The following are closings or cancellations that have been reported related to the coronavirus threat.
City services
Fixed transit routes for the city’s bus system are no longer running. The city will continue to offer Call-A-Bus services for people with medical needs.
Animal Care Services offices are closed but individuals may make appointments. Animal Care officers will respond to emergency situations and the city’s sheltered animals will be cared for.
The City Utilities office will continue to accept payments through the drive-in window, but the lobby is closed.
All park department buildings will be closed to the public, but staff is available by email and by phone. All outdoor playgrounds will continue to be open and will be cleaned daily by park staff.
Columbus City Hall will remain open but with limited staff. The public should email or phone prior to coming into the building if possible.
County services
Bartholomew County has closed all access to county buildings, with only county employees being allowed inside until further notice. While all county offices will be open, the public is asked to do their business electronically through phone, text, voicemail or email. The only exception will be at the Bartholomew County Courthouse. Beside the judicial staff and judges, the courts are asking that only scheduled litigants and witnesses enter the courthouse for hearings. Although scheduled government meetings will continue as scheduled, the Bartholomew County commissioners are asking the public to avoid attending the meetings unless they have specific business at the meeting. Media will be allowed to cover the meetings. Certain county offices will have drop boxes that can used for payments or documents that need to be dropped off.
Ginny Whipple, Bartholomew County assessor, announced rules for submitting personal property forms. Whipple said the forms will only be accepted by mail, email, telephone or by appointment, she said. If there are no changes from last year, the easiest way to file is over the phone, she said. Business and Farm Personal Property Forms are due in the office or postmarked by May 15. Forms may be obtained at in.gov/dlgf/4971.htm or by emailing [email protected]. Call 812-379-1505 to have forms mailed.
The Bartholomew County Health Department’s Nursing Division also is urging people to reschedule routine appointments, according to the statement from the county commissioners. Make-up or new appointments won’t be scheduled until after June.
All Bartholomew County parks are closed until April 6.
Governmental meetings
The City of Columbus/Bartholomew County Planning Office in Columbus City Hall has postponed the March 23 County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting and the March 24 City Board of Zoning Appeals indefinitely. Property owners who were notified about these meetings will be re-notified when a new date has been set. Visit columbus.in.gov/planning/ or call 812-376-2550 for more information.
The March 26th Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District Board Meeting has been canceled.
The Bartholomew County Parks and Recreation board has canceled the April 2 board meeting.
Township services
Columbus Township Trustee’s office is closed as all staff will be working remotely. Anyone needing assistance should call the office at 812-372-8249 and leave a message.
Facilities
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration will close its Division of Family Resources offices to the public. Online and telephone services will continue to operate as normal. Visit the FSSA benefits portal — fssabenefits.in.gov.
All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service. Online services remain available at socialsecurity.gov. Local offices will also continue to provide critical services over the phone. To learn about online services, visit socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.
The Bartholomew County Humane Society will suspend normal hours and will be open by appointment only until further notice. For inquiries regarding adoptions, fostering or volunteering, call 812-372-6063 or email [email protected].
FairOaks Mall announces the temporary closure of the mall. This includes mall walking.
The Bartholomew County Historical Society museum, 524 Third St., is temporarily closing until April 7. We will still be available for research and other questions by calling 812-372-3541 and we will return your call as soon as possible. Visit bartholomewhistory.org.
Sans Souci will be closed until further notice. This includes the donation center.
YES Cinema is closed.
Just Friends Adult Day Services in Columbus has closed.
Bartholomew County Public Library and Hope Branch Library and the bookmobile are now closed until at least April 6.
The Indiana Department of Corrections has suspended all visitation at all prison facilities in Indiana.
The Bartholomew County Jail has suspended all visitation.
The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum at 4742 Ray Boll Blvd. is closed.
kidscommons has announced that it will be closed through April 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Thrive Alliance announces has closed its offices and is encouraging use of telephone and electronic communications technology. For more information, go to thrive-alliance.org or call (866) 644-6407.
Foundation For Youth will close the 405 Hope Ave. and 12454 Youth Camp Facilities through April 5.
The ASAP Hub is closed. Call 812-418-8705 for more information.
The Columbus Area Visitors Center will be closed to Monday, April 6. All architecture tours and public gatherings at the Visitors Center during this period are postponed or canceled. Visitors Center staff will continue to support the tourism industry by working remotely.
Mill Race Center (all senior programs and services).
