A Greensburg man is facing several felony charges after allegedly pointing a gun at another person and then fighting with police.

According to the Columbus Police Department, city officers and Bartholomew County deputies were called to a disturbance in the 600 block of Maple Street at about 1 a.m. Sunday morning. Witnesses said that 31-year-old Jesse J. Sparks had pointed the weapon and then fled the scene in a red minivan. Police found a vehicle matching that description shortly afterwards on 25th Street and pulled it over.

Police say that Sparks refused to cooperate and to get out of the vehicle. Officers attempted to grab his arms but he continued to resist and try to reach back into the vehicle. After using a Taser, police say that they were able to take Sparks into custody. A search found that Sparks was carrying a large amount of methamphetamine and cash along with a pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants.

A deputy was slightly injured during the fight and taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.

A search of the vehicle recovered a backpack that contained more meth, packaged as if for sale.

Police also found a small child in the back seat of the vehicle who was released to the care of a family member.

Sparks was arrested on preliminary charges including: Dealing in Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Neglect of a Dependent, Intimidation with a Firearm, Pointing a Firearm and Resisting Law Enforcement.

Photos courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

Seymour rocker John Mellencamp is on tour, including a stop next week at Ball State University.

According to an announcement from the school, the “Live and In Person 2024” tour will include a stop at Emens Auditorium in Muncie on March 22nd. The tour started this month and is hitting 27 cities wrapping up in Savannah Georgia, in April. Next on the schedule is Hartford, Connecticut on Wednesday

The tour is in support of Mellencamp’s new album “Orpheus Descending,” his 25th studio album.

You can get more information and sign up for tickets at mellencamp.com.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is welcoming two new deputies.

According to the department, Sheriff Chris Lane recently swore in the new merit deputies Ben Clancy and William Martin.

Clancy, 25, is originally from Columbus but now lives in Seymour. He graduated from Columbus East High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps in a security forces detail.

The 23-year-old Martin is from Sellersburg and graduated from Henryville High School. He also served in the Marines in infantry and security forces. Previously he worked as a corrections officer in the Floyd County Jail.

Lane said that  “(the) new deputies will be given the proper training and tools to go out and make a difference in our community.”

According to the department, the hiring process includes written and physical tests along with interviews and a background investigation. The department is accepting applications through April 30th.

You can get more information at policeapp.com.

Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities are warning about a new phone scam hitting the area, where scammers record your responses to questions to access your accounts.

According to the Edinburgh Police Department, the scammers pretend to be with the Department of Homeland Security and ask if you are having any packages delivered and then other questions such as to verify your name, if needed. They are fishing for you to say the word “Yes” As soon as you say “Yes” to any question they will then hang up.

Once they have the recording of you saying “Yes” and your name, then can then use your own voice to access your online accounts.

The Department of Homeland Security warns you to be suspicious of telephone calls or emails claiming to be from DHS as scammers can fake caller ID information. The department says that it never makes outgoing calls from the numbers listed on its websites as contact numbers. If you receive a call, you should not provide any personal information.

A flood warning remains in effect for East Fork White River at Seymour.

According to the National Weather Service, minor flooding is expected and minor flooding has been happening. The river crested yesterday at 13.72 feet, which is 1.7 feet above the 12 foot minor flood stage. As of this morning, the river is at 12.5 feet, about six inches above the minor flood stage. It is expected to drop back below flood levels by this afternoon.

The flood warning remains in effect until early Tuesday morning.

A Columbus home suffered serious damages after a Sunday afternoon fire on Pearl Street.

According to the Columbus Fire Department, neighbors reported a house on fire in the 2600 block of Pearl Street at just before noon Sunday. Columbus police were first on the scene and found thick black smoke blowing across the street. Firefighters removed part of a privacy fence to reach the fire at the back of the home. A search crew found no one inside the home and firefighters made their way inside through heavy smoke and high heat. They had to remove sections of the ceiling as the fire had reached into the attic.

It took about 25 minutes to get the fire under control. A family member who lived nearby said that the residents were away from the home and their pet was staying with that family member.

Firefighters say the home was extensively damaged, both by the flames and smoke but also water damage. Damages are estimated at $75,000.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.

Columbus Township Fire and Rescue Department has started the search for its new chief.

Applications are now open for the chief position, left vacant when the previous chief, Dave Thompson, resigned in late February. Thompson had been with the fire department for more than 12 years and has served as chief for seven years. Josh Ferrenburg has serving as acting chief while a search for a replacement is underway.

The department is offering pay of $57,000 a year and requires 10 years of fire service, with seven years as a supervisor.

Applications are open through April 2nd. You can find more information here: https://columbustwpfirerescue.org/chief

Columbus has made a Newsweek magazine Top 10 list of best community arts scenes in the country.

According to the Columbus Area Visitors Center, the list was released yesterday, which places Columbus sixth in the country, just behind St. Augustine Florida.

The Newsweek blurb about the city focuses on the modernist architecture here as well as the three public art installations by Dale Chihuly.

According to the visitors center, nominations were made by an expert panel of travel writers, and the public voted for the honor.

Erin Hawkins, spokeswoman for the visitors center congratulated “all our outstanding arts organizations on this honor; it’s their great work that earned us these bragging rights” She said residents know how fortuntate the city is to enjoy so many opportunities for art in the community.

Bloomington and Nashville also both made the list, coming in at 8th and 10th.

First Christian Church photo courtesy of Landmark Columbus Foundation.

The Bartholomew County Health Department’s Nursing Division will be holding a kids health fair on Saturday.

The event will offer immunizations, lead screenings, dental screenings, face painting, information from community partners and free bike helmets while they last. By visiting all the booths you also have a chance to win a bicycle.

Among the partners will be Columbus Regional Hospital’s Healthy Communities, the Safe Kids Bartholomew County Coalition, the Bike Co-op, Purdue Extension, Well Connect, United Way and the Indiana Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Division .

The health fair will be from 10 to 1 on Saturday at the Nursing Division’s offices at 2625 Foxpointe Drive in Columbus.

A Westport man is under arrest, accused of walking away from the scene of an accident after he had been drinking.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to the scene of the crash at 6:27 p.m. Thursday evening at the intersection of State Highway 3 and County Road 675 North. Witnesses said that the vehicle’s driver walked north on the highway and then into the woods. When deputies entered the woods they saw the man running away. Despite being ordered to stop, he continued to flee and eventually was subdued with a Taser.

31 year old Bradley Lovingood was taken to a hospital to be checked out, then arrested on preliminary charges including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting law enforcement.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by North Vernon police and fire departments, Jennings County medics and Lucas Wrecker Service. .