Jennings County Sheriff Deputies helped put out a fire and evacuated apartments after a fire was reported. On March 14th JCSO Deputies and NVPD Officers were dispatched to Moir Street Apartments about a reported fire. Upon arrival officers were able to determine that the smoke was coming from an apartment in the basement of the building. Deputy Michael Watts and Officer Connor Emily were able to locate the apartment and talk to the resident. While talking the officers could see heavy smoke and flames coming from the bathroom. Deputy Watts used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire while Officer Emily got the resident out of the building. The other two floors of the building were also evacuated during this time.
The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office wants to take this time to remind citizens to please have smoke detectors in your home and to make sure to replace the batteries on a regular basis.

Screen Grab from Deputy Watts’ bodycam footage courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Office

Jennings County Sheriff’s Department press release

In the midafternoon hours of March 11, 2025, Jennings County E911 received a phone call that a male had passed away. The caller told dispatchers that she had last spoke to the male approximately 20 minutes prior to finding him deceased. Deputies and Detectives immediately responded to the residence.

Once on scene Deputy Max Marcoux was lead into the residence and directed to where the male was found. Deputy Marcoux immediately recognized that the male had been deceased longer than what the caller had stated. At this time, Deputy Marcoux and Detective Ian McPherson secured the scene and began to interview those who were at the residence. During the interviews, Deputies and Detectives were able to get the caller, Tina Pelsor (46), to admit that she had not given them an accurate timeline. Deputies and Detectives were also able to clearly observe that the female caller was intoxicated.

Jennings County Coroner’s Office arrived on scene and informed Deputies, that in his professional opinion, the male had been deceased a minimum of two hours. Deputies and Detectives confronted the female caller with this information and began to ask further questions. In the process of further questioning, the female admitted to Methamphetamine use and that there was Methamphetamine and paraphernalia in the residence. Deputy Max Marcoux was able to get consent to search the residence.

While conducting a search of the residence, Deputy Owen Miller located a female hiding in a closet. The female, Wanda Arnold (57), was detained and it was later learned that she had an active felony warrant through Jennings County. Deputies began to interview Wanda in reference to the deceased male as well. During the interview, Deputies observed that Wanda was also intoxicated and that she also lived at the residence. Deputy Marcoux was able to get consent to search Wanda’s room as well.

Cause of death is still being determined by Jennings County Coroner’s Office, however no foul play is suspected. Once the search of the bedrooms was completed, Wanda and Tina were taken to Jennings County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

Tina Pelsor

• Possession of Paraphernalia- C Misdemeanor
• Failure to Report a Dead Body- A Misdemeanor
• Obstruction of Justice- Level 6 Felony
• Assisting a Criminal- Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine- Level 6 Felony

Wanda Arnold

• Possession of Paraphernalia- C Misdemeanor
• Failure to Report a Dead Body- A Misdemeanor Warrant for Probation Violation for Possession of Methamphetamine- Level 6 Felony
• Obstruction of Justice- Level 6 Felony
• Possession of Methamphetamine- Level 6 Felony

Investigating Deputies:

• Deputy Max Marcoux
• Deputy Owen Miller
• Detective Ian McPherson
• Deputy Stephen Greene
• Chief Deputy Cody Low
• Sheriff Kenny Freeman

Assisting Agencies:
Jennings County E911, Jennings County Rescue20, Jennings County Coroner’s Office

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department is recognizing first responders who helped save the life of a choking baby last year.

According to the sheriff’s department, Sheriff Kenny Freeman presented the Life Saving Award to deputies Blake Maynard and Dylan Smock, as well as North Vernon Police Department officer Joe Watts on Wednesday.

The deputies and officer were called to a home in Country Squire Lakes in December about a 15 day old baby who was struggling to breathe. The deputies were able to clear the infant’s restricted airway and monitored the baby’s condition until medics arrived.

Freeman said he was proud of the deputies and officers and the valuable relationship between the county and city departments. He said North Vernon officers never hesitate to assist deputies when needed.

Photo courtesy of Jennings County Sheriff’s Department.

The Jackson County Jail Commander spoke at a national panel held last week on mental illness.

According to the sheriff’s department, Commander Chris Everhart was selected to serve on a panel at the National Alliance for Mental Illness conference in Indianapolis about the importance of medication assisted treatment within the jail. Among the topics were the challenges, funding and positive benefits of being able to provide treatment in the jail.

Everhart said that the treatment is another tool to use and said “we must fight addiction and help people to a path of recovery.”

