Indiana’s near-total abortion ban that prohibits the procedure with only a few narrow exceptions will go back into effect after the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the law Friday. Justices did leave the door open for the possibility for other challenges in the future, however.

In a split decision, the high court nixed a preliminary injunction that has kept the ban on-hold since September.

Justices stated that the plaintiffs — which included Planned Parenthood and multiple other health care providers, unsuccessfully brought a “facial” challenge to the entire law, alleging that the abortion ban is always unconstitutional and should therefore be voided.

The state Supreme Court said the providers “cannot show a reasonable likelihood of success” with that challenge, however.

The five Indiana justices heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of the new law in January.

The court challenge was originally filed in Monroe County Circuit Court in August by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on behalf of health care providers and a pregnancy resource center.

A special judge in Owen County later ruled that the ban likely violates the Indiana Constitution. An injunction issued by Judge Kelsey Blake Hanlon, a Republican, halted the state’s new abortion law one week after it took effect. Under the injunction, the state’s previous abortion law stood — allowing abortions up to 20 weeks.
However with this latest action, the abortion ban once again takes effect.

That makes Indiana the first state in the nation to approve such legislation since the high court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.

INDOT contractor Force Construction plans to restrict I-65 NB late next week to perform full-depth concrete patching at Columbus.

Starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 7th, the right lane of northbound I-65 is scheduled to close near S.R. 46 (MM 68). The right lane will remain closed through 6 a.m. on Monday, July 10th. This work will be rescheduled to the following weekend if necessary due to inclement weather.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free in and near construction zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

Legal Aid is hosting a free legal clinic for Brown County community members on Wednesday July 5th from 3 to 5pm at the Brown County Public Library in Nashville. The clinic is free for low- income residents.The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program utilizes local volunteer attorneys, offering free legal consultations
to low-income individuals for the provision of legal advice and assistance in furtherance of equal access to
justice within our community who might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.
From 3 to 4pm there will be a General Advice Clinic and from 4to 5pm there will be a Clinic on Eviction.

For more information on Legal Aid or to look for future clinics visit www.legalaidpbi.org/services

On June 28th, 2023, at approximately 1:08 PM, Seymour Police Department Investigations received a call from Home Depot Asset Protection advising that an individual had walked out of The Home Depot in Seymour with a large amount of Milwaukee cordless tools. The information was relayed to patrol officers.

A short time later, a trooper with the Indiana State Police located the suspect vehicle traveling South on Interstate 65 around the 42-mile marker. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver disregarded and attempted to flee. Troopers pursued the vehicle South and into Scott County. The pursuit went through the Scottsburg area and continued East toward Jefferson County. At one point, the driver threw a handgun from the vehicle in a construction area. The handgun was later recovered. The vehicle ultimately struck a barrier and came to a stop around SR 3 and SR 350 in Scott County.

The driver of the vehicle, Charles Lester Dexter Jr. age 44 of Jeffersonville, Indiana was taken into custody. Dexter was arrested for resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, a handgun charge, and several outstanding warrants out of Harrison County.

Seymour Police Department investigators did recover the stolen property from The Home Depot. Dexter removed a total of fourteen Milwaukee cordless items with a value of over $3,000.00 from The Home Depot.

Investigators will forward the information to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office requesting Dexter be charged with theft.

Celebrate Independence Day with a firework spectacular at Ceraland on July 4th. Fireworks begin once it becomes dark, usually around 9:50pm-10pm.

There will be games, activities, live music, food and drink vendors, cornhole, basketball, bounce houses, swimming, and so much more!

For more information visit
https://www.ceraland.org/july4th

Severe Weather rolled into the area Thursday afternoon blowing in gusty 60-70MPH winds that caused thousands of local residents to lose electricity. The winds also knocked out power at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair  forcing them to cancel activities for the rest of the evening.

Similar outages took place across the state due to the severe weather.

Bartholomew County REMC and Duke Energy are at work helping residents to get their power back on.

Customers of Bartholomew County REMC should report outages to their office at (800) 927-5672 or through their SmartHub app. Remember to have the service address and account number ready for quick and accurate reporting.

Duke Energy customers can report their outage by texting OUT to 57801, reporting online or by calling 800-343-3525.

The threat of severe weather continues into the holiday weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Photos Courtesy of Bartholomew County Emergency Management

Bartholomew County and its surrounding areas are under a Marginal Risk of severe weather tonight through the next several days into the holiday weekend.

Along with the stormy weather the Hazy/smoky conditions from the past few days will continue today impacting visibility and air quality.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has already declared yet another Air Quality Action Day for Today, meaning the unhealthy air will be sticking around a little longer.
WISH TV reports that Indiana along with Dubai and Cleveland continues to be plagued by some of the worst air quality in the world currently.

People with respiratory issues including asthma, and people doing heavy work outside have had to be especially cautious.

Air quality will start to slowly filter out of the southwest Today and Tomorrow and will help erode the unsafe levels of smoke in the lower parts of the atmosphere.

Justin Bowles Photos Courtesy Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office

A Local Man is behind bars after leading police on a chase. On Tuesday night at approximately 11:32 PM Deputy Dylan Prather observed a possible impaired driver near the intersection of 10th St and McClure Rd.

After Deputy Prather activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop the vehicle disregarded him and a vehicle pursuit was started.

The driver of the vehicle later identified as Justin Bowles, 41yo of Columbus, led deputies on a chase throughout the northern part of Columbus before turning off his vehicle’s lights and driving through an agricultural field.

Deputies lost sight of the vehicle as it entered the field however found the vehicle crashed into a pile of shrubbery near Warren Dr and Taxiway G.

A perimeter of law enforcement officers was set up and BSCO K-9 Frizko was deployed to locate Bowles. A short time later Bowles was found hiding along the fence line near the airport and was apprehended by K-9 Frizko.

Bowles was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for medical evaluations then transported to Bartholomew County Jail where he remains on a 48 hour hold. Deputies located multiple pills, a large amount of currency, over 60 grams of methamphetamines and over 10 grams of fentanyl.

Bowles was charged with the below offenses:

Operating while Intoxicated – Drugs, Operating while Intoxicated – Endangerment, Reckless Driving, Resisting Law Enforcement – Vehicle, Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Possession of Legend Drug, Dealing in Schedule IV Controlled Substance, Dealing in a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug and Possession of Narcotic Drug.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Photos Courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office

K9 Frisko

This past week two deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office completed their DARE Officer course. After an intensive two-week class both Deputy Nicholi Burkholder and Deputy Max Medina received their DARE certifications. Deputy Burkholder was selected as the top student of DARE Officer Training Class #40.

The addition of these two deputies to the DARE Program doubles the Sheriff’s Office number of DARE instructors to four. Sheriff Chris Lane, “The DARE program is a corner stone of the relationship between law enforcement and the community’s youth. Congratulations to Deputy Medina and Deputy Burkholder on completing the DARE instructor course. I look forward to seeing the effect they have on our community’s youth and appreciate their willingness to be part of this program.”

The DARE program was founded in 1983 as a law enforcement led series of classroom lessons that teaches students good decision making skills in order for them to lead safe and healthy lives.

Deputy Medina

Deputy Burkholder

Photos Courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office

The City of Columbus Department of Public Works wants to remind residents that there will be no collections next Tuesday in observance of the July 4th holiday. Collections will be delayed by one day with Friday’s collections taking place on Saturday.
Please remember to have your toters out by 7AM. The office will be closed on Tuesday and will reopen on Wednesday at 7AM. Visit the Public Works website at columbus.in.gov/Public Works for more information on Curbcycle and Columbus Collects.