Saturday will be the second of four Free Fishing Days in Indiana this year. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that on these special days, Indiana residents can fish public waters without needing a fishing license or a trout stamp.
A number of events will be held across the state, including Lake Cottonwood in Edinburgh and Brown County State Park in Nashville. The final two Free Fishing Days for 2018 are June 2nd and 3rd.
William R. Bowen. Photo courtesy of Columbus police.
A Columbus man raced away from police, despite initially claiming he was having a medical emergency when he was pulled over Tuesday night.
According to police reports, 67-year-old William R. Bowen, was originally stopped at about 10:50 p.m. last evening on Jonathan Moore Pike near the intersection with the interstate. But despite saying he was having medical problems, Bowen declined an ambulance and then sped away, police are reporting.
Police chased Bowen down Jonesville Road until he lost control and crashed near County Road 550S. His car went down an embankment and stopped in a corn field.
He was arrested and is facing preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, intimidation and reckless driving.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a man missing in Columbus since Sunday.
According to deputies, 25-year-old Joseph Ross of Brownstown was last seen entering the woods near Amberley Addition at about 8 p.m. Sunday night after leaving a friend’s house and has not been seen since.
Ross is 5′ 10″ tall and weighs between 135 – 145 pounds. He has blond hair, hazel eyes and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a green t-shirt.
Deputies from Bartholomew, Jackson and Jennings counties, along with the Indiana State Police, are searching for Ross.
Anyone with any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 812-379-1689 or you can leave a message on the anonymous tip line at 812-379-1712
A North Carolina teen was seriously hurt in a Tuesday morning crash on I-65 in Bartholomew County. Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post in Versailles, says that shortly after 9:30 am, troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on the interstate near the northbound 58 mile marker. He says that a 15-year-old passenger in the vehicle was seriously injured and transported to an Indianapolis hospital.
The initial investigation by Trp. Seth Davidson indicated that a box truck being driven by 55-year-old Chue Xiong, of Claremont, North Carolina, was traveling northbound on I-65 when, for an unknown reason, Xiong’s vehicle ran off the right side of the road. State Police say that evidence indicates that Xiong overcorrected, causing the vehicle to roll onto its passenger side before sliding into the median of I-65. During the collision, the load of cut bamboo that Xiong was hauling was released from the truck into the median of I-65.
Sgt. Wheeles says that Xiong sustained minor scrapes. He was treated at the scene. His passenger, Kong Pheng Xiong, of Hickory, North Carolina, was treated at the scene before being flown to Riley Children’s Hospital.
ISP says that it is believed that Chue Xiong is the uncle of Kong Xiong.
Wheeles says the Bartholomew County Health Department responded to the scene and determined that the load of bamboo shoots needed to be destroyed. The load was heading from North Carolina to Minnesota.
Crews were on scene for nearly five hours for crash investigation and cleanup. The investigation is ongoing, but neither drugs nor alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash.
Columbus police, firefighters and residents turn out to hear results of salary study; WRB staff photo
A number of Columbus city employees are set to see pay increases after the results of a salary study were made public during Tuesday evening’s city council meeting. The study, nearly two-years in the making, looked at every full-time position within city government and compared them against eight “peer” cities in Indiana. The goal, say city officials, was to determine if Columbus is competitive when it comes to salary and benefits packages.
Police Chief Jon Rohde says that attracting and retaining quality officers has gotten increasingly difficult over the years. He told the council that recruitment “is at a crisis level,” referencing the city’s ability to compensate versus others of similar size.
Miller says this study and action being taken by the council addresses his concerns.
The ordinance calls for public safety workers to see merit-based pay increases taking them to the “mid-range” of a new salary range within two years. Other non-elected city employees would be phased in over three years. The action would also give 11 city employees raises to the new minimum range upon final approval. Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, says the immediate pay bump for these 11 would amount for just under $10,000, however no additional appropriations are expected.
The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance. A second reading is set for June 5th.
Two Columbus women accused of providing methamphetamine to a Bartholomew County Jail inmate who overdosed and died in jail have entered guilty pleas to drug-related charges.
Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that 19-year-old Mary L. Snyder pleaded guilty to a felony charge of Possession of Methamphetamine. The report says that 27-year-old Debin Paige Gabbard then entered into a plea bargain agreement in two cases against her, pleading guilty to two reduced felony counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine. The paper says that both woman are scheduled to be sentenced June 12th.
The two were charged early this year after an Indiana State Police investigation into the death of 42-year-old Angela Blair, of Elizabethtown. Authorities say that Blair overdosed on methamphetamine in the Bartholomew County Jail.
An increase in water rates and the establishment of minimum rates for wastewater for customers of North Vernon Municipal Utilities received initial approval from the North Vernon City Council. The amended ordinance addressed action taken by the council last year to address increases in the price of chemicals for the utility, as well as recent work to expand and upgrade services.
The ordinance calls for a two-percent increase for all customers, residential, commercial and industrial, effective July 1st. Additional two-percent increases would follow in July of 2019 and 2020. Wastewater rates, which were increased 1.5 percent in January, will see identical increases in January of 2019 and 2020. In addition, the establishment of minimum charges for wastewater services would also be put in place for all customers.
While the action was not unexpected, council members agreed that while unfortunate, the increases had to be passed on to customers. Councilman Jack Kelley questioned if the utility was doing all it could to cut costs and improve efficiency. Council President Brian Hatfield opined that gradual increases year over year would be much more palatable to customers than one large increase.
Council is slated to hear the second reading of the ordinance at its next meeting on Wednesday, May 30th.
Aaron Graham; photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.
Two new officers joined the ranks of the Columbus Police Department when they were sworn in during Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety. Lt. Matt Harris, CPD spokesman, says that 22-year-old Aaron Graham is a graduate of Danville Community High School. After high school, Graham served for four years in the United States Marine Corps as a combat engineer and was deployed to Europe and Africa.
Twenty-six year-old Jacob Driver is a Hauser High School graduate. After completing high school, Driver attended Indiana State University and later joined the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman and achieved the rank of Corporal.
Jacob Driver; photo courtesy of Columbus Police Dept.
Harris says that both Graham and Driver will continue their training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy next month.
Kyle Whipker Recites the Oath of Public Safety Officer to Mayor James Lienhoop as fiancé Miranda Yeley holds the bible.
The Columbus Fire Department has a new firefighter after Mayor Jim Lienhoop swore-in Kyle Whipker during Tuesday’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. Capt. Mike Wilson, CFD spokesman, says that Whipker will undergo a department familiarization training program. After completing this training, he will receive a shift schedule and station assignment.
Whipker, a 28-year-old Columbus native, is a graduate of Columbus East. He has previously served as a volunteer firefighter for the Elizabethtown Volunteer Fire Department.
Columbus police arrested two people after stopping a stolen vehicle early this morning.
An officer noticed a vehicle driving without any rear lights at about 12:25 this morning in the 700 block of Chestnut Street. After stopping the vehicle, the officer discovered that the driver, 22 year old Larry R. Evans of North Vernon, had a suspended license. And the vehicle had allegedly been taken without permission.
A police dog alerted to smell of narcotics inside and a search revealed methamphetamine, drug parahernalia and several syringes.
Evans is facing charges of driving while suspended, possession of stolen property and possession of legend drug injection device.
Victoria L. Villegas
A passenger, 20-year-old Victoria L. Villegas of Columbus, is facing preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug injection device, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine.
