The Columbus Fire Department has added a rescue unit to its reserve fleet after a two-year capital funding project. Capt. Mike Wilson, department spokesman, says Squad 5, formerly under the call sign of Squad 2, was placed into reserve status on November 9th at Columbus Fire Station 5. He explains that the 1998 Pierce manufactured rescue squad served as the department’s specialized rescue unit until early this year. In 2017, the Columbus Fire Department purchased a new heavy rescue unit to replace it at a cost of $ 452,816. In February of this year, CFD transferred the Squad 2 call sign after the delivery of the new heavy rescue unit. Squad 2 is housed at Station 2 on Arnold Street.

Columbus Fire Chief Mike Compton, said that the department requested the $150,000 refurbishment request after evaluating the current and future service area and delivery needs of the community, particularly on the west side of Columbus and Bartholomew County. In addition, the refurbished squad was outfitted with updated extrication equipment. Wilson says the reserve unit will primarily be utilized for mutual aid calls within the county during an instance when Squad 2 is already dedicated to an emergency call.

According to Columbus Fire Department data, one third of all motor vehicle extrications from 2013 to 2018 occurred within the western census tracts of Bartholomew County. Chief Compton said the decision to place the reserve unit at Station 5 is a proactive approach to prepare for the increase in train traffic expected to hit our area, as well as the upcoming construction on the west-side State Road 46 overpass.

A head-on collision closed a section of 25th Street Thursday morning. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department responded to the two-vehicle crash on 25th Street at Bonnell Road at about 8:50 a.m.

Investigators say that a pickup truck driven by 57-year-old David Wright, of Columbus, may have struck a patch of black ice on the bridge. Wright’s vehicle struck the south guardrail, before striking a car driven by 48-year-old Michelle Townsend, of Westport. Police say she was westbound on 25th Street approaching Bonnell Road when the crash occurred.

Authorities say Townsend was trapped in her car. She was extricated by Columbus Fire Department Squad 2 before being airlifted to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Her condition is unknown at this time.

Wright was taken to Columbus Regional Health for evaluation.

Police say 25th Street, at the bridge, was closed for about an hour while the scene was cleared.

The final draft of Columbus’ strategic plan for development of the downtown was unveiled Wednesday evening. Tracy Souza, with Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, says nearly a year of work has gone into the Envision Columbus plan.

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The city has been working with Philadelphia-based David Rubin Land Collective, the landscape architecture and urban design firm hired to guide the project. Rubin says that there a four initial “focus points:” a hotel/conference center with performance venue opportunities, an urban grocer, neighborhood revitalization and housing.

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Rubin says that State Road 46 is a positive for the city.

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Souza says work to implement these plans will begin in earnest in January.

You can check out the entire plan at envisioncolumbus.org.

Four people were arrested on drug-related charges after two traffic stops led to the execution of a search warrant at a Columbus home Tuesday night. At approximately 9:45 p.m., Columbus Police stopped a vehicle near Eighth Street and Lafayette Avenue for a minor traffic violation. While speaking with the driver, Jeremy D. Hedger, of Columbus, a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department police dog was alerted to the odor of narcotics inside Hedger’s vehicle. Authorities say a search of the vehicle revealed several clear plastic bags, some of which contained methamphetamine and heroin.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., CPD officers stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation near Ninth Street and Pearl Street. Police say the driver, 35-year-old Steven J. Freiner, of Columbus appeared extremely nervous.

A Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department police dog later alerted to the odor of drugs inside the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers reported finding methamphetamine, prescription medication and drug paraphernalia. Officers learned that Freiner had just left the home of Jeremy Hedger, who had been arrested about an hour earlier.

Shortly before midnight, officers executed a search warrant for Hedger’s apartment in the 800 block of Sycamore Street. While searching the residence, police reportedly found heroin, drug paraphernalia, digital scales and a stolen computer tablet. Officers arrested 30-year-old Ashley L. Parrott, of Columbus, who resides at the apartment with Hedger.

