There are several abandoned houses and empty properties around the Friendly City. The city of Columbus is hoping the new Blight Program will help eliminate some of the unused property.
Some of Santa's Helpers were busy in Columbus. Volunteers with the "Happy Christmas Fund" were out in force shopping for gifts to brighten the holiday for some area youngsters.
Columbus City Council voted Tuesday night to tap the brakes on its code enforcement remediation efforts while it sorts out which properties might fall under the auspices of its federally funded blight elimination program.