Two people were arrested Tuesday morning after a hit-and-run crash on State Road 7 in Bartholomew County.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police, says that a man saw an SUV crash into another vehicle at about 8:25 a.m. on the state highway and then continue on into Columbus. The man followed the vehicle into Columbus where police were alerted. Officers stopped the vehicle on Clifty Drive near Columbus East High School and allegedly smelled alcohol on the breath of the driver, 25-year-old Gaspar T. Antonio of Seymour. And when Antonio opened the glove compartment, beer cans fell out, Harris said.

Antonio failed several sobriety tests and was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicatd. A passenger, 22-year-old Jose A. Santizo was arrested on a Jackson County warrant.

Harris said the original crash is being investigated by the county sheriff’s department.

The Columbus Police Department (CPD) wants to remind you about a special event coming up next month. Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says the “Polar Plunge” benefits the Indiana Special Olympics.

Lt. Harris says that last year marked the first time that the Polar Plunge was held inside the city. He says that three CPD officers took part in that event and the goal is to at least double that number for this year’s event. Individuals, or teams, can get sponsors who pledge a certain amount for taking the plunge. The money raised goes help the mission of the Indiana Special Olympics. Harris stresses that the Polar Plunge is not only for police officers. You are encouraged to take part, either in the plunge itself, or by donating money to the brave souls willing to submerge themselves outdoors in February.

The Polar Plunge is Saturday, Feb. 6 on Fourth Street in downtown Columbus. For more on this story, visit firstgiving.com/soindiana/2016columbusplunge.

The Jackson County Visitor Center Board of Directors awarded three Promotional Grants on Wednesday.

Jane Hays, the Visitor Center spokesperson, says that checks were

presented to representatives from the Southern Indiana Model Railroad Association (SIMRA), Jackson County Education Coalition and Jackson County Bicentennial Committee. Hays says that grants of $400 grants were awarded to SIMRA and the Education Coalition. Hays explained that SIMRA received funds for the Model Train Display, which remains on display until the end of March in Seymour. The Jackson County Education Coalition received funding for the “Noon Year’s Eve Party,” which was held on New Year’s Eve, in Seymour. Hays notes that the final grant, worth $750, was awarded to the Jackson County Bicentennial Committee for the “Bicentennial Ball,” which was also held on New Year’s Eve.

A Seymour hospital has been honored by an influential nursing career and education website.

Schneck Medical Center was ranked as the number one Most Nurse-Friendly Hospital in the nation by TopRNtoBSN.com. Stephanie L. Furlow, the hospital’s director of marketing and public relations, explains that the list names hospitals in the United States that have “demonstrated a high valuation of their nursing staff, provide employees with a host of benefits, support teams, and provide outstanding work environments.”

Schneck was among a group of hospitals honored including the Cleveland Clinic, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins Hospital, said Furlow.

This is the third year in a row that Schneck has received the accolade, and is the only Indiana hospital named to the list, added Furlow. She noted that the report indicated that the satisfaction levels for nurses at Schneck had gone beyond the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators standard for three consecutive years.

Jennings County deputies talked an intoxicated man out of shooting himself in the head, according to Lt. Mike Mowery, spokesman for the department.

Mowery says that deputies were called to a report of an intoxicated person at a home on County Road 700W on Saturday afternoon. Deputy Garrett Hoppock found a man holding a handgun to his head and threatening to shoot himself. Mowery said that Hoppock talked the man into putting the handgun down. The man told deputies that he wanted police to shoot him, so he didn’t have to shoot himself.

The man was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital’s stress center for treatment and evaluation. Jennings County Sheriff Gary Driver praised Hoppock and Deputy Cody Low for their patience and said their training paid off.

A North Vernon woman is facing felony charges after allegedly slicing a man with a knife.

Lt. Mike Mowery, spokesman for the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, says deputies were called to a report of a person injured with a knife at about noon Monday near County Roads 150N and 400E. The alleged victim said he was giving Shi Ann Schildknecht a ride when she cut him. She then opened the door and ran away, he said.

He was treated by medics for a minor cut and then released.

