Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Marion County man Friday night after a short vehicle pursuit. Judy Jackson, department spokesman, says that at approximately 11:22 p.m., Deputy Nate Nichols responded to County Road 450 South and Jonesville Road in reference to a vehicle stopped at the intersection.

When Nichols arrived, he reported finding the driver, 27-year-old Jared McCracken, of Indianapolis, passed out behind the wheel with the vehicle still in gear. After several attempts to wake McCracken, authorities say he finally looked up, but ignored commands to open the door. Instead, he allegedly drove away. Following a short pursuit, McCracken eventually pulled over.

McCracken was arrested on preliminary charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated with Endangerment and Resisting Law Enforcement with a Vehicle. He has since been released.

A semi fire on the Interstate closed a portion of southbound I-65 in Bartholomew County on Sunday. Chief Matt Lynch with the German Township Volunteer Fire Department, says that firefighters were called to the 73.5 mile marker near the southbound rest park at 8:43 a.m.

Upon arrival, Lynch says that crews found the tractor of the semi fully involved in fire with flames spreading to the trailer. He adds that the tops of the fuel tanks had melted away which exposed the diesel fuel. Crews had to spray foam on the fire to extinguish the fuel which continued to burn. The cardboard boxes inside the trailer, which was hauling car wash soap along with fuel and oil additives had also ignited and proved difficult for crews to extinguish. Lynch says that the additives begin to leak and mix with the water from the fire runoff. Crews made a dirt dam

to prevent the additives from running into a nearby drain. Lynch says that Columbus Fire Department engine #5 was then requested to provide additional hazmat resources to contain the leak.

Authorities say that the interstate was reopened by 1:45 p.m.

Columbus Regional Health has announced the purchase of property on the west side of Bartholomew County. Hospital officials say this property acquisition signifies an investment in the long-range future of Columbus Regional Health and the community.

Southeastern Indiana Medical Holdings, an affiliate of Columbus Regional Health, purchased approximately 790 acres on the west side of Columbus near Interstate 65, from Garden City Farms LLC., and closed on the property Friday morning.

CRH officials says that the opportunity to secure undeveloped land in a part of Bartholomew County that is accessible to not only local residents, but also regional and travelling consumers, positions them with the capability to engage in purposeful evolution and growth, and to meet anticipated future needs. They add that CRH “looks forward to working with community partners to consider and plan the purposeful development of the land.”

A Georgetown, Indiana man was arrested Thursday afternoon after a vehicle pursuit on State Street. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that at 5:45 p.m., officers saw 36-year-old Benjamin J. Perry driving west on State Street. The officers noted that Perry had two warrants for his arrest and attempted to stop him. Harris says that Perry refused to pull over and continued traveling west on State Street, eventually stopping in the 3000 block of State Street where a high risk traffic stop was conducted. Authoities say that Perry initially ignored the officers’ commands to show his hands. A short time later, however, Perry exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. While searching Perry’s vehicle, officers allegedly found marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

In addition to two outstanding Bartholomew County warrants, Perry was arrested on preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle, Operating a Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic Violator for Life, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Columbus has two new firefighters. Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the Columbus Fire Department, says that Brandon Bartholomew and Casey Taylor will immediately begin a department training program. These firefighters will receive their shift and station assignments at the conclusion of the training program.

Bartholomew is a 28-year-old Columbus native. He has worked as a paramedic for Indianapolis EMS for five years, as a New Castle EMS for 1.5 years and volunteer at Whiteland Volunteer Fire Department and Columbus Township Fire Department. He has certifications in Technical Rescue Awareness, Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness, and as a paramedic.

Taylor is a 27-year-old Edinburgh native. He worked with Edinburgh Fire and Rescue for nine years and Seals Ambulance Service for two years. He has certifications as an emergency medical technician, in Hazardous Materials Operations and Awareness, Technical Rescue Awareness and others.

