A Kentucky woman was arrested on marijuana charges early Thursday morning after a traffic stop.
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at approximately 3:05 a.m., Deputy Leah Burton stopped a
Jami Danielle Travers
vehicle at the 76 mile marker on I-65 for broken taillights. Deputy Burton reported a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, so she asked the driver, Jami Travers, of Mt. Pleasant, KY, and her passenger, to exit the vehicle.
Jackson says that a search of the vehicle uncovered drug paraphernalia and approximately 40 grams of marijuana. Deputies, along with Indiana State Police Trooper Jacob Tolle, also allegedly found a gun under the driver’s seat.
Jackson says that Travers was arrested for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Carrying a Firearm without a License. She was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail and later released on $11,000 bond. Jackson adds that the unidentified passenger was issued a summons for an undisclosed infraction.
A Columbus woman was arrested Thursday morning after law enforcement determined that she had been posing as a registered nurse at a number of assisted living facilities and home care-giving businesses in south-central Indiana.
Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that in December 2015, CPD Detective Chris Couch received a tip involving the identity deception of a registered nurse who lived in northern Indiana. During the course of the investigation, Couch says he determined that 45-year-old Holly M. Whyde used the professional identity of another person to gain employment as a registered nurse. During the two month investigation Couch allegedly discovered that Whyde gained employment as a registered nurse over a four year period at several Indiana health care businesses, including two in Columbus. He notes that the investigation, which was assisted by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, reveled that Whyde worked primarily in an administrative role. However, she had also allegedly provided some patient care. Authorities also allege that Whyde had also worked as a licensed practical nurse, however, they could not confirm that she had been licensed to do so.
Harris says that Whyde was taken into custody at approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday at a residence on Osage Court on Columbus’ west side. He says that the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Health and Human Services assisted with the case. Whyde was later turned over to the U.S. Marshalls Office on the following charges:
Count 1: False statements relating to health care matters in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1035.
Count 2: Aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a).
Columbus police are reporting two recent traffic stops that turned into drug arrests.
Columbus Police Officer Frank Dickman stopped a vehicle at about 10 a.m. Wednesday near Beam Road and 25th Street for the seatbelt violation. The officer discovered a passenger, 44 year old Charles W. Sherfick of Columbus, appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine, said Lt. Matt Harris with the police department
The officer determined that Sherfick was wanted on a warrant out of Marion County and that the driver of the vehicle, 41-year-old Samantha Banks of Columbus was also wanted on a warrant. During a search of the car police allegedly discovered syringes, razor blades, methamphetamine and prescription drugs without a prescription.
Sherfick was arrested on the warrant, and for preliminary charges of possession of a legend drug injection device and possession of methamphetamine. Banks is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a legend drug injection device, possession of paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, as well as the Bartholomew County warrant.
Wednesday evening an officer stopped a vehicle on Kentucky Avenue for failing to use a turn signal, Harris said. Officer Troy Love reports that his police dog, Argo, alerted to the smell of narcotics in the vehicle. During a search of the pockets of the driver, 26-year-old Anton L. Thompson, police allegedly discovered cocaine. Thompson was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of cocaine and a legend drug injection device.
The family of Cary Owsley is announcing a new addition to their legal team in a federal lawsuit against Bartholomew County officials. They have announced that the civil rights law firm of Loevy and Loevy of Chicago will be taking up their case.
The family has filed a federal lawsuit against then-Sheriff Mark Gorbett, Coroner Larry Fisher and six deputies over the way the investigation was handled in Owsley’s April 2013 shooting death. Owsley’s death from a gunshot wound to the chest was ruled a suicide by Fisher. That ruling has been challenged by some members of Owsley’s family, who believe that a cover-up over how he actually died may have taken place. They have been fighting Fisher’s ruling since shortly after Owsley’s death.
At the time of his death, Cary Owsley was married to Lisa Janes Owsley, who was divorced from Sheriff’s Deputy DeWayne Janes. Deputy Janes was the first deputy on the scene and handled evidence including the handgun which killed Owsley — a gun that Janes had given to his son, who lived with the Owsleys.
Earlier this year, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI found no grounds for charges of civil rights violations.
The local officials cited in the federal lawsuit have sought to have the case thrown out because they claim Logan Owsley did not have standing to sue on his father’s behalf.
According to our news-gathering partners at The Republic, Owsley’s son Logan recently was awarded control over the lawsuit, which was considered as property of his father’s estate.
The Purdue Extension office in Bartholomew County says that a fruit-tree pruning seminar scheduled for Saturday still has room if you would like to sign up.
