Sheriff to make case for body cameras

Local News, Top Story

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says he will be asking the Bartholomew County Council to ask for body cameras for his deputies, and asks that you contact members of the Council, if you support the plan.

Earlier this week, Council members said that they are not the barrier to deputies getting body cameras and in fact, they have yet to see a formal proposal from the sheriff to put up to a vote.

Myers said in a statement released yesterday that he is not trying to point fingers or lay blame on why the funding was not approved. But he says this a top priority for funding this year and the time to get the body cameras is now.

The sheriff explained the benefits of having body cameras include the valuable information showing the facts of a call, their use as a training aid and as evidence for further actions.

Myers said he will soon be making a case for the new equipment to both the County Council and the County Commissioners.

BCSC schools want family thoughts on reopening

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Bartholomew Consolidated Schools are looking for families’ thoughts on reopening the schools this fall.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts said that the current plan is to return as many students as possible to BCSC buildings on Thursday Aug. 6th, while prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff.

A survey is available on social media and the school district’s website for parents and guardians to explain their expectations and concerns.

The deadline to finish the survey is June 19th.

Roberts said that the school district is consulting with and melding the advice from the Centers for Disease Control , Governor’s Office, Indiana State Department of Health. the Indiana Department of Education and the Bartholomew County Health Department to come up with recommendations and requirements for reopening the schools.

Columbus police searching for “armed and dangerous” man (Updated)

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Update: Authorities say the man has been located.

Previous:

Columbus police are looking for a man they say is armed and dangerous, possibly suicidal and who has been suspected of making threats to attack police.

An Everbridge Alert System message went out at about 3 p.m., urging the public to be on the lookout for a black man, six-foot three-inches tall and 275 pounds in the area of 6691 West State Road 46, west of ABC Stewart School. He has black hair and brown eyes and a tattoo on his right arm. He may appear lost and be asking for a cell phone charger.

Police said they are searching for 55-year-old Philip D. Brantley. He is wanted of charges of felony battery with a deadly weapon, felony intimidation and battery.

If you see him. you should not approach him and instead call authorities. He is being accused of threatening to harm police or others. If you have information on  Brantley’s whereabouts you should call the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

Seymour PD seek helping finding missing man

Local News
Walfre Baltazar. Photo courtesy of Seymour Police Department.

Seymour police are looking for your help finding a missing teen.

The agency says that 19-year-old Walfre Baltazar was reported missing by family members on Monday. He was last seen at Village Green and police say there are no known areas that he frequents. After an investigation, foul play is not suspected in his disappearance.

If you have any information that could help locate Walfre Baltazar, you can call the Seymour police at 812- 522-1234. You can find photos of the missing man on our website.

Legal Aid clinic to assist Bartholomew, area county low-income residents

Local News

Legal Aid will be holding a phone-in legal clinic for low income residents of Bartholomew, Shelby, Decatur, Jennings and Jackson counties on Tuesday, June 23rd

Although the phone clinic will be from 3 to 5:30 pm, you must first call and register for an appointment between noon and 1:30 p.m. that afternoon.

The Legal Aid Phone Clinic offers brief consultations with a volunteer attorney to answer general questions, to offer legal information or advice.

You can register for the clinic at 812-378-0358 and a volunteer attorney will return the call. But those taking part must be available to take the return call during the available time.

Phone scammers impersonating sheriff’s department

Local News

Authorities are warning of a new scam in the area with the scammers masquerading as the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.

According to deputies, people are left a message to call what appears to be a local number. When the victims call in they reach a menu that claims to be the Johnson County switchboard and sounds realistic. But the entire setup is fake.

The sheriff’s department warns that you should never assume that a caller who claims to be with law enforcement or with another government agency is real unless you verify the number yourself, such as through an online search or phone book.

Authorities are trying to identify the source of the scam and get it shut down.

Columbus Police Blue Line Ride canceled for July

Local News

Columbus police announced this week that the 2020 DARE BLUE LINE RIDE has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Police say that they are looking forward to hosting the event again next July. The event, sponsored by Mann’s Harley Davidson, 106.1 The River, and Big JT’s BBQ raises money to support the DARE program graduation for area students and to pay for the guest speaker, as well as materials for the program.

Each year, the department spends between $15 and $20,000 dollars from donations and fundraisers for the drug abuse education program, according to police.

This would have been the fourth annual event.

Driver avoids serious injury as tree falls in front of SUV

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Columbus firefighters say that a driver and passengers escaped serious injury during yesterday’s high winds, when a tree blew down across Washington Street.

That happened in the 1400 block of Washington St. at about 5:39 p.m.  yesterday afternoon when an SUV crashed into the fallen tree. Firefighters were initially called on a reported vehicle fire, but the smoke was determined to be from the airbags deploying.

The occupants of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

Coronavirus update for June 11th: State passes 38k cases

Local News

According to the most recent update from the Indiana State Department of Health, there are 38,337 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana, an increase of 339 cases since Tuesday’s update.

There have been 2,173 deaths in Indiana as of Wednesday afternoon’s update, an increase of 15 since Tuesday.

There have been no more deaths in Bartholomew or surrounding area counties.

Bartholomew County has 540 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has had 40 deaths.

In other area counties, Decatur County has had 235 cases and 32 deaths, Jennings 135 cases and 4 deaths, Jackson 407 cases and 2 deaths, Brown 35 cases and 1 death, Johnson 1,155 cases and 114 deaths and Shelby 403 cases and 22 deaths.

CRH Foundation Reverse Raffle going virtual in November

Local News
Julie Abedian. Photo courtesy of CRH Foundation.

The annual Reverse Raffle to support the VIMCare Clinic in Columbus will be going virtual this fall.

The Columbus Regional Health Foundation made the announcement this week, saying that the decision was being made for the safety of the the community.

The raffle is the single largest fundraiser for the clinic, which serves more than 1,200 a year and provided more than $2 million dollars in medicine and medical expenses last year. It was scheduled for Nov. 13th.

“This was certainly a difficult decision and not one the Foundation, our board, or the Reverse Raffle event committee has taken lightly,” said Columbus Regional Health Foundation president Julie Abedian. “Although we know it is the right decision for the safety of our community and all involved, the mission and impact of VIMCare Clinic should be celebrated and of course, the need is still there.”

According to the announcement, organizers are planning multiple opportunities to recognize VIMCare Clinic. Details of the virtual raffle will be released later this summer.