. An open house on the draft plan for Columbus Regional Hospital’s 690-acre westside property attracted a number of residents offering a variety of perspectives on the concept. A celebratory High-Five Day arrived with what leaders acknowledged is a high-financial goal for the nonprofit Landmark Columbus Foundation: $1 million in its endowment fund by the end of the year.

Fifteen years after a catastrophic flood devastated the community, local officials said Bartholomew County is still vulnerable to flooding but better equipped to forecast and respond to floods like the one that struck in 2008, largely due to improved planning and communications.

Twelve Vietnam veterans from Indiana out of more than 500 veterans from across the country will be inducted into the Vietnam Memorial Fund’s In Memory program in 2023, including a Columbus native. Columbus Municipal Airport officials estimated that about 4,500 people attended “Aviation Day 2023 — Inspire to go Higher.” Bartholomew County’s judges asked the county council for funding to add security for their courtrooms after a series of threats and incidents.

Community volunteer and semi-retired educator Janice Montgomery accepted The Republic’s 2022 Woman of the Year award during a ceremony at The Commons.

Two Columbus locations received special devices that can provide free legal Kingston Perez, 3, injured in a shooting resources and forms to residents. Indiana Legal in Hope earlier in June, is conscious and Help kiosks have been installed and activated at making progress in his recovery, according to his the Bartholomew County Public Library’s Columbus father, George Perez Jr. branch and the United Way of Bartholomew County building. The mantra of the annual Juneteenth celebration echoed loudly from the corner Bartholomew County’s population grew at a faster pace last year than the state and much of Fourth and Franklin streets in downtown of the rest of the country, nearly reversing a decline Columbus. “Freeeee-dom,” crooned a cappella in population during the first year of the pandemic, vocalist Yoruba Kikiloma-Mason, drawing out the word for special emphasis. “Freedommmmmm.” as the economy continues to rebound from the public health emergency. While nonbinding, a consensus was unanimously given by the Bartholomew The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s County Council to consider increasing security One Pill Can Kill campaign stopped in Columbus recently to bring more awareness to the personnel at the county courthouse, as well as corrections staff at the county jail. problem of fake, fentanyl-laced prescription pills. Workers in nearly all of Indiana’s counties — including Bartholomew County — make less money than the national average wage, with Hoosier workers earning just 83.3 cents for each dollar earned by their national counterparts, according to a recent analysis of employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies arrested three teens on kidnapping, robbery, criminal confinement and battery charges after a 19-year-old male said he was attacked and beaten in an ambush at a barn on the east side of the county.

The local Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested two suspects, closing out a drug trafficking investigation in Columbus.

More than 450 homes in Columbus now have the ability to connect to highspeed internet service with a new provider, and it’s expected that another 1,200 will be added to that number by the end of the summer.

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Joshua J. Johnson, 29, of Columbus was being held without bond in the Bartholomew County Jail on charges of child exploitation after Indiana State Police executed a search warrant they said turned up evidence of child pornography.

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Brody Hege, 11, of Hope, won a national championship at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, where he showed his prize barrow, The Hammer. Columbus’ shoe-in for a forever basketball hero was in the spotlight again — on his 122nd birthday. The Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis celebrated Chuck Taylor’s special day with Chuck Taylor Family Day and free admission.

The City of Columbus stated that they will issue a condemnation and demolition order for a home in southeast Columbus that city officials have described as structurally unsound and noncompliant for several years.

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Foundation for Youth officials began to explore options for how to remedy an aging dam at the organization’s Youth Camp, a structure that dates back to FDR’s New Deal. Hundreds of spectators gathered for one of the most popular 4-H projects at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair: exhibiting barrows. Nearly 300 spectators were watching as show judge A.J. Williams of Clay County made his selections for top barrow in each class.

One 4-H sheep exhibitor walked away from the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair sheep show with three major awards in one category. Lilly Steinwedel won grand champion for market lambs, grand champion for born and raised market lambs and reserve grand champion for born and raised market lambs.

Erin R. McMillan, 44, a nurse at a longterm care facility in Bartholomew County, was charged with three felonies, stemming from allegations that she took opioid pills prescribed to residents from a narcotic drawer and put them in her purse, the Indiana attorney general’s office said.

Shannon McDonald leads guests in a round of applause for John Burnett, executive vice chair for the Community Education Coalition, during its 25th anniversary celebration in July. The Republic File Photo

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The Columbus Fire Department updated its required qualifications for applicants due to new state legislation that changes the mandatory age requirements. With filing closed for the 2023 municipal election, Democrats failed to nominate a candidate for Columbus mayor, leaving Republican Mary Ferdon and Independent candidate, Sean Burton, to challenge for the city’s top elected post.

Indiana Rep. Jim Lucas had THC – the active ingredient in marijuana – in his system after a drunken-driving crash from which he fled, an Indiana State Police lab test confirmed.

