New Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane is looking back on his first 100 days in office and his plans for keeping the county safe.

In a report released recently, the sheriff outlined five strategic priorities – relentless drug enforcement, efficiency and innovation, employee retention, mental and physical resilience and partnership with other agencies.

Amongst the accomplishments of the first 100 days, Lane pointed to the department’s new leadership structure, partnership with Tuning Point, a team-based approach to encourage a diversity of ideas in the decision making process, initiatives to increase deputy’s resilience and mental health and the creation of a monthly scorecard to help make data-driven decisions.

The sheriff reports that employee retention and staffing shortages continue to be a problem with a 40 percent turnover last year in the corrections division. He also recognized the continuing opioid crisis and the increasing numbers of mental health related calls and the lack of around-the-clock community resources to handle mental health crises.

You can view the sheriff’s 100-day report here. https://updates.whiteriverbroadcasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/100-Day-Report.pdf

Former President Trump is trying to stop his vice president and Columbus native Mike Pence from testifying in the special counsel’s January 6th investigation.

Trump’s legal team on Monday appealed a judge’s decision ordering Pence to testify in the investigation of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, citing executive privilege. Pence last week said he would not appeal the order and will comply with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s subpoena. It’s unclear when Pence would appear before the grand jury.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks.

A man already facing domestic violence charges was arrested along with his wife on drug-related charges after an investigation by Jennings County deputies.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, James D. Arnold was arrested on a preliminary felony charge of domestic battery with a prior offense in March after a disconnected 911 call. As part of a pre-trial release agreement, he was not to have any contact with the victim, his wife.

However, the deputy in the first incident noticed last week that Arnold’s vehicle was at the home in Country Squire Lakes. Deputies talked to the wife, Wanda Arnold, who answered the door and said her husband was not at the home. But deputies found him hiding in a back room, where they took him into custody. Deputies also noticed drug paraphernalia in the home and after getting a search warrant, discovered that Wanda Arnold was carrying methamphetamine.

James Arnold was arrested on new preliminary charges of invasion of privacy, for possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, as well as for maintaining a common nuisance. Wanda Arnold is being accused of possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance.

A man is under arrest after Jackson County parole officers paid a visit to a Jennings County home.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies assisted Jackson County Probation with the home visit in Country Squire Lakes on Thursday, checking on Scotty E. Williams who was on probation. The probation search revealed methamphetamine, syringes and drug paraphernalia.

Williams was arrested on new charges for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia as well as for maintaining a common nuisance. A Jackson County warrant for the probation violation is also expected.

The work is starting now on the Bartholomew County Mental Health Matters initiative.

Organizers are looking for residents interested in taking part in community conversations on mental health, and are offering an online survey.

The three-year initiative, announced last week, is bringing together local government, health care, mental health, non profit and educational organizations to try to improve the delivery of mental health support in the community. This year will be all about gathering information.

Julie Abedian, with Columbus Regional Health, says organizers are specifically looking for those with mental health struggles.

She said the initiative wants to hear from people across the entire spectrum of the community.

The online survey includes questions about your own mental health, challenges you or loved ones have faced, and your interactions with the local mental health system.

You can find more information and take the survey at M H M BC dot org.

Early voting continues this week ahead of Indiana’s municipal primary elections.

Early voting is available in Bartholomew County at Nexus Park, the former Fair Oaks Mall. You can vote from 8 to 5 on weekdays leading up to the primary. On April 22nd and 29th, early voting expands to Saturday hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nexus Park and at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street downtown.

Early voting ends at noon on Monday May 1st. Election Day is Tuesday May 2nd.

You can check your voting status at https://indianavoters.in.gov.

Bartholomew County property tax bills should be hitting your mailbox soon.

According to county Treasurer Barb Hackman, the tax bills are scheduled to be mailed on Thursday, including details on the installments due on May 10th and on November 13th.

Hackman points out that most residents with mortgages have their property taxes paid through an escrow account automatically. Even if that is the case, you will still receive a bill with the current amount and comparison of last year’s tax bill, but it will be watermarked as being “For Informational Purposes Only.”

If you need to make a payment, you have several options including through the mail to the treasurer’s office, in person at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street, at one of the two drop boxes located at the office building, at local banks including Centra Credit Union, First Financial Bank, JCB, Horizon Bank and German American. You can also pay by phone by calling 844-278-9126 or you can pay online by going to https://bartholomew.in.gov/treasurer.html#view-pay-taxes-online.

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter will be holding a community forum in Columbus next month to talk about the disease, other forms of dementia and the community’s needs.

Statistics show about 110,000 Hoosiers are living with Alzheimer’s disease, while another 216,000 family members and friends serve as their unpaid caregivers.

Natalie Sutton, executive director, of the chapter said no one should go through the journey alone and there are resources available to help. She said organizers want to hear directly from the community about how to best reach those affected and provide them with the support they need.

The forum will be held on Tuesday May 2nd at 2:30 p.m. at Mill Race Center. You are invited to learn about dementia, to share your experiences with the disease and discuss how organizations can better support those affected.

You are encouraged to register. You can find  more information at alz.org/indiana/programs

A provider of pop-up medical and dental clinics for free care is canceling a planned event in Nashville later this summer.

Remote Area Medical had planned a clinic for June 3rd and 4th at Brown County Middle School. However the group announced last week that the event was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances with the local community hosting group.

The group had previously asked for volunteers, both medical and support, for the clinic, which would provide free medical, dental and vision services to community members in need.

You can get more information at https://www.ramusa.org or by calling 865-579-1530.

A flood warning continues for East Fork White River at Seymour after this week’s heavy rains.

According to the National Weather Service, minor flooding is underway and minor flooding is forecast. The river crested yesterday afternoon just over two feet above its minor flood stage of 12 feet. This morning it is at just under 13 and a half feet and is expected to drop back below flood levels by early tomorrow morning.

The flood warning is in effect until early Saturday afternoon.