The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department is investigating two reports of area churches that were broken into over the past week.

Det. Jeff Jones says that the department received a report on May 28 that someone had broken into Bear Creek Baptist Church, at 3945 West County Road 1000 North. He says that the thief, or thieves, made off with assisted-listening earphones.

The second break-in was reported the following day, says Jones. He explains that someone made their way into the Graham Baptist Church, located at 2645 South County Road 600 East, damaging doors in the process. The detective says that once the criminal(s) entered the church, evidence indicate that they looked through the building, but nothing was reported stolen.

Jennings County Sheriff Gary Driver is asking for your help in catching those responsible for these incidents, as well as keeping similar ones from happening at any other houses of worship. He is asking you to report any suspicious activity you may notice during strange hours. The Sheriff’s Department is also asking that you keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles, or other items, people or situations that seem “out of place.” If you see anything suspicious, Sheriff Driver encourages you to report it by calling dispatch at (812) 346-4911 or 911.

Columbus firefighters responded to an electrical fire in a garage Friday morning. CFD Captain Mike Wilson says that firefighters were called to 1926 North Cherry Street at 9:53 a.m., after a resident discovered the blaze.

Wilson says that firefighters arrived on the scene and found a one-story detached garage with flames visible inside the building. He said that

firefighters deployed a hand line from the engine and quickly extinguished the flames. During the investigation, Wilson says that firefighters found that the garage’s circuit breaker had been tripped during the incident. Investigators believe an overload of the electrical circuits contributed to the fire.

Wilson says that damage to contents and the structure are estimated at $6,000. He adds that fire investigators have ruled the fire as accidental and noted that no one was hurt.

Another traffic switch for the Main Street bridge at I-65 in Johnson County goes into effect Friday night.

Harry Maginity, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, says that southbound lanes of the interstate will be routed to the northbound side, via a median crossover, at mile marker 100 near Greenwood. This change will put northbound and southbound I-65 lanes on the east half of the structure, he says. Maginity notes that this will vacate lane on the west half of the bridge to allow for demolition and reconstruction.

INDOT says that southbound I-65 lanes will switch back to the southbound side at a median crossover at mile marker 98.8, south of the bridge.

Maginity says that the changes are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday, when the two left southbound lanes of I-65 approaching the Main Street bridge will close to traffic. He explains that this will provide room for crews to relocate concrete barrier walls and do other work prior to switching traffic to the northbound side. Maginity notes that one lane of southbound I-65 will remain open.

INDOT says that additional changes in the I-65 traffic pattern will occur Tuesday night, between mile markers 96.7 and 98.4. In addition, officials say that they plan to delay closure of County Road 350 until Monday, June 13.

Maginity says that this work is part of the $84 million Major Moves 2020 project, which will add travel lanes to I-65 between Greenwood and Franklin.

Developmental Services Inc. is reporting that its annual Golf Classic tournament raised $17,000 for the not for profit group on Wednesday.

Tom Harpring, spokesman for the agency, says that nearly 160 golfers took part, many of them first time participants. Since the Golf Classic started in 1985, it has raised more than $420,000 to aid children with disabilities including speech and physical therapy and support for families.

Harpring said that the team of Frank and Nico Mingione and Michael and Matt Traylor won the annual benefit scramble with a 20-under Par 52 at Otter Creek. Matt Traylor also hit a hole-in-one.

Columbus police arrested a wanted man last night, after an officer saw 39-year-old David W. Sidwell standing near a bike in the 2400 block of Sixth Street.

Officer Travis Harbaugh found that Sidwell was wanted on Bartholomew County warrants for failing to appear in court on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, conversion and a probation violation. As police searched Sidwell, they report finding coffee filters in his pockets containing methamphetamine, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police.

Sidwell was arrested on the warrants and on new charges of possession of meth and drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

The Town of Hope will be holding its Relay for Life on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the Town Square, rain or shine.

Organizers made the decision last night to stick with the outdoor location, regardless of the chance of rain.

The event will feature a fish fry with Hartsville volunteer firefighters, a motorcycle ride and music by groups including Lei’Gacy from Columbus and Hope Grown.

The event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Cummins has received an energy management award.

The Columbus-based engine manufacturer was named the winner of the 2016 Award of Excellence in Energy Management from the Clean Energy Ministerial, a high-level global forum that promotes policies and programs to advance clean energy. Katie Zarich, Cummins’ Manager of External Communications, says that CEM energy ministers presented this award to company officials on Thursday at the annual CEM meeting in San Francisco.

