The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County and Thrive Alliance are announcing a partnership to open the first local home for women in ASAP’ Sober Living program.

ASAP Sober Living has taken possession of the home. The goal is to have the first residents move in during the first week of August.

ASAP began operating sober living or recovery homes last year and now operates two men’s homes in Bartholomew County. The homes are meant to provide safe, structured, and sustainable housing for those starting their recovery from substance use disorder.

The new home was purchased with resources from a local private company, federal Community Development Block Grant funding through the City of Columbus, Horizon Bank, ASAP and Thrive Alliance.

For more information: www.asapbc.org/asapsoberliving/

Nashville Utilities has issued a boil water advisory for customers in the area of Grandma Barnes Road and the 3700 block of North State Road 135 until 4 Wednesday afternoon.

You should boil any water for three to five minutes before drinking it or using it for cooking.

If you have any questions you can call Nashville Utilities at 812-988-5526.

The Columbus Human Rights Commission is looking for your nominations for the William R. Laws Human Rights Award.

According to the commission, the award recognizes a group of members from the community, a community organization, or an individual who has made a substantial contribution to Columbus in any areas of human and civil rights, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.

Nominations for the Laws Award should be submitted to the Human Rights Commission by 5 in the afternoon on Friday, August 13th. You can send in nominations by mail, e-mail or drop them off in person in City Hall. Forms are available at City Hall and through the city’s website at columbus.in.gov.

If you have any questions, you can call the Human Rights
Commission at (812) 376-2532.

Legal Aid is holding a Free Legal Aid Phone Clinic from 3 to 5:30 Tuesday afternoon

Legal Aid offers the clinics for low-income residents of its eight-county district.

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 over the phone.

To take part, you must first register between noon and 2 Tuesday by calling 812-378-0358.

The Greensburg Police Department is announcing the creation of an Intelligence-Led-Policing unit for the department.

Greensburg police say that they have been talking with other agencies who have implemented the programs and had success with them. In particular, Columbus Police Department allowed Greensburg to observe their unit in action and provided resources to the Greensburg efforts.

According to police, 60 percent of the crime is committed by six percent of the population. Intelligence led policing focuses on identifying and incapacitating, what the department calls high priority offenders, or career criminals.

Greensburg officers received training from the Southern Police Institute and will be entering the Intelligence Liaison officer program through the Indiana Intelligence Fusion Center.

Sgt. Brandon Meyer is heading up the Greensburg efforts. You can contact him with any information on career criminals at 812-663-3131.

Bartholomew County deputies intercepted a vehicle fleeing from Decatur County last week, deflating the tires and ending the chase.

According to police reports, deputies were alerted to the chase on East State Road 46 that crossed the county line on Wednesday night. Bartholomew deputies caught up to the vehicle on East 25th Street near the junction with State Road 9 and State Road 46.

Deputies laid down stop sticks in the 6100 block of 25th Street which deflated the tires, slowing the driver to about 40 mph. The driver left the road and crashed into a concrete curb.

44-year-old Wade Bruffett of Harrison, Ohio, was taken into custody on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, operating while intoxicated, and driving while suspended.

The Decatur County Sheriff’s Department is continuing the investigation.

Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department

The United Way of Bartholomew County is partnering with Faurecia on a project to install ramps at the homes of those who use wheelchairs or who have mobility impairments.

The Faurecia Foundation recently granted the United Way $5,000 for the Ramp Up with United Way program. The program allows people in the community to have independence despite physical challenges.

You can register for the program by going to uwbarthco.org

A Columbus man is being accused of taking packages from a porch last week.

According to reports from the Columbus Police Department, officers were called to the 200 block of Gladstone Avenue Wednesday evening on the theft report. After watching home security video, police identified the suspect as 23-year-old David A. Compton.

Officers from the Intelligence Led Policing Unit found Compton on Thursday evening, standing outside of a residence. He was arrested on a preliminary charge of theft with a previous conviction.

A 31-year-old Elizabethtown man is under arrest on child molesting charges, accused of having sex with a 13-year-old.

Seymour Police are reporting that the investigation began on May 5th, when police were told that two men, both over 21, had been having intercourse with the girl. After reviewing information found under five search warrants, Seymour police determined that one of the men had sex with the girl, but in Jennings County. Information was forwarded to the Jennings County prosecutor’s office for review.

On Thursday, Seymour officers arrested 31-year-old Jordan Sargent of Elizabethtown on three felony charges of child molesting. He refused to be interviewed by police. Police said new information indicated that Sargent had also had intercourse with the girl in Bartholomew County and that information has been forwarded to the Bartholomew County prosecutor’s office for review.

The Better Business Bureau is reporting a rise in the number of complaints about fake utility company scams in central Indiana. There have been reports of people impersonating internet, cable TV or electric company representatives as a way to scam you out of your money.

The bureau says that people are calling claiming to be with the utility companies and the calls can appear legitimate down to the Caller ID and even the hold music they use on the calls. But the callers want to trick you into making a quick payment using pre-paid debit cards or gift cards over the phone.

Legitimate companies will never ask you to make a payment using a pre-paid card or gift card. If someone unexpected shows up at your door claiming to be with a utility company, check their ID and call the utility directly to find out if they are a real employee.

Better Business Bureau Serving Central Indiana website