Columbus police arrested two men on drug charges after their vehicle was stopped for a broken headlight last night.

Police stopped the vehicle near 7th Street and Gladstone Avenue at about 8 p.m. Wednesday night. A police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle and officers found heroin, a THC vape pen and drug paraphernalia inside.

The driver, 29-year-old Dustin S. Bryant of Westport, was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. A passenger, 53-year-old Gary L. Bryant of Columbus, is being accused of possession of heroin.

The Seymour Sixth Grade Center was placed under an active shooter scenario Wednesday following a false alarm.

“The Tribune” in Seymour is reporting that officers were called to the school at 1000 S. Poplar St., around 3 p.m. on an active shooter alarm.

Superintendent Brandon Harpe told the paper that the school was not under a threat, but that one of the multiple alarms activated. Police and the school are investigating whether the system malfunctioned or if it was set off intentionally or by mistake.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.

Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County recently awarded $84,000 in grant funding to local nonprofit organizations as part of their fourth quarter grants cycle.

Fourth quarter grant recipients include:

• Bartholomew County Humane Society — $20,000 to install solar energy panels and reduce energy costs at their animal shelter.
• Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation — $25,000 for construction costs of a new residential development in the Lincoln Central Neighborhood as part of the Columbus Homebuyer Program.
• Family Service, Inc. — $ 19,773 to fund an IT server transition and to fund the 2020 Darkness to Light program pilot.
• Columbus Area Chamber Foundation — $10,000 to develop a strategy, broadcast-quality short videos and a compelling website to promote the Columbus area as an attractive, dynamic and welcoming place to live and work.
• Columbus Redevelopment Commission — $10,000 in support of the City’s efforts to obtain an award from Indiana’s Next Level Trails Grant program.

Kyle Hendricks, Manager of Community Impact, says that Heritage Fund distributes approximately $500,000 in grants to local nonprofits each year from the Community Fund. He says that these grants help Heritage Fund to meet emerging needs in Bartholomew County in the areas of Youth Development, Substance Abuse, Neighborhood Revitalization, Innovation and Creativity, and Welcoming Community.

A search warrant by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics team uncovered methamphetamine and enough Fentanyl to kill thousands of people.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that at about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.19, members of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (JCSO-SRT) and Narcotics Team executed a search warrant at 303 Laurel Street in North Vernon, after a drug investigation was initiated by the department’s Narcotics Team. Chief Deputy David Turner says the investigation began after police received information that 27-year-old Shey M. Richardson, of North Vernon, was involved in the distribution and sale of drugs.

Two people were found inside the residence when deputies arrived. During the course of the search, deputies located approximately 14.5 grams of suspected Fentanyl along with approximately 7 grams of Methamphetamine along with Marijuana and paraphernalia. They are identified as follows:

– Shey M. Richardson (age 27) of North Vernon, IN.
– Dillon W. Steinert (age 24) of Butlerville, IN.

Richardson is being held in the Jennings County Jail on the following charges:

Dealing a Narcotic Drug
Possession of Meth over 5 grams
Possession of Syringe
Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Possession of Paraphernalia
Obstruction of Justice

Richardson is being held on $20,055 cash bond.

A second person, 24-year-old Dillon W. Steinert of Butlerville, was wanted on four outstanding warrants, one out of Jackson Couty and three out of Jennings County. He is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of Meth over 5 grams
Possession of Syringe
Possession of Paraphernalia
Possession of Marijuana
Visiting a Common Nuisance

Steinert is being held without bond.

Columbus City Councilman Dascal Bunch, who came up short in his re-election bid by one vote, has officially filed for a recount. Jay Phelps, the Bartholomew County Clerk, explains that the matter goes before a judge next week.

That hearing is set for Tuesday, Nov. 26th at 3 p.m. in Superior Court I before Judge Jim Worton, who will also determine the day for the recount.

Bunch, a Republican representing the city’s First District, was defeated by Democrat Jerone Wood, 260-259. Independent candidate Michael Kinder received 81 votes.

