North Vernon police are looking into the death of a teenager.
18-year-old Lance W. Anderson of Scottsburg was found dead inside a home in the 400 block of Walnut Street yesterday morning, says Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the police department. He said police were called to the home on a report that a manwas found unconscious.
There is no further information yet available.
Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus is ready to teach you to fly and to become a professional pilot.
The college has been accredited for its associates degree program in professional flight, which will allow you to earn your commercial pilot’s license at the campus.
Matthew Medley, chairman of the aviation technology program, explains
He says the program will take a student with no flight hours and get them their professional pilot’s certification in two years.
While the classroom time will cost only as much as regular Ivy Tech classwork, Medley estimated that the actual in-air hours would lead to a degree and commercial license costing about $50,000. He said that is about half of what other flight schools would charge.
The program is a combination of classroom work, simulator training and hands-on flight.
Medley said that having the Ivy Tech campus located on Columbus Municipal Airport property allows for a unique opportunity to bring flight training to the school.
If you are interested in helping out Hope-area not for profit groups, there is a chance to turn every dollar you donate into three.
Hope native and New Jersey resident Tim Andrews is offering to match up to a total of $10,000 in donations to the Hawcreek-Flat Rock Area Endowment through the end of the year, and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is also going to match your donation.
Since launching in 2002, the Hawcreek Flat Rock Area Endowment has given more than $155,000 dollars to not-for-profit groups in northeastern Bartholomew County. The deadline for donations for the 2 for 1 matching grant program is Dec. 31st.
Yuu can get more information at endowmenthfr.org
The annual Columbus Craft Beerfest is this weekend. Elaine Wagner is an organizer. She says that this event is well-represented by craft breweries and connoisseurs…
The Columbus Craft Beerfest is this Saturday, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mill Race Park. Early entry tickets are $50 and entitle you to enter at 2 p.m. to begin tasting. General admission is $35 and designated drivers can enter for $10. Wagner says that proceeds from this event benefit Just Friends Adult Day Services, as well as Mill Race Park.
For more information, visit columbusbeerfest.in.
A Jackson County man is accused of crimes against children. “The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that 30-year-old Cory Dwane Jones, of Freetown, was arrested this week on a Jackson Circuit Court warrant for Child Molestation in a case involving a then-10-year-old girl that allegedly happened in July of 2011.
The paper is reporting that Jones was also arrested on a separate warrant for two charges of Possession of Child Pornography in a separate case. In addition, the report says that Jones is facing two charges of Child Solicitation and Intimidation related to another investigation in Owen County.
Indiana State Police reportedly told the paper that Jones was arrested Monday at his mother’s home in Lawrence County. Authorities say the arrest came just minutes after Jones called law enforcement and said he was working in Texas for a construction company repairing damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.
The Tribune is reporting that the molestation allegation had been investigated in August of 2011, but prosecutors did not file charges. The case came to light again after investigators received information that Jones was in possession of child pornography. The paper says that ISP interviewed the girl again and that Jones later confessed to police that he committed the crime.
The report says that the Owen County charges stem from evidence that Jones had solicited a child to engage in sexual conduct on two separate occasions.
For more on this story, go to tribtown.com.
Two people were arrested yesterday in Columbus, accused of robbing a victim with a tire iron.
The incident started yesterday morning when the victim went to meet a female friend at a local business, but a man jumped out of the woman’s car with the tire tool, and took the victim’s cell phone, cash and shoes.
Bartholomew County deputies arrested the woman, identified as 19-year-old Haley Burton of Columbus Tuesday evening and gathered information that led them to a home where they found 25-year-old Erik Peetz of Columbus.
Burton is facing a preliminary charge of robbery with a deadly weapon. Peetz is also being accused of robbery with a deadly weapon along with possession of methamphetamine and a legend drug injection device.
Deputies are looking for a third person who they may have information about the incident. If you know the whereabouts of Jordan Cowan, a white woman believed to be about 25 years old, you can contact Lt. Chad Swank at 812-565-5925, e-mail the sheriff’s department at [email protected] or call the sheriff’s department tip line at 812-379-1712.
The city of North Vernon is mulling over its options on what to do about a debt owed by an alternative energy company.
Windstream Technologies received a 10-year, $1.4 million loan from the city, through its Redevelopment Commission and Tax-Increment Financing funds, when it opened its plant in 2011. Since the loan was issued, repayments to the city have been irregular. Shawn Gerkin, North Vernon Clerk-Treasurer, says that the city last received a payment in February of 2016. During discussions the city council held last year with Windstream founder and CEO Dan Bates, Gerkin said that the money the city had received has essentially been enough to cover the interest payments, leaving the $1.4 million balance largely intact. Part of the loan agreement included a scheduled balloon-payment of several hundred-thousand-dollars, due in August of last year. City officials say that also went unpaid.
The council had Gerkin reach out to Bates, asking him to appear to give an update on the company. Gerkin says he received a response the morning of this week’s council meeting, informing him that Bates would be unable to attend due to being out of state. Council members discussed possibly calling in the note for repayment and repossessing equipment at the plant. Councilman Brian Hatfield was vocal about taking action, saying that the Windstream issue has “been hanging” for too long. “It’s time for it to be put to bed,” said Hatfield. Larry Greathouse, council attorney, said that, regardless of extraordinary circumstances, the city will not recoup its money. “They are without a doubt, bankrupt,” Greathouse said about Windstream. Hatfield, as well as other council members, agreed but said that action needs to be taken.
The council again asked for Gerkin to reach out to Bates with an invitation to appear at their October 10th meeting. The body indicated that action may be taken then.
Windstream’s stock price at the close of trading on Tuesday was $0.0001.
The Bartholomew County Substance Abuse Council is holding its annual “Desperate Households” program next month. Andrea Vogel, director of Communities That Care, explains that the program is designed to help attendees learn about the trends and challenges facing the community. This year’s program is set for October 18th at Westside Community Church in Columbus.
Vogel explains the program.
Vogel talks about the presentations scheduled for this year’s event.
Hoffman is a former BMX professional who suffered with drug addiction.
There is no cost to attend, but you are asked to register in advance by visiting eventbrite.com and searching “Desperate Households 2017.” You can get more information about the Bartholomew County Substance Abuse Council online at bcsac.org.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced plans to close a railroad crossing on eastbound State Road 46, about one-third of a mile east of State Road 11, on the west side of Columbus for repairs next weekend. INDOT officials say that drivers will be detoured around the crossing via I-65 North to U.S. 31 South. A State Road 11 / State Road 46 detour reroutes traffic east on County Road 450 South to U.S. 31 North.
INDOT says that Louisville & Indiana Railroad maintenance crews plan to begin work at 8 p.m. on the evening of Oct. 6th and wrap up the project by the evening on Oct. 8th.
Message boards are scheduled to be put in place Wednesday to alert drivers.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers has a community meeting scheduled for Thursday evening at Bethel Holiness Church in Columbus. The church is located at 6060 North US 31, near the south entrance to Northgate Addition.
Myers has been holding meetings like these throughout the county since taking office. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that these meetings help the sheriff, and his command staff, to better identify specific problems and concerns in individual communities. Myers says that you don’t have to live in the neighborhood to attend, as all county residents are welcome.
Thursday night’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be moderated by County Assessor Lew Wilson.