Indiana Country 101.5 WKKG, is holding its Parking Lot Party tomorrow at Dorel Juvenile Group on State Street.

The family friendly anything-on-wheels show features a new kids area with prizes. The kids area will feature 12 games organized by local not-for-profit groups with chances for the kids to win prizes including passes to the kidscommons and box seats at an Indianapolis Indians game.

James says that this year’s event is revamped from previous years’ Truck-A-Palooza show, both to make it more family friendly, and holding it later in the day. It also has been moved to a new weekend to avoid conflicts with other big local events such as high school graduations.

James said the show is also moving away from trophies and awards, instead putting those efforts toward benefiting the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund with a cornhole tournament and silent auction.

That will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Dorel lot on State Street. Vehicle check-ins for the anything on wheels show will start at 2:30 p.m.

Indiana Country 101.5 WKKG is part of White River Broadcasting which also includes 106.1 The River, Win 104.9 and News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

You can get more information on the Parking Lot Party at wkkg.com

The Bartholomew County Historical Society is offering a behind the scenes look at some famous area homes and other buildings with an “Open Door Tour” today and tomorrow.

Events will kick off from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight with a VIP tour of the courthouse and a reception at Remax Realty, says Diane Robbins with the historical society.

Saturday will feature nine homes that are more than 100 years old on a downtown walking tour, says Diane Robbins with the historical society.

Saturday’s events will wrap up with with a home and garden tour at the Inn at Irwin Gardens from 3 to 7 p.m. and cash bar reception from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tickets for tonight’s VIP event are $50. Saturday’s tour is $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event. Proceeds will benefit educational programing and historic preservation efforts.

For tickets, or more information, visit bartholomewhistory.org.

An Edinburgh man was arrested on domestic battery charges after an incident early Thursday morning.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department reports they were called to a disturbance in the 13000 block of North U.S. 31 at 12:51 a.m. that morning and found a man and woman, both of whom had been injured.

50-year-old Michael Reynolds was first taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment and then to the Bartholomew County Jail. The woman was treated at the scene for her injuries, deputies say.

Contractors are scheduled to begin preliminary work next week on a $3.1 million patching and paving project on a 9.7-mile section of U.S. 50 in Jennings County.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that work will take place approximately two miles east of State Road 3 to nine miles west of U.S. 421.

Patching is expected to begin on or after Monday, July 8, followed by milling and paving. The schedule is dependent on the weather.

Motorists should expect lane closures along the route, with flaggers to maintain traffic. You are reminded to use caution throughout the work zone and and avoid distracted driving.

The project is expected to be complete by Halloween.

A traffic stop in North Vernon led to the arrests of two people and the seizure of meth and weapon.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the North Vernon Police Department, says that at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Officer Anthony Bagby initiated a traffic stop at Veterans Drive and Hurly Drive. While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, Officer Bagby became suspicious and called for backup from Officer Shane Trepanier and his police dog Zobi.

Zobi alerted to the odor of a narcotic coming from within the vehicle. A search allegedly uncovered 22 grams of methamphetamine, 16 pills (prescription schedule 2 amphetamine), drug packaging materials, digital scales, two handguns, one shotgun and two rifles.

Timothy Hulse, 37, of North Vernon is facing preliminary charges of:
– Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 4 felony)
– Dealing in a Controlled Substance (Level 5 felony)
– Serious Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Level 4 felony)
– Possession of Paraphernalia (A misdemeanor)

Carmen Hulse, 32, of North Vernon, is facing preliminary charges of:
– Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 4 felony)
– Dealing in Controlled Substance (Level 5 felony)
– Possession of paraphernalia (A misdemeanor)

The investigation is ongoing.

Beezer Homes has been given approval to annex more than 40 acres on Columbus’ south side. The Columbus City Council unanimously approved a request to rezone and annex acreage for the extension of the Shadow Creek subdivision at its meeting this week.

Beazer Homes has plans to extend Creekside Lane. The move is expected to add 51 additional lots on just over 19 acres. The remaining acreage is not being developed at this time.

The council approved Beazer’s request at its meeting Tuesday night.

Cummins kicked off its 6th annual June Environmental Month celebration on Wednesday, in conjunction with World Environment Day. Blair Claflin, Director of Sustainability Communications for Cummins, explains that this marks the time of the year when employees across the company engage in environmental projects at work, home and in their communities.

Sites across the company will be offering activities and programs around four weekly themes: how the company and its employees can decrease waste, improve water conservation, limit energy use and work within their communities to make a difference.

Organizers of the celebration expect about two-thirds of the company’s workers will participate in one or more events.

The Columbus Engine Plant will host its 9th annual Community Wide Recycling Day from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 13th in the plant parking lot. In addition to common recyclable items, employees and community members are also invited to bring in electronic waste, used batteries, used motor oil and paint. Items like tractor tires, light-bulbs, mercury thermometers, Styrofoam and pressure vessels and tanks will not be accepted.

Claflin explains that Cummins also tries to use the month to educate employees on what it is doing to reduce its environmental impact as a company. He says that some Cummins employees will be traveling to northwestern Indiana later this month to learn more about the company’s support for an expansion at the Meadow Lake Wind Farm.

One of the company’s environmental goals is to increase the availability and use of renewable power. Claflin says the company will also discuss its progress on goals around waste, water and energy later this month.

A Jonesville woman accused of shooting another woman has entered a not guilty plea and has been assigned a public defender.

Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that 51-year-old Vicky E. Shade appeared for an initial hearing Wednesday in Bartholomew Circuit Court by video feed.

Shade is facing a felony charge of Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon in the May 26th shooting of 49-year-old Susan F. Tolbert at Shade’s home at 309 Jackson Street. Tolbert was treated at an Indianapolis hospital and later released.

The paper says a pre-trial hearing for Shade was set for 10:15 a.m. Oct. 28th with a jury trial set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 26th.

For more on this story, go to therepublic.com.

The Bartholomew County Historical Society is offering a behind the scenes look at area landmarks this weekend with an “Open Door Tour.” Diane Robbins explains that these event will be held Friday night and Saturday.

Tickets for Friday’s VIP event are $50.

Robbins talks about Saturday’s event, a walking tour focusing on nine homes on Columbus’ north side.

Robbins says Saturday’s tour run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can follow that up with a visit to the Inn at Irwin Gardens from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A cash bar will be offered there from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For tickets, or more information, visit bartholomewhistory.org.

The Columbus City Council approved a request from the city’s redevelopment commission to amend a contract with consultant Hitchcock Design Group. That is for an additional $54,500 to take care of additional design work on the Riverfront Project.

Heather Pope is the city’s director of redevelopment. She explained the request during last month’s redevelopment commission meeting.

DNR expressed concerns about in-water installations once the low-head dam is removed between the Second and Third Street bridges. State officials insisted on changes to the plan, resulting in cost overruns and slowing down progress.

Pope adds that this request takes the overall cost of this portion of the project over the $500,000 spending limit placed on the redevelopment commission, thus requiring city council approval.

Council voted 6-0 to approve the request at its meeting Tuesday night.