While searching Hedger and Parrott’s apartment, 34-year-old Daniel P. Frodge, of Shelbyville, knocked on the door. He entered the apartment and was arrested after authorities learned that he had an outstanding

Bartholomew County warrant. While searching Frodge, officers allegedly found a syringe inside his jacket.

Arrested were:

Jeremy Hedger: Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, Driving While Suspended-Prior Conviction;

Steven Freiner: Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance;

Ashley Parrott: Possession of Heroin, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Theft;

Daniel Frodge: Bartholomew County Warrant, Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device;

Columbus Police thank the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, Columbus Police Department Intelligence Led Policing Unit, Columbus Police Department Investigations Division and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department for their help in these arrests.

North Vernon officials have given approval to proceed on the project for a new city pool and water park. Dave O’Mara was awarded the project in September, but the $3,334,000 price tag was more than the city wants to spend.

City Council voted Monday night to approve the Notice to Proceed, after approving an initial change order to the project. Officials say these changes, which include reductions in landscaping and the pool deck area, will lower construction costs by over 166-thousand dollars. A future change order, impacting interior finishes for the project, is expected to cut another $7,750 in costs. If all goes as anticipated, the project is expected to cost about $3.176 million.

This new facility is slated to replace the existing pool at the city park. North Vernon officials decided not to open the pool last summer due to damages to the liner and floor.

Columbus Police arrested a suspected shoplifter after they say he tried to evade arrest Friday night. At approximately 8:40 p.m., officers responded to the east side Walmart in regards to a shoplifting suspect. Police determined that the man, 26-year-old Dustin L. Denson, had a warrant for his arrest out of Shelby County. When the officers attempted to arrest Denson, a scuffle ensued and he allegedly tried to flee. The officers utilized a Taser to take Denson in to custody.

Along with the outstanding warrant, Denson is facing preliminary charges of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Law Enforcement.

A Columbus woman was arrested on Black Friday after police say she used her child and stroller to try to make off with over $2,400 worth of merchandise.

Columbus Police made the arrest Friday evening after a store security officer reported the shoplifting over $2,400 worth of merchandise. At approximately 5:40 p.m., officers responded to Kohl’s and found the suspect, 31-year-old Katie L. King, who was pushing a stroller along a nearby street along with her young child.

The officers observed a large amount of clothing with the tags attached inside the stroller. The store security officer advised that store staff recovered another $383 in clothing at the store that was damaged during the incident.

King is facing a preliminary charge of Theft.

A Columbus man is facing domestic battery charges after he was arrested Sunday morning. Columbus Police were called to the 3100 block of Fifth Street at 7:10 a.m. A woman was reportedly cut by a knife during the argument. She was treated on scene by paramedics.

The arriving officers found 53-year-old Chester D. Sidwell walking nearby. After speaking to him, officers determined that Sidwell was wanted on an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant. He is facing additional preliminary charges of Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Domestic Battery and Strangulation.

The Jackson County Health Department will be conducting a Hepatitis A vaccination clinic on Wednesday after a case was reported at a fast food establishment in Seymour.

Officials say that while it is relatively rare for restaurant patrons to become infected, the Health Department is offering this vaccine to anyone who visited Taco Bell’s drive through on November 13th or 14th. Only those who consumed food or drink via the drive through are eligible for the vaccine. Individuals may also obtain Hep A vaccines from their personal health care provider or pharmacy.

Wednesday’s clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the American Legion, located at 400 W Second Street in Seymour.

Along with the special clinic, the Health Department has established an information call-line at (812) 569-0854.

Shots fired led to the arrest of a Seymour man for attempted murder. “The Seymour Tribune” is reporting that 28-year-old Jose Leandro Buval was arrested by Seymour Police who were responding to a report of an open line 911 call in the 1700 block of West Second Street.

A woman told police that Buval tried to kill her by firing a handgun at her. The paper is reporting that at least three rounds were fired into the floor and the ceilings during the Wednesday afternoon incident.

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