A Seymour teen was killed in an early-morning crash today on Interstate 65 near Walesboro.

Indiana State Police are reporting that 19-year-old Nikson Cribs died after his vehicle was hit from behind near the 58 mile marker at just after 3 a.m. Troopers say that Cribs was driving very slowly in the southbound left lane, possibly due to a mechanical problem, when his SUV was hit from behind by a pickup driven by 21-year-old Coledon Hoeltke of Columbus.

Cribs was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bartholomew County Coroner’s office according to state police. Hoeltke was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be treated for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

The southbound lanes of the interstate were closed for more than two hours. The accident remains under investigation but neither drugs nor alcohol are believe to have been involved.

The state police were assisted at the scene by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Regional EMS, Wayne Township Fire Department, Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office, West Towing, and Columbus Towing.

The Pregnancy Care Center of South Central Indiana has been serving the area since 1983 but now it does so as “Clarity.”

Tim Bond, the executive director of the organization revealed the new brand and identity last night at The Commons during the organization’s 2015 report to the community.

“Clarity — Realizing Possibilities” is the banner under which all the services will now operate.

04-20 Tim Bond-2

Bond said prior to this new concept, the organization was somewhat like a basketball team with no matching uniforms and different mascots.

The presentation of the 2015 report also included the naming of Dr. Brian Willams as the Sharon C. Leavitt Volunteer of the Year.

You can look for more information at the new website, claritycares.org.

The Jennings County Chamber of Commerce has dissolved after the resignation of its executive director.

In an unsigned announcement sent out to Chamber members and supporters last night, the organization said it was “no secret that the Chamber has been struggling for several years.”

The Chamber’s board of directors met Monday to accept the resignation of executive director Marie Shepherd, and then voted to dissolve the organization, according to the announcement.

“Every effort has been made to continue operating in the best interest of our members.  Due to the financial hardship, we can no longer offer the support and provide a needed service to this community.  It is time to close our doors.  It is the dearest wish and prayer of the Jennings County Chamber Board that our business community will prosper and thrive.  Thank you for allowing us to serve you for over half a century.”

The chamber reached out last year to the City Council, County Council and County Commissioners for financial help and partnership but  “the decision was made at that time that the fiscal budgets were being pulled in many different directions. The Chamber was not a priority in the face of our current economy’s condition.”

The Friends of the Muscatatuck River Society is hosting the 15th Annual Spring River Cleanup on Saturday.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to canoe a section of the Muscatatuck River or walk along its bank while collecting trash. Registration is at 8 a.m. at the Vernon Commons, located off Jackson Street in Vernon. You should dress in clothing appropriate for outdoor work and appropriate for the weather.

This year is also the 7th Annual Kevin’s Kleanup in memory of Kevin Jayne, former president of the Friends of the Muscatatuck.

Lunch will be provided by local businesses  at noon at North Vernon City Park Shelter House 3.

For information, you can call Tom Moore at 812-592-0319 or go to http://www.fomrs.org.

Correction: The starting time of the May 5th event is 5 p.m. It was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

The former Eastside Community Center is getting a new name.

Julie Bilz, President of State Street Area Association, says that a dedication ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 5th, to rename the building after its founders Roby and America Anderson. Bilz says that you are invited to stop by the building, at 421 McClure Road, to take part in the event.

Bilz says that the United Way, the City of Columbus, Heritage Fund and the State Street Area Association will be hosting a spaghetti dinner at the site from 5 to 6:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., she says that Mayor Jim Lienhoop will read a proclamation to officially name the building. Bilz adds that from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the State Street Area Association will be holding what is being called a “general meeting” at the newly dedicated building. She says that residents of the city’s east side, business owners and any other interested individuals are welcome to attend.

The Cancer Center at Columbus Regional Health (CRH) is offering free skin screenings.

CRH Spokesperson Kelsey DeClue says that each year, about one-million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. If detected early, doctors say that 95 percent of skin cancer cases are treatable. DeClue says that, in an effort to boost awareness and early detection, the Cancer Center at CRH will host its annual Skin Cancer Screening.

DeClue says that the screening is free and open to the public. However, she stresses that there are those who should most consider getting screened. They include those individuals who:

• Work or spend considerable time outdoors
• Are fair-skinned or fair-haired
• Tend to develop moles or other skin growths
• Have new skin growth or are experiencing a change in skin growth

DeClue says that board-certified dermatologists Dr. Eduardo Rivera and Dr. Michael Sheehan will screen attendees and provide follow-up referrals as needed.

If you would like to take advantage of these screenings, DeClue says that appointments are required. Call (800) 699-1019 to register.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials recently met with contractor representatives

to discuss lane restrictions and highway closures in Johnson County. The restrictions and closures are needed in order to do bridge work this summer.

INDOT Spokesman Harry Maginity says that RAM Construction is the state’s contractor for a $464,722 bridge preservation project that will install new deck overlays, as well as make repairs at these four structures:

• Twin bridges on U.S. Highway 31 at Big Blue River—located 0.29 miles south of S.R. 252
• S.R. 252 bridge at Big Blue River—located 0.52 miles east of U.S. 31
• S.R. 44 bridge at Prong Stotts Creek—located 0.11 miles west of S.R. 135

Maginity says that the U.S. 31 bridges are four-span reinforced concrete arch structures measuring 39 feet in length with 36 feet of clear roadway side to side. He says that bridge traffic will be restricted to a single lane as crews work in the adjacent lane. INDOT says that this work is scheduled to take place in early August and will affect nearly 6,500 vehicles per day.

