Security camera footage led to the arrest of a Columbus man on Sunday. At approximately 7:47 a.m., deputies responded to a reported vehicle theft in the 700 block of Jonesville Road. Authorities say the suspect, 20-year-old Ethen Robertson, was immediately identified from security camera footage.

A little more than an hour later, while still in the stolen vehicle, Robertson was found by Columbus Police after they say he tried to use a credit card fraudulently at an area service station. Authorities say the investigation continues due to alleged frauds committed while Robertson had possession of the stolen vehicle.

Robertson was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft/Receiving Stolen Property and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Receiving a License/Prior. He remains behind bars on $12,500 bond.

The Bartholomew County Democratic Party is inviting you to a special event Tuesday night. Bob Pittman explains this is the annual Democratic Day Dinner. He says that the guest speaker is Ann Delaney, the first female chair of the Indiana Democratic Party and the first female candidate for Indiana Lt. Governor.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at barthdems.org or by calling (812) 418-8594. The dinner will be held at Donner Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Teen Center, located at Foundation For Youth, has announced a special event called “Teen Night – We know. We can.” This event is set for Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Organizers explain that the Foundation For Youth has received a Project Prevent Grant from the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention of Bartholomew County and Heritage Fund of Bartholomew County, supported by the Mark and Wendy Elwood Substance Abuse Prevention Fund.

This event is free to teenagers aged 13-18. Food will be provided. No registration required, and it’s open to all teenagers in Bartholomew County. Teens will have access to the gymnasiums, video gaming equipment, card games, and more.

More information can be found at foundationforyouth.com, or on the Foundation For Youth Facebook page, facebook.com/foundationforyouth.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has issued a permit restricting State Road 46 lanes in Columbus on Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. for the Mill Race Marathon.

Here is what the traffic pattern will look like:

• Jonathan Moore Pike/Brown Street restricted to two lane between S.R. 11 and Second Street from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.
• Third Street restricted to one lane from Central Avenue to Brown Street from 7 until 9 a.m.
• State Street has two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane open between Central Avenue and Marr Road between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. No access to the center turn lane.
• Third Street closed from Lindsay Street to Jonathon Moore Pike from 7:40 until 8:15 a.m. Runners occupy the two south side lanes at the bridge while vehicular traffic has access to north side lane.
• Traffic control at the Brown Street/Third Street intersection from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. allowing runners to cross.
• Traffic control at U.S. Highway 31 & Westenedge Drive/Home Avenue intersection between 8:20 and 3 p.m. allowing runners to cross. U.S. 31 traffic restricted to a single lane in each direction.

Authorities are investigating a hit-and-run incident that took place Sunday on US 50 near Hayden.

The investigation began at approximately 4:38 a.m. when the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a person along the roadway on US 50 near County Road 700 West. When the deputies arrived on scene, they found 24-year-old Davon Lee Shine, of North Vernon, lying next to the road. Evidence at the scene indicated that Shine was struck by a Toyota that was traveling eastbound on US 50.

Shine was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital in critical condition. Investigators believe the Toyota may have noticeable front end damage but no other information about the vehicle is available.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Deputy Jeff Jones at (812) 346-5111 or Trp. Matt Holley at (812) 689-5000.

The body of a missing Columbus man was recovered from the Driftwood River Sunday after he went missing the day before while canoeing with friends.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office says that 27-year-old Siddharth Sada Panicker drowned following the accident. First responders had been searching the area since the accident, which was reported at 4:25 p.m. Saturday. Coroner Clayton Nolting says that Panicker’s body was found at 10:59 a.m on Sunday.

Panicker’s cause of death has been ruled an accidental drowning.

Harrison College is ceasing operations at all of its campuses, including Columbus. The college announced the decision on Friday. The closures take effect on Sunday, Sept. 16. However, The Chef’s Academy will continue through the end of the term, which ends Oct. 14.

Harrison College released a statement noting that they are working with other schools and state officials to ensure each student has a pathway to complete their education.

Harrison College has been in existence for over 100 years. It has campuses in Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina.

For more information, go to harrison.edu.

A campaign to make roads safer for everyone paid dividends locally. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that over a 24-day period, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department issued 444 traffic citations/warnings and made 21 arrests during the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization.

About 230 Indiana law-enforcement agencies joined thousands nationwide to increase roving patrols, saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is supported with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

“Highly visible, data-driven traffic enforcement such as this has been proven to deter impaired driving,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “Our commitment to enforcing the law and saving lives continues throughout the year.”

Columbus police are asking for your help to combat a rise in thefts from vehicles.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that between Aug. 1st and Sept. 11th, the department received 64 reports of thefts from vehicles.

Of those 59 happened in vehicles where car doors were unlocked.

Harris says you should lock your vehicle doors, take any valuables inside and keep an eye out for suspicious activity.

He said thieves are stealing anything they can. Recent thefts have included firearms, purses, laptop computers all the way down to cell phone charges and small change.

Harris said that some people believe that leaving their vehicle unlocked protects from having a window broken. But that logic doesn’t hold true with what  police are seeing on the streets.

If you see anything suspicious you can contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Or you can call 911.

White River Broadcasting is inviting you to help us help the victims of Hurricane Florence.

Station Manager Bob Morrison announced that the drive kicks off Saturday during the 22nd annual “Hot Rods and Rock & Roll” event put on by 106.1 The River. This event sees Washington Street in downtown Columbus filled with classic cars and trucks, followed by a concert put on by Rick K. & The Allnighters. A popular item each year is the official Hot Rods and Rock & Roll t-shirt. Morrison says that for every t-shirt sold, White River Broadcasting will donate one-dollar to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief. Those shirts can be purchased at our tent on Fourth and Washington Streets until our stock is sold out.

If you can’t make it to Hot Rods and Rock & Roll, you can still help those in need. Morrison announced that all next week, Sept. 17-20, you can stop by our offices at 3212 Washington Street in Columbus and drop off a donation of cash or check. If you choose to write a check, please make it out to The American Red Cross with “Hurricane Florence” written in the memo line. Donations will also be accepted during Saturday’s event.