Columbus Police officers arrested a Flatrock man on numerous drug charges Sunday night. Lt. Matt Harris, department spokesman, says that at approximately 6:50 p.m., Officers Wesley Dodge and Dan Meister spoke with the driver of a vehicle in the 2500 block of Marr Road after it was reported the vehicle had been weaving in the road. The officers reported smelling marijuana while speaking to the driver, 36-year-old George L. Griffith Jr. Police allege that Griffith tried to hide an unknown item in his back pocket, which was ultimately discovered to be a glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue. Griffith was placed under arrest and officers reported finding methamphetamine, numerous pills and a partially smoked marijuana cigarette in his clothing. While searching Griffith’s vehicle, officers allegedly found more meth, several empty plastic bags commonly used in drug-dealing and additional drug paraphernalia. Griffith was arrested on preliminary charges of:

Dealing in Methamphetamine (Level 3 Felony);
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Level 6 Felony);
Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony);
Two Counts of Possession of a Narcotic Drug (Level 6 Felony);
Dealing in Marijuana (A Misdemeanor);
Two Counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (A Misdemeanor);
Possession of Marijuana (B Misdemeanor);
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (C Misdemeanor)

A suspect in a hit and run crash that occurred last Wednesday was apprehended by a Columbus Police officer after she allegedly tried to flee again on Friday afternoon. Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police

Department spokesman, says that Officer Maren Crabtree was on patrol in the 1500 block of Chestnut Street at approximately 4:45 p.m. when she reported seeing 21-year-old Ashley R. Shuffitt, of Columbus. Shuffitt also had a warrant for her arrest, says Harris. Police say that Shuffitt began running after noticing the officer and refused to stop when ordered to do so. During the foot chase, Shuffitt allegedly threw a glass pipe containing methamphetamine before being taken to the ground by Crabtree. Officers later found a small amount of methamphetamine in Shuffitt’s pocket as well as drug paraphernalia in her backpack, says Harris. In addition to the warrant, Shuffitt is facing preliminary charges of:

Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony);
Failure to Stop After an Accident Causing Injury (A Misdemeanor);
Resisting Law Enforcement on Foot (A Misdemeanor);
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (C Misdemeanor);
Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

The ninth annual “Canstruction” event was held Saturday at the FairOaks Mall in Columbus. Eight entries are on display all week. A panel of judges, including White River Broadcasting’s own John Foster, named the winners.

“Turtle Dude,” an entry from the Columbus Sunrise Rotary Club, was judged the “Best Original Design” winner.

CSA Fodrea’s fourth grade entry, “UNITED We Can,” received “Structural Ingenuity” honors.

Toyota’s entry won for “Best Use of Labels.”

“Best Meal” honors went to the Cummins Hawcrek team.

The “Most Cans” award went to Starving Artists’ entry, “Salt and Light. That display utilized nearly 7,400 canned food items.

You can vote for your favorite display by visiting the FairOaks Mall this week and dropping off non-perishable food items. One can equals one vote. The display with the most votes will receive the “People’s Choice Award.”

The Bartholomew County United Way says it is aiming to collect 40,000 cans during this year’s event. Organizers say that approximately 250,000 canned goods have been collected over the eight previous event. Donations will benefit food pantries at Love Chapel, the Salvation Army and Hope Community Center.

Bartholomew County Commissioners are proposing a new county fund that would allow the county to save up for large building projects. Estimates are that the capital development fund would bring in $698 thousand dollars the first year and almost $1.4 million in the second year. Once fully implemented it would cost the owners of a $100,000 home about $11 a year if they live in their own home.

Up until now, the commissioners have held off on creating the capital development fund. But until recently, they thought the power to create such a fund was entirely under their control. During a presentation last week, Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop said that they now agree that the fund is needed, but they also will have to appeal to the County Council to fund it.

Lienhoop laid out a schedule for public hearings and various approvals that would start in March and end in April. But council members said they wanted time to consider the issue and could take until August to finalize any plans.

The County Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Governmental Office Building on Third Street in Columbus.

Schneck Medical Center is now accepting applications for the George H. James Scholarship for medical school students.

The application is now available at www.schneckmed.org/scholarships. Along with a one page autobiographical letter, the application must be completed and submitted on or before April 3, 2017 to be eligible for consideration.

The George H. James, Jr. Scholarship was established in honor of George H. James, Jr. for his 33 years of dedicated service to Schneck Medical Center. James became President/CEO of Schneck Medical Center in 1968 and retired in 2001.

