Scam emails that appear to be from legitimate Indiana state government email addresses are flooding Hoosier inboxes.

The Indiana Department of Technology says a former government message sending service was hacked and that was used to send the messages. The emails claim you may have unpaid EZ-Pass tolls.

Clicking on the link in the email will send you to a payment portal for the fake tolls., where the scammers will collect your debit or credit card information. If you entered that information, state officials say you need to have the payments stopped, your card canceled and a new card issued.

One clue that it is not legitimate is the emails from the governor’s office feature Eric Holcomb as governor, even though he left office in January. Fifteen departments in Indiana state government have been identified as sending the scam emails so far.

TTWN Media Networks contributed to this report.

The North Vernon Police Department has formed a dedicated Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Task Force working to dismantle and disrupt the flow of drugs in the community.

According to the department, the goal is to protect residents, support those affected by addiction and hold accountable those responsible for trafficking these dangerous substances.

Task Force Commander Graham Heffelfinger said that the effort will require the assistance of community members. Police are seeking any tips or information you might have about anyone contributing to the sale or distribution of drugs in the community.

Police say your information can remain anonymous and it may help save lives.

You can send any tips through Facebook Messenger, by calling the police department at 812-346-2345 or you go online here: https://www.northvernon-in.gov/departments/police/tip_line.php

Area Congresswoman Erin Houchin is announcing that Indiana’s former National Guard adjutant general will serve her office, advising her on military academy appointment recommendations.

Houchin’s press office has announced that General Dale Lyles will be the chair of the 9th Congressional District Military Academy Nomination Boards and as a member of the United States Military Academy Nomination Panel. Lyles will oversee the process for students seeking nominations to the U.S. military service academies, including West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. The nomination boards review applications and making recommendations to Houchin as she selects candidates to nominate to the academies.

Houchin encourages any students interested in applying to the military academies to contact her office.

The 9th Congressional District stretches from the Ohio River to as far north as Franklin County. Locally, it includes part of Bartholomew County, as well as all of Brown, Jackson, Jennings and Decatur counties.

An Indiana State Police cold case investigation led to the arrest of a southern Indiana man in a more than two year old murder case.

According to troopers, 33-year-old Derek James Pixley of Borden was arrested Monday on murder charges after a 2022 shooting in Henryville.

Police say that Brittany Bowen was found shot in Henryville in October of 2022 and later died in the hospital in December of that year. The Clark County Sheriff’s Department transferred the case to State Police in December of last year and Detective Matt Busick began a separate investigation and conducted interviews.

He presented the completed case and evidence to the prosecutor’s office and an arrest warrant was issued for Pixley. He was arrested Monday evening in Scott County without incident.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing the winners of awards for a community hero and a leadership project of the year.

Rob Gaskill, former director of Community Corrections for Bartholomew County was chosen for the Jurgemeyer Community Hero Award. Jill Tasker, president and founder of Sandi’s Closet received the Jurgemeyer Community Leadership Project of the Year Award.

The Community Hero Award recognizes those who have performed life-saving measures, come to the aid of another or contributed to the safety, security and resiliency of our community. Gaskill was praised for implementing two residential substance abuse treatment programs. The award recognizes that Gaskill encouraged participants to live productive lives while in recovery from addiction and said he has been committed to making the community safer by helping to change lives.

The Community Leadership Project of the Year Award recognizes a project in the community that exemplifies the Columbus community leadership values. Tasker created Sandi’s Closet, which allows those with dementia to enjoy pop-up shopping experiences in memory care units and adult day care settings. It replicates the experience of shopping at a department store which can stimulate memory recall of past purchases. Sandi’s Closet also had started Sandi’s Singers, a choir program for those living with dementia and their caregivers.

The awards were established by the estate of Donald W. & Catherine G. Jurgemeyer. The couple were long-time Columbus residents with Donald Jurgemeyer, an attorney in the community for 29 years, serving as legal counsel for the community foundation in its early years. Catherine Jurgemeyer served as president of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Foundation and chaired the American Bar Auxiliary and the Indiana Lawyers Auxiliary.

A Bartholomew County man is heading to prison for three years after being caught driving after his privileges had been revoked.

According to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s office, the case started in September of 2023 when Bartholomew County deputies stopped a vehicle being driven by Shane Elifritz. Elifritz was found to have had his driving privileges revoked for life. That came after many prior convictions including Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, and Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator.

Elifritz was arrested on a felony charge of operating a vehicle after forfeiture of license for life.

In April, Elifritz pled guilty to the charge. At a sentencing hearing last week, Superior Court Judge Jon Rohde sentenced Elifritz to three years in prison, to be served in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

A woman who was locked out of her vehicle in North Vernon is facing drug-related charges after an incident last week.

According to the North Vernon Police Department, officers responded to a call of a driver locked out of her vehicle at a convenience store at just before 4:30 a.m. in the morning last Wednesday. The woman told police that her dog had locked her out of the vehicle. However police became suspicious and noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

A search uncovered drugs including methamphetamine, marijuana, hallucinogens, unprescribed pills, and drug paraphernalia.

50-year-old Heather LaMaster is facing charges for dealing in prescription drugs, as well as for possessing the other drugs, a legend drug violation and for maintaining a common nuisance.

She was taken to the Jennings County Jail and her vehicle was towed.

Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke to the Golden Kiwanis Club yesterday in Columbus.

The Columbus native, former congressman and former Indiana governor, reflected on Mother’s Day and the influence his Mom has had on him over the years, especially while growing up in Columbus.

Pence took questions from the audience on several topics, including the events of Jan. 6th, 2021. Pence said he based his actions that day on his belief in the U.S. Constitution.

The former Vice President was joined at the event at Mill Race Center by his brother Greg Pence, who served as Congressman for our area from 2019 to this year.

A Jackson County man is heading to prison for a man’s death committed more than 40 years ago.

According to Indiana State Police, 63-year-old Ronald J. Anderson of Seymour was sentenced Monday to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty in the case from 1982.

24-year-old Clifford Smith was killed in rural Jackson County on Oct. 31st of that year. He was first reported missing in early November, but his body wasn’t found until December when it was discovered by animal trappers working in an area along East Fork White River near Rockford. He had been killed by a gunshot wound to the head.

Although the death was investigated at the time, and for years afterwards by successive detectives, no arrest was made.

State Police Sgt. Kip Main began investigating the case in 2015. His investigation alleges that Anderson was at a home with Smith late into the night before the death, loaded a shotgun, then left the home with Smith and the victim was never seen alive again.

Police say that Anderson returned the weapon to the home in Seymour and later returned to the scene of the crime to hide evidence.

Main’s investigation led to the arrest of Anderson in October of 2023. He pled guilty in April to voluntary manslaughter.

A Bartholomew County bridge over Flat Rock River will be closed indefinitely.

Bartholomew County Highway Engineer Danny Hollander told the county commissioners this morning that Bridge 73 on County Road 900N between roads 200E and 300E will need to be closed indefinitely. This came after a report from bridge inspectors found that rust on the steel-iron truss bridge had gotten so severe that travel on the span is dangerous.

Hollander said the bridge was originally built in 1910 and the last major renovation of the bridge was more than 30 years ago. He said an engineering firm is looking at the bridge to determine whether it can be repaired, but he said it is not looking promising because of the way it is constructed makes patching very difficult.

Hollander said that the county is limited in what it can do to replace the bridge as it is considered a historically significant structure by state officials.

Barricades went up this morning closing the bridge. County officials say that you will need to take another route.

Photo courtesy of Chris Light at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons