Correction: The location of the Community Engagement Center in Columbus was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

A homeless man froze to death last week in Jennings County. The North Vernon Plain Dealer is reporting that 59-year-old Douglas E. Wade was found dead in a tent Thursday evening near U.S. 50 and County Road 400W. The county coroner told the newspaper that hypothermia was the cause of death.

The sheriff’s department told the newspaper that a friend of Wade’s checked in on him every few weeks and found his body about 6 that night. He had been living in the makeshift tent for about a year according to the sheriffs’ department.

Authorities are asking that if you know anyone who is living outside in the elements or anyone who is without heat or electricity to check in on them.

In Columbus, those needing shelter during the day can visit the Community Engagement Center,  at 1951 McKinley Avenue, during the day. Overnight accomodations can be found at the Brighter Days Shelter at 421 S. Mapleton. Their number is (812) 344-4512.

In Seymour, the homeless are encouraged to visit “The Alley” at 416 E Second Street. Duane Davis, with Jackson County Emergency Management, says the homeless can get processed for help, on site. Their number is (812) 946-0258.

In Jennings County, the Country Squire Lakes Clubhouse will be open today through Thursday as a shelter for those that have no heat or electric. No pets allowed unless they are a service animal. If you need a ride please contact the clubhouse at (812) 346-7841.

If you need help but don’t know where to turn, you can call 2-1-1.

With expected temperatures below zero, Columbus City Utilities is urging customers to take precautions to prevent their water lines from becoming frozen.

Staff say that leaving a small amount of water (no more than a pencil lead thickness) run in the faucet farthest from the water source, or next to an outside wall can prevent pipes from freezing. Use wrap insulation on pipes in unheated areas. You can also open vanity and cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer, inside temperatures. Make sure all crawl space openings are closed and if possible insulate the opening.

If your pipes do freeze, you should call the Columbus Utilities to determine if the problem is in the meter pit.

For more information, visit columbusutilities.org.

A Jackson County man is under arrest in Lawrence County after allegedly fleeing from Indiana State Police.

Troopers say that they noticed a van driving with incorrect and out of date plates at about 6 p.m. Sunday night in Bedford. Officers tried to pull the van over but the driver allegedly raced away down State Road 58. Troopers say that the van made several dangerous passes of other vehicles and they called off the pursuit after losing sight of the van.

Shortly after that, a caller reported the van was parked near some woods. The driver and a passenger seen inside during the chase had run away from the abandoned vehicle and a manhunt was started in the area, including the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana DNR conservation officers and a State Police helicopter.

Although he wasn’t found at the scene, based on evidence found in the van, police identified the driver as 41-year-old Rickie J. Cockerham Jr., of Norman. He was found at his home and arrested on charges including being a habitual traffic violator with a lifetime ban, resisting law enforcement in a vehicle and on foot, criminal recklessness with a vehicle, reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The passenger has not been identified, police say.

The Columbus Area Arts Council is presenting First Fridays for Families, starting at 6 p.m. Friday evening at The Commons.

The free family-friendly event will feature Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. The band has produced five albums and won an Emmy for their children’s show “Lishy Lou and Lucky Too,” a Grammy and a Latin Grammy — the first American band to do so. The group features Diaz and his wife, Alisha Gaddis, daughter of East football coach Bob Gaddis.

First Fridays for Families is a family entertainment series meant to introduce young audiences to a wide variety of performing arts in a fun, informal setting. The events are held on the first Friday nights of the month, through April.

The series is sponsored by Old National Bank and the City of Columbus. Doors open at The Commons at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

You can get more information about upcoming Arts Council events at artsincolumbus.org.

You can find out more about the band at luckydiazmusic.com

A man wanted on two warrants was arrested after a chase Friday night by Columbus police.

Officers noticed 43-year-old Keith J. Gilbert driving near 12th and Sycamore streets at about 5:40 p.m. Friday afternoon and tried to get him to pull over. Instead, he drove through several stop signs before leaving the vehicle and running away near 14th and California streets.

