The Bartholomew County 4-H fair continues today with Democratic Party Family Day at the fair.
Tonight’s entertainment includes The Hot Dog Eating Contest at 6:30 p.m. at the Farm Bureau Building, the Indiana Truck Pulling Association at the grandstand at 7 p.m. and the Columbus City Band at the David Boll Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
The fair ends Saturday.
Columbus and Bartholomew County public safety personnel were honored at Tuesday’s Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety meeting for their efforts to save a couple trapped in a home fire earlier this month.
According to Columbus Fire Department, the fire happened the morning of June 1st in the 800 block of Reed Street. The fire was consuming the front patio, staircase and exit area, so the couple and their pets had to retreat to a second floor bedroom where they waited for assistance and called 911. Columbus police were first on scene and the officer saw a woman in the second floor window. He communicated with the couple, urging them to stay in his sight.
Columbus firefighters arrived on scene and based on information from the police rescued the couple using ground-based ladders. Their pets were rescued a short time later. They were all assisted by Columbus Regional Hospital medics, including oxygen treatment for the pets, and no one was injured.
Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay praised the cooperation and communication between dispatchers, police, firefighters and medics that allowed the rescue to happen.
Medals of Courage were awarded to Columbus firefighters: Captain Mike Sieverding, Lieutenant Ben Whiteside, and privates Eric Green, Samuel Burnett, Samantha Smith and Thomas Nienaber.
Exceptional Support Commendations were made to Columbus Police Capt. Toby Combest, Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center dispatchers Megan Hedger, Haley Kittle, Tony McClain and Belinda Quillen and to CRH emergency medical services personnel, Paramedics Jessica Hinds and John Trappe, Advanced EMT Jerika Newland, and EMT Michael Park.
Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department. From left to right, Deputy Chief Mark Ziegler, Firefighter Samantha Smith, Firefighter Samuel Burnett, Firefighter Eric Green, Captain Mike Sieverding, Chief Andy Lay, Dispatcher Tony McClain, Dispatcher Haley Kittle, Dispatcher Megan Hedger, Dispatcher Belinda Quillen, Capt. Toby Combest
Columbus police arrested a wanted North Vernon man Monday night after a short struggle.
According to Columbus Police Department reports, officers stopped a vehicle with a false registration at about 11:50 p.m. Monday night in the area of McKinley Avenue and Ross Street. The driver pulled into a nearby alley, but ignored commands from officers. After a short struggle, he was taken into custody.
Police found that 50-year-old Ronald L. Miller was wanted on three outstanding felony warrants from Bartholomew County. He was arrested on the warrants and a preliminary charge of resisting law enforcement.
Jackson County authorities have exhumed two bodies in the hopes of solving a more than 50-year-old mystery.
Lt. Adam Nicholson is investigating the fire at a makeshift cabin near Brownstown in December 1971. Three teens — 17-year-old Stanley R. Robison, 19-year-old Jerry Autry and 16-year-old Michael W. Sewell — were believed to be camping there when a fatal fire broke out the night of December 18th. The bodies were badly burned in the fire and Robison and Autry’s remains were identified as victims, primarily by their class rings found in the cabin. Sewell was reported missing that day and never seen again.
Sheriff Rick Meyer said a family member reached out to him, asking for the case to be revisited.
The bodies were exhumed from Fairview Cemetery in Brownstown last week and they were taken by anthropologists to the University of Indianapolis to be analyzed. Dr. Krista Latham, a professor of biology and anthropology, will be investigating whether the remains could have been more than those of two people.
The families of the deceased were notified and gave consent to have the bodies exhumed.
If you have any information on the case, you can call Nicholson at 812-358-2141.
Seymour police have arrested a man in a series of thefts from storage units.
According to Seymour Police Department reports, thefts were first reported on June 16th at the Storage Express on Tipton Street. The victim said they were missing items worth about $3,000. Investigators found out on June 21st that two other units had been broken into and items stolen. Officers also developed a suspect in the case.
They interviewed 39-year-old Travis J. Baughman of Seymour on Monday and police say he admitted to cutting locks off of the storage units and taking items. He was arrested on felony charges of three counts of burglary and three counts of theft.
A Jackson County initiative to improve health outcomes for residents is receiving a $2.25 million dollar grant from the state.
Healthy Jackson County has been awarded the grant from the Indiana Department of Health through the Health Issues and Challenges program. That program was set up last year by the state legislature, with funds provided through the federal American Rescue Plan.
The grant money will go toward:
Healthy Jackson County applied for the grant in collaboration with Schneck Medical Center, Anchor House, Arc of Jackson County, Blessings in a Backpack, Medora Community School Corporation, Medora Parks and Recreation, Purdue Extension, and Seymour Parks and Recreation.
Healthy Jackson County is a collaboration to improve the health of our community residents. The organization focuses on three key areas: Improving Nutrition, Decreasing Tobacco Use, and Increasing Physical Activity.
The Bartholomew County 4-H fair continues today with Bartholomew County REMC day at the fair.
Tonight’s entertainment includes a blacksmithing demonstration at Building 6, frog jumping contest at the Farm Bureau Building, Chordlighters at the David Boll Theatre and the Tony Stewart Foundation Race with All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets at the grandstands.
All of those start at 7 p.m.
The fair runs through Saturday. You can get more information at bartholomewcountyfair.com.
An Indianapolis motorcyclist was flown to IU Methodist Hospital after a Saturday afternoon crash on Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County.
According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, rescue workers were called to a crash just south of the Edinburgh exit at about 5:17 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Deputies say the motorcyclist, 30-year-old Caleb Burrows, was thrown from his bike after it hit a concrete barrier and went airborne. A deputy and German Township firefighters provided medical assistance to Burrows. He was conscious and alert at the scene.
Burrows was flown by Lifeline helicopter to the Indianapolis hospital for treatment. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to police reports.
A wanted Columbus man was arrested after running from deputies during a traffic stop Saturday.
According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy pulled over a vehicle at U.S. 31 and Eisenhower Drive for a traffic stop at about 11:51 p.m. Saturday night. Officers discovered that a passenger had two outstanding warrants.
As deputies arrested the man, 33-year-old Connor Spachtholtz, he tried to run away but was recaptured a short distance away, according to police. Deputies also recovered prescription pills and narcotics at the scene.
Spachtholtz was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out and then arrested on preliminary charges of false identifying, dealing in and possessing a controlled substance, resisting law enforcement and possession of paraphernalia, as well as the two outstanding warrants.
Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department
The Town of Hope is bringing back its Old-Fashioned Independence Day celebration this Friday.
The Yellow Trail Museum and Main Street of Hope are partnering on July 1st for a combined holiday celebration and the monthly car Cruise-in on the Hope Town Square.
The Cruise-in will start at 5 p.m.. Old-fashioned Independence Day events will start at 6 p.m. and will include the crowning of Little Miss Sparkler and Mr. Firecracker; a stroller, bike and tricycle parade; an apple-pie baking contest; sack races and other contests on the Town Square.
The Bannister Family Band will be performing from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with fireworks starting at dark.