North Vernon police arrested a man on drug charges after he was found slumped over in a vehicle Saturday morning. Police were asked to check on the man in a store parking lot at just after 8 a.m. Saturday.

They found 33-year-old Rodney Calvert in the vehicle and he allegedly had a syringe in plain view. A search of his vehicle also allegedly found 8 grams of meth, more syringes and prescription pills that were not in the proper containers.

Calvert was arrested on charges of possession of meth and a syringe and a legend drug violation.

Several local people were recognized recently by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch for their contributions.to improving tourism with the Hoosier Hospitality Award.

Among those receiving awards at a ceremony last  week were Bartholomew County awardees Andrea Stewart with Sprague Hotel Developers and Cindy Waddle with Dora Hotel Company. That was  along with Darla Gartner with the Hilton Garden Inn and Kim Smith with the Ashley-Drake Historic Inn and Gardens, both in Johnson County.

Those receiving the Hoosier Hospitality Awards were nominated by community members and by their patrons.

The awards were announced at an annual presentation at the Indiana State Fair.

North Vernon Police are reporting two arrests in a child abuse investigation where a small child was allegedly neglected by his parents.

Police report that they were called to a home in the 200 block of Manor Road earlier this month on a report of a battery on small child. While the child appeared OK, police discovered that the living conditions in the home “horrid,” said Sgt. Andrew Richmond.

Police said that there was a fish tank containing dead fish and left over food on the front porch, exposed electrical wiring, sewage in a bathroom, and piles of dirty clothes. There was also no electricity nor hot water , very little food and no cold food storage.

Officers asked the 9-year-old when his last meal had been, and the boy said he had last eaten during lunchtime at school. The call came in at about 11:25 p.m. on the night of Friday, Aug. 10th according to police reports.

Police arrested the parents, 42 year old Justin Dubben and 47 year old Karen Dubben on charges of neglect of a dependent.

The boy was taken from the home by the Jennings County Department of Child Services. Jennings County Animal Control also removed a dog from the home.

Columbus city officials are trying to get you up to speed about some new style traffic signals you will be seeing around town. The two new types of signs are called Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons.

You will see the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons as part of the Rocky Ford Road improvement project and the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon at the 17th and Washington Street intersection.

City planners say that these signals improve access and safety for those walking and biking in our community but pedestrians and drivers need to know how they operate and what you need to do when you encounter them.

The Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons flash yellow when pedestrians have activated them, while the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons trigger a duel red light when pedestrians push the button.

City officials have posted directions on the Facebook page of the City County Planning Department or you can check out the graphic below:

WTIU Public Television will be airing a biographical documentary on a Columbus icon next week.

The show will feature the life of Clessie Cummins, the co-founder of Cummins Engine Co.

Andie Redwine, producer of the documentary, talked about how Cummins’ ingenuity helped him overcome an eighth grade education.

Redwine  explains that the company gave the filmmakers access to a taped interview with Clessie’s son Lyle:

Lyle said that his dad was the product of both his own family, and a close relationship with the Irwins.

The show will first air Monday on the IU based station at 8 in the evening. There will be other showings, both afternoon and evening through the rest of the week. You can get more information online at indianapublicmedia.org/clessiecummins/
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Columbus firefighters battled a fire in a vacant mobile home in Candlelight Village early this morning.

Capt. Mike Wilson with the fire department says that a resident was walking dogs in the neighborhood at about 3:20 a.m. this morning and noticed a flickering light coming from inside the home in the 2800 block of Lamplight Drive.

Smoke was pouring out of the home when firefighters arrived. Columbus police warned neighbors that they might need to evacuate. Attacking the fire from two sides, firefighters got the blaze under control and limited most of the fire damage to the rear of the home.

However, Wilson said there was still heat and smoke damage throughout the structure. Although the home had been vacant for about two months, there were still belongings left behind by the previous tenant.

He estimated the damages at about $20,000.

The town of Hope will be hosting more performances of the play the Miracle Worker.

Those are tonight and tomorrow at WiLLow LeaVes of Hope on the north side of the town square. Organizers of the dinner theatre play, which tells the story of Helen Keller, say that because of the enthusiastic response that they have added a performance to the schedule at 6 p.m. tonight. The play’s last performance is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

For ticket reservations, you can call 812-546-0640.

Columbus Young Professionals have announced the winners of their NextGen awards.

The Educator of the Year is Nick Williams. Lucabe Coffee was chosen as the Business of the Year. Volunteer of the Year is Ashley Abner. Innovator of the Year is Brian Payne and the Unsung Hero is Jonathan Nesci.

There will be an awards luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7th at The Commons.

The Columbus Young Professionals are a program of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. You can get more information or buy tickets for the luncheon at ColumbusYP.org

Legal Aid will be having a free Legal Aid Clinic in Bartholomew County on Monday, August 27th.

You can get up to a 10 minute consultation with a pro bono attorney to answer legal questions, to offer information or to receive other, limited, advice. The sessions are available on a first-come first-serve basis and there is no need to register in advance. .

The clinic will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the agency’s offices in the United Way Building, on 13th Street in Columbus.

Bartholomew County and Seymour photographers are winners in the Indiana Department of Agriculture’s 2018 Indiana Agriculture Photo Contest.

Kristen Daily from Elizabethtown won in the Faces of Agriculture Category. Her photo was titled “Preparing for Planting.” Luke Schnitker of Seymour was a winner in the On the Farm category with his photo “Soybean Harvest.”

Two winners were selected from each of the four categories, also including Agritourism and Conservation.

The winners were announced yesterday by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. The winning photos will be displayed in the offices of the Lt. Governor’s Family of Business in Indianapolis.