Bartholomew County REMC will be conducting substation maintenance and repair in the Hope, Hartsville and Newbern areas this weekend. That work is slated to begin at midnight Saturday and last until 2 a.m. Sunday. REMC officials say this two-hour planned power outage will affect 650 of their customers who reside in the northeast portion of the county, east of State Road 9 and north of State Road 46.

REMC staff say that phone notifications will be made to customers that will be affected. However, you may call the Bartholomew County REMC office at (812) 372-2546 if you have questions.

Republicans in Jennings County are celebrating after big wins there. That includes a close win against an incumbent Sheriff.

WLKY in Louisville is reporting on the following races:

Jennings County Sheriff – Republican Wm. Kenny Freeman narrowly defeated Democrat incumbent Gary Driver;

Jennings County Clerk – Republican Amy Gwin Thompson was victorious over Democrat Rachael Shaw;

Jennings County Auditor – Republican Tessia Salsman defeated Demmocrat Kay Sue Vance;

Jennings County Recorder – Republican Mary Dorsett Kilgore defeated Democrat Sandra Vance;

Jennings County Recorder – Republican Matt Sporleder came out on top in his race against Democrat Nick Megel;

In all four contested races for Jennings County Council, Republicans were the victors. In District 1, Michael Gerth defeated Seth Kerr. In District 2, Mandy Gauger Creech was victorious over Larry Machino. In District 3, Bob Ellis defeated Daniel Holt, Sr. In District 4, Charles Weber won out over Tony Eder, Sr.

For more on these Jennings County races, visit wlky.com.

Voters in Jackson County had a number of contested races to decide. “The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that Rick Meyer will serve as the next sheriff after voters selected the Seymour Republican over Democrat Jeff Walters.

In other contested races:

Jackson County Clerk – Republican Melissa Elkins Hayes defeated Democrat Kathy Schafstall;

Jackson County Council, District 1 – Republican Michael Davidson defeated Democrat Catherine “Cathy” Stuckwisch;

Jackson County Council, District 2 – Republican Mark Hackman defeated Democrat Barry Stuckwisch;

Jackson County Council, District 3 – Republican Brian Thompson defeated Democrat Mary Voss Burgmeier;

Jackson County Recorder – Republican Amanda Cunningham Lowery defeated Democrat Clifford L. Sommers;

For additional, in-depth info on these races, visit tribtown.com.

Due to a water main break at 200 Orchard Hill Drive, the Town of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for the following areas:

All of Orchard Hill, Turning Tree Drive and 2090 SR 135 N. to 2110 SR 135 N.

Residents and businesses affected in these areas are asked to boil their drinking and cooking water until 4 p.m., Thursday.

Nashville Utilities has contacted all customers affected by this boil order, but any customer who may feel that their service has been affected is asked to contact the Nashville Utilities at (812) 988-5526.

A Columbus man is facing multiple charges after allegedly forcing his way into a home. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were called to the 6000 block of State Road 9 in reference to a battery. Enroute, Dispatch notified deputies that the suspect was possibly the same man who had stolen a vehicle by force in Columbus earlier in the day and that he was possibly armed.

On arrival, deputies saw the stolen vehicle in the driveway of the home. They also located a gun inside the vehicle. The homeowner reported that a man had forced his way into the home but had fled after an altercation occurred when the suspect attempted to steal another vehicle parked in the driveway.

A Columbus Police K9 unit and a Columbus Fire Department drone assisted in efforts to locate the suspect who was found hiding in a field. After refusing to respond to commands, the suspect was apprehended by police dog Max.

Wilmel Ramirez-Savinon, 22, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Battery
Burglary – Resulting in Bodily Injury
Theft – Receiving Stolen Property
Unlawful Entry of a Vehicle
Resisting Law Enforcement

Ramirez-Savinon remains in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $92,000 bond.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers credited the agencies who worked together. “We were able to apprehend this man because of multiple agencies working together. When we work together as a team, all of our agencies succeed. The success of our county is dependent on our working together to better serve residents,” said Sheriff Myers.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies saved a man from a burning home. Shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, Deputy Andrew Dougan and Deputy Robert Cooper responded to a reported house fire in the area of 7800 E/475 S.

