North Vernon officials are taking steps to make sure the city’s parks are safe and secure.

The city council took steps Monday evening to institute a curfew to keep people out of the parks during overnight hours. Under an ordinance that received initial approval, no one will be allowed inside the parks during specific hours.

The move comes after vandals damaged the men’s restroom at the old concession stand area near shelter house #3 in early September. The suspect(s) used a large rock to destroy three urinals and two toilets.

Specifically, the ordinance would ban people from entering or utilizing the North Vernon City Park, at 604 N. State Street, or mini park between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., except by written permit. The recently renovated Tripton Park will ban visitors from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.

Violators are subject to fines. The exact amount is yet to be determined.

The council is expected to give final approval to the measure at its next meeting after the start of the new year.

Authorities are saying that property crime in Columbus is down. The Columbus Police Department has issued a report shows a continued drop in property crime across the city over the past few years.

Police Chief Jon Rohde says that Columbus has always been safe from violent crime. But property crime rates have remained stubbornly high.

In recent years, Columbus officers have been making concentrated efforts to reduce property crime, Rohde said.

Rohde says those to reduce property crimes include education efforts and community outreach

According to the report, from 2015 to 2018, Columbus saw a 19-percent reduction in property crime. In addition, through the first three quarters of 2019, CPD has noted an additional 16-percent reduction in property crime. This includes a 29-percent reduction in burglaries, 11-percent decrease in thefts and a 58-percent reduction in vehicle thefts.

Rohde said the success of the education efforts are demonstrated by the falling rate of vehicle thefts.

The recount of the disputed election to determine the winner of the Columbus City Council District 1 seat will be held next week.

Incumbent Republican Dascal Bunch lost to political newcomer and Democrat Jerone Wood by a single vote, 260-259, in the Nov. 5th election. Independent candidate Michael Kinder received 81 votes.

Bartholomew Superior Court I Judge Jim Worton issued an order Thursday setting the recount for 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 13. Members of the recount commission and observers are to appear before the court at that time. The commission will count each ballot cast in the district’s seven precincts.

By law, the recount must be completed and certified by Dec. 20th.

The Seymour Main Street organization is putting on its final “First Thursday” event of the year on Dec. 5th. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., you are encouraged to dine downtown and follow that up with Christmas shopping. Organizers say merchants will have deals on furniture, jewelry, electronics, music, kids clothing, and more.

For more information, visit seymourmainstreet.org.

Four people were arrested for allegedly being involved in the theft of guns from a home in Johnson County.

At about 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department dispatched deputies to the Oak Meadows Mobile Home Community on what was initially reported as an armed robbery. When deputies arrived on the scene, it became clear that the call was actually a theft of firearms from a home.

Police say the suspects had fled the scene prior to the deputies arrival, but were quickly found and arrested. Interviews of the suspects revealed that they had disposed of three firearms shortly after stealing them. Sheriff Duane Burgess says the suspects revealed the location of the stolen guns and all three were quickly recovered.

Arrested were:

– Patrick Jackson on a preliminary charge of Theft
– Sierra Frazee on a preliminary charge of Theft
– Phillip Lasley on preliminary charges of Theft and a Serious Violent Felon in Possession of Firearm
– Abigail Pittman on preliminary charges of Theft and False Informing

Burgess says that area schools were notified of the incident when the suspects were still at large but were not believed to be in any danger at any time.

The investigation is ongoing.

Temperatures are getting colder, but there is still plenty to do in downtown Columbus. Caitlin Smith with the Columbus Area Arts Council, encourages you and your family to take part in “First Fridays For Families.”

“Bright Star Theater” is a touring theater group out of North Carolina. They will be putting on a production of the holiday classic “The Velveteen Rabbit” this Friday at the Commons. This free event is put on by the “Bright Star Theater” group out of North Carolina. Doors open Friday at 5:30 p.m. The show begins at 6 p.m.

This season’s First Friday’s For Families programming is made possible by The Carl Marshall and Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation with support from the City of Columbus, Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, visit artsincolumbus.org.

