A corrections officer at the Bartholomew County Jail was attacked over the weekend while attempting to remove an inmate from his cell. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at approximately 2:18 p.m. Saturday, Bradley McRae attacked a female officer by punching her in the back of the neck and head before he was detained by other officers.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says incidents like these will not be tolerated. “If we need to lock down every block in the jail and adhere only to federal guidelines as to the amount of time that inmates can leave their cells each day, then that is what we will do.” Myers adds that can be as little as one hour per day. “I take the safety of our employees seriously and I will make sure that we take all necessary measures to keep them safe.”

McRae is in jail on preliminary charges of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug and Driving while Suspended with a Prior Conviction. He was also wanted on a warrant for Dealing in a Narcotic Drug. Authorities say McRae was arrested May 24th by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team for bringing heroin and fentanyl into the community out of Cincinnati.

The officer was treated and released. She has returned to work.

Authorities say a detailed report of the attack will be sent to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office for appropriate charges.

The Columbus Police Department is investigating a battery that was reported outside the Bartholomew County Library earlier in the week.

Lt. Matt Harris says that even though some people on social media have said the incident was a rape, the police department is investigating the incident as battery. He adds that detectives are still working out the details of the case.

Harris says that the department’s designation is not meant to discredit the alleged victim. He stresses that more investigative work needs done.

The police department is not releasing any details about the incident until their investigation is complete.

The City of Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Department is inviting you to give your thoughts about bicycle and pedestrian travel in Columbus during a public workshop scheduled for Thursday, June 20th. The public workshop will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Columbus City Hall.

The City of Columbus Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update will identify opportunities to expand the community’s bicycle and pedestrian network and will include strategies to improve the city’s system of trails, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and other bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. The plan will serve as an update to the City’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which was adopted in 2010.

A second public workshop is slated for later this year.

Schneck Medical Center announced the opening of the Schneck Professional Building. It is a five-floor, 80,000-square-foot facility offering Infectious Disease specialists, Neurosurgery, Pain Center, Primary Care, Surgical Associates, Surgical Weight Loss, and a Vein Center.

“As our communities continue to grow, it is critical that Schneck also grows to serve the needs of our patients. The Schneck Professional Building is evidence of that commitment,” said Warren Forgey, President/CEO, Schneck Medical Center. “Our goal is to make healthcare streamlined and comprehensive – while at the same time easy to access.”

Neurosurgery, Bariatrics, Surgical Associates, Pain Center, and the Vein Center will open on Level 5 on Monday, June 3. Later in the summer, Infectious Disease and a third Schneck Primary Care location will open on Level 4. Levels 1, 2, and 3 will be built out as needed for growth in providers. Once all levels are occupied, the building can accommodate 40 to 50 providers and contain 120 to 150 exam rooms.

“Mary Schneck, who 108 years ago had the vision of building a community hospital, would be pleased to see how much we have grown from a 17-bed hospital to a healthcare delivery system with nine affiliated locations in four counties and, one of the most respected health institutions in the nation,” added Forgey. “We are excited to share the opening of the new Schneck Professional Building with the community and to begin a new chapter in Schneck’s history.”

Columbus Regional Health’s Cancer Center is donating automatic sunscreen dispenser stands to three area public parks and recreation spots in Bartholomew County.

CRH officials say the motion-sensor dispensers release individual portions of SPF 50 broad-spectrum sunscreen and include an application mirror and information about the importance of sun safety. The free-standing dispenser units will be available at Donner Aquatic Center, Lincoln Park ball diamonds and Ceraland Park and free for public use.

Indiana State Police are investigating an incident at the Jennings County Jail. ISP took on the investigation at the request of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office after a female inmate tried to ingest methamphetamine, which caused her to suffer a medical emergency.

ISP detectives say the incident began at about 9 p.m. on the evening of May 29th, when Angela Kay Bennett, 43, Butlerville, was arrested on a warrant out of Bartholomew County. Bennett was transported to the jail where she was being processed by the jail staff. During the book-in process, Bennett allegedly took a concealed baggie containing suspected methamphetamine tried to swallow it.

Authorities say that as a result of her attempting to swallow the bag, Bennett began suffering a medical emergency. She was transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital before being transported to an Indianapolis hospital for further treatment.

Bennett’s condition has not been released.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cummins Inc. and Isuzu Motors Limited announced that both companies have entered into the Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership agreement. The agreement announced Friday formalizes a business structure for the two companies to evaluate and carry out opportunities to jointly develop and bring new diesel and diesel-based powertrains to global markets.

“As Cummins celebrates 100 years of innovation, we continue to look for opportunities to build global relationships with companies that share our values and our focus on innovation,” said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and CEO of Cummins. “This partnership is a terrific opportunity for both companies to leverage our respective strengths and create new opportunities to grow and broaden the product portfolio we bring to customers,” added Linebarger.

Two Jackson County residents were arrested on drug related charges following a traffic stop and search warrant in Seymour on Tuesday.

The investigation began shortly after 2:30 pm when an Indiana State Police trooper stopped a car for a traffic violation on Sprenger Road. During the stop, the trooper began to suspect criminal activity was taking place.

Trooper Randel Miller and police dog Jinx responded to assist. Jinx alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered approximately 50 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

The driver of the vehicle, Derrick N. Broshears, 34, Brownstown, was arrested on preliminary charges of Dealing Methamphetamine and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Troopers then responded to a room at the Motel 6 in Seymour that was rented by Broshears. Inside the room, troopers found April R. Williams, 38, Crothersville. Troopers obtained a search warrant for the room and allegedly uncovered syringes, drug paraphernalia, a legend drug and additional evidence of Dealing Methamphetamine.

Williams was arrested on preliminary charges of Dealing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Syringe, Possession of a Legend Drug and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

North Vernon City Council approved changes affecting parking on High Street and the speed limit on West Walnut Street.

Under the ordinances approved Wednesday night, parking will be prohibited on the south side of High Street from the intersection with State Road 3 to the intersection with Stockwell Street. Council members say they’ve personally driven on this section of road and realize that the street simply isn’t wide enough to allow the safe flow of traffic without the new restriction.

Under the ordinance, vehicles that are parked on the south side of this section of High Street are subject to fines and towing.

Council also voted 4-0 to lower the speed limit on West Walnut Street. From the intersection of State Road 3 to the intersection with Norris Avenue, the speed limit is now 30 MPH. From Norris Avenue to Hayden Pike, the speed limit is 35 MPH. West Walnut Street from the intersection of Hayden Pike to the western city limits now has a speed limit of 45 MPH.

North Vernon officials noted that this portion of road used to be under state control and had a speed limit of 55 MPH. Since control has reverted to the city, North Vernon Police and the city engineer analyzed traffic activity and determined that the lower speed limits would benefit area residents

New speed limit signs are expected to be posted in the coming weeks.

The city of Seymour has won a lawsuit over billboards in a downtown park.

“The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that the Lousiana-based company which owns the four billboards in Crossroads Community Park has until June 30th to take them down.

The billboards were on a lease with previous property owner that renewed every five years.

When the three-acre site was sold to GM Development in 2017 for $3.5 million to develop the park for the city, Mayor Craig Luedeman signed a letter asking the company to cancel the lease and remove the billboards.

The company refused and had the case moved to federal court.

Luedeman told the paper that the company is scheduled to start work on June 23rd.

For more on this story, visit tribtown.com.