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Region police calls – April 1

By
Staff Reports
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JENNINGS COUNTY

Arrests

Sunday

Casey Pickett, 47, Columbus, domestic battery, 12:50 a.m., by the North Vernon Police Department, $1,055 bond.

Conor Pickett, 22, North Vernon, domestic battery, 2:24 a.m., by the North Vernon Police Department, $1,055 bond.

Orbe Moncon-Matias, 39, North Vernon, warrant, 9:27 a.m., no arresting agency reported, $1,155 bond.

Austin Keener, 23, Seymour, warrant, 11:05 p.m., no arresting agency reported, $2,555 bond.

Fire, medic runs

Sunday

7:47 a.m. — Vehicle fire in the 1200 block of West O&M Avenue.

Incidents

Sunday

12:30 p.m. — Dispute in the 300 block of Flintwood Drive.

1:14 p.m. — Dispute in the 400 block of Sixth Street.

1:22 p.m. — Trespass in the 800 block of Hoosier Street.

3 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 3300 block of Country Manor Boulevard.

8:55 p.m. — Trespass in the 100 block of East O&M Avenue.

10:21 p.m. — Burglary in the area of Buckingham Drive.

City police calls – April 1

By
Staff Reports
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following information is summarized from the records of city, county and state police, fire and hospital agencies.

Arrests

Saturday

Robert W. Remboske, 45, Nashville, body attachment, 3:49 p.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, released on $500 bond.

Crystal K. Floyd, 36, Seymour, possession of methamphetamine, possession of hypodermic syringe or needle, 4:46 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held with no bond.

Cora J. Robinson, 41, Seymour, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, driving while suspended with a criminal offense conviction, 10:47 p.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of $12,500 bond.

Joseph D. Vincent, 29, of 3870 Highview Way, Columbus, two counts of intimidation, theft, 11:12 p.m., by the Columbus Police Department, held with no bond.

Sunday

Gietzy Bello, 41, of 850 Werner Ave., Columbus, operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, operating a vehicle without ever obtaining a license with a prior conviction, Bartholomew County warrant, 2:18 a.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of $35,000 bond.

Wesley P. Harner, 24, of 162 Butner Drive Apt. 11, Hope, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, 4 a.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, released on $2,500 bond.

Miguel S. Aboytes Guerrero, 32, Indianapolis, possession of marijuana, Bartholomew County warrant, 8:44 a.m., by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, held in lieu of $53,500 bond.

Fire, medic runs

Sunday

2:44 a.m. — Person injured in the 200 block of North Hughes Street.

5:10 a.m. — Structure fire in the 13500 block of North U.S. 31.

5:14 a.m. — Person injured in a fall in the 500 block of Belmont Drive.

12:42 p.m. — Person injured in the 600 block of East Julia Drive.

1:15 p.m. — Unconscious person in the 3800 block of 25th Street.

1:51 p.m. — Fire investigation in the 9100 block of Main Street.

3:17 p.m. — Structure fire in the 8300 block of North Buckingham Drive.

3:45 p.m. — Small hazardous material spill in the 90 block of Johnson Boulevard.

5:35 p.m. — Person injured in a fall in the 500 block of Belmont Drive.

9:01 p.m. — Structure fire in the 3400 block of Putter Place.

9:11 p.m. — Person injured in a fall in the 3700 block of Sitka Circle.

11:30 p.m. — Structure fire in the 3900 block of Williamsburg Way.

Incidents

Sunday

12:08 a.m. — Missing child or runaway in the 2800 block of Village Drive.

1:15 a.m. — Missing child or runaway in the 2600 block of Joseph Cox Court.

5:53 a.m. — Property-damage accident in the 200 block of Jonesville Road.

8:31 a.m. — Fraud in the 2700 block of Lucas Way.

9:54 a.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 500 block of Patterson Road.

11:41 a.m. — Threats at Sumpter Trail and Regency Drive.

12:02 p.m. — Property damage at Kenholt Drive and North Indianapolis Road.

12:10 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 2700 block of West Jonathan Moore Pike.

12:18 p.m. — Leaving the scene of an accident in the 3100 block of Indiana Avenue.

3:20 p.m. — Theft in the 2900 block of North National Road.

3:26 p.m. — Subject refusing to leave in the 700 block of Fifth Street.

