Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller visited the Columbus Police Department (CPD) Thursday afternoon to recognize local law-enforcement for saving the lives of those who were going through drug overdoses.

Zoeller was joined by Mayor Jim Lienhoop, CPD Chief Jon Rohde and a number of officers from the CPD and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s

Department. The Attorney General spoke about drug addiction and how it is affecting communities across Indiana. He thanked officers for their efforts to combat heroin and other drugs, noting that police rarely receive a “thank you” from the people whose lives are being saved. Zeller also credited work done on the state level that made it possible for police to carry, and administer, Narcan, a drug that counteracts the affects of an opioid overdose.

The Attorney General recognized a number of officers from the CPD and the Sheriff’s Department who have saved lives using Narcan. CPD Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that five officers were recognized for using the life-saving medication during the course of their duties. They were: Ben Goodin, Justin Black, Clayton Nolting, Matt Martindale, and Jeremy Jones. On the Sheriff’s Department side, Zoeller recognized: Leah Burton, Matt Bush and Justin Arnholt.

Mayor Lienhoop also thanked the officers, noting the importance of their work. Both the Mayor, and Attorney General Zoeller, indicated that the drug situation will likely get worse before it gets better.

Three local people were arrested Thursday on drug and counterfeiting charges. Indiana State Police (ISP) Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Wheeles says that the arrests came about after the department’s Versailles Criminal Patrol Team served a search warrant at a home in Jennings County.

Wheeles says that the incident began when troopers attempted to serve an arrest warrant for 33-year-old Jeremiah J. Anderson, of North Vernon,

at a home on Country Manor Boulevard in Country Squire Lakes. While at the home, troopers reportedly found Anderson and another man, 33-year-old Vern E. Purtlebaugh, of Columbus, hiding in the home’s crawl space. While still at the house, Wheeles says that troopers learned information that Purtlebaugh and Anderson had allegedly passed counterfeit money to a taxi driver that had given the men a ride just moments before.

Wheeles says that troopers then obtained a search warrant for the home. During a search, troopers allegedly found suspected

methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, additional counterfeit money, along with printers and copiers used for the production of counterfeit money. Authorities say this led to the arrests of Anderson, Purtlebaugh and 30-year-old Bryttany M. Wooten, of North Vernon.

ISP say that all three suspects were booked in the Jennings County Jail on charges of Counterfeiting, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Syringe, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Authorities say that Purtlebaugh faces an additional charge of Visiting a Common Nuisance, while Anderson faces an additional charge of

Maintaining a Common Nuisance. Police add that Anderson was also arrested on the original arrest warrant for Residential Entry, while Wooten was also charged with Harboring a Fugitive and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

A one-vehicle crash resulted in Lowell Road being closed for a few hours on Friday morning.

Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department Spokesperson Judy Jackson says that the crash occurred on Lowell Road, just east of County Road

250 West. She explained that a preliminary investigation, revealed that a semi-tractor, hauling timber, was traveling east on Lowell Road when the driver began to navigate a 90-degree turn in the roadway. Authorities say that during the course of the turn, the semi overturned, losing its load of timber and coming to rest on its side.

The driver of the semi was injured and flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Authorities say that they do not yet know the name of the driver, or his condition.

Lowell Road has since re-opened.

IUPUC has a new vice chancellor and dean starting in July.

The university is announcing that Reinhold Hill has been chosen to fill the top position at the Columbus campus. Hill currently serves as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Governors State University in Illinois. Hill is also an English professor. Prior to his work at Governors State, Hill was a leader at Ferris State University

Hill holds a bachelors in communication studies from Brigham Young University, a masters in English from the University of Louisiana and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri. Hill also completed the Management Development Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

A police search for a stolen bicycle led to drug arrests earlier this week for two Seymour women.

The Seymour Police Department is reporting that officers were searching for a bicycle stolen from Peak Avenue Tuesday afternoon, when they heard it might be at a home on Village Circle. Police talked to the homeowner, 56-year-old Tammi Walters, and thought she might be involved with drugs. After getting a search warrant, officers allegedly discovered methamphetamine, illegal prescription medications, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, hypodermic syringes — and the stolen bicycle.

Walters and another woman at the home, 32 year old Seymour resident Shannon Bennett, were both arrested.

Walters is facing preliminary charges of Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Schedule 4 Narcotic, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe, and Assisting a Criminal.

Bennett was arrested on suspicion of Visiting a Common Nuisance, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Schedule 4 Narcotic, Possession of a Hypodermic Syringe

Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) personnel will begin removing political signs from right-of-way areas along state highways, U.S. highways and interstates in southeastern Indiana. Officials say the work begins on Monday.

INDOT says that the signs are against the law and a cause for numerous complaints from residents and drivers. Officials say that political campaign signage is prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way, according to state law. They add that the signs clutter roadside areas, distract attention from the road and compromise the safety of drivers. INDOT adds that some signs even create sight-distance obstructions that could cause crashes resulting in injury or death.

INDOT says that right-of-way areas to be cleared of political signage include:

• Interstates and their interchanges
• Intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway
• All rights-of-way paralleling federal or state highways

INDOT officials say that where right-of-way is not clearly marked, campaigns should estimate that the sign-free area extends from the road to the back of the ditch, to the fence line, or to utility poles.

INDOT adds that candidates may retrieve their signs at local INDOT maintenance facilities between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.