The deadline is coming up soon if you need to apply for disaster aid from the March tornadoes.

Federal officials say you must apply by June 14th to be eligible for assistance. Anita Steenson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Small Business Administration explains:

A disaster declaration covers the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that hit Indiana on March 31st and April 1st including Monroe and Johnson counties. Adjacent counties are also included in the SBA declaration, with Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson and Shelby county businesses and organizations eligible for economic injury assistance.

FEMA assistance can include funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, to repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes, as well as for expenses, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles, moving and storage, medical, dental, childcare and funeral expenses. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers long-term, low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profits to cover losses not covered by other sources.

To apply for assistance you can go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, you can download the FEMA App for mobile devices or call 800-621-3362.

To get assistance in person you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center to meet with specialists from FEMA and the SBA.. No appointment is needed, and survivors from any designated county can visit any center. The disaster recovery centers are in Sullivan, Johnson and Morgan Counties and are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Johnson County center is at 999 North Front Street in Whiteland.

The Columbus City Utilities office is announcing new hours.

According to the water utility, its offices on McClure Road will now be open Monday through Friday with the the lobby open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the drive-up window open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you need to call the office, you can call between 7 and 5 at 812-372-8861. For emergencies after normal hours, you can call and follow the prompts.

Jennings County deputies arrested a wanted man last week after he tried to flee, first on a motorcycle and then on foot.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, investigator received word Thursday that 43-year-old Clayton J. Littrell was traveling north on State Road 7 near Grayford Road. Littrell was wanted on outstanding warrants from Bartholomew and Jefferson counties.

Police found Littrell stopped in a church parking lot on State Road 7 and tried to take him into custody, but when he saw investigators approaching he tried to start his motorcycle, but couldn’t get it to start. He then ran away and was captured a short distance away after a struggle with deputies.

In addition to the outstanding warrants, Littrell is facing new charges of resisting law enforcement and for Possession of a Syringe, Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Two Indianapolis-area public safety workers were arrested Friday in Greenwood after a domestic dispute.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to a home in the Willow Lakes Subdivision at 11:10 p.m. Friday night about a disturbance. Deputies arrested 37-year-old Joseph L. Gourley, a Lawrence firefighter, and 33-year-old Katie E. Gourley, a detective with the Indianapolis police department, on charges of domestic battery with injuries.

Both have since been released and the case has been forwarded to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s office.

Former Vice President and Columbus native Mike Pence is avoiding charges related to classified documents being found at his Indiana home.

NBC News reports the Department of Justice informed Pence’s attorney that the investigation was closed and no charges will come based on “results” of the probe. Lawyers for Pence reported that a “small number” of classified materials had been found at the Indiana home earlier this year. This comes as the former Vice President is expected to announce his bid for President next week.

Investigations are still ongoing into classified documents found at the residences of former President Trump and President Biden.

Trump says he’s “at least as innocent” as his vice president. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he should be “fully exonerated” on what he called a “hoax.” The DOJ found a few sensitive documents at Pence’s home, but in Trump’s case federal agents raided his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida last year after his refusal to cooperate with the National Archives for months.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is extending its Air Quality Action Day alert into Saturday.

According to the agency, higher temperatures and minimal cloud cover are making conditions ripe for ground-level ozone to develop.

Ground-level ozone forms when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and gasoline vapors. While ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties for sensitive populations.

Children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

The Air Quality Action Day alert now lasts through midnight Saturday.

Emergency officials are also warning about the dangers of fires burning out of control during this weekend of hot and dry weather.

According to the Bartholomew County Emergency Management Department, there is an elevated risk of fire danger today and lasting through the weekend. With the high temperatures in the lower 90s, low humidity and dry ground, there is an elevated risk of fire danger.

The National Weather Service warns that any outdoor fires that start in these elevated fire risk conditions will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Also, you should never throw lit cigarettes from your vehicle.

The dry conditions and elevated fire risk will continue through most of next week.

A suspect in a shooting overnight in Hope is in custody.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, 35-year-old Robbie L. Perez of Columbus was arrested in Johnson County, accused of shooting his brother and nephew Thursday night in Hope.

Officers from Hope and Bartholomew County deputies were called to the 300 block of Elm Street in Hope at about 11:25 last night about a shooting. Perez’s brother, 36-year-old George Perez Jr and his son, a 3-year-old boy both suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to Indianapolis area hospitals by IU Lifeline helicopter. George Perez Jr. has since been treated and released. The child remains in critical condition.

A search began for Robbie Perez and his vehicle, a silver Chevrolet HHR. Franklin police attempted to stop the vehicle on East King Street near Interstate 65, but the driver fled. Robbie Perez was eventually stopped and when police took him into custody, he was found to have a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to Eskenazi Hospital to be treated.

A search of the vehicle recovered a firearm.

Investigators say that a long-term feud between the two brothers escalated into the shooting incident.

Robbie Perez is facing two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. The incident remains under investigation.

Editor’s note: Due to a source error, the age of the boy victim was incorrect in earlier reports.

The Columbus North High School valedictorian will receive the first Siler Hungerford Memorial Scholarship.

Heritage Fund: The Bartholomew County Community Foundation is announcing that Jessica Meza-Sanchez has been awarded the $25,000 scholarship. The award was established last year by Hungerford’s family to encourage the excellence of study in math and science and to foster leadership in academic pursuits by a graduating North student. Hungerford taught mathematics at Columbus North and was the former chair of the Math Department. She died at the age of 87 in 2016.

Meza Sanchez plans to major in mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During her time at North, Meza-Sanchez won all-conference honors for cross country and track and field, was vice president of Key Club, president of the Society of Women in Engineering and was a calculus/math tutor. She also volunteered at Love Chapel and St. Bartholomew Church.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week with free fishing days this weekend.

Indiana residents can fish without a state fishing license or trout and salmon stamp on state waters Saturday and Sunday. Other rules apply such as season, bag and size limits.

There will be a Youth Fishing Derby from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Paynetown State Recreation Area fishing dock at Monroe Lake. Children 16 and younger can take part in the derby by borrowing state gear or bringing their own. Bait will be provided and volunteer instructors will be on hand. A prize drawing will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Seymour Parks and Recreation Department will be holding its first pop-up Party in the Park today at Westside Park.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #108 will be serving free snow cones, hot dogs, nachos and popcorn. There will also be a bounce house for children.

The Party in the Park will be from noon until 2:30 p.m. today.