A Columbus police sergeant has been recognized for his efforts in combating drug impaired driving. Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus Police Department, says that Sgt. Ben Goodin received the 2017 Indiana Drug Recognition Expert of the Year award at a banquet held in Hamilton County. Harris adds that the Columbus Police Department also received the Agency Leadership Award for their drug impaired driving enforcement efforts.

Sgt. Goodin stated “It is important to have DRE’s available due to the increased number of drug impaired drivers on our streets and highways.” “If we did not have officers specifically trained to detect drug impaired driving, there would a greater risk to the public for vehicle crashes” Goodin added. CPD Chief Jonathan Rohde added “Keeping impaired drivers off the road is a priority for our officers.” “I am proud of Sgt. Goodin’s initiative and focus on helping keep our roads safe.”

Goodin, who is one of two drug recognition experts on the Columbus Police Department, says that the number of DRE evaluations he administered for drug impaired driving nearly doubled from 2016 to 2017. Harris notes that the department is expected to send two additional officers off to DRE training later this year.

The Columbus Area Arts Council has announced its move to a new office at 431 Sixth Street in downtown Columbus. The building was the former home of Engage Columbus, which recently wrapped up its three-year run. Officials say that the Arts Council’s offices will be closed during the move, March 5-9. The office will reopen March 13th at the new location. Regular hours: will be Tuesday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office phone number, email addresses, and website address will remain the same.

“This new location is an exciting opportunity for the Arts Council to create a more visible space for arts and community engagement in the downtown Arts and Entertainment District,” says Scott Poling, CAAC Board President, “In its new home, CAAC will continue to develop as a leading arts organization of Bartholomew County with a mission to integrate art and cultural experiences into community life. CAAC is proud to serve the City of Columbus and its citizens as an advisor and administrator of civic engagement, public art, and arts programming.”

The Arts Council is thanking the City of Columbus and the Parks and Recreation Department for providing a home for many years at The Commons. Officials say the relationship will persist after the move, as CAAC continues to bring arts programming to the Nugent-Custer Performance Hall as well as activating other areas of The Commons with pop-up events and artist-led workshops.

Columbus Police responded to Columbus East High School Thursday morning. Lt. Matt Harris explains that the call came after two students noticed a rifle sitting in a pickup truck. He says that the truck and the rifle belongs to a teacher at East.

Harris says that authorities believe that there was never any threat to students or staff and that the staff member simply forgot the weapon was in his vehicle. Since there was no arrest, Harris says they cannot release the teacher’s name.

Two Columbus residents were arrested Tuesday night on numerous charges following a traffic stop in rural Bartholomew County.

Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post in Versailles, says that the investigation began at approximately 9 p.m. when members of the ISP All Crimes Policing Unit stopped a vehicle on Jonesville Road near Southern Crossing for a traffic violation. During the course of the traffic stop, troopers became suspicious of criminal activity taking place. Columbus Police Officer Jeremy Jones and his K-9 responded to the scene. Officer Jones’ K-9 was alerted to the odor of illegal drugs coming from the vehicle.

Wheeles says that a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of suspected methamphetamine, heroin, controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen handgun. The driver of the vehicle, 32-year-old Jermaine Ford, was arrested on charges of Possession of a Handgun by a Serious Violent Felon, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Theft.

His passenger, 26-year-old Tkieya Weaver, was arrested on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Wheeles says that Weaver was then charged with Resisting Law Enforcement after she allegedly resisted arrest.

Sheriff Matt Myers has scheduled a neighborhood meeting for Hawcreek Township. It will be Thursday, March 8th at 6 p.m. at the Hope Town Hall at 404 Jackson Street. Sheriff Myers has been holding regular meetings since he took office.

He says these meetings have allowed residents to discuss issues important to them and to see how the Sheriff’s Office can better serve people and businesses in all areas of Bartholomew County. “These meetings have created opportunities for residents to have informal conversations about issues important to their particular area of our county,” said Myers.

All Bartholomew County residents are invited to these meetings.