A domestic disturbance that turned into a standoff with police ended peacefully.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday, CPD Officers responded to an address in the 1000 block of Aspen Lane in regards to the disturbance. Harris says that the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center received a 911 call from a woman who told them that her 36-year-old son was inside the home causing damage. She also noted that her son had a gun.

Lt. Harris says that when officers arrived, the woman exited the house and spoke with them. However, her husband remained inside with their son. Negotiators from the Columbus Police Department spoke with the father and son for nearly 90 minutes before the son surrendered peacefully to members of the CPD SWAT Team, which was dispatched and on the scene.

The 36-year-old-man, whom police are not identifying, was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

A wanted felon was arrested Tuesday morning by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 8:30 a.m., Detective Will Kinman received information that the Columbus resident was in the area of Seventh Street and Reeves Way. Jackson says that Det. Kinman located 50-year-old Kevin Eagleton, Sr. of 7111 N 500 W, shortly thereafter in the area of Fourth and Lafayette Streets. Jackson says that Eagleton, who was wanted on a parole violation, was arrested without incident and booked in the Bartholomew County Jail.

The Sheriff’s Department thanks Indiana State Police Sgt. Matt Simmons for his help with the arrest.

A Fishers man was arrested early Tuesday morning on drug charges.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 3:35 a.m., Officer Travis Harbaugh was dispatched to a residence in the 2700 block of Griffa Avenue in regards to a suspicious person in the back yard. Upon arrival, Harbaugh reported finding 25-year-old Elias Rios lying down next to the residence. When Rios stood up, officers say they observed a small bag containing methamphetamine where he had been lying.

Lt. Harris says that once Rios was taken into custody, officers were able to determine that he had a warrant for his arrest out of Hamilton County. Rios was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 6 Felony, as well as the outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear on Charges of Illegal Consumption and Public Intoxication.

Cummins and Columbus Regional Health will be helping Bartholomew County get a better handle on its finances.

County Councilwoman Laura DeDomenic presented a proposal last night at the council’s work session to help the county develop both a short term and long term financial plan.

“We have some really good, experienced financial people that are willing to help the council come up with this financial plan so we don’t have to spend the money to hire some smart consultants to help us with this,” DeDomenic said. “I am very happy that the community is willing to get involved to help the county save some money and have a plan that is completed before the next budget cycle.”

DeDomenic said the advisory group would work with all county departments to anticipate financial needs, review the number of employees, and look at ways to improve customer care, reduce expenses or increase revenue.

Council members said they were enthusiastic about the help. The county’s budget process for this year ground to a halt last fall over how to make ends meet with falling or stagnant county revenues.

Columbus Regional Health is announcing the promotion of Joni Candler to director of oncology.

Candler joined Columbus Regional Health in August 2015, has been an oncology nurse for more than five years and has served in numerous oncology leadership roles. As director of oncology, she will oversee the daily operations associated with patient care activities and clinical education and development of the staff in the Columbus Regional Health Cancer Center.

Kelsey DeClue, spokeswoman for the hospital, said the Cancer Center is undergoing an expansion and renovation that will include expanded waiting areas and more chemotherapy treatment bays, as well as a few private treatment rooms. The project is expected to be completed in February.

A Columbus man allegedly tried to push a cart filled with more than $3,100 worth of unpaid merchandise out the doors of a store yesterday.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that officers were called to the store on Whitfield Drive at 10 a.m. Monday. 19-year-old Gage Janusch is accused of placing 178 items in a shopping cart and leaving without paying for them. Janusch is facing a felony theft charge.

The first Columbus City Council meeting under new Mayor Jim Lienhoop has held Monday evening. The meeting was largely organizational.

Lienhoop’s Director of Administration and Community Development, Mary Ferdon, explained that the transition team has been working on the leadership structure since last June. Prior to Lienhoop’s swearing-in, Ferdon said the mayor would have 15 to 16 people reporting directly to her. She says that with so many people required to get direction on a daily basis, the Mayor’s core concerns could get bogged-down by not receiving the attention he would like to give them. Ferdon reminded the council that Lienhoop’s core concerns are business, employment, community development and quality of life.

