A Friday night traffic stop in North Vernon turned into a drug arrest.

Sgt. Andrew Richmond, spokesman for the department, says officers pulled over a vehicle for an equipment violation, but police believed the driver’s behavior was suspicious. Richmond’s police dog, Heros, indicated that drugs were inside the vehicle and a search allegedly revealed 59 grams of marijuana, a marijuana pipe and postal scale hidden inside.

The driver, 22-year-old Benjamin J. Lair of North Vernon was also allegedly found to be carrying three more grams of marijuana as he was being arrested on preliminary charges of dealing marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christmas and gift-giving is drawing near. Columbus Fire Chief Dave Allmon says it is important to practice fire safety year around, but especially as possible flammable elements are introduced in to your home. As you open gifts, Chief Allmon says that you should never burn cardboard, or wrapping paper, in your fireplace. He says these items simply burn too hot and can crack, or otherwise damage, your flue…

If you have a natural Christmas tree, Allmon says it is important to water it each and every day. As it relates to lighting your tree…

Chief Allmon also says it is important to make sure your Christmas tree doesn’t block an exit. He adds that you should make sure that your tree is far enough away from heat sources, like fireplaces and space heaters. Allmon says trees should be at least two-to-three feet away from the heat sources.

If you have questions about fire safety, call the Columbus Fire Department at (812) 376-2679.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers has announced changes to the department’s Drug Take Back Program. He says these changes are being put in place in an effort to increase safety for the public and for Sheriff’s Office personnel.

Sheriff Myers says that the program is very popular. Previously, residents wanting to dispose of outdated and/or unused prescription drugs have done so by dropping them off at the Sheriff’s Office’s front desk.

“The intent of this program is admirable,” said the Sheriff. “However,” he continued, “an employee was ‘stuck’ with an improperly secured needle that was dropped into the Take Back Box”. Myers says this incident shows him that current procedures, used since the program’s inception several years ago, are no longer working.

Sheriff Myers went on to say that Sheriff’s Office personnel have also found fentanyl patches in the Drop-Off Box. Fentanyl is an adhesive patch that delivers a potent pain medicine through the skin that can cause severe breathing problems, and even death, to those who have not been prescribed the medicine. “Even after a fentanyl patch is used, medicine remains in the patch and dropping this powerful, dangerous narcotic into our Take Back Drop Box puts my employees at risk”, said Myers.

Sheriff Myers says that Until he, and his administrative team, can find a better way to secure these items, the Sheriff’s Office will host quarterly take back days. “In addition,” said Myers, “we will no longer accept medications from businesses, like pharmacies.” He says that these businesses should properly manage their drug waste under federal and state hazardous waste regulations.

“I would like to provide a convenient means for Bartholomew County residents to dispose of unused/outdated drugs, but it is my responsibility to make sure BCSO employees are not at risk,” said Myers. “I am confident that we can find a secure, safe solution for us to continue to make drug drop-offs convenient to the public and safe for employees,” he added. “Until then, we will accept unused and/or outdated drugs on a quarterly basis and we will no longer accept any medications from businesses. “It is imperative that this program be tightened up and these changes will make that happen,” said the Sheriff.

Indiana Association of United Ways (IaUW) is partnering with the Indiana Bicentennial Commission for a special project. Tonja Couch, the executive director of the Jackson County United Way, says this officially endorsed legacy project aims to “celebrate Indiana’s rich and diverse history and unique features.”

Couch says that artists will decorate five-foot-tall fiberglass bison for public display throughout Indiana. The end goal, she says, is that at least one, if not a herd, of bison will be on display in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.

Couch says that the bison are expected to be completed around May of 2016, with appearances their local communities throughout the summer. She adds that these public art pieces will also be highlighted along the Bicentennial Torch Relay route, running from September 9 through October 15, 2016, culminating in Indiana’s Bicentennial Statehood Day on December 11, 2016.

“We at Indiana Association of United Ways are excited for this new and unique way to engage with our communities across the state. We believe this project will be a chance for counties to display their county pride and individuality while simultaneously boosting awareness about Indiana United Ways and Funds’ community efforts and initiatives,” says Dr. Nate Otte, JCUW 2015-2016 Board President.

