A Shelbyville man was arrested Saturday on alcohol-related charges after an early-morning traffic stop.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at approximately 2:45 a.m., Deputy Sgt. Kris Weisner saw a vehicle traveling east on County Road 450 South without its headlights on. Weisner stopped the vehicle and spoke with the three people inside. Sgt. Weisner reported smelling alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. The driver, 20-year-old Dakota Stevens, allegedly told Weisner that he had been drinking but didn’t realize his headlights were not on.

Stevens was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated Illegal Consumption of Alcohol and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a License. Jackson says that Stevens has since been released.

A Garden City man was arrested Friday night after a traffic stop.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at 9:23 p.m., Deputy Andrew Dougan saw a car driving without headlights near Garden City. Dougan stopped the car and spoke with the driver, 39-year-old Alberto Rodriguez. During the conversation, Deputy Dougan reported seeing alcohol sitting on the passenger’s seat and smelled alcohol on Rodriquez.

Rodriguez was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating Without Ever Receiving a License and Operating while intoxicated. Jackson says that Rodriguez has since been released.

A Columbus woman who was stopped for an expired license plate is now facing drug charges.

Officers stopped the vehicle driven by 32-year-old Sasha S. Penrose at about 3:15 p.m. Friday afternoon near Beam Road and U.S. 31. After issuing a citation, a search of her car before it was towed, allegedly revealed digital scales with methamphetamine residue, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department.

She is facing preliminary charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine.

A Westport woman was arrested over the weekend for allegedly stealing a car and forging the title.

A Columbus police officer noticed a vehicle parked in an alley on Werner Avenue at about 10:15 a.m. Saturday morning and recognized it from the description of a vehicle stolen earlier in the month. A check of the license plate and the VIN number revealed it was the same vehicle.

34-year-old Melissa R. Hulse was in a nearby home and told police that she had purchased the vehicle. But the title had scribbled handwriting and police believe that Hulse forged a signature on the document. She was arrested on preliminary charges of  auto theft, forgery and an outstanding warrant from Marion County.

Although we haven’t had any stretches of really cold weather yet, Human Services Inc. is ready to help with your winter heating bills, if needed.

Kelley Goins, director of housing stabilization with Human Services Inc. says money is available for those in need.

“The Energy Assistance Program began Nov. 1st. and we assist income-qualified individuals and families, with a one-time benefit paid toward their heating source, which includes electric, gas, propane or wood,” Goins said.

The agency has a group of returning applicants every year, but is looking to expand to more in need with the energy assistance program.

“We are really trying to expand to people who may not know about our program or who may just not have thought about it, because the weather has been exceptional,” Goins said.

You will need to gather some paperwork before applying Goins said. That will include IDs for all adults in the house, Social Security numbers for all residents and income information. Households can qualify that make up to 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

The program is paid from federal and state grants. Last year the agency assisted more than 4,000 people in the five counties Human Services covers – Bartholomew, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby. However, there have been as many as 7,000 households helped in some years.

Applications are accepted through the entire winter heating period, through March.You can pick up an application at the offices in each county. The Bartholomew County office is on County Road 600N at the former Cross Cliff school.

You can also call the local office in your county to have an application mailed. The Bartholomew County office is 812-372-8407. Or you can go online to hsi-indiana.com

Members of the Islamic Society of Columbus Indiana believe the best way to bridge the gaps between community members and their new neighbors is just getting to know one another.

The group will be holding an Ask-a-Muslim event from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10th in front of the Commons. It is a chance to meet someone of a different faith, to discuss issues — and to share coffee and donuts.

Mariam Nakyobe, an organizer for the event, encourages anyone to walk up that morning and strike up a conversation.

“We are just inviting anyone, any member of the community, to just come up and say ‘Hi,” so you can actually meet a Muslim and talk to a variety of us and see what it is we understand and what it is we want,” she said. “And address some of the fears, just put a name to a face.”

Nakyobe says the event is being inspired in part by the election results.

“After the election results came out, there was so much panic all over the country and there have been so many riots,” she said. “There is fear on both sides. There is fear from Americans who don’t know who Muslims are, what we do and what we believe. And then there is fear from the Muslim community who don’t feel safe. They are like ‘Should we stay here? It looks like people don’t want us to be here?’ A way to bridge that gap is just to meet people and to talk to people.”

Nakyobe said she moved to Columbus about a year and a half ago and has found it a welcoming community.

“I haven’t had any kinds of negatives,” she said. “After some time of my friends being comfortable with me, they have been open to ask me questions like ‘Why do you wear the hijab? What exactly do you believe in?. Those kind of communications have really, really helped. Because they come away with a new understanding and (find) this is just like us. It is nothing major.”

The Community Center of Hope is looking for members for its advisory board.

Board member Jeff Yarnell says that the center is looking for board members who can be positive and outgoing in supporting the center, attend monthly meetings and volunteer at fundraising events for the center. He said the board would love to add members who have children in day care at the center, business owners and anyone with a heart for volunteering.

Those applying now would take office in January or February. For more information, you can call the center at (812) 546-4499.

Seymour police are reporting an arrest after a high-speed chase Friday night.

According to police reports, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle near East Tipton Street and U.S. 31 at about 11:45 p.m. Friday, but instead of stopping, the driver raced away, heading south on U.S. 31 at speeds of up to 90 mph. Officers with the Indiana State Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department helped stop the car near Uniontown.

They arrested the driver, 49-year-old Brian W. Roberts of Seymour on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, driving while suspended and possession of a firearm by a violent felon.

Toys for Tots is asking for your help to make this Christmas a little brighter for less-fortunate children. Nate West says you can help locally by dropping off new toys, or money, in one of 39 white boxes marked with the Toys for Tots logo in Columbus, Hope, North Vernon and other communities.

In addition, West says that the McDonald’s in downtown Columbus will be helping out…

As for where your donations go…

West adds that the program is in it’s 69th year and is a division of the Marine Corp Reserve. You can get more information by visiting the Toys for Tots Facebook page, or by visiting www.ToysForTots.org.

Wreaths across America will be holding its annual event to recognize area veterans by placing wreaths on their graves for the holiday season.

Organizer Ron Shadley explains that the event will start at about noon on Dec. 10th at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans where three wreaths will be placed. It will then move to Garland Brook Cemetery at about 12:30 p.m. The group will work first on the old veterans section and then the new.

Shadley said the group plans to place 800 wreaths that day, up 50 from last year. They will also be giving wreaths to those with veterans to honor at other area cemeteries. He said it is not just for Garland Brook Cemetery.

To request a wreath or to volunteer to help, you can contact Shadley at Myers Funeral Service, 812-376-3341.