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.
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.
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
You can sign up by going here: https://uwbarthco.galaxydigital.com/need/
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.
The fog should lift later this morning.
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.
Photo courtesy of Strand Theater Facebook page.
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.
The program will wrap up in December of next year. For more information: www.columbus.in.gov/community-development/pact-program/. For questions you can contact Paul W. Smith, assistant director of community development at [email protected]
Note: This story has been updated
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
The Johnson County Community Foundation is looking for your designs for the Color the County Mural Program.
According to the foundation, organizers are looking for a mural design and plan to award $3500 for the winning design, along with mural materials. They will also provide the instruction needed to prepare for an outdoor mural installation. The winner must work with the Foundation to complete the mural by this summer. That will include mural prep work leading to the community painting day and mural touch-ups and completion.
Organizers say that no previous experience is necessary. The Foundation is looking for local artists, emerging artists, art students and creative community members interested in submitting mural designs.
The mural location will be at Taxman Brewing Company on South Baldwin Street in Bargersville.
The deadline to submit your design is May 28th.
Design Criteria
Design Selection
The judging panel is composed of volunteer community members and JCCF partners.
Panelists will review the entries and select the finalists based on the following
considerations:
State Road 58 in Bartholomew County is set to close next week as crews replace a bridge near Ogilville.
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, contractors are scheduled to close the state highway over East Fork White Creek on Monday. That will be between County Road 525 South and Road West 450 South.
The official detour route follows I-65 to State Road 11 to State Road 258 and back to State Road 58.
The work is expected to keep the route closed through early September. The work schedule is dependent on the weather.
Duncan Robertson Inc. is the contractor for the $1.6 million project.
INDOT asks you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.