City parks
Columbus is closing the following facilities to the public until May 1:
The Commons
Donner Center
Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena
Columbus Gymnastics Center
Park Operations Service Center
Lincoln Park — Softball Diamonds
Clifty Park — Softball and Baseball Diamonds
Blackwell Park — Soccer Fields
Rocky Ford Par 3 Golf Course
Donner Park Tennis Courts
Donner Park Pickleball Courts
Harrison Ridge Tennis
Lincoln Tennis
Richards Pickleball Courts
Medical
Columbus Regional Hospital has canceled all elective, non-urgent surgeries and procedures. Patients with scheduled surgeries or procedures should contact their physician’s offices.
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana has initiated screenings for anyone entering the center, including staff, guests and visitors. Gift shop and the salad bar at the Inpatient Center are closed.
The bereavement groups meeting as Beginning Again have been temporarily suspended. Those needed help should call 812-314-8044 or email [email protected].
Churches
Columbus First Assembly will not have any in-person worship or gatherings until further notice. Weekly services and current information can be viewed on Facebook at facebook.com/columbusfirstassembly/ every Sunday at 10 a.m.
Salvation Army Corp. community centers across Indiana, and in Columbus, are closed. Food pantries serving clients are loading boxes directly into vehicles at drive-thrus in parking lots. Congregate feeding programs are using take-out boxes or bagged lunches. Emergency services are being handled by phone. Where possible, Sunday worship is via livestreaming. For more information, visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org or the organization’s Facebook page.
First Presbyterian Church has canceled all in-person gatherings, including worship and committee meetings, and the office is closed. For more information, call (812) 372-3783. Streaming of worship services is available at facebook.com/groups/56933406910/ each Sunday.
Petersville United Methodist Church is closed for worship and other meetings.
First Christian Church is closed for three weeks, starting March 18.
First Baptist Church in Columbus will not have a public worship gathering, but will offer a live stream worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.
East Columbus Christian Church is canceling services and activities until April 12. Weekly sermons may be viewed at eastccc.net at 10 a.m. each Sunday
Hope Community Church is canceling the free breakfast and Easter egg hunt April 11.
Catholic Masses throughout Indiana are canceled until further notice.
North Christian Church has closed the church and canceled services.
First Presbyterian Church has canceled all in-person gatherings, including worship and committee meetings, until further notice. Streaming of worship services is available here facebook.com/groups/56933406910/.
St. Paul Episcopal Church will suspend worship services until at least the end of the March, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.
Unitarian Universalist Church is closed.
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church has canceled services for today and March 22.
Garden City Church of Christ is canceling services until April 5. The church will provide weekly sermons at gardencitychurch.com or on the church Facebook page.
First Lutheran Church in Columbus is closed until at least April 4.
Events
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Youth Academy has been canceled.
The Broadway Memories event scheduled for April 26 is being rescheduled for the fall.
Columbus Fellowship Club on Jonesville Road has canceled all meetings.
The United Way’s annual meeting originally scheduled April 7 has been postponed to 4 p.m. June 15 at The Commons.
The Hoosier Spring Classic pig sale, sponsored by Bartholomew County Purebred Breeders, today at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds has been canceled.
The Columbus Area Railroad Club is now limiting its monthly open house gathering on Saturday at Johnson County Park to members only.
The Harlequin Theatre: Dave Dugan comedy show April 4 and the Banister Family Bluegrass Band concert April 18 are canceled.
The Wounded Warriors benefit concert Friday at The Commons has been rescheduled to Oct. 24 with the same artists.
Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting scheduled for March 25 is postponed.
Bartholomew County Public Library programs and events (and meeting room usage) are canceled through April 5.
Comic-Con scheduled for the Columbus Learning Center April 2.
The Indiana State School Music Association is canceling all competitive music events through April 11.
The J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program has canceled lectures on April 2, 16 and 23 that were part of the Miller M.Arch series. Also canceled are the Doreen McCarthy guest lecture on April 7 and Polysemy (Doreen McCarthy Exhibition) on April 9.
Feminism Club and IUPUC Office for Women event “Feminist Ethics in Roller Derby” March 31 at the Columbus Learning Center at 4555 Central Ave. is postponed, and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Columbus Area Arts Council programs through April 12 are canceled.
HPW Wrestling at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds is canceled on April 4.
