Talking Tombstones, a fundraiser for the Bartholomew County Historical Society and Columbus Parks Foundation, will be returning next week the Columbus city cemetery.
The Friday, May 9th event will feature actors taking on the roles of famous residents of the past who are buried in the cemetery. There will more than 20 stations you can visit at your own pace. The city cemetery is just south of Donner Park.
There will also be a food truck you can visit, located in the parking lot off of 19th Street.
It will start at 5:30 p.m. next Friday with entrance to the cemetery at 16th and 19th streets.
Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the night of the event. You can get them through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-tombstones-tickets-883833609117 at the Bartholomew County Historical Society museum on Third Street or at the event.
For more information you can call the historical society at 812-372-3541.
Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Historical Society
Emiliano Cuevas-Bravo. Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police.
An 18-year-old is in custody, accused of firing a shot inside the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour, wounding one person
According to authorities, Seymour dispatchers received reports at just before noon yesterday that shots had been fired inside the library on Second Street. Seymour officers, along with Jackson County deputies, Indiana State Police and Indiana State Excise police arrived to find that a library patron had subdued 18-year-old Emiliano Cuevas-Bravo and was holding him down. He was taken into custody and is facing two counts of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and intimidation.
Indiana State Police say Cuevas-Bravo entered the building’s front entrance and opened fire with a long gun. One person was injured and those injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Cuevas-Bravo then went to the second floor of the library where he placed the gun on the floor. That’s when he was tackled by the library patron.
Sgt. Stephen Wheeles with the Indiana State Police said that they do not yet have a motive in the incident
Investigators contacted the Department of Homeland Security who confirmed Cuevas-Bravo is a U.S. citizen. And officers found that he is a student at Seymour High School.
Authorities say that before the incident at the library, Cuevas-Bravo, first went to the high school looking for a school resource officer, planning to target that officer. However he wasn’t able to find the officer and next went to the library.
Seymour police say that an item of concern was found at the library and members of Indiana State Police – Special Operations Section, Columbus Police Department, and FBI explosive disposal units responded, where they conducted operations on the concerning item.
Numerous items of evidence were collected from Cuevas-Bravo’s vehicle, along with items found inside the library.
Authorities say that Cuevas-Bravo appeared to act alone. Seymour police will have extra officers at schools today as a precaution.
According to a statement from the Jackson County Public Library, all library locations are closed at least through Saturday, May 3.
Sgt. Stephen Wheeles audio courtesy of Network Indiana.
Emiliano Cuevas-Bravo. Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police.
Seymour Man Arrested for Attempted Murder Following Shooting Inside Jackson County Library
This afternoon, April 30, 2025, a Seymour, Indiana man was arrested on two counts of attempted murder following a shooting inside the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour, Indiana.
The initial investigation by Seymour Police Detectives, Investigators with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, and Agents with the FBI-Indianapolis Field Office indicates that just prior to noon today, Emiliano Cuevas-Bravo, age 18, Seymour, Indiana entered the front entrance of the library. Immediately upon entering the library, he fired one shot from a long gun towards two employees working nearby, causing one employee to sustain non-life threatening injuries.
Cuevas-Bravo then went to the second floor of the library where he placed the gun on the floor. A patron of the library then tackled him and held him there for law enforcement officers. Seymour Police
Officers were on scene very quickly and took him into custody. Officers from the Indiana State Police, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, and Indiana Excise Police were also on scene within minutes. The Columbus Police Department additionally provided valuable resources during the investigation.
Additional information gathered during the investigation indicated that Cuevas-Bravo went to Seymour High School earlier in the morning to initially target a Seymour Police Department School Resource Officer. Cuevas-Bravo never entered the school or made contact with the officer before he eventually left and went to the library.
Emiliano Cuevas-Bravo was arrested and incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail on preliminary charges of Attempted Murder-2 counts, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon-1 count, and Intimidation-1 count. Cuevas-Bravo will soon face an initial hearing in the Jackson County Circuit Court.
The multi-agency investigation remains ongoing at this time. Investigators remained on scene throughout the afternoon.
Jackson County EMS and the Seymour Fire Department also assisted at the scene.
Earlier story:
Seymour Police Department responded to a shooting incident at the Jackson County Library today.
Few details are yet available, but dispatchers received a report at noon of an active shooting at the library in Seymour. Police responded and the shooter was taken into custody. City police were assisted at the scene by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police and the Indiana Excise Police.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
Shane Elifritz. Photo courtesy of North Vernon Police Department.
Two people were arrested after a traffic stop of a motorcycle Sunday in North Vernon.
According to the North Vernon Police Department, an officer was enforcing traffic laws near the State Road 7 and State Road 3 split at about 7:26 p.m. Sunday when he noticed a motorcycle with an expired registration. The officer pulled over the cycle which had a passenger along with the driver.
