Category Archives: Uncategorized

Deputies seeking two to check on their welfare

Bartholomew County deputies are trying to find the location of two people in order to check on their well-being.

According to sheriff’s department, officers were called to the Carwood Suites apartment complex on Carr Hill Road at about 4:50 this morning after a 911 call, but they couldn’t find anyone there.

If you have any information on the whereabouts or contact info for Jean V.  Sejourne or Erlla Aristide you are asked to contact Bartholomew County dispatchers at 812-379-1689.

Bartholomew County deputies seeking leads in carjacking

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department press release

On 02/14/2024 at approximately 10:41 PM the sheriff’s office responded to a report of an alleged theft of a vehicle. The victim told deputies that she left the Taylorsville area traveling east bound on E 650 N. As she approached the intersection of E 650 N and N 50 W a vehicle behind her flashed its headlights then activated blue flashing lights, believing she was being pulled over by law enforcement the victim pulled to the side of the road.

The victim told deputies that two male suspects wearing all black clothing approached her vehicle and displayed a handgun. The suspects pulled her out of the vehicle, pointed the firearm at her while making threats to her life. The victim described the two suspects as in their mid-20s, approximately 6-foot-tall with a stocky build who spoke English. The victim also described the suspect’s vehicle as a blue passenger car, the make and model are unknown. After the suspects drove away with her vehicle the victim was forced to walk back to the Taylorsville area to report the crime which took approximately 30 minutes.

At about the same time the theft was being reported deputies were also responding to a vehicle fire approximately 6 miles from the alleged theft scene. At this time it is believed the destroyed vehicle is the victim’s car based on the make and model however investigators are working to confirm ownership.

The sheriff’s office is asking the public to come forward with any information about this incident which remains under investigation. Please call the sheriff’s office at (812) 565 – 5926 with any relevant tips.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Continued Filming Shuts Down Streets For Most of Thursday

A few city streets will be shut off from the public today, Due to continued filming for the movie, The Ice Cream Man, the following closures will be in effect for most of today from 6AM – 8PM.

These are the following streets affected:

7th Street from Franklin Street west to Lafayette Avenue

The northern half of the City/Library parking lot, as well as the entrance/exit off 7th Street

and The North South alleys between Franklin and Lafayette at 7th Street.

 

 

Driver arrested after running over cones in construction zone

Eric Federico. Photo courtesy of Columbus Police Department.

A Columbus man was arrested early yesterday morning, accused of driving drunk through a road construction zone at Central Avenue and National Road.

According to Columbus Police reports, workers saw a vehicle driving through the construction zone dragging traffic cones stuck underneath his vehicle at about 12:56 a.m. Thursday morning. Police say that workers were able to stop the vehicle and when police arrived, they found 52-year-old Eric S. Federico driving the vehicle, while wearing only his underclothes.

Federico appeared to be unsteady on his feet and there was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, police say. He failed several field sobriety tests and was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to have his blood drawn.

He was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and a highway work zone violation.

Jennings man arrested in fatal I-65 crash

Cooper Hensley. Photo courtesy of Indiana State Police

A Jennings County man is being accused of driving drunk and causing a death after a fatal crash Saturday night on Interstate 65 in Scott County.

Indiana State Police say that 47-year-old Scotty R. Hoosier of Altamont, Tenn. was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at about 11:55 p.m. Saturday night just south of Austin.

Trooper say that 24-year-old Cooper A. Hensley of Paris Crossing was speeding in the northbound left lane of the highway, and crashed into Hoosier’s vehicle, which was also driving northbound. The crash sent Hoosier’s pickup truck off the highway where it crashed into a tree. Two passengers in Hoosier’s vehicle were taken to University of Louisville Hospital for serious injuries.

Hensley’s vehicle went into the median, where it hit the cable barrier and flipped over. Hensley was uninjured. He was arrested on preliminary charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing a death and was taken to the Scott County Jail.