3:26 p.m. — Property-damage accident at West Jonathan Moore Pike and I-65.

3:34 p.m. — Domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Meadow Place.

3:51 p.m. — Subject refusing to leave in the 100 block of Carrie Lane.

5:12 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 3500 block of Nicholas Lane.

5:26 p.m. — Shots fired in the 1000 block of South Trotter Place.

7:17 p.m. — Shoplifting in the 3000 block of North National Road.

7:40 p.m. — Shoplifting in the 2000 block of Merchants Mile.

10:10 p.m. — Property-damage accident in the 10 block of South Beatty Street.

Around Town – April 1

By
Staff Reports
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Editor’s Note: Submissions to Around Town are opinions submitted anonymously by readers, not factual representations, and do not reflect the viewpoints of The Republic or its staff.

April 1

Orchids to

all those who participated to the 28th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, surely a worthy cause.

Rick Fields and Overhead Door Company for the excellent service and communication, from a grateful customer.

Capt. Amy Tompkins of the Salvation Army and all of her team for the best job ever hosting Empty Bowls at Central Middle School.

the organizers of the No Kings march in downtown Columbus for providing an uplifting experience, bringing joy and unity.

the kind couple who bought my meal for me at Grillerz on Friday, March 13. God bless you!

putting bullies in their place.

Onions to

the unjustifiable aggression to civilian and UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

the member of Congress going on an undeserved vacation without finding a solution to the DHS funding.

the elected one, who unlike so many of us, doesn’t have to do without putting food on the table, buy gas to get to work, and go to war when he’s never been, so he has no clue.

those complaining about the downtown lights; they make the city feel alive and bring a smile to many people’s faces —there’s no harm in a little extra sparkle year-round!

the attack ads on our local state senator referencing a nearly 10-year-old Indiana gas tax vote.

state politicians whose only campaign platform is a meaningless presidential endorsement.

all the bigoted laws targeting trans people that serve no real purpose other than to be hateful.

those that think “my way or the highway” is a successful negotiation strategy.

any female accepting the endorsement of a convicted felon mysogynist.

Pistons end long stretch of futility with first division title in 18 years

By
The Associated Press
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DETROIT (AP) — After nearly two decades, and stretches of futility, the Detroit Pistons have won the Central Division again.

The Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 127-116 on Tuesday to finish a long climb back up the NBA ladder and clinch their first division title since the 2007-08 season.

“You take pride in understanding how hard it is to do these things in this league,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “You take pride in the fact that you have a group of young men who have grown and achieved certain milestones.

“It’s a part of the process, and we expect more.”

Two years after going 14-68 and losing a league-record tying 28 straight games, the Pistons are 55-21 with two All-Stars in Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. With Cunningham sidelined by a lung injury, Duren had 31 points on 12-of-13 shooting and added nine rebounds against the Raptors.

“He’s so talented,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s a different kind of big that you see in the NBA. You have space-up bigs and post-up bigs, but when you have somebody who can do both, he’s a problem for people.”

Daniss Jenkins, who started the season on a two-way contract, had 21 points and five assists. He’s averaging 18.6 points and 6.9 assists since replacing Cunningham as the starting point guard.

“We knew we were trying to do something special this year,” he said. “It’s great to accomplish something like this, but we have our eyes on the playoffs and doing some damage there. We’ll celebrate this tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

They’ve helped end one of the worst periods in franchise history.

In 2007-08, the Pistons were still running out most of the same players that had led them to the 2004 championship and a seven-game Finals loss to San Antonio a year later. They went 59-23 under coach Flip Saunders, then knocked out Philadelphia and Orlando on their way to the last of their six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances.

They didn’t know it, but they were about to go off a cliff.

The following offseason, team president Joe Dumars traded Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson and replaced Saunders with Michael Curry.

The Pistons went 39-43 and spent the next 10 seasons cycling through eight coaches and resulting in zero postseason victories.

That was followed by one of the worst five-year stretches in NBA history as the Pistons went 94-290 (.245) and hit rock bottom in 2023-24, when they lost a franchise-record 68 games.

Last season, Cunningham and Duren led the Pistons to a 30-win improvement before the fell in six games to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Take Your Best Shot: Brad Stinebring

By
Staff Reports
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Brad Stinebring saw these flamingos enjoying early sunlight at the San Diego Zoo.