Toyota Material Handling organized what it said was the company’s largest, single-day volunteer effort to date. The company had 309 volunteers in southern Indiana and East Chicago, to serve their region by handling 29 projects for nonprofits and the disadvantaged.

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Bartholomew County’s housing market defied national trends in June as median home sale prices increased from a year earlier.

The Indiana Arts Commission announced they received more than $3.4 million in grants to fund arts projects and organizations around the state, including several in Bartholomew and Jennings counties.

David Joseph Mull, 51, of North Vernon, faced federal charges after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly selling more than 500 firearms for more than $406,000.

Bartholomew County Council agreed to pay for each county courthouse courtroom to have an armed security guard present during hearings or during open court sessions.

Columbus Regional Health officials said they are prepared to comply with Indiana’s near-total abortion ban but expressed concern about some potential unintended consequences of the new rules.

After nearly two decades of providing “a little yellow” gift to every thirdgrader in the county, organizers announced they are closing the books on the annual “Dictionary Project.”

A Seymour resident was named the new executive director of Su Casa, an organization with a mission to increase selfsufficiency, health, economic independence and education for local Latino families, and to ensure they feel safe and welcome here. Ashley Caceres said she is eager to help the Latino community feel safe, be successful and make a new community feel like home.

A local couple stated that renovations are almost complete at 1117 16th Street, where they plan to open Meli Market, a sustainable goods shop and refillery, with hope to make Columbus a little greener, one ounce at a time. Ellen and Taylor Forister have been finishing up renovations to the space for the new venture.

A North Vernon attorney will be a fresh face in the Indiana House of Representatives and also will become one of Indiana’s youngest lawmakers. J. Alex Zimmerman, 30, was selected as the new representative for Indiana House District 67.

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Leadership at The Commons was criticized for proposed building rules that some view as against the homeless population in Columbus. The Columbus Police Department announced it will be upgrading its vehicle cameras with technology that scans passing license plates and notifies officers on patrol if the vehicle is linked to an investigation.

Advocates hoped to increase the number of local residents who have undergone training to prevent and recognize the signs of child sexual abuse — a crime with potentially lifelong consequences that impacted at least one child in Bartholomew County and the surrounding area every five days last year.

Cummins’ board of directors unanimously agreed that President Landscape architects were sought to and CEO Jennifer Rumsey, a Columbus native, redesign two downtown memorial would also become chair of the company’s plazas, one group honored at the mini-parks board of directors when outgoing former

A 3-year-old who was hospitalized after a shooting in Hope may be able to come home soon. Kingston Perez is still at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and is doing well, according to father George Perez Jr.

Eight people were arrested for multiple drug-related charges in a SWAT operation with police serving a search warrant in the 1900 block of Keller Avenue. The arrests were a collaborative investigative effort between the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET), the Intelligence Led Policing Unit (ILP) and the Columbus Police Department uniform division.

Accelera by Cummins and Blue Bird Corp. have unveiled a nextgeneration electric school bus at a trade show in Nevada. The bus, called the Vision electric school bus, includes Accelera by Cummins’ newest electric powertrain system, the Accelera PowerDrive 7000, which allowed Blue Bird to expand seating capacity on the bus from 72 to 77 passengers, and a next-gen battery that will allow the vehicle to be travel up to 130 miles on a single charge, Cummins officials said.

Local organizations and community volunteers worked together to help families cross items off their back-to-school shopping lists. The Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program had its annual distribution event, with families driving through the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund warehouse to receive backpacks filled with school supplies.

When Raven Lily Grey decided to enter this world, nothing was going to stop her. Weighing in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces, the daughter of Dante and Rachelle Grey was born early on the shoulder of State Road 46, about a mile west of Hartsville.

A new chapter in the community’s generations-long romance with the aging Crump Theatre could soon be opened as officials said they are inching closer to reopening the 134-year-old icon of Columbus’ landscape to the public after being closed for nearly a decade due to safety hazards involving fire dangers and other concerns.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office now has its own vehicle, something that had been requested from the county for some time. After the Bartholomew County Council approved the appropriation of $53,000 for a new Dodge van, Coroner Clayton Nolting said he was able to buy the vehicle from the Columbus Automotive Group.

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Toby Stigdon of Columbus, who has poorly differentiated thyroid cancer, prepared for his second annual Kayaking for Cancer fundraising trip. He planned to traverse the entire length of the East Fork White River from Columbus to Petersburg, Ind.

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A short film based on a local student’s experiences during the pandemic may be making its public debut in August. In March of 2022, Pigasus Pictures announced that Piper Parks, a CSA New Tech student at the time, had won the fifth annual “Project Pigasus” screenwriting contest.

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Leaders of the Exhibit Columbus and Foundation For Youth Design Camp have covered some of the most rudimentary principles of architectural design for a dozen participants from middle school to high school.

