If you are traveling along 25th Street in Columbus Thursday, be ready for possible delays. The Columbus City Engineering Department says that Milestone Contractors will begin patching on 25th Street from Taylor Road east to Booher Court. They will also be doing some curb work in this area.

Work moves to Middle Road on Friday. City officials say that Milestone will begin patching/paving work there, from Rocky Ford Road to Doup Drive. Traffic will be limited to one lane in both directions and flaggers will be used to direct traffic.

You are encouraged to take your time and be aware of your surroundings.

Brown County High School beat out competitors from 8 area high schools to win the 2018 Boiler Tech Challenge, “Purdue Polytechnic ENGINEERS Infinity War”, at Purdue Polytechnic Columbus on April 6th. Top finishers for the Challenge include first place winner, Brown County High School, second place finisher, North Decatur High School, and third place finisher, South Decatur High School.

Purdue officials say that students from other high schools, including representing Columbus East, Columbus North, Columbus Signature Academy New Tech, Jennings County and South Dearborn competed in five challenges. Points were awarded for performance on each of the five engineering challenges. The school with the highest score claimed the victory. Previous winners include Columbus East High School, Columbus North High School and Jennings County High School.

Purdue officials say the challenges are meant to introduce and excite high school students about further study in a number of fields, including Computer Information Technology, Engineering, Industrial Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Organizational Leadership and Robotics Engineering Technology.

An alert Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy is responsible for a drug-related arrest. Judy Jackson, department spokeswoman, says that at approximately 1:23 p.m. on Tuesday, Deputy Teancum Clark recognized a driver leaving a local restaurant. Deputy Clark knew that the driver, 27-year-old Eric Keaton of Columbus, had a suspended driver’s license.

Deputy Clark initiated a traffic stop in the 2300 block of Merchants Mile. When Indiana State Police Trooper Craig arrived to assist, his K9 Krieger alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle allegedly resulted in the discovery of syringes, scales with methamphetamine residue, pills and other potential drug-related items. Authorities say that Keaton’s passenger, 31-year-old Lynnsey Lowe of Columbus, was found to be in possession of meth.

Keaton was arrested on a preliminary charges of Driving while Suspended. He has since been released.

Lowe was booked on preliminary charges of Dealing Methamphetamine
Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Possession of Legend Drug Injection Devices and a Probation Violation. She is being held without bond.

Deputies with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a downed aircraft down near County Road 525 East and State Road 44 on the east side of the county. That’s about a half-mile east of the I-65 entrance and exit to Franklin near the 90 mile marker.

Sheriff Doug Cox says that the single-engine plane, which was carrying two people, suffered a fuel problem that prompted the pilot to land in a farm field in his single engine aircraft. He notes that the plane landed on its belly and stayed upright and that the landing gear did not appear to be engaged.

Sheriff Cox says that both occupants of the plane suffered cuts and bruises, but they refused medical treatment. No one on the ground was hurt.

Indiana State Police captured a man fleeing down Interstate 65 at more than 140 mph through southern Indiana in a car allegedly stolen in Indianapolis.

Troopers were alerted by the Indianapolis police department at about 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon that the sedan, reported stolen from an Indy car lot, was heading toward Seymour on Interstate 65. Troopers from the Versailles an

d Sellersburg posts found the vehicle at an Austin gas station and the driver took off, back down the interstate at high speeds The driver also struck another vehicle causing minor damage, as he tried to get away.

The driver avoided five sets of stop sticks. In Clark County, troopers, other officers and a good Samaritan’s box truck trapped the car and forced it to stop.

30-year-old Marty S. Clark is facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle; resisting police by fleeing in a vehicle; leaving the scene of a property damage crash and reckless driving.

Troopers say that Clark allegedly took the vehicle so he could get to Florida.

We asked the three candidates running in the Republican party primary for Bartholomew County sheriff about any changes they would make in how deputies and department staff interact with the public.

Incumbent Sheriff Matt Myers is facing retired deputy Rob Kittle and retired state trooper Tami Watson. in the May 8th primary election

Kittle said he doesn’t see any friction between the public and the department.

Watson said that the deputies have the best interests of the community at heart:

Myers said the department is aleady doing a good job interacting with the public:

The Bartholomew County Commissioners presented their five-year capital maintenance and improvement plan for facilities and roads. After making the presentation to the county council, Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz explained the highlights.

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Kleinhenz explains that money for these projects will come out of the county CEDIT funds, which are controlled by the county council.

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Kleinhenz explains that renovating the jail is a top priority.

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The report indicated that $2.6 million will be needed to maintain, update and upgrade the jail over the next five years. Other areas needing improvement are the county highway garage, the courthouse and the emergency operations center, among others.

Early voting kicked off Tuesday for the May 8th primary election. Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps says that the first day of early voting was fairly busy, as 33 county residents visited the courthouse to cast their ballots. He says that figure is a little higher than a typical first day. Phelps adds that most early voters turn out in the 10 days before the election. He notes that voting should move more quickly than it did two years ago, as the state has one fewer form for you to fill out before you can cast your ballot.

Early voting is taking place at the courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 7th. Phelps says that additional early voting satellite locations will open April 30th at Donner Center, Flintwood Wesleyan Church and at Main Source Bank on Jonathan Moore Pike. Those will be open from 11 to 7.

To vote early you need to bring an official state issued ID.

Indiana Department of Transportation’s contractor for the $1.9 million roundabout project at the west end of U.S. Highway 50’s North Vernon bypass will have construction crews onsite beginning Wednesday morning. INDOT says that motorists will be shifted to the north side of U.S. 50. Walnut Street and County Road 400 West will close.

Milestone, the state’s contractor, plans to build the east half of the intersection project during Phase I.

• Phase II construction builds the west half. Traffic shifts to the center of the roadway. Walnut Street and C.R. 400W will remain closed.
• Phase III construction builds splitter islands and the center island. Traffic will be normalized. Walnut Street and C.R. 400W remain closed.
• Phase IV construction builds the western curb entrance to the roundabout. Walnut Street and C.R. 400W open to traffic.

INDOT’s project replaces the existing stop-control configuration at U.S. 50/Walnut Street-C.R. 400W—located two miles west of North Vernon—with a single-lane roundabout measuring 166 feet in diameter with a 16-foot-wide lane and 14-foot-wide truck apron.

Two Bartholomew County residents and one Jennings County resident were among several people arrested on drug charges in Ripley County. Indiana State Police say the incident took place April 5th when troopers from the ISP-Versailles All Crimes Policing Team arrested nine people following an investigation at a Holton residence.

ISP says the investigation began shortly after noon when troopers went to a home in the 100 block of South Marion Street to conduct a follow-up investigation. Upon entering the home, troopers observed seeing evidence of drug usage in plain view.

Troopers detained nine people inside the home as they worked to get a search warrant. Upon searching the residence, troopers allegedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, hypodermic syringes, drug paraphernalia and a large amount of cash.

The homeowners, Kathy Hardesty and Josie Robbins, face charges of Dealing Methamphetamine and other drug related charges. Charges on the other seven individuals include Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Hypodermic Syringes and visiting a common nuisance.

Others arrested were:

Tanner Cornett, 22, Holton
Gregg Gregory, 44, North Vernon
Kyle Ketcham, 21, Columbus
Melissa Popejoy, 26, Holton
Anastasha Robbins, 31, Holton
Ryan Runge, 22, Holton
Sheldon Vanosdol, 27, North Vernon

The investigation is ongoing.