The Columbus Fire Department will be taking delivery of a new fire engine.

You are invited to attend a special ceremony to welcome the new Fire Engine 6 on Monday, Dec. 9 at Fire Station 6, located at 1900 W. 450 S. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and is expected to last around 30 minutes. As part of this celebration, attendees will also be invited to an open house of the recently renovated fire station 6, following the ceremony.

Within the Fire Service, this upcoming ceremony is commonly referred to as a Wet-down ceremony. CFD officials say this tradition goes back to the era when fire pumpers were powered by hand. Following a fire, the horses would be separated from the pumper cart and both horse and pumper would be washed by the firefighters. After this “bath”, the pumper would be pushed into the station ready for the next fire. You are invited to take part in the celebration.

The replacement apparatus is a custom Quint manufactured by E-One. The new engine will carry up to four firefighters and has been outfitted with a full complement of firefighting gear as well as Advanced Life Support medical and trauma equipment. The City of Columbus purchased the engine for $ 847,000.

The apparatus currently serving as Engine 6 was purchased by the city in 1998. CFD officials say this vehicle will be reassigned to the reserve fleet, and will be utilized as a backup emergency response vehicle.

An area educator was honored for his work during Monday morning’s meeting of the Bartholomew County Commissioners.

Sheriff Matt Myers presented longtime Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. staff member Larry Perkinson with an “Honorary Deputy Sheriff” plaque.

“Thank you Larry for your many years of service to Bartholomew County and Bartholomew County young people and our very best wishes on your retirement,” said Sheriff Myers.

Perkinson is retiring from BCSC this year.

Two North Vernon men was arrested over the weekend on drug charges after one attempted to return a cell phone to local business. Just before 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, Jennings County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a local business after employees located a glass smoking pipe inside of a box for a cell phone that a man was attempting to return to the store.

Deputies spoke with the man, 50-year-old Marvin Cumberworth, who allegedly confessed to being in possession of methamphetamine. He was then arrested and transported to the Jennings County Jail.

Upon arrival to the jail, officers reported finding Cumberworth in possession of a larger amount of methamphetamine. Further investigation led police to Cumberworth’s home in Campbell Township. Deputies reported finding approximately eight grams of meth and 180 grams of marijuana in the home. Deputies also made contact with 40-year-old James Earl, of North Vernon inside the residence. He was arrested for possessing meth.

Cumberworth is facing preliminary charges of:

– Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 3 Felony
– Dealing Marijuana- A Misdemeanor
– Possession of Marijuana – B misdemeanor
– Maintaining a Common Nuisance – Level 6 Felony

Cumberworth is being held in the Jennings County Jail on a $12,055 full cash bond.

Earl is facing preliminary charges of:

– Possession of Methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Paraphernalia – C misdemeanor
– Visiting a Common Nuisance – A Misdemeanor

Earl is being held on a $3,055 full cash bond.

U.S. Congressman Greg Pence, a Republican representing Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District, announced the formation of the Sixth District Veterans Advisory Board and hosted its first meeting on Monday. The board is comprised of veterans within the district and those who serve as leaders on veterans issues.

Each member of the board serves on a volunteer basis and provides counsel to Rep. Pence on all matters relating to veterans, including legislation pending in the United States House of Representatives.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done to support our men and women in uniform this year. As a Beirut veteran myself, I understand there is always more to be done in Congress to support our nation’s veterans and the families who sacrifice so much for our freedom,” said Congressman Pence. “I thank each and every member of the Sixth District Veterans Advisory Board for committing to such a worthy cause.”

Members of the Sixth District Veterans Advisory:

– SGM Rick Caldwell of Columbus
– Maj. Gen. Mark Pillar of Columbus
– Jim Worton of Edinburgh
– Col. Roger Peterman of Greenwood
– Faith Weir of Madison
– Rep. Randy Frye (IN Representative District 67)
– Jerry Jordan of Shirley
– Dolores Chalker of Madison
– Robert L. Darringer of Columbus
– Brian Kushman of Columbus
– Troy King of Shelbyville