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northeast of the Robert N. Stewart Bridge asked that their past input be considered in future planning.

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The Community Education Coalition (CEC) celebrated its 25th anniversary and thanked its partners for their support during a private reception entitled “25 years of Momentum” at the Columbus Learning Center. Attendees included leaders from local education, business and government sectors.

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A total of $303,350 was raised during the annual Bartholomew County 4-H Livestock Show. That’s nearly a 34% jump from the $225,425 raised last year with the same number of 4-H’ers.

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company leader Tom Linebarger retires at the end of July.

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Cleanup began after a severe thunderstorm barreled through Bartholomew County, leaving numerous trees down and knocking out power to thousands of residents.

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Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023 Dance group Bollywood Beats performs for Exhibit Columbus’ Rock the Block party under the Exhibit Columbus installation InterOculus on the opening weekend of Exhibit Columbus in August. The Republic File Photo

around $435,970 during the first half of the year and had a combined $4.16 million in cash on hand as of the end of June, federal campaign finance filings show.

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Contractors for the city and Columbus Regional Health moved forward with construction at NexusPark. Most pieces of the project are expected to be complete in late 2023 and early 2024, with one medical office moving into the space this fall. Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. began working on a proposal for a capital referendum to potentially fund a number of facilities projects — including the construction of a new elementary school on the west side.

City officials allocated additional funds for firefighter overtime as the Columbus Fire Department struggled with staffing shortages. Columbus City Council voted to approve the second reading of an ordinance providing for this appropriation and other city expenses.

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Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. had its first day of school, with mild and sunny weather as students and teachers filed into class. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the race for the Indiana governor’s office, asked Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, to consider being her running mate, a campaign spokesman told The Republic.

Officials at the Brighter Days Homeless Shelter, 421 S. Mapleton St., said they saw an increase in the number of people turning to them to keep a roof over their heads during the summer. IUPUC Associate Professor and Division of Science Head James “J.D.” Mendez recently returned from a trip to Slovakia, where he conducted scientific research as part of the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

Bartholomew County began its final planning stages of creating a Mental Health Court that, if approved by the state, will become the fourth problem-solving court in Columbus. A group protesting “inappropriate” books in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. libraries took over the public comment section of the school board meeting, taking advantage of a new policy that allows the public to talk about any subject, whether or not it is on the agenda.

The congressional delegation representing Bartholomew County reported raising

The Columbus Plan Commission gave a favorable recommendation to the Columbus City Council, regarding the adoption of the City View District Plan, outlining a potential future for nearly 700 acres of westside property owned by Columbus Regional Hospital.

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The Crump Theatre received a permit that would allow the 134-year-old icon of Columbus’ downtown to reopen to the public after being closed for nearly a decade due to safety hazards involving fire dangers and other concerns.

The Columbus Plan Commission sent forward requests from the city’s redevelopment department to create a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in the area of Sixth and Washington streets for a potential apartment and mixed-use development.

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Columbus Municipal Airport purchased 10 ColumBike bicycles from the Columbus Bicycle Co-Op. Another five were donated to the Columbus Propeller makerspace, which is located at the airport.

Local food pantries saw an increase in the number of Bartholomew County residents turning to them for help with groceries this year as inflation continues to drive up prices and squeeze budgets. Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane never thought he’d be administering an oath of office to a fluffy, four-legged individual who had to dip her paw in ink to provide a signature. However, the sheriff said that Starlight — a miniature Australian shepherd and certified therapy dog — will be a “tremendous asset” to the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp., the sheriff’s department and all of Bartholomew County.

Exhibit Columbus organizers stated that they would like nothing better than its fourth architectural exhibition, “Public By Design,” opening Aug. 25-26, to be lit. InterOculus designer Vishaan Chakrabarti plans to be among participants making that happen.

City officials approved a rezoning that will allow a developer to build duplexes on a property in northeast Columbus. Columbus City Council voted to rezone about seven acres from Residential: Single-Family 2 to Residential: TwoFamily at the request of Vision Housing LLC.

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The Bartholomew County Suicide and Overdose Fatality Review Team began making its first recommendations that its members hope will help prevent future deaths. Columbus Regional Health employees reported more instances of violence directed at them by patients and visitors than in previous years in what officials say reflects national trends and efforts by the hospital to encourage staff to report incidents.

While some sacrifice an occasional weekend to fix a vehicle, Larry Morlock has been “intermittently” working on antique cars for almost 70 years. The efforts of the 85-year-old Cummins, Inc. retiree were honored during the Model A Restorers Club National Meet and Show for his 1929 Model A Ford Tudor, which received a near perfect score.

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Yuliia Dybka, a Ukrainian refugee living in Columbus, recently helped Indiana University create a phrase book to help U.S. military personnel understand her native language. Columbus shut down a municipal well on the south side of the city after testing by state regulators found elevated levels of longlasting and highly toxic PFAS chemicals — perand polyfluoroalkyl substances — linked to cancer and other illnesses.

