The Bureau of Land Management- Eastern States Northeastern States District will hold a wild horse and burro event providing wild horses and possibly a few yearling and burros, this weekend at Hoosier Horse Park in Edinburgh. The animals will be available for selection on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organizers say that purchasers receive immediate ownership of the animal on the day of the event.

If you are interested, organizers say you should provide adequate feed, care, and an enclosed area such as a corral, barn, stall and other appropriate facilities. The facility may also be a pasture that is suitable for maintaining animals. The BLM also requires animals to be transported in a stock-type, step up trailer. All animals available have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, de-wormed, and blood-tested.

Greg Reynolds, a horse trainer experienced in gentling wild mustangs, will be on site demonstrating gentling and training techniques on both days. He is a member of the Trainer Incentive Program and has trained wild horses for Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, BLM’s partner.

Applicants may submit applications at the site until the close of the event on Saturday. For more information, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS (1-866-468-7826) or visit wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

A Columbus woman was hurt when she jumped from a burning vehicle. At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a vehicle fire with injury on southbound US 31, just south of County Road 300 East.

The driver, Robert A. Shaw II, reported seeing smoke coming from the interior of his Jeep. As he slowed to stop, his passenger, 22-year-old Karlee Katelynn Hurt, of Columbus, jumped from the vehicle while it was still moving at around 30 miles per hour.

Hurt was treated at the scene, then flown by Lifeline to an Indianapolis hospital. Her condition is unknown at this time.

The vehicle was a total loss.

A serious sex offender from Elizabethtown was arrested Wednesday after a three month investigation involving his work with a Madison pro wrestling group.

In July, a person reported being threatened and harassed online and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department began investigating

On Wednesday, deputies arrested 35-year-old Robert F. Swengel, of Elizabethtown on an out-of-county warrant for Unlawful Employment near Children, Unlawful Entry of School Property by a Serious Sex Offender and being a Habitual Offender.

During the investigation, detectives found that Swengel had been briefly involved with a pro wrestling promotion out of Madison. At an event at a school, a victim identified him as a sexual predator and he was immediately escorted from the property. Because he is a previously convicted sex offender, he is prohibited from being on school property.

Organizers of the wrestling event say that they did not know of Swengel’s history when they let him volunteer for the position. His involvement was also reported to police.

Deputies at first thought Swengel was also affilated with a Columbus based pro wrestling organization but that did not turn out to be correct.

Although the investigation originated in Bartholomew County, authorities say the offenses occurred in Jefferson County. Swengel has been transferred to the county jail there.

The city of Columbus’ purchase of the Fair Oaks Mall property is one step closer. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, talks about the proposal…

10-18 MARY FERDON-1

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. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says the goal is to create an indoor sports facility for the parks department, attached to a CRH run clinic. The specifics of how and what the site will be developed into has yet to be established.

The city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to create the non-profit group, Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation, as well as appoint Karen Niverson, director of the Columbus Visitors Center, and City Councilman Tim Shuffett to the board of directors.

10-18 MARY FERDON-4

Ferdon says that there are eight directors, with the city getting six and CRH getting two. The Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation will have its first meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. at city hall. These meetings are open to the public.

Officials say the hope is that the property will be closed on before the end of the year.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for the position of Deputy Sheriff.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED and possess a valid driver’s license. Applicants must reside in Bartholomew County, or a surrounding county, within one year of employment.

The salary range for a patrol officer is $51,719 to $66,200. Benefits include take home car program, health insurance, sheriff’s pension, incentive pay for shift assignment, military and special assignments.

To apply, visit policeapp.com/BartholomewIN. Applications must be submitted by December 1st.

A candidate forum for those running for the Indiana House District 69 seat is set for Wednesday night in Seymour. Incumbent Republican Jim Lucas will be joined by his Democrat challenger, Steve Schoettmer, at the Seymour High School Auditorium. District 69 encompasses portions of Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson counties.

Items to be discussed include public education, voting rights, healthcare, the opioid crisis and the cost of living. Organizers say that you are invited and encouraged to ask questions and share your concerns.

This event is sponsored by Jackson County Indivisible and begins at 7 p.m.

Columbus’ proposed budget for 2019 passed its final reading at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. The council approved the nearly $61 million proposal unanimously.

Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, explained that the proposed 2019 budget is 4.3 percent higher than 2018’s budget. He explains that the lion’s share of that increase is due to the new local income tax passed by the Bartholomew County Council. Brinegar says this increased funding will allow the city to lower the property tax burdenin the coming years.

Of the total 2019 proposed budget, $20.8 million will be used for public safety needs, $9.9 million would go to public works for things like enginnering and public transportation and $4.9 million will go to projects to improve roads throughout the city. Brinegar noted the city’s good financial position, pointing out that only $1.4 million will go towards debt service, a marked decrease from the 2018 budget. Other highlights he mentioned include the hiring of two additional School Resource Officers for coverage at middle schools and increasing employee salaries as the new salary study suggested. Brinegar noted that the school resource officers will be reimbursed by BCSC. As for the salary adjustments, eligible public safety officers will see an increase taking them to 50 percent of the “mid-point” of the new salary ranges. Eligible civilian employees will see increases to take them to one-third on the “mid-point” for their salary ranges.

NTN Driveshaft will be getting a tax break to encourage it to expand its Walesboro plant. The Columbus City Council approved a 10-year tax abatement on the $90 million dollar project last night.

The company says it plans to bring in 74 employees by 2020 and at up to  100 total by 2023. The company already has about 1,575 employees. The new jobs would pay about $17.30 an hour.

A tax abatement phases in property taxes over several years for new property and equipment. Based on estimates from the city, the abatement would save the company about $605,000 in the first year and about $3 million over the life of the abatement. However, the company would be paying about $5.3 million more in property taxes over that 10 years, than it is already paying.

The company plans to invest about $8 million in building improvements and expansion, and about $82 million in equipment to expand forging and production capability.

NTN officials say that this new expansion will bring total investment in their Walesboro facility to nearly one-billion dollars.

The Columbus City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve the abatement.

Columbus police officers arrested a local man on a Bartholomew County warrant for drug dealing after observing him driving a vehicle Monday night. At approximately 10:20 p.m., officers saw 34-year-old Joshua R. Jeffares, of Columbus, inside a vehicle that pulled up to a home in the 6600 block of East County Road 120 South. Jeffares was taken into custody without incident and booked on the warrant for Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 4 Felony.

Area Republicans gathered Monday night at Simmons Winery to thank outgoing State Representative Milo Smith. The Columbus Republican has served for 12 years representing District 59 at the Statehouse. Barb Hackman, chair of the Bartholomew County Republican Party, says that Smith will be missed.

10-16 BARB HACKMAN-1

Smith talks about what he’ll miss the most about not being in Indianapolis.

10-16 MILO SMITH-1

Along with being able to help people, Smith says that one of his proudest accomplishments was helping to make Spice and other synthetic drugs illegal in Indiana.

10-16 MILO SMITH-2

Smith decided earlier this year that he would not run for a seventh two-year term. Ryan Lauer, Smith’s primary opponent in 2016, secured the Republican nomination in May. He’s facing Democrat Dale Nowlin on November 6th.