A North Vernon teen turned herself in to authorities who are investigating a credit card theft scheme.

19-year-old Natosha N. Sheppard turned herself in to Bartholomew County deputies on Tuesday, says Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department.

Jackson said the investigation stemmed for a report in July of unauthorized charges to a victim’s credit card. Sheppard was interviewed and allegedly admitted to using the victim’s card twice.

Sheppard is facing two preliminary charges of felony theft.

A Columbus man is being accused of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Bartholomew County deputies began investigating the report of a minor girl who had been involved in sexual activity with 22-year-old Cade E. Stewart. A warrant was issued for Stewart and he was arrested without incident, deputies report.

He is being held in the Bartholomew County Jail on $15,000 bond.

Residents and volunteers in the town of Hope will be working Saturday to spruce up the community, ahead of the town’s biggest annual events.

The town will set up dumpsters at the Hope Utilities office and volunteers will be on hand from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help residents unload.

J.T. Doane, the town manager said that the town could still use volunteers. Volunteers will work two-hour shifts from 8 to 10 a.m., 10 a.m. to noon, and noon to 2 p.m., he said.

If you would like to volunteer you can call Doane at 812-546-6403.

The Hope Ride is Saturday the 17th and the annual Hope Heritage Days festival is on Sept. 23rd through the 25th.

The utilities office is at 529 Mill Street.

The Red Cross and the Columbus Fire Department will join Friday for what is being called a “Home Fire Safety Canvassing.” on Friday as a part of the United Way Day of Service 2016.

Capt. Mike Wilson, CFD spokesman, says that the department’s fire prevention bureau and the Red Cross will be identifying target areas for a door to door canvasing project. He says that the purpose is to provide fire safety information and ensure homes have working smoke alarms. In the event that a home does not have working smoke alarms, Wilson says that an alarm can be installed at the time of the visit by firefighters.

The Red Cross is coordinating the volunteer effort. If you would like to volunteer, call the American Red Cross Columbus office at (812) 379-9551. Volunteers will provide residents with fire safety information during the canvassing, which is tentatively scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last through the late afternoon.

Authorities say that during 2015, 216 smoke alarms were installed in Columbus through the efforts of CFD and The Red Cross. Organizers note that this was made possible through several smoke alarm canvassing outings that occurred in the city.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department needs more money to cover overtime costs. Sheriff Matt Myers appeared before the county council during its work session Tuesday night. He told the body that he has enough money in his budget to cover the current pay cycle. After that…

Myers gave a run-down of where overtime dollars are being spent. They include…

The Sheriff explained that the overtime budget situation could be much worse if it weren’t for deputies taking flex-time and administrative staff picking up the slack…

Council members are expected to take action during its meeting Tuesday night.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office has announced the completion of the national and statewide 2016 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization campaign. During the annual 25-day enforcement period, authorities say that 69 tickets were written, while 14 arrests were made for driving while intoxicated within Bartholomew County.

“Driving sober is driving safe,” said Captain Brandon Slate. “Getting behind the wheel intoxicated is not worth a ticket, possible jail time, or your life. This campaign helps reinforce that message and we will continue to work hard until every driver across our state understands the risks of driving impaired.”

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over is an annual enforcement effort supported by federal highway safety funding. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute distributes funding to more than 250 participating Indiana law enforcement agencies.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will host a public information meeting next week to discuss proposed intersection improvements on U.S. 50 in North Vernon. Specifically, the intersection at State Road 750 on the west side of North Vernon and the intersection of State Road 750, also known as Buckeye Street, on the east side of the city.

INDOT says that the preferred fix are constructions of roundabouts at each intersection. The agency says that the proposed improvements are part of comprehensive transportation improvement delivered to the community as part of the U.S. 50 North Vernon Corridor Project.

INDOT says that the purpose of the meeting, set for Wednesday, Sept. 14, is to present information about the projects and to engage residents in conversation about improving safety at each intersection.

INDOT is inviting residents, commuters and other interested parties to next Wednesday’s event, being held in the Jennings County High School Auditorium. Organizers say that an open house begins at 5:30 p.m., while the formal presentation begins at 6 p.m.

Officials with INDOT say that, during the open house session, they will be available to address questions and explain each intersection improvement. INDOT adds that project maps, displays and information packets will be available throughout the evening.

The West Nile virus has been confirmed in Bartholomew County for the first time this year. The Bartholomew County Health Department reports this morning that a person has tested positive for the disease.

Most people who get infected with the disease have either no symptoms or very mild symptoms but for some people the disease can lead to encephalitis or meningitis. The most common symptoms are high fever, headache, stiff neck, muscle weakness or even paralysis and confusion.

West Nile is transmitted by mosquitoes, which bite a human after biting an infected bird.

They will be concentrating their anti-mosquito efforts in the areas where the virus has been detected. But they also ask that you take precautions on your own, such as:

• Making sure your property is clear of any standing water including in flower pots, buckets, old tires and even clogged gutters. That’s where mosquitos can breed.
• Using an insect repellent containing DEET if you are outdoors.
• Taking special precautions if you must be out between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are the most active.
• Repairing any malfunctioning septic systems as mosquitoes like to breed in sewer water.

A failure to signal a turn led to a Columbus man’s arrest on drug charges Tuesday night.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police, says that an officer stopped a vehicle in the 2500 block of McKinley Avenue at about 7:05 p.m. last night. While Officer Danielle Stigers checked the driver’s license, Officer Jeremy Jones and his police dog, Max, inspected around the vehicle, and Max alerted to the smell of drugs.

Police allegedly found methamphetamine in the vehicle and in the clothing and billfold of the driver, 38-year-old Todd M. Penrose. They also allegedly found a syringe in Penrose’s pocket.

He was arrested on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of a legend drug injection device.

A Nashville woman was arrested by Columbus police on drug charges after being a passenger in a speeding vehicle.

Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says police stopped the car on Second Street at about 6:40 p.m. last night for driving 53 mph in a 30 mph zone on Second Street. During the traffic stop, police came across a makeup bag that allegedly contained syringes, drug paraphernalia and a small amount of heroin.

24-year-old Tasha A. Harrison was arrested on preliminary charges of possessing a legend drug injection device, drug paraphernalia and heroin.