A Bartholomew County couple was scammed out of $3,000 on Monday.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers says that the couple received a telephone call from a person claiming to represent an out-of-state law enforcement agency. The scam artist told the couple that their grandson was in jail and needed $3,000 in order to be released.

Myers says that the couple was directed by the scammer to purchase $3,000 in iTunes cards. They scratched off the back and gave the numbers to the caller. On Tuesday, the couple received another call informing them that their grandson had bonded out and they would receive a refund for their $3,000. However, they were instructed to send another $2,000 in iTunes cards in order to receive the refund.

The Sheriff says that, fortunately for the couple, an unidentified party called his office and informed them as to what was going on. Myers says that the department intervened as the grandparents were attempting to purchase the additional $2,000 worth of iTunes cards and stopped them. He adds that while $2,000 was saved, the family is still out its initial $3,000.

Sheriff Matt Myers says that residents must be vigilant against fraud. He adds, “If someone wants to separate you from your hard-earned money, just hang up.” Myers continued, “Fraud is one crime that can be avoided. Hang up and call us.”

A Jennings County man is facing charges after allegedly leading three police agencies on a chase Monday night in Jackson County.

Indiana State Police (ISP) Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Wheeles says that State Police received a report of a pickup truck driving recklessly northbound on I-65 near the 30 mile marker in Scott County. Crothersville Police reportedly witnessed the vehicle traveling northbound near the 41 mile marker in Jackson County and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver, 37-year-old Joseph Creech, of North Vernon, reportedly refused to stop. ISP Trp. Robert Hutson soon joined the pursuit of the vehicle. Officers with the Seymour Police Department placed “Stop Sticks” on I-65 near the 49 mile marker. Wheeles says this led to Creech’s vehicle being disabled near the Seymour exit.

ISP say that after Creech’s vehicle came to a stop, he was taken into custody without incident. Creech was allegedly found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a legend drug. He was booked in the Jackson County Jail on preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Legend Drug.

Columbus police are reporting that they arrested a local man yesterday afternoon after he allegedly fired shots inside a home during an argument.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department says that 57-year-old Robert W. Reed was arrested after police were called to the 900 block of Union Street at about 2:40 p.m. yesterday. He is accused of firing several shots including one that went through a wall and hit a neighboring home.

He was arrested on a preliminary charge of criminal recklessness with a firearm.

Harris said the gun that authorities believe was used during the incident was recovered.

Larry Perkinson was inducted into the Bartholomew Consolidated Schools Education Hall of Fame at a ceremony last night at the school board meeting. Perkinson, the district’s student assistance coordinator has been an educator for 40 years.

School board member Kathy Dayhoff-Dwyer heads the committee that makes the annual choices for the Hall of Fame. She said the idea of inducting Perkinson drew immediate support from everyone on the committee. She said that Perkinson is known for his big heart and connection with students.

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School board member Rich Stenner said that induction into the Hall of Fame is the second highest honor the district bestows, second only to naming a school after an educator.

The state of Indiana wants to work with Bartholomew County to improve the safety at Bear Lane and U.S. 31 in Taylorsville.

Engineers from the state told the County Commissioners Monday that no plans were immediately in the works to address safety concerns, brought to light by the crash of Columbus North star basketball player Josh Speidel on Super Bowl Sunday a year ago.

Local attorney Rich Eynon brought the issue before the commissioners a few weeks ago, saying that he was so concerned about the intersection safety that he commissioned his own study of the intersection, along with a list of recommendations. At the time, commissioners said that there was little they could do without the states’ involvement, because the intersection is on a state highway.

The INDOT representatives said they were interested in considering all the options and wanted to work with the commissioners to find a solution, up to elminating a crossover at the median where Spiedel was struck.

Hillary Lowther, district traffic engineer for INDOT’s Seymour district, said that closing the median would be at the extreme end of possible solutions. But she explains that some solutions may require more work or expense than expected. For example, it isn’t as simple as changing the speed limit. The state must first do a speed study before making any speed limit changes.

She also said the cost to install four solar-powered lights at the intersection would cost more than $86,000.

