Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is planning to purchase a used mobile command center to help in emergencies and large events at a cost of just over $100,000.

Sheriff Chris Lane outlined the plan to the county commissioners yesterday, saying that the vehicle would allow the local emergency agencies to continue to operate remotely during a major disaster, or an event that took out the dispatch center. He said that the vehicle would also be used for community events, such as the fair or Hope Heritage Days.

He said there is an opportunity to buy a used vehicle from Columbus Township for about $43,500. He said it has very low miles, has been stored inside and is powered by a Cummins diesel. There will also be a need to refurbish it with five work stations and to redecorate the outside with Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department insignia at an additional cost about $49,000.

The Columbus Fire Department will use its mechanics to make some minor repairs and the Columbus Police Department has space to store it inside.

Lane said that the funding for the project will come from commissary funds and seized drug money.

County Commissioners approved the expenditure yesterday.

The Columbus Area Visitors Center is announcing several recent promotions and a new sports and leisure sales manager.

According to the county tourism agency, Kate Todd is coming to the visitors center after being executive director of the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana. Previously, she spent nearly 15 years with Indiana USSSA Softball and before that worked with CERA Park in Bartholomew County. In her new role as sports and leisure sales manager, she will be responsible for the agency’s group sales program which includes sports, group leisure and meeting markets. She will collaborate with partners to develop itineraries to create custom experiences for groups visiting Bartholomew County.

Erin Hawkins has been promoted to the Visitor Center’s director of strategic partnerships and communications. Hawkins will be working with groups across Bartholomew County on the agency’s Destination Master Plan. She will also oversee the organization’s external messaging. She joined the visitors center in 2012 as director of marketing.

Aurora Harvey was promoted to marketing manager. She will be creating content for the center’s social media, e-newsletter, blogs, and the visitor’s center website columbus.in.us.

Sami Harvey has been promoted to guest services manager.

Jackson County rescue workers saved an Edinburgh man from East Fork White River west of Seymour over the weekend.

According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, a group of people in kayaks and innertubes on the river called for help after they realized that one of the innertube riders, 32-year-old Dalton J.D. Sawyer had become separated from the group and hadn’t been seen for about 10 minutes. Deputies along with Hamilton Township and Brownstown fire departments responded to the scene near the Bell Ford Public Access Site off of State Road 258 at about 5:20 p.m. Saturday afternoon and began searching on the water and on the shore.

A deputy noticed a blue innertube caught in a log jam about a quarter of a mile north of the site. The Brownstown Fire Department used their air boat to the log jam and found Sawyer still in his inner tube but unconscious. He was pulled from the water by firefighters and brought back to the public access site, where he had already regained consciousness. Jackson County medics took him to Schneck Medical Center where he was treated and released with no injuries.

Sheriff Rick Meyer praised all of the departments, saying that without their quick response and teamwork this could have turned deadly.

A traffic stop last week led to the arrest of two people on drug-related charges.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy noticed a vehicle travelling on 22nd Street on Thursday and recognized that the driver 32-year-old Sarah Caffee of Columbus had a suspended license. The deputy tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver continued for several blocks before Caffee and a passenger jumped out and ran away.

Other law enforcement came to the area and soon found Caffee on Newton Street, where she was taken into custody without further incident. A search of the vehicle found narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia.

The passenger, 27-year-old Donovan Martin was also found nearby and taken into custody. Deputies found narcotics and drug paraphernalia in the area dropped by Martin while he was fleeing.

Caffee told authorities that she didn’t stop the vehicle immediately because Martin threatened her with a gun. No gun was found in the vehicle or the area.

Caffee is facing preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, resisting law enforcement and reckless driving, along with charges for possessing a legend drug, a narcotic drug, a syringe and drug paraphernalia.

Martin is being accused of intimidation with a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement and for possessing cocaine, a legend drug, a syringe and drug paraphernalia.

Ivy Tech Community College Columbus biology professors will be leading a nature hike at Mill Race Park on Saturday.

The hike will focus on learning more about the natural environment including birds and wild flowers.

The hike will start at 7:30 Saturday and hikers should gather at the parking area by the basketball court near the covered bridge.

The hike is open to the public, and you are invited to attend. You should dress appropriately for the outdoors and the weather. Ivy Tech will have several pairs of binoculars available but if you have some you are encouraged to bring them.

A McCordsville man is facing charges in Bartholomew County after allegedly stealing a tractor and a luxury car Friday.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to an incident near West Lowell Road and North County Road 250W at about 6:52 p.m. Friday evening after an owner reported a stolen tractor. According to the victim, a man took the tractor, and drove it several hundred yards before the owner caught up to him. The man then ran away.

Deputies found the man urinating in the road, and then he ran away again into a nearby field, before being quickly caught. A search of the suspect, 20-year-old Derrick Jordan recovered a key to the Lexus and several vehicle registration cards. The Lexus was reported stolen out of McCordsville and a search recovered the vehicle nearby at an interstate rest stop.

Jordan is facing charges including two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, public indecency and resisting law enforcement.

Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana will be moving its annual Labor Day weekend concert indoors and charging for tickets to the event.

The hospice is announcing the details of the annual event to be held on Saturday, Aug. 31st at the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park. This will be the first concert at the new facility off of 25th Street, part of the former Fair Oaks Mall. Organizers are touting the ability to hold an event that will no longer be dependent on the weather.

The show will feature Jennie DeVoe, The Rock Show: The Ultimate Tribute to Journey and The Woomblies Rock Orchestra as headliners.

The concert is in its 38th year and is the largest fundraiser for Our Hospice. The organization, based in Columbus, provides care for more than 300 patients in 22 counties throughout south-central Indiana.

Dunlap General and Mechanical Contractors will be the title sponsor this year and Columbus Regional Health will be partner sponsor.

Tickets will be $10 each and can be purchased starting Monday, July 1ts at ourhospice.org/concert.

Photo: Woomblies Rock Orchestra courtesy of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.