Advocates for Children will be holding their annual karaoke fundraiser next month, with a new name.

Formerly known as Crooners for Casa, this year’s event will be called Sing! and will be held on April 1st at The Commons. This year’s event will feature teams competing in the karaoke competition and a performance by the Night Owl Country Band.

Last year’s event drew more than 300 people.

The program benefits the Court Appointed Special Advocates program, which provides advocates for abused and neglected children in Bartholomew, Jennings, and Decatur counties. Organizers say that the fundraiser directly benefits the work being done to help protect the community’s most vulnerable children.

Sing! will be held from 6:30 to 11:30 on April 1st.

Tickets re $65 each or $500 for a table of eight. .You can get tickets online at https://www.apowerfulvoice.org/sing, or by calling the Advocates for Children office at 812-372-2808.

Photo courtesy of Advocates for Children

Edinburgh police dogs Skye and Kira have received bulletproof and stab protecting vests, through the not-for-profit Vested Interest in K9s group from Massachusetts.

Skye’s vest is embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Ben Bertram”. Kira’s vest recognizes Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department police dog Diesel who died in November 2020 while pursuing a suspect.

The organization was founded in 2009 and provides the vests to dogs working in police and other agencies. Vested Interest in K9s has provided over 4,800 vests to K9s in all 50 states.

The custom-fitted armor weighs about 5 pounds. The agency accepts donation and $960 will sponsor one vest.

The program is open to U.S. police dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. Dogs with expired vests are also eligible to participate.

You can get more information at www.vik9s.org

Photo courtesy of Edinburgh Police Department

Three people have been arrested in Jackson County after police recovered more than $300,000 in stolen vehicles and about $18,000 in marijuana.

According to Seymour Police Department, officers were alerted by the Mishawaka Police in late January that a stolen SUV was believed to be in the area of a home in the 1900 block of West Tipton Street. Police contacted 24-year-old Johnathan Smith at the address who produced what was purported to be a receipt for the vehicle.

After getting search warrants, police searched the area and discovered the SUV, two Dodge Chargers, items related to vehicle thefts, key fobs, key fob programming devices, items belonging to the owners of stolen vehicles, handwritten receipts, and evidence that vehicle identification numbers had been manipulated. A search the following day located a skid steer that had been reported stolen out of Owen County.

The evidence led to the search of a second residence on Sams Circle in Seymour. Police say they found another stolen SUV, more than six pounds of marijuana, vehicle titles, and evidence of vehicle identification numbers being manufactured.

Smith was arrested on five counts of auto theft and dealing in marijuana.

In February, 29-year-old Phillip D. Auel  of Seymour was arrested for conspiracy to commit auto theft and dealing in marijuana.

Last week, 27-year-old Karen Miller of Seymour was arrested on a Jackson County warrant for conspiracy to commit auto theft, two counts of neglect of a dependent and dealing in marijuana.

Seymour police were assisted in the investigation by  Indiana State Police Special Investigations, Auto Theft Section and investigators with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop will be holding his final State of the City address, this afternoon at The Commons.

The event will begin with a welcome reception at 5 p.m., with a chance to meet the mayor, City Council members and city staff. The program will begin at 5:45 p.m.

The event is free and you are invited to attend.

A flood warning continues for Driftwood River at Edinburgh and for East Fork White River at Seymour.

After up to 3 inches of rain fell on Friday, flooding continues on rivers and streams throughout southern Indiana. Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.

The flood warning on East Fork White River at Seymour is in place until Wednesday evening. The river crested at 16.85 feet on Sunday morning, just below the moderate flood stage of 17 feet. As of this morning the river was at 16.3 feet, the minor flood stage. It is predicted to drop back below the minor flood level of 12 feet by Wednesday.

Driftwood River at Edinburgh crested at 13.08 feet on Saturday, about two feet above the 11 foot minor flood stage. It is dropping back below flood levels by this morning.

In Columbus, East Fork White River crested Saturday evening just barely above the 9 foot flood stage.

You can see updated river gauge information  here.

The Bartholomew County Humane Society and county authorities are looking for information after someone shot and killed a dog.

According to the group, the black and white pit mix was found tied to a tree and shot to death on County Road 1150 East in Hartsville on February 23rd by sheriff’s deputies. The dog had no identification and did not have a microchip. You can find a photo of the dog’s collar and leash on our website.

If you have any information you can call the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department at 812-379-1670.

The historic Park Theatre Civic Centre in North Vernon will be hosting the 21st annual Johnson-Whitehead Music Festival on Saturday.

Scheduled performers include Jennings County area musicians: Tracy Thompson, Shirley Bryant, Chris Webster, Jim Bryant, Eric Jarboe, Joe Spicer, Caleb Smith, James White, Tony Bryant, Shari Leake and Jerry Caudill.

The Park Theatre will also be inducting two people into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, Ron Johnson and Mike Mayer. Caleb Smith will be the recipient of this year’s Granville Johnson Memorial Scholarship.

The festival honors the memories of Jennings County bluegrass musicians Granville Johnson and Mike Whitehead.

Tickets are $10. They can be purchased in advance at the Park Theatre box office or at the door on Saturday. The show starts at 7 p.m. in the evening Saturday.

For more information, call 812-346-0330.

The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department is closing several sections of city parks and trails, in anticipation of high water today.

According to the department, several portions of the People Trail system including State Road 46, Mill Race Park, Northbrook, and Noblitt Park are expected to close due to high water because they are areas prone to flooding.

Due to the heavy rains, more sections of the People Trail may become inaccessible due to rising water this coming weekend.

All areas will be reopened after the water has receded and crews have had a chance to clean up any mud and debris left behind.