The Indiana State Police-Versailles Post will conduct its annual memorial service on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the post.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, public information officer for the Versailles Post, says that since 1933, forty-six Indiana State Police employees have died in the line of duty. He says that five troopers from the Versailles District were among them. Wheeles says that troopers, as well as other law enforcement officers from the area, will gather Wednesday to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Those being honored include:

Trooper George A. Forster, died May 17, 1941, in an automobile crash on State Road 3 near Paris Crossing in Jennings County.

Trooper Earl L. Brown, died August 31, 1955, after being shot by a suspicious person who was walking on the old US 31 (State Road 11) near Columbus in Bartholomew County.

Trooper Robert C. Gillespie, died June 8, 1962, in an automobile crash while en route to a call for assistance in the town of Mitchell.

Trooper William R. Rayner, died December 18, 1966, after being shot by a suspect in a stolen vehicle in Decatur County.

Trooper Andrew P. Winzenread, died April 25, 1997, after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer after stopping to assist a disabled motorist on I-74 in Decatur County.

Wednesday’s service is expected to last approximately 30 minutes.

A wide range of community groups are supporting a Sunday rally in Columbus, to celebrate the community’s diversity.

More than 20 groups, ranging from agencies like the city Human Right Commission and the Heritage Fund to affinity groups such as NAACP and Pride Alliance are supporting the rally, which kicks off at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon on the steps of City Hall.

One of the organizers, Bob Pitman, explains the support:

One of the organizers, Debra Haza, has Native American heritage. She explains why she is supporting the rally:

Mayor Jim Lienhoop will read a proclamation from the steps of City Hall and delegations will make speeches from a stage on Fourth Street.

Sondra Bolte, talks about the speeches that are planned:

The rain location for the event is The Commons.

Crews working on updating railroad tracks through Columbus and Bartholomew County say that County Road 550 North will be closed, beginning Saturday and running through Tuesday, May 24th. They will also be closing Long Road, which is the entrance to Shelby Materials.

You will still be able to use Industrial Drive to get into the plant though.

Crews will be replacing the tracks and installing new railroad ties.

The Bartholomew County Legal Aid office will be having a free legal clinic on Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. at their offices in the Doug Otto United Way Center on 13th Street in Columbus.

People with low incomes will be able to have a 10 to 15 minute consultation with a local volunteer attorney. The attorneys will be able to answer general questions, offer legal information and advice.

These are held on the fourth Monday of every month.

The Town of Hope will be having milling and paving operations going on today and Monday.

They are urging you to move your vehicles if you are normally parked on any of the streets scheduled for work. If you don’t move it, you will be towed, town officials say.

Milling work is going on today, while paving will be done Monday.

The work is being paid for out of grant money from the state Community Crossings fund.

The streets to be paved are:

• Jackson Street from Harrison Street to Walnut Street
• Jackson Street from Union Street to Aiken Street
• Washington Street from West End to Main Street
• Harrison Street from Grand Street to Jackson Street
• Butner from South of Midway to Hitchcock
• Midway from State Road 9 to Butner
• Hitchcock from Butner Drive to Hitchcock Court
• Hitchcock from north end to south end

If you would like to fish for free in public waters, you’re in luck.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that tomorrow is a “Free Fishing Day” tomorrow. Indiana residents who are 18 or older can fish public waters and you don’t need a fishing license or a trout stamp.

State officials say that a number of city, county and state parks will host fishing events and derbies. In our area, events are slated for Lake Cottonwood in Edinburgh and Brown County State Park in Nashville.

For more on these events, visit GoFishin.in.gov.

In commemoration of National Police Week, a memorial service to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty will be held this morning at nine at the Public Safety Plaza near Second Street and Jackson Street in Columbus.

During the thirty minute ceremony, officers will read the names of 145 police officers killed in the line of duty during 2016. A wreath will be placed at the memorial in honor of Howard County Deputy Sheriff Carl Koontz who died in 2016.

A search continues for three suspects in the robbery of the Ricker’s gas station in southern Columbus yesterday.

Lt. Matt Harris with the Columbus police says that two men were questioned by Indiana State Police yesterday but they were not taken into custody and have not been arrested. He said detectives are out still working to gather evidence and information in the case.

Police say three masked men entered the store, displayed a gun and stole cash before fleeing in a stolen Hummer. After a 100 mph chase up the interstate, the men crashed the vehicle and then ran away in Greenwood.

Police also suspect the men robbed a Seymour motel that night.

They are described as:

• A white man who was about six feet tall and wore a black hooded sweatshirt or jacket with a black face mask
• A man who was 5-7 to 5-9 who wore a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, with khaki pants, white tennis shoes and a red knit hat and who may have had blonde hair.
• And a man who was 5-5 to 5-7 and was seen wearing all black clothing with a black face mask. There was a design on his dark pants and knit hat with red and white stripes.

If you have any information, you should contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. All suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.

Tips and information can be left anonymously.

A Columbus manufacturing facility has plans to expand and add more employees AK Steel plans to invest $1.6 million to add industrial and storage space at it’s facility on County Road 450S. This expansion will add 28,000 square-feet of space.

AK Steel says this investment will allow them to retain 121 jobs and add 21 more by February of 2018. Company officials say the expected horly wage, including benefits, will be just under $26 per hour.

City Council voted unanimously this week to approve a tax abatement for the company. Company officials requested only an abatement for real property. While they say there are plans to purchase personal property such as equipment, the company did not seek a tax abatement for that.

Two people were arrested Wednesday night after Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies tried to serve a search warrant. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that just before 11:30 p.m., Deputy Leah Burton was attempting to serve a warrant on 34-year-old David Hadley, of Edinburgh. She made contact with Amber Halstead, who allegedly said that Hadley was not in the home.

Deputies Brent Worman and Jarod Aspenson arrived to assist. While searching the home, the deputies located a trap door near the attic. They entered the attic and found Hadley under the insulation.

Hadley, who authorities say was wanted on outstanding warrants out of Johnson County, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Violation of a Protective Order. He is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond.

Halstead was arrested on preliminary charges of False Reporting and Obstruction of Justice. She has since been released.