Brad Stinebring saw these flamingos enjoying early sunlight at the San Diego Zoo.

City approves house condemnation

By
Reilly Gaunt
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City officials approved a condemnation order Tuesday for a house at 500 S. Cherry St. in Columbus.

City code enforcement officer Robin Chavez told the Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety that the property is incapable of being salvaged and needs to be condemned, vacated and demolished with legal action taken. She said the house is sinking in the middle and is in really bad shape.

“The house is very unstable. It’s not safe,” Chavez said. “This landowner has another property that was presented (to the board of works) about two months ago, and it’s now going to court as well, or to be demolished in the same situation.”

One resident lives in the house with a pet dog. Chavez said that neighbors told her that the owner does take care of the dog. Both the owner and the dog have been ordered to vacate the property as of March 30.

Chavez said that utilities could not find a record of water service in the house since before 2000. A toilet sits outside the house in the yard. She said she did not trust the electricity in the house at this time either.

Community calendar – April 1

By
Staff Reports
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Events listed for Wednesday, April 1

Walk-in Wednesdays — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., IU Columbus, 4601 Central Ave., Columbus. Anyone interested in IU Columbus is encouraged to stop by to meet with an admissions counselor and take home a free beanie hat.

Preschool Art Studio — 11:15 a.m. to noon, Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Dress for a mess during this drop-in event.

TOPS (Take Pounds Off Sensibly) No. 1444 — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St., Columbus. Weigh-in at 11:30 a.m., meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Must be a member of Mill Race Center. For more information, call Karen Burbrink at 812-371-9616.

Skill Builders: Geometric Painting — 1 to 1:45 p.m. and 2 to 2:45 p.m., Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Have fun crafting while you socialize. Use painter’s tape to create bold geometric designs on canvas, then paint and peel to reveal sharp, modern artwork. Register on the library website.

Columbus AirPark Campus Career Fair — 1 to 3:30 p.m., Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Ave., Columbus. Approximately 50 area employers will be attending the Career Fair, seeking full-time employees, as well as summer and part-time roles, and potential internships. Featured jobs span the business, education, engineering, health care, liberal arts and manufacturing sectors in Bartholomew and surrounding counties. Attendees should bring printed copies of their resume. For more details, visit go.iu.edu/Za4SYc.

Kids’ Art Studio — 4 to 4:45 p.m., Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Join library staff and unleash your creativity. All supplies provided.

Teen Promject Runway — 4 to 7 p.m., The LEX, 850 Tipton Lane, Columbus. Unlock your main character energy with a new-to-you fit for prom that’s free. Choose between a dress or a suit, add a pair of shoes and an accessory. Limit one prom outfit per person. Register on the Bartholomew County Public Library website.

Pollinator Community Meeting — 6 p.m., Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Natalie Perry and Eric Riddle from the Sierra Club Winding Waters Group will lead a discussion on the ecological benefits of native plants and what the club is doing in Columbus to diversify public landscapes with native plants. They will share how the club has helped establish native plant landscapes at Noblitt Park, Columbus North High School, the Columbus AirPark Pollinator Path, Fresh Start Recovery Center, and at their newest project with the Bartholomew County Public Library.

Bartholomew County Writer’s Group — 6 to 7 p.m., Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St., Columbus. Make connections, learn and share with other area authors.

Good Friday closings announced

By
Staff Reports
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Bartholomew County offices and the county courthouse will be closed Friday.

The Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center and Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District Offices, 720 S. Mapleton St., will be closed on Friday. The Bartholomew County Landfill, 811 E. County Road 450S, will be open on Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more, visit bcswmd.com.

Columbus City Hall and city offices are closed Friday.

All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) branches will be closed Friday. Branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Saturday.

The Republic will have normal office hours Friday.

Nathaniel “Nate” Hearn

By
Staff Reports
-

COLUMBUS

Nathaniel “Nate” Hearn, age 73, of Columbus, Indiana, a native of Indianapolis, peacefully took his journey home on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Born on September 11, 1951, in Indianapolis, Nate was the beloved son of the late William L. Hearn Sr. and Frances Hearn. He was raised in Indianapolis, where he attended Crispus Attucks High School.

