The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office received a $10,000 donation to go toward the purchase of a new K9. The donation, from Emmylou and John Wischmeier, will help fund a replacement for police dog Bolt, who retired last month with his handler, Sgt. Kris Weisner.

The Sheriff’s Department is slated to send a deputy to K9 training in March and should have two K9s on the street sometime in May.

“There are many reasons that K9s are important in assisting law enforcement,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “Our goal is to have three K9 units,” added Myers.

If you would like to make a donation to help the program, you are encouraged to email: sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov.

A shed on Clifty Drive suffered damage in a Monday morning fire. Columbus Firefighters were called to 382 Clifty Drive at approximately 9:11 a.m. for a report of a storage building on fire behind a home.

Capt. Mike Wilson, CFD spokesman, says that Engine Co. # 3 arrived first and found smoke coming from a 10’ x 15’ building in the back yard. Firefighters entered the storage building and found a small fire in a corner. It was quicjkly extinguished.

The official cause of the fire is undetermined. Damages are estimated at $500. No one was hurt and the investigation is ongoing.

The former Data Cave in Columbus will be going to around the clock operations its new owners announced today.

The business was sold last June to Immedion of Greenville, South Carolina.

Immedion made the announcement that the Columbus center would be staffed around the clock to provide technical support for customers and to ensure that customers’ mission-critical data and systems are always on.

The 24-7-365 policy is in place at all of the company’s nine facilities worldwide. Having people on site at all hours allows the company to monitor facilities, networks and systems, giving customers more security and greater response time, company officials said.

The Columbus facility is rated to withstand an EF-5 tornado and has dedicated heating, air conditioning, fire suppression and electrical distribution.

Flood watches and warnings continue for rivers in our area. In addition to flooding winding down from last week, new waves of flooding are expected later this week. Minor to moderate flooding is forecast.

In Columbus, East Fork White River crested Friday night in the moderate flood stage and is now back to normal levels. It is forecast to rise up again to near the minor flood stage by Thursday. Driftwood and Flat Rock rivers are back to normal levels but are expected to go back into the minor flood stage later this week.

Bartholomew County highway department says that County Road 675W is closed until further notice between Baker Hollow and State Rd 46, due to flood damage.

East Fork White River in Seymour crested Friday night just inches below the major flood stage and is now having minor flooding. The river is expected to crest again on Thursday in the minor flood stage.

A man trying to rescue his canoe from the flooded East Fork White River needed rescuing himself Sunday night in Jackson County.

Indiana conservation officers say 59-year-old Jerry Cash was saved from the floodwaters Sunday evening near County Road 300N and the Shieldstown covered bridge. Deputies were called in after a witness heard the man screaming at about 7:42 p.m. Sunday evening.

Deputies discovered Cash hanging onto the branches of a downed tree in six to eight feet of swiftly moving water in the river. Officers say the river was extremely dangerous with high and fast floodwaters  and large amounts of debris.

Deputies tried to reach Cash with a throw bag line, but he was too far from the bank. Indiana conservation officers and deputies arrived with boats and Cash was rescued at about 8:15 p.m.

Conservation officers say that Cash was trying to retrieve a canoe from property he owned along the river but while attempting to paddle downstream, the canoe capsized and he was stranded. Officers say he was not wearing a life vest at the time.

Cash was taken by paramedics to Schneck Medical Center to be evaluated.

Agencies on scene included the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Brownstown Police Department, Brownstown Volunteer Fire Department , and Jackson County EMS.

North Vernon police are reporting three arrests last week on drug charges after a search of a home in Country Squire Lakes.

Officers received a tip about possible drug activity at a home on Hawthorne Drive and served a search warrant Wednesday.

Officers allegedly found about 3 grams of methamphetamine, several methamphetamine pipes, digital scales, a small amount of marijuana along with pipes, several empty plastic baggies and about $120 cash

Officers arrested 54-year-old Richard Shepherd, 57-year-old Charlesa Connette, and 40-year-old Stacie Shelton, all of North Vernon.

Connette is being accused of possession of methamphetamine. Shepherd and Shelton were both arrested on a preliminary charge of visiting or maintaining a common nuisance. Shepherd was also wanted on a warrant for failing to appear in court on a charge of theft.

Columbus North High School seniors were the winners in the Brown Music Competition held Saturday at First Christian Church.

