An Indianapolis man is facing drunk driving charges after allegedly causing a ruckus at a fast-food restaurant in downtown Columbus early Saturday morning.

A driver came to the Third Street restaurant drive-through just before 2 a.m. and began honking his horn and then beating on the restaurant’s doors in a dispute over his order, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department. When officers arrived, they found 20-year-old Luis C. Mata, who smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes.

His blood-alcohol level was .208 percent, more than twice the legal limit. He was arrested on preliminary charges of illegal consumption and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of  .15 percent or greater.

A shirtless Edinburgh man was arrested Friday after entering a Columbus yard and claiming to be a U.S. marshal.

The homeowner was in the backyard with her small children at about 4:10 p.m. in the 2900 block of McKinley Avenue when the man entered the yard and refused to leave. He said that he didn’t have to leave because he was a U.S. marshal.

Officers arrived and spoke with the man, identified as 32-year-old Gregory A. Simpson of Edinburgh, who claimed that he had been a U.S. marshal while he served in the military, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department. Police said Simpson appeared to be on narcotics. He was first taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment and then arrested on preliminary charges of public intoxication and impersonating a police officer.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission will be updated on the ongoing railroad impact study by American Structurepoint at its next meeting, set for Monday evening at City Hall.

The city has commissioned this study as a result of an expected increase in train-traffic through the city, beginning next year. Not only will the number of trains coming through Columbus each day nearly triple, but the length of the trains will extend by nearly 50-percent. If nothing is done, city officials say there can be substantial traffic delays almost every hour of every day, especially on State Road 46 entering Columbus.

The city was made aware of these upcoming changes in the last few years. When Mayor Jim Lienhoop was sworn in in January, he made coming up with a plan to diminish the effects on the increased train-traffic effects on residents a priority.

Monday night’s meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and you are encouraged to take part.

The Columbus Police Department’s targeted approach of focusing on repeat offenders yielded four arrests on warrants, narcotics and firearms related charges earlier this past week, say authorities.

Lt. Matt Harris, CPD spokesman, says that on Tuesday evening, officers arrested 48-year-old Kimberly K. Townsend, of Columbus, on two counts of Dealing in Methamphetamine. Police say that Townsend was part of a multi-month investigation looking into narcotics being sold in the city. Townsend is facing two counts of Dealing Methamphetamine.

On Wednesday evening, Officers Troy Love and Kyle Young reported seeing two wanted persons riding bicycles in the 1300 block of Chestnut Street. Officers arrested 43-year-old Tiffany J. Coleman and 49-year-old and Michael A. Coleman, both of Columbus. While searching Tiffany Coleman, officers allegedly found a pipe containing methamphetamine, as well as a small scale. Michael Coleman allegedly had a marijuana and a small amount of methamphetamine in his possession. Tiffany Coleman was arrested on outstanding Bartholomew County Warrants, along with preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Police say that Michael Coleman was also wanted on an

outstanding Bartholomew County Warrant. In addition, he is facing preliminary charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Methamphetamine

Later on Wednesday evening, officers arrested an Indianapolis man on several felony charges after a traffic stop. Harris says that, at approximately 10:30 p.m., officers saw 42-year-old Damon L. Bailey driving a vehicle in the 1100 block of Washington Street. The officers noted that Bailey had a suspended driver’s license and he was pulled over a short time later.

Bailey was taken into custody and, while searching him, officers allegedly found methamphetamine and marijuana in a bag in Bailey’s

pants. The officers also found nearly $900 in cash in Bailey’s pockets. Harris says that a loaded handgun with an altered serial number, a digital scale and several small empty plastic bags were also found in Bailey’s vehicle.

Bailey was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin within 500 feet of a School, Possession of Methamphetamine within 500 feet of a School, Possession of Marijuana within 500 feet of a School, Possession of Handgun without a License within 500 feet of a School, Possession of Handgun with an Altered Serial Number, Dealing in Methamphetamine

and Dealing in Marijuana.

A burn ban has been declared in Jackson County.

The declaration was made Friday by Jackson County Commissioners. Officials say the county is “at risk of widespread fire hazards because of the ongoing drought conditions.” Effectively immediately, the following activities are prohibited in Jackson County:

1. Campfires and other recreational fires, unless enclosed in a fire ring with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter and six-inches high, or larger.

2. Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fueled by charcoal briquettes or propane;

3. The burning of debris, such as timber or vegetation, including such debris that results from building construction activities and/or wind storm debris.

