Healthgrades has awarded Schneck Medical Center with its 2016 Outstanding Patient Experience Award.

Stephanie Furlow, a spokesperson for the hospital, says the award is based on patient responses to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys. She explains that the winning hospitals, representing the top 15 percent in the nation, received the highest scores from their patients for providing a positive experience during their hospital stay. Furlow says that Schneck was evaluated against nearly 4,000 hospitals that submit patient surveys to CMS.

“The patient experience is one of the top priorities at Schneck,” says Warren Forgey, President/CEO of Schneck Medical Center. “This recognition is a reflection of the quality care and service excellence that we provide on a day-to-day basis.”

Healthgrades is a leading online resource for comprehensive information about physician and hospitals. A spokesperson says that more than one million people use the Healthgrades websites each day to search, compare and connect with hospitals and physicians.

An Elizabethtown man was arrested on an outstanding warrant Monday, but was also found to be carrying a fake $20 bill, leading to a counterfeiting charge, according to Columbus police.

Columbus police Officer Travis Harbaugh saw the fugitive, 23-year-old Jacob M. Noble, outside of a gas station on State Street at about 9 p.m. last night and tried to make an arrest on the outstanding warrant, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department.

But Noble allegedly left the area. Officers found him a short time later inside of a nearby home’s bathroom. While searching him after the arrest, officers allegedly found the fake money.

He is facing a new preliminary charge of counterfeiting. The warrant was for violating his probation on an original charge of conversion, Harris said.

INDOT reports that U.S. Highway 31 at Sand Creek will be closing next Monday, for up to eight months to replace the bridge.

That bridge is at the Bartholomew/Jackson County Line.

INDOT officials say if you are coming from the north can reach Bartholomew County 900S; those driving from the south can access Jackson County Road 1150N.  A state highway detour will route traffic around the construction area by way of U.S. 50 and Interstate 65 via the exits at Edinburgh and at Crothersville.

INDOT reports that the bridge replacement is part of an $8.4 million Seymour District project which includes repairing and resurfacing U.S. 31 from south of Base Road near Columbus to south of U.S. 50 at Seymour, replacement of several drainage structures and construction of a roundabout at Bartholomew County Road 400S/Southern Crossing.

Work on the roundabout—located 1.6 miles south of S.R. 7 in Bartholomew County—is expected to begin in June.

Milestone is the contractor for the project

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools have a new superintendent lined up.

The school board last night approved the $170,000 annual contract for Dr. Jim Roberts who now serves as superintendent of the Batesville school system. School Board Member Polly Verbanic said she was most impressed by Roberts’ desire to make BCSC not just an excellent school district, but the best school district.

Current superintendent Dr. John Quick is retiring at the end of this school year. Roberts will take office in July.

Three people were arrested Friday, after two men led Jennings County deputies and Westport police on a chase through the woods.

Westport officers received an anonymous tip that a fugitive was at a home on County Road 925N, says Lt. Mike Mowery, spokesman for the sheriff’s department. As officers arrived, two people ran into the woods behind the home. The wanted man, 55-year-old Edward D. Richardson of North Vernon and 33-year-old Steven Fletcher of Greensburg were both caught after a short chase.

Fletcher received injuries to his face in the scuffle and had to be taken to an Indianapolis hospital.

Deputies allegedly found a meth lab on the back porch of the home and after getting a search warrant they also report finding methamphetamine, paraphernalia and precursors inside the home.

20-year-old Logan Ramey was found inside the home and was also arrested.

No charges have been filed against Fletcher, Mowery said.

Richardson is facing a Ripley County warrant for possession of marijuana and further preliminary charges of

• Manufacturing methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony.
• Possession of two or more precursors – Level 6 Felony,
• Possession of methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony,
• Possession of paraphernalia – Level 6 Felony,
• Maintaining a common nuisance – Level 6 Felony,
• Resisting law enforcement – A misdemeanor,

Ramey was arrested on suspicion of:

• Manufacturing methamphetamine – Level 4 Felony.
• Possession of two or more precursors – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of methamphetamine – Level 6 Felony
• Possession of paraphernalia – Level 6 Felony
• Maintaining a common nuisance – Level 6 Felony

Columbus Police arrested a local woman on drug charges and a warrant after a traffic stop on Sunday afternoon.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 3:20 p.m., C.O.P.P.S. (Community Oriented Policing and

Problem Solving) Officer Troy Love reported seeing an unsecured passenger in the front seat of a vehicle near Eighth Street and Hutchins Avenue. Love spoke with the driver, 39-year-old Kari A. Kinser, of Columbus. Love confirmed that Kinser had a local warrant for her arrest and she was taken into custody without incident.