Maginity says that the State Road 252 bridge at the Big Blue River is a five-span continuous steel beam structure measuring 38.5 feet in length with 36 feet of clear roadway side-to-side. He notes that the work at this location will require a 14-day closure, with work scheduled to begin around September 1st. INDOT says that 4,230 vehicles travel this bridge every day.

Maginity says that the State Road 44 bridge at Prong Stotts Creek is a three-span continuous reinforced concrete slab structure measuring 46 feet in length with 41 feet of clear roadway side-to-side. He says that the work at this bridge also requires a 14-day closure and is expected to begin around September 1st. INDOT says that the traffic count for this bridge is 1,600 vehicles per day.

A traffic stop leads to drug dealing charges in North Vernon.

A spokesperson with the North Vernon Police Department (NVPD) says that at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Sgt. Andrew Richmond

noticed a vehicle that he says committed a moving violation. Richmond pulled the car over, then reports that he became suspicious of possible criminal activity. He then radioed for back-up before utilizing his K9 “Heros” to sniff around the vehicle. Police say that Heros alerted officers to the odor of illegal drugs coming from inside the vehicle. NVPD officials say that a search of the vehicle ensued, resulting in the discovery of syringes, scales, packaging materials and other paraphernalia.

Police allege that the driver, 19-year-old Joshua A. Matteson, of North Vernon, was found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine. They say that Matteson was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony);
Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony);
Possession of a Syringe (Level 6 Felony);
Possession of Paraphernalia (Class “A” Misdemeanor)

Matteson was booked in the Jennings County Jail. Bond information was not immediately available.

A Columbus man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly trying to evade law-enforcement.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 2:10 a.m., Deputy Leah Burton was

westbound on State Road 46 when she reported seeing a vehicle, traveling at a high rate of speed, turn eastbound from Old Nashville Road.

Jackson says that Deputy Burton pursued the vehicle, which continued to Tipton Lakes Boulevard, where Burton lost sight of it. After turning eastbound onto Goeller Boulevard and approaching County Road 350 West, Burton reportedly found the vehicle again, this time, traveling east.

Jackson says that Burton initiated a traffic stop, but the suspect vehicle allegedly turned off its headlights and sped away. Authorities say that the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed before being stopped by Deputy Burton and Sgt. Gary Knoef at Goeller Boulevard and Colorado Street. They say that the driver, 25-year-old Devin Kinman, of Georgetown Road, was then arrested without incident.

Sheriff’s Department officials say that Kinman was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on $13,500 bond. They say that he is facing preliminary charges of Resisting law Enforcement, Reckless Driving and Operating without Ever Receiving a License.

A Bartholomew County Emergency Dispatcher is being credited for potentially saving the life of a woman who was allegedly being held at gunpoint.

Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center Director Ed Reuter says that the first words that Emergency Dispatcher Dylan Prather heard when he picked up the 4:06 a.m. Monday call was “Put the gun away.” Reuter says that Prather attempted to first speak with the caller, however he got no response. Reuter says that, despite the lack of communication, Prather was able to determine the caller’s address from the GPS device in the woman’s cell phone. He then dispatched Sheriff’s Deputies to the scene. Authorities say that Prather was then able to establish contact with the woman by texting. They say that allowed Prather to communicate with the caller until deputies arrived. Reuter added that this communication also kept Sheriff’s Deputies informed about what they were about to encounter, potentially saving several lives.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that Sgt. Kris Weisner, Deputies Joshua Bush, Nate Nichols and Teancum Clark responded to the scene in Elizabethtown. After a preliminary investigation, she says that officers arrested 32-year-old Joshua M. Hehman, of Elizabethtown, on preliminary charges of Domestic Battery While in the Presence of a Minor, Pointing a Loaded Firearm, Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon and Interfering with the Reporting of a Crime. Hehman was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on a total bond of $40,000 and placed on a 48-hour hold, according to jail officials.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center has had the Texting System since May of 2014, said Reuter. He went on to say that the system has proven to be an invaluable tool for residents and public safety officials.

“I am very proud of the men and women working at our Operations Center who continue to show why Indiana is one of the top users of the Text-to-911 systems in the country,” said Reuter. He went on to say that Bartholomew County was a pioneer in implementing the Text-to-911 system. Reuter says that incidents like this serve as proof that the system is paying dividends. “A life may have very well been saved,” he added. Reuter went on to say that emergency responders need to continue to adapt to changing technology. He noted that while texting is a fairly new method for interaction between the public and 911, future developments could see the implementation of video, as well as other ways to communicate.

Sheriff Matt Myers also praised the Text-to-911 system. “Bartholomew County’s 911 texting availability makes it possible for those in emergency situations to receive help when they are unable to communicate verbally”, said the Sheriff. Myers added, “It will save lives and may have done so in this particular case.”