The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department plans to name its newest police dog after Brock Reynolds, a U.S. Navy SEAL team member and military dog handler character featured on the SEAL Team TV show.

According to Sheriff Kenny Freeman, the dog will be named Brock in recognition of the service members and their dedication portrayed in the series. The character is portrayed by actor Justin Melnick, who was a K9 officer from Daleville, Indiana. Melnick originally joined the show just as a dog handler and was featured as an extra but became a recurring character.

The sheriff’s department is raising $15,000 to purchase the newest dog. Freeman said the department is accepting donations through its JCSO K9 Fund. Any donations will be used directly for the purchase and training of Brock. Freeman said that will ensure the local law enforcement team is equipped with the resources needed to serve and protect the community.

You can mail donations to:

JCSO K9 Fund
925 S. State Street
North Vernon, Indiana 47265 )

Photo: Retired Jennings County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Allen Ritchie works with K-9 officer Vampir. Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

Bartholomew County Works is offering the public a weeklong job readiness program in April. Orientation for the workshop starts on Thursday March 28th from 10 am to 11:30am. The workshop will take place the week of April 1st and ends on April 5th. The orientation and workshop will take place at Yes Cinema’s Sarla Kalsi Conference Room.

For more information you can contact Dawn Bieberle at 812-378-2638 or [email protected]

The Columbus City Council announced two new Human Rights Commission appointments at the Tuesday, March 19th City Council Meeting. Ms. Graciela Spencer was appointed by City Council to a term of One year, expiring on March 31st, 2025. This seat is filling the remainder of an open term.

Mr. Joseph Joyner was appointed by City Council to a full term of three years, expiring on March 31st, 2027. Ms. Spencer is a Bilingual Student Success Coach at Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus, IN. She has a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from IU Columbus and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the Universidad de las AmericasPuebla. Some of her recent work includes providing professional development training to faculty and staff at the Air Park Campus. Some topics included creating an inclusive environment for multilingual students, financial aid for Latino/Hispanic students, barriers to international students, and reasonable accommodations for limited English-proficient students. Graciela and her family relocated to Columbus in 2010. While here, she has worked with Family School Partners in Bartholomew County School Corporation and VIM Care Clinic,
assisting Spanish-speaking individuals. Ms. Spencer is highly engaged in the Latino/Hispanic community and looks forward to educating underrepresented residents about the mission of the Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Joyner is the Human Resources Generalist at the Bartholomew County
Public Library. He is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive
environment for library staff and the community. Mr. Joyner has a Bachelor of
Fine Arts from Columbia College Chicago. He has in-depth knowledge of antidiscrimination laws and has participated in investigations of ethical violations and discrimination throughout his professional career.

Joseph has the following certifications: Mental Health First Aid, LGBTQ+ Safe Leader Certification, and SHRM-CP. His community involvement includes Cummins Pride Employee Resources Group, and It’s Okay Mental Health Committee. Mr. Joyner is
interested in working with the most vulnerable residents to provide support
through his experiences and education.

The Columbus Human Rights Commission has been serving the community since 1962. The mission of the Commission is to lead Columbus in building and maintaining an inclusive community by enforcing the Human Rights Ordinance, educating the public, challenging attitudes and systems that create barriers to equality (equity),
and empowering community members to advance the mission. Under City Council President Miller and Mayor Ferdon’s leadership, the Commission will be at full capacity this year.
The City of Columbus Municipal Code states that the City Council shall appoint persons residing in Bartholomew County to serve on the Human Rights Commission for three year, renewable terms, “serving without compensation and broadly representative of the community’s diversity.”

For over thirty years, City Council has chosen an open application process for the Human Rights Commission. Any community member who wishes to serve on the Commission may submit a completed application. Applications are then reviewed
by the City Council member serving as a liaison to the Human Rights Commission. The current City Council liaison is Mr. Frank Miller.

According to the county highway department Gladstone Avenue, between Marr Road and 300 South, at Bridge #111 over Clifty Creek will be closed to all traffic beginning on April 9th, 2024 for approximately 90 days, weather permitting.

On Tuesday, patrol officers with the Seymour Police Department received a complaint about an individual operating a dentist office without a license. Investigators conducted a follow up investigation and interviews. On Wednesday, patrol officers and investigators with the police department along with an investigator with the Jackson County Sheriff Department executed a Jackson Superior Court 1 Search Warrant at a residence on Gaiser Drive in Seymour. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators located evidence showing that dental work was being performed at the location. Some of the evidence included dental instruments, medications, ledgers, misc. items, and an undisclosed amount of Money.

