Columbus police officers arrested a local man on a Bartholomew County warrant for drug dealing after observing him driving a vehicle Monday night. At approximately 10:20 p.m., officers saw 34-year-old Joshua R. Jeffares, of Columbus, inside a vehicle that pulled up to a home in the 6600 block of East County Road 120 South. Jeffares was taken into custody without incident and booked on the warrant for Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 4 Felony.
Columbus and Bloomington are announcing a partnership to “amplify entrepreneurial activity and boost economic growth” in both cities.
The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will be working with Dimension Mill Inc. as regional partners. They will be working together to obtain funding from Elevate Ventures, an Indianapolis-based organization that encourages co-working and entrepreneurship in early stage companies in the two cities.
The partnership plans to raise $1 million to receive a matching $1.5 million grant from Elevate. After that, Elevate would provide entrepreneurial expertise, host events for entrepreneurs and investors and provide a network of professional services and resources for the partnership.
Dimension Mill, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that will operate The Mill, a renovated facility in Bloomington’s Trades District and Certified Tech Park. The Mill is slated to launch on Nov. 15th and will serve as a community co-working space, business incubator, and innovation hub for Bloomington .
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton announced the partnership today during a Facebook Live video, along with Cindy Frey president of the Columbus Chamber and Pat East, executive director of The Mill.
The joint venture will be overseen by a joint committee consisting of two representatives each from Bloomington and Columbus, and one from Elevate Ventures.
The official launch of the partnership will be at 5 p.m., Dec. 6th at Hard Truth Hills in Nashville.
NTN Driveshaft is planning a $90 million dollar expansion to their Walesboro plant that could bring up to 100 jobs over the next five years.
Our news-gathering partners at The Republic are reporting that the company will be adding a 20,000 square foot expansion to the already 1.35 million square foot facility, as well as remodeling 60,000 square foot of space in the existing building. The company will be adding forging capability and production facilities.
The investment will include $8 million for the building expansion and $82 million for new manufacturing equipment.
The company says the new jobs will have an average wages of $17.30 an hour, according to documents filed with the city. The company already employs about 1,575 people. Company officials said 74 new employees would be added by 2020.
The City Council is scheduled to hear a request for a tax abatement on the project at its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
You can read more information at www.therepublic.com
A Columbus man was arrested last night after allegedly walking out of Walmart with more than $2,000 dollars worth of goods he had not paid for.
29-year-old Dustin R. Jessie was arrested on a preliminary charge of theft for allegedly pushing a shopping cart full of goods out the door.
At about 1:45 this morning, police were called to the Whitfield Drive store after Jessie was seen acting suspiciously. Jessie allegedly ran from store employees after he was confronted and was then arrested by police.
Police say that the goods were worth $2,166 dollars.
Another raid on a Vine Street home led to the arrest of a Columbus man, again, on drug charges.
The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team raided the home in the 5000 block over the weekend after an investigation into drug dealing, arresting three people.
At about 5:36 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Bartholomew County deputies served an arrest warrant on one of those who just been arrested by the JNET team, 59-year-old Michael Thompson, and smelled marijuana inside the home, according to police reports. Another search warrant was issued for the home.
Thompson, of Vine Street, was arrested again on a charge of maintaining a common nuisance and the Bartholomew County warrant.
Thompson was already facing charges from the weekend arrest of theft-receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, maintaining a common nuisance and an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant.
30-year-old Lindsey Hebestreit, of Columbus, was also arrested at the home and is facing preliminary charge of possession of a controlled substance and a synthetic drug, as well as visiting a common nuisance and a parole violation.
28-year-old Leeann Hoy of Taylorsville was found to be carrying a small amount of marijuana. She was cited and released.
Two other people in the home were released without charges.
The city of Columbus would add vehicle charging stations at two city-owned garages under a proposal approved yesterday by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission.
Gary Thompson with REI, the company which operates the parking garages for the city, proposed the addition at a cost of $10,763. Each of the garages at Second and Jackson Street would get two of the charging stations.
Thompson said that charging stations are becoming more popular in Indianapolis parking garages. He said that the city would not charge for the service in the garages, because the cost to install the equipment to process credit card payments would be more than the city would expect to earn back from customers using the service. He expected the electricity would cost the city between 50 cents and $3 a day for the charging stations.
