Indiana has now seen more than 6,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Indiana reported 5,457 new positive cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday afternoon’s update from the Indiana State Department of Health.

The state is also reporting 124 deaths and a 7-day positivity rate of 14 percent. Tuesday’s additions brings the total of deaths from the disease since March to 6,109. Some of those deaths reported yesterday dated back to mid November.

Bartholomew County had 73 new cases to report, with a 7-day positivity rate of 12.2 percent. Decatur had 11 new cases, Jennings 18 Jackson 34, Brown 4, Johnson 158 and Shelby 42. Johnson County had 3 new deaths reported this afternoon, Jackson and Brown counties reported two deaths from the disease, while Shelby County had a single death.

Jackson County continues to be red on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 spread map, showing a severe spread of the disease. Bartholomew and other surrounding counties remain orange, showing serious spread of the disease.

Authorities are crediting the Columbus Police Intelligence Led Policing Unit with the arrest of an Elizabethtown man on drug-related charges Monday afternoon.

According to police reports, a Columbus police officer and Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department deputy working on the unit stopped a driver of a suspicious vehicle on Tellman Road at about 5:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.

The driver got out and began yelling at police according to the report. Police tried to detain the man, who scuffled with officers before being put in handcuffs.

The driver, 49-year-old Ronald L. Miller turned out to have a suspended driver’s license and a search revealed methamphetamine in his wallet. He is facing charges for possessing the meth, resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended and disorderly conduct.

An armed Bartholomew County man was arrested Sunday evening after a domestic dispute left a woman injured.

The victim, who appeared injured, told deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department at about 6:16 p.m. Sunday evening that she had been battered at a home in the northeastern part of the county. She said the suspect, 48-year-old Virgle Massie, had a loaded gun and had threatened to shoot at police if they showed up.

When deputies arrived at the home, Massie came out a side door and said that he would not show police his hands. A deputy hit Massie with a Taser to subdue him and he was taken into custody without any further problems.

A loaded shotgun was found in the home.

Massie is facing preliminary charges of criminal confinement, domestic battery, domestic batter with a prior conviction and resisting law enforcement.

Downtown Columbus merchants and restaurants will be open late tomorrow night to encourage local shopping on a Not So Silent Night.

The downtown event will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday night, explains Cindy Frey, president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

Frey said that businesses have figured out innovative ways to provide their goods and services while remaining socially distanced and protecting their customers. Masks will be required.

You will be able to find special deals, sample foods and beverages and take part in a “find the elf” scavenger hunt. Diane Robbins with the Bartholomew County Historical Society and the downtown merchant’s group explains the elf hunt:

The passport card to start the elf hunt will be available at the visitors center.

Robbins said the Historical Society museum on Third Street will have a socially distanced Wave to Santa event. The Crump will have a cocoa and cookies event from 5 to 7.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

The event is being organized by the downtown merchant’s association, the Columbus Arts District and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

You can get more information here

Columbus could be getting some places to buy donuts for dunking.

The Republic is reporting this morning that the company which owns the Dunkin brand has submitted plans with the city to open two franchises in Columbus.

Plans submitted to the city call for an 1,800 square foot store at the Northern Village Shopping Center off of National Road and a 3,000 square foot store at the site of the former Daily’s Farm Market building on West Jonathan Moore Pike, city planners told the newspaper.

The applications do not specify the exact type of store that Dunkin Brands would be bringing to those locations. The paper said that the paperwork review process with the city could take two months to complete.

You can read more at therepublic.com