Kris Medic, an extension educator, says that the seminar will teach:
The basics of fruit tree pruning, including “when” and “how.”
Goals for pruning, and the cuts that “get it done.”
Different kinds of pruning tools.
Pruning safety.
The seminar will include hands-on practice with the trees. It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at an orchard south of Columbus. For more information or to register you can call 812-379-1665.
The brother of Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop is in the running to become the next Justice on the Indiana Supreme Court.
Mark. A. Lienhoop, who is 59-years-old and lives in LaPorte, has submitted his information to the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for consideration. Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson is retiring this spring and the JNC will recommend three finalists to Gov. Mike Pence to choose from for Justice Dickson’s replacement. The Commission began interviewing candidates on Wednesday. Lienhoop was the final candidate interviewed on the first day.
Officials say that there are 29 candidates for the appointment, with interviews scheduled through the rest of this week. The Court says that these interviews, which last approximately 30 minutes, are open to the public. The Commission is interviewing nine to 10 candidates each of the three days. Once this week’s interviews are complete, the JNC is tasked with selecting finalists who will be interviewed for a second time on March 3 and March 4. The Commission will then publicly vote to send three nominees to the Governor, who has 60 days to select Indiana’s next justice.
The Court’s website says that, in accordance with Indiana’s Constitution and state statute, the seven-member JNC must recruit and select candidates to fill any vacancy on the state’s highest court. The Commission will “review applications, consider applicants’ legal education, writings, reputation in the practice of law, and other pertinent information.”
Mayor Lienhoop says that, like he, his younger brother grew up in Columbus. He says that they both attended high school at the same building, but by the time Mark Lienhoop graduated, the school had been renamed Columbus North.
Along with Indiana, Mark Lienhoop also passed the bar in Illinois. He says that he has since allowed his Illinois license to become inactive, as he has been with the same Indiana law firm for over thirty years. According to his application, Lienhoop is an alumni of Valporaiso University, where he also received his law degree. He currently serves as a Managing Partner with law firm of Newby, Lewis, Kaminski & Jones, LLP in La Porte, where he began as an associate attorney. Prior to joining the firm in 1983, Lienhoop says that he served as a law clerk for a pair of Indiana law firms, as well as for the Honorable Robert H. Staton, who was the Third District Judge in the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Schneck Medical Center plans to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in a unique way. Stephanie L. Furlow, the Seymour hospital’s Director of Marketing, says that Schneck will have a giant inflatable colon. She explains that the inflatable device is meant to be walked through and will be on exhibit March 1-4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., near the Patient Entrance just off of Brown Street.
Furlow says that the 20-foot long colon will show visitors what normal colon tissue looks like compared to advanced colon cancer. The says it will also show what a polyp looks like and how it can become malignant, as well as other diseases that can affect the colon. Furlow notes that the colon exhibit has been displayed around the country to raise awareness about colon issues.
In addition to the inflatable colon, Furlow says that blue hair will be the norm around Schneck throughout the month of March. She says that you are invited to come to the Schneck Endoscopy Center on March 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to get blue hair extensions for $10 each. Furlow explains that Simply Chic Beauty Salon professionals will be donating their time and profits from the event to the Schneck Foundation.
Colorectal cancer, the combined name for colon and rectal cancers, is the third most common cancer in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACA). An estimated 136,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year. Despite these numbers, the ACA says that fewer than half of people who should be screened are doing so.
“You should get your first colonoscopy at the age of 50. Depending on your personal family medical history and risks, you may need to be screened even earlier,” said Sally Acton, Director of Cancer and Palliative Care Services at Schneck. “Talk to your family doctor about how often you should be screened.”
If you are aged 50-85 and would like more information to help you measure your colorectal cancer risk, take the National Cancer Institute’s Colorectal Assessment Tool at www.cancer.gov/colorectalcancerrisk, and discuss your results with your healthcare provider.
The 18th Annual Gala Benefit for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is being called “a record-setting event” by organizers.
Suzie Singer, manager of marketing and planning for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, said that over $51,000 in net revenue was raised this year. She notes that these funds will support the care and services that patients and their families receive from Our Hospice of Jennings County. Singer adds that the hospice is a not-for-profit community-based hospice that “provides a family-centered team approach to support the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and practical needs of a patient with a life-limiting condition.” She adds that the Gala is the signature event in the county to raise funds for the organization.
Singer says that the queen contestants raised a total of $28,156. Adrianna Gasper, who raised $10,966.50, was crowned 2016 Gala Queen.
