Columbus firefighters had to block off a street and evacuate homes Saturday and Sunday after a contractor hit a gas line.

Capt. Mike Wilson says that the incident happened at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon at 19th Street and Home Avenue when Miller Pipeline hit the Vectren-owned line. Crews shut off power to the area and evacuated seven residences, Wilson said. Firefighters worked overnight to keep the area safe while Vectren tried to shut off the flow of gas.

Wilson said it wan’t until about 10:20 a.m. Sunday morning that they finally were able to shut off the leak and firefighters could leave the scene. That was after about 20 hours.

A Columbus North High School Student is doing what she can to help homeless kittens. Nicohl Birdwell Goodin, general manager of Columbus Animal Care Services, says that Madeline Morris will host “The Whole Kitten Caboodle” Kitten Shower on Saturday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Animal Care Services Center, located at 2730 Arnold Street.

This event is being held to help provide the felines with the items they need. If you would like to help, you are asked to donate any of the following items:

• Kitten Chow
• Cat Litter
• Bottles for Nursing Kittens
• KMR Brand Kitten Formula (found at local pet stores or online)
• Bleach & Paper Towels
• Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (blue)
• Monetary donations

Attendees can enjoy refreshments and visit the animals available for adoption at the shelter.

Severe Weather and Flood Preparedness Week runs from April 19 thru April 25. Officials say that Indiana typically has its most severe weather during the spring months. You and your loved ones are urged to plan, prepare and practice what to do in the event of severe weather.

As part of the week, a statewide tornado test will take place Tuesday. Tornado sirens throughout the state are slated to be tested at 10:10 a.m. and again at 7:35 p.m. In the event of severe weather, the test will be rescheduled.

Dave Tucek, a meteorologist from the Indianapolis National Weather Service office will conduct a basic Severe Weather Spotters Class. This free class will be offered March 28th at 6:30 p.m. at the Columbus Learning Center. It is open to all first responders and the public.

JC Penney is closing five stores in Indiana, one of them inside the Fairoaks Mall in Columbus. The chain announced Friday that it is shuttering 138 stores nationwide in an effort to boost profitability. JC Penny says that approximately 5,000 positions will be affected by the closings. The chain says that liquidation at most affected stores should begin April 17th, with the stores completely closed by sometime in June.

Bartholomew County deputies have released a photo  of a suspect they believe was involved with a theft at Harrison Lake Country Club.

The photo shows a man walking out of a store carrying a bag. According to the sheriff’s department, the man allegedly took a purse from a vehicle at the country club in early March.

If you have any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, you can contact Detective William R Kinman Jr. at (812) 565-5926.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is warning of a scam that is targeting local residents.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that an employee at the sheriff’s department has received three calls this week warning that she was in trouble with the law and that officers would be notified if she did not call back. The sheriff says that the message was barely understandable.

According to the sheriff, the number of the caller was 305-501-2223. He says if you receive one of these calls the first thing to do is hang up and do not call back. He also suggests that you warn family members and friends, especially older residents who might be more vulnerable to such a scam.

For more information, or to report a scam, you can call the sheriff’s department at 812-379-1740

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to have intermittent closures on State Road 252 near Flat Rock next week.

Contractors will be clearing the right-of-way for an upcoming road widening and resurfacing project on State Road 252 and are expected to be working between Interstate 65 and Flat Rock starting at 8 Monday morning.

The $12 million dollar project will work on seven miles of the state road in southwestern Shelby County. That will include bridge work at Lewis Creek and the Flat Rock River. They will also be replacing many drainage structures along the highway.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department arrested two area women earlier this week after deputies responded to several complaints of suspicious activity in the area of Legal Tender Road and County Road 600 South.

Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that Deputy Andrew Densford was patrolling the area Monday night when he saw a van travel left of the center line. Upon stopping the van and speaking with the driver, 38-year-old Clarissa Powers, of Grammer, Deputy Densford recognized the passenger as 29-year-old Lovely Brown, of North Vernon. Brown was wanted on a Jennings County warrant. After arresting Brown, Columbus Police and K-9 Max arrived. Max reportedly alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from inside the van. Police allegedly found that Powers had a plastic baggie of marijuana inside of her coat. They also reported finding a controlled substance in Brown’s purse.

Powers was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of Marijuana. She has since been released. Brown was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, along with the outstanding warrant. She was then transported to Jennings County.

Seymour Police have announced a new program to help find people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism or other mental disorders who may have wandered off.

Project Lifesaver equips families with transponders that their family members can wear that will allow the police to locate them in case a relative has gotten lost.

The department says that they have issued three of the transponders so far and have more for families who need them. The department does caution that the devices are only for use in Jackson County now, but they also are encouraging departments in neighboring communities to take part.

If you would like more information you can go to the department’s website at seymourpd.com and click on the Project Lifesaver link. Or you can call Lt. John Watson at 812-522-1234.