The Republic from Columbus, Indiana • Page 1

EFU 50 cents Columbus, Indiana Saturday, March 29, 2008 OGDG'OBDlBIl Hi L30DD I' II IIMF 1 Inmate move Name: Justin M. James AGE: 25. CHARGES: Burglary, a Class felony; and theft, a Class Effelony; for allegedly stealing a television and other electronics from Hotel Indigo. MOVED TO: Indiana Department of Corrections. Inmate move Name: Matthew E.

Mullins AGE: 27. CHARGES: Four counts of burglary, all Class felonies; and two counts each of theft and attempted theft, all Class felonies. MOVED TO: Indiana Department of Corrections. By Brittany Hart bharttherepublic.com Jail escapee Matthew Mull-ins allegedly told officers Tuesday he would "murder a law enforcement officer if he was not placed in the prison of his choice. Mullins and Justin James, who both escaped from Bartholomew County Jail, March 17, were moved early Friday to Indiana Department of Corrections in Plainfield.

Mullins reportedly made the murder threat Tuesday following the arraignment hearing for his jail escape charge. James' hearing for the -jail escape charge was Monday. They each face up to an additional eight years in prison for their 44 hours of freedom. Mullins also said he would be "throwing a party and we would be rocking and rolling" in the state prison. "I take this type of threat and comment very seriously," said Bartholomew County Sheriff Mark Gorbett.

"I would be neglectful in my duty as sheriff if I did not take the necessary action to protect (See INMATE on Back Page) vi ii JUSTIN JAMES MATTHEW E. MULUNS A City in Transition Construction pervasive as downtown heads for revitalization By Paul Minnls pnriinnistherepublic.com The city parking garage is almost built, construction of a Cummins Inc. office complex is about to begin, and the old Commons and Commons Mall are gone. Downtown Columbus is in a transition that local leaders hope revitalizes it and instills in city residents a new pride. During this week's monthly meeting to update downtown busi ness owners, Ed Curt in, executive director of the city's Redevelopment Commission; updated the firogress on ocal projects.

The meetings "We do have a lot of things going on. It's starting to take shape." -Ed Curtin "JjiliiWiJ I'd afoot In downtown Colun iJUH Lw ta CJ ll CJ Starting with this issue, The Republic will update progress and timelines continue with post office. Project has been slow-tracked because of other projects. No tentative dates established. continuing with Chicago team to build the complex.

Finalization of plans expected in about a month. Completion within a year of unknown start date. 11. Columbus Post Office: Talks are intended only for the owners of business that have been negatively affected by temporarily closed, roads and losses in available parking. Curtin reiterated that the goal is to cause as little disruption as possible for a cause that will benefit all of them in the long run.

Masonry work among the last steps of construction is being performed this week at the new city parking garage east of Columbus post office. A site survey expected next week will launch construction of Cummins' office complex, the first in a series of projects that in 2010 will form the new Commons. Curtin hoped plans would be finalized in a month for a Chicago construction team to build an indoor sports complex east of Bartholomew Countv JaiL "We do a lelri on," Curtin said after the meeting. "It's starting to take shape." Third and Fourth streets must be used for equipment until after construction of Cummins office complex and Candlewood Suites portion of The Commons. Undecided when Jackson Street construction will start.

Opens to traffic April 2009. 7. Sears: Construction of Jackson Street facade begins this summer. Completed April remains open at 222 Commons Mall. 8.

First Financial Bank: Constuction on regional hub to begin March 2009. Opens September 2009. 9. Zaharako's Confectionery: Skylights were installed this week. Waiting for state approval to begin wiring, heatingcooling and other infrastructure.

Tentative opening June 2009, but intricacies could push back. 1. City parking garage: Working on masonry on Fifth Street side. Finish construction late May. Opens in June.

Ground-level retail space to follow. 2. The Commons: Demolition almost complete, Refining the design. Start drafting construction documents in April or May. Reconstruction begins September or October on public portion.

Opens January 2010. 3. Candlewood Suites: Begin -construction process in about a month with site survey. Opens April 2009. 4.

Cummins office complex: Begin construction process next week with site survey. Opens March 2009. 5. Cummins parking garage: Construction begins September and finishes same time as Cummins office complex, expected in March 2009, 5 1 Fifth Stree 5 I I I columbus 5 f-- O- t-v I 2 Street I i 0 -it I i on ThlrdStree PT' eL "''2 i 9 eMvi ensi 1 ...1 the newly ope streetritebdtween 1 Window iports complex Talks' Sources: Ed Curtin, executive director of Columbus Redevelopment Commission; Tony Moravec, owner of Zaharakols Confectionery downtown. The Republic graphic by Hollle Tekutve Connect The Republic TODAY Thought for the day "If I had asked people want they wanted, they would have said faster horses." Henry Ford HIGH: 54 LOW: 36 Forecast: Sun.

MAP, PAGE A8 programs get under way next week and yard waste toters and brush must be put next to the curb by 7 a.m. on the day after regular trash collections. Yard waste and brown refuse toters go on sale at the City Garage, 2650 Kreutzer Drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 5 and 26.

Cost of the toters is $70. The Spring Sweep will be conducted from April 5 through May 2 with the city's leaf vac trucks collecting loose leaves, grass, and pine needles which are raked to the curb by 7 a.m. on the day following the regular trash col- -lection schedule. GOOD MORNING! HUMAN RIGHTS WIN- NERS: Winners have been announced for the 2008 Columbus Human Rights Commission essay and art contests. They will be honored at the commission's annual dinner 6:30 p.m.

April 1 0 at Holiday Inn Conference Center. Tickets are $25 at City Hall's commission office, 123 Washington St. Essay winners: Olivia Darnell, sixth grade, South-side Elementary School, and Elizabeth Carlile, eighth grade, Central Middle School. Art winners: Kather-ine Ritchison, eighth grade, Central Middle School, and Susahnah Beardall, ninth grade, Columbus Area Home Educators. See essays and artwork on Page B8 today and on YOUTH RETREAT POSTPONED: The high school Youth Empowerment retreat planned for today at Tipton Lakes Marina Clubhouse has been postponed.

Further details to come. SPRING CLEANING: The yard waste toterchipper Obituaries Page A7 Doris Basham Adams, 80, Seymour. Christine M. Fulp, 86, Taylors-ville. Bonnie B.

Henderson, 79, Orleans. Walter J. Posey, 70, Rosemary Road. Mary Elizabeth Roth, 71 Clover-dale. Stella Centers Sykes, 58, Seymour.

Janice S. Ahlert Warner, 57, Seymour. Inside JAM SESSION: The Country-Gospel Music Church in Gnaw Bone hosts jam sessions. Story, Page B1 Index Around Town A2 Business C6 Classifieds Comics. D7 Lotteries.

C2 Movies. B7 Opinion B5 Sports TV Listings. B6 Weather. A8 (c) 2008 The Republic USPS 462-080 Looking ahead Sunday Designer dogs. Monday Shortcuts.

Tuesday Pet Connection. 1.