Two local residents died in a one-vehicle accident just before midnight Sunday on 25th Street in Columbus. Sgt. Alyson Rech, spokeswoman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at approximately 11:30 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of 25th Street and Sandcrest Boulevard. Investigators say that a van, driven by 52-year-old Jesse Tays, was traveling east on 25th Street when it crossed all lanes of traffic and struck a tree on the north side of the road. Authorities are unsure as to what caused the crash. Rech says that Tays and the front seat passenger, 53-year-old Eunice Tays, were pronounced deceased on the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Columbus Department of Public Works is getting ready to help you clean up your yard. The annual “Spring Sweep” will start March 26h and run through April 13th.

You can rake loose leaves, grass, pine needles and similar items to the curb where the leaf vacs will sweep it up. You should have any yard debris at the curb on the same day as your normal trash collection.

Starting on April 16th, the city will be restarting its yard waste Toter pickups. Those are collected on the same day as your normal trash and can contain grass, leaves, flowers and garden debris. However, nothing woody should to in the yard waste Toters. You can put an armful of that material in your trash Toter for pickup.

Toters should be out curbside by 7 a.m. on the day of your trash pickup.

If you have large piles of brush to be collected, or you have any questions, you can call 812-376-2509.

State Rep. Jim Lucas says a section of a Jennings County highway is closer to being renamed in honor of two fallen police officers.

Lucas sponsored a resolution, which went on to pass the House and Senate. It has been returned to the House and will next move on to Governor Eric Holcomb for his signature. Once official, a portion of U.S. 50 and County Road 150 North will be renamed “Officer Anthony Burton and Reserve Officer Lonnie Howard Memorial Highway.”

Officers Burton and Howard died in March of 1993, when their police cruiser was rammed by a man who was free on bond following an earlier standoff with police. Their car was pushed nearly 100 feet through a ditch, coming to a rest close to U.S. Highway 50.

The section of U.S. 50 and Jennings County Road 150N runs on the west side of North Vernon to just off the old U.S. Highway 50 on the east side as it approaches the Muscatatuck River.

TTWN Media Networks contributed to this report

Hope police made an arrest in a sting against a suspect allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a minor. But, when he showed up to meet the minor in person, he instead met police officers.

According to the police department, the minor’s family made a complaint with police a 47-year-old man sending inappropriate messages and requests to the minor through Facebook Messenger.

While police were investigating, the man tried to re-initiate a conversation with the minor. Unbeknownst to the suspect he was actually chatting with a police officer. After the man requested a face to face meeting, the Hope police showed up instead at the arranged meeting spot.

The man was found to have marijuana in the car and he was arrested. Charges regarding the inappropriate messages will be forwarded to the prosecutor for review and consideration.

Firefighters rescued a paratrooper who became stuck in a tree overnight Friday in southern Johnson County.

According to fire department reports, the soldier became entangled during a parachute jump and ended up caught about 50 feet up in the tree near Edinburgh at about 11 p.m. Friday night. Several agencies arrived to assist including the Bargersville Fire Department rope rescue team, Nineveh firefighters and the Trafalgar Volunteer Fire Department. After cutting away branches and using a ladder truck the soldier with the 101st Airborne Division was rescued without any major injuries, according to the Trafalgar firefighters.

Efforts to help military veterans find work in the private sector continue locally. The “Next Level Veterans Initiative,” is a recently created state program to help pair veterans with open jobs. Officials with the program will be in southeastern Indiana over the next few days.

Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, says the program unites public and private organizations in order to employ more military personnel leaving service and retain veterans who are already in Indiana. He adds that Next Level Veterans focuses on connecting veterans with high-wage career opportunities.

Lucas says that a new website provides a one-stop-shop for veterans looking for jobs and training, as well as information on a new veterans-based mortgage program, which helps veterans find affordable housing.

Events are being held Saturday during the 21st annual Indiana Icebreaker at Brownstown Speedway and during the St. Patrick’s Day Dance at the North Vernon Moose Family Center. Another event will be held Tuesday at the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour during the Spring Break Variety Show.

Through the Next Level Veterans initiative, Lucas says that those who serve our country will be better connected to employment opportunities upon discharge. For more information, visit in.gov/veterans.

A 37-year-old Seymour man died late Thursday after he was hit by a pickup truck in the 1300 block of East Tipton Street.

The Seymour Tribune is reporting that Claudio Antele-Pelayo was pronounced dead at the scene. Police told the paper that Antele-Pelayo, who worked at a restaurant in Jackson Park Shopping Center, was struck as he and a co-worker were crossing north on Tipton Street after leaving work.

The paper has identified the driver as 65-year-old George Douglas, of Seymour. He reportedly told authorities that he saw the first man “dart” across the street, but did not see Antele-Pelayo and was unable to avoid hitting him.

The investigation is ongoing.

For more on this story, go to tribtown.com.

Work on the railroad overpass project in Columbus continues. Mayor Jim Lienhoop explains that the roadway alignment phase of the project is underway. He says this part of the project involves engineering determining where lanes should be and the tightness of the curves.

Mayor Lienhoop noted that some of the money being used for this project comes from the federal government, which means certain rules must be followed. Then, a closer look at how the project affects the river, as well as properties downstream.

Once completed, the project will result in an overpass taking vehicle traffic over the railroad tracks at State Road 11 and State Road 46.

The North Vernon Park Board is looking to update its tobacco policy. Chad Speer is the director of city parks. He says that the city asked for feedback on what city residents wanted.

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Speer addressed the North Vernon City Council earlier this week.

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While the body seemed receptive, they had a few questions. A big one has to do with St. Anne’s Golf Course. While not officially a part of the Parks Department, staff and assets are utilized in day-to-day operations. Council members question whether banning tobacco on a golf course is a good idea.

The city council is expected to discuss the issue further at its next meeting on March 26th.

White River Broadcasting’s WCSI, now has a second home on the FM dial.

You can now listen to the station’s news talk station programming on 98 1 FM as well as the decades-long location on 1010 AM.  The  new FM translator is broadcasting from the tower at White River Broadcasting’s offices at  National Road and Washington Street in Columbus.

Company officials say that the change will allow listeners to hear WCSI all across Columbus and Bartholomew County, 24 hours a day. Previously, 1010 AM has had to power down at night under FCC rules.

White River Broadcasting operates four stations in south-central Indiana: WCSI, 106.1 The River, Indiana Country 101.5 WKKG and WINN 104.9.