Bartholomew County News

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus City Council elected new leadership during its Tuesday meeting following the recent resignation of council president Frank Miller.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus city employees and elected officials are inline for a cost-of-living adjustment next year after the Columbus City Council approved the first readings of several 2027 salary ordinances on Tuesday, September 1.

EDINBURGH, Ind. — The Edinburgh Town Council voted at its August 31 meeting to stop absorbing credit card and online transaction fees for utility payments, passing those costs directly to customers beginning this fall.

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - After an investigation, the North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) released more information on Tuesday, September 1, following the bomb threat on Monday afternoon, August 31, near the intersection of State Road 7 and US 50.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The 40th Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Concert is this Saturday, September 5, at the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza, from 4 to 8 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - WTIU is hosting a FREE one-time local showing of the documentary, "TIMELESS," about long-time Indiana University announcer Don Fischer, on Wednesday, September 2, at 6 p.m., at YES Cinema, 328 Jackson Street, in downtown Columbus.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus and the Columbus Police Department (CPD) will run a month-long safe‑driving blitz throughout September to reduce dangerous driving behaviors and prevent crashes that cause injuries.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - A Bartholomew County woman was taken into custody on felony charges on Sunday, August 30, after she allegedly fled from Columbus Regional Health (CRH) property in a vehicle, injuring an officer in the process.   

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus has announced that beginning Tuesday, September 1, and continuing through Tuesday, September 8, crews will ramp up work on water main and storm sewer improvements on Second Street, between Jackson and State Streets.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Bartholomew County Emergency Management (BCEM) has announced that a Heat Advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 1, until 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 3.

BROWNSTOWN, Ind. - The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) says a former deputy was taken into custody Monday, August 31, on charges related to improperly accessing license plate reader (Flock) data. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Foundation For Youth (FFY) has announced John Sumner as its new Chief Executive Officer. With over 20 years of nonprofit experience, he brings a strong background in youth development, strategic growth, fundraising, community partnerships, and organizational leadership.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Board of Public Works and Safety approved a $249,000 purchase for a new Peterson knuckle boom loader truck for the Department of Public Works on Tuesday, August 25.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Regional Health (CRH) Foundation has announced the 2026 recipients of the Robert Borczon Memorial Scholarship and the Ronald D. Roberts, M.D., Memorial Medical Scholarship.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Our Hospice of South Central Indiana has received a five-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, recognizing the organization among the highest-rated hospices in the nation for patient and caregiver experience.  

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Nick Combs, Financial Advisor and Partner at Forman Investment Services, recently earned the "Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential. This achievement follows his completion of an intensive executive MBA-style program offered by the Exit Planning Institute.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety addressed maintenance updates for two local fire stations, approving a masonry repair contract and restarting the bidding process for a roof replacement on Tuesday, August 25.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus City Officials approved multiple agreements to advance traffic control, bridge replacements, and interlocal road funding across Bartholomew County at the Tuesday, August 25, Public Works and Safety meeting.

HOPE, Ind. - Over the next few days, the Hope Police Department has announced it will begin tagging abandoned, inoperable, and/or non-plated vehicles within the Town of Hope.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) received information that a husband and wife were possibly dealing drugs from their residence at 525 Parkway Drive in Columbus. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus Animal Care Services (CACS) broke ground Wednesday, August 26, on its new shelter, the Wendy H. Elwood Animal Care Services Center, marking a major milestone in the city’s effort to expand and modernize local animal care.   

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Portions of 18th and Elm Streets will close in early September for a Columbus City Utilities water tower replacement project scheduled for completion by September 30.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. - Indiana State Police troopers responded to a crash involving a school bus on westbound I-265 at the 33-mile marker, near the 10th Street/State Road 62 exit, just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26.  

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - Jennings County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) Deputy Alex Campbell was recently on patrol when he saw something approaching that immediately caught his attention. It was a motorcycle and he clocked it at 118 mph in a posted 35 mph zone.

INDIANAPOLIS - Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon was honored last weekend by the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) Indiana Chapter for her leadership in making Columbus a welcoming, inclusive, and resilient community.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Duke Energy power outage in downtown Columbus forced the closure of the Bartholomew County Courthouse and other Columbus City offices on Monday, August 24. About 250 Duke Energy customers were affected.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Country music icon, actor, and philanthropist Dolly Parton died Tuesday at the age of 80.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Five men were arrested during a sting operation targeting online child sex offenders. Led by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the operation involved federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working undercover to intercept predators seeking unlawful contact with minors.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce presents "Discover Columbus: How It's Made" on September 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees will get a behind-the-scenes look at local businesses while exploring the people, processes, and jobs that keep the community running.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For over five decades, Don Fischer has been synonymous with Indiana University athletics. He has narrated the defining moments of Hoosier sports history. Now, his career is the subject of a new Indiana Public Media documentary, "Timeless: Don Fischer’s Half-Century Broadcasting IU Sports." 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Police Department (CPD) released a statement on Monday, just before 7 a.m., saying that due to the ongoing power outage, the traffic lights downtown along Lindsey, Brown, and Jackson Streets are out on Monday, August 24.