The driver was 46-year-old Shane Elifritz of North Vernon who admitted that he did not have a valid driver’s license and did not have a motorcycle endorsement. The officer also discovered that Elifritz was a habitual traffic offender who was banned for life. He was taken into custody and is facing a felony charge for operating a vehicle as a habitual traffic violator.
The passenger 44-year-old Jennifer Elifritz of North Vernon was found to be wanted on a Jennings County warrant. She was taken into custody and a search revealed she was carrying methamphetamine. In addition to the outstanding warrant, she is facing a new charge for possessing the drugs.
Jennifer Elifritz. Photo courtesy of North Vernon Police Department.
Signups are now underway for the United Way of Bartholomew County’s annual Day of Caring.
The Day of Caring is being held on May 16th and registration began yesterday for the volunteer slots.
More than 500 volunteers are needed to help organizations that make a positive difference in Bartholomew County.
The annual Day of Caring is a full-day volunteer event that connects local businesses and community members with non-profit agencies and organizations. Volunteer projects will include tasks such as planting flowers, mulching, painting, organizing, and sorting donations.
Volunteers of all ages and skill levels can take part
Attorneys for the family of a child who was sexually assaulted on a special needs school bus in Jennings County, are planning to sue the school district.
Wagner Reese law firm has filed an Indiana Tort Claim Notice against the Jennings County School Corporation, saying that the 7-year-old non-verbal special education student was repeatedly sexually assaulted on a bus by a 15-year-old.
The attorneys claim that the school failed to protect the child and the assaults happened while a bus driver and monitor were both onboard. They say that video footage confirms multiple assaults.
Attorney Laura Swafford said in a statement that this was a “nightmare tragedy” that should have never happened. She said “The school system breached the trust of the family and failed in its responsibility to protect their child.”
Police say they were told about a 15-year-old student raping the younger child on April 16th. The 15-year-old was arrested the day after it happened and is being held at a juvenile detention center on a charge of rape.
You could see some dense fog out there this morning in some spots.
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says the combination of mostly clear skies, light winds, and residual moisture from yesterday’s heavy rain is causing the fog to form. You could see visibility of a quarter of a mile or less..
If you have to be on the road, forecasters urge you to slow down and to give yourself extra time to reach your destination.
A classic Shelbyville theater is suspending operations after an adjoining building has been condemned.
The Strand Theatre announced yesterday that the City of Shelbyville has condemned the former livery stable from the late 1800s and the building must be demolished. The theatre says the former stables are structurally the back portion of the Strand with a partner wall. The theater notified its insurance company that the neighboring building had been deemed unsafe. Today, the theatre was informed that the insurance company would be canceling the Strand’s policy.
Without the insurance coverage, the Strand has canceled all upcoming performances and events. Refunds will be issued for all tickets purchased through June 1st, while the group tries to resolve the situation. If it cannot be resolved, tickets for later events will also be refunded.
The Strand was originally build in 1916 and reopened in 2008 by an all-volunteer group which acquired, renovated and now operates the Strand. Organizers say The Strand Theatre is 100 percent funded by ticket and event revenue and does not have the resources to survive the closure. The group will be looking for outside funding to continue.
Columbus will be offering grants to encourage builders to tear down dilapidated structures or fill vacant lots in the city and rebuild new affordable housing.
According to city officials, the city has allocated $460,000 to award to qualified builders through the new Providing Affordable Construction and Transformation or PACT program.
The homes must adhere to universal design principles, city codes, and zoning regulations, and should have a final selling price below $300,000. The homes must be single-family homes for moderate income families built to in-fill existing neighborhoods. Homes built in new subdivisions are not eligible.
The incentive payments will be issued after the home is sold to an individual buyer. Selling to corporate or LLC buyers is not permitted for this program. The incentive will vary based on the type of construction and final price range for the homes.
Builders with a good standing in the state of Indiana, a solid credit history, and verified tax filings from the most recent year are welcome to apply for this program.
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is announcing details for its annual Labor Day weekend concert.
This is the 39th annual fundraising concert for the organization, and for the second year will be held at the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park and will also be the second year for ticket sales for the event.
According to Our Hospice, this year’s lineup features tribute bands including Captain Fantastic, with music by Elton John and Billy Joel, and the Eagles Project, which performs Eagles tunes. The concert will be on Saturday August 30th.
The concert is the largest annual fundraiser for Our Hospice, which provides hospice, palliative and personal care in Bartholomew and nearby counties. Money is raised through sponsorships, raffle, ticket, T-shirt and food sales and donations.
Dunlap General & Mechanical Contractors is the corporate partner and Columbus Regional Health is the partner sponsor for the event.
Tickets will go on sale Monday, June 2nd at 8 a.m. Tickets in advance will be $10, or $12 at the door if any are still available. Seating is limited for the fieldhouse and tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets can be purchased at ourhospice.org/concert
