Columbus police are warning you to take you valuables inside, instead of leaving them in a vehicle. That comes after a recent series of thefts from vehicles.

Since March 1st, there have been 47 reported thefts from vehicles in Columbus and Bartholomew County. Police say that this is different than previous spikes in thefts because in half of these cases, the thieves have forced entry into the vehicles, causing damage to get at the valuables inside.

Normally, about 95 percent of thefts from vehicles involve unlocked doors. Three of the recent cases have involved firearms taken from the vehicles.

Police ask that if you see anything suspicious, that you alert officers.

Indiana State Police have identified the two officers involved in Wednesday’s fatal shooting in Brownstown.

ISP says that Police Chief Tom Hanner was one of the officers. Chief Hanner, a 15-year law enforcement veteran, has served as head of the Brownstown Police Department for seven years. He previously served with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

The second officer has been identified as Assistant Chief Joe Kelly. ISP says that Assistant Chief Kelly is a 12-year law enforcement veteran. He previously served with the Indiana Capital Police before being hired by the Brownstown Police Department.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says that 53-year-old Barry Rucker, of Brownstown, was shot by police responding to a report of domestic disturbance outside the station at Poplar and Walnut streets at about 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Investigators say that Rucker was arguing with a woman when the officers arrived. Rucker allegedly pulled a gun moments later. That led to both officers firing on Rucker, striking him at least once.

Jackson County deputies arrived on the scene and along with the Brownstown officers provided first aid to Rucker until paramedics arrived and took him to Schneck Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Indiana State Police say both Chief Hanner and Assistant Chief Kelly have been placed on administrative leave per department protocol.

The investigation is ongoing. State Police say that, when finished, ISP will submit the investigation to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

A local man is facing methamphetamine dealing charges after a police raid at his home yesterday.

Columbus police say that they served an arrest warrant at the East South Street home of 35-year-ol Kurt T. Lovins at about 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. After taking him into custody, officers discovered about 27 grams of methamphetamine in the waistband of his pants.

In addition to the new charge, he was wanted on a Bartholomew County warrant.

Cummins Inc. was recently recognized by the governor with a Century Business Award. The awards recognize Hoosier businesses that have remained in continuous operation for at least 50 or 100 consecutive years and demonstrated a commitment to community service.

The company was founded in Columbus in February 1919, growing from the dream and engineering skill of Clessie Cummins and the financing of W.G. Irwin. With backing from Irwin and the use of Irwin Mansion’s garage on Fifth Street, the company’s goal was to manufacture and sell internal combustion engines with diesel technology.

State Rep. Ryan Lauer made the announcement earlier this week, saying Columbus is fortunate to be the home of an industry leader that provides jobs to Hoosiers and reinvests in our community and state.

A Jackson County man was shot and killed by police during an incident Wednesday morning outside the Brownstown Police Station.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says that 53-year-old Barry Rucker, of Brownstown, was shot by police responding to a report of domestic disturbance outside the station at Poplar and Walnut streets at about 8 in the morning.

Rucker was arguing with a woman when two officers from the Brownstown Police arrived and during a dispute with the officers, Rucker pulled a gun. Both officers fired at least once and Rucker was struck by at least one of the bullets.

Jackson County deputies arrived on the scene and along with the Brownstown officers provided first aid to Rucker until paramedics arrived and took him to Schneck Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Streets around the police station were closed down for about 8 hours during the investigation. Brownstown Community Schools were briefly locked down during the incident, until it was determined that there was no threat to any of the schools, Wheeles says.

Neither the woman nor the involved officers have been identified.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the process to replace Hoover on the ballot.

The Democratic candidate for Columbus City Council District 3 says she is ending her run for office, but her name will still appear on the ballot.

Nancy Hoover, a retired educator is dropping out of the race due to health reasons. She said that it is not an emergency, but something she needed to do to stay healthy.

Hoover was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. Her name will still be on the primary ballot when early voting starts next week, says County Clerk Jay Phelps. She won’t be able to officially withdraw from the race until after the primary, Phelps said.

Democrats will have until July 15th to hold a caucus to remove her name from the ballot, and 30 days after that to add a name to the ballot, if they choose to.

Any Democratic replacement will face the winner of the Republican primary. That battle is between incumbent David Bush and challenger Russ Poling.

Columbus Police arrested a wanted Hartsville man Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., officers saw 55-year-old Tony W. Hiatt standing outside of a vehicle in the 1500 block of State Street. Officers confirmed the Bartholomew County warrant for Hiatt’s arrest and he was taken into custody. Police reported finding methamphetamine while searching Hiatt before transporting him to jail.

Hiatt is facing a new charge of Possession of Methamphetamine.

A Jackson County man was shot and killed during an incident Wednesday morning outside the Brownstown Police Department.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post in Versailles, says that 53-year-old Barry Rucker, of Brownstown, was shot by police responding to a report of domestic disturbance outside the station at Poplar and Walnut streets. That argument reportedly involved Rucker and an unidentified woman.

Rucker was later pronounced dead after being taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour.

The names of the two officers involved in the shooting have not yet been released. Network Indiana is reporting that the officers are on administrative leave pending a full investigation.

You will have a chance to meet the candidates for City Council and mayor tomorrow at a forum being organized by the Columbus Young Professionals.

Chrissy Bailey is a member of the Columbus Young Professionals and an organizer for the event.

Bailey said that this is the first candidate forum organized by the group.

Organizer Rachel Yancer, says that the questions at the forum will reflect the younger residents’ concerns.

She said that the group solicited questions on its Facebook page and those should delve into different areas than the traditional candidate forum.

There will also be a question chosen by the students at Foundation for Youth, she said.

Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps will also be on hand to help if you need to register to vote in the election. The deadline to register is Monday and early voting starts Tuesday at the voter registration office in the county courthouse.

Most of the candidates for office have confirmed that they will participate tomorrow night, Yancer and Bailey said.

Although there are no contested races on the Democratic side for next  month’s primary, Columbus Republican voters will have several contested races in mayor including mayor and three seats on the City Council. Mayor Jim Lienhoop is being challenged by Glenn Petri for the nomination, while incumbent Dascal Bunch is running against Chris Rutan in the District 1 race for City Council. The newest council member Dave Bush, is facing Russ Poling in the District 3 Republican race, and there is a three-way race for the Republican at-large nominations, with incumbent Laurie Booher, facing Josh Burnett and John  Counceller.

In November, there will be a full slate of Democratic and Republican City Council races although no Democrats filed to run for mayor or clerk-treasurer.

The CYP forum starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon at the Fairfield Inn & Suites off of Jonathan Moore Pike. If you can’t make it to the event, you can listen to the candidate forum live  on News Talk 1010 WCSI and 98.1 FM.

Two Jackson County residents were killed in a crash on U.S. 31 near Elizabethtown yesterday afternoon.

Indiana State Police say that 18-year-old Kelsey M. Lamaster, of Seymour, and 24-year-old Brandon M. Freeman, of Crothersville were both pronounced dead at the scene by the Bartholomew County coroner.

According to Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, the crash happened at about 2 yesterday afternoon near County Road 900S, when Lamaster’s car went off the side of the road, came back onto the road, and crossed the centerline into the path of a pickup being driven by 59-year-old Paul M. Luedeman, of Crothersville.

Freeman was a passenger in Lamaster’s vehicle, troopers say.

Luedeman suffered serious injuries and he was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital.

The highway was closed for about three hours. The crash remains under investigation.