The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will overlay bridge decks on Interstate 65 at four locations in northern Bartholomew County this spring.

INDOT Spokesman Harry Maginity says that RAM Construction, the state’s contractor for the $797,273 project, has scheduled work requiring overnight and weekend closures during April and May at these I-65 bridges:

• Northbound I-65 over U.S. Highway 31 at Taylorsville Exit 76
• Southbound I-65 over U.S. 31 at Taylorsville Exit 76
• Northbound I-65 over Louisville & Indiana Railroad tracks located 0.7 mile north of U.S. 31
• Southbound I-65 over the Louisville & Indiana tracks

Maginity explains that a 3/8-inch polymeric epoxy overlay will be installed on the four bridge decks to seal the structures’ driving surfaces, extend service life and lower maintenance costs. He adds that bridge repairs will be made prior to placing the deck overlays.

Contractor representatives say that one I-65 lane will remain open in both directions at each bridge site at all times. However, there may be ramp closures during operations at Exit 76.

A schedule for the work will be released at a later date.

North Vernon Police made a pair of drug arrests during traffic stops Tuesday night.

A department spokesperson says that at 7:45 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the area of State Road 3 and Madison Avenue. They say that 23-year-old Mark A. Ray, of North Vernon, was arrested for Possession of a Syringe and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Authorities say that another traffic stop, shortly before midnight in the area of West Poplar Street, led to the arrest of 26-year-old Christopher R. Jones, of Seymour. Police say that Jones is facing a preliminary charge of Possession of Marijuana.

Both Ray and Jones were booked in the Jennings County Jail.

Columbus Regional Hospital’s Healthy Communities initiative is turning its attention to mental health issues in the community.

The program’s new co-chairs, Mary Ferdon and Dr. Brian Niedbalski say that for the next two years, the initiative will attempt to stem the local suicide rate and reduce the stigma of mental health issues. Ferdon and Niedbalski too over as co-chairs in January and will serve two-year terms.

Ferdon said that the strength of the Healthy Communities involvement is that it brings so many local groups together to tackle a problem. The coalition includes the city, county, school districts as well as law enforcement and the courts.

Ferdon said that one of the goals will be to identify where the needs lie in the local mental health system.

“The last thing we want to see is somebody immediately just go to jail or to be bounced around between the emergency room and the law and the court system,” Ferdon said. “Access is first and foremost, I think. One of the goals we have is needing to map what we have. And then, as a group, as a community, we need to decide what works best for Columbus and for Bartholomew County.”

Beth Morris, with Healthy Communities, says that a needs assessment last year showed that members of the community sees mental health as their top health concern.

“The more people understand the basis of mental health issues, the less likely they are to stigmatize someone who has those problems,” Morris said. “We really do want to increase the community understanding of what causes mental illness and how to respond appropriately when you run into someone who might be struggling with mental health issues.”

Among the efforts will be a first aid course for mental health problems focused on those who are not professionals in the medical field.

A part-time person will also be hired to help guide the efforts of the Healthy Community coalition’s new direction.

Indiana State Police say a traffic stop turned into a drug arrest on Interstate 65 in Jackson County.

Trooper Randel Miller stopped a southbound vehicle just north of Seymour at about 4 p.m. yesterday for a traffic infraction, according to police reports. After having his police dog, Jinx, walk around the vehicle, the dog alerted to the smell of drugs inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed half a gram of crack cocaine and 60 grams of marijuana.

19-year-old Trevone D. Sneed of Hanover was arrested on preliminary charge of possession of cocaine and marijuana, maintaining a common nuisance and driving without ever being licensed.

A Taylorsville woman was injured last night in a grease fire at her home.

German Township Volunteer firefighters were called out at a quarter til 10 last night to the 6800 block of Fremont Drive and found a mobile home full of smoke. Matt Lynch, deputy chief for the volunteer department, says that a resident was cooking and left the stove to let her dog out. When she returned the cooking grease had caught fire.

She tried to extinguish the flames by putting the pan in the sink and running water into it, but the oil splattered and spread the fire.

The fire was contained to the kitchen and did not get into the walls of the mobile home, Lynch said. The woman suffered a moderate burn to her hand and was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital.

Lynch said that you should never put water on flaming grease. Instead, use a fire extinguisher or cover the pot.

A Columbus man is accused of child pornography and child exploitation after play after police say they found a video of him engaging in sex acts with a minor.

Our news-gathering partners at Network Indiana report that investigators say 25-year-old Dustin Tyler Dykes faces felony charges in Johnson County after Dykes allegedly made a video of himself with an adult woman and a teenage girl who was 15 or 16 years old at the time.

Dykes has also been charged with child molestation after police said he inappropriately touched a 13-year-old girl in Franklin in 2013. That case is scheduled for trial in May.

A number of Commissioners on the Columbus Human Right Commission were reappointed, while two new members were recently added.

City Councilman Tim Shuffett, who serves as the council’s liason to the commission, informed the body Tuesday night about the retention of Ian Kohen, Richard Gold and Annette Barnes. He also spoke about about the new appointments of Matt Souza and Wan Baba to the Commission. Both work at IUPUC. Souza works on special projects at the school, while Baba is an adjunct-professor, said Shuffett.

Council members also touted Baba’s Islamic background in furthering the Human Rights Commission’s charter of growing inclusiveness.

Advanced Mold and Engineering is planning a $1.5 million dollar investment in its facility near Walesboro after the Columbus City Council approved a pair of tax abatements Tuesday evening.

The company plans to add more than 12,000 square feet to their facility, on South International Drive, for new production equipment. Company officials say the expansion will allow them to will retain 23 full-time jobs and add three more by the end of 2019. The company manufactures molded units for the automotive industry, and other areas.

The council agreed to the abatements, each 10-years in length, for real and personal property at the site. The vote was six-to-zero. Councilwoman Laurie Booher was not present.

A Jackson County man is facing charges after a Monday night crash in Jennings County.

North Vernon Police responded to a reported vehicle collision with a home at 9:47 p.m. Authorities say that the incident took place in the 2000 block of North Manor Road. North Vernon authorities say that 25-year-old Jeremy A. Staats, of Seymour, was cited for Driving while Suspended / Infraction. Police say that Staats is also facing pending charges of Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

Police say that no one was hurt.

Correction: The training will start at 6 p.m. The original information was incorrect.

The National Weather Service will be holding a training for its volunteer weather spotters tomorrow evening at the Columbus Learning Center. The agency reports that it relies on trained volunteers to supplement radar information during severe storms or tornados.

You are invited to attend the free program and no registration is required. The weather service will be teaching about severe thunderstorm development and safety tips.

The session will be at 6 p.m. at the Learning Center at 4555 Central Avenue.