A Washington County man has been arrested, accused of striking a victim with a handgun last fall.

According to the Indiana State Police, the incident happened in September when an alleged victim reported that he had been struck in the head with a handgun while standing by a car outside the home of 39-year-old Gerald P. Hamilton of Campbellsburg. witnesses also said that Hamilton pointed the gun at the victim’s girlfriend after she witnessed the attack.

An investigation was started including a subpoena for comments Hamilton made on social media about the incident. An arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday and he was taken into custody this morning without incident.

He is facing charges of batter by means of a deadly weapon, intimidation and pointing a firearm.

A Columbus chiropractic practice is donating $20,000 to local organizations.

Family Chiropractic and Wellness is announcing pledges to donate $10,000 to Recovery Cafe Columbus and $10,000 for Beloved Bags as its philanthropy picks for this year.

In the 14 years the practice has been operational, the business has raised more than half a million dollars for more than 20 local non profit groups. The business makes a donation for every new patient that comes in for a comprehensive exam and consultation.

Christina Smith, with the practice says that the business and its owner, Dr. Mandy Wyant, is committed to supporting “incredible non-profits that impact our communities in such a positive way.”

Beloved Bags is a non profit that provides bags for children who are separated from unstable or dangerous living conditions, so that they don’t have to carry their belongings in garbage bags.

Recovery Cafe Columbus is an organization that provides a safe, drug and alcohol free space to help those in recovery gain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment.

The Crump Theatre will be featuring a demonstration and performances of Japanese Taiko drumming at an event on Sunday.

Jess Schnepp, project manager for The Crump explains.

Taiko is a form of traditional Japanese ensemble drumming performed on large wooden drums.

The event is being presented by Southern Indiana Taiko and will feature performances by students as well as professional Taiko artists Eddie Yates and Mark Rooney. The event is being funded by grants and support from The Columbus Area Arts Council, the Indiana Arts Commission and Arts Midwest.

Schnepp explains:

Schnepp says  that the show will start at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the theater on Third Street in downtown Columbus.

Tickets are $15 and red carpet passes are available for $25.

You can find buy tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taiko-thunder-the-art-of-japanese-drumming-tickets-1215281512719

You can hear more about the Crump Theater this weekend on News & Views, our weekend news show. You can hear it at 9:30 on Saturday and 9 on Sunday morning, here on news Talk 10-10 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

Photo courtesy of Southern Indiana Taiko 

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is announcing the officer of the year award winners for the districts in our area.

In District 6, Conservation Officer Trevor Sager has been selected for the honor. He has been a conservation officer for three years and serves as a field officer, field training officer, remotely operated vehicle search operator, passenger for hire inspector, public information officer, and background investigator for the division.

Sager has served as a conservation officer for three years in Monroe County.

District 6 includes Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson, and Shelby counties.

In District 8, which includes Jackson County in our area, Officer Claire Jenkins has been chosen for the award. She has been with the department for two years, and serves a field officer and a public information officer in Scott County.

In District 9, which includes Jennings and Decatur counties in our area, Conservation Officer Steve Kinne, has received the award. He has been a conservation officer since 1985, and was part of the agency’s investigative division for 11 years before returning to field patrol in Switzerland County.

They are all now in the running for the James D. Pitzer Award for the statewide officer of the year. The award recognizes Pitzer who was fatally shot in 1961 while investigating illegal hunting in Jay County.

Columbus City Council is weighing new requirements for open space in proposed subdivisions.

The changes to the city’s subdivision control ordinance were presented to the council this week after being approved unanimously by Columbus Plan Commission last month. It would require larger subdivisions to provide space for public open areas. Jeff Bergman, the city planning director, said that there would be no change to the rules for subdivisions being planned for 50 or less homes, but developments would 50 to 299 homes would be required to have a mini park in their design, while large subdivisions would be required to have a full neighborhood park.

The open space would have to be built into the design as a single space, with a regular shape suitable for a variety of recreational uses. After being constructed, the space would either be donated to the city of Columbus or the Columbus Park Foundation which would then maintain the area, or be designated as a common area maintained by a home owners association.

City Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on first reading. All ordinances require two approvals before being put into effect.

Seymour city planners are looking for applicants for this year’s Curb Appeal program.

The program offers matching grants for home improvement projects that enhance the appearance and quality of properties and enhance neighborhood aesthetic appeal.

The program is open to owner-occupied homes or rental properties in the city of Seymour. All projects must be visible from the street or sidewalk and the owner or tenant must have an income of less than $100,000 a year.

The grant awards a maximum of $500 for projects of $1,000 or more for individual homes, or up to $750 for projects $1,500 or more submitted by neighbors. The program provides reimbursement for some costs, such as materials and for professional labor.

The program, run through the city’s Planning and Zoning Department, has been going on for four years and has led to more than $229,000 in improvement project investments in the city.

Building Commissioner Jeremy Gray said homeowners are “able to make their homes look better which makes neighborhoods look better.”

You can find information on applying by callingPatty Tormoehlen at 812-522-4746 or email [email protected] For more information:  https://seymourin.org/images/2021/pdf/Curb-Appeal-Grant-Program.pdf

You could have a hard time seeing if you have to be out on the road this morning.

A dense fog advisory has been issued for our area through 9 a.m. The National Weather Service says visibility could be a quarter of a mile or less in some spots, making for hazardous driving.

The weather service suggests that you slow down, use your low-beam headlights and allow plenty of stopping distance ahead of you. Forecasters say you will only have seconds to react to hazards in front of you if you are driving in dense fog.

An area concrete and building materials company is getting recognized by a statewide trade organization.

The Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association has announced that Shelby Materials is the recipient of its 2024 Producer of the Year Award.

Shelby Materials, headquartered in Shelbyville, has 12 plants in Indiana including its Shelbyville, Columbus, Edinburgh, Franklin, Nashville and Seymour. Shelby Materials is in its seventh decade and has more than 225 employees.

According to the association, the award recognizes Shelby Materials for its involvement and contributions to the association and to the concrete industry. The association’s mission is to advocate for industry advancements and to collaborate to develop a stronger, more sustainable concrete industry in the state.

Photo: Shelby Materials recently received a statewide award, from left, Dustin Hartman, Director of Sales, President Matt Haehl, Executive Vice President Parker Haehl, and Eric Wagoner, Quality Control Director. Photo courtesy of Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association.

A Nashville man is being accused of possessing child pornography.

According to the Indiana State Police, an investigation began more than four months ago after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about explicit content through an online messaging app. The Kik Messenger app alerted authorities that they had located child pornography on a user’s account.

That led Indiana State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to 35 year old Dustin Lee Stinson. A search of his home was made by Task Force agencies, including Indiana State Police, the U.S. Secret Service, the State Police Digital Forensics Unit, and troopers from the Bloomington District. Authorities seized electronic and digital media devices and child pornography files were then recovered from the devices, police say.

He was arrested Wednesday on four counts of possession of child pornography.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana

Ascension St. Vincent says its new hospital in Indianapolis will be named the Lucas Family Brain and Spine Hospital after the Lucas Oil company’s founders.

Katie Lucas, President of Lucas Oil and Board Chair of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation, said that the family has experienced firsthand the quality of care from the hospital over more than 20 years.

Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil, grew up in Columbus, and started work as a truck driver before starting his own trucking company.

According to the hospital, the new 109,000-square-foot hospital will feature 38 ICU rooms, eight operating suites, and two interventional neuroradiology labs. Ascension St. Vincent broke ground on the hospital in November 2022, and it is scheduled to open this summer. The facility is part of a $325 million expansion of the 86th Street Campus.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana