A North Vernon man is facing charges after an incident early Sunday morning. North Vernon Police say they interviewed a suspect in a battery that happened in the 100 block of North State Street. After an investigation, police arrested 51-year-old Marcolm Stiening on preliminary charges of Battery with Serious Bodily Injury and Possession of Methamphetamine.
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North Vernon woman arrested after foot chase
A Jennings County woman is facing charges after an incident Sunday afternoon. North Vernon Police say they were called to the intersection of Fifth and Hoosier Streets just after 3 p.m. in reference to a Domestic Dispute. When officers arrived, the female allegedly took off on foot.
Officers caught up with 34-year-old Kimberly B. Earl, of North Vernon. She was arrested on preliminary charges of Resisting Arrest and Possession of a Hypodermic Needle. Authorities say that Earl was also wanted on a warrant out of Jefferson County for probation violation.
CFD holds fire awareness poster contest
The Columbus Fire Department and White River Broadcasting is inviting local children, ages 12 and under, to create a fire prevention poster to mark this year’s “Fire Prevention Week,” running Oct. 7-13. The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is – “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.”
Posters should be on 8 ½ X 11 paper and highlight the fire prevention theme. Posters may be created using pen, pencil, colored pencil, crayon or paint. Children must include their name, age and telephone number on the back of their poster.
Posters may be dropped off through 4 p.m. on October 3th, at the Columbus Fire Department Administration office at 1101 Jackson Street. Posters can be delivered during regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The winning poster will be announced on October 5th. The winner will receive 6 tickets to Holiday World & Splashing Safari courtesy of White River Broadcasting Company. Posters will judged by a panel of Firefighters and White River Broadcasting Company representatives. The winning poster will be shared on the Columbus Fire Department and White River Broadcasting Company Station’s social media pages.
Neighbors unhappy with Brighter Days shelter
Residents and business owners in the area around the Brighter Days emergency housing shelter are angry. That was the consistent message during Thursday night’s town hall meeting at the Roby and America Anderson Community Center. The shelter, located in the 400 block of South Mapleton Street, moved in to the former maintenance facility owned by Columbus Township. Residents say that the shelter has brought increased crime, loitering and drug use to the area.
Jan Gross is a business owner representing residents and other business owners in the area. She says that the city’s east side has become a dumping ground for programs and buildings that other Columbus neighborhoods would never tolerate.
Gross presented a petition with 180 signatures asking that the shelter be moved.
Elizabeth Kestler, director of Love Chapel, says that the facility is needed. In previous years, she says that the homeless were put up in hotels or given a room at another building.
Ben Jackson, Columbus Township Trustee, says that part of the loitering problem is due to the fact that the Recovery Engagement Center, which is used to help the homeless get the resources they need, has cut back its hours over the summer.
The town hall was put on by the Ninth Street Park Neighborhood Watch. City Councilmen Dascal Bunch and Tom Dell were also in attendance. Bunch says he will be talking to Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde to set up another town hall so that residents and business owners will have an opportunity to share their concerns directly.
Vernon man identified among the remains from North Korea
President Trump yesterday identified the remains of a Jennings County man from those released to the U.S. by North Korea.
The president sent out a Tweet on Thursday identifying the recovered remains of two U.S. soldiers who served in the Korean War. One of them was Army Master Sgt. Charles H. McDaniel of Vernon who was 32 at the time of his disappearance. He was a medic and went missing in action Nov. 2, 1950.
In July, the North Korean government handed over American remains in 55 boxes. The boxes were then flown to a military laboratory in Hawaii for analysis and identification. At the time, McDaniels dog tag was among the remains found.
Also identified yesterday by the president was 19-year-old Army Private First Class William H. Jones, of Nash County, North Carolina.
A flag used during an August ceremony when those remains were returned to Hawaii, was presented to the Korean War Veterans Memorial in DC yesterday by Vice President Mike Pence. Pence said the Korean War Memorial is a reminder that freedom is not free.
About 7,700 service members from the Korean conflict remain unaccounted for.
Red Cross asking for donations in wake of Florence
The American Red Cross is asking for your help as it continues to aid those impacted by Hurricane Florence. Specifically, authorities are asking for donations of blood. Red Cross officials say the hurricane caused nearly 200 Red Cross blood drives in the Southeast to be cancelled, resulting in more than 5,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations.
You can help locally at the following locations:
Columbus – Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Centra Credit Union, 300 Washington Street;
North Vernon – Sept. 26 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 240 Poplar Street;
Financial donations are also needed and allow the Red Cross to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Cummins announces partnership to grow electric powertrain business
Cummins continues its efforts to grow its electric powertrain business. The company announced Thursday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KAMAZ for the development of electrified power solutions for a new product line of KAMAZ battery-powered vehicles.
“Cummins has made strategic moves to bolster our Electrified Power Business,” said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and CEO, Cummins Inc. “KAMAZ brings a proven electrified portfolio, which will broaden the range, and increase the reliability, of our electrified power systems as Cummins continues to bring the right solutions to our customers at the right time.”
Based on the long-term productive partnership of the companies, KAMAZ and Cummins agreed on collaboration aimed to create electrified-power trucks and buses. Cummins officials say it intends to develop and supply to KAMAZ high-voltage fully electric powertrain prototypes with applications for city buses and medium range delivery trucks.
Columbus Police arrest two on drug charges
Two people were arrested early Thursday morning on drug charges after a traffic stop. Shortly before 2 a.m., Columbus Police stopped a vehicle near 11th and Chestnut Streets for a minor traffic violation.
While speaking with the occupants, 36-year-old Aaron L. Gray, of Greensburg, and 25-year-old Jessica L. Patterson, of Seymour, a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department police dog alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. During a search of Gray’s vehicle, officers allegedly found syringes, drug scales and methamphetamine.
Gray was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Patterson is facing a preliminary charge of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device.
Events this week to help veterans, honor MIA and POWs
There are a couple of events this week aimed at helping and honoring our nation’s veterans, MIA and POWs. A special event Thursday is aimed at helping local veterans. Bob Miller is event coordinator for the Fourth Annual Veteran Stand Down event.
Miller says the purpose of this event is to help veterans find services they may need, but not be aware of.
These events evolved from a concept that was created during the Vietnam War. Thursday’s event will include informational booths, blood pressure tests and haircuts for veterans who need them.
Miller says that there is an event Friday evening in Columbus to remember and honor our nation’s MIA and POWs.
Miller says that the whereabouts of more than 82-thousand American soldiers are unknown. Friday night’s event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans. The ceremony is expected to last 30 to 45 minutes and you are invited.
‘Souper Supper’ set for next month in Seymour
The Southern Indiana Center for the Arts will host a “Souper Supper” Fall Festival at Chateau de Pique in Seymour next month. Organizers say the fundraiser will be October 27 at 5 p.m. in the event tent at 6361 N. Co. Rd. 760E. in Seymour.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. The first 100 ticket buyers will be guaranteed a handmade bowl, created, glazed and fired in the Don Hill Pottery Barn at SICA. Guests can enjoy a variety of soups, courtesy of the Pines, with all of the fixings and desserts. Chateau de Pique’s wines and beers will be available for purchase.
Entertainment will be provided by the Actor’s Community Theater of Seymour and Don Hill, portraying James Whitcomb Riley. A variety of raffles will be held during the evening and include Indiana Pacers tickets, Indiana University men’s basketball tickets and John Mellencamp autographed items, among others. Raffle tickets are $50 each and all proceeds from sales will benefit the operation of the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts.
For tickets, call (812) 522-2278.