Candidates who are enrolled in a medical school are welcome to apply for consideration. Primary consideration will be given to Jackson and Jennings county residents who intend to practice medicine in Jackson County.

A Hope man was killed in an early-morning crash Friday. Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that

deputies were called to a car fire on County Road 900 East, north of Schaeffer Lake in Hope. On arrival, deputies reported finding the driver, 34-year-old Jesse James Jackson, deceased.

Jackson says that the preliminary investigation indicates that Jackson was southbound on County Road 900 East when his vehicle left the west side of the roadway and hit a tree. Police say that Jackson was ejected from the vehicle before it burst into flames.

The investigation is ongoing.

Columbus firefighters battled a fire this morning in an empty rental home near Columbus North High School.

The call came in at 5:27 a.m. for a house fire in the 1600 block of Forest Drive, says Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department.

The two-story home is a vacant rental property, and no one was in the home at the time of the fire Wilson said. When firefighters arrived, the fire was already burning through the roof. Firefighters made their way inside and found that the second floor was in heavy flames.

There were no injuries reported but the fire caused about $75,000 of damage to the home.

Firefighters were still on scene about four hours after the fire was called in, Wilson says. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Community Center of Hope will try to save a landmark building in the community that has previously been slated for demolition.

The center’s board of directors have been working on plans to demolish the former Hope Town School gymnasium, which has fallen into disrepair. Previous estimates had indicated hundreds of thousands of dollars would be needed to repair the roof, structural damage and remove the mold from the building.

But Jeff Yarnell, president of the community center board, says that a Hope builder, Ken Patton, looked at the building and came to a different conclusion, saying he thinks the work can be done at a fraction of the cost. Yarnell says that could turn the gym into a community asset again.

The building has sentimental value for many residents, board members said. The gymnasium was constructed in 1938 as a Civilian Conservation Corps project during the Great Depression. The gym was the home of the Hope Red Devils. Later, following a consolidation of Flat Rock and Hawcreek Township schools, was the home of the Hauser Jets until 1966.

The community center operates a pre-kindergarten and food pantry in the town. It held its annual meeting last night. Yarnell said the center plans a fundraising campaign to rebuild the gymnasium.

For more information you can call  812-546-4499.

Bartholomew County Council member paychecks have been a little lighter than expected this year.

Due to an error in drafting the county’s salary ordinance, the council members neglected to give themselves a raise this year. That raise of 3 percent would have been the same raise given to other county employees and elected officials, but the council members were accidentally left out when the salary ordinance was rewritten by the auditor’s office during budget negotiations.

Council President Laura DeDomenic says that the raise would have amounted to about $160 a year, and most council members said they didn’t even notice they weren’t getting the pay bump. During the budget negotiations last year, DeDomenic suggested the council forgo raises as a largely symbolic way of making budget cuts.

County Auditor Barb Hackman said that under the law the council can not vote itself a raise again until next year.

A Columbus man is facing charges during an outburst in court that left equipment damaged and a deputy prosecutor slightly injured.

Judy Jackson, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman, says that at approximately 10 a.m. Thursday, deputies were called to Superior Court II at the county courthouse. She says that 20-year-old Jordan Rhodes, of 465 Clifty Drive, appeared 90-minutes late for his hearing on a probation violation charge. Authorities say that Rhoades’ language become obscene, leading to Judge Kathleen Coriden holding him in contempt of court. Police say that Rhodes continued to be verbally abusive, leading the judge to level a second contempt charge against him.

Following sentencing, Jackson says that Rhoades began throwing chairs as he was leaving the courtroom. One of those chairs reportedly destroyed a computer monitor, while another hit a deputy prosecutor in the leg, slightly injuring him.

Authorities say that after Rhodes left the courtroom, he sat on a bench in the hallway for several minutes. When Rhodes tried to leave the courthouse, he was detained by court security and arrested on preliminary charges of Attempted Battery on a Public Official and Battery on a Public Official, both Level 6 felonies. In addition, several misdemeanor charges will be sent to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Sheriff Matthew A. Myers says that his office, which is responsible for security at the courthouse, takes this incident “very seriously.” He adds that his office and the judges have a Safety Committee that meets quarterly. “All current policies and procedures will be reviewed and we will make changes if necessary,” said the Sheriff. “Superior II is Bartholomew County’s busiest court. Judge Coriden sees more people than our other courts. I am surprised we have not seen more incidents in her courtroom,” Myers added.