A Washington County man is facing more than 25 charges involving sexual contact with minors.

According to the Indiana State Police, troopers began investigating after accusations were made in October 2022 about 74-year-old Jack Barton of Pekin and his contact with a minor. Detectives served a search warrant at his home in November of 2022 collecting digital devices which were then examined by the State Police Intelligence & Investigative Technologies Division.

After evidence was extracted, an arrest warrant was issued on Friday and Barton was arrested on preliminary felony charges including seven counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, 20 counts of possession of child pornography and dissemination of matter harmful to minors.

The National Weather Service says central Indiana has set a new record for the lowest recorded January air pressure.

According to the agency, Tuesday afternoon’s pressure reading of 982.3 millibars in Indianapolis beats the old record of 984.4 millibars, set during the Blizzard of 1978 on January 26th that year.

The city of Columbus Redevelopment Department has rescheduled an information session, meant to educate the public and new city officials on tax increment financing districts and how they work.

Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the session will now be held on Monday January 29th, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Cal Brand Meeting Room at Columbus City Hall.

You will be able to learn more about how TIF funds are captured, financing options for TIF funds, and a preview of legislation related to TIF districts.

The presenters will be Bradley Bingham, with Barnes and Thornburg who serves as bond counsel for the Columbus Redevelopment Commission and Andrew Lanam with Stifel Public Finance, financial advisor to the city agency.

Note: This story has been updated

Columbus Congressman Greg Pence is announcing that he will not file for reelection.

The Republican Pence, brother to former Vice President Mike Pence, was first elected to Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District in 2018. The former VP held the same seat in Congress for 12 years before running for governor.

Congressman Pence, a former Marine, said that he approached the job with purpose and felt he was ready to serve again, when he decided to run in 2017.

As a Marine, Pence served in Beiruit, Lebanon just before the attack on the Marine barracks in 1983 killed 241 service members including 220 Marines. In his first year in office, he championed the OORAH Act which sought to get restitution from Iran for the families of Marines killed in the attack. He has also introdued resolutions in Congress on the anniversaries of the attack, honoring those killed.

Pence said that after three terms, he has decided not to seek re-election but will spend the remainder of his term, focused on delivering constituent services.

He said: “To the voters in Indiana’s 6th District – it is a privilege and honor to represent you in our Nation’s capital.”

The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage.

The agency is urging people to sign up to donate by offering the change to win a trip to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. The organization says that the number of blood donors in the US dropped 40-percent over the last two decades. It was down seven-thousand units alone between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Red Cross’s chief medical officer said in a statement that a blood shortage is “one of the most distressing situations for a doctor” and that it’s a “life and death” issue. The organization is working with the NFL to offer the trip, and said anyone who signs up to donate blood in January will be automatically entered.

There are several Red Cross blood drives coming up in our area in the next week, including from 11 to 3 Friday at the Brown County YMCA in Nashville, on Monday from 1 to 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in North Vernon, and on Tuesday, Jan. 16th  from 1 to 6 p.m. at Saint Paul Lutheran and from noon to 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Community churches in Seymour and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Saint Vincent Jennings Hospital in North Vernon.

You can schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

TTWN Media Networks contributed to this report

A 30 day Dry January Challenge is underway through the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County and Souls Truth Coaching. The goal is to help residents make healthy choices when it comes to alcohol in the new year.

Skye Nicholson of Soul’s Truth Coaching is offering free group coaching during the challenge. The group coaching is based on the book “The Alcohol Experiment” byu Annie Grace. If you sign up you will receive daily emails from Nicholson corresponding to themes in the book. There will also be inspirational videos and a weekly group Zoom meeting.

Viewpoint Books is offering discounted copies of the book.

The challenge is being offered under ASAP’s Rethinking Wellness initiative which aims to prevent substance misuse in Bartholomew County

You can register for the Dry January Challenge at https://asapbc.org/dryjanuary

Emailed bomb threats sent to several Indiana school districts yesterday are under investigation.

Some districts evacuated yesterday after receiving the messages. Around 70 districts report being affected. Indiana State Police are investigating the threats.

Decatur County emergency officials investigated a bomb threat at two schools last week, after a social media post.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations contancted Decatur County law enforcement on Wednesday, alerting officers to the social media post. It had been linked to a student at South Decatur High School.

Deputies went to both South Decatur High School and South Decatur Elementary schools. Deputies supported the school resource officers to ensure the safety of students and staff. No credible threat to the school or students was discovered.

The investigation is continuing.

TTWN Media Networks contributed to this story.

The Indiana State Police at the Versailles Post are welcoming two new probationary troopers.

According to the troopers, 28 probationary troopers graduated in December from the 84th annual Indiana State Police Academy and two are being assigned to the Versailles post. The Post covers Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland counties.

The academy requires more than 1,200 hours of law enforcement training including criminal law instruction, emergency vehicle operations, psychology, traffic law, crash investigation, self-defense, first responder, and other general enforcement related training.

25-year-old Trooper Tyler Busch is a graduate of East Central High School and Thomas More University. He is from Dearborn County where he served as a jailer for the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, a diver for the Dearborn County Water Rescue Team, and a deputy coroner for the Dearborn County Coroner’s Office.

27-year-old Trooper Jordan Hartmann is a graduate of Milan High School. He lives in Ripley County where he served as a deputy.

The probationary troopers now begin a three-month field training period, working alongside veteran troopers. After completing field training, the troopers will be assigned a patrol vehicle and begin solo patrols.

Photos courtesy of Indiana State Police.

Bartholomew County officials will take on a greater role in economic development, with changes to the structure of its agreement with the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation.

The county will be paying the non-profit redevelopment company $110,000 annually to market Bartholomew County and its opportunities for development. Yesterday, the county commissioners approved a five-year agreement with the corporation for its services marketing the county. The money will come from the county’s share of income taxes for economic development.

Previously, the county paid $7,500 for two seats on the board of the corporation.

County Commissioner Tony London said that will become even more important as the county makes infrastructure improvements in the Taylorsville and Edinburgh areas prompted by the Kings Hawaiian Bakery development there. He said that this will bring the county contributions to economic development efforts up to the same level of the city of Columbus.

Without that greater involvement on the county’s part, London likened it to landing a big fish, but deciding to quit buying bait.

Commissioners President Larry Kleinhenz has served on the board for years, but is stepping aside so that London can take the seat. Kleinhenz said that the board now needs London’s talent for promotions and marketing.

Map courtesy of Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation.

We could see some winter weather tonight. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a winter weather advisory for our area starting at 10 p.m. tonight and lasting through 7 a.m. tomorrow morning.

According to the weather service, we can expect rain today with accumulations of up to an inch in some areas. That could turn to snow late tonight.

All of that moisture could be freezing overnight with temperatures dropping to 30. Which means you could see some slick spots on roads throughout the Wednesday morning drive.

You can also expect some high winds today, with gusts of up to 40 mph possible from late evening through the night.