The Ivy Tech Columbus Science Club is hosting a river cleanup in downtown Columbus from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 in downtown Columbus.

The cleanup will focus on the west bank of the river between Second and Third streets. The club welcomes all who are interested in helping to clean up the river.

Officials say that parking will be available along the People Trail just west of the Indiana 46 westbound bridge. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, as will snacks and water.

Two men were arrested on drug charges after a Wednesday traffic stop in Jackson County resulted in the discovery of a large amount of suspected methamphetamine.

The incident began at approximately 10:30 a.m. when an Indiana State Police Trooper conducted a traffic stop on northbound I-65 near the 39 mile marker, just north of Crothersville. During the stop, police became suspicious that criminal activity was taking place. ISP police dog Jinx conducted a sweep of the exterior of the vehicle and alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a plastic bag containing more than one pound of suspected crystal methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle, 37-year-old Zachary D. Williams, of Lafayette, reportedly gave police a fake name. A passenger, 39-year-old Mark A. Sneed, of Louisville, was also found to be in possession of suspected marijuana.

Williams was arrested on charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, False Informing and Identity Theft. Sneed was charged with Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Marijuana.

The Seymour Sixth Grade Center was placed under an active shooter scenario Wednesday following a false alarm.

“The Tribune” in Seymour is reporting that officers were called to the school at 1000 S. Poplar St., around 3 p.m. on an active shooter alarm.

Superintendent Brandon Harpe told the paper that the school was not under a threat, but that one of the multiple alarms activated. Police and the school are investigating whether the system malfunctioned or if it was set off intentionally or by mistake.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.

Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County recently awarded $84,000 in grant funding to local nonprofit organizations as part of their fourth quarter grants cycle.

Fourth quarter grant recipients include:

• Bartholomew County Humane Society — $20,000 to install solar energy panels and reduce energy costs at their animal shelter.
• Southern Indiana Housing and Community Development Corporation — $25,000 for construction costs of a new residential development in the Lincoln Central Neighborhood as part of the Columbus Homebuyer Program.
• Family Service, Inc. — $ 19,773 to fund an IT server transition and to fund the 2020 Darkness to Light program pilot.
• Columbus Area Chamber Foundation — $10,000 to develop a strategy, broadcast-quality short videos and a compelling website to promote the Columbus area as an attractive, dynamic and welcoming place to live and work.
• Columbus Redevelopment Commission — $10,000 in support of the City’s efforts to obtain an award from Indiana’s Next Level Trails Grant program.

Kyle Hendricks, Manager of Community Impact, says that Heritage Fund distributes approximately $500,000 in grants to local nonprofits each year from the Community Fund. He says that these grants help Heritage Fund to meet emerging needs in Bartholomew County in the areas of Youth Development, Substance Abuse, Neighborhood Revitalization, Innovation and Creativity, and Welcoming Community.

A search warrant by the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics team uncovered methamphetamine and enough Fentanyl to kill thousands of people.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that at about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.19, members of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (JCSO-SRT) and Narcotics Team executed a search warrant at 303 Laurel Street in North Vernon, after a drug investigation was initiated by the department’s Narcotics Team. Chief Deputy David Turner says the investigation began after police received information that 27-year-old Shey M. Richardson, of North Vernon, was involved in the distribution and sale of drugs.

Two people were found inside the residence when deputies arrived. During the course of the search, deputies located approximately 14.5 grams of suspected Fentanyl along with approximately 7 grams of Methamphetamine along with Marijuana and paraphernalia. They are identified as follows:

– Shey M. Richardson (age 27) of North Vernon, IN.
– Dillon W. Steinert (age 24) of Butlerville, IN.

Richardson is being held in the Jennings County Jail on the following charges:

Dealing a Narcotic Drug
Possession of Meth over 5 grams
Possession of Syringe
Maintaining a Common Nuisance
Possession of Paraphernalia
Obstruction of Justice

Richardson is being held on $20,055 cash bond.

