Indiana State Police are investigating the death of a man in the custody of the Greensburg Police Department.

30-year-old Andrew Hill was pronounced dead Monday night at Decatur County hospital after an incident in the city.

According to state police reports, officers were called to the 300 block of West 11th Street at about 9:15 p.m. Monday night after calls about a a man chasing another with a garden tool. Police spoke with Hill, who was not carrying a weapon, but during the conversation police say he advanced on an officer and tried to strike the officer.

He was taken to the ground during a struggle and placed in handcuffs. But shortly after subduing him, police found he was unresponsive. Police began life-saving measures and paramedics were called to the scene.

State police say an autopsy was performed Tuesday in Hamilton County, Ohio. Both the autopsy report and toxicology results are still pending at this time.

The incident was captured on Greensburg Police body camera and dash camera. Investigators are reviewing the footage.

A North Vernon man is facing several felony charges after a search of his apartment by police.

That came after an investigation which led to the resident, 43-year-old David Carr, police say.

According to reports from the North Vernon Police Department, officers served a search warrant at an apartment in the 400 block of East O&M Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. Monday night. Officers discovered about 12 grams of methamphetamine, a rifle, marijuana, THC products and drug paraphernalia.

Carr was arrested on preliminary charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, drug paraphernalia and marijuana as well as maintaining a common nuisance.

Bartholomew County Road 50N will be closing today and Thursday while crews work in the area.

According to the Columbus City Engineer’s Office, All Star Paving will be working from the intersection with U.S. 31 to East 50N from 7 to 4:30 Wednesday and Thursday. Business entrances will remain open during the closure. Resident should use Knollwood Drive to U.S. 31 or County Road 275E as detours.

The work schedule is dependent on the weather. The work will be rescheduled to Thursday and Friday, if it rains.

The Columbus Area Visitors Center will be offering two cycles for next year’s Event Support Grant Program.

According to the center, grants are intended to develop events such as festivals which generate out-of-county visitor spending in Bartholomew County. Awards will be made for events taking place next year and must be submitted prior to the event.

The first cycle of applications, for events taking place early in 2023, are due on or before November 15th. Awards will be announced by January 1st.

The second cycle of applications, for events taking place mid to late 2023, are due by April 15th. These awards will be announced by May 15th,

New applicants are required to take part in an program orientation with the visitors center. That will take place in March.

The grant application can be found at https://columbus.in.us/grants-info/. For more information you can call 812-378-2622

With the cooler temperatures and fall foliage on its way, Indiana State Police want to remind you of some of the hazards of autumn driving.

Troopers cite statistics from the Institute of Highway Safety, showing that autumn typically brings a sharp increase in the number of insurance claims involving animal collisions, most of those coming from deer. Those claims usually peak in November and decrease through December and January.

According to troopers, you should watch for deer crossing signs, as well as keep on higher alert around dusk and dawn, when deer are most active. If you do come upon an animal in the roadway, authorities say that you should not try to swerve to avoid the crash. You could swerve into the path of another vehicle, or even lose control and roll over.

Instead, brake firmly and stay in your lane.

State police also urge you to be on the lookout for wet leaves on the roadway, which can be as slippery as ice and snow.

A North Vernon man was arrested Monday, suspected of stealing items from people’s mailboxes.

According to reports from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to Brownstown Road at about 6:28 a.m.  Monday morning after witnesses saw a man getting into mailboxes.

Deputies found a man matching the description in the area and spoke with 22-year-old Anthony Menendez of North Vernon, and found that he was carrying stolen packages. Deputies tried to take him into custody, but he tried to run away. After being hit with a Taser he was was arrested. He is facing preliminary charges of theft and resisting law enforcement.

The information in the case is also being forward to U.S. postal inspectors.

Cummins is announcing plans to begin production of electrolyzers in the United States.

The Columbus based engine manufacturer plans to dedicate 89,000 square feet of is plant in Minnesota to produce the machines, which separate water into it components, hydrogen and oxygen. The company plans to use renewable electricity to power the devices, essentially making the end result – hydrogen produced through carbon free processes.

The hydrogen can be stored as a compressed gas or a liquid and used as a clean power source, helping to de-carbonize markets such as such as for heavy-duty transportation and industrial uses.

The company has also announced plans to produce electrolyzers in Belgium, Canada, Spain and China. Each of the facilities will start at 500MW of manufacturing capacity, scalable up to 1 Gigawatt.

Company officials said expanding the domestic electrolyzer capabilities is a first step to serve North American customers and meet the growing demand globally for electrolysis projects.

Applications are now available for next year’s Brown Music Awards for Bartholomew County high school seniors.

The $3,500 scholarship winners are chosen during a music competition that will be held on February 11th at Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s Helen Haddad Hall on Franklin Street., in Columbus

The awards are the Anna Newell Brown Award for Vocal Excellence and the Betty F. Brown Award for Instrumental Excellence. The scholarships aim to encourage formal vocal and music education for Bartholomew County students.

Robert N. Brown served as chairman of The Republic’s former parent company. He established the Betty F. Brown Awards in memory of his wife, Betty.

Robert and Betty Brown established the Anna Newell Brown Awards in 1985 to honor Mr. Brown’s mother.

Both competitions are administered by Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

Applications are due by December 9th. You can get more information or apply by looking for the scholarships link at heritagefundbc.org.

The city of Columbus is announcing that loose leaf collection for residents will begin on Monday, happening the same day as your regular trash pickup.

Loose leaves need to be raked curbside, but not into the gutter. City officials say that loose leaves in the street leads to clogged storm drains and flooding of streets when it rains.

Leaves are not being accepted in bags. However, if you choose to bag your leaves, you can load them up and take them to the compost site at the Columbus/Bartholomew County recycling center on Mapleton Street. You must dump your bags and take them with you, where they can be re-used.

The city is also announcing that its street sweeping schedule will start on Monday. You can get more information on the schedule and on leaf collections on the city website.

You can find more information here.

You are being asked to turn on a green light at your home or business, to show your support for military veterans.

Bartholomew County officials yesterday announced the community’s participation in Operation Green Light, being organized by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers. The effort is meant to recognize veterans and their challenges and to raise awareness of the resources available to help them and their families.

In the days around Veterans Day, Nov. 7th through the 13th, the Bartholomew County Courthouse and the Robert N. Stewart bridge leading into Second Street in downtown Columbus will be illuminated green in support of veterans

Bartholomew County Veterans Services Officer Larry Garrity said the effort is meant to make veterans realize that their service mattered and that residents are grateful for their sacrifices. He said “… It is now our turn to make sure they are served by their county government and our community.”

Organizers are asking you to consider lighting a green light inside or outside your home or business during Operation Green Light to show your support.

Photograph from the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.