Monthly Archives: January 2023

First week of filing wraps up for city elections

Local News

The first week of filing for upcoming municipal elections wraps up today, with multiple Republicans seeking to be mayor of the city of Columbus.

According to the Bartholomew County Clerk’s voter registration office, former sheriff Matt Myers, former state legislator Milo Smith and Mary Ferdon, the current director of administration and community development for the city, have all filed to seek the mayor’s office.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop announced in November that he would not be seeking re-election to a third term as mayor.

Last year, Columbus City Council approved moving the city up to a second class status which will change the makeup of the council after this year’s elections.

Second class cities have nine council members instead of the current seven. Six of those are seats by district, while three more are at-large seats where voters throughout the city will be choosing the council members.

So far, Republican incumbent Councilman Frank Miller has filed for the District 4 seat, newcomer Kent Anderson for District 5  and Chris Rutan has filed for one of the council at-large seats.

The deadline to file to run in this year’s municipal elections is Friday, Feb. 3rd.

Columbus Police Department Make Arrests

Local News
Officers with the Columbus Police Department (CPD) made two arrests after a man was shot in the face with a pellet gun on Monday night.
At around 6:30 p.m., CPD responded to the 2100 block of Union Street after a disturbance outside a home, according to CPD’s Lt. Matt Harris.
When police arrived they were told by a man who said he had been assaulted that Todd Carr, of Columbus, shot him with a pellet gun and tried to strike him with a metal pole.
Officers then arrested Carr and Lisa Davis,  of Columbus, who both had out of county warrants for their arrest, according to law enforcement.
Carr was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained in the altercation.
Both he and Davis were later taken to the Bartholomew County Jail.
Carr was preliminarily charged with Battery with a Deadly Weapon and for a Johnson County Warrant.
Davis was preliminarily charged for a Jackson County Warrant.

Christmas Tree Pick Up in Columbus

Local News
City of Columbus crews will continue to pick up residential Christmas trees curbside (no alleys) the same day as your regular trash collection through Friday, January 27th.
Residents are reminded that call-ins will not be accepted for Christmas trees and collections will not be made on private streets.
Your tree must be free of all decorations including ornaments, hooks, stands, or nails, and placed at the curb in front of your home.

North Vernon Woman Arrested for Dealing Meth

Local News
An Ongoing drug investigation lead to the arrest of a North Vernon Woman for Dealing Methamphetamine.
On Friday December 30th, 2022 at around 11:00 a.m. Sgt. Thomas Mellencamp, Deputy Bill Carter, and Sheriff Kenny Freeman went to a Geneva Township residence in an attempt to locate Shannon Bear,of North Vernon, who was wanted on a Jennings County Circuit Court Arrest Warrant for several counts of Dealing Methamphetamine.
The warrant had been issued after a lengthy narcotics investigation by Jennings County Detectives.
Upon arrival Deputies made contact with Ms. Bear.  Further investigation led Deputies to locating over 15 Grams of Meth and Drug Paraphernalia at her residence. Ms. Bear was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Jennings County Jail where she is still being held on multiple Dealing and Possession Charges.

Johnson County Man in Custody After Shots Fired

Local News
A Johnson County man was taken into custody in Franklin after reports of shots fired led to the serving of a search warrant by SWAT members.
Officers with the Franklin Police Department were dispatched to the Branigan Creek neighborhood at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
When police arrived, they were unable to find the source of the gunfire but received information on potential people involved.
Due to the nature of the circumstances, investigators contacted Johnson County SWAT to help with the execution of the warrant
. The search led to the arrest of Amos Crenshaw, of Franklin, the threat to the community was over.
The suspect is being held at the Johnson County Jail without bond. Police ask that anyone with information on the incident call 317-346-1100.

Search for New Edinburgh Fire Chief

Local News
The town of Edinburgh is looking for a new Fire Chief after the resignation of John Henderson. His last day was December 18th.
Edinburgh Fire and Rescue has named Chuck Ridpath as the new interim Fire Chief. Ridpath has been a member of the Edinburgh fire team since 1994. He is also a Lieutenant with the City of Franklin Fire Department where he has served for 20 years.
The former chief served from May 2021 until he recently resigned in early December. He is now working at Johnson Memorial Health in Franklin.