Emergency officials are warning that snow showers today could cause visiblity problems if you are driving.
Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that brief bursts of snow could cause significant visibility reductions and dangerous travel conditions. You could also see some slick spots on area roadways. Any snow accumulation is expected to be minor.
Former Indiana governor and vice president Mike Pence, a Columbus native, did not announce a run for president in an interview with ABC’ David Muir, which aired Monday night. But, he did express his anger about what went down on Jan. 6, 2021, when he and his family were rushed to a secure loading dock in the U.S. Capitol as rioters busted in, some shouting, “hang Mike Pence”.
“To see people smashing their way through windows, to see them assault police officers…it angered me. I was filled with an indignation,” he said.
Pence recalled his conversation that day with Pres. Trump, as he reminded the president he had no authority to return electoral votes to the states.
“The president became very irate on the phone. He said if that was true, he made a mistake five years ago,” said Pence.
The former VP was interviewed ahead of the release of his book, “So Help Me God”, a reference to the oath he and the president took to uphold the Constitution. Pence is not one to write a “tell all” book, preferring during the interview to stay away from speculation and conjecture, and to offer a meek demeanor when answering questions about moments when his life may have been in danger.
“We could hear the crowds outside the Capitol and when we began to move we could hear the crowds inside the Capitol,” he said. He and his wife and daughter and brother Greg, a member of Congress representing Indiana, were together in a room watching the attack go down on a small TV. Pence said even when his Secret Service agents, including his lead agent, insisted, he would not leave the Capitol.
“I stuck my finger in his chest and said, you’re not hearing me. I’m not leaving. I’m not giving those people the sight of a 16-car motorcade speeding away from the Capitol.”
When asked if he will run for president in 2024, Pence said he and his family are giving it prayerful consideration. When asked if he could beat Donald Trump, Pence said that’s best left to the American people. “But, I think we’ll have better choices in the future.”
Trump was expected to make an announcement about his intentions Tuesday.
Story courtesy of our news-gathering partners at Network Indiana.
Columbus Animal Care Services will be trying to give away 75 cats and kittens this weekend.
Adoption fees will be reduced to $40, which includes spaying or neutering, up-to-date shots and microchipping. If you rent your home, you are encouraged to bring renter’s agreements or contracts to indicate you are allowed to have pets.
They are calling Saturday’s adoption event at NexusPark “Kitty Palooza” and it will be from noon to 5 p.m. at the former Petals & Vines location inside the former mall on 25th Street.
You are asked to bring a cat carrier if you have one. The supply of cardboard cat carriers is limited.
Business experts with Indiana University say that there is a large amount of uncertainty in next year’s outlook for Columbus, with possibilities ranging from moderate to bad and to worse.
The Indiana University Division of Business at IUPUC hosted its annual Indiana Business Outlook Panel at the Commons yesterday. It featured professors Jennifer Lynn Rice, with the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University; Ryan Brewer, with IUPUC; and Phil Powell, with the Indiana Business Research Center. Along with a local outlook by Jason Hester, with the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation.
Citing challenges including continuing high inflation, rising interest rates and other disruptions, the panelists said it was hard to guess what will happen. But they agreed that a recession seems likely, which could deliver a blow to the auto and related industries, which is the heart of Columbus’ economy. That could lead to rising unemployment here.
Powell said that one of the first signs of how bad things might get will be consumer demand during the upcoming Christmas season. If you start seeing stories about low spending by shoppers, it would be bad news for the economy, he said.
The Bartholomew County Commissioners warn that a burn ban remains in effect in the county, until further notice.
Citing continuing dry and dangerous conditions the commissioners enacted the burn ban last week.
Commissioner Tony London stressed at yesterday morning’s county commissioners meeting that the little snow we received over the weekend has not taken away the need for the ban. Despite the ban, he saw people burning leaves on his way into work.
The burn ban prohibits:
The burn ban also urges you to make sure any charcoal is fully extinguished before removing it from a grill and discourages the use of fireworks.
A toddler tested positive for methamphetamine Sunday in Seymour, leading to the arrest of one person and forthcoming charges expected against another.
According to the Seymour Police Department, the Indiana Department of Child Services alerted officers that the 10-month old child had been admitted to Schneck Medical Center for observation and had tested positive. Police say that they gathered enough information to seek a search warrant at an apartment on Jackson Park Drive, which they served at just after 8:30 p.m. last night.
The search revealed methamphetamine and marijuana. 48-year-old Edward J. Swindall of Seymour was arrested for possessing the methamphetamine. A second person took responsibility for the marijuana and police say charges will be filed against that person also.
The child remains in stable condition and the incident remains under investigation.
Bartholomew County authorities are investigating after a 15-year-old girl was found dead in her Taylorsville home early Monday morning.
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office has identified the teen as Amy Rodriguez, a student at Columbus North High School.
According to reports from the sheriff’s department, rescue workers were called to the 2100 block of Tyler Drive about an unconscious and unresponsive girl at 5:26 a.m. yesterday morning. Deputies and firefighters from German Township Fire Department arrived on the scene and found the girl had died.
Det. Dane Duke with the sheriff’s department said that all the involved parties are cooperating with the investigation.
Coroner Clayton Nolting said an autopsy has been ordered and the coroner’s office is working with Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the death.
Legal Aid will be holding an in-person walk-in clinic in Jennings County tomorrow.
Legal Aid offers the clinics for low-income residents of its eight-county district.
If you take part you will have up to a 10-minute consultation with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or to receive other advice.
Legal Aid is hosting the walk-in legal clinic from 3 – 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Jennings County Public Library.
From 4 to 5 p.m. there will be a clinic on evictions, where you can get free legal advice on issues such as negotiating with a landlord, rental assistance, damages hearings and sealing of eviction records.
A chase that started in Seymour and led through three counties ended in the arrest of two suspects on Saturday afternoon, but not before a state trooper fired a shot at the vehicle.
According to Indiana State Police reports, Seymour officers were called to the Home Depot at about 3 p.m. Saturday after an attempted theft was reported. Police arrived to find the suspects fleeing in a U-Haul box truck. Police tried to stop the vehicle, but instead the driver got onto Interstate 65, fleeing southbound through Jackson County.
In southern Jackson County, the driver crossed over the median and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes, according to troopers. A state trooper tried to lay stop sticks to deflate the vehicle’s tires in Scott County, but the driver swerved toward the trooper, who drew his weapon and fired a shot at the vehicle. Police say no one was hit by the gunfire.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop in Clark County where the driver, 36 year old Chance L. Money and a passenger 35 year old Jessica N. Holliday, both of New Albany, were taken into custody. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were also located in the truck.
Money was arrested on preliminary charges of Invasion of Privacy, Criminal Recklessness with a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia. Holliday is facing charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Money and Holliday were both wanted on felony warrants out of Clark County. Holliday also had a protection order against Money at the time of the incident.
Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police
A Seymour man has been arrested, accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl.
According to Seymour Police, officers received reports last Saturday about a 19-year-old man having sex with the girl. The case was referred to the Indiana Department of Child Services.
On Tuesday, Brownstown officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic incident and discovered the driver, Ramiro Regalado, was suspected in the molesting case.
He was turned over to Seymour investigators and arrested on a charge of child molesting. Brownstown police are also accusing Regalado of operating a vehicle while never having received a license, and possession of marijuana.
Polic say the investigation into the sex offense is still ongoing.