Area law-enforcement agencies were among these receiving new RADAR and LIDAR speed enforcement devices. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is distributing 1,000 new devices among 162 state and local police agencies. The units are being purchased with $1.6 million in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds.

Dash-mounted RADAR systems are used while patrol vehicles are moving or stopped, and can measure traffic speeds in the same and opposing directions. Hand-held LIDAR devices help officers spot speeding drivers through several lanes of traffic or obstructions such as trees and bushes.

Recipients include:

– Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Dept.: 10 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Brown County Sheriff’s Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Decatur County Sheriff’s Dept.: 4 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Franklin Police Dept.: 8 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Greensburg Police Dept.: 4 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Greenwood Police Dept.: 10 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Jennings County Sheriff’s Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Johnson County Sheriff’s Dept.: 2 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Nashville Police Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR
– Seymour Police Dept. 5 RADAR , 1 LIDAR
– Shelby County Sheriff’s Dept.: 5 RADAR, 1 LIDAR

Federal grants administered by ICJI’s Traffic Safety Division fund training, equipment and overtime enforcement law-enforcement costs.

Columbus Parks and Rec will have additional storage space after action taken by the Board of Public Works and Safety. Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, explains that the site at 1360 Jackson Street is attractive to the parks department.

The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to transfer ownership of the property from Parks and Rec to the city.

The Columbus Parks Board voted unanimously last week to purchase the site for $205,000. The property is owned by Norma Lienhoop, aunt of Mayor Jim Lienhoop. The mayor has recused himself from all business related to the proposed purchase.

The former Machinery Moving site was found to have environmental contamination during the appraisal process. However, local officials expressed confidence that the issue can be remedied at little expense locally. Pam Harrell, director of business services for Columbus Parks and Rec, explained during the July 24th meeting of the parks board that there is a solution to the cleanup issue.

Once the property is in the city’s name, discussions with Indiana Brownfields can move forward.

The Bartholomew County Health Department and Indiana State Department of Health are joining to offer free Hepatitis A vaccinations at a pair of upcoming events. On Thursday, Aug 1st, these vaccinations will be offered from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clarity Testing Clinic, located at 1950 Doctor’s Park Drive, Suite B.

Hepatitis A vaccinations are also available the same day from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Clarity Pregnancy Clinic, located at 2420 East. Seventh Street.

Health officials say those most at risk include:

– The homeless
– Those who have recently been in jail
– Those who use illicit drugs
– Those who have had close contact with an infected person

Free HIV testing and Hepatitis C testing will also be offered.

If you see a funnel cloud this afternoon, don’t be alarmed.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management says that a different type of funnel cloud forms when weather conditions are similar to those of today. These are called cold air funnels and are not as violent as those associated with warm and humid conditions.

Cold air funnels are associated with thunderstorms or showers that form in deep, cold core, large-scale low pressure systems. Officials say these funnel clouds normally protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent clouds, rotate and last only a few minutes
before dissipating.

In rare cases when their circulations does reach the ground, cold air funnels cause only minor damage. Bartholomew County EMA says that warnings will be issued if any of them touch the ground.

EMA officials say that tornado sirens were activated today as a result of multiple reports from first responders of a funnel cloud being spotted north of the airport toward the Taylorsville area. Protocol for dispatch also stipulates that all sirens are sounded in such an event. Officials say an Everbridge alert did not go out with the activation, though one should have. They are investigating why that didn’t happen.

A former Bartholomew County Sheriff’s reserve deputy accused of child molesting will appear in court for a change of plea hearing in December.

Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that 73-year-old Larry Scott, of Hope, appeared in court for an initial change of plea hearing on Monday. The paper says the request for a continuance was approved by Bartholomew Superior Court 1 Judge James Worton. The new change of plea hearing is set for December 16.

Scott worked security at Ceraland. He was arrested in July of 2018 on charges of Child Molestation, Possession of Child Pornography and Performing Sexual Conduct in the Presence of a Minor.

For more on this story, go to therepublic.com.

A Hartsville man is behind bars on child molestation and gun charges.

The Decatur County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies picked up 60-year-old Gary Guenthenspberger at 8:49 a.m. Saturday on an outstanding warrant for Child Molesting, a Level 4 Felony. When police encountered Guenthenspberger, they say they found him with a gun. He is facing a new charge of Gun Possession by a Serious Violent Felon.

Details of Guenthenspberger’s crime have not been released, as the investigation is ongoing.

An Austin man is behind bars after a stabbing.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies were called to the 8400 block of County Road 850 East at about 10:45 p.m. Thursday. The victim was reportedly stabbed in the back twice by 19-year-old Nicholas Couch, the brother of the victim’s girlfriend.

Authorities say that Couch and the victim live at the same address. There was an argument between the two over text messages that the victim sent to Couch’s mother. During the argument, police say that Couch pulled out a hunting knife and stabbed the victim. The two were ultimately separated by others.

The victim was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital. He was later released.

Couch is being held on charges of Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon and Disorderly Conduct.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that lane restrictions on U.S. 31 in Jackson County will begin next week.

INDOT says that crews from E&B Paving will close U.S. 31 and implement lane restrictions between Crothersville and Uniontown on or after Monday, July 29. The work, which is dependent on the weather, consists of bridge replacement and bridge deck overlay projects in Jackson County.

U.S. 31 will close over Grassy Creek, between County Road 500 South and County Road 400 South for approximately 120 days while crews complete an $870,000 bridge replacement project. The road is expected to reopen by November 29th.

Lane restrictions with a temporary traffic signal will be in place at Blau Ditch between County Road 500 South and County Road 600 South for approximately 100 days for an $890,000 bridge deck overlay project. The road is expected to reopen by November 11th.

The official state detour for both closures is State Road 250 to I-65.

A ground-breaking ceremony for a new $1.2 million dollar, 8,000 square-foot Hindu Temple is set for Saturday, August 3rd on West Goeller Road in Columbus.

Organizers say the new temple will accommodate about 700 people during Hindu festivals and other special celebrations. The temple will include a sanctuary, a stage, kitchen and an open area for special events. The site is also expected to function as a Hindu community center catering to the recreational and social needs of the community. It will host classes for India’s music, dance and languages.

The work is expected to be finished by next spring.

The ground-breaking ceremony with ancient Hindu rituals conducted by seven priests; will be held at the site, located at 7930 West Goeller Road from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 3rd. A free lunch is included.

Everyone is welcome to attend the the groundbreaking ceremony.

Columbus Parks and Rec will have additional storage space under a purchase agreement approved Wednesday afternoon by the Columbus Parks Board.

The board voted unanimously to approve an agreement to purchase the vacant former Machinery Moving Inc. site at 1360 Jackson Street for $205,000. The site is currently owned by Norma Lienhoop, aunt of Mayor Jim Lienhoop. The mayor has recused himself from all business related to the proposed purchase.

The previous agreed-upon price for the site was $300,000, but environmental contamination found in subsequent inspections resulted in lower appraisals, resulting in the updated purchase price. Under the agreement, the city would pay Ms. Lienhoop annual installments of $34,166.67. The first installment would be paid at closing, while subsequent annual payments would be made before on, or before, March 1st.

Parks Director Mark Jones has indicated that the property would be used as a storage facility for the department. He noted the property’s proximity to other parks properties.

Pam Harrell, director of business services for parks and rec, explains that there is a solution related to the issue of cleanup…

Harrell explained that until the property is owned by the city, discussions with Indiana Brownfield are at a standstill.

The measure now goes to the Board of Public Works and Safety for consideration.