22 Columbus firefighters are being recognized for their efforts to save a disabled woman from a burning home earlier this month.

At Tuesday morning’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, Fire Chief Andy Lay and deputy chiefs Mark Ziegler and Mike Kutsko honored the firefighters who responded to a home fire in the 200 block of Hinman Street on June 17th.

The Medal of Valor was presented to six fire department members who were directly responsible for the rescue of the woman: Lt. Shawn McNealy, Firefighters Jeff Brown, Dan Smith, Cody Hercamp, Cory Hampton, and Chris Baker

The Medal of Courage was presented to 16 additional firefighters who operated at the scene. The Medal of Courage was also presented to two Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service Technicians who provided medical care and transport for the injured woman.

Those included: Lay, Ziegler, Battalion Chief Terry Whitis, Lieutenants Scott Maley, Rick Mullis, Ron Sexton and Josh Allman, Captains Mike Wilson and  Ben Spencer, Firefighters Paul Chapple, Andy Johns, Jared Lucas, Casey Taylor, Justin Sims, Bryan Bailey and Ryan Hirtzel; Paramedic Gabe Thomas, and EMT Conner Bridges.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Fire Department.

A North Vernon man is heading to prison for 25 years for sexually exploiting a toddler.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana is announcing that 26-year-old Gage Campos has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, in addition to 20 years of supervised release and $10,000 in restitution to the  victim.

According to police reports, Campos was arrested in September after images of sexual exploitation of a child were found in his Google account and on a cell phone. The images were created between July and October of 2019, when the victim was toddler. Authorities also learned that Campos had a position of trust over the child.

In addition to sexually explicit images of the minor victim, forensic examiners also found evidence that Campos had been collecting child sexual abuse material for at least 4 years. Campos used Google to search for material and images related to the sexual abuse of children.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified the photos as being in Campos’ account and turned the evidence over to the Indiana State Police and FBI. Investigators identified Campos, recovered evidence from his residence, obtained a confession, and ensured the safety of the  victim.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The American Red Cross is looking for your help as the agency is reporting a severe blood shortage.

Donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are being urged to make an appointment to give now to help ensure hospitals have the blood supplies they need over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.

Those who donate July 1st through the 6th will receive a Red Cross embroidered hat. And, donors between July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card.

The Red cross will be taking donations from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 1st, at Ivy Tech Community College on Central Avenue in Columbus and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 2nd at Developmental Services Inc. on 10th Street.

You can schedule an appointment to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS

Legislation by Columbus Congressman Greg Pence to speed the installation of broadband internet in rural areas is being incorporated into a federal interagency agreement.

That agreement is between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

The agencies announced the interagency agreement, and Pence’s office said on Monday that it was a key part of legislation that he introduced and that was signed into law by President Trump as part of last year’s Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Pence said that the agreement seeks to end the agency’s duplicating efforts and to ensure taxpayer dollars are targeting unserved and underserved areas.

Pence said that the pandemic showed how essential reliable broadband is. He said he was pleased that facets of his legislation are becoming reality and this agreement will help ensure that rural America is no longer left behind.

A Columbus man was arrested after a deputy saw him running across Interstate 65.

According to police reports, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputy was southbound on the interstate between the Columbus and Edinburgh exits at about 6:54 Sunday evening, when he saw a man run across the interstate, crossing in front of oncoming traffic.

The deputy stopped and tried to contact the man, who jumped a fence near County Road 250W and then ran down a driveway before finally stopping.

Sheriff’s department police dog Jari found a capped syringe near the man, who was identified as 29-year-old Michael Sample.

Sample was arrested on preliminary charges of public intoxication, possession of drug-related paraphernalia and obstruction of justice.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center is upgrading some equipment after problems were found with backup gear during a recent outage at the center.

Todd Noblitt, emergency operations director for the county, asked the Bartholomew County Commissioners to ratify the decision to replace the failing equipment. He said that during an incident two weeks ago, when the main dispatch system went down, dispatchers found they were having difficulty communicating on the backup repeater equipment in Harrison Township. That equipment was replaced.

Noblitt said a second item to be replaced was the system that lets the dispatch center send its signal to state towers for broadcast.

Without the replacements, he said the backup equipment had problems communicating with emergency departments when they were in the field throughout the county.

The cost to replace all of the equipment is just over $23,000 and it was purchased from ERS Wireless, Noblitt said. Some of the replaced equipment is more than 20 years old, he said.

Noblitt said that money for both improvements are already within the emergency operations center budget. Bartholomew County Commissioners ratified the emergency expenditures at their meeting Monday.

The Bartholomew County 4-H Fair continues today with Bartholomew County REMC Day at the fair.

Entertainment today includes the 4-H Best Dressed Rabbit & Rabbit Races at the Gathering Pavilion, a blacksmithing demonstration at the Heritage Building, a frog jumping contest at the Farm Bureau Building, Chordlighters Barbershop Quartet at the David Boll Theatre and All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets at the grandstands to benefit the Tony Stewart Foundation.

Fair board president Rick Trimpe says that a ceremony will be held tonight to dedicate the grandstands in honor of the Columbus racer. However, the ceremony has been delayed. It will now be held at 6:30 this evening.

Trimpe said that Stewart is also going to be giving away tickets for the first 2,000 attendees, for this weekend’s SRX Independence Showdown at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

It is Community Day at the Midway starting at 5 p.m.. Wristbands are $25 and you will receive $5 off by bringing in canned goods.

You can get more information at bartholomewcountyfair.com

JCB says none of its customers’ loans, deposits or other banking were affected by a Sunday afternoon fire that closed the Jackson County bank’s Brownstown facility. All the contents inside the banking center are safe and secure, bank officials say.

The fire was reported at about 6:25 Sunday evening. JCB President and CEO Marvin Veatch praised the Brownstown Fire Department and other surrounding volunteer departments for a quick response to the fire that minimized damages. He said that the company was fortunate the fire occurred during non banking hours.

The Brownstown banking center will remain closed until further notice. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the the Indiana State Fire Marshall.

JCB customers can access their accounts online at JCBank.com or at one of the bank’s nine other locations, including three in Seymour. For more information call 800-204-6477

The Bartholomew County 4-H Fair is underway.

Activities today include Lil’ Hands on the Farm at the Community Building, a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest and clogging at the Farm Bureau Building, Columbus City Band at the David Boll Theatre and Columbus Speedway Go-Karts at the Grandstand. The midway opens at 5 p.m. with Dollar Day, $1 per ride.

The Bartholomew County Health Department will be having a free COVID-19 clinic at the fair. Both the Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be offered at the clinic which will be held in the sheriff’s department tent at the fairgrounds. The clinic is for those 12 and older and walk-in patients are welcome. A free gift will also be given with each vaccination. The clinic will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. this evening.

For the complete fair schedule, click here.

The deadline is coming up on Wednesday, for Hope area kids to enter to reign as this year’s Little Miss Sparkler and Mr. Firecracker during the Old-Fashioned Independence Day festivities Friday.

Area children between 3 and 10 years old are invited to take part. To win votes, every penny raised counts as one vote. Participants are urged to decorate cans for donations and place them around town, or to solicit donations from friends and family members.

Participants must turn in their can to the Yellow Trail Museum by Wednesday. All proceeds benefit the Yellow Trail Museum.

The winners will be announced at 6:15 p.m. on Friday on the Hope Town Square. They will then then lead the bike, trike and stroller parade around the square.