Nathaniel was a devoted and loving husband and companion to Vanessa Lynn Hearn for more than 40 years. He was a deeply committed father who stayed closely connected with his children, often talking with them multiple times a day. His presence was constant, steady, and full of love.

He was an incredibly proud grandfather to six grandchildren, a role he cherished wholeheartedly. It was often said~half-jokingly but fully believed~that he loved his grandchildren even more than his children. Being “Grandpa” brought him immense joy.

Nate served his country proudly in the United States Air Force, demonstrating the same strength, discipline, and quiet resilience.

A hardworking man, Nate spent many years in manufacturing and was never afraid of hard work. He approached life with determination and humility, always doing what needed to be done to provide for his family.

He had a calm, laid-back spirit and raised his children with a steady hand, emphasizing real-life lessons, strength of character, and integrity. He was a strong man~maybe not in stature, but in presence and in principle.

Nate had a deep love for reading, especially science fiction and politics, and was a devoted fan of Stephen King. He also had a passion for music and singing.

Known for his infectious laugh and incredible sense of humor, Nate was truly the life of the party. He had a way of lighting up any room, sharing jokes, laughter, and warmth with everyone he encountered.

He believed life was meant to be lived fully~that every day was a celebration, and he lived unapologetically on his own terms.

Nate also had a giving heart. He found fulfillment in serving others, including helping provide meals to neighbors experiencing homelessness~quiet acts of kindness that reflected who he was at his core.

Even in his final days, Nate showed remarkable strength. He faced his battle with cancer with courage and without complaint, embodying grace and resilience until the very end.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Vanessa Lynn Hearn; daughter, Maggie A. Lewis; sons, James E. London and Ryan S. Brown; son-in-law, LeRoy Lewis III; brother, Thomas “TP” Hearn; sister, Patricia Watkins; six beloved grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Nate will be missed more than words can express, missed for his laughter, his wisdom, his love, and the undeniable presence he brought into every life he touched.

The celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Barkes, Weaver &Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street; the Reverend LeRoy Lewis Jr. will officiate. Full military honors will be presented by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard. Family and friends may gather for visitation from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Ministries Outreach or Indiana State Fair Foundation.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the Hearn family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.

Marolyn Kay Kirts

By
Staff Reports
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COLUMBUS

Marolyn Kay Kirts, 82, of Columbus, died at her home surrounded by loved ones at 9:07 p.m. on February 4, 2026. Marolyn was born in Morgantown, Indiana, the daughter of Virgil and Nellie (Chitwood) Sisson. August 4, 1963, she married the love of her life, Verl Omar Kirts, celebrating 61 years together.

Marolyn was a generous and loving woman to all her family, friends, former coworkers, and strangers. She was a cafeteria lady at Mt. Healthy Elementary for almost 33 years. She was known for her baking, especially her sweet rolls, pies, and dinner rolls. She was an avid reader and enjoyed scrapbooking. Her greatest joy was being Mammam to her beloved grandchildren, whom she loved and spoiled.

Visitation will be held at Jewell Rittman Funeral Service and Crematory on April 3, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, and additionally from 11:00 am to time of memorial service at 12pm on April 4th at Parkview Church of the Nazarene (1750 State Road 46 East, Nashville, Indiana) with Rev. Rick “Ricky” Sisson officiating. The service will also be live streamed.

Marolyn is survived by her daughters, Edith Jane “EJ” Rosenberry and Angela (Mike) Mathis; siblings, Mary Frownfelter, Lester (Brenda) Sisson, Helen Underwood, Robert (Cora) Sisson, Rebecca “Becky” Scrougham, and Thurl (Myla) Sisson; grandson, Seth Mathis, and granddaughter Micah Mathis; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil, and Nellie Sisson; husband, Omar Kirts; and siblings, Marjorie Collett, Alvin Sisson, Catherine Sisson, Chelsea Sisson, Emma Butler, Lloyd Sisson, Phillis O’Quinn, Virginia Mathis, Harry Sisson, Carolyn Mathis, and Thelma Sisson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or Clarity Care Hub.

A meal will follow in the fellowship hall after the service.

Services were entrusted to Jewell Rittman Funeral Service and Crematory. You are invited to light a candle in Marolyn’s memory or leave a message to the family at www.jewellrittman.com

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