Olivia Covington
The Republic
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Past articles by Olivia:
Seeking diversity
Roughly 94 percent of all officers in the Columbus Police Department are white, a statistic that local law enforcement officials say highlights a need for stronger efforts toward recruiting minority officers. In fact, Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde said his department is already taking steps to align the diversity of the 81-officer local police force → Read More
Police work a career, not just a job
Sgt. Oscar Olmeda, who has been an officer with the Columbus Police Department for 11 years, said he knew right off the bat when he applied that he would be among a small number of minority officers. The only other Hispanic officer retired not long after Olmeda joined the force, he said. A Marine veteran, → Read More
Partnership targets 2 new homes for blighted area
In an area of the city where a majority of residents live in rental properties, a group of Columbus students are designing new houses to help put those residents on the path to home ownership. It’s the result of a new partnership between C4 — Columbus Area Career Connection, the city of Columbus and the → Read More
Executive sponsors playing active roles with planning team
As the 2016 Mill Race Marathon planning committee makes the final preparations for the fourth annual race through Columbus, four new executive sponsors are working with the team to put the finishing touches on the event. This year, Amy Boerger, vice president for sales — North American Engine Business at Cummins Inc.; Tom Dowd, regional → Read More
Scrapyard files master plan for 6.85-acre expansion
A local scrap metal dealer plans to petition the city this month for permission to expand its existing scrapyard. The Kroot Corp., 2915 State St., plans to bring a request before the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals to expand its existing scrap metal yard into an additional 6.85-acre area of its property that is currently → Read More
‘Trekker’ provides views of city parks
Columbus’ parks system and other green space throughout the city will be visible to the world after images from a new form of photo technology are released online. As part of a nationwide effort to increase the number of parks photos available online through the Google Street View feature, the local parks department spent most → Read More
Google Trekker photographs Columbus parks for worldwide view
Columbus' parks system and other green space throughout the city will be visible to the world after images from a new form of photo technology are released online. As part of a nationwide effort to increase the number of parks photos available online through the Google Street View feature, the local parks department spent most → Read More
Scrap dealer files its master plan for expansion
A local scrap metal dealer plans to petition the city this month for permission to expand its existing scrapyard. The Kroot Corp., 2915 State St., plans to bring a request before the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals to expand its existing scrap metal yard into an additional 6.85-acre area of its property that is currently → Read More
North adds 4 to Hall of Fame
Before he was one of the world’s top racecar drivers, Tony Stewart was a jazz band musician and drama club member at Columbus North High School. But having won an IndyCar and three NASCAR championships in the 27 years since he graduated from North, Stewart will be honored with fellow Bull Dog alumni Marty Newsom, → Read More
Repair shifts most train traffic to evenings
Columbus residents are hearing more train whistles at night and fewer during the day. That schedule change was implemented by Louisville and Indiana Railroad and CSX Transportation to enable daytime work crews to make improvements to rail lines near Seymour that will allow for longer, faster and more frequent trains, said John Goldman, Louisville and → Read More
Stewart among this year’s North Hall of Fame class
Before he was one of the world’s top racecar drivers, Tony Stewart was a jazz band musician and drama club member at Columbus North High School. But having won an IndyCar and three NASCAR driving championships in the 27 years since he graduated from North, Stewart will be honored with fellow Bull Dog alumni Marty → Read More
New plans for former west-side bar; Storage facility to expand at Two Mile House Road site
The owner of an existing storage facility on Columbus' west side has approval to expand his business and convert a former two-tenant commercial building on the property into a storage warehouse. Dwight Grooms, owner of Grooms Rentals at 3541 Two Mile House Road, brought a request before the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. → Read More
Former Scores bar to become warehouse for storage business
The owner of an existing storage facility on Columbus' west side has approval to expand his business and convert a former bar on the property into a storage warehouse. Dwight Grooms, owner of Grooms Rentals at 3541 Two Mile House Road, brought a request before the Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals on Aug. 23 to → Read More
Complaint against police set for review
A city committee is reviewing a complaint against the Columbus Police Department after a citizen appealed the police department’s determination that the complaint was unfounded. At the Aug. 23 city of Board of Works meeting, board members gave unanimous approval to create a subcommittee to the audit and review committee to review the appeal. The → Read More
Local resident soaks up summer Olympics
A Columbus resident was in the center of the world’s stage when he took a one-week trip to Rio de Janiero to get a first-hand look at the Games of the 31st Olympiad. Nick Hotz arrived in Brazil on Aug. 2, just days before the opening ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Hotz’s trip → Read More
All 3 BCSC school board incumbents will face challengers in November election
All three races for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Board seats on the Nov. 8 ballot are contested. Candidate filing closed at noon Friday. School board races in the Columbus-based district, held in even-numbered years, have been unopposed since at least 2008, according to election records at the Bartholomew County Voter Registration office. Two more local → Read More
Rivalry recipe: Grillin’ along the gridiron
A crowd of about 5,000 is expected to file into Max Andress Field tonight as students, teachers, parents and other fans gather for the football showdown between host Columbus North and visiting Columbus East. The crosstown showdown likely will double the size of a regular Friday night football crowd when Olympians and Bull Dogs faithful → Read More
Japanese students see first-hand differences in educational philosophy
Students in Miyoshi, Japan, have few freedoms when it comes to education. Until the time they can go to college, Miyoshi students are not allowed to choose what courses they take, but instead are assigned to the classes education leaders deem most appropriate. Similarly, students in Miyoshi are expected to wear uniforms to school, with → Read More
Police agencies across region spread word of dangerous drugs
With one person dead and others hospitalized after a surge in heroin overdoses, law enforcement agencies in south-central Indiana and other parts of the Midwest are placing residents on high alert for what they say appears to be a particularly potent batch of heroin. The largest number of overdoses late Tuesday in southern Indiana was → Read More
District settles teacher lawsuit
The Bartholomew Consolidated School Board has approved a settlement for a lawsuit filed against the school district after a former employee said he was wrongfully terminated because of his race and disability. In 2012, former Columbus Signature Academy - Fodrea campus fifth grade teacher Terrence Preddie filed suit against BCSC on the basis that the → Read More