Singer says that support for this event continues to be “outstanding.” She thanks the title sponsors: Decatur Mold Tool & Engineering, Inc., Donnie Miller and the St. Vincent Jennings Medical Staff; The Gala Sponsor: Scott A. Terry, DDS; and their Mission Sponsors: Dave O’Mara Contractor, Inc., Decatur Plastic Products, Inc. and Erler Industries, Inc. Without their support, Singer says that this event would not be possible.
Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County has announced high school seniors Devan Rhoades and Luke Major as the first-place winners in the 2016 Brown Music Competitions. The events were held Saturday at First Christian Church in Columbus.
Amy Laker, with the Heritage Fund, says that Rhoades, playing the alto saxophone, placed first in the Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence, performing “Sonata, Op. 19 for E-Flat Alto Saxophone” by Creston. Major, a tenor, received first place in the Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence, singing “Lonely House” by Weil and “Bonjour Suzon” by Delibes. Both students will receive a college scholarship in the amount of $3,500.
Also in the senior instrumental competition, Tiger Fu and Adam Ruble received second-place awards of $1,000. Fu, playing trombone, performed “Blue Bells of Scotland” by Pryor. Ruble performed “Concerto No. 1 for Horn and Orchestra” by Strauss on French horn.
In the senior vocal competition, Caroline Luehrmann and Shelby Bricker received second-place honors and awards of $1,250. Luehrmann, a mezzo, performed “Piercing Eyes” by Haydn and “Un Moto di Gioia” by Mozart. Bricker, a soprano, performed “Mermaid’s Song” by Haydn and “L’Heure Exquise” by Hahn. Laura Pierson, a mezzo, received a third-place award of $700. Annelise Guenther, a soprano, received fourth-place honors and $300.
Laker says that six seniors competed in the instrumental competition, while five seniors participated in the vocal competition.
In the sophomore and junior competitions, Laker says that 27 instrumentalists and 10 vocalists competed for scholarships for music lessons or music camps. Underclassmen winners were: Instrumentalists: Yijiang Zhao, Machi Takeda, Clayton Stine and Richard Liu, each receiving $600 awards; and Samuel Heichelbech, Caleb Bray and Matthew Allman, each receiving $200 awards. Vocal: Joseph Robinson and Emily Sipes, each receiving $750 awards; Erin Erickson, receiving a $500 award; and Tristan Grider, Samuele Beggs, Sarah Pankratz, Pavithra Venkataraman and Brittany Davis, each receiving $200 awards.
The 500 Festival announced on Wednesday that 33 college-aged women from across Indiana have been selected to serve as 2016 500 Festival
Brittany Young; Photo courtesy of www.500festival.com
Princesses. Brittany Young, a graduate of Hauser High School and freshman at Ivy Tech University, was among those named a 2016 Princess.
Rachel Eckerle, who is part of the public relations team for the 500 Festival, says the 500 Princess Program has “a long history of celebrating Indiana’s most civic-minded, academically driven college-aged women.” She adds that 500 Festival Princesses will participate in the program’s personal and professional development initiative, which “empowers participants to make a profound impact within their community and Indiana.”
Eckerle says that each 500 Festival Princess will receive a $1,000 scholarship, made possible in part by the 500 Festival Foundation. The ladies will also be involved with the 500 Festival’s statewide community outreach programs, volunteering at 500 Festival events and participating in various Indianapolis Motor Speedway functions. This includes the pre-race ceremonies and Victory Circle celebration for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.
“For more than 50 years, the 500 Festival Princess Program has recognized Indiana’s brightest college-aged women. The program’s new personal and professional development initiative and the scholarships given to each young woman will reinforce its rich history,” said Leslie Carter-Prall, 500 Festival board member and princess program committee co-chair. She continued, “The 500 Festival is proud to take the lead on investing our time and resources to shape Indiana’s next generation of leaders.”
Eckerle notes that the 2016 500 Festival Princesses represent 13 Indiana colleges and universities, along with 21 cities and towns across the state. She adds that this year’s 500 Festival Princesses were selected on a number of factors, including communication skills, leadership, scholarship, and professionalism.
Other area women selected as 2016 500 Festival Princesses include:
Jessi Arbuckle, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School and a junior at Taylor University majoring Public Relations
Elyse Hoy, Greenwood, a senior at Center Grove High School and a sophomore at Franklin College studying Biology and Pre-Med
Morgan Lee, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School and a junior at Indiana Wesleyan University majoring in Nursing
Nilofer Rajpurkar, Greenwood, a graduate of Center Grove High School and a junior at Purdue University majoring in Biomedical Engineering