Hoosiers from across the state are being encouraged to get involved in this project. Couch says that interested sponsors, artists and community organizations may contact the Jackson County United Way for county-specific details for the project. She adds that information will soon be posted online at www.indianabisonart.org.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center (LCNFC) are sponsoring a free Christmas Day Dinner. LCNFC Spokesperson Diane Doup says the meal will take place from Noon to 2 p.m. Doup says this home-cooked meal will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets in downtown Columbus. You are invited to take part.

For more information, call the LCNFC at 379-1630.

A Columbus factory evacuated its employees Friday morning due to unspecified threats.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Sgt. Matt Harris says that management at Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) called for help at approximately 9:30 a.m. after an employee spotted threats written inside of one of the plant’s restrooms. Sgt. Harris says that management evacuated the plant as CPD officers conducted a walk-through of the facility.

Sgt. Harris went on to say that the walk-through turned up nothing suspicious. He adds that operations at TIEM were shut down for about 25 minutes. There are no suspects at this time. Toyota officials have not responded to our request for comment.

Columbus will be getting a bike share program next year. And you can help choose the colors of the bicycles that will be for rent at locations around the city and choose a name for the program.

April Williams with the Columbus Park Foundation explains that the foundation is ready to purchase bikes before the end of the year and move forward with the program. The goal is to launch the program by May.

The park foundation will purchase more than 60 bicycles to station for rent around the city. The donors to fund the program have already been lined up but are not yet ready to be announced, Williams said.

An open house will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at The Commons. You will be able to test ride the bicycles and see the new proposed color schemes — grey or white. They will also be asking for your help finding a name for the program that will fit in with the city’s existing branding.

You can look for more information or cast a vote for the bike colors online at columbusparkfoundation.org

Columbus Animal Care Services will be holding an open house tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. at the shelter. That’s at 2730 Arnold Drive near the airport.

Michael Nolting, spokesman for the city, says that you will be able to tour the facility, meet the pets that are at the shelter and find out information about volunteer and pet fostering programs. The city is also looking for donations to fund the adoption medical fund, which pays for health care for pets. No tax money is used for those services

And they are taking donations of items such as food, toys, treats, shampoo, collars, leashes, and cat litter.

Under Mayor Kristen Brown the shelter has moved to a no-kill shelter for adoptable dogs and is headed in that direction for cats.

Franklin Community Schools are closed because of a threat received yesterday.

According to our news gathering partners at Metro Networks, Franklin Superintendent David Clendening says he made the decision after talking with the Franklin Police Department.

The call caused a lockdown at Franklin High School yesterday and the canceling of after-school activities.

This followed threats found Monday and Wednesday in a bathroom stall.

School officials say students will return to school on Jan. 5.

A longtime Bartholomew County Commissioner is facing competition for the seat he currently occupies. His opponent is not only well-known in local politics, but she is also a member of his own party.

Susan Thayer Fye announced Thursday her intentions to file for County

Commissioner, District 1, on the Republican ballot in next month. Fye, who works in real estate, also worked as an auditor and contract manager.

Fye is well-known in Columbus political circles. Over the past three years, she has served on the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety, the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, and also was President of Columbus Downtown, Inc. prior to it’s dissolution in 2013.

Fye is a graduate of Hauser, as well as Indiana University. She says that she also received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana University.

Fye currently serves as Secretary of the Human Services Properties Board and is public relations officer for the Bartholomew County Landlord Association. She also serves as a volunteer with the Yellow Trail Museum in Hope, as well as the Columbus Arts Council. Fye also began serving on the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Merit Board this year.

Fye is running against fellow Republican, businessman and incumbent Larry Kleinhenz. The 57-year-old Kleinhenz is seeking his seventh four-year term to the county’s executive body. He announced his intention to run for re-election earlier this month.

County Councilman Jorge Morales has also announced his intentions to run for the seat.

Fye, Kleinhenz and Morales, along with any other candidates who have yet to declare their candidacy, will face-off in the Republican Primary in May. The winner will face the Democratic candidate, if there is one, in November of 2016.