Due to a water main break at 200 Orchard Hill Drive, the Town of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for the following areas:

All of Orchard Hill, Turning Tree Drive and 2090 SR 135 N. to 2110 SR 135 N.

Residents and businesses affected in these areas are asked to boil their drinking and cooking water until 4 p.m., Thursday.

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 the Nashville Utilities at (812) 988-5526.

A Columbus man is facing multiple charges after allegedly forcing his way into a home. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday, deputies were called to the 6000 block of State Road 9 in reference to a battery. Enroute, Dispatch notified deputies that the suspect was possibly the same man who had stolen a vehicle by force in Columbus earlier in the day and that he was possibly armed.

On arrival, deputies saw the stolen vehicle in the driveway of the home. They also located a gun inside the vehicle. The homeowner reported that a man had forced his way into the home but had fled after an altercation occurred when the suspect attempted to steal another vehicle parked in the driveway.

A Columbus Police K9 unit and a Columbus Fire Department drone assisted in efforts to locate the suspect who was found hiding in a field. After refusing to respond to commands, the suspect was apprehended by police dog Max.

Wilmel Ramirez-Savinon, 22, was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Battery
Burglary – Resulting in Bodily Injury
Theft – Receiving Stolen Property
Unlawful Entry of a Vehicle
Resisting Law Enforcement

Ramirez-Savinon remains in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $92,000 bond.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers credited the agencies who worked together. “We were able to apprehend this man because of multiple agencies working together. When we work together as a team, all of our agencies succeed. The success of our county is dependent on our working together to better serve residents,” said Sheriff Myers.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies saved a man from a burning home. Shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, Deputy Andrew Dougan and Deputy Robert Cooper responded to a reported house fire in the area of 7800 E/475 S.

Authorities say that when they arrived, one resident was outside the home, but told deputies that her husband was still inside. Deputy Dougan and Deputy Cooper entered the burning house crawling through the living room but were unable to get to the back of the residence due to flames and heavy smoke.

Deputies then went to the rear of the residence and entered the home again this time through the garage. They could hear the trapped resident yelling from inside. Although deputies were unable to see the man, they asked him to keep yelling so they could find him in the heavy smoke. Eventually, Deputy Dougan and Deputy Cooper reached the man and were able to get him out of the burning house.

Both residents were treated for smoke inhalation but refused further treatment.

“Your BCSO deputies often work under stressful, high-risk conditions. Deputy Dougan and Deputy Cooper displayed the highest standards of excellence in public safety. I feel great knowing that these individuals are working for our agency and citizens should know how fortunate Bartholomew County is to have people like this serving and protecting them,” said Sheriff Matt Myers.

The city of Columbus’ purchase of the Fair Oaks Mall property is one step closer to being a done deal.

The city of Columbus has partnered with Columbus Regional Health and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to offer to purchase the more than 35 acre site for $5.9 million. The current breakdown of costs is $4,087,500 from the city, $1,362,500 from CRH and $450,000 from Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says the goal is to create an indoor sports facility for the parks department, enhanced by an on-site a CRH facility. The specifics of how and what the site will be developed into has yet to be established.

The city council voted unanimously on Oct. 16th to create the non-profit group, Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, says there are eight directors, with the city naming six and CRH naming two. During Monday night’s council meeting, the body voted to set aside the money and authorize the FOCDC to purchase of the property.

Officials say the plan is to close on the property in mid-December. Inspections at the site are ongoing and the purchase agreement can be withdrawn until Dec. 1st. Mayor Lienhoop says that leases at the mall are being honored and that no retailer is being forced out immediately by the impending purchase.

Voters in Jackson County have a number of contested local races to decide on Tuesday.

In the race for Sheriff, Democrat Jeffrey Walters faces Republican Rick Meyer to determine who succeeds current Sheriff Mike Carothers. Sheriff Carothers is unable to run for reelection due to term limits.

Jackson County voters will also have a say in who represents them in Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District. Incumbent Republican Rep. Trey Hollingsworth is being challenged by Democrat Liz Watson.

In Statehouse District 65, which includes Brown County and portions of Jackson, Monroe and Johnson counties, Republican incumbent Chris May faces Democrat challenger Jared Stancombe.

Incumbent Republican Jim Lucas faces Democrat Steve Schoettmer in the battle for Indiana House District 69.

In Statehouse District 73, which includes all of Washington County and parts of Jackson, Orange, Lawrence, Clark and Harrison counties, incumbent Republican Steve Davisson faces Democrat Buford DeWitt.

In the race for Jackson County Council District 1, Republican incumbent Michael Davidson of Seymour is being challenged by Democrat Catherine Stuckwisch of Brownstown.

