Columbus police are looking for information after more than 15 vehicles had their windows shot out by a pellet gun early this morning.

Investigators say the damaged vehicles were parked in residential neighborhoods near Parkside Elementary School. Police are asking homeowners in the area to review any security camera footage that might have captured the vandalism or any suspicious activity.

If you have any information regarding the vandalism you can contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be submitted anonymously.

Indiana basketball great Damon Bailey’s father was killed in a motorcycle accident Monday in Brown County.

Wendell Bailey, was  pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on State Road 46 in Nashville, according to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department. His wife, Beverly, was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

According to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, the crash happened at about 2:47 p.m. in the 3600 block of East State Road 46 in Nashville.

Based on deputies investigation, a car driven by Jacob Waltermire, was attempting to pass a tractor-trailer and noticed the oncoming motorcycle. He pulled back behind the semi, lost control and crossed the centerline striking a vehicle driven by Hana Cai, who was behind the motorcycle.

The sheriff’s department says it is unclear how the motorcycle became involved in the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

No other injuries were reported.

The IU basketball team posted their condolences on Twitter this morning saying “Our thoughts and prayers are with Damon Bailey and his family during this difficult time. We are so sorry for the loss of your father, Wendell, and for injuries suffered by your mother, Beverly, in this terrible accident yesterday.”

Changes to a neighborhood business zoning in Bartholomew County will be blunted somewhat, after county commissioners had time to consider the issue.

The city-county planning department proposed changes to the county’s Commercial Neighborhood zoning designation to make it more consistent with the similar zoning in the city of Columbus. Jeff Bergman, director of the city-county planning department, said that the Commercial Neighborhood zoning is fairly rare in the county but it includes businesses located right beside homes.

Under the proposal, which was presented for final approval at Monday’s commissioners meeting, changes would include making uses inconsistent with a neighborhood setting as conditional uses or even prohibited entirely in the CN zoning districts. Those would include fitness centers, night clubs, bars, parking lots, athletic complexes, and liquor stores.

The commissioners dropped the requirement for bicycle racks and sidewalks in the zoning district, and agreed to allow drive through windows at businesses.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission gave its approval for a plan to swap land with the Bartholomew County government that could allow for a hotel conference center and parking garage between Second and Third Streets downtown.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously to provide up to $1.5 million dollars toward the design and construction of a new court services building behind the county jail. Anything above the $1.5 million would be paid by the county through a rental agreement at 3 percent interest over 15 years.

In exchange, the county will give up its parking lot across the street from the jail, as well as the existing court services building at the corner of Third and Franklin streets.

The county would also receive 100 spaces in the future parking garage, which is actually more than are available in the current surface lot, said Heather Pope, redevelopment director for the city.

The commission also agreed to seek to purchase the former Eynon law offices building and property on First Street, which will be the site for the new court services building. The average of two appraisals of the property were about $550 thousand dollars, which would be the upper limit of the purchase price said commission attorney Stan Gamso. Gamso said that if the price is more than $500 thousand it would have to receive approval from the City Council.

Columbus police say a suspect was able to wriggle out of a handcuff in the back of a patrol car, and they found fentanyl scattered around where she was sitting.

The incident started on Saturday night when police stopped a vehicle in the 1100 block of Union Street at about 10:50 p.m. being driven by 33-year-old Delman S. Bryant of Columbus. A police dog alerted to the odor of drugs in the vehicle and a search revealed narcotics and drug paraphernalia inside, according to police reports.

Bryant, and a passenger, 48-year-old Mackcena G. Kirby of Columbus were taken to the jail. But officers realized that Kirby had gotten one hand free and a powder was scattered in the back seat of the vehicle. A test revealed that it was fentanyl.

Kirby is facing preliminary charges of possessing a legend drug injection device, methamphetamine, a legend drug, cocaine or a narcotic, a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, as well as obstruction of justice.

Bryant is being accused of possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device and Drug Paraphernalia

Columbus police recovered a stolen car and arrested a Greensburg woman Sunday evening.

According to police reports officers located the car that had been reported stolen at about 7 p.m. Sunday evening near 15th and Franklin streets. They also noticed a woman in a nearby alley who was acting suspiciously.

Officers detained the woman, 35-year-old Meghann M. King and located the keys to the stolen vehicle. A search of the vehicle uncovered narcotics and drug paraphernalia that were in bags owned by King.

She was arrested on preliminary charges of theft, as well as possession of heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

A traffic stop near downtown Columbus led to a chase through Bartholomew County early this morning according to deputies.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is reporting that deputies stopped a vehicle 17th and Union Streets at about 1:15 this morning. But when a police dog alerted to the odor of drugs in the vehicle, the driver sped away. After a chase, deputies found the vehicle in a field near Jonesville. The driver, 57-year-old Richard G. Bunch of Columbus allegedly attempted to run away before being captured by police dog Argo.

He is facing preliminary charges of criminal mischief, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, reckless driving, resisting law enforcement and interfering with law enforcement.

Statewide, voters are receiving mailings urging them to vote by mail and including a request form for a mail-in ballot. And while the mailings look official, and they are legitimate they may not be your fastest way to get a ballot sent to your home.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps explains that the applications that you might be receiving will first be routed through the Indiana Secretary of State’s office, before coming back to local voting officials who will mail out your ballot. He said it is faster to request a mail-in ballot from his office or online from indianavoters.com.

Phelps said that if you were not planning to vote by mail, you can simply throw the mail-in ballot application away. The mailings are coming from organizations such as the state political parties.

You can get more information in Bartholomew County by calling the voter registration office at 812-379-1604.

Columbus city officials want to remind you that you only have a few days left to fill out your Census forms.

Robin Hilber, with the city’s community development department, says the census collection process officially ends on September 30th.

She points out that accurate census numbers are needed for federal grants and programs and low numbers will affect funding for education, senior centers, food banks, housing, and other programs. If that money doesn’t come from the federal funds, it will have to be made up through local taxes. So, in effect, filling out your census form can help keep local taxes low, she said.

According to the Census Bureau, Indiana has had a self-response rate of just under 70 percent of its households respond to the survey, while Bartholomew County is at 72.5 percent and Columbus is at just over 74 percent. Jonesville has had a self-response rate of about 69 percent, Hope at 66 percent, Edinburgh at 65 percent, Hartsville at just below 58 percent, Elizabethtown at just below 40 percent and Clifford at just below 36 percent.

The Census is called for in the U.S. Constitution as the way to decide the number of each state’s representatives in Congress.