Funeral services for retired Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputy and three-term County Councilman Joe Bill Whipker are set for later this morning.
Whipker died Friday at the age of 68. Funeral services are planned for 10 a.m. at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home.
The city of Columbus will consider annexing a Bartholomew County park, but the park would not become part of the city parks system.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that the city has been approached by the Bartholomew County Commissioners to add the Dunn Stadium park, which is just north of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, to the city. That would make it possible to bring city sewer and water to the facility, which includes softball diamonds and a BMX track.
County Commissioners said that a new set of restrooms are being planned for the park and the county would prefer to hook up to city sewer, rather than a septic system.
Lienhoop said that the 20-acre park would remain part of the county park system and there had been no request to bring it under the city’s parks department.
Columbus City Council will consider the request for annexation at its meeting tonight. That will be at 6 p.m. at the Columbus City Council chambers in City Hall.
Indiana Department of Transportation’s contractor for installing bridge deck overlays on Interstate 74 at the Flatrock River and Clifty Creek in Decatur County will begin operations Tuesday. Harry Maginity, INDOT spokesman, says that drivers heading east on I-74 will be impacted, west of Greensburg, by single lane closures.
Maginity says that RAM Construction, the state’s contractor for this $616,481 bridge preservation project, is charged with topping both structures with 3/8-inch polymeric epoxy bridge deck overlays placed in two lifts. The high tensile strength sealant protects bridge decks from effects of heavy traffic and hazardous weather, say INDOT officials. The sealant also increases friction for skid resistance and reduced risk of hydroplaning, says Maginity.
INDOT says that the five-span Flatrock River bridge is located five miles west of U.S. Highway 421, west of County Road 420. The three-span Clifty Creek bridge is located 2½ miles west of U.S. 421, east of County Road 420.
The Harrison Township Fire Department hosted an IU Health Lifeline Air Ambulance training session Monday evening on the grounds of Westside 
Community Church, located on Columbus’ west side. The training session focused on areas including landing zones, aircraft familiarization, loading of patient and ground-to-air radio communications.
The training session, which was attended by dozens of area first-responders and firefighters, professional and volunteer, addressed potential hazards to responders as they operate around the aircraft. Trevor Erickson, a Lifeline pilot with Metro Aviation, Inc., says that the hazards are many and include things that you may not think about. While the obvious dangers include helicopter blades and other moving parts, other hazards include power lines, light-poles and uneven landing surfaces. Noting the wind created by the helicopter blades, Erickson also reminded first-responders that it is important for them to suggest good 
landing areas, devoid of dry dirt and snow. By landing in those areas, he says that the helicopter can create brownout and whiteout conditions, potentially endangering the patient, first-responders and the helicopter crew. The wind generated from the helicopter, up to 100 mph, can also cause loose debris, hats, towels, tents and other items to be thrown around, said Erickson.
Erickson, and the rest of his crew, spoke to first-responders in a classroom setting for about an hour before training began. Responders were trained on the importance of finding good landing areas for the helicopter, preferably a flat, smooth area, like a parking lot, or a flat, grassy field. The practice focused on the loading of patients into the helicopter, both when the aircraft is off, called “cold-loading,” and when it is operational with blades activated, called “hot-loading.” Lifeline crew members stressed the importance of hot-load training, as a mistake by first-responders could lead to an injury or death, as well as compromise the safety of the crew and patient.
Several local agencies took part in the training. They included members of the Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Southwest Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Columbus Fire Department. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says that he was impressed with the training and turnout. He noted that it is important for all firefighters to be prepared for whatever the job calls on them to do.
North Vernon Police are investigating a report about a stolen kitten.
A police department spokesperson says that at 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a complaint where someone had allegedly stolen the kitten from an apartment while the pet’s owner was out of town. Authorities say that they were able to track down the animal and return it to the owner. They add that the kitten was unharmed.
The department spokesperson says that the investigation is ongoing and that criminal charges are expected to be filed. Until that time, the names of those allegedly involved have not been released.
North Vernon Police arrested a Jennings County resident Sunday morning after responding to a report of an injured man.
A police department spokesperson says that officers responded to the call at 7:40 a.m., where they found a 20-year-old man suffering from a cut to his arm. After investigating, officers determined that a domestic battery had taken place.