Brown County Music Center has rescheduled shows for Warrant for June 5, Kenny G for Oct. 1, Carrot Top for Dec. 9, The Price is Right for July 23, Gordon Lightfoot for July 24, Christopher Cross for Aug. 12, Michael Bolton for Aug. 16, and LeAnn Rimes for Aug. 21, shows to be rescheduled are for Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, and Melissa Etheridge.
Athletics
2020 North/South Indiana All-Star Classic on April 5 has been postponed.
All Indianapolis Indians games are postponed and all other events scheduled at Victory Field are canceled. For any ticketed events, hold on to your tickets and the team will provide additional information on options.
The NCAA Men’s and Women’s 2020 basketball tournament is canceled.
The IHSAA boys basketball tournament series is canceled.
Indiana University is canceling the men’s and women’s Little 500 bike races and all qualifications. A decision on commencement ceremonies will be made in the coming weeks.
Schools
Please note: On Thursday, Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered all Indiana schools to be closed until May 1.
Columbus Christian School has sent information about e-Learning days be sent to staff and families. All school-related events and activities are canceled until school is in session.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. will suspend all school-related activities beginning March 16, including athletics. Schools will be closed and eLearning days used beginning Monday.
At the completion of spring break, the Flat Rock-Hawcreek campus will remain closed to students on March 23 and March 24 as teachers prepare for extended e-learning days. Students will receive instruction from home through the e-learning platform. All spring athletic practices and events will also be canceled until students return.
Edinburgh School Corp. will close schools, using state waiver days for March 23 to March 27. E-learning will begin March 30. Visit ecsc.k12.in.us or the school’s Facebook page for information on picking up laptops or other information.
Ivy Tech Community College announced that it will extend the delivery of courses virtually through the remainder of the current semester. Courses will restart March 23 and conclude May 16, all being offered virtually. Ivy Tech Community College will close all its buildings, including those on the Columbus campus, effective at 5 p.m. today. With the closure of its buildings additional services to students will now also be provided virtually, including advising, testing, financial aid and business office operations. Check ivytech.edu/covid-19 to find answers to frequently asked questions.
Indiana University has announced that it is extending remote learning through the end of the spring semester due to the coronavirus epidemic. To make this adjustment, spring break has been extended an additional week, with remote instruction beginning March 30. IU Fort Wayne, given its location on the Purdue campus, will remain on its current schedule, returning to remote teaching March 23. IU is also requiring students to return to their permanent residences or live off campus for the remainder of the spring semester, with residence halls closing March 20. There will be guidance for students who cannot return to their homes, including some international students.
Purdue University has announced classes will be delivered by remote instruction for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. Residence halls will remain open for those students who must remain on campus, but any student who can move home/to a different location is asked to do so. Purdue’s campus remains open, with telecommuting/remote work permitted wherever possible.
Utilities
Bartholomew County REMC is temporarily suspending late fees on member accounts and non-pay service disconnects until April 20. With the growing concerns about the pandemic, REMC would like to limit foot traffic in its office so that we can continue to provide reliable electric service. Payments may be made in the drop box at the REMC office or the drop box at Horizon Bank on Second Street in Columbus. For more information, or to pay online, visit BCREMC.com. Call 844-344-4369 to use the automated pay by phone system or call a customer service representative Monday through Friday at 812-372-2546.
Duke Energy has announced it will not disconnect any customer’s service for non-payment, in order to give customers experiencing financial hardship extra time to make payments. The company will waive late payment fees and fees for returned payments until the national state of emergency is lifted. For residential customers, the company will also waive fees for credit and debit card payments. The company will continue to read meters and send bills. Customers should pay what they can to avoid building up a large balance. Duke Energy technicians will continue to respond to power outages and other emergencies and complete service orders. Customers may perform nearly all customer service functions online, through the company’s automated voice phone system or through the company’s mobile app.
Southwestern Bartholomew Water Corp.’s lobby is closed. A drop box is available for payments at the office, or payments may be made through mail or at paygov.us with a credit card. Disconnection for non-payment will be suspended for March. Customer service is available by phone. The utility will continue to read meters and send bills, and respond to emergencies. For more information, call 812-342-4421.
Federal offices
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, including the United States Bankruptcy Court and the United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Indiana, are closed, including division offices in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and New Albany.
Jennings County
All Jennings County public offices are currently closed. All offices will continue to operate under regular hours and work by phone. Phone numbers are posted on office doors and can also be found at jenningscounty-in.gov.
