Seymour police have arrested a 38-year-old man, accused of touching a 15-year-old girl inappropiately.

According to police reports, the Indiana Department of Child Services provided Seymour investigators with a preliminary report about the incident on Monday. The man allegedly touched the victim in a sexual manner after he had been drinking.

Police interviews the victim and the suspect, Daniel Clemente-Teodosio, and he admitted yesterday to touching the girl.

He was arrested on a felony charge of sexual battery.

Efforts to save and repair the First Christian Church clock tower on Fifth Street in Columbus received a boost yesterday, with Indiana Landmarks announcing a $5,000 grant to the project.

The grant comes from Indiana Landmark’s Indiana Modern fund. That fund awards planning and rehabilitation grants to help identify, promote, and preserve the best examples of 20-century architectural and landscape design.

Richard McCoy with Landmark Columbus says that the repairs are going to cost about $3.2 million with about $2.8 million raised so far.

You can find more information about the efforts at saveourtower.org

Photo of First Christian Church courtesy of  Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Carol M. Highsmith

Our area is now under a winter storm warning this afternoon through Friday.

According to the National Weather Service, the blast of Arctic weather will likely bring a flash freeze tonight with temperatures dropping more than 30 degrees in just a few hours. Actual low temperatures could get as low as -6 tonight. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph will bring wind chill values down to 25 or 30 below zero. Wind chills that low could cause frostbite in as little as 15 minutes.

Local emergency officials are announcing that some Columbus parks facilities will be open to get shelter from the weather for those in need.

On Friday, The Commons will be open from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.. Hamilton Center will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Foundation For Youth will be open from 10 to 6:30 and Nexus Park will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On Saturday, The Commons will be open from 10 to 6 and Nexus Park will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Brighter Days Homeless Shelter will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. tonight into Friday morning, and from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. Friday into Saturday. It will be open all day on Sunday, Christmas Day. A meal will be served at the shelter Friday and Saturday evening, and all three meals on Sunday.

On Saturday, a city bus will be transporting people to the Commons and back to Brighter Days.

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 p.m. this afternoon to 1 p.m. Friday afternoon.

The Indiana National Guard is being activated ahead of the winter storm. Governor Eric Holcomb will have 150 troops working as highway assistant teams. The Guard members will be positioned in the northern third of the state, which is expected to receive the worst snowfall. All of the state is under a winter storm warning except for three northern counties near Lake Michigan that are under blizzard warnings.

TTWN Media Networks Inc. contributed to this report

Our area is now under a winter storm warning Thursday afternoon through Friday.

According to the National Weather Service, the blast of Arctic weather will likely bring a flash freeze Thursday night with temperatures dropping more than 30 degrees in just a few hours. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph will bring wind chill values down to 25 or 30 below zero. Wind chills that low could cause frostbite in as little as 15 minutes.

Local emergency officials are announcing that some Columbus parks facilities will be open to get shelter from the weather for those in need.

On Friday, The Commons will be open from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.. Hamilton Center will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Foundation For Youth will be open from 10 to 6:30 and Nexus Park will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On Saturday, The Commons will be open from 10 to 6 and Nexus Park will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Brighter Days Homeless Shelter will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday night into Friday morning, and from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. Friday into Saturday. It will be open all day on Sunday, Christmas Day.

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon to 1 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Local and state police departments are cracking down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and encouraging seat belt use, with a “Safe Family Travel” campaign going on through New Years weekend.

Agencies across the state are taking part in the campaign which will include overtime patrols targeting those driving under the influence.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

This year’s holidays come at a time when fatal crashes and dangerous driving are up across the state and nation.

In Indiana, 932 people lost their lives on the road last year, a 4% increase from 2020. On average, approximately one-fourth of the state’s traffic fatalities are caused by drunk drivers

With officers showing zero tolerance throughout the campaign, police recommend celebrating responsibly by having a safety plan in place. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

Centra Credit Union Foundation raised more than $52,000 to support local children in need during the holiday season.

