A Louisville man was arrested after a crash in Bartholomew County on Interstate 65 last week.

According to Columbus police reports, officers were called to the scene of the single vehicle accident in the northbound lanes of the interstate near the Walesboro exit at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday night.

The driver, 33-year-old Christopher M. Gordon of Louisville was treated by paramedics for a cut to his head. Police report that there was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and empty alcohol containers in the vehicle. A breath test at Columbus Regional Hospital showed a .236 percent blood alcohol content, nearly three times the legal limit.

Gordon was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

A Columbus man was injured after falling from a tree stand while hunting Saturday.

According to reports from conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, they were called to the 11000 block of South County Road 800W at about 8 Saturday night.

They found that 33-year-old Zachary Burbrink of Columbus fell about 12 feet to the ground after a cable broke. He injured his back in the fall and was taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis by helicopter.

Officers say Burbrink was not wearing a full-body harness at the time of the fall.

Two schools in our area were recognized last week as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The department chose CSA Lincoln Campus in downtown Columbus and Van Buren Elementary in Brown County.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Both schools were recognized in the category “Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools.”

The schools were recognized at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on Friday. Bartholomew Consolidated Schools Superintendent Jim Roberts, CSA Lincoln Principal Brett Findley and the school’s special Education teacher Desiree Shaw took part in the ceremony.

Jennings County deputies partnered with the Nashville Police Department to raid a home in Country Squire Lakes last week, leading to two arrests.

According to reports from Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, a Brown County search warrant had been issued after a suspect used counterfeit money to purchase items in Nashville. The money was traced back to the home on Country Manor.

The Jennings County SWAT team and Nashville officers raided the home at about 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Nashville police found evidence at the scene related to their investigation, and the search also uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana, other controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Three children were also found at the home.

39-year-old Darren A. Baker of North Vernon was arrested on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent, and for drug and paraphernalia possession charges. He is also facing charges in the Nashville investigation.

A woman at the home is also expected to face charges. Child Protective Services were called to the scene to take care of the children.

Veterans will be honored in the town of Hope on Thursday morning.

There will be a veterans program at the Hauser Junior-Senior High School gymnasium at 8 a.m. Nov. 11th, followed by breakfast at Willow Leaves of Hope, on the north side of the town square. Breakfast will start at about 9:30 a.m., and will include quiche, muffins, biscuits and gravy, coffee and other beverages.

The event is sponsored by the Yellow Trail Museum & Hope Visitors Center, Willow Leaves of Hope and Fye Rentals.

First Christian Church and Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center are partnering to provide free Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

All of the meals will be delivered this year, instead of the traditional meal at the church. There is a limit of six meals per household and meals will only be delivered to Bartholomew County addresses.

The meals are free. The deadline to register is Nov. 22nd.

You can register by calling First Christian Church at 812-379-4491, Monday through Friday between 9 and 4. You can also call the center for more information at 812-379-1630.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers will continue to serve on committees for the National Sheriff’s Association that are working on drug enforcement, homeland security and global policing affairs.

Myers was reappointed to the committees for a term that lasts through 2022. He said he was honored to be reappointed, and that Americas sheriffs play critical roles in keeping drugs out of communities and in keeping those communities safe.

A Columbus Parks and Recreation worker is being recognized by a statewide group.

The parks department is reporting that Recreation Manager Jacob Hendricks has been chosen as the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association’s Young Professional of the Year.

The Association says the award goes to an “emerging leader, as displayed through their initiative, innovation, and contributions to the park and recreation field.”

Hendricks is a graduate of Anderson University and joined Columbus Parks and Recreation in May 2019. Among his achievements, Hendricks hosted the very first eSports event at Donner Center. And in the midst of the pandemic, he revamped the city’s entire summer day camp program by preparing various Camp-in-a-Box programs. Those boxes could be picked up by parents and allowed kids at home to experience a week’s worth of camp activities such as games, crafts, and even hosting Facebook Live events.

The Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 Strike Team will be holding a testing and vaccination clinic on November 12th and 13th from noon to 8 p.m. at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. The team will be set up in the midway area, just off of County Road 200S.

Rapid antigen and PCR tests will be available. There will be Pfizer, Moderna as well as Johnson & Johnson vaccines available. Booster shots are available for all vaccines and children 5 to 11 can receive the Pfizer vaccine.

No appointment is necessary and you are encouraged to walk in.

Tickets are still available for the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s celebration event coming up on Nov. 17th.

The chamber is inviting all of its members to help celebrate the past, present and future of the Columbus Area Chamber.

The Chamber celebration will be from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. November 17th at The Commons. Tickets are $40 per person. You can get more information at ColumbusAreaChamber.com