A local woman was killed in a Monday morning crash in Jennings County.

Authorities say the crash was at the Jennings/Ripley County line on US 50 E. The Jennings County Sheriff’s Department says that a pickup driven by 27-year-old Brittany Comer, of Holton, was traveling west when her vehicle sideswiped an eastbound pickup driven by 41-year-old Jason Hamm. Investigators say that Comer’s truck continued left of center, striking a car driven by 44-year-old Michelle Hoover, of North Vernon, head-on. Hoover was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities say Hamm was uninjured. Comer was taken by personal auto to the hospital for minor injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

A Columbus man was arrested after being found unconscious behind the wheel of a running vehicle Friday.

25-year-old Makaelin J. Wilks, of Columbus, was found in the vehicle shortly before 7 Friday night in the 1600 block of North National Road. Police revived Wilks using Narcan and marijuana and methamphetamine were found inside the vehicle.

After being revived, Wilks was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital where he also was given sobriety tests. He was arrested on preliminary charges of  operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

A wanted man from Hope was arrested Friday evening in Columbus.

The Columbus Police report that they noticed a man walking near Hege and Kentucky avenues at about 5:20 that afternoon and the man looked at the ground as the police car drove past. Police identified the man as 40-year-old Derek B. Woodson of Hope, who was wanted on two warrants.

As he was arrested, officers also discovered methamphetamine in his clothing. He is facing a new drug possession charge.

Columbus will once again have a district Congressional office.

Congressman-elect Greg Pence, R-Indiana, has made a decision to open the new office behind the county jail on First Street.

The building formerly held the Eynon Law Offices. Pence said renovations and repainting of the building, owned by Tony Moravec, are happening now.

He said the new office in Columbus will be part of his efforts to focus on constituent services as he takes over from Congressman Luke Messer.

Pence said he plans to also continue to operate Richmond and Muncie offices in the Sixth Congressional District. A large part of a training session for new members of Congress focused on the importance of helping constituents navigate Washington, Pence said.

As a former U.S. Marine, Pence said he wants to particularly focus on veterans issues. He found, on the campaign trail, that many veterans didn’t know the services they might be entitled to.

Pence will be taking over the seat that his brother, Mike, formerly held before winning election as governor and vice president. He said he plans to continue to live in Columbus and to commute to Washington D.C. after he takes office in January.

With the cold weather, you might be tempted to let your vehicle heat up in the driveway or on the street. But Columbus police say that could be very bad idea.

Lt. Matt Harris says now is the time of year when vehicle thieves strike, as cooler temperatures lead to people starting their vehicles and leaving them to warm up.

Harris adds that there are steps you can take if you must have your vehicle warm and comfortable before you leave.

Harris notes that since September 1st, Columbus Police have investigated 41 incidents of vehicle theft.

Bartholomew County deputies say a victim jumped out of a moving vehicle to get away from a battery in the northern part of the county last week.

35-year-old Joshua Jones of St. Paul is under arrest on charges of domestic battery with a deadly weapon and criminal confinement.

The victim told deputies at about 5 a.m. Thursday morning that she had been stabbed in the leg Thursday morning during the dispute with Jones, her ex-boyfriend. She also injured her forehead and hands when she leapt from the moving vehicle. The victim was picked up by a driver who took her to Columbus Regional Hospital.

Decatur County deputies arrested Jones and after treatment for injuries at the Decatur County Hospital, he was taken to Bartholomew County Jail.

Members of the Columbus chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police held their annual Shop With A Cop event Sunday at the westside Walmart.

Alan Trisler, president of the post, said that just under 150 kids will have a brighter Christmas after Sunday’s shopping trips. Each child had a budget of about $225, or which $40 to $60 was planned for toys, with the rest going to clothing. Each child also received a meal at the Subway restaurant in the store, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Trisler said that although the event is over for the year, the need is year-round. You can make a donation through the Columbus Police Department or the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

The Interstate 65 road project between Walesboro and Columbus is getting a boost of federal dollars.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., is announcing that the project will receive a $20 million dollar grant from the Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development fund. He says the project will increase the capacity of the interstate by reconstructing the existing travel lanes and adding a third travel lane in each direction. There will also be replacement of the superstructure of the bridges over I-65 at Carr Hill Road and County Road 200S.

Indiana’s Next Level Roads project on Interstate 65 is already widening the highway between Walesboro and Seymour to six lanes. That is a $143 million dollar project and included resurfacing of the section of the interstate between Columbus and Walesboro, but not the road widening there.

The first draft of a plan to address Bartholomew County parks was delivered Thursday to the county parks board. Ed Curtain, the consultant hired by the board, explains that there are 12 county parks facilities. As there is no paid parks staff, much of the upkeep and maintenance at these facilities are handled by volunteers.

County officials are debating hiring at least one full-time employee to help with park upkeep. In his presentation, Curtain suggested the county may want to hire one full-time employee and one part-timer. He also raised the possibility of closing some sites. While no official action was taken, discussion indicated that possible closures include the parks in Clifford and Elizabethtown.

The parks board didn’t delve into the specifics, as they had received the draft just minutes before the start of the meeting. Officials are looking into posting the draft on the county’s website, but as of Thursday evening, that hasn’t happened.

Board members agreed to look over the plan and discuss it further at their next meeting in January.

A woman wanted on four outstanding Bartholomew County warrants was arrested Wednesday night after allegedly trying to hide her identity from Columbus police.

Columbus police met with a person who wanted to file a police report at about 10:45 p.m. last night in the 3000 block of North Talley Road. During that report, officers contacted a woman who allegedly gave a false identity. Police determined that she was really 29-year-old Chelsie D. McFall of Columbus who was wanted on outstanding warrants.

As she was arrested, police also allegedly discovered she was carrying two syringes in her coat. In addition to the warrants, she is facing new charges of false informing and possessing a syringe.