Troubling trends
Area healthcare systems are being pushed to their absolute limits.
On Tuesday, Columbus Regional Hospital said it had reached 85% of its capacity and that almost one-third of its 151 patients had COVID-19.
More than 100 of CRH’s employees have tested positive for the virus since March. One of those employees, Scott Gordon, a paramedic who put in about 20 years with CRH, died earlier this week from coronavirus complications.
Due to the recent influx of COVID-19 patients, CRH has prioritized surgical procedures and changed visitation policies. Medical staff are also working extra hours to try and combat the surge, which could increase as other area healthcare providers — such as Schneck Medical Center in Seymour — run out of hospital beds.
The recent increase in local hospitalizations is alarming, as cases and deaths continue to increase across the state and country.
It’s imperative that all Hoosiers continue to practice proper public health guidelines to slow the spread of the virus and take pressure off our healthcare workers.
The show must go on
While there wasn’t a grandiose opening, Columbus East’s new auditorium was christened this past weekend with the show “Molly’s Hammer.”
Improvements include new seating, safety lighting, acoustic panels on the walls, a stage sound shell, state-of-the-art lighting, a sound system, and a stage rigging system.
The $3.8 million project is almost 100% complete, but is finishing up some technological additions.
Local residents have another reason to cheer about the opening — the project came in $1,800 under budget and won’t have an impact on taxes, as it was founded by refinancing lease rental bonds.
Additionally, the Robbins Auditorium will be used for performances by organizations outside of the school — drawing more visitors to the area once health conditions improve.
It’s disappointing that the open house has been pushed back, but all should look forward to the future use of the new facility.
Important discussions
Since the death of George Floyd in May, discussions on relations between civilians and their police forces — especially among the African American communities — have increased throughout the nation.
Columbus and Bartholomew County are no different, as groups from both sides have organized events to address the matter over the past few months.
Last week, Indiana State Police Capt Ruben Marte and Maj. Todd Smith led a session called “Improving Police and Community Relations” at The Commons.
During the session, Marte played several video clips of different incidents depicting tense or violent traffic enforcement and then asked the audience to put themselves in the shoes of the officer involved in the video, explaining why officers reacted in a certain manner.
The reaction by the crowd was mixed, as some agreed with his points while others offered questions and concerns. Some members of the audience also shared their own personal experiences with local police.
It’s important that these types of events, which offer open discussion, continue in the future. Relations can always be improved between the police and public, and ISP’s session aided that effort.