Columbus Propeller unveiled the design for new wall murals that will be featured on the east facades of its two buildings. Indianapolis-based artist Nick Smith, also known as “Nick Abstract,” has been commissioned for the project, with painting expected to begin in September.

This summer’s only local recipient of the Hoosier Homestead Award also had the distinction of being the sole African-American owned farm left in Bartholomew County. JohnsonBey Farm, located three miles southwest of Hope on County Road 700 E, received the Centennial Award during the Indiana State Fair for keeping the homestead in the same family for more than 100 years.

Children on kickscooters, dogs on leashes, toddlers in strollers and an estimated 300 people on foot all absorbed something of a meandering mile and a half of architectural insight as the Exhibit Columbus architectural exhibition unfolded in its first public tour throughout the downtown.

Exhibit Columbus marked its fourth opening with a sold-out party at The Commons, part of a weekend of festivities celebrating “Public By Design,” featuring national and international architects’ 13 temporary installations spinning off an idea or concept from an existing local structure or landscape.

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After preparing graduates for 50 years, the Columbus East High School Alumni Association successfully established a endowment fund to benefit current students. Plans from King’s Hawaiian to build a large-scale food and beverage production facility near Edinburgh moved forward with the company estimating an initial investment of more than $180 million and the creation of about 145 jobs.

Plans began for the free, annual Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Labor Day weekend concert with headliner Sister Hazel at Mill Race Park in downtown Columbus.

The Crump Theatre marquee bears the message that it is open for business in August after receiving an entertainment permit from the city. The Republic File Photo

The riverfront project planned for downtown Columbus received one of the permits needed to move the endeavor forward. According to redevelopment director Heather Pope, the city has received its Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for the project, and its next step is to finish the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ permit process.

Sister Hazel performs for the annual Hospice Concert at Mill Race Park in Columbus in September. The Republic File Photo

Columbus Regional Health officials asked people to consider masking again in high-risk settings as the hospital continues to see COVID-19 hospitalizations and community transmission remains high. Fish caught in rivers in Bartholomew County contain significantly higher levels of toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer and other illnesses than samples of water from a municipal well that city officials recently shut down.

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later, after his death, McQueary’s niece is using her senior project as a way to honor her late uncle.

Local craft brewery and taproom Hog Molly Brewing Co. received permission to convert a vacant industrial building at 1405 Hutchins Ave. into a microbrewery.

An early-morning fire at the Williamsburg Apartments displaced 10 residents and sent one man to the hospital for suspected smoke inhalation.

State officials awarded a little more than $200,000 in security grants to schools in Bartholomew County. Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the allocation of $29.8 million in Secured School Safety Grants (SSSG), with 474 schools receiving funds for 605 projects.

Mill Race Marathon Director Randy Stafford said that 1,003 children had registered for the Kids Fun Run’s untimed races. Additionally, 451 students were rostered for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s new elementary cross-country league, which had competitive runs at the end of the event.

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A Columbus East High School graduate recently used materials created at a local makerspace to help facilitate a conservation genetics workshop in Nepal. Giorgia Auteri graduated from East in 2006 and is now an assistant professor of biology at Missouri State University (MSU). She left for Nepal in mid-July and returned to the states on Aug. 12.

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Indiana has lost more than 260 acres of wetlands in the two years since a new state law made Hoosier lands more vulnerable to flooding and environmental damage, according to a group of environmental organizations.

Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin recused herself from a civil suit filed by the Bartholomew County Democratic Party against Republican candidate for Columbus City Council Jay Foyst.

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Bartholomew County was poised to receive nearly $1 million in additional publichealth funding next year through a statewide initiative that state officials said will “transform public health” in Indiana, which lags behind much of the country in public health outcomes.

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1990s pop ensemble Sister Hazel headlined the Annual Our Hospice of South Central

Indiana Labor Day weekend concert and fundraiser at Mill Race Park in Columbus.

The aunt and courtappointed administrator for Josh McLemore, an inmate suffering from an acute mental health crisis who died last year after spending 20 days in solitary confinement at the Jackson County Jail, agreed to a settlement with the county and four county employees, court filings show.

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A ribbon cutting for a new Pollinator Path in Blackwell Park hosted by the Sierra Club Winding Waters Group was planned at the park, 1550 Whitney Court, in Columbus. The Sierra Club Winding Waters Group has nurtured a special team of volunteers that care about the decline of pollinator insects and other wildlife.

In the early 1970s, Bartholomew Consolidated

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School Corp. officials came up with an idea for how to give their building trades students more real-life experience. A half-century later, the program is going strong, with city and community leaders holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony this month for a new home on Ninth Street, built by Barcon Vocational Builders Inc.