As a result of the investigation, investigators arrested Freddie Phillipe Pascual (AKA) Freddie Chapin for practicing dentistry without an Indiana state license a level 6 felony, and criminal recklessness a class A misdemeanor. Phillipe Pascual declined to be interviewed. Phillipe Pascual was taken to the Jackson County Jail and turned over to the jail division for processing. Additional charges are still possible.

The Seymour Police Department was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff Department, Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Office of the Indiana Attorney General.

A former co-owner of the Vat & Barrel Restaurant in downtown Seymour, Indiana was arrested by Indiana State Police Troopers Monday, on multiple counts of battery after he allegedly touched multiple female employees inappropriately over the past four years.

Detective Derek Eggers, Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, began an investigation in February 2024 after a former employee of the business came forward with allegations that a co-owner, Marc Gebhart, 67, touched her inappropriately at a separate location in Seymour, Indiana in 2023.

During the investigation, Det. Eggers obtained information that additional former employees reported that they had also been touched inappropriately by Gebhart at the Vat & Barrel between the time the restaurant opened in 2020 and the time the allegations were made to law enforcement earlier this year.

Det. Eggers submitted the investigation to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office which resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for Marc Gebhart on seven misdemeanor counts of battery.

He was arrested Monday March 18th and is incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail.  Gebhart will soon face an initial court appearance in this case.

Indiana State Police Detectives were assisted by the Seymour Police Department.

Marc Gebhart, Photo Courtesy of Indiana State Police

On December 4th of last year Seymour patrol officers responded to the area of East A Ave. in the Freeman Field Industrial Complex due to call about a burglary of a warehouse belonging to Ranger Enterprises. When officers arrived at the scene, it was discovered that the door handle to the location had been manipulated and the suspects had taken several items that had a value of over $1,000.00.

The following day Investigators  developed two suspects in the investigation. Investigators also learned that one of the suspects had been arrested on a non-related incident. Investigators located the suspect vehicle in the burglary on CR 100 S in Jackson County and took possession of it.

Two days following the break in and theft, Investigators responded to a location in Kimberly Mobile Home Park after receiving information that some of the stolen property might be at the location. Investigators did locate some of the stolen property.

Investigators obtained a Jackson Superior Court 1 Search Warrant to search a 2008 Dodge Durango for evidence related to the burglary. Items taken in the burglary were in the vehicle. On December 7, 2023, Investigators attempted to speak with one of the suspects. The suspect declined to speak with investigators. The second suspect was not located at that time.

On March 13th, 2024, Investigators learned that the second suspect had been located south of Seymour. Investigators interviewed the second suspect and based on additional information obtained during the investigation, Investigators arrested Sloan M. Smith age 28 of Seymour for burglary, a level 5 felony and theft, a level 6 felony. Investigators also arrested Steven E. Fettinger Age 35 of Norman, Indiana for burglary, a level 5 felony. Smith was already incarcerated in the Jackson County Jail on other unrelated charges. Fettinger was taken to the Jackson County Jail and turned over to the jail division for processing.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services (FCACS) will be handing out pet food through their Furry Friends Food Bank distribution on Thursday, March 21st, from 4:00pm to 5:30 pm (or until supplies last) at Columbus Municipal Airport, located at 4770 Ray Boll Blvd. The pet food will be distributed in the parking lot in front of the plane, Charlie 119.

The purpose of the pantry is to assist local community members with keeping their pets in their home and out of area shelters. Pet food will be available from the van from 4:00-5:30 pm or until supplies last. Mixed brands of cat food will be distributed in 4.5 pound bags and dog food in 14.5 pound bags.

Please plan to stay in your vehicles and line up on the west side of the driveway for the food. The food will be brought to you in your vehicle.

This program is one of several Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services initiatives designed as “alternatives to intake” at the shelter. Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services is the 501(c)(3) non-profit partner of Columbus Animal Care Services.

Please note, in the event of bad weather, They will not distribute in active thunder and lightning but will if simply raining.

A missing Osgood Teen was found deceased Sunday evening.

Carson Hughes, 18, of Osgood, went missing Friday afternoon at Versailles Lake in Versailles State Park. His unlocked car with the keys inside was found Friday near the boat ramp and the search began but was postponed on Friday night.

After a two-day search, Indiana Conservation Officers recovered the body of Hughes, from Versailles Lake on Sunday evening.

According to the Indiana DNR media release, conservation officer divers utilized sonar to find Hughes in six feet of water at around 6:50 p.m.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ripley County Coroner.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says an autopsy on Hughes was completed Monday morning, and the preliminary cause of death was determined to be probable cold-water drowning.

No other evidence of injury was present. The final autopsy report and cause of death are pending toxicology results.

Carson Hughes was an avid wildlife photographer and had a following online. His mother is honoring his memory and asking others to do so by celebrating and sharing his Wildlife photography online.

Photo Courtesy of Indiana DNR