Harris says that once Kinser was in custody, Love searched a backpack that was inside the vehicle and located a black bag with a lock on it. Love said that the bag was partially open, displaying syringes inside. CPD obtained a search warrant to open the bag. Inside, CPD officials reported finding ten syringes, drug paraphernalia, and three bags containing a small amount of methamphetamine.

Police say that Kinser was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device. In addition, authorities say that Kinser is being held on a warrant out of Bartholomew County Superior Court II on an original charge of Conversion.

A Columbus Police Officer twice used a Taser to subdue a local man who allegedly ran from officers on Sunday morning.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that at approximately 12:30 a.m., Sgt. Kyle Young was in the area of 15th Street

and Lafayette Avenue on a report of a suspicious person. When Young attempted to speak to the man, the suspect allegedly ran between houses. Young reportedly found the man moments later, trying to climb a privacy fence. Sgt. Young reported that he deployed his Taser after the suspect damaged the fence and refused to lay on the ground. Police say that the Taser didn’t work, which allegedly led to the suspect turning towards Young and taking a “fighting stance.” Young reportedly deployed the Taser a second time when the suspect began coming towards him in an aggressive manner. The second attempt was successful and the suspect was placed under arrest, said police.

The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Peter K. Lankey, of Columbus. Authorities say that Lankey was booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on preliminary charges of: Indiana Parole Warrant, Resisting Law Enforcement, Criminal Mischief and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

A first-year teacher for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) has been suspended after her arrest over the weekend on drunk-driving charges.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that 56-year-old Mary B. Ream, of Hope, had pulled out of the parking lot of a

Columbus liquor store in the area of 25th Street and Taylor Road Saturday night when one of her vehicle’s wheels came off. Harris says that Officer Lucas Nibarger arrived on the scene at approximately 8 p.m. and spoke with Ream, whom he says had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. Columbus Police say that Ream failed a number of field sobriety tests at the scene, as well as provided a portable breath sample of .219%, more than two-and-a-half times the legal limit. Police also allegedly found a half-empty bottle of whiskey and an unopened beer in Ream’s purse.

Harris says that Ream was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital, where officers obtained a warrant for a blood sample. She was then booked in the Bartholomew County Jail on a preliminary charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Previous Conviction within Five Years (Level 6 Felony).

Larry Perkinson, with the BCSC, says that the arrest is unfortunate. He added that that school officials are thankful that no one was hurt. Perkinson says that BCSC suspended Ream, who was teaching at the Columbus Signature Academy (CSA) – New Tech campus, immediately after learning of Saturday night’s incident. He added that the administration is recommending that Ream’s contract not be renewed.

Tips about a suspicious vehicle parked in Columbus led to the arrest of two people and the recovery of a stolen gun.

Officers were called after a resident reported a suspicious vehicle stopped in the 3700 block of Arapahoe Drive Friday evening. When officers talked to the driver, he allegedly tried to hide an eyeglasses case between the vehicle’s seats, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department.

When police searched the eyeglasses case, they allegedly found wax marijuana. The driver, 38-year old Phillip M. Cochran of North Vernon was also allegedly carrying a suboxone strip, which is a controlled substance. He was arrested and  officers searched the car and passengers. 42-year-old Christina A. Ramey of Columbus was allegedly carrying a syringe.

And when officers finished searching the car, they found more drugs, drug paraphernalia and two guns, one of which had been reported stolen in Bartholomew County, Harris said.

Cochran was arrested on preliminary charges of Two Counts of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Cocaine, Three Counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Legend Drug Smoking Device,  Two Counts of Possession of a Legend Drug, Theft/Receiving Stolen Firearm, Two Counts of Carrying a Handgun without a License, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Ramey was arrested on a preliminary charge of Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device.

Members of the Bartholomew Consolidated School board are slated to consider and likely approve the contract for a new superintendent tonight and the public will have a chance to meet the new school’s boss.

But the board members are also looking back on the 13 year tenure of Dr. John Quick. Quick is retiring at the end of this school year.

Dr. Jill Shedd, president of the school board, says Quick’s leadership led to the creation of the first K through 12 new tech curriculum in the state at the Columbus Signature Academies.

04-11 jill shedd on quick-1

Jeff Caldwell, a school board member, said that Quick has been very visible as a leader not just with the schools but in the community

04-11 Jeff Caldwell on Quick-1

Bob Abrams, a school board member, said that Quick is leaving his mark on the district through his leadership and his knack for picking quality people.

04-11 Bob Abrams on Quick-1

The school board meets at 7 p.m. tonight at Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School on 25th Street. Before the meeting will be a welcoming reception for new superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts, who is coming from leading the Batesville school system.

That reception starts at 6 p.m.