Bartholomew County Commissioners have found two companies interested in providing rural broadband internet to the county, for a share of $4 million set aside from federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Earlier this month, the commissioners had sought proposals from companies that were willing to provide rural broadband under broad expectations set by the county. Those expectations included providing fiber optic cable to homes, with at least 1 gig upload and download speeds, affordable service for families with modest incomes and eventually providing access to all rural homes.

Commissioner Tony London has been championing the rural broadband efforts in the county. He said that the commissioners sought proposals specifically from companies interested in receiving funding from the county. Because broadband internet is essentially unregulated, there is nothing stopping any other providers from offering service to underserved rural residents without the county’s financial help.

The county opened proposals yesterday from AT&T and Meridiam Infrastructure North American Corp. Commissioners took the proposals under advisement. They hope to be able to consider the proposals and make a decision in about a month.

Columbus city offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Christmas holiday. Trash and recycling pickups will be on their normal schedule. Columbus City Utilities says that if you have a problem with your water or sewer service, you can call 812-372-8861 and follow the prompts.

A Jennings County inmate has been recaptured after fleeing from a work crew Saturday afternoon.

According to Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, Rose Acre Farms reported that an inmate worker was unaccounted for and missing. A review of video surveillance showed the inmate, 38-year-old Jeremy Mitchell running to a pickup in the parking lot and then taking off in the vehicle.

The sheriff’s department says that Mitchell has been incarcerated in the Jennings County Jail since June on charges of possession of methamphetamine, public intoxication and possession of paraphernalia.

Details are not yet available on how he was recaptured.

Two Seymour teens were arrested in Columbus on drug-related charges after a gun was flashed at a local hotel, police say.

According to Columbus Police Department reports, officers were called to a hotel in the 2400 block of Jonathan Moore Pike at about 8 a.m. in the morning Thursday after a couple were seen acting suspiciously. That included a man displaying a handgun and a large amount of cash.

Police say that the two appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant. A search of their room found more than a pound of marijuana, 90 Oxycodone pills, drug paraphernalia including scales and packaging materials, over $5,000 in cash and a handgun.

18-year-old Keegan Brooks and 18-year-old Stefany J. Thomas, both of Seymour, were taken into custody.

Both are facing charges of dealing marijuana, possession of a narcotic drug, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance.

Brooks is also being accused of possession of a handgun without a license, while Thomas is being accused of trafficking with an inmate.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is assisting with this ongoing investigation.

This year’s recipients of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships in Bartholomew County are Megan Allman and Ashley Lara, both seniors at Columbus North High School.

Allman is the daughter of Scott and Sandra Allman. She is active in North media, peer mentoring, the National Honor Society, environmental club, youth ministry and Dancers Studio Inc. She plans to pursue a dance major.

Lara is the daughter of Juan Lara and Anabelly Sanchez. She has been active in the Sound of North marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble and as a youth ambassador. She plans to pursue studies as a physician’s assistant.

The two were chosen from 48 applications this year to Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Other finalists were Zane Glick and Nicole Meza Sanchez from North; Zoe Barnsfather, Ella Thompson and Eliza Whiteside from East; Jessyka Brown and Carlie Menefee from Columbus Signature Academy-New Tech; and Graham Kennedy from Hauser Jr-Sr High School.

Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment. They are meant for students planning four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a bachelor’s degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.

The Jackson County prosecutor’s office says no crimes were committed by staff or inmates at the county jail in the July death of inmate Ta’Neasha Chappell. And that theories on her death that were put forth by family members and fellow inmates did not pan out.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Chalfant released the 15-page report Friday afternoon, saying that the focus of the review was whether any crimes were committed by inmates or employees at the Jackson County Jail leading up to Chappell’s death. He concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal homicide in her death. He also wrote that the report makes no findings and no conclusions about the standard of care provided by jail employees.

The report also investigated claims by inmates that Chappell had been poisoned with a cleaning agent and found no evidence of a poisoning. The autopsy concluded that Chappell did not die from any puncture wounds, asphyxiation, or blunt force trauma. The autopsy concluded that her manner of death remains undetermined.

Sheriff Rick Meyer released a statement thanking the State Police for their work and the public’s patience as the investigation was completed. He stressed that Chappell was not denied medical care and that efforts were made by the jail staff to address her medical needs.

Chappell was being held at the jail on various charges after an incident in May, where she was accused of theft from the Edinburgh Premium Outlet Mall, then fleeing from police at speeds of up to 100 mph through Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Clark counties, before crashing into the rear of a truck near Clarksville.

Chappell fell ill on July 15th in the jail. She was taken to Schneck Medical Center on the afternoon of July 16th, where she died later that evening.

The investigation was completed by Indiana State Police and forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review.

PDF – Chappell – death investigation report

Indiana State Police say that a Tip A Cop event Tuesday night at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Columbus was a success.

Troopers from the Versailles District helped out as servers for several hours with all of their collected tips going to help Special Olympics Indiana. According to state police, the event raised more than $3,000 for Special Olympics.

If you would like to help out but couldn’t make it Tuesday, you can donate online by going to soindiana.org.

Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

Indiana State Police are trying to find victims of a fake car dealer in southern Indiana.

According to Indiana State Police reports, 49-year-old Brian A. Jent, of Jeffersonville was arrested after an investigation into an unlicensed car dealership, Brian’s Auto. The investigation started in November after complaints from the public that they could not receive their vehicle titles due to fradulent sales practices. Investigators discoverd that cars had been sold using the Tax ID of a separate, and unsuspecting business.

Jent is facing charges including corrupt business influence, racketeering, 36 counts of fraud, four counts of counterfeiting, and possession of methamphetamine.

If you purchased a vehicle from Brian Jent, or Brian’s Auto Sales in Jeffersonville and believe you may have been defrauded, or have been unable to obtain the title for your vehicle, you should contact the Sellersburg State Police post at 812-248-4374.

Officials are canceling a holiday open house at Columbus Animal Care Services originally set for Sunday because of the rise in COVID-19 in our community. However, there are still ways you can help the animals at the city shelter.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services is urging you to to consider a donation. The shelter is in need of pet food, especially kitten and cat food, kitten milk replacer and feeding bottles, cat litter, paper towels, hand sanitizer and Dawn dishwashing liquid.

You can also donate money, which will go to support the shelter’s adoption medical fund, for both additional medical expenses and to prepare dogs to go on the Canine Express Transport program to regional shelters.

You can get a complete list of needed donation items on the city website at columbus.in.gov/animal-care-service.

The Columbus East Food Pantry will have a community food distribution from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today.

You can drive-up for pre-bagged collections of food, with enough for approximately 220 families. The pantry is limiting the distribution to two collections per car after running out of food last month.

Columbus Animal Care Services will also be distributing limited amounts of pet food, and Columbus North senior Will Littrell will be distributing up to two pairs of socks per family for his Senior Project.

The Columbus East Food Pantry is available to the entire community and is not limited to BCSC families.

The pickup point is at door 31 in the west parking lot behind the school near the tennis courts. Vehicles should not enter the west parking lot until after 4 p.m. to ensure student safety during pickups.

The Columbus East Food Pantry is a Gleaners school-based food pantry.