1
The Board of Zoning Appeals, which reviews property-owner requests for exceptions to the zoning ordinance, ruled that city residents now can have chickens as pets.
2
City leaders said they are considering a new use for acreage along Second Street, turning city-owned vacant land and a commercial car wash into a multiuse hotel and retail operation.
3
Columbus City Council members voted unanimously to extend civil rights protections to the LGBT community, adding sexual orientation, gender identity, age and veterans as protected classes in the city’s human rights ordinance. The council still had to approve the changes a second time, expected at its Sept. 15 meeting.
4
The Columbus City Council gave initial approval for Columbus employees and elected officials to receive a 2 percent cost-of-living raise in 2016.
5
City officials agreed to pursue a multiuse hotel and apartment development on about 10 acres at Second and Lafayette streets, a project estimated to cost about $60 million.
6
A little rain didn’t stop a crowd of about 5,000 from coming out to Mill Race Park on Saturday to see and hear Don Felder, a former member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group the Eagles.
7
Commuting data for 2013, when compared with previous Census data for 2010, showed that more residents from nearby central Indiana counties are traveling to Bartholomew County to work.
8
Two Columbus residents died from single gunshot wounds to the head inside a northeastside apartment during an apparent homicide-suicide, authorities said.
9
A communitywide event was planned for Sept. 10 at Columbus East High School, giving area teenagers an opportunity to learn about suicide prevention during a program titled “Suicide — Let’s talk About It.”
10
The number of Bartholomew County residents threatening to take their own lives more than tripled in five years, according to data, and community leaders were trying to find out why.
11
Three people were arrested on drug-related charges along Interstate 65 in what police described as one of the largest drug busts in the city’s history. Columbus police confiscated 2.3 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of more than $100,000.
12
The company building the $10 million Gateway Apartment project on the former Golden Foundry site proposed a new senior housing apartment complex nearby.
13
Members of Scottish clans dispersed throughout the county came together at Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds to celebrate a common heritage and unique family ties during the 24th Columbus Scottish Festival.
14
Nex-Gen Fuels, based in Seymour, received a favorable recommendation from the Columbus Plan Commission to rezone property at 3906 N. Indianapolis Road, former site of Bulldog Lanes, to industrial so it can produce environmentally friendly biochar.
15
JCB, a Seymour-based bank, announced that it would open a full-service banking center on the north side of Columbus that will share space with the Kroger Marketplace store opening next year.
16
The Columbus City Council voted for a second and final time in favor of adding sexual orientation, gender identity, age and veteran status as protected classes in the city’s human rights ordinance.
17
Bartholomew County officials slashed the county’s general fund budget deficit to $700,000 from $2 million, but more cuts were needed to avoid a financial shortfall.
18
Angela Macy, one of three Columbus Park Board members appointed after a May 2014 mass resignation of board members, stepped down.
19
Glenn Thompson, Michael Martin, Steven David and Jamie Hyneman were inducted as the newest members of the Columbus North High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony.
20
Columbus North senior Cameron Fathauer was in critical condition with a significant head injury sustained when he was struck by a car.
21
REMC of Bartholomew County said a “perfect storm” of environmental conditions, including new utility poles, heavy rains and flooding in July, could be the culprit causing contamination in a local couple’s well.
22
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent John Quick announced that he would retire in July after 25 years with the district and 40-year education career.
23
Columbus Redevelopment Commission members have approved advertising to sell about 10 acres at Second and Lafayette streets in downtown Columbus, hoping to find a developer to build a multiuse $60 million project combining a hotel, apartments, extended-stay suites and retail.
24
With a 3.2 percent county unemployment rate recorded in August compared with 4.4 percent a year earlier, the competition for retail workers grows more intense every day, said Cindy Frey, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce president.
25
The inaugural Great Girls and Wonderful Women fundraiser brought together nearly 200 guests who had the chance to learn about Foundation For Youth programs targeted toward helping girls reach their dreams.
26
An hours-old infant boy found abandoned near trash cans at a North Vernon church was in stable condition as police continue to search for his mother.
27
From the 7:30 a.m. sound of a train whistle signalling the start of the races to the 4 p.m. truck giveaway, the third Mill Race Marathon was a portrait of smiles, struggles and personal triumphs as spectators lined the streets of Columbus to cheer on nearly 3,500 runners competing in either the 5K, half-marathon or full marathon.
28
Sheriff’s deputies investigated a string of car, truck and trailer thefts, including four vehicles stolen in Bartholomew County over a recent two-week stretch.
29
Stewart-Haas Racing said a news conference was planned for Sept. 30, and reports said three-time NASCAR champion and Columbus native Tony Stewart was expected to retire at the end of the 2016 season.
30
Nearly 100 people attended an open house sponsored by the Bartholomew County CAFO Regulation Study Committee. It was the public’s first opportunity to study maps, charts and outlines regarding proposed regulations for confined animal feeding operations, and express their opinions.