Phelps says that, by law, the recount must be completed and certified by Dec. 20th.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have delayed approval of a new social media usage policy for the district staff.

The school board had been scheduled to consider the expanded policy for approval at this week’s meeting, but instead will be delaying the discussion to next month. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts explained that changes and clarifications are being made to the proposed policy unveiled last month.

Roberts explained that those changes are in response to concerns raised after the draft policy was unveiled last month:

Technology director Nick Williams and operations director Brett Bozeman are working on making the suggested changes.

Feedback came from teachers and other staff, Roberts said.

School officials last month said that the existing policies were out of date and inadequate for current social media use.

Roberts said that the policy update would discourage the use of school district logos, graphics and other materials on private social media accounts and suggests that staff members ensure that their own opinions are not mistaken as the schools’. The proposed policy would also regulate and prohibit staff members one-on-one private social media communications with students.

The changes are not meant to limit the staff’s First Amendment rights.

School board member Jeff Caldwell expressed concerns that he policy could be interpreted as punishment, instead of a way to guide social media usage. Board member Kathy Dayhoff-Dwyer said she was concerned that the limits on social media communications could hamper coaches’ efforts to provide guidance and instill discipline in student athletes.

The city of Columbus is moving forward on a plan to better address and remove inoperable,  junk and unlicensed vehicles.

Currently, provisions on how to handle these vehicles is a zoning ordinance issue. Fred Barnett, director of code enforcement, says that means it can takes months before the Board of Zoning Appeals can hear any appeals, leading to longer periods of time when offending vehicles can remain parked. Under an ordinance that received initial approval Tuesday night, the Columbus City Council agreed to implement these rules into the municipal code. Barnett says this change will allow police to ticket the land owners where these vehicles are parked, up to $250 per offending vehicle.

Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, stresses that the actual language governing inoperable and junk vehicles hasn’t changed. It is merely being moved to the municipal code in order to allow the city more options to deal with these vehicles in a timely manner.

Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance. The second reading is set for December 3.

Legal Aid announces a Free Legal Aid Clinic on Monday, Nov. 25, at the Legal Aid Office in the Doug Otto United Way Center in Columbus. The clinic will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program utilizes local volunteer attorneys, offering free legal consultations to low-income individuals for the provision of legal advice and assistance in furtherance of equal access to justice within our community whom might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.

Individuals coming to the Legal Aid Clinic can expect to receive a 10 minute consultation to answer general questions, offer legal information, or to receive other limited pro se assistance or advice, in person, on a first come, first serve basis. There is no need to register in advance.

A number of area organizations are coming together to help give cats good homes. Columbus Animal Care Services and Bartholomew County Humane Society, along with Animal Outreach of Shelby County, White River Humane Society, Brown County Humane Society, as well as additional rescues and shelters in the area, are partnering together to get nearly 200 adoptable cats and kittens into loving homes.

The “Kitty Palooza” multi-agency adoption event will be held on Saturday, November 23, from noon to 5 p.m. at Fair Oaks Mall. The event will be held in the former Toys ‘R Us location near Mark Pi’s China Gate.

All cats will have a reduced adoption fee of $40, which includes spaying or neutering, up-to-date shots and microchip prior to adoption.

Each individual organization will have its own application process. Those who rent are encouraged to bring renter’s agreements or contracts to indicate they are allowed pets.

Fair Oaks Mall will be going crazy for cats on Saturday.

The mall will be hosting a multi-agency cat and kitten adoption event Saturday that organizers are calling “Kitty Palooza.”

Columbus Animal Care Services, Bartholomew County Humane Society, Animal Outreach of Shelby County, White River Humane Society and Brown County Humane Society, will be working together to find permanent homes for about 200 adoptable felines.

The price to adopt a cat will be $40, which includes  spaying or neutering, getting up-to-date on shots and implanting a microchip. Each organization will have its own adoption process and application.

Kitty Palooza will be from 12 to 5 Saturday in Fair Oaks Mall at the former toy store space near the Mark Pi’s China Gate restaurant.