Ivy Tech Community College Columbus biology professors will be leading a nature hike at Mill Race Park on Saturday.

The hike will focus on learning more about the natural environment including birds and wild flowers.

The hike will start at 7:30 Saturday and hikers should gather at the parking area by the basketball court near the covered bridge.

The hike is open to the public, and you are invited to attend. You should dress appropriately for the outdoors and the weather. Ivy Tech will have several pairs of binoculars available but if you have some you are encouraged to bring them.

A McCordsville man is facing charges in Bartholomew County after allegedly stealing a tractor and a luxury car Friday.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called to an incident near West Lowell Road and North County Road 250W at about 6:52 p.m. Friday evening after an owner reported a stolen tractor. According to the victim, a man took the tractor, and drove it several hundred yards before the owner caught up to him. The man then ran away.

Deputies found the man urinating in the road, and then he ran away again into a nearby field, before being quickly caught. A search of the suspect, 20-year-old Derrick Jordan recovered a key to the Lexus and several vehicle registration cards. The Lexus was reported stolen out of McCordsville and a search recovered the vehicle nearby at an interstate rest stop.

Jordan is facing charges including two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, public indecency and resisting law enforcement.

Photos courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana will be moving its annual Labor Day weekend concert indoors and charging for tickets to the event.

The hospice is announcing the details of the annual event to be held on Saturday, Aug. 31st at the Circle K Fieldhouse at Nexus Park. This will be the first concert at the new facility off of 25th Street, part of the former Fair Oaks Mall. Organizers are touting the ability to hold an event that will no longer be dependent on the weather.

The show will feature Jennie DeVoe, The Rock Show: The Ultimate Tribute to Journey and The Woomblies Rock Orchestra as headliners.

The concert is in its 38th year and is the largest fundraiser for Our Hospice. The organization, based in Columbus, provides care for more than 300 patients in 22 counties throughout south-central Indiana.

Dunlap General and Mechanical Contractors will be the title sponsor this year and Columbus Regional Health will be partner sponsor.

Tickets will be $10 each and can be purchased starting Monday, July 1ts at ourhospice.org/concert.

Photo: Woomblies Rock Orchestra courtesy of Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.

As we head into the summer season, Indiana Conservation officers are urging Hoosiers to be safe on and in the water.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, says you should make water safety a priority and discuss water safety and dangers with friends and family members before you head out for fun. Conservation officers offer several safety tips. Those include:

• Make sure to tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
• When you head out, go with a buddy.
• Do not venture onto flooded or fast-moving waterways.
• Keep an extra watchful eye out for children around water.
• Avoid alcohol when you are on or in the water.

They are also stressing that it is illegal to operate a a motorboat or personal watercraft in Indiana while you are intoxicated whether from alcohol or drugs. In Indiana, intoxicated boating involves a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater.

To learn more you can go to on.IN.gov/boatered.

Columbus police have been cracking down on those making improper turns in the construction zone at 25th Street and National Road.

According to the Columbus Police Department, in the past two weeks officers have made 241 traffic stops to enforce the “no left turn” signs at the intersection. Police say that they received multiple complaints about drivers making the dangerous turns in the area, where traffic is restricted and sight lines are limited. Authorities say that trying to turn left backs up traffic driving through the narrowed intersection and obstructions make the turns dangerous.

The work in the area is expected to continue until August and police say that they will continue to make extra patrols in the vicinity. They encourage you to drive safely and obey traffic rules to help keep everyone safe.

Otter Creek Golf Course will soon be hosting its first professional event, part of the LPGA-affiliated Epson Tour with prizes of up to $300,000.

According to organizers, the Otter Creek Championship will be held June 10th through the 16th at the Bartholomew County course. Previously, the course has hosted more than 300 amateur events and championships over its 60-year history. The Otter Creek event is one of two events being added to the Epson Tour and is one of only five with prize purses of $300 thousand or more.

The tournament will feature the next generation of possible LPGA stars, with 144 competitors from across the world. Those will include Hoosier athletes such as Annabelle Pancake from Zionsville, Cailyn Henderson from Westfield and Greenwood’s Erica Shepherd. The Epson Tour is the Official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA growing to 20 tournaments over the past decade with more than $5 million in prizes awarded. .

Proceeds from the inaugural Otter Creek Championship will go to benefit Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.

