Bartholomew County News

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Do you have a storm shelter at your home or business? Bartholomew County Emergency Management (BCEM) is enhancing its support for emergency responders during severe weather by collecting voluntary storm shelter-location information throughout the county.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - If you have not yet discarded this year's Christmas Tree, the City of Columbus Department of Public Works reminds residents that crews will continue to collect the trees curbside (no alleys), on your regular trash day, through Friday, January 30.

Columbus, Ind.- Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services (FCACS) will be handing out pet food through their Furry Friends Food Bank distribution on Thursday, January 15, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at Columbus Municipal Airport, 4770 Ray Boll Blvd.

The Town of Edinburgh welcomed a new business to its downtown during the first week of 2026.

COLUMBUS, Ind.–   The Bartholomew County Circuit Court has sentenced a Columbus man to 24 years in the Department of Corrections for the crime of Child Molesting.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Jonathan (Jon) L. Rohde, 47, current Judge of the Bartholomew Superior Court 2 and former Chief of Police for the Columbus Police Department, has officially filed for re-election, seeking the Republican nomination for the Judge position he currently holds.   

Franklin College has selected five students to serve as Pulliam Fellows during the 2025-26 academic year.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Alisha Roberts State Farm Insurance Agency has launched “Protect Those Who Protect Us,” a new community initiative pledging $1,000 each month to support a local volunteer fire department.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) reminds Hoosiers that the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs now through March 31.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The wave of retirees from the Columbus Fire Department (CFD) continues. CFD congratulates Firefighter Jeff Otte on his retirement after 21 years of dedicated service.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health (CRH) released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon regarding vaccinations and the protection they provide.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) has announced that firefighter Dan Bates has retired.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Mental Health Matters Bartholomew County, NAMI of South Central Indiana, and CRH Healthy Communities present a month-long Book Read Series beginning in early January.

Financial Advisor Troy J. Forman, of Forman Investment Services, 2635 Foxpointe Dr, was recently named a member of the Raymond James Financial Services Executive Council II.

Sign-up for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) 2026 Pre-K classes has begun.

COLUMBUS, Ind.– The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) is celebrating a historically high 92.4% graduation rate of the seniors of the Class of 2025.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The City of Columbus Department of Public Works reminds residents that crews will continue to pick up Christmas trees curbside (no alleys), on the same day as your regular trash collection, through January 30.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Area Arts Council presents Epilogue: Open Mic Poetry and Prose at Gramz Bakery in downtown Columbus on Thursday, January 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Legislative Preview on January 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., in the Cal Brand Room at Columbus City Hall.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health has announced that MyChart is now available in Spanish. MyChart is a secure online patient portal designed to help you manage your health care more conveniently than ever.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is reminding Hoosiers of an update to Indiana Code that will be in effect on January 1, 2026.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Registration is now open for the 2026 Public Safety Citizens’ Academy. Since the 1990s, the Columbus Police Department (CPD) has offered the academy to Columbus residents, allowing them an inside look at public safety in the community.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and Columbus Pickleball Club will ring in the new year with a Pickleball Clinic at the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park on Friday, January 2.

INDIANAPOLIS – The National Weather Service in Indianapolis announced that a Tornado Watch is in effect until 9 p.m. on Sunday, December 28, for most central and southern Indiana counties, including Bartholomew, Jennings, Jackson, and Johnson.

HOPE, Ind. – The Hope Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the 15000 block of North State Road 9 for a single-vehicle accident with injuries on Friday morning, December 26.

COLUMBUS, Ind.– The Columbus Police Department (CPD) is investigating after a report of a bomb threat and suspicious item found at a local medical service provider on Tuesday, December 23.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Columbus Regional Health (CRH) has observed an increase in respiratory viral infections (RSV, COVID, and Influenza) in both Bartholomew County and among hospital inpatients.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – City of Columbus Department of Public Works crews will be picking up residential Christmas trees curbside (no alleys) the same day as your regular trash collection beginning Friday, December 26.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Local private school teachers Karie Sutton, Kendra Duke, and Micah McCormick are receiving the 2025 Reams Family Awards for Excellence in Teaching, administered by Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

COLUMBUS, Ind. - As the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce plans the 2026 forums on legislative and community topics, the staff seeks to prioritize the issues that are of greatest concern to you and your business.