Monthly Archives: January 2025

North Vernon authorities rescue dog from Muscatatuck River ice

North Vernon police saved a dog last weekend that was stuck on the ice on the Muscatatuck River.

According to the North Vernon Police Department, officers were called to the 300 block of Flintwood Drive about an animal emergency at about 11:49 a.m. in the morning on Saturday, January 25th. Police arrived and found the owner who said they could not get down a steep hill to rescue their dog, and they were afraid of falling through the ice themselves.

The dog, Dino had fallen halfway through the ice. North Vernon police and firefighters worked to free Dino, and after several attempts were able to get the dog to safety.

Dino was reunited with his family and did not suffer any life-threatening injuries. The family said later that he was doing great.

Funeral arrangements announced for Bishop Sims

Calvary Community Church of the Apostolic Faith in Columbus is updating memorial services for the church’s former pastor and founder Bishop Charles A. Sims.

Sims died last week at the age of 81. He co-founded the church with his wife Jane in 1975 and served as pastor until his retirement in 2023. He was well known in the community and state as a civil rights leader.

A local funeral will be held at 11 a.m. in the morning Wednesday at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Columbus with pastors Frank Griffin, James Wood and Mark Teike officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the services at the church.

Services will also be held starting at 11 a.m. Friday at Christ Temple Apostolic Church in Indianapolis. Visition in Indianapolis will begin at 9 a.m.

He will be laid to rest at the mausoleum at Garland Brook Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to the Calvary MLK Scholarship fund.

Barkes, Weaver and Glick is in charge of funeral arrangements. You can get more information at barkesweaverglick.com

Couple arrested in downtown Columbus drug investigation

Christopher Riddle. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

A husband and wife have been arrested in Columbus, accused of dealing drugs downtown.

According to the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, investigator’s had been looking into the possibility that 46-year-old Christopher Riddle of Columbus was dealing drugs from his apartment in the 600 block of California Street.

Riddle was already on parole after being sentenced for unlawful firearm possession by
a serious felon, and dealing in cocaine or a narcotics drugs. On Thursday, police and deputies working as the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team along with the the Columbus Intelligence Led Policing Unit and the parole department served a search warrant at the apartment. That’s where they discovered 33 grams of cocaine, 40 grams of methamphetamine, 29 grams of fentanyl, 5 grams of K2 spice, and drug paraphernalia.

Riddle was arrested on preliminary felony charges of:
-Dealing in cocaine, methamphetamine, and a narcotic drug, Maintaining a common nuisance, and for possessing a syringe and a controlled substance. He is also being charged with possession of paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Jami Riddle. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Riddle’s wife, 52-year-old Jami Riddle was also arrested. She is facing preliminary charges of Maintaining a common nuisance, possession of cocaine and of drug paraphernalia.

Exhibit Columbus to unveil this year’s designs for downtown

You will be able to preview the designs for the next round of Exhibit Columbus installations, with an event coming up later in February.

According to the organizers with the Landmark Columbus Foundation, say that the presentations will be coming up on Saturday, February 22nd at City Hall. They will include the designs to be installed around the community starting later this summer with creations by four recipients of the J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize, six University Design Research Fellowship teams, the High School Design Team, Communication Designer, and Bartholomew Consolidated Schools STEM program 5th and 6th graders.

Doors for the event will open at 8:15 a.m. in the morning on February 22nd and refreshments will be served by Lucabe Coffee Co. The presentations will begin at 8:30 am. You can get more information at exhibitcolumbus.org.

Forecasters warn of patchy fog this morning; Rain still in forecast

You could see some patchy fog out there this morning.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says we can expect light rain, drizzle and the patchy fog across the area. Visibility could be less than a quarter of a mile in some spots.

If you have to be on the roads, they suggest that you slow down, leave extra room between you and vehicles in front of you and give yourself extra time to reach your destination.

Elizabethtown man accused of distributing child porn images online

Kordell T. Nienaber. Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

A Jennings County man has been arrested, accused of possession of child pornography.

According to the Indiana State Police, Jennings County deputies received a tip on Tuesday from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, saying that a Jennings County resident had been sharing and receiving pornographic images of children through a social media app. Investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children-Indiana Task Force, were able to quickly identify the address in Jennings County where the images were being distributed.

Officers served a search warrant at a home in Elizabethtown Wednesday, where they found more evidence. 27-year-old Kordell T. Nienaber was arrested and is facing a felony charge of possessing child porn.

Troopers say that the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

Scammers impersonate deputies in phone schemes

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is again warning about scammers pretending to be a deputy and threatening you with arrest if you don’t give them money.

The department has been getting reports of someone claiming to be a Deputy Bryant and attempting to extort money from residents over the last several days. The calls even may appear to your caller ID as if they are coming from the sheriff’s department.

Scammers frequently impersonate law enforcement officials over the phone. They try to get you to give up your personal information or make payments to them to supposedly satisfy fake warrants or claims that you missed jury duty. Scammers are able to spoof your Caller ID so that the number appears to be legitimate.

Authorities warn you not to give out your personal or financial information to a caller. Law enforcement officers will never ask for you to make a payment over the phone to avoid arrest. And they will never ask you to purchase gift cards or prepaid debit cards to pay a debt or fine.

If you have any questions you should hang up and call your local authorities. The sheriff’s departments says you can call 812 379 1650 if you need to put your mind at ease.

Jail contract employee accused of trafficking with inmates

A Jackson County Jail contractor has been arrested, accused of trafficking and sexual misconduct with an inmate.

According to the sheriff’s department, an investigation began after officials received a tip about trafficking with inmates. Sheriff Rick Meyer, Lt. Adam Nicholson and Jail Commander Chris Everhart began an investigation and based on surveillance video and witness statements, they concluded that 54 year old Ann Sebastian of Crothersville was attempting to bring contraband into the jail and passing it on to inmates. Officers also gathered information that Sebastian had sexual contact with an inmate.

On Wednesday, deputies detained and questioned Sebastian. Deputies say that she cooperated fully and admitted her involvement. she was arrested on felony charges of trafficking with an inmate and sexual misconduct with an inmate.

The sheriff says the investigation is ongoing and more charges and arrests are expected.

Two injured after fall through ice on frozen lake

Two men were injured after a Crothersville man fell through the ice while fishing Wednesday.

According to conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 76-year-old Jasper Combs of Crothersville was about 100 yards from the shore when he fell through the ice on Elk Creek Lake in Washington County at about 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon.

Another fisherman, 67-year-old Bernard Broadus, of Georgetown, heard Combs call for help and attempted to rescue him. That’s when Broadus also fell through. Officers say that Broadus spent about five minutes in the water before being able to free himself.

Other anglers had called 911 for assistance, and a Washington County deputy and Gibson Township firefighter were able to throw a rope to Combs and rescue him. By that time he had been clinging to the ice for nearly 45 minutes.

Conservation Officers urge you to wear a life jacket whenever you are participating in activities on or near the water.

Brownstown Fire Department also assisted at the scene.