A Sunday morning stop of a wanted man in Jennings County led to an arrest on drug trafficking charges.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, a deputy was patrolling in the 4000 Block of West County Road 500S at about 8 Sunday morning when he recognized 31-year-old Billy Erwin, 31, of North Vernon, who was wanted on an outstanding Jackson County warrant.

Erwin was sitting in a vehicle in a driveway and when Deputy Max Marcoux approached, his police dog, Creed, alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. That led to a search which uncovered 11 grams of fentanyl, more than 50 syringes, and other evidence Erwin was distributing fentanyl.

Erwin was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing in a narcotic as well as for possessing the drugs and syringes.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department

A Bartholomew County family farm is being recognized by the state after more than 100 years in operation.

According to local legislators, the Schroer Farm has been in operation since 1886 and recently received a Hoosier Homestead Centennial Award.

State Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, a Shelbyville Republican, and Columbus State Sen. Greg Walker praised the family’s persistence. Meltzer said that she hopes long-standing farm families “continue to pass down these businesses and keep their traditions alive for generations to come.”

Walker said the family farms “allow Indiana to remain a leader in the agriculture industry.” He thanked the Schroers for their contribution to Indiana’s economy.

The farm was of 104 awardees recently recognized at the Indiana State Fair for centennial, sesquicentennial or bicentennial Hoosier Homestead awards.

Since the awards were established in 1976, the state has honored more than 6,000 farms. The deadline to nominate a farm for the next ceremonies is Nov. 1st.

You can find a link on our website.

Local and state police departments are going to be cracking down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, with a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign going on through Labor Day weekend.

According to the North Vernon Police Department, agencies are taking part in the campaign which will include overtime patrols targeting those driving under the influence.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to contribute to many deaths in Indiana. According to the institute, in 2023, around 20% of all traffic fatalities in Indiana involved alcohol impairment. Drug-impaired driving is another major contributor to deadly crashes. Last year, nearly a quarter of all traffic fatalities involved drug impairment.

With officers showing zero tolerance throughout the campaign, police recommend celebrating the end of summer responsibly by having a safety plan in place. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. Even if you only have one drink, designate a sober driver or use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.

The Jackson County prosecutor’s office is adding new charges in the case of a Missouri woman accused of a plot to kill her mother’s husband in Jackson County in 2022.

30-year-old Ashley N. Jones of Bellflower, Missouri, was arrested last year on preliminary charges including murder, attempted murder and burglary. According to the sheriff’s department, the state is adding two counts of attempted murder, and the life imprisonment without parole enhancement to the case against Jones.

Harold Allen died in December of 2022 after being poisoned with ethylene glycol. The investigation into Jones and her mother Marsha Allen began last year. Police searched Allen’s cell phone and uncovered evidence that she and Jones had plotted together to poison the man.

New evidence comes from a search of Jones e-mail address after a warrant was served against Apple. The emails confirm that in November 2022 Jones ordered five dried Pong Pong seeds. The seeds produce a toxin that can be used to interfere with the heart and have been used in suicides. Further, in December Jones ordered hemlock, the most dangerously toxic plant that grows in North America.

Authorities say that the email evidence further shows that Jones and Allen used the toxins in food and drinks prepared for Harold Allen.

Jones allegedly confessed last year that she ordered ethylene glycol off of the internet and that Marsha Allen had used it in Harold Allen’s drink to poison him. Marsha Allen has also since died.

Local organizations are receiving shares of just over $1 million in grants awarded by the state to encourage entrepreneurism.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation announced the grants today from the new Community Collaboration Fund. The fund was launched in October and provides matching grants to benefit Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on education, connection and acceleration. The agency received more than 80 applications for its 2024 grants and announced 32 awards today.

In Jackson County, the Jackson County Chamber’s SPARK initiative is receiving a $40,000 award for a new program called FUEL. That will be a series of micro projects including a corporate-entrepreneur pitch competition and a middle school entrepreneurship program.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce received a just over $11,850 award for its Catalyzing Community & Connection program. The program is meant to help prevent entrepreneurs to become siloed into the type of venture they are creating. There will be a fall and spring meetup series and an awards showcase that will feature 13 meetups in total.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing more than $98 thousand dollars in grants to local organizations through its Community Fund.

Each year, Heritage Fund distributes between $600,000 and $700,000 in grants from the Community Fund. The unrestricted funds are meant to meet needs in the areas of Youth Development, Downtown Vibrancy; Arts, Culture, and Architecture and Responsive Community Need

Among the largest grant recipients were

• $62,100 to Bartholomew Consolidated Schools to support mental health resources for parents of Bartholomew County students
• $15,810 to Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program to support a design build pilot program in partnership with city of Columbus
• $15,000 to the Bartholomew County Public Library to support development of a community event calendar
• $13,500 to Bartholomew County Parks to support strategic planning
• $12,500 to Indiana Landmarks to support National Historic Landmark designations for three local buildings

Grants also went to Foundation Giving Hope, Inc. and Su Casa Columbus.

The next quarterly grant application deadline is September 1st.

For more information you can call Heritage Fund at 812-376-7772.

Seymour police have made an arrest in a burglary earlier this week of a fertilizer plant.

According to the police department, officers were called to Anderson’s Fertilizer Plant on Agrico Lane in Seymour Monday about a burglary. Among the items stolen were wire, battery powered tools and brass fittings. Property was also damaged during the burglary, police say.

Investigators gathered numerous items of evidence. Later Monday, they received information about a possible suspect, 38-year-old Jacob R. Cockerham of Seymour. A search warrant was served at his East County Avenue home and police found items from the burglary out in plain view. The search also recovered more items. A search of his vehicle on Thursday recovered items related to the burglary.

Cockerham confessed to the burglary, and said he had gone to the business on two occasions, police say. He was arrested on preliminary charges of burglary and theft.

Uncommon Cause, an annual fundraiser for the Columbus Area Arts Council, is coming up next weekend with a theme of Hats of to the Arts.

Organizers say that the event will honor long-time local arts advocates Ken and Cheryl Veith. There will be a live auction, silent art auction, awards to the best dressed awards, photo booth, appetizers and a cash bar. Music will be by Milligan.

It will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 24th at the Harrison Lake Country Club. Tickets are $150 each. You can buy tickets online at arts here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uncommon-cause-2024-hats-off-to-the-arts-tickets-940569126577

Note: This story has been edited

A Columbus man is facing charges after an investigation into child pornography and solicitation.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force started the investigation after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. On Wednesday, police arrested 35-year-old Eric Dicken on felony charges for possession of child pornography and child solicitation.

Earlier this year Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Prosecutor’s office and Columbus Police Department formed the local Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Under the agreement, the task force investigates tips referred by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The task force will also assist other agencies investigating those crimes here, including executing search warrants, interviewing suspects or witnesses and offering the use of equipment and the expertise of technicians.

Since forming the task force in June, this is the second child exploitation arrest in the county.

The investigation is ongoing.

A pet food pantry distribution is set for this afternoon at the Columbus Municipal Airport.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services will be holding their Furry Friends Food Bank giveaway from 4 to 5:30 p.m. or until the food runs out. The pet food will be distributed in the airport parking lot at 4770 Ray Boll Boulevard in front of the Charlie 119 cargo plane.

The purpose of the pantry is to assist community members in need to keep their pets in their homes and out of area shelters. If you take part you should stay in your vehicle and the food will be brought to you.

Cat food will be distributed in 4.5 pound bags and dog food in 14.5 pound bags.

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services is the non-profit partner of the city-operated animal shelter.