Jennings County deputies arrested two people last week, suspected of being involved in recent burglaries including stolen firearms.

Deputies were called to the area of Hawthorne Drive and Beech Road in Country Squire Lakes on Wednesday after a woman living in a tent in the nearby woods was reported to be acting strangely. When police contacted 31-year-old Heather Tabor they noticed several items hidden in the tall grass. A search by police dog Vampir recovered a bag of ammunition, credit and debit cards, a shotgun, drug paraphernalia and prescription medications.

The shotgun and debit cards matched those reported stolen the previous day.

Meanwhile, a neighbor reported a man running through their yard who dropped a handgun. Deputies recovered the handgun, which had also been reported stolen the previous day. They soon found the suspect, 30-year-old Floyd W. Johnson of North Vernon, at a home on Greenwood Place.

Tabor is facing preliminary charges of burglary, possession of stolen property and residential entry. Johnson is being accused of burglary and possession of a handgun without a permit by a convicted felon.

While at the scene, deputies also noticed a man flee from police in the area. He was arrested and identified as 20-year-old William Tobias of North Vernon. Tobias was not involved in the campsite incident, but said he ran because he was wanted on warrants. He was arrested on a charge of resisting law enforcement and on a Jennings Circuit Court warrant.

The Bartholomew County Highway Department is reporting that County Road 100W will be closed until about 2 p.m. this afternoon between roads 800S and 650S. Road maintenance is going on in the area.

You have a chance Friday evening in downtown Columbus to learn more about Latino culture, to try some new foods and to experience some authentic music.

Local groups including Su Casa and the Latino Education group are organizing Fiesta Latina.  Luz Elena Michel, with the Community Education Coalition, explains.

Michel said the goal is to educate the community about Latino culture and traditions. You don’t have to possess any knowledge of Latin American countries or speak Spanish to enjoy the event.

Michel said that this year’s event will highlight the cultures of Mexico and Venezuela.

Fiesta Latina will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday on Fourth Street. The event is free and you are invited.

You can learn more about Fiesta Latina on Facebook.

The community of Hope is sprucing up the town on Friday, ahead of some of the town’s biggest annual events.

The Community Cleanup Day will be from from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.. There will be large dumpsters and a recycling trailer available at the Hope Utilities Garage on Mill Street.

Organizers say you can drop off trash, cardboard, glass and plastic. They will not be taking tires, TVs, refrigerators, window air conditioners, computers or computer monitors.

Anyone who needs help getting items to the collection point can call the Community Center at 812-546-4499 to arrange pickup.

The town will also be picking up brush and limbs curbside.

The northeastern Bartholomew County community will be hosting the Hope Ride on Sept. 21st and Hope Heritage Days the weekend of Sept. 27th.

Correction: Due to a source error, Bradley A. Longworth’s name was spelled incorrectly in an earlier version of this story.

A Columbus couple was arrested last night, accused of leaving an 11-month old baby home alone.

Police were called in to check the baby’s welfare at a home in the 1700 block of Elm Street at about 11:15 p.m. last night. Minutes later, 38-year-old Bradley A. Longworth arrived at the home. He told officers that the baby had been picked up by a friend and was not inside the house.

But the child’s mother, 28-year-old Sarah E. Coe also arrived at the scene and she said the child was in the home alone.

Officers entered the home and found deplorable living conditions including the overwhelming smell of pet waste. Longworth and Coe were arrested on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent. The Indiana Department of Child Services assisted with the call.

Seymour Police Chief Bill Abbott is retiring. The city will host a celebration of Abbott’s more than 29 years of service on Friday, Sept. 13 in the Seymour Police Department Lobby from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. That is located at 205 North Ewing Street.

City officials say that accrued vacation will keep Abbott on the payroll for a few months, but his last day on the job is effectively Sept. 13th.

Officer retention at the Columbus Police Department is much better. Chief Jon Rohde explains that several factors helped, including the implementation of updated pay ranges for officers after a salary study was commissioned by the city council.

Rohde adds that an updated grooming policy, which allows for beards and non-offensive tattoos, also helped drive recruitment and retention.

Currently, Rohde says all officer positions are filled.

CPD is accepting applications for patrol officer to prepare for the next open position. You can get an application online at columbus.in.gov/police.

Chief Rohde gave a presentation on the department’s recruitment and retention efforts at this week’s meeting of the Columbus City Council.

The City of Columbus will observe the 18th year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a remembrance ceremony on Wednesday. The ceremony will begin promptly at 8:40 a.m. at Columbus City Hall and you are invited.

City officials say that a moment of silence will be observed to correspond with the attacks, beginning at 8:46 a.m., the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Additionally, the ceremony will include an emergency responder radio dispatch to honor the first responders and citizens that lost their lives following the attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Members of the Columbus Fire and Police Department Color Guard will take part in the ceremony, and brief comments will be made by City officials. The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes.

Schneck Primary Care is hosting a Drive-thru Flu Vaccine Clinic. These clinics will be offered in Seymour and Brownstown on the following dates:

• Sept. 28, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Schneck Urgent Care parking lot in Seymour
• Oct. 12, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Schneck Urgent Care parking lot in Seymour
• Oct. 12, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Schneck Primary Care parking lot in Brownstown

“Just drive up,” said Meghan McAlister, Director of Family Practice, Schneck Urgent & Primary Care. “Our care providers administer the vaccine while you stay in your car!”

The vaccine is available in regular dose and high dose for those ages 65 and older. The cost of the flu vaccine is covered by most insurance plans or self-pay.

“Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious,” added McAlister. “Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine. This season, protect yourself and those around you by getting vaccinated.”

The vaccines will be available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call Schneck Primary Care at 812-522-1613.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that maintenance crews will conduct nightly lane closures on I-65 north and southbound beginning Sunday evening between Scottsburg and Seymour to perform crack sealing operations.

Work will take place nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. beginning Sunday, Sept. 8, through the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 11, as well as Sunday, Sept. 15, through the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 18, between Exit 29 and Exit 50.

Crews will start working northbound from Scottsburg and start southbound from Seymour.

Motorists are urged to slow down, use extra caution and watch for slowed traffic in and near all work zones. All work is weather permitting.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team powered by Crew Car Wash. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.