A new Columbus police officer was sworn in Monday.

22-year-old Nicholas T. Schmitt is originally from Cincinnati and graduated IU in Bloomington where he studied chemistry and criminal justice. He also graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Schmitt comes from a law enforcement family. His father is an FBI special agent, while his grandfather served as a police chief and mayor of Jasper.

Schmitt will now start an orientation program with CPD and go through the department’s field training program.

According to the most recent update from the Indiana State Department of Health, there are 34,830 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 292 cases since Sunday’ report.

There have been 1,976 deaths in Indiana as of yesterday afternoon’s update, an increase of 9 deaths from the previous numbers.

Bartholomew County has 515 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 35 deaths.

In other area counties, Decatur County has had 224 cases and 31 deaths, Jennings 130 cases and 4 deaths, Jackson 392 cases and 1 death, Brown 33 cases and 1 death, Johnson 1,115 cases and 109 deaths and Shelby 373 cases and 22 deaths.

Seymour police are urging the public not to spread false information about protests being planned in that city tomorrow.

A group is planning to protest from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Farmer’s Market Parking Lot.

Seymour police, on their Facebook page, say that they have met with the protest organizers and completely support the group’s intent to peacefully exercise their first amendment rights. Organizers stressed to police that this is a non-violent protest and that they will not tolerate any criminal activity.

Police said that they will be working together with the organizers for safe and peaceful events.

A Columbus group is planning a rally for Thursday on the steps of Columbus City Hall. Calling it a Solidarity Rally, the group is planning to meet at noon on June 4th. They are planning a peaceful rally to call for justice for victims around the country. You can find more information on social media with the hashtag #WeAreDone.

A North Vernon man was arrested last week on drunk driving charges after reports of a man asking children to get into his SUV in Country Squire Lakes.

Jennings County deputies got the call at about 2:30 and found a white SUV driven by 47-year-old Charles E. Messer. After stopping the vehicle, a deputy approached and saw Messer drinking from a bottle of alcohol, according to police reports.

Messer was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and refusing a chemical test.

INDOT says that contractors will be closing State Road 258 east of Freetown in Jackson County starting today to replace two box culverts. The work is expected to take about two months.

Work will start near Persimmon Lake Drive and when that work is finished to a second culvert between Base Road and Jackson County Road 100E at Coon Creek. The road will close for 30 days at each location, Both locations will not be closed at the same time.

The work schedule is dependent on the weather.

According to the most recent update from the Indiana State Department of Health, there are 34,574 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 397 cases since Saturday’s report.

There have been 1,967 deaths in Indiana as of yesterday afternoon’s update, an increase of 9 deaths from the previous numbers.

Bartholomew County has 511 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 35 deaths. Local health officials say there have been 5,220 tests given to county residents, of which 3,925 were negative and 917 results are still pending.

In other area counties, Decatur County has had 224 cases and 31 deaths, Jennings 130 cases and 4 deaths, Jackson 389 cases and 1 death, Brown 33 cases and 1 death, Johnson 1,105 cases and 108 deaths and Shelby 373 cases and 22 deaths.

Bartholomew County government office buildings are taking some steps to re-open to the public today. According to county emergency management, buildings will be open to the public by appointment only through at least July 6th.

Some offices will continue to meet with the public outside of the building to assist them there. Masks are required by the public and by employees during their interactions. The county is NOT providing masks to the public.

Members of the public entering county buildings must go through a temperature check and access will be limited to a single entrance. For the Governmental Office Building on Third Street that will be the back entrance by the parking lot. The courthouse will be open through only the front door.

Bartholomew County Commissioners and County Council meetings will continue to be conducted through Zoom video conferencing.