A Tuesday afternoon attic fire was quickly extinguished by Columbus firefighters.

Capt. Mike Wilson, Columbus Fire Department Spokesman, says that firefighters were called to the 3200 block of Country Brook Street at 12:18 p.m. after apartment maintenance staff discovered smoke in the attic space of a six-unit apartment building. After gaining access to the attic area, firefighters located smoldering insulation above a bathroom ceiling, said Wilson. Using a pressurized water can extinguisher, firefighters quickly extinguished the smoldering material.
Wilson says that the incident was reported after a tenant contacted maintenance staff to report a power outage in an second story bathroom. According to the tenant, an odor of smoke was detected following the power outage.

Columbus Fire Department investigators have determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and electrical in nature. No one was hurt and no residents were displaced, said Wilson. Damages are estimated to be under $500.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department reports that an inmate is missing and on the loose after walking away from a work detail at St. Anne’s Golf Course today.

According to the agency’s Facebook page:

“Last seen St. Anne’s golf course working on the inmate work release program. Inmate Christopher Gullion was last seen,on the golf course heading north east from the,location. He was last seen wearing black and white stripped jump suit. If you see him dial 9-1-1 immediately. Don’t try and apprehend the suspect. Inmate Gullion is facing the original charge of theft.”

The Columbus Police Department has a new officer.

Logan Adams became the department’s newest officer when he was sworn in by Columbus City Attorney Alan Whitted during Tuesday morning’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at City Hall. Officer Justin Black, CPD spokesman, says that Adams is a 27-year-old native of Princeton, Indiana and a graduate of Gibson Southern High School. He adds that Adams attended the University of Southern Indiana before enlisting in the United States Army where he served for five years. During Adams’ tenure in the U.S. Army, he was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and deployed to Afghanistan in 2013.

Black says that after a short in-house orientation period, Logan will be attending the 210th Class at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Two people are under arrest after a man was stabbed and threatened with a knife this morning in Columbus.

The victim said two acquaintances came to his home to discuss a disagreement this morning. The disagreement turned into a fight and the victim was stabbed in the arm, says Officer Justin Black with the Columbus Police Department. Police were called to the report of the stabbing at 4:30 a.m. in the 5200 block of Regency Drive.

The victim identified the person who stabbed him as 20-year-old Trenton Bunch. Further, the victim told police that 18-year-old Melinda Phillips came behind him during the fight and held a knife to his throat.

Black said that the stab wound was not life-threatening.

Bunch and Phillips were found and arrested in the 2100 block of Chandler Lane.

Bunch is facing preliminary charges of battery with a deadly weapon, while Phillips is facing charges of intimidation with a deadly weapon.

Sheriff’s deputies are warning of an ongoing scam in the area that took a Johnson County woman for up to $14,500.

Sheriff Doug Cox says that phone scammers convinced the victim that she owed money to the Internal Revenue Service and had a warrant for her arrest. They coaxed her into giving up the money by purchasing iTunes gift cards at a grocery store for several thousand dollars at a time and then giving the codes to the cards over the phone to the scammers.

The IRS will never contact you by phone and threaten your arrest nor will they demand you make immediate payment. Security experts say it is always a warning sign when a caller asks you to purchase third party gift cards to pay a debt.

Narcotics activity, in the form of illegal sales, usage, overdoses and arrests, are on the increase in Bartholomew County.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that deputies likely saved the life of another overdose victim over the weekend. On Saturday, she says that Sgt. Kris Weisner was dispatched to a reported unconscious person in the 2600 block of North Talley Road. Upon arrival, Sgt. Weisner reported finding a man lying on the kitchen floor with shallow breathing and constricted pupils.

Jackson says that two doses of Narcan were administered and the man regained consciousness. He was then taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.

“Overdoses from heroin have increased recently,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “Heroin is a fast-acting opiate that causes users may nod off suddenly and their breathing is slowed, which is how an overdose kills,” he added.

Myers stresses that law-enforcement is working around the clock to combat this increasing threat. He noted that the county’s Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team made three arrests last week. The Sheriff went on to say that more arrests are expected.

More than 500 residents from Bartholomew and surrounding areas joined the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday. Participants raised nearly $107,000 to fund Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs, said organizers. They add that donations are still being collected.

“The community really came together this year, showing tremendous support for the cause,” said Lauren Lay, Alzheimer’s Association Development Specialist. “It was a beautiful day, and I was so happy that the community came together to remember those we’ve lost and support those living with this disease.”

Organizers say that participants were able to raise 22-percent more than last year’s walk, which raised $88,000. They say that the fundraising goal for this year’s walk was $92,000. Officials say that this money will help to fund caregiver support and Alzheimer’s disease research for Hoosiers affected by this disease.

The group “Grandpa’s Gang” was the top fundraising team at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising more than $6,000.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to replace electronic sensors this week at a Weigh-In-Motion installation on Interstate 65 near the Bartholomew-Shelby County line. INDOT says that this work calls for two nights of alternating lane closures.

During overnight hours on Wednesday, there will be alternating closures of I-65’s northbound lanes at mile marker 79.0. During overnight hours on Thursday, there will be alternating closures of I-65’s southbound lanes at mile marker 79.0.

INDOT says that the Hoosier Company of Indianapolis, INDOT’s contractor, will have crews onsite both nights between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

A Jackson County man was arrested over the weekend after an alleged hit-and-run.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at approximately 9:28 p.m. on Saturday, Deputy Sgt. Kris Weisner was called to the scene on South Jonesville Road near Spear Road.

A caller reportedly informed dispatchers that a silver Mercedes struck a pedestrian, then continued southbound on Jonesville Road. Weisner, who was northbound on Jonesville Road, saw the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.

Jackson says that the driver, 47-year-old Keith M. Isaacs, of Seymour, exited his car and said he had no idea that he had hit someone. Sgt. Weisner’s report indicated that Isaacs’ pupils were constructed, his eyes were droopy and his speech was slurred.

The caller, who was on the scene, reportedly told deputies that they were southbound on Jonesville Road, directly behind Isaacs’ vehicle, and observed Isaacs driving “all over the road” before hitting the pedestrian. The witnesses also told authorities that they never lost sight of the Mercedes.

Jackson says that Deputy Teancum Clark was able to find a 16-year-old boy who had been struck by Isaacs’ car. According to the report, the teen complained of hip pain and was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital. He was ultimately treated and released.

When deputies searched Isaacs, they allegedly found four baggies of methamphetamine.He was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating while intoxicated/Prior, Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident and Possession of Methamphetamine. Authorities say that Isaacs has since been released on $20,000 bond.