Columbus and Bartholomew County officials have agreed on a plan to fund a residential program coordinator to help treat drug-addicted inmates at the Bartholomew County Jail.

Both the city and county councils have agreed to fund the $57,500 requested to cover salary and benefits for the remainder of 2019. Chief Deputy Chris Lane with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department explained during Tuesday night’s city council meeting that the job description for the position has been established, but a hire has not yet been made. He added that the person selected for the position would have to have the proper education and resume.

City council voted unanimously to approve the appropriation. County council approved the measure last week. Both bodies will need to approve it a second time. That’s expected to be completed by early July.

Brown County State Park and Abe Martin Lodge will be closed through Thursday, June 20th. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says the closure is due to a lack of usable water supply caused by the heavy rainfall over the last several days.

Officials say there is still too much sediment from last weekend’s heavy rainfall coming into the system to allow the production of potable water. State Parks staff members are contacting guests with reservations through Thursday evening in the campground and at the Abe Martin Lodge with cancellation notices. With additional heavy rainfall predicted, DNR officials say closure beyond Thursday will be a day-by-day decision.

Staff members are working in partnership with DNR’s Division of Engineering, consultants and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to ensure that when the park reopens there is safe drinking water and water for all needed uses across the park.

A Decatur County man has been promoted to director of Nature Preserves. Ronald Hellmich, who has worked in the DNR Division of Nature Preserves for more than 32 years, was promoted to the position of division director this week.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that the Greensburg resident has served as coordinator of the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center of DNR Nature Preserves for the past four years. Before that, he served as data manager for the center for 20 years.

Hellmich holds a J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, a master’s degree from the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from Ball State University.

Hellmich replaces John Bacone, who retired in January.

State Road 135 is closed between County Road 850 N. and County Road 890 N. in Jackson County for bridge approach repair at Kiper Creek, north of Freetown. Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation say the road will be closed for approximately three days, weather permitting.

Drivers are encouraged to use U.S. 50 to I-65 to State Road 46 as an alternate route.

If you are looking for more traffic information, download the WAZE app for your smartphone and join the WCSI Traffic team powered by Crew Car Wash. You can find updated traffic information on our website, on-air and on the app.

Columbus Regional Health is inviting you to an open house of the new Treatment and Support Center. The center is scheduled to begin serving patients on July 1st.

The Treatment and Support Center is an outpatient treatment program for those suffering from substance use disorder. CRH officials say the program consists of comprehensive psychosocial services, including individual and group counseling, behavioral health therapies, medication-assisted treatment when appropriate and family support services. They add that the center will accept patient self-referrals, as well as provider referrals.

The open house is set for June 27th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the center, located at 2630 22nd Street. Attendees will get to tour the facility, meet the staff and learn more about the programs and services be offered. Light refreshments will be available.

CRH says that parking will be available in the employee lot at the west end of 22nd Street.

Due to water valve break, the Town Of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for the following area:

– 726-1170 Clay Lick
– 597 Coffey Hill Road
– 801-989 Eads Lane
– 637-935 Highland Drive
– 1098-1104 Hill Top Trail
– 768-845 Mail Pouch Lane
– 465-765 McGee Road
– 418- 1408 Old State Road 46
– 1055-1080 Treetop Lane
– 204-1185 Tuck-A-Way Ridge

Residents and businesses affected in these areas are asked to boil their drinking and cooking water until 4 p.m. on Friday, June 21st.

Nashville Utilities has contacted all customers affected by this boil order, but any customer who may feel that their service has been affected is asked to contact them at (812) 988-5526.

A North Vernon man is behind bars on drug charges.

The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that shortly after 7:30 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a possible overdose near the old school in Vernon. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with 24-year-old Nicholas Barlow who was standing near a vehicle. While speaking with Barlow, deputies reported seeing a bag containing 2.5 grams of crystal substance in the passenger seat.

Barlow was checked by Jennings County EMS at the scene and refused treatment. He was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of Methamphetamine and is being held on $3,155 cash bond.

Columbus Chief of Police Jon Rohde is transitioning out of his role with the department. Rohde recently announced that he will be running for Judge of Bartholomew County Superior Court 2 next year. A press release from CPD explains that he has requested to transition out of the role of police chief in order to focus on his campaign.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop will be working with Rohde on developing a transition plan, which will be announced in the near future. Rohde stated, “I’ve been humbled to serve as chief of police for the Columbus Police Department for over five years. From working closely with Mayor Lienhoop, I can attest that he is a true public servant who cares about the citizens of Columbus as well as the future of our community. I’ve been honored to work alongside Mayor Lienhoop and will do whatever I can to assist in this transition.”

At age 35, Rohde became the youngest police chief in the history of the department. During Rohde’s leadership, the department attained international and state accreditations and reaccreditations, implemented a body-worn camera program and an overdose intervention program. Rohde also cited increased transparency by communicating with the public on social media.

Mayor Lienhoop stated, “Jon Rohde is a high caliber police chief and the City of Columbus has been fortunate to have him serve in that capacity for over five years. His forward thinking, and desire to improve the force has led to critical improvements in the department. Rohde’s legal background has helped set the tone for making policy changes which have improved how our police force conducts themselves as they do their job and, his commitment to the police workforce led him to push forward, and support the salary compensation study and implementation that was accomplished in 2018. Public safety is the number one commitment a city makes to its citizens and I have been pleased to work with Chief Rohde for the past three-and-a-half years and am proud of his accomplishments during the many years he has worked for the city.”

Rohde will continue to serve as chief of police through the end of this year.

A North Vernon man was arrested for auto theft on Friday afternoon.

The North Vernon Police Department says that 34-year-old Joseph R. Chastain, was arrested after being identified as a suspect after the victim’s vehicle was stolen from the Walmart parking lot. Approximately 20 minutes after taking the report, Sgt. Andrew Richmond located the stolen vehicle in the 2000 block of Hickory Circle.

Authorities say Chastain had been identified as the suspect from Walmart security video. He remains behind bars on $2,055 bond.

Severe weather kept Brown County first-responders busy Sunday night.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says that at approximately 6:30 p.m., Brown County 911 received a call from a home off of Upper Schooner Road. The caller advised that flash flooding had caused water to enter the home. Conservation Officers and firefighters from the Nashville Fire Department rescued the family of four, including one juvenile, from the home.

Floodwater covering sections of State Road 46 West also caused Indiana Conservation Officers and deputies from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department to close the road for a short time to prevent any further water emergencies.

Brown County residents continue to clean up in the aftermath of this past weekend’s storms.