Home sales in central Indiana are up nearly seven percent, according to a real estate group.

F.C. Tucker Company is reporting that central Indiana home sales are up 6.9 percent year to date, according to Senior Account Executive Tim Coxey. He says that amounts to almost two-thousand more homes sold in 2015, compared to the same time period last year. Locally, Coxey says that Bartholomew County’s home sales were up more than 26 percent in November and 12 percent year to date.

Bartholomew County is also seeing an increase in active listings. Coxey says that listings are up 11 percent in November 2015 over November of 2014. He reports that there were 290 active listings last November, while there were 322 in November of this year.

There was more good news for Bartholomew County home owners, as the average sale price also increased. Coxey says that from November of 2014 to November of 2015, the average price increased 4.6 percent to just under $201,000. Brown County also saw an increase in the average sale price over the same period, said Coxey. He cites F.C. Tucker’s report, which says the average sale price jumped 4.4 percent to $181,580.

A Seymour native has been promoted within the Indiana State Police’s (ISP) Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED). ISP Bloomington Post Spokesman Sgt. Curt Durnil says that Superintendent Doug Carter recently announced the promotion of Motor Carrier Inspector District Coordinator Kim Judge to Motor Carrier Inspector Administrator (MCIA) to serve the CVED.

Durnil explains that Judge’s primary responsibilities will be to manage ISP Scale Operations and supervise MCI personnel through subordinate commanders, while also providing direct supervision to the Assistant Administrator. She will also ensure proper distribution of applicable correspondence to CVED personnel. He goes on to say that Judge will also be responsible for training, supervising, counseling and evaluating MCI personnel. She will also manage the Superload Escort Program which oversees all aspects of oversized loads that travel on Indiana roads. Judge will also assist the CVED Commander with formulating legislative issues relating to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.

A newly-opened pet supplies business in Columbus is holding an event this weekend aimed at providing support to Columbus Animal Care Services.

City spokesman Mike Nolting says that pets, as well as their owners, are encouraged to visit Speck’s Pet Supplies Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that time, they can have their picture taken with Santa for a $10 donation. He says that all proceeds will go to Columbus Animal Care Services. According to the business’ website, Speck’s Pets opened Monday and is located at 3860 Carlos Folger Drive in the Shoppes at Riverbend just off of State Road 46.

Nolting says that Columbus Animal Care Services has adopted, or placed with other rescues, one-hundred percent of healthy, adoptable dogs through October of this year. He adds that this marks the fourth year for not euthanizing dogs due to space constraints. Nolting said that cat adoptions are also at an historic high.

The Mayor’s Office says that the Animal Care Services Department is funded by donations, city tax dollars, fines and fees. “Generous donations from the public help keep the pets healthy and adoptable,” said Animal Care Services Director Nicohl Birdwell-Goodin.

For more information about pet adoption or volunteering, call (812) 376-2505. You can learn more about Speck’s Pet Supplies by visiting www.speckspets.com.

Nashville recording artists Danika Holmes and Jeb Hart will be performing Christmas music with Hope Elementary fifth graders at Willow Leaves of Hope on Saturday evening.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m. with Sally Webster. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.

The Hartsville Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the fire station on the Town Square.

There will be pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee served. Santa will make his arrival at 9 a.m. and he will have a treat and gift for every child attending.

A free will offering is requested.

Indiana State Police discovered a meth lab inside a hidden space in a basement of a Columbus house Wednesday morning.

Trooper Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the state police, reports that troopers gathered enough information during an investigation to serve a search warrant on the home in the 1100 block of California Street. Officers found the makings of a meth lab in the hidden space and found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia throughout the home. Child Protective Services were called in because a child had allegedly been in the residence

The home’s owner, 53-year-old Tony Gibson was arrested at his workplace on State Road 46. He is facing preliminary charges of dealing/manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Wheeles said.

The Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Suppression Team responded to the residence and assisted with processing the meth lab equipment.  Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The city of Columbus will be providing more than $3,000 to help put a wreath on the grave of every local veteran buried in Garland Brook Cemetery.

The city will make the $3,125 donation to Wreathes Across America that will allow the group to place more than 650 wreaths on veterans graves tomorrow. Mayor Kristen Brown said this is the fourth year the city has supported the program.

The ceremonies will begin at noon Saturday at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Columbus. Three 36-inch wreaths will be placed at the memorial by groups including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Gold Star Mothers and the women’s auxiliaries from the local VFW and the American Legion.

The groups and Mayor Brown will then move to Garland Brook Cemetery.

The “Ugly Holiday Sweater Stroll” took place Thursday night in downtown Columbus.

The event was put on by the Columbus Downtown Merchants Association and The Commons. Residents, visitors and business owners were encouraged to do their loudest Christmas sweaters, the walk through downtown and visit area businesses. Many businesses who took part stayed open for extended hours, as the event ran from 5 to 8 p.m.

Participation appeared light, on both the business and consumer side, but those who took part said they were pleased. Mike Dell, with Dell Bros., said that business was steady. Dell, who was sporting his own holiday sweater, noted that this was the first year for the Stroll and that overall, it was a “good start” to what he hopes will be an annual event.

Dell said that events like these are always welcome as a way to to get more people to visit downtown businesses like his, which is about to enter its 100th year in Columbus. He went on to say that even if new potential customers only take part in window-shopping, events like these make these people think of his business, and a potential return with an intent to buy.

Terry Whitaker, who was manning the register at Viewpointe Books, seemed to agree. He said that he saw several people out and about during this event. While his sales weren’t exceptional, Whitaker said that every extra sale is appreciated.

A Columbus resident was arrested on theft and criminal trespass charges in North Vernon.

The North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) says that just after 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to a store in the 2400 block of Highway 3 North. Store officials reportedly told dispatch that they tried to stop the suspect, but he refused to cooperate.

Officers reportedly found the suspect’s vehicle traveling south on Highway 3. NVPD Officers stopped the vehicle and arrested 27-year-old Kelly D. Starkey. He was booked in the Jennings County Jail. Bond information was not immediately available.

A North Vernon Man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash.

The North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) reports that the incident happened near the intersection of Madison Avenue and Rogers Park Drive. According to the officer’s report, 46-year-old Amelia Suhre, of Columbus, was on North Madison Avenue, waiting to turn right onto Rogers park Drive at 7:10 a.m. A vehicle reportedly struck the rear of Suhre’s vehicle, then left the scene.

NVPD Officers got a description of the vehicle and found it a short time later heading south on Madison Avenue. Officers reportedly stopped the vehicle and arrested 21-year-old Seth Ferguson.

Ferguson is facing preliminary charges of Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident. Damage to both vehicles is estimated to be between $10,000 and $15,000.