A Medora man is being accused of child molesting after a three-month investigation by state troopers

Indiana State Police report that 28-year-old James D. Lane turned himself in last week on a warrant for a single charge of child molesting.

The investigation began in April when state troopers were asked to investigate the incident. The victim was interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center in Bloomington and she said that she had been touched inappropriately by Lane at a rural Jackson County home. The information was presented to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office which issued an arrest warrant for Lane.

After turning himself in on July 8th, Lane was taken to the Jackson County Jail.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is suggesting that you attend tonight’s County Council meeting, to learn more about the progress being made against substance abuse in the community.

Myers said that the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress will be meeting with the council tonight to give updates on the community’s anti-drug programs and the operations of the ASAP Hub.

The hub is an outreach center located at the Doug Otto United Way Center on 13th Street, meant to help people get into recovery, by connecting them with community resources and programs.

Judge Kelly Benjamin is also expected to discuss the new drug court, the REALM program that is run by Community Corrections and the drug treatment program within the jail.

County Council meets at 6 tonight in the council chambers at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street. You can also attend virtually via the Zoom app.

Columbus Emergency workers are planning a Public Safety Family Fun Day from 5 to 8 p.m. this afternoon in the Fair Oaks Mall Parking Lot.

You will be able to check out Columbus Police cars and specialty units like the SWAT team and police dogs, as Columbus Fire Department trucks and other public safety equipment as well as meet the officers and firefighters who serve the community.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department:

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department:

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department

A damaged Bartholomew County bridge could get replaced ahead of schedule if the state approvals can be moved up, according to Danny Hollander, the county highway engineer. Hollander updated the Bartholomew County Commissioners on replacement plans for County Bridge 188 which is on County Road 400W, just south of State Road 58.

The bridge was closed for about three weeks earlier this year after the aging structure was found to be unsafe during an inspection. Since then, Milestone Contractors was able to make some repairs for the county, which allowed the bridge to reopen, Hollander said. County Commissioners President Larry Kleinhenz said that the county is comfortable with the bridge repairs that were made, and that the bridge can handle the heavy loads of farm equipment and semis until the bridge is replaced.

The county commissioners agreed to ask the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to expedite its permitting process so that the bridge can be replaced quickly. Hollander said that the permits can easily take 6 to 9 months to be approved. Without the expedited review, the county would likely miss next year’s construction season, meaning the bridge wouldn’t be replaced for two more years.

The hope is that the bridge could still be replaced next year.

A Columbus Police Department School Resource Officer was recently recognized by the Indiana School Resource Officer Association for his service.

The association recently held its annual conference in Michigan City and Officer Eric Kapczynski was honored with the Exceptional Service Award for Region 9 which covers an area encompassing Bartholomew County.

Kapczynski began as a school resource officer in 2018 and is assigned to Northside Middle School.

According to fellow SRO, Sgt. Julie Quesenberry,  Kapczynski mapped all 18 Bartholomew Consolidated school buildings including the door numbers, putting them into the law enforcement database so police can more easily get the correct location when being called to a school. He also continues to lead the DARE program and works to build trust between students, teachers and staff.

BCSC Superintendent, Dr. Jim Roberts, said that Kapczynski and his fellow SROs work every day to form positive relationships with students while ensuring the safety and security of the nearly 13,500 individuals in the school system buildings.

Submitted Photo:  Chase Lyday INSROA (Indiana School Resource Officer Association) President, CPD Officer Eric Kapczynski, CPD Sgt. and INSROA Vice President, Julie Quesenbery

Legal Aid is holding a Free Legal Aid Phone Clinic from 3 to 5:30 Tuesday afternoon.

Legal Aid offers the clinics for low-income residents of its eight-county district.

If you take part you will have a brief consultation with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or to receive other advice over the phone.

To take part, you must first register between noon and 2 Tuesday afternoon by calling 812-378-0358.

The Bartholomew County Health Department will be offering a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at 2625 Fox Pointe Drive on Saturday, July 24th.

The clinic will be giving doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to those 18 years old or older. It will take place at the health department offices between 1 and 4 p.m.

There will be free gifts for those who get vaccinated.

Walk-ins are welcome but you can also register by going to ourshot.in.gov.

The American Red Cross is looking for your help as the agency is reporting a severe blood shortage.

The Red Cross says some hospitals are being forced to slow the pace of elective surgeries because of the shortage, delaying crucial patient care.

In North Vernon, you can donate blood today at First United Methodist Church on Poplar Street. That wll be from 2 to 7 today.

You can schedule an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS

A Greensburg driver was arrested Saturday, but not before he allegedly ran away from North Vernon police and gave a fake name and birthdate.

According to police reports, officers stopped a vehicle that failed to dim its lights for oncoming traffic at about 2:25 a.m. that morning on North State Street. The officer noticed that the driver appeared impaired. When the driver was ordered out of the vehicle, he complied but then tried to run away into a nearby parking lot., police say.

More officers arrived on the scene and the man was captured. Despite giving false information, police determined that the man was 24-year-old Edward E. Brown III, of Greensburg. Brown turned out to be on home detention and was supposed to be at work at the time of the traffic stop, but he had failed to report that to his detention officer.

He was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction within 5 years, driving with a suspended license, resisting law enforcement and false informing.

The U.S. Small Business Administration declared Jackson, Brown and Jennings Counties as disaster areas last week and low-interest loans are available to help businesses and residents recover and repair damages.

State Rep. Jim Lucas of Seymour said that the declaration is in response to the severe weather and flooding June 18th and 19th.

The declaration covers Jefferson and Monroe counties, and the adjacent counties of Brown, Clark, Greene, Jackson, Jennings, Lawrence, Morgan, Owen, Ripley, Scott and Switzerland in Indiana.

Homeowners who live in a county where a disaster has been declared and who suffered damage to their home due to the storms, could be eligible for a grant from the State Disaster Relief Fund, Lucas said.

However, you must first apply for a Small Business Administration disaster loan and be denied before you can submit an application for a grant from the state fund.

The deadline to file is Sept. 7th.

Lucas says the agency opened two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers on Friday, in Jefferson and Monroe counties for anyone wishing to file claims in-person. Those are located at Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College St., Bloomington, IN 47403 and the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce, 301 E. Main St., Madison, IN 47250. They will be open Mondays through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will close permanently on Friday.

You can also apply online.