A report about a suspicious vehicle and a driver looking for help, led to the arrest of a North Vernon man on drug charges Saturday.

Jennings County deputies were called to County Road 350E at about 1:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon on a report of a suspicious vehicle, said Lt. Mike Mowery, spokesman for the sheriff’s department.

Deputies pulled over the vehicle and talked with the driver, 25-year-old Christopher O. May, of North Vernon. May said that he had stopped at a nearby house to ask for an air pump for a tire.  After deputies discovered that May did not have a valid drivers license, they asked for his permission to search the vehicle, where officers allegedly discovered about three and a half grams of methamphetamine inside a plastic bag and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Deputies also spoke to the resident of a home who said that a man showed up on a porch asking for water for his car’s radiator. The resident suggested the man go to a nearby gas station.

On the way to jail, May also allegedly threatened a sheriff’s deputy. He is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, intimidation, possession of drug paraphernalia and a citation for driving without a license.

North Vernon police are reporting that a search warrant served last week led to two arrests on drug dealing charges.

Police say they were tipped off to a possible drug-dealing operation. Officers from the police department and the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department obtained a search warrant and executed it shortly after midnight Thursday morning on a home on County Road 115S.

According to police reports, officers allegedly recovered about half a pound of marijuana, packaging materials, digital scales and other paraphernalia. Officers arrested 39-year-old Jeremy M. Jones and 27-year-old Shi Ann Schildknect, both of North Vernon. They are facing preliminary charges including dealing marijuana, maintaining a common nuisance, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

A Columbus man was arrested Saturday after allegedly running from police during a traffic stop.

Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says a deputy saw a vehicle run a red light on U.S. 31 and not signal when it changed lanes. After stopping the vehicle, the driver 44-year-old Robin Ransom of Columbus, admitted to deputies that he was driving on a suspended license, Jackson said.

Jackson said that police told Ransom to keep his hands on the steering wheel, but instead he reached inside a jacket pocket to pull out two baggies of marijuana.

Ransom then allegedly tried to run away from deputies. He was caught and arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, possession of marijuana and driving while suspended.

Parents of students at an elementary school in Johnson County should expect correspondence in the coming days after discarded ammunition was found inside of a trashcan inside  of a school building.

Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox says that deputies were called to Union Elementary School, at 3990 W Division Road, after a staff member at the school reported finding ammunition in a trash can. When a deputy arrived, he reportedly spoke with the school’s principal, as well as the custodian who found the ammunition.

Sheriff Cox says that the custodian reported that he was cleaning a restroom at approximately 9 a.m. Friday. According to the report, the custodian stated that he happened to notice a trashcan, which was no longer in use. Since he couldn’t remember the last time that it was cleaned, the custodian reportedly decided to take a look. As he approached, he told the deputy that he noticed several live pistol rounds at the bottom of the trashcan.

Sheriff Cox says that the rounds were taken by deputies for disposal. He adds that the rounds were placed loose in the trash can and were corroded. Deputies indicated that it appeared that the items were simply thrown away.

The principal told deputies that they have numerous after school activities, including some for adults. It was determined that there was very little chance of finding out who disposed of the items. With that, Sheriff Cox says that the principal decided that a search of the school was not necessary. She reportedly informed the department that a
letter or email will be sent to parents notifying them of the incident.

The city of Columbus will be working on addressing potential brownfield sites within city limits. Brownfield sites are considered to be underutilized and/or abandoned properties where development could be difficult due to the possible presence of environmental pollutants.

Mary Ferdon, the city’s executive director of administration and community development, explains that the city received a $400,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last fall. She says that there are two major areas being concentrated on as potentially having brownfield sites. They are “Census Track 101” in the area of Ninth and 12th Streets extending to Central Avenue, as well as along State Street.

