Bartholomew County deputies are reporting that they made an arrest on drug-dealing charges after a traffic stop early Tuesday morning.

A deputy pulled a vehicle over near Central Avenue and Poshard Drive in Columbus at about 12:51 a.m. that morning.

The driver, 39-year-old Craig Hatfield of Scipio was allegedly found to be carrying a half ounce of methamphetamine in the vehicle. A further search revealed marijuana, drug paraphernalia and evidence of drug dealing says Judy Jackson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department.

He is facing preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, as well as for possessing meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde wants to loosen rules on how off-duty officers can use their police cars. That is part of a plan to make Columbus more appealing for recruiting and retaining officers.

He is proposing a change to the city ordinance that dictates how, when and where city-owned vehicles can be used. These changes include allowing marked and unmarked vehicles to be driven for personal use beyond Bartholomew and the contiguous counties at the discretion of the police chief or deputy chief.

In addition to making CPD more attractive to potential officers, Rohde says this change will also help to increase the department’s visibility throughout the community and allow for rapid response in emergencies.

City Council gave its initial approval to the ordinance change this week. A second reading is tentatively scheduled for the next council meeting on July 17th.

Rohde has been continuing his efforts to attract and retain quality officers for his department. The chief was an enthusiastic supporter of a recently completed salary study that helped determine how the city compensated its employees. That study showed a number of positions, including those in the public safety arena, were paid less than the average of eight “peer” cities across Indiana. Recent action taken by the Columbus City Council will address the compensation issue and close the pay gap for police and firefighters over the next two years.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is reporting that a driver who wasn’t using a seatbelt, is now facing drug dealing charges.

Columbus police say that an officer pulled the car over on Middle Road near Rocky Ford Road at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night after noticing the lack of a seatbelt. But the officer found that the driver, 39-year-old Jeremy S. Whittington of Columbus, was also wanted on a felony warrant for dealing methamphetamine.

The warrant was part of a JNET drug dealing investigation that started in Seymour last year according to police. He was taken to jail and is being held on a half million dollar bond.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible. JNET is a cooperative effort between the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbus Police and the county prosecutor’s office to stem the sale of illegal drugs in the community.

Traffic stops led to the arrest of several local men on drug charges overnight in Columbus.

Columbus police report that they stopped a car for a traffic violation at about 1:45 a.m. this morning near Hege and Vermont avenues. While talking with the driver, the officer noticed drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested 39 year old James B. Wise on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine, while 40 year old Joshua Bean is facing a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

At about 11:30 p.m. last night, Columbus police stopped a vehicle in the 1000 block of 22nd Street after recognizing that one of the men inside, 32 year old Dustin C. Clark, was wanted on a warrant. Clark allegedly dropped a corner cut bag that appeared to contain drugs. He is now facing preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, as well as possession of meth, heroin and drug paraphernalia, resisting law enforcement and driving while a habitual traffic violator.

The other man in the car, 20 year old David A Compton, was arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Additional affordable housing units are closer to becoming a reality after the Columbus City Council took action Tuesday night to help that project along. Robin Hilber is with the city’s department of redevelopment. She says the proposed Gladstone Apartments will be off of State Street…

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The complex would allow residents who earn 60 percent of the average median income.

Council approved a resolution including naming that property an economic revitalization area, and another offering a 10-year tax abatement.

Being in a designated ERA will greatly help the developer in getting state tax credits, making the project financially feasible. In paperwork filed with the city, the developer estimates this $11 million project will be completed in April of 2020, if the state tax credits are approved.

A former local volleyball coach who pleaded guilty to three Class C felony child molesting counts in April, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Our news-gathering partners at “The Republic” are reporting that Bruce Giggy was sentenced Tuesday in Bartholomew Superior Court 1.

The paper is reporting that Judge Jim Worton sentenced Giggy to six years and eight months on each count, ordering them to be served consecutively. That means each sentence is served separately. The earliest Giggy will be eligible for parole is 2028.

The report also states that Giggy was ordered to register as a sex offender and to have no contact with any of the victims in the original five counts.

For more on this story, go to TheRepublic.com.

