Seymour police are warning about online employment scams that appear to be job openings from local businesses. Police say that the fake ads demand that you download specific apps for communications or that you send personal information such as social security numbers by email. As a safeguard you should always provide that sort of information in person to the company directly.

As an example, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services reported that fraudulent job postings for the non-profit had been posted to online employment sites.

If you believe you have been a victim of one of these scams, you should contact your local police.

All area counties are in the orange, or serious spread category on the Indiana State Department of Health’s COVID-19 tracking map based on their weekly conditions.

Johnson and Shelby Counties remain under the red advisory level, limiting some activities there. Advisory level refers to the current guidelines the county must follow. A county must remain at a lower weekly score for two consecutive weeks to move down to a lower advisory level.

In yesterday’s state report, Bartholomew County had 26 new cases of the disease, Decatur 3 , Jennings 5, Jackson 10, Brown 1, Johnson 49 and Shelby County had 20 new cases. Jackson and Shelby counties each had one new death from the disease.

Statewide, there were 2,260 new cases reported and 40 new deaths reported, with some dating back as far as January 2nd. The 7-day positivity rate was 9.1 percent. Since the pandemic started last March there have been 617,176 cases and 9,470 deaths statewide.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb yesterday eased some of the state’s coronavirus restrictions for crowds. The changes are all based on a county’s coronavirus advisory level.

The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are arriving at Kroger stores across Indiana including in Bartholomew and Johnson counties.

The Indiana State Department of Health yesterday said Kroger will offer the vaccine at its stores in 16 counties. Other counties include Boone, Delaware, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Madison, Monroe, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, and Vigo.

If you live in one of those counties, you will need an appointment before getting a shot.

Several area counties are under a travel advisory this morning, due to yesterday’s snow and ice.

Bartholomew, Decatur, Jennings, Jackson and Brown counties are under the yellow advisory level, the state’s lowest level of travel warning, meaning that routine travel or activities are restricted due to a hazardous condition and you should use caution or avoid those areas.

The Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center has been reporting that some roads remain slick and snow-covered. You should use caution if you are driving and give yourself extra time to reach your destination.

Columbus police say a suspect in a string of catalytic converter thefts that  stretched happened from Indianapolis to several southern Indiana counties was arrested Tuesday night.

50-year-old Christopher A. Whedon was wanted on a probation violation warrant out of Jackson County on an original felony theft charge. The Columbus Intelligence Led Policing Unit with the assistance of the Seymour Police Department tracked Whedon to an apartment in the 2700 block of Bent Tree Lane where he was taken into custody. Police discovered that he was carrying methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Jackson County Jail on new charges for possessing the meth and paraphernalia and for the outstanding warrant.

Whedon had been arrested earlier this month for stealing catalytic converters from abandoned vehicles on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis. He is also suspected of being responsible for a number of catalytic converter thefts in several southeastern Indiana counties, and more charges are expected police say.

A suspect in a child molesting investigation was arrested on a warrant Tuesday afternoon, according to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation started on Oct. 30th when a molestation incident was reported to the sheriff’s department. After the investigation, a warrant was issued for 52-year-old Joseph B. Tucker of Columbus on two preliminary charges of child molestation and one of count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. He was arrested at just before 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff Matt Myers commended the family for coming forward and reporting the crime. He said victims need to know that what happened is not their fault and by coming forward, they can help prevent a child molester from hurting any other victims.

Updated: 6 a.m., Thursday

Bartholomew County authorities are releasing more information about a shooting in Taylorsville Wednesday morning.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that deputies were called to the 9400 block of Main Street in Taylorsville at about 5:32 yesterday morning .

Deputies found Justin Black who had a bullet wound to his stomach. He was first taken to the German Township Volunteer Fire Department station and treated by firefighters there until Columbus Regional Hospital paramedics arrives. Firefighters set up a helicopter landing zone at Taylorsville Elementary School and was then flown by Lifeline helicopter to an Indianapolis area hospital for treatment.

The suspected shooter was detained and the weapon was secured. Myers said there was no threat to the public and several streets were closed while the shooting was being investigated. German Township firefighters made their station available to investigators to keep warm, according to the department.

Myers said his department was in close contact with school officials and school resource officers so they knew it was safe for students to arrive at Taylorsville Elementary School.

Myers commended Deputy Sgt. Jarod Aspenson who was the first on the scene for securing the location, getting aid to the victim and getting the situation under control.

Photo: Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers, Lt. Chad Swank and Deputy Sgt. Jarod Aspenson work at the scene of a shooting Jan. 27th in Taylorsville. Photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

C4, the Columbus Area Career Connection, will be holding a virtual open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 3rd. The program is meant to introduce the C4 programs and courses to potential students their families.

Visitors will be able to meet remotely with student ambassadors, teachers, and support and administrative staff. They will also be able to take virtual tours of the classrooms and labs and hear testimonials from students and parents.

C4 programs include graphic arts, electronics, nursing, cosmetology, welding, precision machining, criminal justice, engineering, and education.

You can attend the virtual open house at bcscschools.org/C4.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is announcing its newest deputy. Ryan Smith was sworn in this week by Sheriff Matt Myers.

Smith previously worked at the the Orange County Sheriff’s Department where he served as a K9 Officer, Field Training Officer, STOPs instructor and EMT. Smith received an Associate’s degree from Ivy Tech in the field of Human Services.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office is taking applications for the position of Merit Deputy through Sunday.

Seymour police have made an arrest in a stalking investigation that began in September.

According to authorities they received 13 complaints of stalking from a victim who said 43-year-old Jesse L. Brown of Crothersville was violating a protective order.

Brown was arrested last week on a warrant for stalking and invasion of privacy, which led to a search of his home on East State Road 250 and a further search warrant for drugs. Investigators with the Seymour police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department found numerous media devices, more than four ounces of methamphetamine, a handgun, drug paraphernalia, a bulletproof vest with the word “Sheriff” on it, and an old Jackson County Sheriff Department uniform shirt with a badge.

Brown is now facing new charges of dealing in methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hypodermic syringe, counterfeiting and possession of paraphernalia.

The investigation is ongoing.