Before conductor Isaac Selya picks up his baton to open the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic season, he’ll pick up his video game controller. The 37-year-old Cincinnati resident will enjoy a bit of the adventure and a lot of the music of Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda,” a favorite game for his unwinding time. The theme from the game that sometimes features swordplay will form the centerpiece of “Swordcraft,” his debut program at the local Judson Erne Auditorium.

CSA Fodrea in Columbus was among 12 in Indiana schools selected by the Indiana Department of Education to participate in Get Your Teach On, providing free professional development, training, and support throughout the 202324 school year.

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The Bartholomew County Election Board voted to retain Columbus attorney Peter King to represent the board in litigation over a Columbus City Council candidate’s eligibility. The Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County was awarded $245,000 to partner with local organizations on early learning initiatives. The local community foundation is among 86 organizations within the state that are receiving funds from the Early Years Initiative.

A spirit of excellence. That seems to be the most current and most fitting label for 15 Stars, just named best bourbon at the prestigious New York Wine and Spirits Competition — and just featured in a sizable spread online in Forbes magazine. The brand was created in April 2022 in Columbus by Rick Johnson and adult children Rick and Annie Johnson.

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The Edinburgh Police Department began raising money to fund its K-9 program during the Fall Festival. K-9 Skye retired on Aug. 31 after she sustained two on-duty shoulder injuries. Bartholomew County Commissioners Chairman Tony London was nominated to serve on the 12-member Centerstone of Indiana board of directors. A little over 20 years ago, a young man named Jeremy McQueary graduated from Columbus East High School. According to the school’s Wall of Fame, McQueary initially planned to join the military after high school graduation, “but when September 11, 2001 happened, he decided to complete high school a semester early so he could join sooner.” McQueary went on to serve in the Marine Corps and was killed Feb. 18, 2010, in Afghanistan, at age 27, while conducting searches for improvised explosive devices. Thirteen years

The Columbus Fire Department is phasing out some of the multi-layered coats and pants worn by firefighters amid growing concerns across the country that gear commonly used in firefighting may be laced with long-lasting and highly toxic PFAS chemicals linked to cancer and other illnesses.

Winning times for the Mill Race Marathon were slower than usual, but that didn’t dampen the excitement for Cory Kirkham or Sheridan McKinley. Kirkham was the overall winner in 2 hours, 50 minutes, 29 seconds. McKinley finished second overall and first among women in 3:01:33.

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With a theme of “All Roads Lead to Hope,” this year’s Hope Heritage Days hosted thousands of visitors in its three-day run. Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales announced Dustin Renner of Columbus was appointed election director for the Secretary of State’s Office. Renner is the former deputy legislative director with the Association of Indiana Counties and a chief deputy clerk for Bartholomew County.

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The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress was awarded two federal grants that officials expect will have a significant impact on efforts in the community to combat substance abuse over the next few years. A local employer said it will be donating $16,000 to support the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s elementary and middle school robotics teams. The school board voted to approve a grant agreement with Cummins Inc. An 18-year-old Benton County man pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in last November’s shooting death of Hauser High School student Jesse W. Bragg. In Bartholomew Circuit Court, Joseph T. Kidwell of Fowler admitted his guilt to one count of reckless homicide – a Level 5 felony punishable by one to six years behind bars, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

A family seeking a change at a local elementary school began a petition that they said would allow their daughter to exit and enter the school with more ease and safety. Joseph and Brittany Hewitt’s petition, “Ensure Safety for Visually Impaired Students at Southside Elementary School,” received more than 600 digital signatures on Change.org

Cory Kirkham wins the men’s full-marathon portion of the Mill Race Marathon in Columbus, in September. The Republic File Photo

Year in Review

where Columbus Animal Care Services had to remove more than 40 dogs. The city’s Board of Works voted to condemn the property at 1033 Central Avenue.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office decided to stop allowing a local ministry to hold weekend Christian retreats inside the jail due to “several complaints” from inmates alleging that jail officials are favoring one religion over others.

City officials hoped to move forward with a proposed riverfront redevelopment between the Second and Third Street bridges in the coming months — and potentially break ground on the project this spring — after officials received the final green light from environmental regulators. Estimated project costs have risen to nearly $14 million.

19 Republican, and bartender Sean Burton, an Independent, see a need for a new hotel development in Columbus.

Despite rain and chilly temperatures, a steady stream of people still made their way to the Cummins Inc. parking lot at Engine Plant 1 for the community-wide Recycling Day.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane, Columbus, was appointed to the Derrick Melton puts cans of paint in a plasticlined box during Cummins’ annual, commuStatewide 911 Board, where he will serve nity-wide Recycling Day at Cummins Engine until Sept. 30, 2025. Plant 1 in Columbus in October.

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Cummins Inc. announced the election of Daniel W. Fisher to its board of directors.

The Republic File Photo

Hauser Jr. Sr. High School student Sarah Taylor, whose life was cut short by cancer in September 2020, continues to inspire, and her spirit is giving rise to something old and new in her community — a century-old barn her parents plan to reconstruct at their home to further her legacy by benefiting local teens.

