Organizers who want to try to keep the Flamenco sculpture in front of The Commons will be holding a Spanish Festival tonight to raise money for the project.

Geri Handley with the Columbus-area Arts Council says that the Fire and Grace festival will be held at 6:30 p.m. at The Commons and will feature a performance by Spanish guitarist Albert Nolting and FlamencÓle, a flamenco dance troupe from Indianapolis.

Nolting got his start studying under Tom Pickett at Pickett’s Columbus studio, Handley said. Nolting went on to the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and studied guitar with Ernesto Bitetti and earned a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance and a Bachelor of Science in music with an outside field in music education. Currently, he teaches guitar full-time and performs regionally.

Tickets are $25 and are available at Viewpoint Books and the Columbus Area Arts Council offices in The Commons.

A North Vernon man is being charged with attempted murder after a shooting yesterday afternoon.

58-year-old Wesley D. Webb was arrested after an afternoon of heated arguments with the victim, another adult male that lived in the same home in the 100 block of Baker Street.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond with the North Vernon Police Department said officers were first called to the address at about 1 p.m. about a dispute between the two. While there, officers became concerned about the living conditions at the home and about a child living in the home. The Indiana Department of Child Services were called to the scene.

About two hours later police were called back to the scene on a report that someone had been shot. Witnesses said that the argument between the two men got more heated, leading to the shooting.  The victim is in serious but stable condition and his name has not yet been released.

John Gregg, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, took part in Thursday night’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at the Donner Center in Columbus.

He says that there is a big difference between wanting to run for the position, versus wanting to serve…

Gregg had numerous criticisms of his opponent for November, Republican Gov. Mike Pence. Gregg says that the average Hoosier is

struggling. He believes that Indiana’s economy is not as good as Gov. Pence says, arguing that it’s not about the number of jobs created, rather it’s the quality of jobs that truly matters…

During Gregg’s speech to the party faithful, he received thunderous applause while touting the need for “a livable wage.”

Gregg says that Gov. Pence is more worried about pushing his personal views on social issues than taking care of the real problems facing Hoosiers. That proof, he says, was in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and it’s subsequent legislative “fix”…

If elected, Gregg says that one of his first acts as Governor will be to sign an Executive Order expanding civil rights protection to members of the LGBT community employed by the state.

Gregg says that it is important that the Governor works for all Hoosiers. He says that he wants to make it clear that, should he be elected, Columbus and Bartholomew County have nothing to fear…

Bartholomew County Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Ann Brown, a former Columbus Mayor, says that Thursday night’s gathering, along with the increased political activity, shows that the local Democratic party is “alive and well.” She added that this year’s event sold out in about two weeks.

A Medora High School senior was arrested for allegedly threatening a school shooting.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson says that shortly before classes ended for the day on Thursday, the principal at the school contacted the department to report the incident. The deputy’s report notes the principal saying that the student, 18-year-old Willis Lee Weddell Abell, became upset about seven-minutes before the end of the school day. Abell allegedly told a teacher that he was leaving to retrieve a gun, come back, then use it to shoot as many people as he could, before shooting himself. The teacher informed the principal, who spoke with Abell, informing him that he was suspended from school until further notice.

Deputies arrived at the school shortly after and arrested Abell on a Felony charge of Intimidation. The Sheriff’s Department says that the case remains under investigation and notes that additional charges could be coming from the county prosecutor.

Police in North Vernon are investigating a shooting that took place Thursday afternoon on Baker Street.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond, police department spokesman, says that at 2:59 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Baker Street after a report of a shooting. He says that one victim was found at the scene and transported to the hospital after being stabilized by first-responders.

Richmond says that a suspect is in custody. Neither the alleged shooter, nor victim, have been identified at this time. He explains that the investigation is ongoing, with help from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department. Richmond went on to say that more information will be released later this evening.

A Commiskey woman was arrested Wednesday night after Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to investigate a possible drug overdose.

Judy Jackson, Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, says that just after 10:30 p.m., Deputy Teancum Clark was sent to a gas station at US 31 and

State Road 7 after dispatchers received a call about a possible overdose. Apparently, a passer-by noticed an unconscious  woman sitting inside of a vehicle. While Deputy Clark was on his way to the gas station, dispatchers learned that the female woke-up and drove away.

The deputy eventually found the woman’s vehicle heading south on U.S. 31 and made a traffic stop. The driver was identified as 20-year-old Daniella Darlene Williams. Jackson says that Columbus Police Officer Branch Schrader arrived with his K9, Argo, who walked around the vehicle and was alerted to the odor of drugs. Authorities say that a spoon, syringe and a brown crystal substance were found on Williams. Jackson says that all of the items tested positive for heroin.

Prior to being booked in the county jail, Jackson says that Williams was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital to be checked out. Authorities say that she was cleared and remains behind bars on $20,000 bond. Williams is facing a preliminary charge of Operating under the Influence. Jackson says that additional charges of Operating While Intoxicated, Possession of Heroin, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of a Legend Drug Injection device are being sent to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Hope’s Volunteer Fire Department is asking the town for just over $10,000 in additional assistance to get work done on their new fire station, but a town committee is recommending approval of only about a third of that amount.

Last night, the firefighters asked a town committee which oversees Economic Development Income Tax revenues to consider the grant that would allow the department to pass its building inspection and let firefighters occupy the building on Aiken Street.

But the committee instead only agreed to pay $3,600 for fire doors at the building. Committee members also are interested in offering a matching grant, where firefighters could be awarded more EDIT money if they raise matching funds from donations, fish fries and other fundraising events.

The recommendation next goes to the Hope Town Council which meets Monday evening.

For more than a year, volunteer firefighters and some town officials have been at odds over the financial stability of the department. Last year, the department went without a contract or payments from the town for most of the year after town leaders balked at paying the fire department, they feared wouldn’t be able to continue operations. Earlier this year, the fire department settled a lawsuit with its contractor over payments for work on the new fire station.

A speeding stop by police turned into a drug arrest for a Scipio man yesterday evening.

30-year-old Nathaniel S. Mullins was driving near Third and Lindsey Street at about 8:10 p.m. when he was pulled over for speeding. Police called for police dog Max and his new handler Officer Jeremy Jones to check around the vehicle. Max alerted to the smell of drugs and during a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly found methamphetamine inside a cigarette case, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.

Mullins was arrested on a preliminary charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Officer Jones and Max recently returned to Columbus after going through training together. Their first shift together as partners was on Sunday.

American Legion Post 24 on 25th Street in Columbus will be holding a fish fry tomorrow to provide money to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department’s Youth Academy.

The fish fry will start at 11 a.m. and go through 8 p.m., with entertainment starting after that. Dinner will be $8 and will include fish, baked beans and potato salad. Drinks are extra.

A Bartholomew County man was arrested after allegedly trying to set his house on fire and threatening a neighbor with an ax.

Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department, said deputies were called to a disturbance on Dawson Street at 3:13 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. 41-year-old Kenneth W. Alltop is facing a preliminary charge of intimidation with a deadly weapon.

Before being taken to jail, he was first taken to Columbus Regional Hospital because he was complaining of chest pain