A horse rider was flown to IU Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after a weekend accident in Brown County.

The rider, 48-year-old Gina Glover of Bargersville, was thrown from her horse after the animal was spooked by a passing motorcycle at about 3 p.m. Saturday, according to reports from conservation officers with the Indiana department of Natural Resources.

She was riding along the roadway in the park’s horse camp at the time of the accident. Glover suffered head and facial injuries, authorities said.

Bartholomew County officials are looking for a pay hike for the county’s IT workers.

The county has had trouble competing with the private sector for information technology professionals and will consider bumping the top of the pay scale for the IT director up to more than $90,000.

Last week, County Commissioners President Rick Flohr said that the position is vacant now after the previous director resigned. The county has had trouble holding onto qualified professionals because they can easily find jobs paying two to three times as much in the private sector, Flohr said.

And the county’s IT infrastructure is extremly important, especially for law enforcement and the court system. Recent outages led to disruptions in the ability of county deputies and city police being able to receive information in their patrol cars that they needed for calls and for county judges to access court records.

The County Commissioners are asking the County Council to approve a higher pay range of up to $92,000 for the county’s IT director, so they can begin the search for a replacement. But Flohr conceded that the county may face a pay range closer to $100,000 to get the person they need. A pay scale increase that large would raise the pay to about $30,000 more than earlier directors.

Commissioners are also seeking job description that could allow higher pay for the few remaining people in the county IT department. In the meanwhile, the few remaining county employees are on call around the clock and former employees are now contracting with the county to keep vital systems operating, such as on election night.

Commissioners are proposing paying for the pay increase from the county’s telecommunications fund.

County Council is scheduled to hear the requests at its meeting at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the county governmental office building on Third Street in Columbus.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is reminding area drivers that demolition of the three-span Sand Creek bridge on U.S. Highway 31 takes place on Monday. That bridge is currently closed.

Harry Maginity, INDOT spokesman, says that, despite the closure, officials are aware that a number of vehicles have been illegally going around barricades to use the bridge. He says that these drivers, and everyone else, need to realize that, come Monday, the bridge, located 7.2 miles south of State Road 7 at the Bartholomew-Jackson County line, will be gone. Maginity adds that Indiana State Police Troopers are monitoring the area closely for those who continue to use the bridge this weekend.

Maginity says that a number of detours are available for drivers to use. Those driving from the north can utilize County Road 900 South, while those driving in from the south can access County Road 1150 North. INDOT says that a state highway detour is routing traffic around the construction area by way of U.S. 50 and Interstate 65.

Milestone is the state’s contractor for this $8.4 million project, which will replace the Sand Creek bridge and two culverts during a 240-day closure. During that time, Maginity says that crews will repair and resurface U.S. 31 from a pavement break south of Base Road near Columbus, to a pavement break south of U.S. 50 at Seymour. In addition, he says that a roundabout is also being constructed at County Road 400 South/Southern Crossing in Bartholomew County.

The Columbus Area Arts Council is partnering with the Kroger on a mural project for its new location under construction at 3060 N. National Road. Geri Handley, the council’s marketing manager, says that local artists are invited to submit a bio and examples of their work to the Arts Council by May 20. She says that three finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges and asked to submit a proposal for the finished artwork. The design of one artist will be selected for installation as a wall mural inside the new store.

Eligible individuals must be age 18 or older and live, work or attend school in Bartholomew County. Handley says that stipends of $250 each will be given to three finalists to produce full proposals. A $7,500 commission will be awarded for the winning artist to create their design at the new Kroger store. Complete guidelines and a site plan may be found on the Arts Council’s website, at www.artsINcolumbus.org.

This mural project is just one of many for Kroger. The company says its goal is to have an interior mural completed by a local artist in 65 of their new stores across the country this year.

Two people were arrested in Jennings County on Thursday when officers conducted a “house check” on a paroled inmate.

Lt. Mike Mowery, Jennings County Sheriff’s Dept. Spokesman, says that Deputy David Turner was assisting Indiana Parole Agent Elston Boldry in

conducting the check on a parolee who is registered to live at the home on Derbyshire Court. During the investigation, Sandra Hulsopple (Johnson), the parolee’s mother, reportedly told the officers that her son was not home. As they checked the home, the officers reported finding some illegal items in plain view. During the search, the parolee’s younger brother, a juvenile, allegedly resisted officers, striking one of them.