The Columbus City Council approved a pay raise for city employees next year, including first responders, in an effort to improve recruitment and retention.

Columbus Regional Health became one step closer to having nearly 700 acres of westside property annexed into the City of Columbus. The Columbus Plan Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to Columbus City Council regarding the proposed annexation of the 674-acre, hospitalowned site.

Columbus’ biggest buffet, known as the Ethnic Expo international festival, unfolded with the assorted aroma of seemingly every delectable dish imaginable wafting among a strong crowd at Second and Washington streets.

Henry E. Aguilar-Vasquez, 21, of Columbus, was arrested after mishandling a firearm while riding in a vehicle, causing the weapon to discharge and strike a vehicle in front of him. Both of Columbus’ mayoral candidates, City Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon, a

The town of Edinburgh was one of 30 rural organizations to receive funding to host arts and cultural events and programs connected to the 2024 solar eclipse, an event that will blanket parts of Indiana in total darkness on April 8. The City of Columbus ordered the cleanup or demolition of a home

A local high school robotics team began gearing up for its next season after competing at two offseason tournaments. Team 4926, also known as GalacTech, competed in the Boiler Bot Battle at Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds on Oct. 14, along with about 30 other For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition teams from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and New Hampshire.

Teachers in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. are expected to see an average salary increase of 8% this year and 3% next year under their new contract. The school board voted to approve the 2023-25 tentative agreement between BCSC and the Columbus Educators Association (CEA).

A proposed agreement between the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and the Columbus Educators’ Association (CEA) would increase teacher salaries by an average of 8% this school year and 3% next year.

Technician Dakotah Isenthal prepares to draw blood from Melissa Fairbanks, board member and former president of the American Red Cross Indiana Region, in the Toyota American Red Cross bloodmobile during the unveiling at Toyota Material Handling in Columbus in October. The Republic File Photo

Let’s just say that ample laughter, and maybe even some withinreason liquor, flowed during the inaugural presentation of “The Not-So-Family Feud” while a crowd of 235 people raised $64,705 for the Turning Point’s cause. And that mission was a super-serious one: to work toward the prevention and the elimination of domestic and dating violence.

Five organizations in Columbus — Advocates for Children, Children Inc., Family Service of Bartholomew County, Foundation for Youth of Bartholomew County and George Junior Republic in Indiana — received more than $3 million in grant funding from Lilly Endowment.

With the acceptance of a plea agreement, noncustodial father Travis Tuttle admitted responsibility for the drug-induced death of his 8-year-old son, Lealyn, two-and-a-half years ago.

Female students from the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. C4 program recently got a peak behind the curtain at the work going on at NexusPark. Students in architecture and construction pathways toured Columbus Regional Hospital’s portion of the site, as well as the fieldhouse and other spaces owned by the City of Columbus, said C4 team leader Autumne Streeval.

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Columbus police continued an investigation into a shooting outside the Pinebrook Courts Apartments which caused critical injuries to an adult male who was flown to an Indianapolis hospital.

A downtown dining establishment that has been closed for about two years has been purchased by the same foundation that owns the Crump Theatre and North Christian Church. John Wilhelmi, owner of Joe Willy’s Burger Bar at 1034 Washington St., sold the property to the Columbus Capital Foundation. The price was $412,500, according to the Bartholomew County GIS system.

ESTABLISHED

The Columbus City Council has given initial authorization for funding for a project that seeks to add on-street parking and other traffic, calming measures to the Second Street corridor in the city’s downtown.

6205 S International Dr Columbus, IN (812) 342-3430

ESTABLISHED

Dunlap General Contractors celebrated its 150th year in business at its Columbus facility, celebrating a history that includes a wide variety of building projects well-known to the community and region.

6410 E 25th Street Columbus, IN 812.350.1684 clfitzsimmons@hotmail.com

ESTABLISHED

The Republic file photos

Cummins Inc. announced that Amy Davis will assume a dual leadership role within the company, taking over the helm of the company’s components business while maintaining her current role of leading the Accelera division.

Toyota Material Handling found a way to turn red blood green. The local, socially conscious manufacturer unveiled the first-of-its kind, environmentally friendly, solar paneled, battery-powered bloodmobile in a ribboncutting at its headquarters on Ironwood Drive in Columbus.

One of Columbus’ well-known casual dining restaurants went out of business. The closing of Johnny Carino’s Country Italian restaurant, which has operated at 870 Creekview Drive since March 2004, was revealed on social media by some of the restaurant’s 12 former employees.

Columbus Parks and Recreation and a local employer have unveiled the name of another sponsored space at NexusPark. First Financial Bank is contributing $250,000 over five years to the project and has dubbed a space near the fieldhouse as the “Community f1RST Hub,” said Regional President Tony Gambaiani.

