An injury from a broken toilet seat led to the arrest to two people last night on a check-cashing scam according to Columbus police.

Officers were called to a hotel room on West Jonathan Moore Pike after a man was injured. But while speaking with the man, they found out that his name and birth date led to a man wanted on an out-of-state warrant. But after taking him into custody, police found out that was not his real identity. He turned out to be 31-year-old Travis W. Lindholm of Minnesota who was wanted on four warrants there.

A search of the room revealed numerous fake IDs and driver’s licenses, along with bank cards and fake checks in a suitcase with more fake IDs. A vehicle, stolen from Marion, Indiana was in the parking lot.

Lindholm is facing preliminary charges of identity deception, possession of false government IDs and false informing, along with the four warrants for offering a forged check, felony assault and witness tampering.

A second person in the room, 28-year-old Chelci R. Johnson of Gas City, Indiana also allegedly lied about her identity and was arrested.

Johnson is being accused of identity deception and false informing

An Indianapolis drug bust that recovered more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this week led to the arrest of two Columbus residents near Taylorsville.

The Bartholomew County and Columbus Joint Narcotics Enforcement Task Force reports that Indiana State Police recovered more than $1 million dollars worth of methamphetamine during the Indianapolis bust and found out that it was being prepared for shipment to our area.

That led officers to search a home on the 9900 block of Daniel Drive East Tuesday, where they recovered methamphetamine and cocaine.

41-year-old Laura E. Rodriguez-de La Paz, of Columbus is facing charges of Dealing and possessing methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance, and possession of drug paraphernalia

33 year -old Joana G. Ramirez Castro of Columbus is being accused of visiting a common nuisance

The investigation into the sale of illegal drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County continues. Other agencies involved in these arrests include: Indiana State Police, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Service.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office is proactively targeting the manufacturing and abuse of dangerous drugs in Columbus and Bartholomew County.

Columbus Animal Care Services will be holding a Holiday Open House on Sunday, so you can help bring Christmas to the animals.

You can visit with the animals and help out by bringing donations of items or cash.  Needed items include:

• Kitten food
• Dry Cat food
• Cat litter
• Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) Formula and nursing bottles
• Treats for dogs
• Puppy food
• Dawn dishwashing soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper towels
• Bleach

Refreshments will be also be available.

The open house will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at the center on Arnold Street. You can get more information on the city website at columbus.in.gov.

Correction: Due to a source error the suspect’s age was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

A southern Indiana police officer died last night in a chase of a suspect.

State police say officer Benton Bertram of the Charlestown City Police Department was trying to stop a vehicle when his car crossed over State Road 56 in Scott County went off the road, and hit a tree in a yard.

33-year-old Bertram was a nine-year veteran of the Charlestown Police Department.

Police say the suspect, 35-year-old Benjamin Eads of Freedom, was later caught and arrested. Eads is facing preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement causing death, resisting law enforcement and auto theft. He was taken to the Scott County Jail.

Columbus is nearing the final purchase of the Fair Oaks Mall property. Mary Ferdon, director of administration for the city, says that the final real estate closing on the property is planned for Friday.

The city is partnering with Columbus Regional Health and Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County to offer to purchase the more than 35 acre site for $5.9 million.

Various committees of the Fair Oaks Community Development Corporation along with the corporation board of directors met yesterday to sign contracts and other details related to the sale. The City Council set up the corporation to oversee the purchase.

Ferdon says that the city will begin more detailed planning on how to use the property in January.

About a dozen east side residents turned out for a meeting at Columbus City Hall Wednesday night. Residents and business owners in the area surrounding the Brighter Days Homeless Shelter say that crime in the area has gone up and many fear to go outside alone. Many report finding discarded needles and drug paraphernalia littering their property. They want the shelter moved or better secured.

Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Police Chief John Rohde and Councilman Dascal Bunch spoke with those who attended. Rohde provided statistics showing crime in the area before the shelter was opened and now. That data indicated that crime-related calls from 2015 were largely unchanged in 2018. In fact, calls for burglaries and vandalism actually went down. In addition, Rohde noted an increased police presence in the area since concerns were raised earlier this year.