Ferdon says that the grant is for the purpose of identifying potential problem areas and to help the city determine what further steps to take. She adds that the first in a series of public meetings to discuss the grant project is set for Feb. 24. Ferdon says that the goal of the project is to engage with owners of these properties and work with them to come to an agreement where studies of the affected properties can take place. While the grant money is not enough to actually remedy any potential problems, Ferdon says the city hopes to work with the property owners to come up with potential remedies for the sites, which could then be implemented with further funding from the EPA, or other entity.

The Feb. 24 meeting is set for 6 p.m. inside of City Hall and you are encouraged to take part. The other public sessions have yet to be scheduled.

A Columbus man was arrested after an early-morning crash that resulted in the man’s pick-up truck running into a house.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that at 12:45 a.m. on Friday, Sgt. Gary Knoef and Deputy Brent

Worman responded to a crash in the 8000 block of South State Road 58. On arrival, the deputies found a heavily damaged pickup truck. Deputy Worman made contact with the driver, 22-year-old Jacob Meredith.

Jackson says that Sgt. Knoef conducted a preliminary investigation and found that the pickup truck had driven off the roadway, traveled approximately 400-feet in a ditch, broke a utility pole, struck a culvert and then came to rest after striking a house in the 8000 block of South State Road 58.

Authorities say that no one was in the house at the time of the crash. Power was reportedly knocked out for a few hours, but has since been restored. Luckily, there were no passengers inside of the pick-up truck.

Jackson says that Meredith was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was reportedly booked in the Bartholomew County Jail, where he has since been released on $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Department is thanking the Southwest Volunteer Fire Department for helping with security and cleanup.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help in locating its most-wanted suspect this week.

Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that deputies are searching for 48-year-old Mark Douglas Austerman. He is described as a white male, six-feet-one-inches tall and weighing 210 pounds. Authorities say that Austerman is wanted on a warrant for probation violation.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Austerman, please call Capt. Dave Steinkoenig at (812) 565-5940. You may also call the Sheriff’s Department Tip Line at (812) 370-1712. Tips and information can be left anonymously.

The city of Columbus will be moving ahead with a proposal to refinance up to $9.75 million in bonds that were used back in 2007 to build the Jackson Street parking garage.

The plan is to save more than $684 thousand dollars in interest by refinancing the bonds with today’s lower interest rates.

The city’s redevelopment commission and the city council both agreed a few weeks ago to pursue the option and both bodies are scheduled to consider the issue again next week. Representatives from the city’s financial advisers, Reedy Financial, and legal advisers, Barnes and Thornburg, would be paid out of the proceeds from the bond sales.

The Redevelopment Commission meets at 6 p.m. Monday and the City Council at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Both bodies meet in the City Council chambers at Columbus City Hall.

City Council agenda (PDF download)

The Indiana Supreme Court heard an appeal yesterday from Samuel Sallee, a Bartholomew County man facing life in prison for a quadruple homicide on Mother’s Day weekend in 2013.

Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” report that during the hearing, Columbus attorney Jane Ann Noblitt argued there was a lack of forensic evidence used to convict the 58-year-old Sallee.

More on this story from The Republic.

Sallee was convicted nearly a year ago in the murders of Katheryn Burton, Thomas Smith, Aaron Cross and Shawn Burton. Their bodies were found inside of a Waynesville home by one of the victim’s family members. Police reports said that all four victims had been shot, while Katheryn Burton also had been stabbed.

A Bartholomew County jury found Sallee to be guilty of four counts of murder. He was sentenced to four consecutive sentences of life without parole.

There has been no word from the Indiana Supreme Court as to when they might reach a decision in the case.

The Bartholomew County Recycling Center wants to remind area seniors that they will soon have an opportunity to get up to two pick-up truck loads of mulch or compost, for free.

Recycling Center Spokesman Ross Keller says that county seniors can take advantage of this offer on Wednesday, March 23rd, from 8 a.m. to noon. He explains that you merely need to drive your pick-up truck to the Columbus / Bartholomew Yard Waste Site, located behind the Recycling Center, at 720 South Mapleton Street in Columbus. Keller adds that once there, employees will load up your truck at no charge.

For more information, call (812) 376-2614, or send an email to
ross.keller@bartholomew.in.gov.