SEYMOUR, Ind. - A two-vehicle collision involving a wrong-way driver claimed three lives on I-65 near Seymour early Sunday morning, August 23. Shortly after 2:30 a.m., a caller reported a head-on crash on southbound I-65 in Jackson County, about one mile south of Seymour. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus City Hall welcomed 18 students from Miyoshi-Minami Junior High School in Miyoshi, Japan, for a tour and a firsthand look at city government as part of the long-standing sister‑city exchange on Thursday, August 20.

INDIANAPOLIS - At the Indiana State Fair on Wednesday, August 19, the Indiana Department of Agriculture presented several Bartholomew and Johnson County farm families with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture.   

INDIANAPOLIS — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation are committing $116,500 to support relief and recovery efforts after severe storms and flooding impacted Central, East Central, and Northwest Indiana.

SEYMOUR/COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Indiana State Police (ISP)-Versailles Post and other first responders were called to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Thursday, August 20, at 7:30 a.m., on State Road 11 near County Road 800S in southern Bartholomew County.  

COLUMBUS, Ind. - In coordination with Columbus/Bartholomew County Recycling, Cummins Inc. will host a free, community-wide recycling event on Thursday, September 3, inviting all local households to participate. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) recently announced the latest iREAD results, and the news is good.

FISHERS, Ind. - Indiana State Police (ISP) troopers are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Wednesday night, August 18, on I-69 in Fishers. Dispatchers began receiving emergency calls around 9:45 p.m. about what appeared to be a dead body in front of a van on the northbound right shoulder, just south of exit 210.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — City officials are taking action following rising concerns from residents over the safety of electric bikes and motorized scooters operating on local pedestrian trails.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday that Jon Myers is its new President and CEO following a nationwide search. A Columbus native and former business owner, Myers is scheduled to begin his tenure on September 14. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus City Council approved the annexation and rezoning for a new 80-acre development by Abundant Home Solutions on first reading during Tuesday's meeting.

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Homeland Security's (IDHS) August Disaster Resource Hub is now available. The hub serves as a comprehensive resource center for individuals seeking state and federal assistance and updates related to the severe weather events that began on August 11.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce presents the "Women in Leadership Luncheon" on Friday, August 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Commons.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus invites the public to the Wendy H. Elwood Animal Care Services Center Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wednesday, August 26, at 2730 Arnold St., near the airport in Columbus.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Love Chapel is set to host its inaugural Community Fair, an event designed to foster local connection and support within Columbus.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Mike Braun has announced several actions in response to historic flooding and storm damage.

EDINBURGH, INDIANA - The inaugural Edinburgh "Rubber Duck Regatta," originally scheduled for this Saturday, August 22, at Irwin Park, has been postponed due to flooding and unsafe river conditions.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Heritage Fund has announced the 2026 recipients of the Donald W. & Catherine G. Jurgemeyer Community Awards, honoring exceptional local contributions.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) congratulates 2025 BCSC Teacher of the Year Amelia Shaw on being named a Top 10 Finalist for the Indiana Department of Education’s 2027 Indiana Teacher of the Year.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - United Way of Bartholomew County is inviting residents across Bartholomew County to take part in its annual "Day of Service," a one-day, community-wide celebration of volunteerism that brings together individuals, families, businesses, civic groups, churches, and local government.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus has initiated comprehensive renovation and repair projects at fire stations 3 and 5 to rectify moisture issues, remediate mold, and modernize heating/air-conditioning systems. These efforts underscore the city's commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for its firefighters.    

COLUMBUS, Ind. - ColumBUS Transit will be rolling out upgrades to the bus loop system beginning this Tuesday, August 18. To better serve the community, riders will see enhancements to the Blue, Green, and Red-Taylorsville loops.    

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The 2026 "Moonlight Loop" bike ride to benefit Columbus Animal Care Services (CACS) is this Saturday, August 22. The leisurely 19-mile, police-escorted ride through Columbus leaves from the Bartholomew County Public Library Plaza at 9 p.m.

STATE OF INDIANA - Governor Mike Braun has declared a statewide disaster emergency due to the flooding, severe weather, and tornadic activity that have impacted the state since August 11.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -Bartholomew County Emergency Management (BCEM) received reports of storm damage in the north Columbus area following thunderstorms on Friday night, August 14.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management (BCEM), the National Weather Service (NWS) now says the Flood warnings for three rivers in the county remain in effect until Monday, August 17.   

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced a road closure for State Road 46 in Bartholomew County.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - City of Columbus and Bartholomew County Fire, Law Enforcement, and EMS personnel dedicated numerous units to a water rescue call on Clifty Creek near US 31 and County Road 50N early Thursday morning.

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - The City of Shelbyville’s community rebranding initiative was recently named a finalist in PR Daily’s 2026 Media Relations Awards in the Brand Messaging category, placing it alongside entries from organizations including PepsiCo Foods, Purdue University, and PwC. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus government and business offices will be closed on Friday, August 14, from 10:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., to accommodate the annual City of Columbus Employee Picnic.