Jacob Balash and Brooke Augustine are shown at the Spencer Pride booth at Pride Festival ‘23 at Mill Race Park in Columbus.

The future of Edinburgh’s Thompson Mill Dam is still uncertain, but the town council heard possible options for its fate — including a proposal to remove the dam that would cost the town nothing.

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The Columbus Pride Festival returned to Mill Race Park. The free, annual event attracted a large crowd in its sixth year. A record 130 booth vendors were at the festival. Sponsorships and in-kind donations increased about $10,000 over 2022, and organizers expanded the children’s area for 2023.

Columbus City Council members approved the second reading of the city’s 2024 budget. Columbus’s proposed budget for 2024 is about $109 million, finance director Regina McIntyre said.

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Shinichi Taneno poses for a photograph with a Kanji cat during Ethnic Expo in Columbus in October. The Republic File Photo

DECEMBER 30, 2023

2860 N. National Rd. Suite B Columbus, IN 47201 (Between ACRA Auto & Sherwin Williams)

812-975-5300

https://www.hikertrailers.com/

IN-35153950

Year in Review

DECEMBER 30, 2023

35-year-old said it’s his passion in life to help others when he can.

Despite abundant sunshine, a drop in temperatures may have impacted the size of the audience at the Bartholomew County Community Veterans Day program.

A month after the Thompson Mill Dam burst, the Edinburgh Town Council approved its removal, pending legal review of a federal grant.

14 Community members attend a panel discussion on homelessness at Donner Center in Columbus in November. The Republic File Photo

City officials, Purdue Polytechnic Columbus, Cummins Inc., the Arc of Bartholomew County, Assisted Independence and local physical therapist Rebecca Scholl began collaborating on a project that involves customizing battery-operated ride-on cars to meet the needs of three children.

The Interim Study Committee on Commerce and Economic Development examined “the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Indiana as it relates to workforce impacts and teen use.”

After four years, members of the Columbus Fire Department finally got to sit down and chat with the public during the lunchtime version of the Cheer Fund Chili-Cookoff. The in-person event returned for the first time after Covid-19, raising money for disadvantaged kids to receive Christmas gifts.

Aviation officials recently announced they heard from four architecture firms in the running to design a new Columbus Municipal Airport air traffic control tower. The airport, with support from the Landmark Columbus Foundation, hosted public presentations from the firms at Helen Haddad Hall.

Indiana University Columbus received a grant that will fund an academic coach for certain student populations, including 21st Century Scholars, Frank O’Bannon Grant recipients, minority students and other low-income and firstgeneration college students.

Cheerleaders from both Columbus North and East high schools will be competing at the most magical place on earth in early 2024. The two teams are headed to the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) National High School

Cheerleading Championship, which will be held at the Walt Disney World Resort from Feb. 9 to Feb. 12 in 2024.

While the current Emergency 911 contract won’t expire for two to three years, several public organizations will still face a 61% annual cost increase at the end of this year for their remote communications systems.

Voters chose a longtime city administrator to lead Columbus. Republican Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration and community development, won the mayoral race with 4,755 votes (73.13% of the vote), with Independent candidate and bartender Sean Burton receiving 1,747 votes (26.87% of the vote).

Two local middle schools and one high school qualified for the Indiana Academic Spell Bowl state championships. Teams from Central and Northside middle schools made it to the state finals in the junior division, and Columbus North High School qualified for the senior division finals.

Columbus firefighters responded to a spill of a hazardous chemical at Rightway Fasteners Inc., 7945 S. International Drive evacuating an estimated 200 employees from the facility. Officials took hours to develop a plan to conduct a controlled burn to neutralize a potentially explosive spill of picric acid.

A local man who goes out of his way to help veterans was one of only two honored by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development as their outstanding performers of 2023. Hector Moreno’s title is Disabled Veterans Outreach Program specialist at the Columbus WorkOne office. However, the

A beloved canine and mascot for literacy who listened as hundreds of children practiced their reading skills at the Bartholomew County Library retired — and revealed a secret. Lottie, the library’s visiting Great Dane and best-known for the Reading with Lottie programs, is actually deaf, something she never let on to the youngsters who were reading to her during the programs that began in 2016.

A Kentucky man was arrested on a felony charge after a pipe bomb was located inside a vehicle in the 700 block of 13th Street in Columbus. Jorden L. Perry, 32, was remanded to the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary charge of possession of a destructive device, a Level 5 felony.

Indiana National Guard members stationed in Kenya — who missed Thanksgiving at home and likely Christmas — asked Gov. Eric Holcomb only for more ping pong balls and corn hole bags during his visit.

Joseph Kidwell, a 19-year-old former Hope resident who said he accepts responsibility for the Nov. 26, 2022 shooting death of his best friend, 18-yearold Hauser High School student Jesse W. Bragg, received a two-year sentence with the Indiana Department of Corrections.

