Seven candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, are actively campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. The district covers most of Bartholomew County. Mary Kohen and Dale Nowlin are running in the Democratic primary.

We asked the candidates why they are the best candidate to represent the district.

Kohen says she would work to benefit all Hoosiers.

Nowlin says that education is vital to the state’s interests and that he is in a unique position to serve the district.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary being contested between Lew Wilson, JoAnne Flohr, Ryan Lauer, John Counceller, and Allen Smith. Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.

Counceller says the fact that he is an outsider should make him an attractive option for voters.

Flohr says being a female and not being a politician will allow her to bring a new perspective to the Statehouse.

05-04 Election JoAnne Flohr q5 RAW

Wilson talks about why he’s the best candidate…

05-04 Election LEW WILSON Q5 RAW

Lauer says that his service on the Bartholomew County Council is a good indicator of how he’ll serve at the Statehouse.

Smith says his previous service to the community will serve him well at the Statehouse.

05-04 Election Allan Smith Q5 RAW

The primary election is May 8th.

Work continues on efforts to address the opioid epidemic in Bartholomew County.

The Columbus City Council voted this week to approve an additional appropriation from new money being collected from the county’s recently enacted income tax increase. Mary Ferdon, the city’s director of administration, explains that one-million dollars is being put into the substance abuse non-reverting fund. She adds that the public funding board, comprised of officials from the city, county and Columbus Regional Health, met last week and approved the board itself, as well as the accountability committee. The later of which is scheduled to meet in the coming weeks…

05-04 MARY FERDON-2

Ferdon stresses that the accountability board cannot spend money on its own…

05-04 MARY FERDON-3

This action comes after the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress in Bartholomew County held it’s annual report to the community last week. Council voted unanimously to approve the additional appropriation.

A person of interest in last year’s murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty German in Delphi pleaded guilty to a felony charge of Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender in Johnson County.

WRTV Channel 6 is reporting that Daniel Nations made his plea on Wednesday. According to the report, the charge Nations pleaded guilty to is unrelated to the Delphi investigation.

For more on this story, visit theindychannel.com.

The Indiana Department of Transportation’s contractor completed pavement repairs on State Road 252 at Edinburgh this week. Crack sealing operations are scheduled for next week.

INDOT says that Dave O’Mara, the prime contractor for this $317,500 pavement preservation project, finished placing pavement patches between U.S. Highway 31 and Interstate 65 yesterday on Wednesday. Subcontractor Reece Seal Coating of Indianapolis will seal cracks and joints within this 2.5 mile section of State Road 252 in Johnson and Shelby Counties next week, beginning Monday. INDOT says the work is dependent on the weather.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is asking for your help locating a trailer and pickup truck stolen from a Columbus dealership. Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the department, says that between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 29th, a 2018 Toyota Tacoma and red flatbed trailer were stolen from Carver Toyota.

Authorities say the two suspects were in a pickup that appears to have a paper temporary plate. They say that the suspects were in the back lot of Carver Toyota connecting the red flatbed trailer to their pickup when, surveillance video shows, at least one vehicle drove through the lot at that time.

If you have any information on this case, you are asked to contact Lt. Chad Swank at (812) 812-565-5925 or via email at cswank@bartholomew.in.gov.

The Seymour Police Department is accepting applications for dispatchers. The department says they are looking to fill positions on second shift, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and third shift, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Starting pay is $17.68 an hour. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older & must provide a high school diploma/GED with application. Accurate typing & computer skills are a must.

Applications may be picked up at the department or online at seymourpd.com.

Three young people were arrested yesterday after arguing with police during a traffic stop.

Bartholomew County deputies pulled over a vehicle being driven by a 17-year-old girl at 11:12 p.m. on U.S. 31 and Marketplace Drive for driving 72 mph in a 45 mph zone. She told deputies that she never received a driver’s license. A county police dog alerted to the smell of narcotics inside the vehicle and a search revealed about an ounce of marijuana inside, according to police.

But as deputies began arresting the girl, a struggle and argument began, including two passengers arguing with an Edinburgh police officer who was assisting at the scene. A 14-year-old passenger and 18-year-old Leroy Conrad of Columbus were both taken into custody.

