Bartholomew County News

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Bartholomew County Treasurer Barbara Hackman has announced that property tax bills will be sent out soon.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Hutchfest 2026 is being stormed by a British Invasion. The annual fundraiser is at The Crump Theatre on Saturday, April 25, featuring The Revelators and The Rigbys.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - On Monday evening, an 11-year-old girl disappeared in the water of East Fork White River in Mill Race Park in Columbus. After more than two days of searching, her body was recovered on Thursday morning. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - UPDATE (Thursday morning): Indiana Conservation Officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources have recovered the body of the 11-year-old girl who went missing in the East Fork of the White River in Columbus on Monday evening.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractor E&B Paving, Inc., is scheduled to begin a bridge deck overlay project on U.S. 31 between Lowell Road and Commerce Drive on or after Monday, April 6.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -Ivy Tech Community College Columbus invites high school students and their families to a campus-wide open house on April 28 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Moravec Hall, 4475 Central Ave.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus Engineering Department has announced that starting on or after Thursday, April 2, and continuing for approximately two months, All Star Paving will be working in front of City Hall to install new ADA‐compliant accessible ramps.

TAYLORSVILLE/COLUMBUS, Ind. - Bartholomew County Emergency Management has announced that beginning on or after April 20, Driftwood Utilities, in coordination with Heritage Heights, will conduct smoke testing on select portions of the sanitary sewer system within the Heritage Heights area.

MORRISTOWN, Ind. - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department was notified of a possible threat made to a student at Morristown Jr./Sr. High School on Tuesday afternoon. The threat was communicated using a social media app.

HOPE, Ind. - The Hope Police Department has released its Spring 2026 list of abandoned/inoperable/non-plated vehicles. These cars and trucks were recently tagged for removal, per Hope Town Code 8-69, Article 10, and Indiana I.C. Code 9-13-2-1.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI), Indiana State Police (ISP), and local law enforcement are partnering to increase patrols aimed at reducing speeding and distracted driving as part of the annual Indiana Safer Roads Campaign, supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) is hosting three preliminary information sessions this month about the redistricting process scheduled to go into effect at the start of the 2027-28 school year.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has announced the purchase of five portable translation devices designed to improve communication between the Sheriff’s Office and members of the community.

FRANKLIN, Ind. - Franklin College is gearing up for its 14th annual "#GivetoGRIZ" next month. The annual 24-hour Day of Giving Challenge is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - All City of Columbus offices, including Columbus City Utilities, will be closed this Friday, April 3, to observe the Good Friday holiday.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -The Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center (LCNFC) annual Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, April 4, starting at 11 a.m. on the grounds of BCSC’s Administration Building at the corner of 13th Street and Cottage Avenue.

COLUMBUS, Ind. —Nonprofit organizations in Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Decatur counties that serve aging adults and special needs populations are eligible to apply for grant funding from the Voelz, Reed, and Mount (VRM) Foundation.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - UPDATE ( Sunday at 1:15 p.m.) - Columbus City Utilities has canceled the Boil Water Advisory for the Candlelight Village and Cedar Ridge subdivisions.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce presents the first session of its "Taking Care of Business" workshop series next month.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Area Arts Council (CAAC) series, First Fridays for Families, continues its 2026 season on Friday, April 3, at 5:30 p.m. at The Commons in downtown Columbus. Doors open at 5:00.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Last September, Darrell W. Crow, Jr. was charged with two counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 2 felonies) and one count of Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 4 felony).

EDINBURGH, Ind. - The Edinburgh Police Department (EPD) and Edinburgh Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a water rescue at the Indiana Premium Outlet Mall on Thursday, March 26.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus and Franklin continues the free FAFSA Filing Events in April to help students and families complete the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). .

