Wings Over Muscatatuck, an annual festival celebrating the birds of Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge near Seymour, is coming up this weekend..

According to organizers, festivities at the refuge will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Events will kick off with a guided birding tour in a van on Friday morning. On Saturday there will be children’s activities including birdhouse building, face painting, watercolor and plein air painting, and a scavenger hunt.
Birding activities on Saturday will include bird walks, a crane program, hawks and owl program, a wetlands/woods guided walk, and guided tour of the refuge’s closed area.

You can find a link for more information you can visit the Muscatatuck Wildlife Society and refuge Facebook pages, or the refuge website at www.fws.gov/refuge/Muscatatuck, or call 812-522-4352 ext. 12.

Photo courtesy of Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge Facebook page

Two parents were arrested in Bartholomew County Sunday after deputies found more than 15 pounds of marijuana and related products in their vehicle, along with two young children.

According to the Bartholomew County Sherriff’s Department, a deputy noticed a vehicle cross the centerline on North Indianapolis Road at about 7:03 p.m. Sunday night and continue to swerve in the lane. Suspecting the driver could be intoxicated, the deputy stopped the vehicle near the intersection with Carl Miske Drive.

The deputy spoke with the driver and noticed signs he was impaired. The deputy also noticed the smell of marijuana in the vehicle, along with a female passenger and two children who were 3 years and about two months old.

A search of the vehicle uncovered about 16 pounds of marijuana, more than 2,000 THC vape pens, about 1 pound of THC wax and other marijuana related items. Authorities also found $4,775 in cash.

The driver, 19-year-old Trevor H. Kennedy and the passenger, 20-year-old Justice F. Goodwin, both of Columbus, were taken into custody. The children were taken into the custody of the Department of Child Services who made arrangements for their care by family members.

A search warrant was served at their home in the 4000 block of North County Road 150W. During that search 10 more pounds of marijuana was located along with a firearm, additional marijuana/THC products and further evidence that indicated that they were dealing marijuana.

Kennedy was arrested and is facing preliminary charges of: Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated with Endangerment, Dealing Marijuana, Neglect of a Dependent and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as well as for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.

Goodwin is being accused of Dealing Marijuana, Neglect of a Dependent and Maintaining a Common Nuisance as well as for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia.

Evidence photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department. 

First Financial Bank is kicking off a book donation drive next month at its local locations to help raise financial literacy.

According to the bank, you can donate books about personal finance or other subjects at bins in the Columbus, Edinburgh and Hope branches from May 5th through the 31st. Once collected the books will be donated to local schools, libraries and other non profit groups in the community.

First Financial will also offer at each financial center during the book drive a list of recommended books to help with financial literacy.

To take part you do not have to be a client of First Financial Bank.

First Financial’s 2024 book drive led to more than 500 books donated at local branches and more than 4,000 books donated at branches in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.

Photo from the 2024 book drive courtesy of First Financial Bank

A reminder that Bartholomew County and Columbus will be celebrating Earth Day on Friday, giving you a chance to get rid of some unwanted materials and to spruce up your yard.

Earth Day events will be happening from 8 to 3 on Friday at the Bartholomew County and Columbus Recycling Center on Mapleton.

There will be an amnesty day to get rid of hard-to-dispose-of waste. You can turn in up to two refrigerant containing appliances, up to two propane tanks, up to four tires from personal vehicles, with the rims removed. All of those are at no cost.

Bartholomew County residents can pick up a free pickup load of mulch or compost from 8 to 12.

There will also be plant swap and a tree giveaway. Toyota Material Handling is sponsoring the tree event and there will be tulips and redbuds given away.

The event is for Bartholomew County residents only. Out of county residents and businesses can not participate. You can get more information at bcswmd.com.

A new service will allow Bartholomew County emergency officials to warn anyone with a cell phone of life-threatening emergencies, even if they are from out of the area and have not signed up for local emergency alerts.

Emergency management director Shannon Cooke presented an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency during Monday morning’s meeting of the Bartholomew County Commissioners to allow the county to take part in the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. Cooke said that the service would piggyback on the existing Everbridge alert system, which allows the county to make automated phone calls, text messages and emails to those who sign up, warning them of emergency conditions such as weather alerts or missing children.

Cooke said that the new service would allow the system to identify those in a particular area and send them targeted alerts in the case of life-threatening situations. She said that could include thing such as a tornado warning or a criminal on the loose. It would use the geo-location function of cell phones to send the messages to anyone in the designated area using the same protocols as the wireless alert system that issues Amber Alerts.

The key difference being that it would identify any cell phones in the designated area to send alerts. For example, out-of-county attendees at a sporting event could be alerted if there was a tornado warning during a game.

It would also allow the use of NOAA weather radios for alerts and could be used to send messages over cable television.

Commissioner Tony London said that out of 85 thousand people in Bartholomew County, only about 27 thousand have signed up for Everbridge.

Cooke said that the service is being provided free of charge to the county. County emergency officials have already been trained in the use of the system and once their certification is submitted the service would be available. She estimated it would be available in about a month.

Commissioners approved the memorandum of understanding with the federal agency to allow the county to take part in the service.

The Jackson County Chamber is making plans for its annual golf tournament.

According to the chamber, the Jackson County Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, June 20th at Shadowood Golf Course in Seymour. Organizers say that the tournament is a opportunity for networking, friendly competition and outdoor fun. Golfers of all skill levels are invited to take part.

The event will be an 18-hole scramble with prizes, contests and sponsorship opportunities available.

Proceeds from the tournament will support Chamber initiatives that foster business growth and
community development in Jackson County.

You can find more information or sign up on the Chamber website at jacksoncochamber.com.

Jennings County deputies made an arrest Friday after a stolen motorcycle was found at the Dollar General Store on State Road 7.

According to the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, the motorcycle was located using surveillance techniques at about 9:15 a.m. Friday morning at the store. They located the driver, John J. Meisberger II and found that he was wanted on an outstanding Jennings County warrant for theft. A search found that he was carrying about 18 grams of fentanyl, along with items that had been stolen from the store.

He was arrested on preliminary charges including auto theft, theft, dealing narcotics, driving while suspended and possession of drug paraphrenia, as well as the original warrant for theft and criminal trespassing.

The Seymour mayor’s office is looking for high school students to be members of the Mayor’s Youth Council.

The youth council operates as an advisory board to the mayor on issues affecting youth in the community. Council members take part in city meetings, tour city facilities, hear from guest speakers and participate in other leadership activities. Participants will need to agree to take part in youth council meetings up to twice a month through the school year.

Applications are open to students who will be 9th through 12th graders starting this fall at Seymour High School or at home schools. You can find a link for more information or an application here or email [email protected]

Columbus Area Arts Council will be hosting an event next weekend to celebrate and to let you learn about pinhole photography.

The artist led workshop will be from noon to 5 on Sunday, April 27th at the 6th Street Arts Alley. Bridget Conn and Ken Klehm will lead the workshops on the original analog cameras. The event is in celebration of World Pinhole Photography Day.

The workshop will be in one hour time slots from noon to 4 with a photography meet-up from 4 to 5 p.m.

During the event participants will learn how to use the simple cameras, take a tour of downtown sites for photos, then learn how to develop the film in a portable darkroom.

The event is made possible through a Positive Change Grant from Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County and the city of Columbus. You can find more information or register at the Arts Council website at https://www.artsincolumbus.org

Low-income Bartholomew County residents will have a chance for free legal advice Tuesday.

River Valley Legal Aid will be offering a walk-in legal clinic. If you take part you will have a brief consultation with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or to receive other advice.

The walk-in clinic will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Public Library on Fifth Street.