Jennings County Commissioners have filed a lawsuit against the opioid manufacturers and distributors. The officials are seeking damages for the county for the ongoing opioid crisis. The commissioners say that manufacturers are liable for part of the problem which they say has “devastated Jennings County residents and placed a heavy burden on emergency response, social services, and other resources.” The lawsuit seeks to recover funds to address the overwhelming financial burden that the opioid crisis has placed on the county.

The manufacturer defendants are Purdue Pharma, Cephalon, Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Noramco, Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Mallinckrodt PLC, Allergan PLC, and Watson Pharmaceuticals. The lawsuit alleges that these manufacturers deceptively marketed the appropriate uses, risks, and safety of opioids.

The opioid distributor defendants are AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., and McKesson Corporation. The lawsuit alleges that these distributors failed in their duty to report and stop suspicious orders of opioids that flooded Jennings County.

The lawsuit alleges conspiracy among the manufacturers and distributors of opioids and seeks monetary damages, as well as reimbursement to the county for expenses related to fighting the opioid epidemic. In addition, the suit is seeking an “abatement fund” to help fight the opioid epidemic. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. Federal Court.

“Jennings County took an important step today in the battle against the opioid crisis,” said Matt Sporleder, President of the Jennings County Commissioners. “It’s time for those responsible for this crisis to be held accountable.” Lynn Toops of law firm Cohen & Malad, LLP, says that the lawsuit is “another tool for Jennings County to use in the war on opioid addiction that’s so greatly impacting the community.”

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Columbus man who was allegedly driving a stolen car. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the department, says that at approximately 2:30 pm on Thursday, Sgt. TA Smith saw a silver Nissan in the area of South Gladstone Avenue. The car matched the description of an automobile that the Columbus Police Department had reported stolen earlier in the day. Sgt. Smith initiated a traffic stop and arrested the driver, 27-year-old Gregory Everroad on a preliminary charge of Auto Theft.

Authorities say that Everroad remains in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $7,500 bond.

Columbus Firefighters responded to the first house fire of the year on Thursday. They say this marks the third fire at the home, at 2143 23rd Street, since 2014. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says that firefighters were called at approximately 4:36 a.m. due to a flue fire. He adds that when firefighters arrived, they found the three adult occupants and a dog had escaped the home. Firefighters entered the residence and quickly located the fire above a wood burning stove in the home’s living room. Crews reported the fire under control within 20 minutes.

Columbus Fire Department investigators have classified the fire as accidental in nature, and have determined that the fire was a result of combustible materials igniting near the chimney flu and wall. According to investigators, the house did not have electrical service utilities and the primary heat for the residence was the wood burning stove. A CFD report from the 2016 incident noted that the house had no electric, gas or water service. In fact, the report states that the home had been disconnected from gas service since 2009. Wilson says that GIS information indicates that the owner of the home is Sherry Rae Bornman, of Freetown. The occupants, who were displaced as a result of the fire, are being provided shelter aid through the Salvation Army.

Wilson says that the 2014 fire incident was caused by a space heater, while the 2016 and 2018 incidents were both attributed to a wood burning stove. Due to the amount of unrepaired damages caused by previous fires, investigators were unable to determine a current damages estimate dollar amount.

No Injuries were reported.

An area preschooler received a belated Christmas gift. Corey Londeree says that his three-year-old daughter, Landree, attends the Carousel Play and Learn Center in Greensburg. Just before the Christmas break, Landree’s class took part in an annual balloon release. Attached to the little girl’s balloon was a wish list of supplies for her class.

When dropping off his daughter at class on Wednesday, Londeree says that they learned that a package containing pencils and markers was delivered to the preschool, along with a note explaining that Landree’s note had been found in Pennsylvania.

Londeree says that his daughter was excited to get the items, but doesn’t yet grasp how far her balloon traveled. He added that the package was sent anonymously.

Frigid temperatures has led to Columbus Utilities staff have responding to over 100 customer calls concerning frozen water pipes. Keith Reeves, utilities director, says that many of these calls have been due to problems in the water meter pits, adding that crews have been able to thaw the meter service and restore service. However, he says that others have involved frozen piping within the home or business and may involve costly plumbing repairs to remedy.

Reeves says that the longer cold temperatures last, the greater the likelihood of frozen pipes. Columbus City Utilities is recommending that customers take precautions to prevent frozen pipes. They include:

• If there is snow covering your meter pit, leave it there. Snow cover acts as an insulating barrier and can help prevent the meter inside from freezing.
• Don’t open your pit or tamper with the valve inside. It’s against local code for anyone but Utility personnel to work in the meter pits and vaults. Without the proper tools the valves can be fragile and this damage can be charged back to the customer. Also, being underground chambers, the pits can sometimes collect dangerous gases from other sources.
• When freezing is a possibility, there are some things you can do to help prevent disasters. Open vanity and cabinet doors to expose pipes to the inside, warmer temperatures.
• Let a small (pencil-lead thin) stream of water run. Moving water is much less likely to freeze than water standing in a pipe. Make sure all crawl space openings are closed and, if possible, insulate the opening.
• Use wrap insulation on pipes in unheated areas.