Police caught him in a backyard on Chestnut Street. A search of his vehicle revealed marijuana, police report.

In addition to the two Bartholomew County warrants, he is facing new preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and resisting law enforcement with a vehicle and possession of marijuana.

Columbus firefighters report that they rescued a deer from a frozen lake Saturday morning.

That happened at about 10:38 a.m. Saturday morning in the 6000 block of Waterside Drive in Tipton Lakes. Rescuers found the deer about 100 yards out on the ice and apparently exhausted after trying to get off of the slippery surface. Capt. Mike Wilson with the fire department reports that firefighters sent a drone out to check on the deer and to try to prompt the animal to head to shore.

After that didn’t work, the ice rescue team went out on an inflatable boat, lassoed the deer and then the boat, the team and the deer were pulled to shore.

Conservation officers said the deer appeared exhausted but otherwise OK.

Wilson said that if you see an animal on an icy pond or lake, you should never go out on the ice yourself to try to rescue the animal. Instead call 911.

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Six people were arrested Saturday in North Vernon after an overdose was reported.

North Vernon Police were called in at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday to a home in the 400 block of Fourth Street on the reported overdose. The victim had already been treated with Narcan,  soon recovered and refused further treatment.

But police also noticed drug-related items out in plain view in the home including compressed marijuana and a prescription only Xanax tablet.

All five people in the home were taken into custody and a search warrant was issued for the home. Police, along with North Vernon police dog Zobi, discovered large amounts of marijuana, prescription pills, heroin, and drug paraphernalia. They also seized nine firearms and $20,000 hidden in a mattress.

A sixth person was arrested after the search warrant was served.

19-year-old Brandon Brown, 20 year old Bladen Jayne and 19-year-old Darrell Nelson are facing the most serious charges including dealing in a controlled substance, legend drugs and marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance, along with possession of drug paraphernalia and possessing alcohol as a minor.

Also arrested were:

• 19-year-old Zion Phillips, of North Vernon: Visiting a common nuisance.
• 20-year-old Devin Cross, of North Vernon: Visiting a common nuisance and a legend drug violation.
• A 16 year old girl: Visiting a common nuisance.

A search has been called off for a missing man in the Big Blue River near Edinburgh.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation officers made the decision to suspend the search Saturday night, for a man who disappeared into the river on Thursday afternoon.

Lt.  Angela Goldman with DNR reports that the river level dropped Saturday, and crews were able to enter the water to conduct a more thorough search. However they were still unsuccessful locating the possible victim. She said that that the water remains swift in many areas, making a complete search impossible.

She said that emergency personnel have scaled back the search effort, but they will continue to monitor and search the river as conditions allow.

No missing person report had been filed in the incident and the possible victim remains unidentified, Goldman said. Witnesses saw an unidentified man go into the river near the low-head dam at about 5 Thursday afternoon..

Dangerously cold temperatures are on their way.

A high of zero is forecast for Wednesday with actual lows of -9 to -10 Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for our area, starting tomorrow night and running through Thursday. Wind chills of 20 to 40 below zero are possible Tuesday night through Thursday morning.

Forecasters say that frostbite and hypothermia can occur quickly if precautions are not taken.

Two Jackson County Jail inmates were charged with battery following a fight.

“The Tribune” in Seymour is reporting that 34-year-old Michael Dale Taylor was charged with two felony counts of battery causing moderate bodily injury. Thirty-year-old Clarence McDonald was charged with a Level 6 felony of battery and a Class B misdemeanor of battery. Both men are from Seymour.

The newspaper says incident began Wednesday in one of the pods at the jail in Brownstown when Taylor accused others of telling jail staff he knew how to bypass a lock on the door of a cell.

Authorities say jailers took two inmates to Schneck Medical Center for treatment of injuries to the face and head. They were later returned to the jail.

More information is online at tribtown.com.