4. The use of burn barrels for any open burning at residential structures. In addition, charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.

Commissioners say that this burn ban will remain in effect until they officially lift it.

An Elizabethtown man was arrested Thursday night after an alleged incident of domestic violence involving his pregnant wife.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that deputies were called to the Sunnybrook Trailer Park in Elizabethtown at 6:09 p.m. When they arrived, deputies spoke with the alleged victim, who explained that there was an argument between she and her husband, 26-year-old Bobby Hornback. The wife reportedly told authorities that the argument began while discussing a possible divorce and child support.

Deputies say that the alleged victim told them that Hornback pushed her into the side of his vehicle, causing the window to break. Hornback then allegedly threw the woman to the ground and kicked her in the stomach, all while knowing that his wife was six-weeks pregnant. Authorities add that this took place in front of two of the couple’s three children, ages eight and five.

Jackson says that Deputies Matt Bush and Adam Warner found Hornback at his place of employment. Hornback is facing preliminary charges of Battery on a Pregnant Woman, Domestic Battery in the Presence of a Minor and Criminal Confinement. He is being held on $30,000 bond.

Jackson says that the alleged victim was looked over by responding EMS technicians and then released.

Columbus police arrested a man who who was allegedly threatening to use guns and explosives against officers last night.

What would turn into a standoff with the SWAT team began on Breckenridge Drive at about 7 p.m. last night. That’s when a resident called in with a report that a neighbor had been threatening him, beating on his door and let the air out of one of his tires. Officers left the scene after the first report, but were called back about 8 p.m. that evening after another vehicle tire was deflated at the home.

The victim pointed out a suspect standing in a nearby yard, 40-year-old James E. Bowling. As officers approached, Bowling ran into his house. Officers tried to talk Bowling into leaving, but he allegedly threatened to shoot officers or to use explosives to blow up his house, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the police department. Bowling also threatened to turn on the gas on his stove and use that as an explosive. Harris said.

Bowling eventually surrendered peacefully at about 12:30 a.m. this morning after talking to negotiators for several hours. No guns or explosives were found at the scene, Harris says. Bowling is facing a preliminary charge of resisting law enforcement.

Columbus firefighters are saying a smoke alarm helped protect an elderly resident from a fire last night in the 800 block of California Street.

Firefighters were called to the home at about 8:35 p.m. last night and discovered a fire in the kitchen between the stove and refrigerator. Firefighters believe that the fire was caused when a pan of grease was accidentally overheated on the stove. It caused a portion of the stove’s controls to melt and burn which then spread to the refrigerator and a nearby wall.

Firefighters were able to put out the blaze with a minimal amount of water. The home suffered about $15,000 in damages.

Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department, credited a smoke alarm with alerting the 86-year-old resident to the danger. No one was injured.

Su Casa Columbus is holding a Friday night event about immigration, targeted towards Hispanics in the area, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, located at 1306 27th Street in Columbus.

Officials with Su Casa cite last week’s election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. President for creating “an environment of fear and uncertainty for many individuals.” They add that they are working to gather information and communicate with schools, law enforcement, governmental agencies and other community organizations in order to “access our community’s current situation and to obtain accurate information that will enable us to better serve the community.”

Su Casa says that it is important that all community members report harassment to the proper authorities. This as a number of alleged incidents of taunting of Hispanic students at BCSC were reported after Trump’s election victory.

As for Friday night’s event, Sylvia Babcock, Su Casa spokeswoman, says that it is tailored to address the concerns of Columbus’ and Bartholomew County’s Hispanic community. While some of the event will be bilingual, Babcock says the discussion of legal issues will largely by in Spanish. Friday night’s event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and last about two hours.

For more information, or to reach Su Casa representatives, call (812) 375-9370 or (812)374-7548. You may also send an email to: sucasa@sucasacolumbus.com.

Authorities in Brown County continue searching for part of a statue that was vandalized several days ago.

CBS Channel 4 in Indianapolis is reporting that the statue, known as “Stone Head,” was beheaded earlier this month. The station notes that the statue has been in Brown County since before the Civil War. It was carved by an early Indiana settler named Henry Cross and provides provides directions to nearby towns via inscriptions on its base.

Brown County authorities say that the statue’s head was lopped off and is now missing. They add that this incident was one of three recent acts of vandalism in Brown County, but police don’t believe the incidents are connected.

If you have any information on the this case, you are asked to contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Department at (812) 988-6655. Tips and information can be left anonymously.