A $1.2 million project to rehabilitate Madison Avenue’s bridge over Pleasant Run Creek in Johnson County has been finalized. The bridge is located east of the Greenwood Park Mall between County Line Road and Fry Road.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Spokesman Harry Maginity says that Shutt-Lookabill, an Indianapolis bridge builder, has been contracted to demolish the existing structure and replace it, one-half at a time, with a new, three-span continuous reinforced concrete slab bridge. He says this new bridge will measure 71 feet in length and 59 feet in width. The project includes new bridge rails, sidewalks and street approaches.

Maginity says that the contractor plans to post construction signs on March 1. Work is expected to begin two weeks later.

INDOT officials say traffic will be shifted to the west side of the bridge, vacating lanes on the east side, for demolition and reconstruction. Phase II construction moves to the west side, shifting traffic to the east side of the bridge. INDOT notes that the contract completion date is September 30.

Maginity says that the Federal Highway Administration is funding 80 percent of this project, while Johnson County will pay 20 percent of the costs. He adds that onsite supervision will be provided by United Consulting of Indianapolis.

The Jackson County United Way (JCUW) is collaborating with local schools and businesses to prepare greetings for the Senior Citizens of Jackson County in honor of Valentine’s Day. Sean Hildreth, resource development director for the JCUW, says we must also be aware of those who might face loneliness on this day.

Hildreth says that, in partnership with Seymour Community Schools and AISIN USA, special Valentine’s Day cards, bookmarks, and greetings are being prepared to share with area seniors. He explains that students from Redding, Cortland, and Jackson Elementary are preparing cards as a way for them to give back to their community. Hildreth says that volunteers at AISIN are creating Valentine’s in conjunction with an appreciation event for JCUW donors. After the Valentines are assembled, Hildreth says volunteers will deliver them on February 12.

Hildreth says that the JCUW supports senior citizens in Brownstown, Crothersville, Freetown, Medora, and Seymour. If you are interested volunteering, you are asked to call the United Way office at (812) 522-5450.

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials plan to close State Road 44 at the Interstate 65 interchange near Franklin for 20-minute intervals on Wednesday while construction crews set bridge beams. INDOT Spokesman Harry Maginity says that Indiana State Police will be onsite to implement closures, which begin at 9 a.m. He adds that police will also manage ramp traffic. INDOT says that the I-65 on-and-off-ramps will remain open during the State Road 44 closures.

Maginity explains that this project will see a total of twelve steel I-beams, measuring approximately 80-feet each, be installed as part of the bridge’s new superstructure. He says that beams set Monday and Tuesday of this week do not impact traffic. However, the four beams to be installed Wednesday require a complete closure of State Road 44, says Maginity. He explains that a brief closing will take place each time one of the structural members is being put in place.

INDOT officials say its contractor has tentative plans to set I-beams over northbound I-65 lanes at the Main Street/Greenwood structure on Monday, March 15. That schedule calls for beams to be placed in the medium section of the bridge at Hurricane Creek (mile marker 92.0) on Tuesday, March 16.

INDOT says the work is dependent on the weather.

A traffic stop for speeding led to the arrest of a Columbus man on alcohol charges over the weekend.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at 3:03 a.m. on Sunday, Deputy Adam Warner had clocked a vehicle traveling 65 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. Jackson says that Deputy Warner initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of State Road 11 and Southern Crossing.

Jackson says that the driver, 20-year-old Evan Kinnaird, of River Birch Drive, was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle while intoxicated and Illegal Consumption. She adds that Kinnaird has since been released on $5,000 bond.

A Columbus resident was arrested early Sunday morning on drug charges.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, CPD Officer Travis Harbaugh

reported seeing 51-year-old Roger K. Burton walking near McKinley Avenue and Smith Street. Harbaugh confirmed that Burton had a warrant for his arrest and placed him in custody. While searching Burton prior to transporting him jail, Harbaugh allegedly found a small amount of marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia, in Burton’s coat. Harbaugh also reported finding a broken glass pipe, a small container of methamphetamine and corner cut bags often used in the sale and distribution of narcotics.

Burton was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Dealing in Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also jailed on the outstanding Bartholomew County warrant charging him with Failure to Appear.