The Columbus Human Rights Commission has announced the student winners of the 2017 J. Irwin Miller Art and Benjamin M. King Essay Contests. The winners will be honored at the Commission’s Annual Dinner Meeting, set for May 11th at 6:30 p.m. at The Commons. Organizers say the theme for this year’s art and essay contests is “Advocating for Others.” Those students being recognized are:

2017 J. Irwin Miller Art Contest:

Elementary School Division: Jessica Meza, St. Bartholomew Catholic School
Middle School Division: Emma Nolting, Central Middle School
High School Division: Kate Stewart, North High School

2017 Benjamin M. King Essay Contest:

Elementary School Division: Fareeha Parvin, Southside Elementary School
Middle School Division: Jordan Spurgeon, Central Middle School
High School Division: Emma Perry, CSA New Tech

Tickets for the dinner can be purchased in advance only. They are $30. Tickets can be purchased at the Human Rights Commission office inside of City Hall or online at www.columbus.in.gov/human-rights/. The deadline for purchasing tickets is May 5th at 5 p.m.

A Columbus man was arrested after he was reportedly seen acting suspicious inside of a department store on Saturday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that officers were sent to the Walmart on Merchants Mile at 1:30 p.m. in regards to a possible shoplifter.

Harris says that Officer Ben Quesenbery approached 39-year-old Bradley A. Burton after he allegedly concealed merchandise, including a bottle of liquor, in his jacket. After Burton was taken into custody, officers reported finding two syringes as well as a small amount of heroin and methamphetamine in his clothing. The stolen property was returned to store employees and Burton was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft, Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device, Possession of Heroin and Possession of Methamphetamine.

A suspected overdose claimed the life of another Bartholomew County resident on Sunday night. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that deputies responded to the 10000 South block of County Road 500 East Elizabethtown in reference to a possible death by overdose.

When deputies arrived at the scene at 11:10 p.m., deputies found the body of a 53-year-old woman with a syringe still in her arm. Other drug-related equipment was reportedly found nearby. These included multiple syringes and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff Matt Myers says, “I can’t repeat this enough: the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is committed to slowing the flow of Heroin into our county. If you are dealing heroin, we will do everything within our power to catch you and hold you accountable for spreading this poison to our citizens. Residents of our community are committed to reporting you and it is only a matter of time before we find you.”

In a Friday interview, Sheriff Myers stressed that residents can report any suspicious activity or tips anonymously. He adds that his department will continue to cultivate positive, trusting relationships with community residents to push “thugs” and “drug-pushers” into jail or out of the county.

The investigation into Sunday night’s death is ongoing.

A Seymour man was arrested early Sunday morning after Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies found him sleeping in a stolen vehicle. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that at 12:42 a.m. on Sunday, deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Gore Street in Columbus.

When Sgt. Gary Knoef arrived, he reported finding a man sleeping in the vehicle with the hood open, making it look like that there was a mechanical problem. When he ran the license plate, it came back as having been reported stolen the previous day from the Columbus East High School parking lot. Jackson says yhe vehicle itself had been reported stolen out of Seymour.

Deputies arrested the man, 30-year-old Justin Kleinpeter, on preliminary charges of Auto Theft and Receiving Stolen Property. Jackson says that he has since been released.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that his department’s efforts to build trusting relationships with neighborhoods and individual residents won’t be deterred. This after a public meeting Thursday night at the Clay Township Fire Department near Jewell Village was sparsely attended…

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The Sheriff has a message for all county residents…

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Myers says that law-enforcement can’t clean-up neighborhoods without help…

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The Sheriff says that all you have to do is call his office.

Thursday night’s meeting took place two days after a fatal drug-overdose in the same area.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will close lanes on U.S. Highway 31 between County Line Road and Stop 18 and lanes on State Road 135 between Bargersville and Stones Crossing in Johnson County for pavement repairs on Monday.

INDOT officials say that one lane will be closed at any one time on U.S. 31 during daylight hours for full-depth concrete patching.