Sheriff Rick Meyer said “Everhart is recognized around the State of Indiana as a leader in drug addiction assistance for incarcerated individuals and we are lucky to have him right here in Jackson County.”

The Jackson County Jail has partnered with Centerstone to provide services to those being incarcerated and has started several programs for those struggling with addiction.

The panel was held Friday, March 7th, in Indianapolis.

Forecasters say, we are in for some windy weather heading into the weekend.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a wind advisory for our area. That is in effect from 5 p.m. Friday afternoon through 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. Forecasters say that we can expect south winds of 20 to 30 mph, with wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph possible. Even higher wind gusts are possible during showers and thunderstorms Friday night into early Saturday.

You can expect the winds to blow around any unsecured items you might have outside. Tree limbs could also be blown down and some power outages are possible. And the winds could make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

The weather service also warns there could be a risk of fires spreading out of control as the relative humidity drops and winds blow, spreading any open flames. They suggest you avoid any outdoor burning and be careful where you dispose of any smoking materials.

A Bartholomew County man was convicted of child molesting and being a habitual offender on Thursday.
Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Holden-Kay announced yesterday that Thomas Neal of Columbus, Indiana was convicted by a jury after a two-day trial
in Bartholomew County Circuit Court.
Detective Jason Lancaster began an investigation on March 9th of last year when the sheriff’s office received a report of offenses pertaining to sexual abuse of a child. The Sheriff’s Office conducted a full and thorough investigation that led to the arrest of Thomas Neal a couple of weeks later on March 22, 2024.
The jury deliberated for twenty minutes before reaching a verdict as to the criminal
offense and spent less than five minutes deciding the Habitual Offender enhancement. Neal is
scheduled to be sentenced on April 10th, 2025.

The 27th annual Empty Bowls charity soup dinner is serving Saturday at Central Middle School.

The event supports area food pantries and shelters. According to organizers, the need for food has doubled in our area over the last four years. Love Chapel is now serving more than 1,500 families a month and preparing 800 packages weekly for use by students in need at local schools.

All of the proceeds will go to support local groups including Love Chapel, Turning Point, the Salvation Army, the Community Center of Hope, Thrive Alliance, and Human Services, Inc.’s Horizon House.

If you attend Saturday’s dinner, you will be able to enjoy unlimited soup, bread and cookies. And you can also purchase unique ceramic bowls made by local artists, teachers and students just for the event.

The food will be served from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $20 for adults. You can purchase tickets here: https://www.classy.org/event/empty-bowls-2025/e645650

Forecasters now say that our area is in for a slight risk of severe storms Friday night into early Saturday as a strong system moves across the state.

According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, there is the potential for a fast moving line of severe storms to move across the state with the highest risk of severe weather in western Indiana. We could see some damaging winds here with gusts of up to 30 mph Friday and nearly 40 mph Saturday.

Heavy rain with up to an inch possible Saturday and localized flooding is also possible as the storm system moves through our area.

Forecasters say that there is still a great deal of uncertainty on the exact timing and severity of the storm.

A North Vernon man was arrested in Dearborn County on drug charges after police recovered 29 grams of fentanyl.

According to the Dearborn County Prosecutor’s office, James Watkins of North Vernon is now facing a formal charge of dealing in a narcotic drug in the incident which happened earlier this month.

Police say that on March 6th, an Indiana State Police trooper noticed a vehicle making traffic violations and passed the information on to Aurora police, who stopped the vehicle. During the traffic stop, a police dog alerted to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle and a search recovered a clear plastic bag containing a powder from under the driver’s site. It weighed 29 grams and tested positive for fentanyl at the police department.

Watkins was taken into custody and the prosecutor’s office says he faces 10 to 30 years in prison if convicted. He is set for a pre-trial hearing on May 13th.

The federal government is auctioning off part of Camp Atterbury.

The U.S. General Services Administration announced this week that a public auction has started for a nearly 91 acre piece of property in Edinburgh, part of the Atterbury Jobs Corps site.

The GSA described the property as being at the corner of Old Hospital and Schoolhouse roads in Johnson County. It says the property has eight buildings and another structure that are no longer needed by the Jobs Corps, but also warned that they are all significantly deteriorated. Together they are just under 63 thousand square feet on 65 acres of the property.

The rest of the property, almost 26 acres, is forested.

Bidding on the parcel started at $100,000 on Monday. Interested bidders need to register and submit a $20,000 registration deposit. Bidding ends on June 10th.

You can find a link for more information: https://realestatesales.gov/asset-details/?property_id=5

Map courtesy of U.S. GSA