The northbound lanes of the interstate were closed for about four hours.

Pences test negative for COVID-19

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife are testing negative for the coronavirus.

They took tests this morning after President Trump and the First Lady tested positive last night. Pence is last known to have been with the President on Tuesday when they met in the Oval Office before the debate. The two also attended a coronavirus task force briefing together on Monday. If the President becomes incapacitated, Pence would step in until he could return.

Mike and Karen Pence are wishing President Trump and the First Lady well in a Tweet this morning.

President Trump’s adviser Hope Hicks tested negative Wednesday morning, but started experiencing symptoms later that day. She was isolated on a return flight on Air Force One and tested again Thursday. This time it came back positive.

CDC Guidelines for Schools to Reopen

The CDC has released new guidelines on how schools can plan to reopen for the upcoming school year while also being mindful of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The agency is broad in its guidelines separating them into low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk recommendations for reopening schools. Within these guidelines they talk about promoting “behaviors that reduce spread” from how to serve food to students, keeping classrooms clean, teachers wearing personal protective equipment, etc. They also give recommendations on what to do in the event a student or teacher contracts Coronavirus during the school year.

Dr. Sarah Stelzner, a pediatrician, told Dan Dakich on 107.5 The Fan she feels schools should be able to open to in-person classes later this year. She recommends starting earlier in the summer than schools normally do.

Stelzner also said that closing at Thanksgiving would make sense due to that being the time when we know, there are lots of flu and that there are fears that COVID could possibly have a second wave.

The CDC is careful to clarify in their recommendations that their guidelines DO NOT replace state and county mandates on reopening schools. They say schools must comply with whatever state education leaders and local governments say.

Preview: Lucas Brothers could reopen in Fair Oaks Mall

An iconic Columbus restaurant could be returning to operations as early as next month.

The Lucas Bros. Sandwich Shop, operated by the son of the most recent owner, plans a revival of the diner in Fair Oaks Mall. William Broaddus says that he still has the original grill used for years by his grandmother Donna Cannon, and his mother Cheri Perkins. He is even planning to use the same recipes for community favorite dishes such as the onion hamburgers and chili.

The restaurant operated in Columbus for more than 75 years, opening in the 1930s and closing in 2013 at its final location on State Street. Broaddus said he has a lease at Fair Oaks Mall though the end of the year. The restaurant will open in the space formerly occupied by Special Dogs & More in the mall.

He hopes to have the restaurant open again by early March. You can hear more from Broaddus about his plans tomorrow morning.

Clothes available Saturday in east Columbus for those in need

An effort to provide clothing for those in need will cap off that project with an event on Saturday at the America and Robie Anderson Community Center on McClure Road.

The Love Campaign clothing drive will hold a “Come Fill a Bag event” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the eastside center, where those in need can come and pick up clothing for their whole family.

Cristina Villani, organizer of the project,  said she started the project after meeting a family in need through her job at a rock climbing gym. She said this is her first time organizing such an event.

After the project began to gain momentum, she said other organizations jumped in to help. Those included the United Way of Bartholomew County, Sans Souci and Ivy Republic at Ivy Tech Community College Columbus.

Ultimately, more than 500 pieces of clothing were donated, she said. Families will be able to take up to 10 items of gently used clothing on Saturday.

 

 

Sheriff’s department mourning corrections officer

Sgt. Grover Crouch, with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department corrections division, helps children climb aboard the department’s rescue boat during this year’s Community Easter Egg Hunt in March.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department staff are mourning the loss of one of their corrections officers.

Sgt. Grover Crouch has died unexpectedly. Sheriff Matt Myers posted on social media about the officer, calling Crouch one of the department’s best employees who was patient. kind and always had a smile on his face.

Crouch had been with the sheriff’s department for 9 years and was frequently seen at community events including the Ethnic Expo parade, the Community Easter Egg Hunt and the Youth Academy.

Funeral arrangements are not yet available.