The 27-year-old Schildknecht was found shortly afterwards in another vehicle trying to leave the area. As she was being arrested, officers allegedly discovered syringes and other drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on preliminary charges of battery and possession of a syringe and drug paraphernalia.

Wednesday was the first day of filing in Indiana for the 2016 elections.

In Bartholomew County you can file for office in the voter registration office at the County Courthouse on Washington Street.

Positions open for election this year locally are two seats on the County Commissioners, circuit court judge, the at-large seats on the County Council, county coroner and county surveyor.

Among the Republican filings as of 3 p.m.,  County Councilman Jorge Morales (pictured with Ann Ogle and Tammy Burton) and Susan Thayer Fye filed for County Commissioner in District 1, incumbent council members Bill Lentz, Evelyn Pence and Jim Reed filed for re-election to their at-large seats, incumbent E.R. Gray filed again for county surveyor and Clayton Nolting and Ron Shadley for Coroner.

An overhead heater caught fire at NTN Driveshaft last night, but workers extinguished the fire quickly with a fire extinguisher and by cutting off the gas supply.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says that the call came in at about 6:20 last night from the Walesboro factory.

Witnesses said that flames were shooting out of the heating unit. The fire was out when firefighters arrived.  Investigators discovered that the gas line had somehow come disconnected from the heater, causing the fire, Wilson said.

The fire caused only cosmetic damage to the heating unit and no damage to the building and no one was injured. Wilson said that plant operations weren’t disrupted by the blaze.

Two members of Mayor Jim Lienhoop’s administration would receive significant pay-increases under a plan approved Monday night by the Columbus City Council.

Prior to taking office, Mayor Lienhoop announced a restructuring of positions at City Hall. This restructuring would cut in half the number of department heads and city employees who report directly to the Mayor. The restructuring also combined some positions and added additional responsibilities for those who are appointed to them. Among them was the position of Director of Administration and Community Development, which is held by Mary Ferdon. The other was Executive Director of Public Works/City Engineer, which is held by Dave Hayward.

Ferdon explained to the council the administration’s plan to do a review of all city positions and their compensation packages. She explained that the last time the salary ordinance was updated was several years ago. Ferdon said that the council needed to approve the updates for these two positions to solidify their responsibilities. She also noted that the position of Director of Administration and Community Development was already in place under the previous administration. She said this measure would essentially formalize it. Under the updated salary ordinance, which requires a second reading, the position of Director of Administration and Community Development would see her maximum annual salary increased from $73,580 to $82,600. The Executive Director of Public Works/City Engineer position would see his maximum increased from $83,624 to $92,000 per year. Ferdon added that a full review of city positions is expected in the coming months.

City Councilman Frank Miller was opposed to the ordinance, at least for the time being. Miller said that he understands what Mayor Lienhoop wants to accomplish, but he would prefer waiting until a review of all city positions have been completed. The measure was approved, on first reading, on a vote of six-to-one.

A second reading of the salary ordinance is expected at the next city council meeting scheduled for Jan. 19th.

A malfunctioning e-cigarette contributed to a semi-crash in Jackson County, according to Indiana State Police (ISP).

ISP Versailles Post Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Wheeles says that at approximately noon on Tuesday, troopers from the Sellersburg and Versailles Posts responded to the crash on northbound I-65 near the 35.5 mile marker at the Jackson/Scott County line.

Wheeles says that the initial investigation revealed that the semi, with trailer, was being driven by 45-year-old Christian Starasinich, of Orlando, FL. ISP investigators say that information gathered at the scene indicated that the electronic cigarette that Starasinich was using malfunctioned and exploded. Due to the malfunction, they say that Starasinich sustained injuries to his face. Starasinich was unable to control the vehicle, which then went off the right side of the road before striking a guardrail and coming to a stop, added Wheeles. Investigators add that they believe that the injuries Starasinich sustained were a result of the device malfunctioning and not from the crash itself.

Starasinich was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital. His condition is unknown. ISP say that traffic in that area was slowed for approximately two hours while the crash was cleaned up.

The investigation is ongoing.