Jennings County deputies arrested two women on drug charges over the weekend, after they were found in a vacant home.

Neighbors reported the suspicious activity at just before 10 a.m. Saturday morning in the 8000 block of North County Road 200E.

Deputies found the back door open and allegedly discovered two women inside along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They arrested 40-year old Brandee Jo Arquiett of New York and 21-year-old Pamela S. Kirse of Greensburg. During a search of the women, officers reportedly discovered a secret compartment in the sleeve of Kirse’s coat that contained more meth and drug paraphernalia. A further search at the jail also allegedly uncovered marijuana and a glass smoking pipe.

Kirse is facing charges of possession of meth and of paraphernalia, trafficking with an inmate, residential entry along with trespassing and possession of marijuana.

Arquiett was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and of a syringe, residential entry and trespassing along with a New York warrant.

Judges in the Bartholomew County court system say that their staffing needs have reached critical mass. Judges Jim Worton, Kathleen Coriden and Kelly Benjamin say the problem is the state’s new Odyssey system. Odyssey is designed to connect courts across the state, with the idea being to make it easier for judges and court staff to more easily search case information. Judge Worton elaborated on the problem during Monday night’s county council work session.

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Judge Kathleen Coriden told the council that the courts’ staffing levels are simply inadequate.

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Judge Coriden explains that the extra work and lack of staffing has led to the courts losing valuable knowledge with the departure of longtime staff.

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Between Superior Court 1, Superior Court 2 and the Circuit Court, judges want to increase head-count by a minimum of two. They want that extra staffing as soon as possible. Council members are expected to discuss the request further at next week’s regular session.

The Bartholomew County Coroner’s Office says that accidental

drowning is the cause of 33-year-old Jacquelyn Watts’ death. Her body was found Saturday on a sandbar in the Flatrock River. Police believe that Watts was trying to catch a lost dog on Friday when she disappeared.

Watts had been reported missing to the Columbus Police Department on Friday, around the same time her vehicle was found abandoned with the engine running and flashers activated on Riverside Drive. Watts’ body was found Saturday morning during a search of the area that began shortly after she was reported missing.

Coroner Clayton Nolting ordered an autopsy, which was performed by a forensic pathologist Monday afternoon at Columbus Regional Health. The investigation by the coroner’s office and Columbus Police Department, along with the autopsy results, led Nolting to rule the death an accidental drowning, pending toxicology results.

Investigators believe Watts was attempting to rescue a dog that had previously been reported missing when she entered the river and drowned. The dog was older and had vision impairment. Police say its body was on the river bank Sunday morning, south of the sandbar where Watts’ body was found.

The Indiana Department of Transportation Department says that crews will install a new drainage pipe under State Road 39, just  south of Tampico in Jackson County, after a wash-out caused by recent flooding conditions damaged the existing structure.

INDOT says that the new 36-inch pipe, measuring 40 feet in length, should be put in place during on Wednesday. Officials say that State Road 39 will be closed between County Road 600 South and County Road 325 East beginning at 9 a.m. It is expected to be reopened by 4 p.m.

INDOT says this work is dependent on the weather.

Gov. Eric Holcomb will be in Columbus this weekend. The Governor’s Office says that Holcomb will be a part of the 1st Brigade Military Dining-In event on Saturday night at Otter Creek Golf Course.

This event, which is invitation-only, is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Governor is expected to give his remarks at 7:30 p.m. This event is hosted by the 1st Brigade Great Lakes Division 75th Training Command.

Columbus Police say that foul play is not suspected in the death of Indianapolis resident and Columbus East graduate Jacquelyn Watts…

Harris says that the owners of the dog posted on social media that they were trying to find the lost animal. A witness reported seeing Watts chasing a small white dog along the Flatrock River on Friday. That was the last time she was last seen.

Police say that Watts’ body was found Saturday just south of the low-head damn on the Flat Rock River. Police say that an autopsy is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards will be in Columbus on Tuesday to talk to elected officials and economic development leaders about the company’s investment in the area. Locally, AT&T has placed fiber optic cable at four different locations in Columbus. The company says this ensures the best in fiber-based technology for businesses. The four locations are now identified as being “AT&T Fiber Ready,” which the company says will help in marketing available space to companies looking to locate or expand in the area.

AT&T officials says that Tuesday’s meeting will include Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Jason Hester, president of the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation. That meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall.

Tuesday’s scheduled meeting of the Columbus City Council has been canceled.

Instead, the City Council members will be attending Mayor Jim Lienhoop’s State of the City address at Donner Center on Thursday. That breakfast meeting will start at 7:15 a..m. and will feature a free meal, courtesy of the Columbus Fire Department.

The mayor is expected to kick off a renovation project for Donner Center as part of this year’s speech. The speech will start at 8 a.m. Thursday morning and you can listen to it live on News Talk 10 10 WCSI.

Local political parties held their organizing meetings this weekend.

The Bartholomew County Republican Party has reelected Barb Hackman as the party chairwoman. DeWayne Hines will serve as vice chair, Jorge Morales as secretary and Luann Welmer as treasurer.

County Democrats chose Chairman Bob Hyatt, Vice Chairwoman Kathy Thompson,Secretary Sharon Krieg and Treasurer Dennis Baute.

A Taylorsville teen was seriously injured in a Johnson County crash Saturday morning.

Sheriff’s deputies say that 18-year-old Zeckaraih L. Raleigh was flown to IU Methodist Hospital after being thrown from his vehicle when it hit a guardrail.

Sheriff Doug Cox says the accident happened on State Road 252 near Airport Road at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning when Raleigh lost control and crashed into a guardrail. Although his air bag did deploy, he was not wearing a seat belt, Cox says.