Otter Creek is looking for volunteers to help with the event. Volunteers will be asked for a $60 registration fee that will go to support Turning Point. Volunteers will receive a tournament t-shirt, free parking, complimentary food and beverage, and behind-the-scenes access to the future stars.

There will also be two Pro-Am events that week where you can play with, meet and learn from the championship athletes.

You can also attend the championship as a spectator for free.

You can get more information and register to volunteer at www.ottercreekgolf.com/2024-otter-creek-championship.

Four people have been arrested in a drug-dealing investigation following an overdose in downtown Columbus.

According to Columbus Police Department, officers with the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Columbus Intelligence Led Policing Unit received tips about drug-dealing at a home in the 300 block of Cleveland Street. On May 16th, officers were called to the home after a man overdosed and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

A search warrant was served at the home and officers recovered more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, along with packaging materials, digital scales, syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested 37-year-old Jessica Comstock of Columbus on charges including dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, neglect of a dependent, maintaining a common nuisance and for possessing a syringe and drug paraphernalia.

Police say that 35-year-old Keith Cherry was not home at the time of the search but an arrested warrant was issued and he was picked up in the 5200 block of South Pine Street on Thursday. He is facing charges including dealing in methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance.

Police also arrested 29-year-old Dustin Harden on charges of maintaining a common nuisance and possession of a narcotic drug, and 20-year-old Chase Barnhart on a charge of visiting a common nuisance.

Photos courtesy of Columbus Police Department

Note: This story has been updated.

Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty in his New York criminal hush money case.

The New York jury just returned its verdict. He could face four years in prison depending on the judge’s sentence, which is set for July 11th. The judge has the discretion to reduce his sentence to a fine, probation or supervision. Trump’s attorney argued for a motion of acquittal, but the judge denied it. This was the first time an American president stood trial in a criminal case.

Trump is guilty of falsifying records before the 2016 election to hide payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump is slamming his conviction. He walked out after the guilty verdict and again said the trial was rigged. He added “the whole country is going to hell.” Trump closed by saying everyone knows what happened here and the real verdict is November 5th, election day.

Trump will almost certainly appeal his conviction. The appeal process could take months or longer, likely delaying any punishment doled out by the judge in the case past Election Day.

Allies of Donald Trump are criticizing the guilty verdict. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a “shameful day in American history,” arguing the case was a “purely political exercise.” He predicted Trump would win an appeal of his conviction. Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan called it a “travesty of justice” and said the justice system has been weaponized on behalf of President Biden.

The Biden campaign says Trump’s guilty verdict shows “no one is above the law.” The campaign issued a statement shortly after the verdict was handed down.

Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said Trump has “always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.” He added that the only way to keep Trump out of the White House is at the ballot box.

The Manhattan District Attorney who brought the hush money case against Donald Trump says he did his job and followed the law. After Trump was found guilty, Democrat Alvin Bragg added this type of white collar prosecution is important to his office.

Bragg says at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the voice of the jury.

Donald Trump’s social-media company’s stock prices are tumbling following him being found guilty. The share price for Trump Media & Technology Corporation, which is the operator of Trump’s Truth Social platform, dropped almost 15-percent following the verdict.

Following after-hours trading, it was still down about ten percent.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

The United Way of Bartholomew County is launching a new website on Saturday to direct residents who need help with food, housing, clothes, utilities or other services.

According to the agency, Unitedwehelp.org will serve as a one-stop shop for help available in Bartholomew County. Organizers say it will serve as the most updated and comprehensive resource guide in the community. It will also help direct residents in need to United Way agencies that can help.

You will also be able to find the Bartholomew County housing guide online and view a printed brochure called Help is Here.

The Yellow Trail Museum and Bartholomew County Genealogical Society are continuing their new program recognizing the first pioneer settlers of the town of Hope with the next session on Saturday.

The First Family Talks feature monthly sessions recognizing and researching the early settlers of northeastern Bartholomew County. Through August there is a focus on the families who attended the first services at Hope Moravian Church in June of 1830.

You are asked to bring any photos, genealogy, documents, stories, or anything else you might want to share. The Genealogical Society will scan copies during the sessions to make available to the public and to the museum.

The next discussion will feature the Clayton Family and will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Yellow Trail Museum research center on the northwestern corner of the Hope Town Square.