Chief Rohde says that police will continue to closely monitor the area. Councilman Bunch offered to meet monthly with the group and Mayor Lienhoop pledged to continue to work with residents and shelter staff to come to an understanding palatable to all parties.

City leaders and those in attendance agreed to meet again next spring. Shelter representatives will also be invited.

A stretch of State Road 45 in Brown County will have to close for several days next year for repair work. The Indiana Department of Transportation met with its contractor recently. Construction operations beginning after April 1 will require a five-day closure of the east-west highway.

OLCO Inc. of Batesville is the state’s contractor for this $142,870 small structure replacement project. INDOT says crews will remove the existing State Road 45 structure over a tributary of Bean Blossom Creek and replace it with a concrete box culvert measuring 39 feet in length.

State Road 45 will close at the construction site located 3.9 miles west of State Road 135, between Helmsburg and Trevlac. A state highway detour will route drivers around the State Road 45 closure via State Road 46 Bloomington-to-Nashville and State Road 135 Nashville-to-Beanblossom.

The contract completion date is June 30th.

Columbus State Sen. Greg Walker will again be heading the Indiana Senate’s Committee on Elections.

The Republican senator announced his appointment by Senate President Pro Tem Rodrick Bray this morning.

Walker said he looked forward to continue to serve on the committee and to work on legislative issues related to elections. Walker will also serve as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Family and Children Services and as a member of the Senate Committees on Ethics; Insurance and Financial Institutions; Pensions and Labor; and Tax and Fiscal Policy.

The 2019 Indiana General Assembly will reconvene Jan. 3 and must wrap up the session no later than April 29th.

You can get more information on the state legislature at iga.in.gov.

It will be a Not So Silent Night in downtown Columbus tomorrow. Erin Hawkins with the Columbus Area Visitors Center explains that downtown merchants will be open extra hours tomorrow, offering deals and other specials.

There will also be free carriage rides, a winter wonderland in the cellar at Viewpoint Books, and an elf scavenger hunt in downtown Columbus. Hawkins says that children can hang out at kidscommons doing holiday activities and eating pizza. Pre-registration is required for the kidscommons portion of the event.

Hawkins suggests that this will be a great time to catch up with friends or family as you are out enjoying downtown Columbus.

Not so SIlent Night is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13th, in downtown Columbus. It is hosted by the Downtown Columbus Arts and Entertainment District.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing the winners of this year’s Lilly Scholarships — Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech High School senior Baily Tillett and Hauser Junior-Senior High School senior Riley Clark.

Tillett, the daughter of Ashleigh Shaw and the late James Tillett, plans to pursue a pre-medicine major. Clark is the daughter of Shannon and John Clark and plans to pursue a musical performance (flute) major.

Tillett has been active in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS, Community Service Award); Student Voice (student representative); Student Ambassadors; Youth Leadership Bartholomew County; National Honor Society; Alpha Rho Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society; and is a student intern at Cummins.

Clark has been active in American Legion Auxiliary Hoosier Girls State 2018 (delegate); Columbus Symphony Orchestra; Hauser Concert Band (woodwind section leader); Hauser Jazz Band (saxophone section leader); Hauser Pep/Marching Band (woodwind section leader); Hauser Student Council (class officer, treasurer); National Honor Society; Cadet Teaching; and is a peer mentor

Tillett and Clark will receive full tuition for four years to the Indiana college of their choice and a $900 annual stipend for required books and equipment. The program is sponsored by the Lilly Endowment and has been providing scholarships for 22 years.

Heritage Fund received 82 applicants for this year’s scholarships and the two winners were chosen from 10 finalists.

Other finalists included:

• Amanda Pottorff, Abigail Martin, Kamebry Wagner, and Pattsie Waltz from Columbus East High School
• Isabella Liliac, Hannah Garrity and Elias Heichelbech from Columbus North High School
• Vanessa Villalobos from Columbus Signature Academy – New Tech.