The District 2 race features two political newcomers. Republican Mark Hackman and Democrat Barry Stuckwisch are both residents of Seymour.

In County Council District 3, incumbent Republican Brian Thompson faces Democrat Mary Voss Burgmeier.

In County Council District 4, Republican Kari Luedeman Storey faces Democrat Mandy Ward.

In the race for Jackson County Recorder, Democrat Clifford Summers faces Republican Amanda Cunningham Lowery.

We’ll have live election coverage when polls close at 6 p.m. Tuesday on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

Voters in Jennings County have a number of contested local races to decide on Tuesday.

Sheriff Gary Driver faces Republican William Kenny Freeman. Driver is completing his first term as Sheriff. Freeman is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Army National Guard.

In the race for County Commissioner District 3, incumbent Republican Matt Sporleder faces Democrat Nick Megel.

In County Council District 2, incumbent Democrat Larry Maschino faces Republican Mandy Gauger Creech.

In County Council District 4, incumbent Democrat Tony Eder Sr. faces Republican Charlie Webber

In the race for County Auditor, incumbent Democrat Kay Sue Vance faces off against Republican Tessia Salsman.

Democrat Larry Franks and Republican Amy Gwin Thompson are running for Jennings County Clerk of Courts. The winner will replace outgoing Clerk Sandra Vance, who is facing Republican Mary Dorsett Kilgore in the race for County Recorder. The winner will replace outgoing Clerk Janice Ramey.

Polls are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. We’ll have live coverage when the polls close on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

A traffic stop in North Vernon led to a pair of drug arrests. At about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, officers stopped a vehicle for a minor violation. Authorities say that police dog Zobi alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed 3.5 grams of marijuana. Information gathered during the traffic stop led to police getting a search warrant for an address on Vintage Trace.

Officers descended on the address where 43-year-old William Smith and 18-year-old Kevin Burton, both of North Vernon, were detained. Officers searching the home reported finding 25 grams of marijuana, several prescription only pills not stored in a prescription container, a large amount of plastic packaging bags, digital scales and a smoking device.

Smith is facing preliminary charges of Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of a Controlled Substance and a Legend Drug Violation.

Burton is facing preliminary charges of Dealing in Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana and Maintaining a common nuisance.

Two Columbus residents were arrested early Sunday morning after a traffic stop. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that shortly after midnight, a deputy saw a car turn east onto County Road 400 North and disregard the stop sign at the railroad tracks while also driving toward a “Road Closed” barricade due to flooding.

Deputies stopped the car near US 31 and County Road 400 North. The driver, 28-year-old Jacob Burch, reportedly admitted to never receiving a driver’s license. One of his three passengers, 31-year-old Shahalanie M. Falconbury, had an outstanding warrant.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a syringe near the front passenger seat.

In addition to the outstanding warrant, Falconbury was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of Legend Drug Injection Device.

She remains in behind bars in lieu of $60,000 bond.

Burch was arrested on a preliminary charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle without ever Receiving a Driver’s License.

Burch remains in jail on $2,500 bond.

A Clark County man was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of drunk driving. The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, witnesses reported a van driving erratically. Police say the van, driven by 43-year-old Greg Williams, of Jeffersonville, narrowly missed several vehicles before finally crashing into an SUV and running off the road.

Williams was treated and released at Columbus Regional Health before being booked on preliminary charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and Driving while Suspended.

The driver and passenger in the SUV were not seriously hurt.

Election Day is Tuesday. Jay Phelps, Bartholomew County clerk, says it’s never been more convenient to vote, citing 18 vote center locations sprinkled throughout the county.

Those vote centers are as follows:

– Flintwood Wesleyan Church
– St. John’s Masonic Lodge
– Grace Lutheran Church
– Healing Waters Church
– Donner Center
– East Columbus Fire Station
– The Commons
– Main Source Bank
– Terrace Lake Church
– Faith Lutheran Church
– Bartholomew County REMC
– Elizabethtown Fire Station

Phelps adds that your ballot may be a little longer than normal.

Phelps has a message for those who vote “straight party” down the ticket.

Voting hours on Tuesday are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. In order to cast a ballot, you must have a government-issued photo ID. That includes an Indiana driver’s license, Indiana identification card, a U.S. passport or a U.S. military ID.

For students attending a public Indiana college, your ID will work only if it has your photo and your full name and if it has an expiration date and is either current or if it expired after Nov. 4, 2014. If you attend a private college, your ID will not work.

When you go to the polls, you are not legally allowed to wear a button, shirt, hat or any other thing that supports or opposes a candidate or party.