You can get more information online at columbusutilities.org/residential/frozen-pipes/.

The former owner of a Brown County hotel which received attention for its online review policy is asking the Indiana Attorney General to dismiss the case. “The Brown County Democrat” is reporting local attorney and former Abbey Inn owner Andy Szaklay filed the motion Wednesday in Brown Circuit Court.

He says that the Attorney General doesn’t have the authority to request relief from the court for several reasons, and alleges that state is restricting the inn’s own right to free speech by asking for court action.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill had asked for injunctive relief and damages in his case, alleging that the inn violated Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. Katrina Arthur of Greene County told the Attorney General’s office that she arrived at the inn in March 2016 to find the room unkempt, with water pressure and air conditioner problems and smelling like sewage.

Arthur said she later received an email from the hotel asking her to post a review, and she did.

She told the Attorney General’s office that she took the post down upon receiving a threat of legal action from Szakaly, and that her credit card was charged an extra $350 in April.

The Indiana Attorney General’s office alleged that the Abbey Inn’s policy restricting negative online reviews was “unfair, abusive, and deceptive.”

According to the report, Szakaly says that since Arthur signed an acknowledgement and agreement to the inn’s policies. He also attacked the credibility of Arthur, saying the woman “has trouble telling the truth and paying her bills.”

For the entire story, visit bcdemocrat.com.

Two North Vernon residents were arrested after a crash turned into a police chase.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that the incident began at around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday when deputies responded to a report of a crash on State Road 7 South near the Jefferson/Jennings County line. Authorities say that one of the vehicles involved fled north, with the other vehicle in pursuit and its occupants giving updated locations to Jennings County Dispatch.

Deputy Doug Brown was able to locate the minivan and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. He says that the driver refused to stop and the vehicle continued northbound on State Road 7 before turning east onto County Road 150 South at speeds reaching 65 mph. Authorities say the vehicle then turned north onto County Road 600 East and then back East onto County Road 50 South with several deputies in pursuit. The vehicle then pulled into a long driveway, where Deputy Brown tried to get in front of the vehicle and the driver responded by allegedly trying to ram into the officer’s vehicle.

Authorities say the driver, 21-year-old Demitrus L. Ewing, eventually surrendered to deputies. A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered approximately three grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, baggies and syringes. While questioning Ewing about why he fled, Ewing reportedly told deputies “Because I don’t have a license, and I figured I would make your job worth it.”

Ewing is facing the following preliminary charges:
Dealing Methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony;
Resisting Law Enforcement – Level 6 Felony;
Possession of Controlled Substance – Level 6 Felony;
Driving While Suspended Prior – Class A Misdemeanor;
Leaving the Scene of the Property Damage Accident – Class B Misdemeanor

A passenger in the minivan, 20-year-old Tara L. Sluder was also arrested. Authorities say that she is facing the following preliminary charges:
Possession of Control Substance – Level 6 Felony;
Possession of Syringe – Level 6 Felony

The investigation is ongoing.

Employees of a Greensburg-based bank will see a raise as a result of tax reform. MainSource Financial Group announced Wednesday that it will raise the starting pay and minimum hourly rate to $15 an hour effective, immediately. This company says that this new rate is for all of its non-exempt, non-commissioned employees. In a press release, MainSource directly attributed this change to the recently passed tax bill, which sharply lowers corporate tax rates. The release states that this pay increase will affect over 200 of the company’s approximately 1,000 associates in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Archie M. Brown, Jr., President and CEO, stated, “The recently passed tax legislation is anticipated to create significant savings for our company. We are pleased to direct a portion of this savings back to many of our employees with a meaningful increase in pay.”

MainSource Financial Group operates 94 full-service offices through its banking subsidiary, MainSource Bank in Greensburg.

The Columbus City Council gave its final approval of a $10 million dollar payment to INDOT for the downtown overpass project during it’s meeting Tuesday night. The project will take traffic into downtown over the railroad tracks at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike. The city initially approved the payment last month, but a re-vote was required as the second vote wasn’t properly advertised. Mayor Jim Lienhoop adds that there’s been a change in the payment deadline as well, as the city had nothing in writing from INDOT approving the timeline for the project…

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Lienhoop says that deadline for payment has since been extended to February 15. Despite the change, the mayor says that the construction project won’t be delayed. The overpass is estimated to cost $30 million with the city and its partners picking up half of the cost.

City Council approved the measure on a vote of 5-0.

Legislative leaders say they will fix a law passed last year which attempted to legalize limited legal use of cannabis oil. However, the fight over marijuana continues at the Statehouse.

Network Indiana is reporting that Seymour Representative Jim Lucas, a Republican, is authoring a bill to make Indiana the 30th state to allow marijuana use for medical purposes. The report states that Lucas’ bill would legalize marijuana for people with serious medical conditions and put the Indiana State Department of Health in charge of overseeing the plant’s growing and distribution.

Republican legislative leaders, including Governor Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Curtis Hill say they are against legalizing marijuana. According to the report, Hill has taken the most forceful stand, arguing that legalization would lead to marijuana use among minors.