State Road 135 will have a single lane closed at work sites during daylight hours while crews saw-cut pavement sections to be removed for full-depth concrete patching.

E & B Paving is the state’s contractor for this $6.1 million pavement preservation project.

INDOT says that future work tentatively calls for nighttime milling and asphalt patching on U.S. 31 beginning Sunday night, April 30. Crews will start placing concrete patches along the south segment of State Road 135 during daytime hours on Monday morning, May 1. Flaggers will direct traffic around work-sites. INDOT says that this phase of the project is scheduled to last for about two weeks.

Jackson County Bank has made a donation of $50,000 to Schneck’s “restore hope. restore life project.” Stephanie Furlow, hospital spokeswoman, says the $1.5 million project will fund the new Schneck Rehabilitation Center and the Schneck Cancer Center’s 4D CT Simulator.

“Over the years, Schneck Medical Center has provided our families and friends with outstanding, compassionate healthcare. Jackson County Bank’s generous donation ensures Schneck can continue to provide life-changing programs and services in rehabilitation medicine and innovative cancer care and treatment,” says Rexanne Ude, Executive Director of the Schneck Foundation.

“Philanthropic support is essential to completing the restore hope. restore life. project and requires our community to work together for better healthcare,” says Marvin Veatch, Chief Operating Officer of JCB.

Dave Geis, President and CEO said, “It is the mission of Jackson County Bank to build a lasting legacy in our community through local involvement and investment. We are proud to support the Schneck Rehab Center and Schneck Cancer Center.”

For more information, or to make a gift, contact Rexanne Ude, Executive Director of the Schneck Foundation, at 812-522-4244 or rude@schneckmed.org.

Indiana State Police Troopers from the Versailles Post were honored during an awards ceremony Friday in Indianapolis. The awards, presented by Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas Carter, recognized troopers from around the state who have performed their jobs with integrity, service, and professionalism and at many times went above and beyond the call of duty.

Troopers who work in our area were among those honored. They include:

The Versailles District ‘Trooper of the Year’ award went to Senior Trooper Randel Miller. Miller is a 10-year veteran of the force. Officials say that Trp. Miller, along with his K-9 partner ‘Jinx,’ patrol the district, adding that Miller is regularly among the district leaders in criminal arrests.

Trooper Christopher Lockman, a six-year veteran of the Indiana State Police, was honored with an ISP “Lifesaving Award”for his actions on February 19th of this year in Jackson County. Officials say that on this day, Trp. Lockman, who is the assistant squad leader of the Indiana State Police-South Zone Dive Team, along with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, successfully rescued two people who were stranded in a capsized boat in the White River near Seymour.

Trooper Korry Clark, an eight-year veteran of the Indiana State Police, was presented with an award for being the Versailles District’s top DUI Enforcement Trooper of the Year for 2016. ISP says that Trp. Clark arrested 79 intoxicated drivers while patrolling the roads of Bartholomew and Jackson Counties last year.

All troopers who received awards were given plaques to recognize their achievements.

Two young boys were killed in a Thursday night house fire in Jennings County. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting the the children, ages 3 and 4, died in the blaze at 1375 N. County Road 615E in Campbell Township.

The paper is reporting that the first call about the blaze was received at 11:16 p.m. The home was fully engulfed when firefighters aarrived on the scene. The report identifies the bots as four-year-old Carson Collett and his brother, three-year-old Carter Collett.

The fire remains under investigation.

For more on this story, pick up Saturday’s edition of The Republic.

Columbus officials continue gathering information and thoughts from residents about a proposal to further develop the city’s riverfront district. Jamie Brinegar is the city’s director of finance.

That survey, which Brinegar says has already generated over 600 responses, will be up until early May.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that for too long, the city has “been built with its back to the river.” Brinegar says that it’s time to change that…

Brinegar says that information gleaned from the survey, along with public meetings already held, will be used by the city’s consulting firm to illustrate some proposals for the area.