About 150 people attended a community conversation on homelessness. The event, which was held at Donner Center, included discussion by representatives from local nonprofits and a time for feedback and questions.

Architect Paul Benigno of Chicago traveled to Columbus to see the 13 Exhibit Columbus architectural installations — and also to listen to the last of the four free Miller Prize Conversations with the event’s top designers working all over the globe.

Columbus Mayor-elect Mary Ferdon announced that Eric Frey, currently the executive director of the Administrative Resources association (ARa), will be the city’s new executive director of administration, effective Jan. 1.

A Harrison Township fire truck passes under Exhibit Columbus installation InterOculus as the Columbus Festival of Lights Parade returns in downtown Columbus in December. The Republic File Photo

For the first time since the pandemic, students from Columbus’ Japanese sister city have come to visit. Eight middle school students from schools in the Miyoshi area, along with five adults, arrived in Columbus.

A man reportedly with mental health issues, who had been staying in a Columbus homeless camp, is accused of fatally shooting a man while staying with his grandfather, according to court documents.

Perhaps the only thing warmer than the 50-degree temperature just before the Columbus Festival of Lights Parade returned — after a year’s absence — were the smiles of children and others along the mile-long route, mostly along Washington Street.

Columbus City Hall was filled with well-wishers as city employees, family and friends celebrated the upcoming retirement of Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop and the city’s Executive Director of Public Works Dave Hayward. Four days after the Bartholomew County Council voted to spend $2.7 million of the county’s reserve funds on off-site infrastructure improvements, the Bartholomew County commissioners unanimously approved a job creation and incentive agreement with Irresistible Foods Group Inc. – the corporation that owns the King’s Hawaiian brand.

Book Buddies students and volunteers at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. elementary schools once again assembled gingerbread houses for the program’s annual display and fundraiser.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office delivered nearly 4,000 pounds of food divided between Love Chapel and The Salvation Army at the conclusion of its Pack a Patrol Car effort.

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts was one of three who received the 2023 Samuel C. Schlosser Volunteers of the Year Award from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

The Columbus City Council gave initial approval to nearly $3.2 million in appropriations to cover expenses this year. The funds will cover higher-than-expected health insurance costs for employees and other expenses.

Bloomington-based Bender Lumber Co., which has a location in Columbus, offered a series of matching gifts that could double every dollar dropped into the Salvation Army Red Kettles in eight southern Indiana communities.

The Bartholomew County Library Board is expected to consider a new strategic plan next month that could help pave the way for the library to open a branch at North Christian Church, which has proposed donating the property to the library.

Barbara Hackman, Bartholomew County treasurer, was elected Second Vice President of the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) board of directors. She began her term on Nov. 1. Board elections were held during the AIC’s 65th Annual Conference in Orange County.

Area volunteers, boosted by donations of time, energy and money from individuals, businesses and nonprofits, delivered 2,731 homemade Thanksgiving meals over three different days in Columbus.

The local branch of Horizon Bank joined other branches around the state in closing at noon on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, to allow employees to give back in the community.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Imagine Indiana — a nonprofit promoting Indiana — released 62 videos touting the state’s top attractions, including a video on Columbus.

The Columbus Board of Public Works took under advisement a bid to provide the Columbus Fire Department a new, $2.11 million aerial, 100-foot, platform ladder truck to replace its current 2008 vehicle.

Columbus Mayor-elect Mary Ferdon announced that Robin Hilber, the city’s current assistant director of community development, will become the department’s director in January.

Flambeau Inc.’s Columbus location recently donated thousands of products to area law enforcement, Boy Scouts, schools and hunting groups. Some of the organizations included were the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Parkside Elementary School and Boy Scouts of America Troop 559 in Columbus. The holidays came to life in a big way amid the annual A Not So Silent Night event throughout downtown Columbus. Later merchant hours included specials for shoppers — and those specials even included a wealth of Taylor Swift merch to make cash registers jingle like sleigh bells.

Columbus North High School student Fisher Mantooth was nominated to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, by Sen. Todd Young.

Six candidates for Indiana governor participated in a candidate forum as part of the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corp. annual meeting at The Commons.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. board authorized school officials to issue up to $306 million in bonds for several facility upgrades. The school board voted to adopt a project resolution, preliminary determination resolution and reimbursement resolution for BCSC’s “Envision 2030” facilities plan. Members of both Centra Credit Union and NorthPark Community Credit Union voted in favor of a partnership that will merge NorthPark into Centra Credit Union. The two credit unions will legally merge as of Jan. 1, 2024.

Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind. joined his Republican colleagues voting in favor of authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, despite lingering concerns among some GOP members that the investigation had yet to produce evidence of misconduct by the president.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, who is retiring and leaving office at the end of the year after serving two terms, was honored by Gov. Eric Holcomb with a Sagamore of the Wabash award.