Officers then applied for a search warrant, which was granted. During the search, Deputy Turner reported finding marijuana, methamphetamine and paraphernalia. The parolee was not found.

Sandra K. Hulsopple (Johnson), 46, of North Vernon, was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine (a Level 6 Felony). Her bond was set at $3,155.

The 16-year-old juvenile was arrested on preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement (a Class A Misdemeanor, Battery on Law Enforcement (a Level 6 Felony) and Possession of Marijuana (a Class B Misdemeanor). He was taken to the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center.

Lt. Mowery notes that the Department of Child Services was contacted due to the fact that there were other children living in the home.

The Columbus Police Department is currently taking applications for police cadets. Lt. Matt Harris, CPD spokesman, says that the cadet program is designed to give high school students an in depth look at law enforcement while being mentored by local officers.

Harris says that in the past, police cadets have assisted local officers at special events, such as the Ethnic Expo and DARE Graduations. He says that cadets who complete the necessary requirements are allowed to go on two ride-alongs with an officer each semester.

Harris says that applicants must attend a Bartholomew County school, be in grades 10 through 12 and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Police cadets are required to attend the CPD Cadet Academy which will be held July 11-July 15. Applications can be downloaded from the Columbus police department website at www.columbus.in.gov/police/cpd-cadet-program/. Completed applications can be submitted to Officer Alyson Rech at arech@columbus.in.gov, or dropped off at the Columbus Police Department. Cadet interviews are scheduled for Friday, May 27.

A bike-share program for the city of Columbus is coming closer to being a reality. The city’s Redevelopment Commission voted Wednesday to approve a resolution to execute a contract with the Columbus Parks Foundation for the placement of a bike station at the Jackson Street Parking Garage.

Stan Gamso, Redevelopment Commission Attorney, explained that the station will be placed on the west side of the garage, north of the garage entrance and south of the intersection of Fifth and Jackson Streets. He added that there is an expense of 28-hundred-dollars to put an electrical outlet at the station site, which the Parks Foundation will pay for. A sub-meter is also being installed, so the city can recoup utility costs associated with the operation of the kiosk. The Redevelopment Commission, and the city as a whole, will not face any expense associated with this program, according to Redevelopment Director Heather Pope.

The Redevelopment Commission approved the plan, unanimously.

The former Eastside Community Center was packed to overflowing Thursday evening as local residents, city officials and representatives of the United Way celebrated a second lease on life for the building. The structure, on McClure Road, was officially rededicated as the America and Roby Anderson Community Center. Mayor Jim Lienhoop read the proclamation, which highlighted the lives and accomplishments of the Anderson Family.

Dascal Bunch, who represents the area on the city council, says that the rededication fills a void in the community.

Bunch says that it took a lot of work to get the building open again.

America and Roby Anderson were well known in that area for their generosity to those in need. A number of their children, and other family members, took part in Thursday night’s ceremony.

Local police and deputies will be stepping up patrols this weekend, on the lookout for drunk and impaired drivers during the prom and the Kentucky Derby.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department and Columbus Police Department DUI taskforce will be hoping to reduce traffic crashes, prevent underage drinking and drug abuse and drunk driving, according to authorities.

Sheriff Matt Myers is encouraging teens to stay safe and sober and to buckle up and drive slower this weekend during prom activities.

Myers also is warning about increased traffic on the Interstate due to people heading to Louisville for the Derby. He suggests taking an extra four to five hours for your trip, if you are planning on going to the race.

Columbus Police Department is accepting applications for the next Columbus Public Safety Citizen’s Academy class, starting in August.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the department, says participants will be able to see behind the scenes with the police, Columbus Fire Department, the Emergency Operations Center and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department. There will also be demonstrations from the SWAT team, bomb squad, police dogs and ridealongs with police officers and a trip to the shooting range.

New this year will be a scenario night, where academy participants will be assuming the role of a police officer dispatched to a call.

The 10-week class meets on Thursday evenings and it is free but it is limited to 30 participants and you must go through a background check. You can download an application at the Columbus Police Department website at www.columbus.in.gov.