Company officials say that Cummins was one of only three organizations worldwide to be recognized for this honor by an independent panel of international experts.

“To meet the world’s energy, environmental and economic challenges, we must improve how we manage energy on a global scale,” said Jennifer Rumsey, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at Cummins Inc. She continued, “Cummins is committed to energy efficiency in our facilities and throughout our supply chain as well as through our product innovations. We are honored to join the Energy Management Campaign because we believe structured energy management and aggressive goals are key to making progress in global energy efficiency.”

A two-vehicle crash Thursday morning closed the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 in Bartholomew County.

Trooper Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police, says that at about 9:45 a.m., troopers responded to the scene of the crash at

the 57.5 mile marker. According to the initial investigation by Trooper Jason Duncan, a pickup truck pulling a box trailer, driven by Elmer Whilkens, 89, of South Dakota, was traveling south in the left lane when his truck left the roadway and entered the median. The vehicle then came back on the road and into the path of a semi pulling a box trailer, driven by Salah Toughzaqui, 42, of Kentucky. Authorities say that Toughzaqui’s vehicle was traveling in the right lane of southbound I-65.

Wheeles says that the investigation revealed that the front of the tractor trailer struck the passenger side of the pickup truck. The force of the collision caused Whilkens’ trailer to overturn in the middle of the southbound lanes, say investigators. They add that both vehicles came to a stop in the roadway.

State Police say that Whilkens sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.

Toughzaqui was checked out on the scene by medical personnel, then released.

Wheeles says that driver fatigue is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash. The roadway was shut down for about ninety minutes for the crash investigation and cleanup. Authorities note that traffic remained congested for an additional hour due to vehicles that had become disabled in the roadway while stopped in the traffic backup.

Indiana State Police are thanking the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Regional EMS, Jackson County EMS, Wayne Township Fire, and 31 Wrecker Service for their help in this incident.

The Freeman Army Airfield Museum has announced the installation of new signs welcoming visitors.

Museum officials say that the new signs are the result of a year’s worth of planning and teamwork to replace the original signs, which suffered deterioration from weather and age. They note that the Greater Seymour Trust Fund generously funded the Westwind Sign-produced signs, while visitor donations paid for the installation materials. Officials with the museum add that the museum benefited from the United Fund’s “Day of Caring” event, as participants with the Housing Partnership installed the signs.

The Freeman Army Airfield Museum is a non-profit organization which relies on the generosity of the Airport Authority, the City of Seymour, visitors and foundations to further its mission to preserve World War II artifacts and to educate visitors about the role that the airfield played in local and national history.

For more information on the Freeman Army Airfield Museum or to schedule a tour, call (812) 522-0613. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday, except on holidays, and by appointment.

Two Johnson County residents were arrested on drug charges after a Thursday morning traffic stop in Bartholomew County.

A spokesperson with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department says that at 4:38 a.m., Sgt. Kris Weisner was traveling south on I-65 when

he saw a vehicle traveling slowly and weaving within its lanes. As he was following the vehicle, the deputy ran the registration tag, which came back as belonging to a different vehicle. The vehicle exited I-65 and continued on US 31 where Weisner made a traffic stop near County Road 650 North.

Sgt. Weisner spoke with the driver, Angie M. Cox, 39, of Bargersville, who was wanted on a warrant out of Johnson County. As authorities were doing an inventory for the vehicle, they allegedly found three handguns, a dismantled shotgun, several syringes filled with what is believed to be heroin, along with what is being called a “substantial amount” of other drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff’s Department officials say this incident is to be expected with the increased presence of meth, heroin and other illicit drugs in the

community. “Deputies are coming in contact with more people possessing illegal drugs and handguns together,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “Obviously, the two don’t mix and it is a concern to law enforcement,” he added.

Authorities say that, in addition to the Johnson County warrant, Cox faces additional preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia and Possession of a Legend Drug Injection Device. They adds that Cox is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail on a 48-hour hold, pending further investigation and transfer to Johnson County authorities.

Deputies say that Cox’s passenger, Jason O. Powell, 37, of Franklin, was also arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Legend drug

injection device and Possession of a Handgun without a license. They add that Powell is also being held on a 48-hour hold, pending further investigation.