The second Hope Farmer’s Market of the season is tonight on the Hope Town Square.

The first market of the year in June was called after about 35 minutes when torrential rains hit the area. Tonight’s forecast is substantially better.

Town Manager J.T. Doane explains the attractions going on tonight.

Doane explains that the farmers market continues to grow, despite June’s rain..

Doane says that the monthly farmers markets help bolster Hope’s heritage.

Tonight’s event includes the band South of 44, a cruise-in and vendors.

The market runs from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight on the Hope Town Square. The markets are held on the first Friday of the month through October.

The Bartholomew County 4-H Fair kicks off Friday afternoon. Maddie Steinwedel, this year’s fair queen, talks about what you can expect…

Midway rides are provided by Burton Brothers Amusements. Along with the midway, Steinwedle mentions the different activities and sites you’ll see throughout the fair…

Steinwedel talks about what got her interested in 4-H and the fair…

Steinwedel adds that 4-H has been a huge part of her youth…

This year’s fair runs through Saturday, July 14th. For more on this year’s fair, including a schedule of events and activities, visit bartholomewcountyfair.com.

Indiana Conservation Officers, along with multiple other local law enforcement agencies, apprehended a suspect after he jumped into the White River at Rockford Dam in Seymour early Wednesday afternoon.

While performing routine license checks in the area of the dam, Conservation Officer Blake Everhart made contact with 29-year-old Gregory A. Smith, of Seymour. After determining that Smith had outstanding warrant for a parole violation, Everhart tried to arrest Smith. Authorities say that Smith jumped into the White River in an attempt to escape.

ICO Cpl. Nathan Berry responded with an airboat to help in the search for Smith, along with responders from other agencies. After nearly three hours, Smith was located and allegedly fought with officers while on the riverbank. Authorities say that Smith jumped into the river again after a second foot pursuit with conservation officers and was eventually taken into custody by ICO Everhart and Cpl. Berry.

Smith was arrested on new charges of Resisting Law Enforcement and is awaiting extradition on the outstanding parole warrant.

Eastern Bartholomew Water Corporation has issued a boil advisory for Richards Addition in Taylorsville. Customers should bring any water that is to be consumed or used for cooking purposes to a rolling boil for at least three minutes, then let cool before consuming. This advisory is in effect until noon on Saturday.

An abrupt turn while driving led to an arrest on drug charges Tuesday afternoon in Bartholomew County.

A deputy saw a vehicle make the sharp turn off of State Road 46 at about 12:18 p.m . Tuesday, then pull into a residence on County Road East 100N. Investigation revealed that the driver did not have a driver’s license and a search revealed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, deputies report.

46-year-old Meredith Garris of Hope was arrested on preliminary possession charges.

You still have time to make your voice heard about the future of downtown Columbus.

A final public input meeting for the Envision Columbus downtown plan is coming up on Monday. The city is looking at updating its strategic plan for the area, stretching from south of the downtown to Donner Park and from Mill Race Park to California Street.

The downtown strategic development plan was last updated in 2005. A number of projects are under consideration.

The last public input meeting will be from 6 to 8 on July 9th at Columbus City Hall. You can get more information or take an online survey at the city’s website at columbus.IN. gov.

The Bartholomew County Council is considering plans to take advantage of a change in state law that allows counties to retain a larger portion of local income taxes — taking it back from other governments in the county.

The change, which went into effect on July 1st, lets counties take a portion of the local income tax revenue and apply it towards jail needs. County Council President Mark Gorbett says the change came about after counties continued to see rising expenses and diminishing revenues.

He pointed to the growing number of tax-increment financing districts that allow redevelopment commissions  to capture all of the increasing property tax revenue for the area, lowering revenue for counties. Gorbett also cited the recent change in state law that requires low-level felons to be housed in county jails instead of with the Indiana Department of Corrections. That has turned into another major jail expense for the county.

The city of Columbus would take the biggest hit. Figures provided to the council by Umbaugh & Associates show the city’s revenue would be reduced by about $2.4 million per year, while county revenues would go up $2.7 million. Other towns and townships would also see a decrease. Edinburgh would lose about $82,739, Hope would lose $50,017 and Columbus Township would lose $37,687. The change, if approved, would take effect in 2019.

The council members discussed the possible change at this week’s County Council work session, having an animated discussion about whether or not to take advantage of this change in the law. Citing the TIF districts and increased public safety needs, council members said they were in favor of moving forward with the maximum amount allowable. Gorbett stressed that this is a responsible way to serve the needs of all county residents without raising taxes.

The county council is expected to address the issue again at its meeting next week. The County Council meets on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Governmental Office building on Third Street in Columbus.

To fight local drug overdoses, there will be a free Naloxone Training session at the Bartholomew County Public Library coming up on July 25th. And you will get doses of the life-saving drug to take home with you.

Naloxone, better known as Narcan, is a drug that counteracts the effects of opiate overdoses.

Jeffrey Hershey, an organizer with the Columbus Harm Reduction Collective, explains.

Hershey explains what you will learn:

Hershey says you can get doses of the life-saving drug provided free of charge.

The two- hour training course starts at 6 p.m. in the Red Room at the library on Fifth Street and will be led by the Indiana Recovery Alliance.

Columbus police and federal agents are looking for your help finding two men who stole firearms from a store early this morning. — and were caught on video.

The burglary happened at about 4:30 a.m. this morning at Watson Chambers Defense Institute on 17th Street. The men are shown breaking the glass out of a front window at the store, running inside and grabbing guns that were on display. They then left seconds later, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman with the Columbus police.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is also involved in the investigation.

Harris says both suspects are white males who were wearing gloves and had their faces covered. Anyone with tips or information on the thefts can report them anonymously to the Columbus Police Department by calling 812-376-2600.

Cody Wooten and Sean Deem joined the ranks of the Columbus Police Department when they were sworn in by Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop during Tuesday morning’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.

Officer Cody Wooten is a 36 years old Westport resident and a graduate of South Decatur High School. He previously worked for New Albany Police Department where he was a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor and a member of the SWAT Team. Wooten has also been with the Indiana National Guard for 19 years, where he holds the rank of First Sergeant. During his time in the National Guard, Wooten has been deployed to Bosnia and Iraq.

Officer Sean Deem is 26 years old and from Greenwood. He graduated from Greenwood High School and attended Indiana State University where he graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology. Deem is also a graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and is currently in the Indiana Army Nation Guard.

Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that both Wooten and Deem will begin the Columbus Police Department Field Training program later this month.