Police in North Vernon arrested two people Tuesday morning after responding to suspicious activity in the 2000 block of Hickory Manor. Authorities say that officers were called to the area at 11:13 a.m. on a report of people inside of an abandoned trailer. Officers reported finding and arresting 44-year-old Michael Wimberly Jr., of Deputy, and 48-year-old Laura Lamb, of Westport. Police say the pair are facing preliminary charges of Residential Entry and Trespassing.

The suspect in the Sunday shooting of an Edinburgh man will remain behind bars. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash requested an additional 72-hour hold on 34-year-old John Cornett, of Columbus. That request was granted.

The paper says that Cornett had been held in the Bartholomew County Jail without bond on a preliminary charge of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. However the report says that bond for Cornett has since been set at $500,000.

Cornett is accused of shooting 32-year-old Joshua L. Music multiple times in the incident at the Quail Run Apartment complex. Music remains in an Indianapolis hospital.

For more on this story, visit therepublic.com.

The public got few answers to questions about improving physical security at Bartholomew Consolidated Schools earlier this week.

The school board was briefed Monday about the process of planned upgrades. But that was at an executive session closed to the public. The public meeting revealed little about security plans ahead of the start of the school year in just a few weeks.

Dr. Jim Roberts said that the board and school district staff are still working through the details of school security improvements, before making those public.

Once the details are finalized, the district plans to release a video explaining the improvements to families and the community, Roberts said.

A common suggestion from the public at recent school board meetings has been installing metal detectors at school entrances. But Roberts said that those are not being considered at this time.

Roberts said the district is asking the state for the free metal detectors offered by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s new program. However there are no current plans to use them at the entrances to all the schools.

District staff are not in favor of the metal detectors and they were not endorsed by a consultant hired by the district. Roberts said that the number of people asking for metal detectors at school board meetings have been small and it is unclear if they are representative of the general public. He talked about the staff’s concerns

The entrance areas are one of the focuses of security upgrades, Roberts said. More possible is the idea of providing ID badges to all student and staff.

Roberts said that there is still time for one more executive session devoted to security concerns before school starts again for the fall. The date for that has yet to be announced.

At Monday’s school board meeting there was a public update on the Counseling Counts program, which will provide more school counselors trained in mental health to the schools in the district. Roberts said that the district views addressing those issues as a key component of school security.

The town of Hope will be checking part of its sewer system for leaks on Friday, a process that will involve pumping smoke through the system.

The affected areas will be the Goshen Meadows and Liberty Place subdivisions.

if you see the white-grey smoke, you should know that it is non-toxic, non-staining, has little to no odor, and there is no fire hazard.

The smoke should not enter your home, but if it does you will know that you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps.

The work is dependent on the weather. The rain date is July 27th.

An alert Indiana Conservation Officer noticed a man rummaging through cars at an automobile repair shop early this morning, leading to an arrest.

29-year-old Ryan M. Melloh of Columbus is facing preliminary charges of theft, possession of a legend drug and unlawful entry into a motor vehicle.

The incident happened at about 1:30 a.m. this morning at Lanning Automotive on Hawcreek Avenue. Columbus police were called in and took Melloh into custody. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that Melloh was allegedly carrying prescription medications that did not belong to him and had keys to a vehicle in the repair shop.

An assisted-living facility on the east side of Columbus is a step closer to becoming a reality after action taken Tuesday night by the city council. The council approved a resolution to support the issuance of up to $15.5 million in bonds for the project, called Vivera Senior Living. The facility will be located at 1971 State Street, which was formerly home to the Bartholomew County Annex.

Robin Hilber, with Columbus Economic Development, explained that the project calls for a 114-unit complex. This equates to 52 efficiency units and 62 one-bedroom units. Hilber stresses that the city would not incur any liability once the bonds are purchased. She says that repayment of the bonds would be made by the developer. In addition, Hilber says the move would not negatively impact the city’s ability to bond future projects. She explained that the revenue bonds and are being sought by the developer, Marian Development, because of the city’s tax-exempt status. Federal law requires a unit of government to act as the issuer of the bonds.

Council members were supportive of the project, though Councilman Dascal Bunch expressed concerns. Bunch, who represents much of the city’s east side, says that there is a feeling among residents that projects that may not be palatable to other parts of the city are “being dumped” on the east side. While conceding that the project is needed, Bunch says that more needs to be done to make sure that east side residents are having their voices heard.

Hilber says the project is still a ways off from breaking ground. The developer is expected to request the space be designated an economic revitalization area. Such a move would allow significant tax savings on the project. Hilber adds that if the project goes through, approximately 65 jobs will be created with a payroll of approximately $2 million.

Council voted 6-1 to approve the resolution. Bunch was the “no” vote.

The city of Columbus continues its work ahead of an expected massive increase in train traffic through the area. Part of that work includes the establishment of a so-called “quiet zone” through the city. Dave Hayward, city engineer, explains that having such a designation will allow trains to not have to sound their horns at the crossings at State Road 46, Fifth Street, Eighth Street and 11th Street…

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Hayward says the work on establishing the quiet zone is moving slower than anticipated. He notes that the establishment of such a zone will require offsetting safety measures, such as crossing arms, to be put into place. Hayward added that this is the first quiet zone request made affecting the Louisville & Indiana Railroad, making it uncharted territory for both parties.

A North Vernon man is facing drug charges after a Monday morning arrest. The North Vernon Police Department says that officers responded to a suspicious person in the 100 block of West Walnut Street at about 11:15 a.m. After encountering 41-year-old Daniel Grider, police became suspicious. After a short investigation, police say they arrested Grider on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Hypodermic Needle, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Criminal Trespass.

Columbus police will be taking local kids out fishing Thursday.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the agency, explains that Get Hooked on Fishing will be Thursday at FOP Lodge on County Road 450S. He said it is meant as an outreach effort to middle school aged students.

It is open for students who will be 7th and 8th graders this fall. This event is free and the police will be providing lunch and the fishing poles.

Get Hooked on Fishing is free and the police will be providing lunch and the fishing poles. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the FOP Lodge on County Road 450S.

Several local volunteer fire departments are receiving grants from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

The grants are awarded in several broad categories including training, water handling equipment or to purchase equipment and gear to fight wildfires.

DNR announced this morning that in Jennings County, Vernon Township will be receiving $5,000 for safety, and Campbell Township was awarded $5,000 for radio equipment. Greensburg Fire Department will receive $4,998 for radios and in Jackson County Hamilton Township will receive $1,985 for water handling equipment while, Owen Township was granted $4,995 for safety needs.

Southern Brown County volunteers also received $5,000 for wildland fire equipment.

DNR says that the selections were made on the basis of population density and the arecres of public wildlands protected as well as wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters.