Columbus police arrested a fugitive after recognizing him while he was driving a car yesterday afternoon on Central Avenue.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department, says officers arrested 31-year-old Jake A. Pugsley at just before 2 p.m. After Pugsley was in handcuffs officers allegedly also noticed syringes in his vehicle, some of which allegedly contained heroin residue.

In addition to the original Jefferson County Warrant, Pugsley is now facing preliminary charges of possession or heroin, a legend drug injection device and drug paraphernalia.

A Columbus man was arrested on theft and other charges after allegedly fleeing a grocery store with almost $600 in alcohol yesterday.

According to witnesses at Kroger on National Road, a man grabbed liquor off the shelf then ran to a waiting vehicle at about 4:50 yesterday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police, says that officers found the vehicle in the 900 block of California Street.

Officers noticed bottles of liquor in the back seat and allegedly saw a passenger, 30-year-old Christopher S. Bryant trying to hide a syringe. Bryant then allegedly ran away and hid in a shed, where he was arrested. The driver of the vehicle also fled the scene, but police know his identify, Harris said.

Bryant is facing preliminary charges of theft, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief and possession of a legend drug injection device.

The search continues for a manager for the town of Hope.

The town has been without a day-to-day leader since Melina Fox resigned earlier this year. The Town Council thought a new manager was in place after its May meeting, but that hiree opted not to take the job on the day before he was supposed to start at the first of June.

At last night’s Town Council meeting, Town Council President Clyde Compton said the search is on hold. Compton said the council is checking the background of a potential candidate but no hiring decision has been made, nor is the council ready to begin advertising for the position again.

Chickens and other farm animals could not be kept inside the Columbus city limits, under a new ordinance to be considered tonight by Columbus City Council.

The ordinance would define domestic animals as those commonly kept as household pets, for protection, as companions and for the assistance of disabled people. That list includes dogs, cats, parakeets and other animals, should they be cared for like pets.

Farm animals would be those animals used for transportation, recreation, food, skins or for other byproducts. That includes horses, cattle, pigs and chickens, among others.

Both types of animals would be illegal in the city limits, but domestic animals would be allowed if they are being kept as pets or by an animal keeper.

Columbus City Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight in the Cal Brand Meeting Room at Columbus City Hall.

An Edinburgh man collapsed and died after fleeing from Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputies last night.

The Indiana State Police is investigating the case that started at about 8:30 last night, when deputies were called to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 5100 block of North County Road 250W. Deputies began following a white van that matched the description of the vehicle.

The vehicle suddenly came to a stop and a passenger leapt from the backseat and ran away, according to state police reports. The man, identified as 44-year-old Robert A. Quick, jumped into the Driftwood River and swam to the other side, but then collapsed.

After reaching the other side of the river, deputies started medical care and called for assistance. Quick was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead by Bartholomew County Coroner Larry Fisher.

State police say that Quick was wanted on Johnson and Bartholomew county warrants.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

If Bartholomew County residents have expired, unused, and/or unwanted prescription drugs, they can safely dispose of them this Thursday.

Judy Jackson, spokesperson for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, says that they will be working in conjunction with Cummins to provide a Community-wide Recycling Day. She says that the Sheriff’s Office will accept prescription drugs from county residents on that day, from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., in the parking lot at Cummins CEP, at 500 Central Avenue.

Jackson stresses that medications will not be accepted from businesses, including pharmacies. She says that these businesses should properly manage their drug waste under federal and state hazardous waste regulations.

Jackson adds that Bartholomew County residents with questions should send an email to: sheriff@bartholomew.in.gov.

The construction of a bridge deck on State Road 3 in Decatur County will affect traffic on Interstate 74.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that its contractor is scheduling the work at the northbound State Road 3 structure spanning I-74 at Greensburg. Harry Maginity, INDOT spokesman, says that crews must place deck pans and rebar over I-74 traffic, then pour concrete. He says that this work requires closing interstate lanes while work takes place overhead.

INDOT says that one lane of I-74 will close in each direction on Wednesday, beginning at 7 a.m. Those lanes are scheduled to reopen by 2 p.m. this Friday. Maginity adds that there will be additional, single lane closures on I-74 in both directions on the following dates:

• Monday-Friday, June 27-July 1
• Tuesday-Friday, July 5-July 8
• Monday-Friday, July 11- July 15

Each week’s closures begin at 7 a.m. and will be lifted by 2 p.m. Fridays, says Maginity. He adds that Milestone is INDOT’s contractor for this $3,748,040 State Road 3 bridge replacement project that is building new northbound and southbound superstructures over I-74. INDOT adds that construction of the southbound bridge will begin later this summer.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools will get $750,000 from the city if the Columbus City Council agrees with a decision by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission to fund programs designed to improve the graduation rate, increase education in math and science and help special needs students.

The school corporation asked for nearly $1.1 million to cover programs aimed at increasing student success. The areas focused on by BCSC include growing the graduation rate, increasing education in math and science, as well as helping students with special needs transition to productive members of society.

The school corporation asked for $253,825 in TIF funding for the iGrad program, which has a goal of attaining a 100-percent graduation rate in BCSC. Officials say that iGrad helps students with academic issues in grades 8 through 12, by increasing educational attainment through additional academic support and mentoring to students who have been identified as “at risk” for not completing high school. The program is about helping students receive the help they need to successfully complete high school, then go on to college, additional training or the work force. Corporation officials note that iGrad is also served by area businesses through internship, and co-op relationships. BCSC says that iGrad currently serves 535 of its students.

BCSC requested $575,000 in funding for the STEM program. STEM is the acronym of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. School officials say that although the four parts of STEM have been taught independently of each other, the STEM philosophy allows the four parts to all “play an integral part in the teaching of the whole.” They say that STEM education engages students and equips them with critical thinking, problem solving, and creative and collaborative skills that help them establish connections. BCSC notes that the STEM Seamless Pathways Project has been developed to help students develop the knowledge-base, skills, and qualifications necessary to meet the local demand for jobs in the fields of mechanical engineering and manufacturing engineering technology. School officials told the Redevelopment Commission that STEM should affect around 60-percent of BCSC students.

BCSC officials also asked for $246,796 for what they call “Transition Planning.” They explain Transition Planning as identifying a student with special needs’ strengths, preferences, interests, as well as the supports needed to succeed. It is about equipping students with better opportunities and education to make good life-choices that will allow them to take care of themselves, find employment and be less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. carry over into adult life, increased self-determination skills, social skills and work skills needed for job retention, and less involvement with the criminal justice system.

The Redevelopment Commission voted Monday night to approve total funding of both the iGrad and Transition Planning programs, noting their importance in the betterment of the local community and economy. The body also voted to fund the STEM program at just under $250,000. The agreement is for one year, though BCSC and the Redevelopment Commission indicated that future funding would be asked for, and likely granted, should the first year prove successful.

The funding request will go before the city council for final approval, due to the amount requested.

A Father’s Day traffic stop in Jackson County led to the seizure of drugs, guns and money.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police,  says that at approximately 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, Trooper Randel Miller conducted

a traffic stop on a pickup-truck on southbound I-65 near the Seymour exit. Wheeles says that the stop came about as a result of the pickup having expired license plates.

During his investigation, Trooper Miller says that he witnessed numerous indicators of possible criminal activity. This led to him establishing probable cause to search the vehicle. During the search, Miller allegedly found over 10 grams of cocaine, nearly 300 grams of marijuana, two handguns and nearly $1,500 in cash.

The driver of the vehicle, John W. Foree, Jr., 55, of Frankfort, Kentucky, was arrested on felony charges of Dealing in Cocaine, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of a Handgun by a Serious Violent Felon and Maintaining a Common Nuisance. He was also

arrested on misdemeanor charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Authorities say that Foree’s passenger, Kenneth E. Satterly, 67, of Bethlehem, Kentucky, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of Possession of a Handgun without a Permit and Possession of Marijuana.

Both Foree and Satterly were booked in the Jackson County Jail.

Bridge demolition work tonight on I-65 in Greenwood will cause traffic delays on Main Street.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says that its contractor plans to remove steel beams from Interstate 65’s southbound bridge over Main Street during overnight hours tonight. An INDOT spokesman says that this work will require several temporary traffic stoppages that will delay drivers traveling on Main Street between the 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The delays are anticipated to last approximately 20 minutes each. This work is dependent on the weather.

INDOT says this work is part of the $84 million project to add travel lanes between Greenwood and Franklin.