Deputies arrested a woman allegedly breaking into a home in Bartholomew County.

According to reports from the sheriff’s department, deputies were called to a burglary in progress at about 12:45 this morning in the 5100 block of North County Road 200W.

A victim reported that a woman approached the residence and removed a video doorbell, then went to be back of the home and removed a second video doorbell at the rear door.

As deputies arrived, 39-year-old Crystal Shaw of Flatrock was leaving in a pickup truck. She was taken into custody and a search found several items taken from the property along with damage to the rear door.

Shaw was arrested on on preliminary charges of burglary, criminal mischief, possession of drug-related paraphernalia and an outstanding warrant.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The Indiana Historical Society is recognizing the Bartholomew County Historical Society and Public Library for their efforts on a five-part video series on county history.

The Indiana Historical Society has chosen the Bartholomew County groups as one of society’s Founders Day Award honorees. The Founders Day Awards recognize outstanding individuals and organizations whose efforts have enriched the lives of others by conveying awareness and appreciation of Indiana’s history.

The “It Began with Bartholomew” video series was recognized with an
Outstanding Collaborative Project Award. You can watch the video series on YouTube.

The IHS will honor Founders Day Award winners during a Nov. 1 virtual celebration hosted on Facebook Live at 6 p.m.

Ivy Tech Community College Columbus will be holding a virtual session Monday night on how students can transfer their college credits to continue their education.

The free event is open to anyone interested in learning how Ivy Tech credits and degrees transfer to four-year colleges. Current Ivy Tech students and high school students taking Ivy Tech dual credit or dual enrollment courses are encouraged to attend.

Representatives from IUPUC, Purdue Polytechnic, IUPUI, Ball State, and IU-Bloomington will also be on hand to answer questions.

This will be the first in a three-part series of virtual sessions. The topic will be “How do I plan for transfer?”

The session will be held at 6 p.m. Monday via Zoom. To join the virtual session, visit https://ivytech.zoom.us/j/99647387865. The Meeting ID is 996 4738 7865. For one-tap mobile, dial: +13126266799,,99647387865#.

Cummins is announcing that it has been accepted into two groups advocating for climate action. That comes just before a global climate change summit starts next week.

The Columbus-based engine manufacturer announced that it has been accepted into the Business Ambition for 1.5 degrees Celsius campaign and the United Nations Race to Zero. The company says that both groups work toward action on climate change now, to prevent future environmental threats, to create jobs and unlock sustainable growth.

Since the 1990s, Cummins has the cut the emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides by more than 95%. The two are key contributors to smog from diesel engines.

Cummins has a goal of reaching targets set out in the Paris Climate Accords by 2030 and to reach zero net emissions by 2050.

The global COP26 climate summit starts in Scotland on Oct. 31.

You can find more information here.

The Indiana State Department of Health COVID-19 Strike Team is holding a testing and vaccine clinic today and Saturday at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds.

You can receive either the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines from noon to 8 in the midway area off of County Road 200S.

No appointment is necessary.

Columbus police officers, with the assistance of the city’s Department of Public Works, dropped off more than a flatbed trailer’s worth of supplies for the Afghan refugees at Camp Atterbury yesterday.

Earlier this month, the department held a Pack-A-Patrol-Car drive with a police vehicle in front of police headquarters. The police department accepted new and gently used fall and winter clothing including coats and jackets, as well as new and unopened healthcare and hygiene products. The department is thanking those who donated clothing and supplies.

The officers were also able to deliver balls, coloring books and crayons to some of the children amongst the refugees on the base Thursday.

Police documented their visit on social media.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Police are warning drivers to be careful on rural roads as farm equipment is moving about during harvest.

Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman said that you will see large, slow-moving farm equipment on local highways and county roads. He said that tractors, combines and other equipment can be very dangerous to pass and that nearby drivers need to be extra vigilant.

He offered several tips including slowing down, staying a safe distance away and using caution when passing. Freeman urged drivers to use common sense and patience in the coming weeks.

Freeman also said that farmers should make sure that all of their equipment’s lighting is working and warning signs in place. They should also avoid moving equipment during the early morning and evening hours.

Drivers of slow-moving equipment are also required to move to the right if they are able, when there are three or more vehicles backed up behind them. That will allow drivers to more safely pass.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department

The jury prize winners are being announced for the YES Fest film festival, which starts today in downtown Columbus.

The best documentary category is a tie between “The Rescue” and “Torn.” The best narrative winner is “Americanish” and the best short film is “Feeling Through.”

The eight-person jury included filmmakers, media representatives, actors, producers and directors from film festivals across the United States.

The Audience Awards will be determined based upon audience voting during the festival.

The film festival runs through Sunday with 20 films, documentaries and shorts to be shown. Tickets for individual films are $7 or $35 for the whole weekend’s slate of movies.

YES Cinema is owned and operated by the non-profit Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center. All proceeds go to support the center in its mission. The cinema is at 328 Jackson Street in downtown Columbus.

You can get more information at yescinema.org or at yesfilmfestival.com.

A driver had a blood alcohol level of nearly twice the legal limit when she crashed into another vehicle on Interstate 65 last week, killing herself and two Columbus residents.

Indiana State Police are reporting that toxicology test results show that 25-year-old Kaitlyn N. Schindler of Maryville had a blood alcohol level of .17 percent when she was driving the wrong way on Interstate 65 in southern Jackson County on the morning of Oct. 11th.

Her vehicle struck a northbound SUV being driven by 26-year-old Chelsea J. Boston of Columbus head-on. Schindler, Boston and Boston’s back-seat passenger, 21-year-old Tapanga M. Eudy, also of Columbus all died of injuries suffered in the crash.  They were pronounced dead at the scene by the Jackson County Coroner’s Office.

25-year-old Dai Von T. Coram of Columbus was a front-seat passenger in Boston’s vehicle and suffered serious injuries in the crash. He was flown by Stat-Flight helicopter to University of Louisville Hospital and was released the same day.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Columbus city engineer’s office says that you will see some work on curbs on Central Avenue starting on Friday.

Dave O’Mara Contractors will begin repairing the curbs between 15th and 18th streets on Central Avenue. Starting Monday you will see the curbside lanes in this area closed while crews remove and replace the curb. The work should last about a week and a half.

After finishing the curb work, they will begin milling and paving operations in the area.