The girl is facing charges of resisting law enforcement by fleeing in a vehicle and by physical force, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, operating a vehicle without a license and disorderly conduct.

Conrad and the boy are being charged with possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement.

A joint drug investigation in Bartholomew County has led to the arrest of the Greenwood High School varsity golf coach.

The Indiana State Police say that a police dog smelled narcotics inside a vehicle that was pulled over on State Road 46 at Johnson Boulevard in Columbus on Tuesday. A search revealed heroin, a syringe and other drug paraphernalia, says Sgt. Stephen Wheeles. The driver, 33-year-old Jared K. Elsner was arrested on preliminary possession charges for the items.

A second vehicle was stopped on State Road 46 at Carr Hill Road. Wheeles says that the driver, 37-year-old Benjamin L. Beatty originally resisted arrest and a search of his car allegedly discovered methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.

That led police to serve search warrants at Beatty’s home in the 2500 block of Lafayette Ave and at a room Beatty was renting at a motel. Those warrants were served by the state police, the Columbus police and Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputies. Wheeles says police discovered methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, syringes, drug paraphernalia, packaging materials and counterfeit money.

Troopers discovered during the investigation that Beatty is the Greenwood school’s golf coach. He was arrested on preliminary charges of dealing in heroin and methamphetamine, resisting law enforcement, counterfeiting and possession charges for the drugs and paraphernalia.

Seven candidates, five Republicans and two Democrats, are actively campaigning to win the District 59 seat at the Statehouse being vacated by retiring Rep. Milo Smith of Columbus. The district covers most of Bartholomew County. Mary Kohen and Dale Nowlin are running in the Democratic primary. We asked them about the newly implemented gas tax and how to best address infrastructure needs.

Kohen says she has concerns about the tax increase.

Nowlin says he’s concerned with tax equality when it comes to funding infrastructure and other needs.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary being contested between Lew Wilson, JoAnne Flohr, Ryan Lauer, John Counceller, and Allen Smith. Benjamin Chastain is also on the Republican ballot, but he is not actively campaigning.

Counceller says its important to make sure that the gas tax is focused on infrastructure needs.

Flohr says it’s important to focus on infrastructure.

05-03 Election JoAnne Flohr Q4 RAW

Wilson says the gas tax increase necessary.

05-03 Election LEW WILSON Q4 raw

Lauer says he was opposed to the increase in the state gas tax.

Smith says he approves of the gas tax increase, noting the importance of infrastructure in improving the economy.

05-03 Election Allan Smith q4 RAW

The primary election is May 8th.

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to shift northbound Interstate 65 traffic to the right lane and reinforced right shoulder next week between mile makers 53.0 and 64.2 as part of INDOT’s three-year $143 million Next Level Roads project between Seymour and Columbus.

INDOT says that on Monday, May 7, contractors will begin up to five nights of milling and paving work along northbound I-65’s outside shoulder, adding 1.5 inches of asphalt surface to support traffic. Closures will begin at 9 p.m. and end by 6 a.m. This work is dependent on the weather.

Beginning Tuesday night, May 8, changes in the northbound I-65 traffic pattern will begin to take place. Cars and trucks will be shifted to the right lane. INDOT says that only cars will be permitted to use the 11-foot-wide right shoulder, starting at mile marker 53.

INDOT officials anticipate crews will start setting concrete barrier wall the evening of Thursday, May 10th. That will be done to separate traffic from construction activities that will take place within I-65’s west-side median area.

INDOT says that once the northbound shoulder has been milled and paved, nighttime milling/paving operations will focus on locations along southbound I-65’s right shoulder at future bridge construction sites. This work will require closing the southbound I-65 right lane at worksites. Officials note that shoulder work should be completed within three nights.

This work will see a reduction in the speed limit for northbound traffic. INDOT says it will be lowered to 60 mph between mile marker 49 and 68.5. While workers are present, it will be further reduced to 50 mph.

This Next Level “I-65 Southeast Indiana Best Value Project” is rebuilding I-65 as a six-lane roadway between U.S. Highway 50 and State Road 58. This includes repair and resurfacing work on I-65 from State Road 58 to the State Road 46 exit at Columbus.