The subject of illegal immigrants being separated from their children has received increasing attention over the last several days. With that, Bartholomew County Indivisible has announced a rally to take place Wednesday evening. Kari Tyree is a member of the organization’s immigration subcommittee.

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Tyree says the ultimate goal is to end the practice of family separation.

Officials say that Wednesday’s rally will occur, rain or shine, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Columbus City Hall. Bartholomew County Indivisible’s Facebook page is calling for people to show up with signs aimed at President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The Trump Administration says it is merely enforcing the law and is urging Congress to address it. As for children being separated from their parents, the administration notes that thousands of children are being sent, unaccompanied, in an effort to earn “refugee” status. They say that, often times, the parents will show up at the border at a later date and are counting on being reunited with their children and allowed to stay in the country. Officials also note that human-trafficking is a major concern, especially with these unaccompanied minors. President Trump again reinforced his position on Tuesday that unfettered illegal immigration into the U.S. must be stopped.

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic is announcing a $1 million donation to build a new performance space at the orchestra’s Franklin Street headquarters.

The donation, announced this afternoon, comes from Bob and Helen Haddad and will come in the form of a $500 thousand donation and a $500 thousand matching grant.  It is the lead donation for a capital campaign to expand the existing conference room into a community events center.

Margaret Powers, executive director of the Philharmonic , explains the vision for the Helen Haddad Music, Arts and Events Center.

Powers said that as discussions began, it became apparent that the community needed a space for recitals, theater performances and other community activities.

Powers explains the idea grew from Enkei America’s donation of a Shigeru Kawai Concert Grand Piano to the orchestra. That gift was made with the intent that the piano would be made available to piano students as well as being available for the enjoyment of others throughout the community. But there is no secure facility that gives the community the accessibility sought by Enkei for its piano donation.

Philharmonic representatives praised the Haddads for their support of the community orchestra.

“Helen and Bob Haddad love the Columbus community and have lived their lives helping to make it better,” says Music Director David Bowden. “The Haddads have also spent the last 30 years supporting music education in many different ways through the Columbus Philharmonic’s extensive education programs. This lead gift is an extension of that support of music education and represents their life-long passion for offering every child the gift of making music.”

The Town of Nashville/Nashville Utilities has issued a Boil Order for the following areas:

Fair Oaks Trail;
Wychwood Drive;
Bryson Lane;
185 Old State Road 46 to 1792 Old State Road 46;
Magnolia Lane;
Jacobs Lane;
726 Clay Lick Road to 1170 Clay Lick Road;
Hilltop Lane;
Treetops Drive;
Mail Pouch Lane;
Eads Lane;
McGee Road;
Tuck A Way Ridge;
Highland Drive;
Coffey Hill Road;
75 Snyder Road;
Memorial Drive;
Heimburger Lane;
869 Greasy Creek;
Artist Drive;
Commercial Street;
Redbud Drive;
Wells Drive;
West Drive;
Oak Run Drive;
331 State Road 135 North to 1814 State Road 135 North;
245 North Jefferson Street to 496 North Jefferson Street;
Ridgeway Drive;
Pine Tree Hills;
Blueberry Drive;
Dogwood Lane;
Hickory Knob Road;
Town Hill Road;
Hilltop Lane;
Sanctuary Lane;
Southridge Trail;
Kelley Hill Lane;
131 State Road 46 West to 270 State Road 46 West;
Locust Lane;
Green Valley Church Road;
2248 State Road 46 East

Residents and businesses in these affected areas should boil all cooking and drinking water through 4 p.m. Thursday. Utility officials say the boil order came about as the result of a water main break at 270 State Road 46 West.

The town of Hope wants to help businesses on and around the Town Square spruce up their properties.

The town, along with Main Street of Hope, have created a Business Facade Program that will provide up to a $1,500 match to property owners who do work on their property such as painting, repairs to bricks, replacing doors or windows, adding awnings or bike racks and other improvements, according to the Main Street organization.

The town council set aside $5,000 for the initial round of matching grants for improvements and could consider more if the program takes off. The money is being offered on a first-come first-served basis. The businesses must be located within a block of the town square and businesses will have to offer two bids for the work before getting funded by the town.

You can get more information or applications at the Hope Town Hall.

Link to download Business Facade Program contract (PDF file download)

Link to download Business Facade Program application (PDF file download)