The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help locating a fugitive. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that authorities are looking for 39-year-old Jeremy Aaron Kittle. He is described as a white male standing six-feet tall, weighing 162 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Authorities say that Kittle is wanted on two warrants for Revocation of Probation. Jackson says the original charges facing Kittle are Possession of Methamphetamine, Resisting Law Enforcement and Burglary.

If you have any information on Kittle’s whereabouts, you are asked to call Capt. Dave Steinkoenig at (812) 565-5940. You can also call the Sheriff’s Department Tip Line at (812) 379-1712 or send an email to sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov. Authorities stress that you do not have to leave your name.

The City of Columbus will hold a dedication of the newly completed green space at Indiana Avenue and State Street to memorialize the life of Army Sgt. Jonathon Michael Hunter on Saturday, June 23rd. The dedication ceremony is set to begin at 11 a.m.

Hunter, a 23-year-old graduate of Columbus East, died on August 2, 2017, as a result of a suicide car bomb while providing security during his first deployment in Afghanistan. He was deployed to Afghanistan just one month before his death.

The Indiana Avenue green space, one of two newly completed spaces as part of the State Street Bridge and Corridor Project, features a pedestrian friendly landscaped brick way, crushed pavement, and puzzle benches. In addition, engraved bricks adopted by community members in order to celebrate the revitalization of State Street, have been installed as part of the brick way.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Councilman Dascal Bunch will be on hand to offer remarks regarding the dedication of the green space to Hunter, who was an east side Columbus resident.

A Columbus man is in critical condition after a Monday afternoon motorcycle crash. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that at approximately 4:30 p.m., deputies responded to the crash scene in the 10000 block of West Bellsville Pike in Columbus.

When deputies arrived, they reported that a motorcycle that had apparently hit a tree. After locating the driver, 21-year-old Justin Nary, he was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Hospital officials say that Nary’s condition, as of Wednesday afternoon, was “critical.”

Witnesses reportedly told authorities that Nary was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

The Town of Nashville and Nashville Utilities has issued a boil order for a number of customers after a water main break on Freeman Ridge Road. Officials say the following addresses are affected:

616 Freeman Ridge Road
631 Freeman Ridge Road
941 Freeman Ridge Road
960 Freeman Ridge Road
996 Freeman Ridge Road
1016 Freeman Ridge Road
1032 Freeman Ridge Road
1058 Freeman Ridge Road
1076 Freeman Ridge Road

Residents and businesses in these affected areas should boil all cooking and drinking water through 4 p.m. on Friday, June 15th.

Customers with questions should call the utility at (812) 988-5526.

Two Columbus residents were arrested Tuesday night after a traffic stop. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that just before midnight, Officer Lukas Nibarger stopped a vehicle near Second Street and Jackson Street and spoke to the driver, 38-year-old Tara S. Stark, and her passenger, 21-year-old Zachary A. Moore.

Harris says that officers determined that Moore had a warrant for his arrest out of Jackson County and he was placed under arrest. During a search of Stark’s vehicle, police reported finding a syringe in the center console. That led to Stark’s arrest on a preliminary charge of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device.

Last week’s DSI Golf Classic at Otter Creek Golf Course raised more than $16,000 for children with disabilities.

Proceeds from the 33rd annual event go toward therapy and support services for babies and toddlers.

The team of Brad Johnson, Clint Payton, Daniel Quigley and Keaton Simpson led the field with a combined 22-under-par score to win the event. 128 golfers took part.

Bartholomew Consolidated School administrators are going to be considering school security when they meet on Friday.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts told the school board earlier this week that a security consultant surveyed two district schools on May 25th, along with school officials, architects and others.

He said that in conversations with school staff about safety procedures, one teacher reportedly said that they were just a substitute. But the consultant continued to press for answers on what should be done during an emergency — such as an active shooter — and the sub was able to give satisfactory answers, Roberts said.

A report of security recommendations from the tours of Schmitt Elementary and Columbus North High School is expected soon, Roberts said.

School officials have also been meeting with first responders. All of that input will be reviewed by administrators on Friday during the last administrative council of the school year.

After those discussions, Roberts said that the district staff will have recommendations to present to the school board before the start of the next school year. Those recommendations will mainly be personnel related, but could also include software or physical improvements to buildings, as needed.

The National Weather service is reporting up to four inches of rain in some areas of Jennings County overnight, along with a funnel cloud sighting. But little damage has been reported to authorities.

The weather service reported that law enforcement officers identified rotation in the storm last night at about 9:40 p.m. near Butlerville. Britt Burgmeier, the Jennings County 911 center director, says that there have been no reports that a tornado touched down and no reports of property damage to buildings. Only a handful of trees were reportedly knocked down by the storm, he said.

One resident reported a half-mile wide tornado touched down but there is no evidence of that, Burgmeier said.

A flood warning for the county expired this morning. If you do come across a flooded roadway,  authorities urge you not to drive into high water. Instead, turn around and don’t drown.

You have an opportunity this weekend to take a peak at some significant locations in Columbus. Diane Robbins, with the Bartholomew County Historical Society, explains…

The self-guided walking tour is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m….

Robbins says the day will wrap up with a pleasant event downtown.

Advance tickets are $20. Tickets are $25 on Saturday. You can get more information, including the locations that are part of the tour, online at bartholomewhistory.org.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers is set to see a pay increase in a few weeks. By state law, county sheriffs must be paid at least 80 percent of what the county prosecutor earns. The prosecutors’ pay is tied to the pay of county judges.

Barb Hackman, county auditor, explained during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Bartholomew County Council that judges received a 2.1 percent pay increase that will take effect on July 1. She says that increase resulted in a pay bump for Prosecutor Bill Nash, as well as Sheriff Myers. Hackman says this state-mandated increase will bring the sheriff’s annual salary to $117,731.20.