A second person, 24-year-old Dillon W. Steinert of Butlerville, was wanted on four outstanding warrants, one out of Jackson Couty and three out of Jennings County. He is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of Meth over 5 grams
Possession of Syringe
Possession of Paraphernalia
Possession of Marijuana
Visiting a Common Nuisance

Steinert is being held without bond.

Columbus City Councilman Dascal Bunch, who came up short in his re-election bid by one vote, has officially filed for a recount. Jay Phelps, the Bartholomew County Clerk, explains that the matter goes before a judge next week.

That hearing is set for Tuesday, Nov. 26th at 3 p.m. in Superior Court I before Judge Jim Worton, who will also determine the day for the recount.

Bunch, a Republican representing the city’s First District, was defeated by Democrat Jerone Wood, 260-259. Independent candidate Michael Kinder received 81 votes.

Phelps says that, by law, the recount must be completed and certified by Dec. 20th.

The city of Columbus is moving forward on a plan to better address and remove inoperable,  junk and unlicensed vehicles.

Currently, provisions on how to handle these vehicles is a zoning ordinance issue. Fred Barnett, director of code enforcement, says that means it can takes months before the Board of Zoning Appeals can hear any appeals, leading to longer periods of time when offending vehicles can remain parked. Under an ordinance that received initial approval Tuesday night, the Columbus City Council agreed to implement these rules into the municipal code. Barnett says this change will allow police to ticket the land owners where these vehicles are parked, up to $250 per offending vehicle.

Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, stresses that the actual language governing inoperable and junk vehicles hasn’t changed. It is merely being moved to the municipal code in order to allow the city more options to deal with these vehicles in a timely manner.

Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance. The second reading is set for December 3.

Legal Aid announces a Free Legal Aid Clinic on Monday, Nov. 25, at the Legal Aid Office in the Doug Otto United Way Center in Columbus. The clinic will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Legal Aid Clinic and Pro Bono Program utilizes local volunteer attorneys, offering free legal consultations to low-income individuals for the provision of legal advice and assistance in furtherance of equal access to justice within our community whom might not otherwise be able to afford the counsel of an attorney.

Individuals coming to the Legal Aid Clinic can expect to receive a 10 minute consultation to answer general questions, offer legal information, or to receive other limited pro se assistance or advice, in person, on a first come, first serve basis. There is no need to register in advance.

A number of area organizations are coming together to help give cats good homes. Columbus Animal Care Services and Bartholomew County Humane Society, along with Animal Outreach of Shelby County, White River Humane Society, Brown County Humane Society, as well as additional rescues and shelters in the area, are partnering together to get nearly 200 adoptable cats and kittens into loving homes.

The “Kitty Palooza” multi-agency adoption event will be held on Saturday, November 23, from noon to 5 p.m. at Fair Oaks Mall. The event will be held in the former Toys ‘R Us location near Mark Pi’s China Gate.

All cats will have a reduced adoption fee of $40, which includes spaying or neutering, up-to-date shots and microchip prior to adoption.

Each individual organization will have its own application process. Those who rent are encouraged to bring renter’s agreements or contracts to indicate they are allowed pets.

The city of Columbus plans to work with Sprague Hotel Developers to come up with a downtown hotel and conference center. The Columbus Redevelopment Commission accepted the recommendation of its Hotel/Conference Center Team to start negotiations with Sprague.

Sprague, owned by Janeen Sprague and based in downtown Columbus, already locally operates Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites and Comfort Inn in Edinburgh, along with the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Seymour. They also have hotels in Indianapolis, Fishers, Franklin, Greenwood and Noblesville.

Tom Vujovich, co-chair of the team, says that a hotel and conference center is a major part of the “Envision Columbus” plan. He adds that two pieces of downtown property are being considered for the project.

Which property will be utilized has yet to be negotiated.

The commission voted unanimously to accept the recommendation and proceed into the negotiation process with Sprague Hotel Developers.

The body also approved a resolution to amend a contract with Hunden Strategic Partners to to allow that group to help with negotiations on this project on behalf of the commission. They agreed to set aside $20,000 to pay for that assistance, as needed, on an hourly basis.