SHELBY/DECATUR Counties, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces the activation of its worksite speed control pilot program, known as "Safe Zones," on I-74 in Decatur and Shelby counties, starting on April 1.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Police Department (CPD) was called to the 2300 block of Pearl Street on Wednesday night regarding a residential entry attempt by a man trying to gain entry to the house. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Today, Thursday, March 26, is the day. Columbus Regional Health (CRH) and local radio stations QMIX 107.3, MOJO 102.9, and KORN Country 100.3 present the 2026 Women's Expo, from 3 to 7 p.m., at the NexusPark Circle K Fieldhouse.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Bartholomew County Emergency Management (BCEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have announced that there is a slight risk for severe weather for Columbus and Bartholomew County late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

SEYMOUR, Ind.- The Seymour Police Department (SPD) arrested an Indianapolis man for alleged robbery, public intoxication, and public indecency at a Circle K on Wednesday morning, March 25.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus Regional Health (CRH) has announced that starting Monday, March 30, it will downgrade its current visitation restrictions on the hospital campus due to a steady decline in viral respiratory rates.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The City of Columbus has announced the appointment of Mike Wolanin as its new Communication Manager. Wolanin, a well-known local professional with deep ties to the community, brings a wealth of experience in visual storytelling and public information to the role.

EDINBURGH, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractor E&B Paving, Inc. is scheduled to begin a pavement rehabilitation project on State Road 252, between I-65 and U.S. 31 in Edinburgh, on or after this Monday, March 30.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus City Utilities says that Washington Street, between Rocky Ford Road and Volland Street, will be closed from 7 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, through the end of the day on Thursday, March 26. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) responded to three residential fires within 16 hours from Sunday evening into Monday afternoon. One was due to lightning during a Sunday night thunderstorm. No injuries were reported, but two pets perished in one of the fires. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. -  Bartholomew County is implementing a new community mass notification system, "CodeRED" by Crisis24, which will replace the current alert system, Everbridge. This upgraded system will allow officials to deliver important emergency alerts quickly and critical information directly to residents.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The overhauling of the City of Columbus bus routes is complete, and you are now invited to "Ride the Loops.' The new "Loop" system began on Monday.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) was called to the scene of a residential structure fire in the 4400 block of Ashworth Court in the Abbey Place subdivision on Sunday evening.

COLUMBUS, Ind. -NTN has announced the closure of its CVJ East Plant, with operations set to wind down over the next 18 to 24 months.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Area Chamber’s Annual Meeting, the premier gathering of business leaders, innovators, and community champions in the region, is this Wednesday, March 25, at The Commons, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

GREENSBURG, Ind. - The Greensburg Police Department responded to the report of a one-vehicle accident at Kova Fertilizer, 1330 North Anderson St., in Greensburg, on Friday, March 20, at around 2:15 p.m. 

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. - Bartholomew County is under slight risk (2/5) for severe weather on Sunday, March 22.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Hospice Center in Columbus has completed its first renovated patient room and family room as part of the ongoing Hospice Center Refresh Capital Campaign.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus Regional Health (CRH) and local radio stations QMIX 107.3, MOJO 102.9, and KORN Country 100.3 invite you to the 2026 Women's Expo on Thursday, March 26, from 3 to 7 p.m., at the NexusPark Circle K Fieldhouse.

NORTH VERNON, Ind. - The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) announced on Thursday afternoon, March 19, the culmination of a 3-month detailed investigation that resulted in both state and federal criminal charges against a North Vernon man.

COLUMBUS, Ind.– River Valley Legal Aid has announced a Free Legal Walk-In Clinic on Tuesday, March 24, at the Bartholomew County Public Library in Columbus.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) responded to a detached garage fire at 1900 block of Indiana Avenue early Wednesday morning, March 18. The blaze also caused damage to two adjacent homes.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The registration deadline for your pet to become the first "Columbus Pet Mayor" is this Friday, March 20.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Columbus City Cemetery, south of Donner Park, is set for its spring clean-up on Monday, April 6. 

COLUMBUS, Ind. - On September 8, 2025, Daniel S. Houchens was charged with Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 4 felony).

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Columbus Police Department (CPD) will start a new four-year process of accreditation after receiving its fourth award from the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

COLUMBUS, Ind.- Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services (FCACS) is handing out pet food through its Furry Friends Food Bank this Thursday, March 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at Columbus Municipal Airport, 4770 Ray Boll Blvd.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Krea Hill of Rockcreek Elementary School has been honored with the 2026 Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award. She was honored at a special presentation at the school on Thursday, March 12.