Plus, he pointed out that those using the stations would already be paying to park in the garage, whether as monthly customers or day visitors.
Thompson said that there have been several requests from the public to add charging stations. The city would include signs that ensure that no one person would use the charging stations all day long and if it becomes a problem, company staff would discuss the issue with any offenders. The signs would also include a liability disclaimer.
Area Republicans gathered Monday night at Simmons Winery to thank outgoing State Representative Milo Smith. The Columbus Republican has served for 12 years representing District 59 at the Statehouse. Barb Hackman, chair of the Bartholomew County Republican Party, says that Smith will be missed.
Smith talks about what he’ll miss the most about not being in Indianapolis.
Along with being able to help people, Smith says that one of his proudest accomplishments was helping to make Spice and other synthetic drugs illegal in Indiana.
Smith decided earlier this year that he would not run for a seventh two-year term. Ryan Lauer, Smith’s primary opponent in 2016, secured the Republican nomination in May. He’s facing Democrat Dale Nowlin on November 6th.
The Substance Abuse Public Funding Board gave its approval for a proposal put forth by the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress aimed at better serving the community. The Substance Abuse and Advisory Accountability Committee met in late September and approved plans to establish ASAP as a nonprofit corporation. Jeff Jones, ASAP executive director, explains that the local drug problem is not going away anytime soon. With that, he explains that there needs to be a more permanent presence, as well as a hub to help those suffering from addiction.
ASAP is seeking $494,925 in 2019 funding from the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County to set up a hub location at the Doug Otto United Way Center. That money would be used to rent the approximately 2,700 square foot space, as well pay for permanent staffing. Jones explained that between the new ASAP and the hub, four full-time employees and one part-time employee would be needed, along with volunteers.
Jones explains that this ASAP Hub is one of ten “critical elements” in establishing a substance abuse support system. Through this hub, adults and families will be able to learn about, and receive, treatment. Currently, there is no centralized location or contact information available to those who need or want treatment.
If ASAP is granted nonprofit corporation status, that would allow the the organization to apply for state and federal grants that could offset future expenses. However, Jones says that likely will not impact ASAP’s financial outlook for 2019.
The Substance Abuse Public Funding Board unanimously approved the request and is suggesting that the city and county each cover 50 percent of the cost. Both the Columbus City Council and Bartholomew County Council would need to give their approval before any money is spent.
An Edinburgh man was arrested on drug charges after a Sunday night traffic stop. Shortly after 11 p.m., a Columbus Police Officer tried to stop a motorcycle near the Cambridge Square Apartments. However the driver, 53-year-old David M. Burton, allegedly continued traveling around the complex parking lot and dropped a small item on the pavement prior to stopping. A short time later, police confirmed that Burton’s driver’s license was suspended and he was taken into custody. While searching Burton, officers reported finding a small bag of marijuana in Burton’s coat pocket. When police checked on the item that Burton allegedly dropped, they determined that it was methamphetamine.
Burton was arrested on preliminary charges of:
– Possession of Methamphetamine Between 5-10 Grams (Level 5 Felony)
– Driving While Suspended (Class A Misdemeanor)
– Possession of Marijuana with a Prior Conviction (Class A Misdemeanor)
Four people were arrested after an investigation by the Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team into drug dealing at a house on Vine Street.
The investigation began Thursday when a sheriff’s deputy with a police dog searched a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Jami Hupp of Columbus. The dog alerted to the smell of narcotics inside the vehicle and Hupp was arrested on drug possession charges and a charge of neglect of a dependent for a child she had in the vehicle.
Those drugs were linked to the Vine Street home and a search warrant was issued.
59-year-old Michael K. Thompson of Columbus, 36-year-old Ashley Snyder of Taylorsville and 47-year-old Aaron Allman were arrested on a variety of charges.
Thompson is facing charges of theft – receiving stolen property , possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, maintaining a common nuisance and an outstanding Bartholomew County warrant.
Snyder is being accused of possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, and maintaining a common nuisance.
Allman faces a charge of visiting a common nuisance.