Authorities say that when they arrived, one resident was outside the home, but told deputies that her husband was still inside. Deputy Dougan and Deputy Cooper entered the burning house crawling through the living room but were unable to get to the back of the residence due to flames and heavy smoke.

Deputies then went to the rear of the residence and entered the home again this time through the garage. They could hear the trapped resident yelling from inside. Although deputies were unable to see the man, they asked him to keep yelling so they could find him in the heavy smoke. Eventually, Deputy Dougan and Deputy Cooper reached the man and were able to get him out of the burning house.

Both residents were treated for smoke inhalation but refused further treatment.

“Your BCSO deputies often work under stressful, high-risk conditions. Deputy Dougan and Deputy Cooper displayed the highest standards of excellence in public safety. I feel great knowing that these individuals are working for our agency and citizens should know how fortunate Bartholomew County is to have people like this serving and protecting them,” said Sheriff Matt Myers.

There will be a free showing today of the film Landfill Harmonic at Yes Cinema starting at 2 p.m. this afternoon.

The documentary is meant to promote this weekend’s Déjà Vu Art and Fine Craft Show. Landfill Harmonic, tells the story of impoverished South American children who turned their lives around by joining an orchestra. All their instruments are made from trash found at the landfill.

The free viewing is made possible in celebration of America Recycles Day courtesy of the Columbus Area Visitors Center, Energy Matters Coalition, Sierra Club, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

There will be new faces on local school boards but not because of contested elections.

Three incumbents ran unopposed for the Bartholomew Consolidated School board and will retain their seats —  Jill Shedd, Rich Stenner and Kathy Dayhoff-Dwyer. Newcomer Julie Bilz also ran unopposed and will be replacing Bob Abrams, who chose not to run for re-election for family reasons.

In the Flat Rock-Hawcreek Schools in northeastern Bartholomew County, incumbents Dr. John Harker and Pat Walters were unopposed for their seats. Newcomer Chad Miller also won election without any opposition.

The Daily Journal in Franklin is reporting that Alice Taulman is winning the race for the at-large seat on the Edinburgh School Board. She is leading over Jason R. Lawson and Angel Emerson-Burkman, although she finished second in the Bartholomew County segment of that school district.

Bartholomew County set new record vote totals Tuesday for a mid-term election, with the highest voter turnout since 1982, according to County Clerk Jay Phelps.

Bartholomew County had 26,873 voters cast ballots, which shattered the 1982 record of 23,949 voters. Nearly half of those ballots, 11,780, were cast early either at the county courthouse, the early voting satellite sites or by mail-in ballot. That is a turnout of 53 percent of the county’s 50,729 registered voters.

In the 2014 mid-term election, there were just under 17,000 voters, or 32 percent of the registered voters. In 2010, 20,147 Bartholomew County voters cast ballots, a 40 percent turnout. And in 2006, 42 percent of Bartholomew County voters actually voted, or 21,558 voters.

There were 7,790 voters who cast straight Republican Party ballots yesterday, compared to 2,571 Democrat straight-party voters. 17 people voted Libertarian straight-party tickets.

Bartholomew County Republicans will continue to have a lock on local government.

In the County Council District 1 race in eastern Bartholomew County, between Republican Scott Bonnell and Democrat Hanna Omar, Bonnell pulled 65 percent of the vote, with Omar carrying 35 percent.

And in the County Council District 4 race in southwestern Bartholomew County, incumbent Republican Jorge Morales defeated Democrat Lynne Fleming also 65 to 35 percent.

Most of the Bartholomew County countywide races were uncontested this election. That includes:

• County Commissioner Carl Lienhoop
• Sheriff Matt Myers
• Prosecutor Bill Nash
• Superior Court 1 Judge Jim Worton
• Clerk Jay Phelps
• Auditor Pia O’Connor
• Assessor Ginny Whipple
• Recorder Tami Hines
• Treasurer Barb Hackman
• County Council members Laura DeDomenic and Mark Gorbett.