The staff at The Republic was busy in 2024 reporting on important news, community events and sports. From a polar plunge to an eclipse to a beloved architectural landmark being altered, here is a look back at some of those stories in images.
Year in Photos 2024
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Mike Wolanin | The Republic
A view of the black and tan beer ZwanzigZ Pizza and Brewing is serving for the upcoming solar eclipse. The beer, called ZwanzigZ Solar EclipZe, is comprised of a Nitro Moon Oatmeal Cream Stout on top and ZwanzigZ Solar Golden Ale on bottom. The beers were made specifically for the solar eclipse on April 8th. The beer was photographed in ZwanzigZ Production Brewery.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Annalee Fields plays soccer with members of the IU Columbus women’s soccer team to during the IU Columbus athletics open house inside the Circle K Fieldhouse at NexusPark in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, April 4, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Macy Moon looks at the total solar eclipse during the Eclipsing the Renaissance eclipse viewing event at the Columbus Airport Airpark in Columbus, Ind., Monday, April 8, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Spectators view the total solar eclipse during the Eclipsing the Renaissance eclipse viewing event at the Columbus Airport Airpark in Columbus, Ind., Monday, April 8, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
A view of the total solar eclipse during the Eclipsing the Renaissance eclipse viewing event at the Columbus Airport Airpark in Columbus, Ind., Monday, April 8, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Prom goers dance during BCSC Prom at The Commons in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Paulette Roberts is The Republic Woman of the Year. She is pictured in the sanctuary at Second Baptist Church in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Naysha Batista, left, and Nora Baudat play a game of Heads Up before their commencement ceremony at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, May 25, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Members of the Viewpoint Books, book brigade helps move over 1000 books from Viewpoint Books current location to their second location in the former Ames Mercantile space in downtown Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Jeremy Sweet apologizes to his ex wife and her family for causing the death of their two-year-old daughter Emma Sweet during his change of plea and sentencing hearing in Bartholomew Superior Court 1 at the Bartholomew County Courthouse in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Sweet was sentenced 40 years in state prison for death of his two-year-old daughter Emma Sweet.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
A plume of sand shoots into the air as Yahui Zhang hits out of a fairway bunker on the 18th hole during a playoff against Savannah Vilaubi in the final round of the Epson Tour Otter Creek Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind., Sunday, June 16, 2024. Zhang and Vilaubi ended up tied after 18-holes and competed in a two-hole playoff to decide the winner of the championship. Vilaubi won the championship with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Savannah Vilaubi, second right, is doused with water by Brooke Matthews, left, Hannah Arnold, second left, and Haylee Harford, right, after winning the Epson Tour Otter Creek Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind., Sunday, June 16, 2024. Vilaubi and Yahui Zhang ended up tied after 18-holes and competed in a two-hole playoff to decide the winner of the championship. Vilaubi won the championship with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Mark Kreder, of Claremore, Okla., competes in the bareback riding portion of the 3 Bar J Rodeo during the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ind., Monday, June 24, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
William R. Laws Human Rights Award recipients Rev. Felipe Martinez, left, and Howard “ Bud” Herron pose for a photo during the Columbus Human Rights Commission dinner meeting at The Commons in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
A firework explodes behind the American flag during the QMIX Musical Fireworks celebration at the Ivy Tech campus in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Maddox Overbey high fives Toyota Material Handling employees during his Make-A-Wish ceremony at Toyota Material Handling North America in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Public safety officials conduct water rescue operations to locate a missing swimmer at Grandview Lake in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Brad Moffatt, left, from HRC roofing, and Matt Gilmore, from Taylor Brothers, remove the cross from atop the spire of North Christian Church in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Contractors were onsite to remove the cross from the spire of the church in preparation for the building to become the north branch of the Bartholomew Public Library system.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Columbus East’s Keaton Lawson, in orange, makes a catch while covered by Seymour’s Jackson Brock during a high school football game at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Cameron Croucher, with the Columbus Municipal Airport FBO, and Columbus Municipal Airport employees help load pilot Jeff Anderson’s plane with hurricane relief supplies at Columbus Municipal Airport in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Relief efforts were organized by Civilian Crisis Response Team. Supplies were dropped off at the airport and flown to area impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Camden Smith wears an “I Voted” sticker as he stands with his mom Casey on Election Day at the vote center at Donner Center in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Fireworks explode in the sky above Columbus City Hall after the annual Festival of Lights parade in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Eric Stevenson reacts to the frigid temperature of the water during the Columbus Parks Foundation’s inaugural Plunge into Parks polar plunge fundraising event on 4th Street in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Donations from the event will be used to build a $400,000 women’s locker room in the Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Madison Oliver, left, and her essential skills teacher Sarah Lewis pet therapy dog Starlight at Hope Elementary School in Hope, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Mark Jones, second left, director Columbus Parks and Recreation, leads a tour of the Circle K Fieldhouse at NexusPark in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Columbus East students and the Columbus East bench celebrates after an East player hit a three pointer during an IHSAA sectional basketball game between Columbus North and Columbus East at East Central High School in St. Leon, Ind., Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
IU Columbus’ Lucas Slager, left, tags first base for an out against West Virginia Tech’s Jordan Thurmond during an NAIA baseball game on the new baseball field at Ceraland in Columbus, Ind., Friday, March 1, 2024.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
CSA Fodrea fourth grader Jody Shuler pretends to drink a bottle of milk while wearing a prop winner’s wreath during the 500 Festival Education Program’s Mobile Study Trip at CSA Fodrea in Columbus, Ind., Monday, Mar. 4, 2024. Fourth grade students at the school visited various stations to learn the ins and outs of the Indianapolis 500.