Police say that while they were trying to arrest the suspect, Ace Holstein, 20, of North Vernon, Holstein attempted to run away once he was told that he was being arrested. They say that Holstein attempted his escape as officers were handcuffing him. The spokesperson says that officers were able to subdue, and arrest, Holstein before he could get away.
Authorities say that Holstein is facing preliminary charges of Domestic Battery (Class A misdemeanor), Strangulation (Level 6 Felony) and Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A misdemeanor).
A Franklin man was arrested Sunday after he allegedly attacked a sheriff’s deputy.
Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox says that at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, deputies were called to the 5300 block of Birch Lane, in
Greenwood, on a report of a man acting erratically. According to the report, the man, Christopher Derringer, 46, was pounding on the back door of a home belonging to his mother’s neighbor. When the owner of the home went to investigate the noise, he told authorities that he saw Derringer walking away. The man then reportedly yelled at Derringer to stay off of his property, which, he says, resulted in Derringer throwing a flower pot in the homeowner’s direction and Derringer’s dog biting him on the leg.
When deputies arrived, they say that Derringer approached one of them in a threatening manner, asking if he wanted a fight. Authorities say this behavior continued, even as Derringer’s mother and girlfriend were physically trying to restrain him. The deputy says that Derringer began walking toward his mother’s house, taunting law-enforcement to shoot him. The deputy followed Derringer, asking him to calm down and talk to him. As Derringer was attempting to go inside of his mother’s house, the deputy says that he ordered him to stop, which he says angered Derringer and resulted in him walking up to the deputy and repeatedly chest-bumping him. The deputy says that he then handcuffed Derringer. As he turned the suspect around, Derringer allegedly kneed him in the groin, twice.
Once Derringer was put in a police car, deputies say that they spoke with his mother and girlfriend. Both allegedly told authorities that Derringer was not in his normal state of mind. Deputies also say that the pair told them that Derringer went to house on Birch Lane to “find the answers.” The mother and girlfriend also allegedly told deputies that Derringer has threatened “suicide by cop” in the past.
When jail officers arrived on the scene to take Derringer in to custody, deputies report that he yelled at the neighbors, threatening that he would be “coming back to get them.” The Sheriff’s Department says that Derringer is facing preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Intimidation. Deputies also say that a Victim Notification Form was completed so that the neighbors would be notified whenever Derringer is released. Deputies say that they also encouraged the neighbors to apply for a protective order against Derringer.
Animal Control is investigating the dog bite. The whereabouts of Derringer’s dog was not released.
A Bartholomew County man was arrested on domestic battery-related charges after an incident early Sunday morning.
Deputies were called to a reported domestic dispute at about 5:45 a.m. Sunday in the 800 block of South National Road. A woman at the scene had allegedly been battered.
40-year-old Esteban Loeza-Mendez was arrested on preliminary charges of domestic battery, criminal confinement and strangulation.
The victim was checked out by medics but not taken to the hospital.
A Bartholomew County woman was arrested Saturday night after a man was allegedly stabbed in the toe during a domestic dispute.
Deputies were called to the 200 block of Dawson Street on a report of a battery involving a knife at just before 8 Friday night. The victim told police that he and 44-year-old Kris Johnson got into an argument and she allegedly headbutted him and began to strike him, says Caitlyn Gross, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies said the man was cut under his toe by an unknown object. Both Johnson and the victim were evaluated by Columbus Regional Hospital medics.
Johnson was arrested on preliminary charges of battery with a deadly Weapon, domestic battery and battery resulting in bodily injury.
The local Purdue Extension office is inviting you to take part in “Community Garden Rambles.”
Kris Medic, an educator with the office, says that the program offers an opportunity to visit some of the area’s eleven community gardens over the growing season and get updates on crop progress and pest activity.
Medic says that this year’s visits will be held on Saturday mornings, beginning June 18th at 9 a.m. The first visit will be at the Columbus Community Garden at Columbus Municipal Airport on Cessna Drive, just east of Middle Road.
Medic say that other visits are set for:
• July 30 in downtown Columbus;
• August 27 at CSA New Tech High School
For more information, visit www.extension.purdue.edu/bartholomew.