According to the credit union, members of the credit union, the credit union team and the communities it serves came together to provide the donations through the Holiday Giving Program. Centra President and CEO Rick Silvers said the program supports the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People.’

The donations went to 12 different organizations in the communities the credit union serves. Local donations included just over $5,500 each to Columbus Fireman’s Cheer Fund, Salvation Army in Columbus and to the Columbus Shop with a Cop. The Good Samaritan Food Pantry in North Vernon received $4,370. 9The largest donation went to the Fraternal Order of Police’s Cops & Kids program in Jackson County with almost $9,400. The Salvation Army in Shelbyville received just over $2,500 with donations of under a $1,000 to Shop with a Cop in Decatur and Brown counties.

More than 3,400 children have been assisted by the Holiday Giving Program over the past 9 years it has been operating.

The city of Columbus is making plans to pay off bonds for a Cummins improvement project early, saving more than $2.5 million.

According to a report from the city’s financial advisor, Bruce Donaldson with Barnes
& Thornburg, the city set up a special taxing unit for Cummins Engine Plant in 2009, with the money paid in taxes going to pay off bonds issued for improvements to the plant and its facilities. However, the property taxes coming in have exceeded the bond payments over the years, leaving more than $20 million in the unit’s fund.

The bonds are not due to be paid off until 2031, which would cost the city about $17.5 million. However, paying the bonds off early would give the city a 4 percent discount. The cost to pay off the bonds in February, according to the financial advisors, would be about $15 million.

The proposal was approved this week by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, but because of a $500,000 spending limit on the commission, the spending must be approved by the Columbus City Council. The city also has to get approval from Cummins to use those excess funds to pay off the bonds early.

Authorities are identifying the two people found dead in a Columbus home Monday night.

According to the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office, 36-year-old Julie A. Schmidtke and her estranged husband 41-year-old Charles W Schmidtke, were found dead in the home in the 2200 block of Sumpter Court Monday night.

An autopsy revealed that Julie Schmidtke was killed by multiple gunshot wounds, while Charles Schmidtke died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Columbus police say officers were called to reports of a shooting at the home at about 8:55 p.m. Authorities say that the initial report indicated that the estranged husband had entered the home and shot his wife. Police said that their investigation indicates that there was an argument before the shooting. Officers found the two dead inside.

Police say that there were no known threats to the community during the incident.

If you have any information about the incident, you are asked to call the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be submitted anonymously.

A Winter Storm Watch goes into effect in our area Thursday afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service, the blast of Arctic weather will likely bring a flash freeze Thursday evening with temperatures dropping more than 30 degrees in just a few hours. That will come with a transition from rain to snow.

Heavy snow is possible with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and wind gusts of up to 50 mph. That will be bring wind chill values down to 25 or 30 below zero. Wind chills that low could cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes.

You should plan on slippery road conditions with widespread blowing snow reducing visibility. And the gusty winds could bring down tree branches and power lines.

The Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon to 7 a.m. Saturday morning.

Updated: 6:27 p.m.

Authorities are identifying the two people found dead in a Columbus home Monday night.

According to the Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office, 36-year-old Julie A. Schmidtke and her estranged husband 41-year-old Charles W Schmidtke, were found dead in the home in the 2200 block of Sumpter Court Monday night.

An autopsy revealed that Julie Schmidtke was killed by multiple gunshot wounds, while Charles Schmidtke died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

According to reports from the Columbus Police Department, officers were called to reports of a shooting at a home in the 2200 block of Sumpter Court at about 8:55 p.m. Authorities say that the initial report indicated that the estranged husband had entered the home and shot his wife. Officers found the two dead inside.

Police said that their investigation indicates that there was an argument before the shooting. They say that there were no known threats to the community during the incident.

If you have any information about the incident, you are asked to call the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be submitted anonymously.

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