A Decatur County emergency center dispatcher has been arrested by state troopers, accused of sharing senstive investigative information with the public.

According to Indiana State Police, detectives from the Versailles Post arrested 42-year-old Heidi Miracle of Holton on Wednesday on two felony charges. The sheriff’s department sought the investigation after Miracle allegedly accessed confidential law enforcement computer systems and released a video that was obtained during a criminal investigation. She then shared the video on a messaging app and on her social media pages.

Miracle was arrested on charges of official misconduct and offenses against intellectual property.

Brown County authorities are warning about a scam that has affected several residents.

According to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, residents are getting called by someone who pretends to be with the sheriff’s department using a number that appears to be legitimate, ordering people to report for jury duty. But the caller also demands several steps, including a writing sample or fulfilling another simple task. And then the residents are told to go to the the ATM and withdraw money to pay the scammers.

The sheriff’s department wants to remind you that the office will not contact you about jury duty, as that is a responsibility of the Circuit Court. And you will never be ordered to pay money to serve on a jury.

Authorities say that they have had multiple reports of the scam from residents over the past few days.

If you receive one of these calls or have given money to the scammers, you are urged to contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.

Brown County authorities are warning about a scam that has affected several residents.

A Crothersville man was arrested on drug-related charges after Seymour police noticed he was driving a vehicle with a fake registration.

According to the Seymour Police Department, officer stopped the vehicle on Wednesday and found out that the driver, 30-year-old DerekDwayne L. Crossman had never had a driver’s license. A department police dog alerted to the odor of drugs in the vehicle and a search revealed drug paraphernalia. Crossman was taken into custody and when he was searched before going to jail, police say they discovered he was carrying methamphetamine.

Crossman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia.

Legal Aid is holding a Free Legal Aid Phone Clinic from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Legal Aid offers the clinics for low-income residents of its eight-county district including Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings and Johnson counties..

If you take part you will have a brief consultation with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or to receive other advice over the phone.

To take part, you must first register between noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday by calling 812-378-0358.

The restrooms and water fountains in Columbus parks are now ready for the season.

According to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, the park restrooms have been reopened and the water fountains have been turned back on after their winter closures.

If you have any questions, you can call 812-376-2599.

Talking Tombstones, a fundraiser for the Bartholomew County Historical Society is tonight at the historic Columbus city Cemetery south of Donner Park.

The event will feature actors taking on the roles of famous residents of the past who are buried in the cemetery.

It will start at 5:30 p.m. with check in at 19th Street and parking is available between Donner Center and the cemetery.

You can get tickets through Eventbrite, at the Bartholomew County Historical Society museum on Third Street or at the event.

Diane Robbins with the historical society explains:

For more information you can call the historical society at 812-372-3541.

Photo courtesy of the Bartholomew County Historical Society

The recipient of this year’s Bill and Sally Hanley Excellence in Teaching Award is Danielle Kirk, a speech therapist at CSA Lincoln Elementary School.

The award, administered by Heritage Fund: The Bartholomew County Community Foundation, recognizes outstanding elementary teachers in the Bartholomew Consolidated Schools. Recipients are nominated by their principals and must demonstrate dedication to their job, exemplary initiative and contributions to improve the school and its environment.

Nominations are accompanied by letters of recommendation from the principal, fellow teachers, parents and students.

The nomination credited Kirk with her integral role in the success of many students. She was recognized for encouraging students and providing them with the tools necessary to succeed in their classrooms, social situations and home.

Principal Brett Findley wrote in his nomination that Kirk has “the perfect balance of heart, knowledge, compassion, and professionalism.”

The award includes a $1,000 stipend.

Photo courtesy of Heritage Fund

After this week’s primary elections, the races for the fall are now set in Columbus, barring any last minute additions.

Mary Ferdon won the Republican nomination for Columbus mayor this week and there is currently no Democrat running for that office.

For the first time, voters will be choosing nine members of Columbus City Council, with six district seats and three at-large seats. The city moved to second class status last year, adding the new seats and redrawing the old districts. So far, seven of the nine seats will have contested races.

In District 1, Republican Christopher Bartels is running against Democrat Nick Slabaugh.

Democratic incumbent Elaine Hilber is running for the District 2 seat against Republican Victoria Griffin.

In District 3, Democratic incumbent Jerone Wood won Tuesday’s primary and will face Sue Chapple-Norman in the fall.

Incumbent councilman Frank Miller is running unopposed for the District 4 seat.

Republican Kent Anderson is running for the District 5 seat against Democrat Dewayne Fillmore.

Democrat Bryan Munoz is running unopposed for the District 6 seat on the council.

Incumbent Democrats Grace Kestler and Tom Dell are runnign for re-election to their at-large seats and will face three Republicans– Josh Burnett, Alex Englebert and Christopher Rutan.

The second class change also eliminates the current clerk-treasurer position, making it only a clerk.

Current Republican Clerk Treasurer Luann Welmer will be running for the new clerk position against Democrat Quisha Jackson.

The parties have until July 3rd to add names to the ballot.

IUPUC will be holding its 2023 commencement celebration next week.

The school will be recognizing 234 graduates representing IUPUC’s 12 undergraduate and three graduate programs. To qualify for commencement, students must have finsiehd their coursework by December or be expected to finish it this month, or August.

Featured speakers for the commencement will be Andy Klein, the interim chancellor for IUPUI; Audra McNear, IUPUC’s student government activities board president and Sarah Achenbach, the recipient of this year’s IUPUC Chancellor’s Scholar Award.

The ceremony will be on May 11th at the Columbus Airpark Campus. Grandstand seating will be available, and guests are asked to be seated by 9:30 a.m. The processional starts at 9:45 and the program begins at 10 a.m.. No registration or tickets are required for this year’s event.

A Decatur County inmate is back in jail after skipping town during a furlough for a funeral.

According to the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, 39-year-old Thomas EJ Moore was granted a furlough by Decatur Superior Court so he could attend a family member’s funeral. The furlough began at 8 a.m. on April 11th and was supposed to end at 3 that day. However, Moore did not come back to the detention center.

Authorities found out that Moore never attended the funeral service and an arrest warrant was issued.

With the assistance of U.S. marshals, Moore was arrested in Bloomington on Monday and returned to the detention center. He is facing a new felony charge of failure to return to lawful detention.