Two people were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on crash on State Road 9, in Hope on Sunday evening. Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at 7:30 p.m., Deputy Terrance Holderness was called to the scene of the crash, which occurred just north of Grand Street.

Sheriff’s Department Investigators say that a car driven by 24-year-old Joshua Campfield, of Hope, was traveling southbound on State Road 9 when a northbound pick-up truck, driven by 30-year-old David Day, of Shelbyville, crossed the center line. Investigators say that Campfield swerved into the northbound lane to avoid a collision, just as Day noticed that he had drifted across the center line and corrected his vehicle back into the northbound lane. Both vehicles reportedly collided head-on and came to rest blocking both lanes of State Road 9.

Campfield reportedly suffered an injury to his right arm. Day sustained an injury to his right hip. Both were transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.

Jackson says that a Reconstructionist from the Sheriff’s Office responded for additional investigation. She adds that State Road 9 was re-opened at approximately 10 p.m.

The town of Hope will be kicking off the holiday season on Friday with its Christmas of Yesteryear on the town square.

Barb Johnson, director of the Yellow Trail Museum, said there will be caroling, carriage rides and events in the stores around the Town Square.

They Yellow Trail Museum itself will be offering activities including a bake sale and cookie baking for the children.

“Kids come in here and they decorate Christmas cookies for a dollar and their mothers love it because then they don’t have the decorating mess at home,” Johnson said. “They get to do it right here and leave us the mess.”

The event will feature carriage rides at a cost of $3 per person or $10 for a family of four. The carriage rides will stop at locations where local actors portray people from Hope’s past on Christmas eves throughout the ages.

“People meet at Norman’s cabin and get on a horsedrawn people-mover and visit, this year, nine different scenes where people are talking about Christmas eve in whatever era they are representing,” Johnson said. “It is an interesting trip back in time.”

Johnson said the event will feature a live Nativity at the bandstand at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

“At 7 p.m., the Baptist youth will do a program they call a ‘dowel-rod ministry,'” Johnson said. “It is sort of a almost dance routine where they use dowel rods to tell the Christmas story. It is a very interesting program, all done by the kids and practiced for weeks to get it perfect.”

The Christmas of Yesteryear is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday on the Hope Town Square.

Gov. Mike Pence is suspending the settlement of any Syrian refugees in Indiana, citing concerns about Friday’s attacks in Paris.

While Gov. Pence said that Indiana has traditionally been open to accepting refugees from around the world, none will be allowed from Syria because one of the alleged attackers in Paris was allegedly a Syrian refugee.

Pence said until security measures are in place the new policy will be in full force and effect. The refugee resettlement office is administered under the Family and Social Services Administration.

An Indianapolis man was seriously hurt in a crash Friday night on Interstate 65 after his pickup struck a semi.

Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that deputies were called at about 7:53 p.m. to a crash on the interstate, about four miles south of the Edinburgh exit. The driver of the semi reported that the pickup had spun into the median after the collision and then rolled several times.

The driver, 53-year-old Rickey Mendenhall, had to be freed by rescue workers. He was flown by Statflight helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

A 22-year-old Seymour woman is being accused of attacking a postal worker and a police officer after celebrating her birthday Saturday night in downtown Columbus.

Sgt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department said a postal service employee reported being attacked and bitten at about 10:30 Saturday night after a young woman entered a restricted area in the post office. The postal worker locked the woman inside and called police, Harris said.

Police arrested 22-year-old Jessica D. Wetzel, who allegedly kicked an officer as she was being loaded in the patrol car. She appeared highly intoxicated and told officers that she had been celebrating her birthday, Harris said. Because of her alleged intoxication, police took her to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment where she allegedly bit a police officer.

Wetzel was arrested on preliminary charges including criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, battery resulting in bodily injury, battery on a law enforcement officer resulting in bodily injury, and resisting law enforcement.

Johnson County deputies are investigating a home break-in Friday near Nineveh.

According to Sheriff Doug Cox, this break-in is different than other recent burglaries, because it appears that a vehicle was driven into the garage door at a home on Friday, and someone then entered the home through the unlocked inner door. Items allegedly taken included an air compressor, a welder and a shotgun.

Deputies found little evidence at the scene except for black paint on the garage door, investigators said.

There were reports that a broken down black van had been stored at the home and recently towed. A son of the homeowners was home at the time of the break-in, but did not see or hear anything, investigators said.

Columbus police arrested a man on drunk driving charges after he was found to be driving on two tires so flat that sparks were shooting off of the rims as they rubbed the pavement, police said.

Sgt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department, says this happened early Saturday morning when an officer noticed the car driving north in the 2100 block of Central Avenue. After he was stopped, the driver, 40-year-old Abimael H. Figueroa, appeared to be intoxicated and a portable breath test showed a blood alchohol level of .163 percent, more than twice the legal limit.

He was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Columbus Regional Health reports that this month is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, awareness month and in recognition they will have an information session this week on the disorder.

The event will be from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Mill Race Center. Dr. Raymond Kiser will discuss COPD including risk factors and treatment options.

The session is free but registration is required. You can call 1-800-699-1019 or register online at www.crh.org/events

The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) has announced three promotions.

Lieutenant David Foster has been promoted to the rank of Captain. CFD Spokesman Capt. Mike Wilson says that Captain Foster is a 16 year veteran of the department. Foster was promoted to Sergeant in 2012. In 2013, the fire department eliminated the Sergeant rank, thus making the entry level officer position the rank of Lieutenant, said Wilson. During this rank system change, six fire department Sergeant positions transitioned to the rank of Lieutenant. Foster was promoted following a Captain position vacancy after the recent promotion of a department training officer.

Firefighter Allen Smith has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Wilson says that Lieutenant Smith is a 17 year veteran of the department. He was promoted following the Lieutenant vacancy left by the promotion of Foster. Lieutenant Smith is also certified as an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter.

Firefighter Bryan Brown has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Lieutenant Brown is a 20 year veteran of the department, said Wilson. Brown was promoted to fill an open Lieutenant position. He is also certified as an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter.

A Columbus man was arrested Thursday on a child porn charge. Indiana State Police Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Wheeles says that Troopers served a search warrant at a home at 604 Fairview Drive as part of a child pornography investigation. He says that investigation led to the arrest of 24-year-old Matthew M. Jones.

Indiana State Police (ISP) Detectives say the investigation began after a tip was received through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cyber-tipline. ISP Detectives, as part of the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force, say they executed the warrant with the help from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Detectives.

Sgt. Wheeles says that a forensic examination was performed on electronic equipment seized at Jones’ home. He says that ultimately resulted in Jones being arrested on one count of Possession of Child Pornography, a Level Six Felony.

The Indiana State Police is using this opportunity to remind you that you can report criminal activity involving child victims by going to the nearest police agency. You can also visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cyber-tipline at www.missingkids.com.