Alex Farrar and Julia Iorio will each receive $3,500 scholarships.

Farrar placed first in the Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence, playing the alto saxophone . Iorio, won first place in the Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence.

Eli Heichelbech won second place in the instrumental competition and Rosa Hernandez and Leah Rodriguez tied for second place in the vocal competition.  Heichelbech received a $2,000 scholarship, while Hernandez and Rodriguez each received $1,250.

Robert N. Brown served as chairman of The Republic’s former parent company and he established the Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence in 1992 in memory of his wife, Betty.

Robert and Betty Brown established the Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence  in 1985 b to honor Mr. Brown’s mother.

Both competitions are administered by Heritage Fund – The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center is reminding that the county’s travel status remains at an advisory level.

Although originally raised because of the floodwaters, for the flooded areas, some of those still remain, and will continue with the addition of today’s wintry mix according to the agency.

A travel advisory is the lowest level of local road condition, and means that routine travel or activities may be restricted in areas because of a hazardous situation, and individuals should use caution or avoid those areas.

High water and closed roads in Bartholomew County include:

High Water

• Marr Rd north of 600 N
• 330 W, south of Ohio Ridge
• 250 S west of 400 W

Closed

• State Road 11, north of 550 S
• 400 N between River Rd and U.S. 31
• 800 S between State Road 11  & U.S. 31
• 50 W, north of 550 N
• 150 E between 300 S and Southern Crossing
• 175 E between 300 S and Southern Crossing
• Carr Hill Road between Morgan Willow Trace and Appleblossom Lane.
• Tellman Camp

Eight candidates are looking to replace Seymour Mayor Craig Luedeman. The three-term Republican announced in November that he would not seek a fourth term.

Five Republican and three Democrats are aiming for the city’s top job. They are:

Matthew Nicholson currently represents Seymour’s Third District. He is facing former Jackson County Council President Bridey Grant Jacobi, Matt Rowe, Thomas Joray and Nathan Otte for the Republican mayoral nomination.

Rexanne Early Ude, executive director of Schneck Foundation, is facing Jim (Mike) Kelly and Tyler Henkle for the Democratic nomination.

Contested primary races include Council District 3, where Republicans Chad Hubbard and Joshua Dailey campaign to replace Nicholson.

District 4 incumbent James Rebber is being challenged by Seth Davidson in the Republican primary.

Four people are running to replace Clerk-Treasurer Fred Lewis, who announced that he would not seek reelection. In November, Democrat Kristine Hackman will face the winner of the Republican primary, consisting of current Council At-Large member Darrin Boas, Dave Stidham and Robin Ann Carpenter.

This year’s Primary Election is May 7th. The General Election is Nov. 5th.

The deadline to file to run for citywide office in Columbus has passed. The Bartholomew County Voter Registration Office closed filing at noon on Friday. All incumbents, from Mayor Jim Lienhoop to all seven members of city council, filed for reelection.

Many will have no opposition in their primary election. These include Republicans: Clerk-Treasurer Luann Welmer and Council members Tim Shuffett and Frank Miller, and 2nd District Councilwoman Elaine Wagner, a Democrat.

Mayor Lienhoop is facing a challenger in the Republican Primary. Local resident Glen Petri is running against the first-term mayor. The winner faces no Democratic challenger in November’s general election.

For City Council District 1, incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch is being challenged by Christopher Rutan in the GOP primary. Rutan previously ran for council as a Democrat. The winner faces no Democratic challenger in November.

For City Council District 2, Republican Jim Hartsook is running unopposed in his primary. He’ll face Wagner in the general election.

For City Council District 3, incumbent Republican David Bush faces a primary challenge from Russ Poling. Bush was selected by party leaders in December to finish the term of former Councilman Frank Jerome. Poling is currently serving in his second term on the Columbus City Plan Commission.

The winner of that primary will face Democrat Nancy Hoover, who is unopposed in her party.

Democrat Michael Schoumacher and Ross Thomas are slated to face Republicans Miller and Shuffett for the District 4 and District 5 seats in November.

A bevy of contenders are campaigning for the two At-Large seats on the council. Incumbent Republican Laurie Booher is being challenged by Josh Burnett and John D. Counceller. Incumbent Democrat Tom Dell is joined on the Democratic ballot by Grace Kestler.

This year’s Primary Election is May 7th. The General Election is Nov. 5th.