A North Vernon motorcycle gang member has been found guilty of murder and other charges in Jefferson County after a 2021 gang shootout that resulted in the death of a gang member.

According to reports from the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office, members of the Pagans and Warlock motorcycle gangs were on John Deere Road near Dupont in June of 2021 with handguns, knives, and handcuffs to confront a man they believed had been wearing tattoos, colors and patches of a motorcycle gang, despite not being a member. But when they approached the home, gunfire broke out and Pagans gang member 35-year-old Dustin B. Lindner of Georgetown, Kentucky was killed.

The gang members fled in two vehicles, but crashed into each other on John Deere Road. They then disposed of firearms and gang paraphernalia in cornfields and various bodies of water and tried to dispose of a vehicle.

Indiana State Police arrested North Vernon resident Michael J. Karnuth, also known as “Billy Goat”, who was president of a Warlocks chapter known as the Heavy Hitters. He was arrested at a Warlocks home in Rising Sun.

According to the prosecutor’s office, evidence was presented at the trial which concluded Monday that Karnuth saw the man with the phony tattoos and patches at a gas station in North Vernon. The gang members met at Karnuth’s house prior to traveling to Dupont and made multiple trips to John Deere Road before the shooting.

Karnuth is facing between 90 and 130 years in prison after being found guilty of murder, attempted burglary committed while armed with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery Committed While Armed with a Deadly Weapon and Obstruction of Justice. Karnuth was also found to have been a member of a criminal organization and that he committed the crimes to further the interests of the organization.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 15th.

Six people were arrested in Columbus Monday as part of long-term investigations by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.

According to reports from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, search warrants were served at about 9:52 p.m. Monday night at an RV parked in the 600 block of Jewell Street and at a home in the 2400 block of Sixth Street.

The Columbus and Bartholomew County SWAT team raided the RV and discovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab, including large amounts of methamphetamine and a handgun. The Indiana State Police Meth Suppression Team was called in from Versailles. The team assists in proper disposal of suspected methamphetamine labs.

Columbus police officers raided the home on Sixth Street, where they recovered more than 20 grams of suspected methamphetamine and more than 20 grams of various opioid drugs and marijuana.

Among those arrested were 44-year-old Edwin Newland of Columbus who is facing preliminary charges of dealing in, manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine, as well as maintaining a common nuisance.

58-year-old Ricky Walker, of Columbus, is being accused of dealing in and possessing methamphetamine, Dealing in and possessing a narcotic drug and maintaining a common nuisance.

Four others were arrested on charges of visiting a common nuisance.:

• Richard Vestal, 41 of Columbus
• Michelle Sanford, 32 of Columbus
• Mandy Dowden, 30 of Columbus
• Amanda Jo Williams, 34 of Columbus

Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

A wind advisory is in effect for our area, with wind gusts of up to 55 mph possible.

The National Weather Service is warning of southeast winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts of up to 55 mph. Forecasters say the winds could blow down trees and power lines.

Heavy rain, localized flooding and isolated severe storms are also possible late this morning and early afternoon.

You should use extra caution if you are driving, especially if you are in a high-profile vehicle.

The wind advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. this evening.

President Biden is urging bipartisanship in his State of the Union address. While speaking on the House floor Tuesday night, Biden said despite disagreements, Democrats and Republicans came together time and time again during his first two years as President. He said he signed more than 300 bipartisan laws.

Columbus Republican Congressman Greg Pence issued a statement after the speech, saying he was “disappointed the President used this platform before a Joint Session of Congress and the American People to offer more of the same absent leadership we have sadly grown accustomed to over the last two years.” Pence said that he travels the Sixth Congressional District and Americans “are still suffering under high energy costs, inflation that continues to outpace wages, a fentanyl crisis, a border crisis, a debt crisis, and an emboldened China.”

Republican Congresswoman Rep. Erin Houchin, who represents southeastern Indiana in Congress, said that important issues were not addressed in the president’s speech, including the surge in fentanyl coming across the border, and the rising number of overdose deaths in the district.

” We heard the President’s words on unifying our country, and I’m hopeful, but not optimistic, he will live up to them and turn away from the far-left agenda. We need conservative solutions that go beyond rhetoric, and I call on the President of the United States to work with Republicans to implement policies that benefit every hardworking American.

A Greenwood man is among the last defendants convicted in a 20-person fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Indiana, 40-year-old David Duggar of Greenwood has been found guilty by a federal grand jury following an eight-day trial.

Duggar was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Duggar, along with other co-conspirators, distributed large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Indianapolis, transported to Indiana from California.

In July of 2021, a takedown operation led by federal agencies led to the arrest of 17 people, and recovered 35 firearms, $70,000 in currency, 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl, 14 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 ounces of cocaine, and 30 pounds of marijuana.

The other 19 defendants have been charged and pled guilty. 10 of the 20 defendants are awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The Bartholomew County Council for Youth Development is accepting applications for next month’s Youth Empowerment Summit.

The all-day summit will be held Friday, March 31st at the Columbus Learning Center. Attendees will rotate through three seminars with topics including Adulting in 2023,” “Boundaries & Being Me,” “Diversity Speaks,” and “Successfully Failing.” The workshops are meant to allow the youth to reflect on their strengths, share insights and help them become the leader they want to be.

The event is free.

The deadline for applications is February 24th. You can find more details about the summit and apply at CYDbartholomew.org.

Bartholomew County Works is now accepting applications for its upcoming workshop sessions.

Bartholomew County Works is committed to helping members improve their lives, gain full-time employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. It provides resources in areas including transportation, finances and budget setting.

The day-long workshop series will start on Monday Feb. 20th and run through Feb. 24th. Workshop topics include: applications, resumes, interviews, personality and skills inventories, interview attire, body language and other subjects.

The deadline to sign up is Feb. 15th and an orientation session will be held Feb. 16th from 10 to 11:30 in the morning.

To get more information on signing up, you can call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-379-1630.

Columbus planners will be considering rolling back some of the boundaries for the city’s two-mile zoning jurisdiction when they meet today.

Under Indiana law, cities can extend their zoning control into areas outside of city limits, up to two miles. Those in that expanded area must seek approval from the city before making changes regulated by zoning ordinances such as land use, despite living in the county.

At the Columbus Plan Commission meeting this afternoon, officials will be considering shrinking those borders, returning to county oversight the area around Otter Creek Golf Course and parts of the Colony Parke and Oakcrest subdivisions in the Taylorsville area.

The Columbus Plan Commission meets at 4 p.m. today at Columbus City Hall and the meeting can be attended remotely.

Bartholomew County Commissioners are approving a plan to bring in contractors to mow the grass and weeds along county roads with submitted proposals of more than $1 million over five years.

The commissioners said it has become difficult to find the part-time workers it needs to keep the roadsides mowed and sought bids for the work to be done by outside contractors. Complaints about high weeds along roads is one of the most frequent complaints from the public and a major safety concern, commissioners said. Commissioners have sought more full-time workers for the county highway department and have been turned down by the county council.

At this week’s commissioners meeting, they opened two bids, for identical amounts — $1,031,968 dollars for five year contracts.

Commissioners decided to award a three year contract to Right of Way Turf and Ornamental for $87 per mile or just over $211,000 per year.

The National Weather Service is warning of the danger of some severe winds tomorrow.

According to the agency, central and southern Indiana could see southeast winds of 25 to 35 mph tomorrow with gusts of up to 55 mph.

Forecasters say the winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. And you can expect trouble driving, especially if you are in a high-profile vehicle.

The wind advisory is in effect from 4 Thursday morning to 7 in the evening.