With that, the Mayor has approved a change that would cut the number of people reporting directly to the mayor each day, by half. Employees and department heads working in the fields of animal care, the arts, human rights, housing, Human Resources, IT and more would report to the Director of Administration. Ferdon says this change will allow the city’s business to be done in a more efficient manner. Mayor Lienhoop did add that he will be available to those who need to see him.

The city council also elected a new President Pro Tempore. Third District Councilman Frank Jerome received unanimous support. He was nominated by the previous President Pro Tempore, Tim Shuffett.

A former Jennings County resident has been honored for his work with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). IDNR Spokesman Joshua Thomas says that Officer Brad Reinholt was named the 2015 District 9 Officer of the Year by his peers.

Officer Reinholt is assigned to Dearborn County, one of eleven counties within District 9.

Reinholt was born in Commiskey. He graduated from Jennings County High School in 1993. He enlisted in the United States Army shortly after, serving from 1993 to 1996, before moving on to the Indiana National Guard from 1996 to 2005. Reinholt is a Purdue University graduate, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry in 2003. He worked as a forester for nine years before becoming an Indiana Conservation Officer.

Thomas says that Officer Reinholt became an Indiana Conservation Officer in 2012, assigned to Fayette County. After a short time, he transferred to Dearborn County, where he and his family currently live. Reinholt’s father, Steve Reinholt, served 35 years as an Indiana Conservation Officer in Jennings County.

Thomas adds that being selected as the District 9 Officer of the Year will qualify Reinholt for the James D. Pitzer award. The Pitzer Award is given annually to the top Officer in the State. Thomas explains that the award was created in memory of Officer Pitzer, who was killed in the line of duty while checking rabbit hunters on January 1, 1961.

Columbus North and Columbus East High Schools, in conjunction with the Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police and Indiana University Police Department, have announced the dates for S.A.F.E. training in Columbus during 2016. Lt. Matt Harris with the Columbus Police Department says that Situational Awareness for Everyday (S.A.F.E.) is designed to help guide young women on how to stay safe in the real world. He explains that this program is offered solely to high school senior girls and will take place during the school day. The sessions will be dedicated to discussing basic self-defense through awareness, as well as other factors.

Lt. Harris says the course is based on the survival signals detailed in Gavin DeBecker’s book “The Gift of Fear” but will also include additional topics such as staying safe during social events, a discussion about sexual assault, as well as a basic self-defense. An Indiana University police officer is scheduled to speak about what to expect from the police departments that serve college campuses. The class offered at East High School will also offer some on-hands exercises to practice basic self-defense techniques. Columbus North senior girls are invited to attend the event at their school on Wednesday, Jan. 27, while Columbus East senior girls are invited to attend the event at their school on Tuesday, March 8.

Columbus Police Department School Resource Officer, Julie Quesenbery, said “the S.A.F.E. event is sure to be an engaging eye-opener for these young ladies as they prepare for their futures. There is a lot of time, energy and effort put toward preparing students for whatever they plan to do after high school and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to add personal safety to that list.”

Students can register by visiting their school’s counseling center/guidance office.

A Columbus native has been announced as the newest addition to the leadership team of an organization that promotes the healthy development of Indiana youths. Leslie Wells, Media Relations Manager for the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI), says that Joe Nierman was recently elected to IYI Board of Directors.

Wells says that Nierman is a financial planner with WestPoint Financial Group. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Marian University in Indianapolis. She adds that that Nierman went on to earn an MBA from Anderson University three years later.

Wells says that, in addition to his seat on the IYI board, Nierman is the Vice President of the Executive Committee for Trusted Mentors. He also serves on the Byrum School of Business’ Board of Visitors at Marian University.

Nierman begins his term on the board later this month.